bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChemInform Abstract: Hydroxymethylation via Radical Intermediates
Authors: ISHIDA A. , TAKAMUKU S.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of 1,4‐Dihydropyridines by Cyclocondensation Reactions
Authors: SAUSINSH A. E. , DUBURS G. YA.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Alginate Polyelectrolyte Ionotropic Gels. Part 18. Oxidation of Alginate Polysaccharide by Potassium Permanganate in Alkaline Solutions: Kinetics of Decomposition of Intermediate Complex
Authors: HASSAN R. M.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Thermal Decomposition and Kinetics of Decomposition of Metal Carboxylates
Authors: KAUL M. L. , SHARMA R. M.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Principle of Isoinversion ‐ A Model for Optimization of Selectivity in Chemistry. Part 2
Authors: BUSCHMANN H. , HOFFMANN N.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: The Crystal Structures of Eu5Ge3 and EuIrGe2.
Authors: POETTGEN R. , SIMON A.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: NiH3IO6×6 H2O ‐ Crystal Structures and Vibrational Spectra.
Authors: ZHANG Z. , SUCHANEK E. , ESSER D. , LUTZ H. D. , NIKOLOVA D. , MANEVA‐PETROVA M.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Reactions of Nitrogen Dioxide with Hexenes. The Mechanistic and Structural Factors Controling the Product Composition.
Authors: GOLDING P. , POWELL J. L. , RIDD J. H.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Role of Cyclopropanes as Activating Groups During Oxidation Reactions with RuO4 Generated in situ.
Authors: COUDRET J. L. , ZOELLNER S. , RAVOO B. J. , MALARA L. , HANISCH C. , DOERRE K. , DE MEIJERE A. , WAEGELL B.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Convenient Synthesis of Both Epimeric α‐Hydroxyaldehydes from . alpha.‐Hydroxydichloromethyl Derivative.
Authors: SATO K. , YAMAMOTO Y. , HORI H.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Studies of the Tetrathiafulvalene Mediated Radical‐Polar Crossover Reaction Directed Toward the Total Synthesis of Alkaloid Natural Products.
Authors: KIZIL M. , LAMPARD C. , MURPHY J. A.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Injection Molding of Polysiloxane/Filler Mixtures for Oxycarbide Ceramic Composites.
Authors: WALTER S. , SUTTOR D. , ERNY T. , HAHN B. , GREIL P.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
ChemInform Abstract: Organometallic “Carbon Chains”: They Just Keep Getting Longer!
Authors: BUNZ U. H. F.
Published: September 2010

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Thermodynamics, Precipitation Kinetics, Coupled Models Development: Three Main Axes of Research in Physical Chemistry at Arcelormittal Global R&D Maizières Process
Authors: Lehmann J. , Bontems N. , Simmonet M. , Gardin P. , Zhang L.
Published: September 2010

This paper gives an overview of the last advances at ArcelorMittal Global R&D Maizières Process in physical‐chemistry modelling applied to steel elaboration. In thermochemistry, progress is expected to come from the development of more precise solution models with higher extrapolability potential. Incentive for this research field is coming from the development of new grades and from the necessity of a better control of the steel composition. The Generalized Central Atom statistical thermodynamic model is an example of development in this domain and is used both to improve and to extend to new components the Cell model for slags as well as to model high alloyed and segregated liquid steels.

The driving force for the development of precipitation kinetics models is the necessity to identify actuators able to optimize the precipitates characteristics so as to minimize defects occurrence or to improve in‐use properties of the final products. The software MIPPHASOLACIDO dedicated to this research field has been recently improved in terms of computing times by the adoption of a recent mathematical technique: the DQMOM. The very last development consists in a description of interfacial tension of precipitates as function of their composition. It suggests that trace elements entering in precipitates could have a large impact on the precipitates characteristics.

The challenge in the development of coupled models associating thermodynamics and fluid dynamics is to have a description taking into account all the phenomena necessary to get a realistic representation of the reactors while keeping computing times under reasonable limits. The example presented corresponds to the very first steps of a modeling of the desulfurization process in a secondary metallurgy ladle.
A Study on the Viscous Behaviour with K2O Additions in the CaOSiO2Al2O3MgOK2O Quinary Slag System
Authors: Kim W. H. , Sohn I. , Min D. J.
Published: September 2010

The viscosities of CaOSiO220wt%Al2O310 wt%MgO‐K2O quinary slags with CaO/SiO2 from 0.8 to 1.2 at 1773 K with 1–5 wt% K2O additions were measured to estimate the effect of K2O on the viscous behaviour of the slags. The measured viscosity at 1773 K increased with K2O addition at a fixed CaO/SiO2, which is contrary to the effect of Na2O on the viscosity of BF slags. To qualitatively verify the changes in slag structure, FT‐IR spectroscopy was used. It was found that K2O induces Al2O3 to behave as an acidic oxide by forming [AlO4]5−‐tetrahedral units by the ionic compensation effect of K+ cations. However, regarding the effect of K2O on the silicate structure, it is observed that K2O has a negligible effect due to the consumption of O2− with the formation of [AlO4]5−‐tetrahedral units. Furthermore, it is also found that SiOAl bending became more complicated with K2O additions, which supports the selective effect of K2O on the aluminate structure of the slag. In spite of the more complicated structure with K2O additions, the critical temperature (TCR) decreased due to the gradual reduction of the liquidus temperature (TLQ) of the slags.
Simulation of the Filling of a Liquid Steel Sampler
Authors: Zhang Z. , Tilliander A. , Jönsson P. G.
Published: September 2010

Steel samples extracted from the ladle furnace in liquid state are vital to monitor the steel making process in the iron & steel industries. The main function of the steel sample is to exam whether the steel is at the aimed composition for elements that dissolve in steel. In addition, more interest is arising to determine the inclusion characteristics in steel samples, in order to monitor the development throughout the process. However, the molten steel sampling is a process involving multi‐phenomena such as a high temperature, a fast solidification, reoxidation of steel and a highly turbulent flow pattern. Therefore, mathematical simulations have been carried out to fundamentally study the sampler filling process. The Wilcox k‐ω turbulence model was employed to predict the turbulent flow. The calculated results show that flow patterns inside the sampler can be classified into three distinct flow regions: the vortex flow region close to the free surface, the lower horizontal flow region and the middle vertical flow region. From the flow and turbulence data, the inclusion particle collision volume rate was calculated to study the influence of turbulent flow on the inclusion growth in the sampler during fillings. It is shown that the collision volume in the sampler is much higher than that found in the ladle furnace, where the steel sampling normally takes place. This is due to the high turbulence energy dissipation rate in the samplers compared to the ladles.
Assessing romantic competence among older adolescents
Authors: Shulman Shmuel , Davila Joanne , Shachar‐Shapira Lital
Published: September 2010

Davila and colleagues (Davila et al., 2009) developed the Romantic Competence Interview to capture the potential for romantic competence during early adolescence. Considering that at later stages of adolescence the majority are likely to be involved in some kind of romantic relationship, the current paper adapts, extends, and examines the concept of romantic competence among older adolescents. Seventy two Israeli adolescent girls (mean age 17.17 years) were given a revised version of the RCI along with measures of quality of relationship with romantic partners and parents, and quality of parental marital satisfaction. Mothers were also interviewed and were asked to talk about their attitudes toward daughters’ romantic behavior. Results showed that RCI scales were reliably coded and exhibited good construct validity. The meaning and expression of romantic competence among older adolescents is conceptualized and discussed within the framework of developmental and agency perspectives.
The Effectiveness of Telescopic Ads Delivered Via Interactive Digital Television: The Impact of the Amount of Information and the Level of Interactivity on Brand Responses
Authors: Cauberghe Verolien , De Pelsmacker Patrick
Published: September 2010

This experimental study examines two aspects that influence the effectiveness of a telescopic ad (dedicated advertising location, or DAL) on interactive digital television: the amount of information and the level of interactivity. Two hundred eighty-two respondents were allowed to interact with the DAL as long as they wanted. The results demonstrate that both the amount of information and the level of interactivity have a positive influence on time spent in the DAL. Furthermore, a higher level of interactivity has a positive effect on time spent in the DAL, brand recall, and attitude toward the brand when the amount of information is low but not when the amount of information is high. The amount of information in and of itself has no effect on brand recall and attitude toward the brand.
Bartonella species, feline herpesvirus-1, and Toxoplasma gondii PCR assay results from blood and aqueous humor samples from 104 cats with naturally occurring endogenous uveitis
Authors: Powell Cynthia C. , McInnis Carey L. , Fontenelle Jennifer P. , Lappin Michael R.
Published: September 2010

Toxoplasma gondii, Bartonella henselae and feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) have been implicated as causative agents in feline uveitis. The usefulness of serum and aqueous humor (AH) antibody testing for these agents is limited as antibodies can be detected in both healthy cats and cats with uveitis. Very few studies using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to amplify organism DNA from samples from cats with uveitis have been performed. In this study, assays to detect T gondii antibodies, feline leukemia virus antigen, feline immunodeficiency virus antibody, and Bartonella species antibodies were performed on serum and PCR assays for amplification of T gondii, Bartonella species, and FHV-1 DNA were performed on blood and AH samples from 104 cats with endogenous uveitis and 19 healthy cats. Results suggest the addition of the PCR assay to the diagnostic work-up for cats with uveitis will increase the detection of T gondii and FHV-1; however, the diagnostic usefulness of these additional data is not clear.
Subcutaneous infection of a cat by Colletotrichum species
Authors: Winter Randolph L. , Lawhon Sara D. , Halbert Natalie D. , Levine Gwendolyn J. , Wilson Heather M. , Daly Meighan K.
Published: September 2010

A 13-year-old, domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of a right tarsal mass. Physical examination revealed a 5 cm×5 cm×5 cm, soft, fluctuant, subcutaneous tarsal mass. Thoracic radiographs revealed several discrete lung parenchymal lesions. Abdominal ultrasound revealed abnormal architecture to both kidneys. Fungal culture and sensitivity from the subcutaneous mass revealed a uniform growth of Colletotrichum species that was susceptible to itraconazole. Colletotrichum species infection was confirmed in the subcutis and suspected to be disseminated. Colletotrichum species fungal infections in cats have not been previously documented.
Using manifold embedding for assessing and predicting protein interactions from high-throughput experimental data
Authors: You Zhu-Hong , Lei Ying-Ke , Gui Jie , Huang De-Shuang , Zhou Xiaobo
Published: September 2010

Motivation: High-throughput protein interaction data, with ever-increasing volume, are becoming the foundation of many biological discoveries, and thus high-quality protein–protein interaction (PPI) maps are critical for a deeper understanding of cellular processes. However, the unreliability and paucity of current available PPI data are key obstacles to the subsequent quantitative studies. It is therefore highly desirable to develop an approach to deal with these issues from the computational perspective. Most previous works for assessing and predicting protein interactions either need supporting evidences from multiple information resources or are severely impacted by the sparseness of PPI networks.

Results: We developed a robust manifold embedding technique for assessing the reliability of interactions and predicting new interactions, which purely utilizes the topological information of PPI networks and can work on a sparse input protein interactome without requiring additional information types. After transforming a given PPI network into a low-dimensional metric space using manifold embedding based on isometric feature mapping (ISOMAP), the problem of assessing and predicting protein interactions is recasted into the form of measuring similarity between points of its metric space. Then a reliability index, a likelihood indicating the interaction of two proteins, is assigned to each protein pair in the PPI networks based on the similarity between the points in the embedded space. Validation of the proposed method is performed with extensive experiments on densely connected and sparse PPI network of yeast, respectively. Results demonstrate that the interactions ranked top by our method have high-functional homogeneity and localization coherence, especially our method is very efficient for large sparse PPI network with which the traditional algorithms fail. Therefore, the proposed algorithm is a much more promising method to detect both false positive and false negative interactions in PPI networks.

Availability: MATLAB code implementing the algorithm is available from the web site http://home.ustc.edu.cn/∼yzh33108/Manifold.htm.

Contact:  dshuang@iim.ac.cn

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Relationship of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens clades associated with strains DSM 7T and FZB42T: a proposal for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens subsp. nov. and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum subsp. nov. based on complete genome sequence comparisons
Authors: Borriss Rainer , Chen Xiao-Hua , Rueckert Christian , Blom Jochen , Becker Anke , Baumgarth Birgit , Fan Ben , Pukall Rüdiger , Schumann Peter , Spröer Cathrin , Junge Helmut , Vater Joachim , Pühler Alfred , Klenk Hans-Peter
Published: September 2010

The whole-genome-sequenced rhizobacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42T (Chen et al., 2007) and other plant-associated strains of the genus Bacillus described as belonging to the species Bacillus amyloliquefaciens or Bacillus subtilis are used commercially to promote the growth and improve the health of crop plants. Previous investigations revealed that a group of strains represented a distinct ecotype related to B. amyloliquefaciens; however, the exact taxonomic position of this group remains elusive (Reva et al., 2004). In the present study, we demonstrated the ability of a group of Bacillus strains closely related to strain FZB42T to colonize Arabidopsis roots. On the basis of their phenotypic traits, the strains were similar to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 7T but differed considerably from this type strain in the DNA sequences of genes encoding 16S rRNA, gyrase subunit A (gyrA) and histidine kinase (cheA). Phylogenetic analysis performed with partial 16S rRNA, gyrA and cheA gene sequences revealed that the plant-associated strains of the genus Bacillus, including strain FZB42T, formed a lineage, which could be distinguished from the cluster of strains closely related to B. amyloliquefaciens DSM 7T. DNA–DNA hybridizations (DDH) performed with genomic DNA from strains DSM 7T and FZB42T yielded relatedness values of 63.7–71.2 %. Several methods of genomic analysis, such as direct whole-genome comparison, digital DDH and microarray-based comparative genomichybridization (M-CGH) were used as complementary tests. The group of plant-associated strains could be distinguished from strain DSM 7T and the type strain of B. subtilis by differences in the potential to synthesize non-ribosomal lipopeptides and polyketides. Based on the differences found in the marker gene sequences and the whole genomes of these strains, we propose two novel subspecies, designated B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum subsp. nov., with the type strain FZB42T ( = DSM 23117T = BGSC 10A6T), and B. amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens subsp. nov., with the type strain DSM 7T( = ATCC 23350T = Fukumoto Strain FT), for plant-associated and non-plant-associated representatives, respecitvely. This is in agreement with results of DDH and M-CGH tests and the MALDI-TOF MS of cellular components, all of which suggested that the ecovars represent two different subspecies.
Emended descriptions of Geobacillus thermoleovorans and Geobacillus thermocatenulatus
Authors: Dinsdale Anna E. , Halket Gillian , Coorevits An , Van Landschoot Anita , Busse Hans-Jürgen , De Vos Paul , Logan Niall A.
Published: September 2010

Nineteen thermophilic, aerobic, endospore-forming bacterial strains were subjected to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Eight of these strains had been received as cultures of Geobacillus kaustophilus, G. lituanicus, G. stearothermophilus, ‘G. thermoleovorans subsp. stromboliensis’, G. vulcani, ‘Bacillus caldolyticus’, ‘B. caldotenax’ and ‘B. caldovelox’, but they showed close relationships with the type strain of G. thermoleovorans, as did two other strains received as G. thermoleovorans. All strains underwent further taxonomic analysis by API and other phenotypic tests and fatty acid methyl ester analysis, and selected strains were analysed for their polar lipids and for DNA relatedness. The 11 strains that formed the G. thermoleovorans 16S rRNA cluster also showed some phenotypic similarities, and DNA relatedness data support the reassignment of the strains received as G. kaustophilus, G. lituanicus, ‘G. thermoleovorans subsp. stromboliensis’, G. vulcani, ‘B. caldolyticus’, ‘B. caldotenax’ and ‘B. caldovelox’, and one of the G. stearothermophilus strains, as members of the species G. thermoleovorans. Four other strains received as G. kaustophilus were misnamed; two were identified as G. stearothermophilus and two appeared to be closely related to Anoxybacillus rupiensis. One strain received as G. stearothermophilus remained unidentified. On the basis of a single strain, Geobacillus thermocatenulatus was shown to represent a distinct species, but study of the type strain of Geobacillus gargensis showed this species to be a later heterotypic synonym of Geobacillus thermocatenulatus. Emended descriptions of Geobacillus thermoleovorans and Geobacillus thermocatenulatus are therefore presented.
Investigation on propulsion of flapping wing with modified pitch motion
Authors: Hiong Go Tiauw , Hao Wang
Published: September 2010

Purpose

With possible practical application in a micro aerial vehicle (MAV), propulsion characteristics of a flapping wing with modified pitch motion are investigated both theoretically and experimentally in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Modified pitch motion is defined as a sinusoidal pitch motion with the pitch axis outside the wing chord line. Based on the momentum theory, an analytical model is developed to analyze the propulsion characteristics of the defined flapping wing. Following that, a water tunnel study of the effects of pitch axis distance, pitch frequency, and stream velocity on thrust generation is carried out. Thrust is directly measured using a 1‐D load cell and the flow visualization is captured using a high speed video camera.

Findings

It is found that shifting pitch axis outside wing chord line benefits the thrust generation significantly. Positive average thrust is produced at a relatively low frequency and increases almost quadratically with the motion frequency. The effect of stream velocity on the thrust time history is signified but has little effect on the average thrust magnitude.

Practical implications

Compared to other types of flapping wing motions, the proposed flapping can be achieved with simple mechanism and thus has the edge in practicality for propelling MAV or other submarine systems.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful aerodynamic characteristics of a type of flapping wing motion which possesses mechanical simplicity and relatively large thrust generation at low‐flapping frequency. This flapping wing has the potential to provide propulsion for a MAV or other submarine systems.
R&D tax credit and operating performance: implications for managers
Authors: Anandarajan Asokan , Chiang Shuling , Lee Picheng
Published: September 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on helping managers understand a factor that stimulates investment in R&D, namely, the R&D tax credit.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a sample of firms in Taiwan; the study period is 1999‐2004. Four variables are used to categorize firms in life cycle stages, and these are ranked in a number of ways.

Findings

It is found that the R&D tax credit has an influence of operating performance and that the association of R&D tax credit with operating performance is moderated by the stage of the firm in its respective life cycle. This association is also moderated by the size of the firm.

Practical implications

Management perspective, managers of small, older firms with sales that are stagnant or declining will benefit most from the R&D tax credit. Managers of such companies should make a greater effort to negotiate tax credits as they will benefit the most.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the literature on life cycle analysis
Competing against online sharing
Authors: Casadesus‐Masanell Ramon , Hervas‐Drane Andres
Published: September 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore online sharing of copyrighted content over peer‐to‐peer (p2p) file sharing networks and its impact on the music industry, and to assess the viable business models for the industry in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze the evolution of the online content market over the years that followed the widespread adoption of p2p. The paper is based on a teaching case, and builds on two related academic papers that provide the theoretical underpinnings for the analysis.

Findings

Based on the early developments observed in this marketplace and the aforementioned theoretical work, the paper argues that it is unfeasible to fully eradicate p2p, and so the industry must embrace it by understanding how consumers derive value from the technologies that enable it.

Originality/value

The developments analyzed here offer relevant insights for the online content marketplace, allow the scope of strategies available to the music industry to be understood better, and may provide lessons for other industries transitioning to online business models.
Electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) as unique open access materials: case of the Kenya Information Preservation Society (KIPS)
Authors: Ratanya Felicitas C.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of electronic theses and dissertations (ETD) as important and unique collections that facilitate open access.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a brief introduction of the importance of ETD as materials for open access. This is with emphasis on the Kenya Information Preservation Society (KIPS) project which has, since 1993, been digitizing theses from a number of participating institutions across the country. This paper relies heavily on literature derived from existing documentation, online searches and website exploration, and the KIPS's union list of theses and dissertations CD‐ROM. A number of contracted employees (scanning and input) were also interviewed in order to provide statistics about the contributing institutions. Findings – The paper finds that the necessity of showcasing the intellectual research of higher education institutions within Kenya is reason enough to justify making the move towards creating electronic thesis services. The benefits making ETD available outweighs that of print‐only thesis provision due to the potential for enormous dissemination and open access. Research limitations/implications –ETD is a renowned research area for consideration. Librarians should be engaged in digitization of electronic collections that will provide desirable services to end users. Such approaches boost the knowledge economy of any country.

Practical implications

Evidence cited from the strengths of KIPS indicates that its major objective was to compile a national comprehensive database of research on Kenya, and by Kenyans. From available statistics, theses undertaken at postgraduate university levels meet the needs of Kenyan scholars. Originality/value – This paper attempts to give insights for emulating the ETD initiative by KIPS as a way to showcase the unique materials of open access, thereby making them relevant for the modern day library.
The RBV and value creation: a managerial perspective
Authors: Zubac Angelina , Hubbard Graham , Johnson Lester W.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to explain why the customer value construct is important to resource‐based view (RBV) scholars and how one might define it to study it.

Design/methodology/approach

By a summary of the ideas behind the RBV and previously applied definitions of customer value, the paper explains why Woodruff's multidimensional definition of customer value is suited to studying customer value from a managerial perspective. To this end, it develops a framework and derives three research questions for studying how managers use the firm's resources to create customer value.

Findings

It was found that to understand how managers invest in dynamic capabilities to create customer value one must identify how a firm's managers develop a shared understanding of their customers' values and the firm's capacity to deliver on them. This shared understanding will need to reflect customers' multidimensional values and what is most important to the firm.

Practical implications

These phenomena are best studied qualitatively because the focus is on understanding how managers work together and use the resources at their disposal to create customer value. The performance effects of different resource investment decisions can be examined by including high and low performing firms in the study dataset.

Originality/value

The paper describes a framework that can explain how managers map customer value and its different dimensions against the resources at the firm which they believe can deliver an optimal product and service mix to the firm's customers.
Resource capability for local government in managing disaster
Authors: Kusumasari Bevaola , Alam Quamrul , Siddiqui Kamal
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to flesh out the capability requirements of local government institutions in pre‐, during, and post‐disaster activities which can act as a useful guide for researchers, bureaucrats, and independent agencies in managing natural disasters.

Design/methodology/approach

The role of local government and the capability requirement for this institution have been major concerns in disaster discourse, since local government plays the most active role during disasters. It is the local government's responsibility to protect the community from vulnerability and to reduce disaster impacts. This paper critically summarizes the views of researchers, academicians, and government bodies. The sources of information are articles, books, web sites, and government reports.

Findings

In the critical stage of disaster management, the capability requirements in the mitigation stage are evaluation, monitoring, and dissemination, while in the preparedness stage, planning, exercise, and training are the important requirements in managing natural disasters. In the response stage, the capabilities required are need assessment, information exchange, and logistical expertise. At the last stage, which is recovery, expertise in damage assessment and debris removal and also disaster assistance skills are the capabilities most needed for local government bodies.

Originality/value

This paper develops the capability needed by local government for managing natural disasters. The paper also delineates the role and obstacles of local government bodies dealing in pre‐, during, and post‐disaster stages. These capability requirements can be applied to natural disaster management in developing countries.
Beyond silence and rumor
Authors: Zeelen Jacques , Wijbenga Hieke , Vintges Marga , de Jong Gideon
Published: September 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of a small‐scale project around storytelling as a form of informal education in five health clinics in rural areas of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The aim of the project is to decrease the stigma around HIV/AIDS and to start an open dialogue in local communities about the disease.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study using a qualitative approach, which was carried out in 2005/2006, that focused on perceptions of participants from the audience of the project and health practitioners.

Findings

The research findings emphasize the importance of involvement of a storyteller who can play an influential role in local rural communities by breaking the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and providing people with little or no education with simple but effective messages about the disease. Stories are embedded in local traditions and make use of metaphors, like dialogues between animals. Beside, stories are a form of “edutainment”: education enriched with entertainment.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to budgetary and time constraints insight into the impact of the project on the way the members of the audience protect themselves and deal with the essential issues of sexuality and relationships in their daily life as a result of storytelling was not gained.

Originality/value

Owing to its personal approach a project around storytelling in rural areas in South Africa is vital, because it seems to suit the local context better than nationwide health educational programmes which are normally disseminated through mass education.
Using the media to hold accountants to account: some observations
Authors: Sikka Prem
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to broaden discussions about the role of the public sphere in broadening social choices, with particular focus on accountancy magazines and national press in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

In replying to the commentary appearing in this edition, the paper shifts the debate to a political economy of media. In action research traditions, it also shows how academic interventions can lead to unexpected outcomes that can enrich research, teaching and social choice debates.

Findings

Public debates can be galvanised through academic interventions.

Practical implications

The paper suggests possible strategies for fermenting public debates and engaging with the institutions of accountancy.

Social implications

Through engagement social choices can be broadened.

Originality/value

The paper is based on personal interventions and this offers first‐hand account of some of the public interventions and how these led to new alliances and arrangements to problematise conventional views about accounting and accounting firms.
The financial crisis and mark‐to‐market accounting
Authors: Smith William L. , Boje David M. , Melendrez Kevin D.
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze media storytelling and rhetoric surrounding the credibility of the longstanding accounting practice of mark‐to‐market valuation.

Design/methodology/approach

The cascading storytelling model of progressive framing by the media of mark‐to‐market valuation was applied to story subsets of the three types of classic Aristotelian rhetorical appeals.

Findings

The authors found that the media blamed the accounting profession's mark‐to‐market valuation practices as substantive cause of recent corporate problems and declines in market values. In addition, the rhetorical framing of mark‐to‐market accounting practices in the media prompted the Financial Accounting Standards Board to a rush to judgment.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is limited to the analysis of the storytelling included. Different results from other sources may provide another result.

Practical implications

The failure in the media to address the duality between the logos of accounting and the ethos of the media narratives exacerbated the cascading activation. Understanding this duality may provide a different lens in looking at information dissemination. This is not only relative to stakeholders in making more informed decisions but should also serve as a warning to the profession, to have more voice, to use a rhetorical strategy that can have more saliency in the public arena.

Originality/value

The paper examined storytelling as interplay of retrospective narrative, the presentness of living story, and the antenarratives shaping the future of not only the unfolding economic crisis, but the future of accounting itself. In terms of rhetoric, we extended the application of pathos, ethos, and logos by examining a cascading activation theory model. This is one of the few studies of antenarratives and how through cascade rhetoric the future is shaped.
An empirical study of total quality management in engineering educational institutions of India
Authors: Sayeda Begum , Rajendran Chandrasekharan , Sai Lokachari Prakash
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the adoption of quality management practices in engineering educational institutions (EEIs) in India from management's perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was developed based on a literature review of research in quality management and based on the responses of the pilot survey among the senior faculty/management. The psychometric properties of this instrument were examined using tests of reliability and validity. Correlation and multiple regression analyses were used to analyze the impact of the total quality management (TQM) dimensions on institutional performance (effectiveness).

Findings

Findings highlight 27 critical factors/dimensions of quality management, which analyzed the relationship between TQM dimensions and institutional performance, which has been formulated using five dimensions. Positive and significant relationships among the TQM dimensions and institutional performance have been observed.

Research limitations/implications

Results of the study are dependent on the profile and number of the respondents, i.e. on the perceptions of the management.

Practical implications

The paper proposes a model for achieving institutional excellence from the macro perspective of the management. Two critical factors, i.e. healthy innovative practices and feeder institution partnership have been identified as key enablers in the paper. Institutional performance (effectiveness), as a holistic construct, has been measured by five measures of performance, institution reputation and image, infrastructure quality, faculty excellence, research and industry exposure and stakeholders' satisfaction. The instrument developed can be used as a self‐assessment tool in continuously measuring the overall performance of the institution's processes and systems.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on EEIs. It evolved a holistic framework for institutional effectiveness and formulated a comprehensive instrument with respect to management's perceptions on quality management issues. The paper also identified five critical factors to measure institutional performance and 27 dimensions of TQM in the context of EEIs.
The implementation of face recognition technology and its effect on e‐quiz credibility
Authors: Chen Ruey‐Shin , Kuang Hsieh Kevin , Tsai Chih‐Hung
Published: September 2010

Purpose

Current online testing often lacks credibility, integrity, and reliability, though many online tests are implemented. Online testing with face recognition is a relatively new form of web‐based testing model in comparison to current testing. The purpose of this paper is to discuss implementation of face recognition technology to increase quiz efficacy and build credible online quiz systems.

Design/methodology/approach

While existing models of web‐based quiz systems are being improved, most current quiz models do not consider the function of fraud detection during a web‐based quiz. Online testing credibility includes the perceptions of the student and teacher on how the site would meet their expectations and how believable the testing scores are.

Findings

In a survey of faculty (25) and students (257) on online testing credibility, 80 percent of the teachers and 98 percent of the students doubt the score credibility of the current online testing system. After explaining and implementing face recognition system to the subjects, 74 percent of the teachers and 69 percent of the students positively believe the online testing result. According to hypothetical examination, face recognition, practicality, and interaction greatly shape users' opinions regarding online testing credibility.

Originality/value

The most prominent finding in this paper is that face recognition technology positively improves the online testing credibility.
“Quality lives on”: quality initiatives and practices in Australia and Britain
Authors: Burcher Peter G. , Lee Gloria L. , Waddell Dianne
Published: September 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to explore the incidence of innovative approaches to quality in both Australia and Britain, the reasons behind their implementation, the ways in which they were undertaken and the success factors and the pitfalls encountered along the way.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured postal questionnaire was sent to 1,000 quality managers in both Australia and Britain. A response was received from 129 Australian and 175 British companies, who reported on why they did or did not introduce a new quality initiative within the past five years.

Findings

A comparative analysis shows trends, similarities and differences, and future directions of quality in both countries. The paper concludes by identifying important lessons for senior management needing to make changes in this important aspect of any business. A high proportion of organisations in both countries are actively undertaking new quality initiatives. The impetus to change and the barriers to successful implementation were common to both countries. The type of initiative differed between the two countries, with a preponderance of ISO 9000 in Australia amongst a much wider choice of approaches than in Britain. There is a low take‐up of Six Sigma in both countries, particularly in Australia.

Originality/value

The paper offers a recent insight into quality approaches undertaken in both countries and identifies important lessons for senior management.
Acetylcholine acutely modifies nitric oxide synthase function in the human coronary circulation
Authors: Miner Steven E. S. , Al‐Hesayen Abdul , Nield Lynne E. , Gori Tommaso , Parker John D.
Published: September 2010

Intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine (ACh) and the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitorNG‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine (l‐NMMA) are routinely used to assess endothelial function in the human coronary circulation. Currently, there are no studies that examine whether the response to one of these agents predicts the response to the other in a given individual. We sought to determine whether human coronary vasomotor responses to intracoronary ACh are predictive of the response to intracoronaryl‐NMMA. Following diagnostic coronary angiography, a coronary sinus catheter was placed. Sequential intracoronary infusions of ACh andl‐NMMA were performed in 14 patients without severe coronary artery disease (CAD). In nine patients with severe CAD, onlyl‐NMMA was infused. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed immediately following infusions to determine changes in coronary diameter. Coronary sinus oxygen saturation and the transcardiac oxygen saturation gradients were determined during infusions as an index of coronary blood flow (CBF). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking or plasma creatinine or cholesterol levels between patients with and without severe CAD. In the 14 patients without severe CAD, ACh reduced coronary diameter on average by 8% (from 2.7 ± 0.8 to 2.5 ± 0.8 mm,P= 0.003) and reduced the transcardiac oxygen saturation gradient from 63 ± 8 to 42 ± 16% (P= 0.0001).NG‐Monomethyl‐l‐arginine had no significant effect on coronary diameter (from 2.7 ± 0.8 to 2.7 ± 0.8 mm, n.s.) and did not alter the transcardiac oxygen saturation gradient (from 63 ± 8 to 63 ± 7%, n.s.). A positive rather than negative correlation was observed between the ACh‐ andl‐NMMA‐induced changes in coronary diameter (r= 0.752,P= 0.0002). In nine patients with severe CAD who did not receive ACh,l‐NMMA had no effect on coronary diameter but produced an increased transcardiac oxygen saturation gradient consistent with reduced CBF (from 58 ± 5 to 62 ± 4%,P= 0.003). The CBF response tol‐NMMA was significantly different between the two groups (P= 0.002). The failure ofl‐NMMA to reduce CBF following ACh infusion, in contrast to the results seen in thel‐NMMA‐only group, suggests that NOS had been rendered dysfunctional by the ACh infusion itself. The positive correlation in changes to coronary diameter between ACh andl‐NMMA suggests that the degree of NOS dysfunction was directly correlated to the degree of preceding activation by ACh. Combined, these unexpected results suggest that ACh administration may acutely modify the function of NOS in the human coronary circulation.
Stimulation of Methane Generation from Nonproductive Coal by Addition of Nutrients or a Microbial Consortium
Authors: Jones Elizabeth J. P. , Voytek Mary A. , Corum Margo D. , Orem William H.
Published: September 2010

Biogenic formation of methane from coal is of great interest as an underexploited source of clean energy. The goal of some coal bed producers is to extend coal bed methane productivity and to utilize hydrocarbon wastes such as coal slurry to generate new methane. However, the process and factors controlling the process, and thus ways to stimulate it, are poorly understood. Subbituminous coal from a nonproductive well in south Texas was stimulated to produce methane in microcosms when the native population was supplemented with nutrients (biostimulation) or when nutrients and a consortium of bacteria and methanogens enriched from wetland sediment were added (bioaugmentation). The native population enriched by nutrient addition included
Pseudomonas
spp.,
Veillonellaceae
, and
Methanosarcina barkeri
. The bioaugmented microcosm generated methane more rapidly and to a higher concentration than the biostimulated microcosm. Dissolved organics, including long-chain fatty acids, single-ring aromatics, and long-chain alkanes accumulated in the first 39 days of the bioaugmented microcosm and were then degraded, accompanied by generation of methane. The bioaugmented microcosm was dominated by
Geobacter
sp., and most of the methane generation was associated with growth of
Methanosaeta concilii
. The ability of the bioaugmentation culture to produce methane from coal intermediates was confirmed in incubations of culture with representative organic compounds. This study indicates that methane production could be stimulated at the nonproductive field site and that low microbial biomass may be limiting
in situ
methane generation. In addition, the microcosm study suggests that the pathway for generating methane from coal involves complex microbial partnerships.