bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating epidemiological parameters for bovine tuberculosis in British cattle using a Bayesian partial-likelihood approach
Authors: O'Hare A. , Orton R. J. , Bessell P. R. , Kao R. R.
Published: April 2014

Fitting models with Bayesian likelihood-based parameter inference is becoming increasingly important in infectious disease epidemiology. Detailed datasets present the opportunity to identify subsets of these data that capture important characteristics of the underlying epidemiology. One such dataset describes the epidemic of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in British cattle, which is also an important exemplar of a disease with a wildlife reservoir (the Eurasian badger). Here, we evaluate a set of nested dynamic models of bTB transmission, including individual- and herd-level transmission heterogeneity and assuming minimal prior knowledge of the transmission and diagnostic test parameters. We performed a likelihood-based bootstrapping operation on the model to infer parameters based only on the recorded numbers of cattle testing positive for bTB at the start of each herd outbreak considering high- and low-risk areas separately. Models without herd heterogeneity are preferred in both areas though there is some evidence for super-spreading cattle. Similar to previous studies, we found low test sensitivities and high within-herd basic reproduction numbers (
R
0
), suggesting that there may be many unobserved infections in cattle, even though the current testing regime is sufficient to control within-herd epidemics in most cases. Compared with other, more data-heavy approaches, the summary data used in our approach are easily collected, making our approach attractive for other systems.
Spare capacity and phenotypic flexibility in the digestive system of a migratory bird: defining the limits of animal design
Authors: McWilliams Scott R. , Karasov William H.
Published: April 2014

Flexible phenotypes enable animals to live in environments that change over space and time, and knowing the limits to and the required time scale for this flexibility provides insights into constraints on energy and nutrient intake, diet diversity and niche width. We quantified the level of immediate and ultimate spare capacity, and thus the extent of phenotypic flexibility, in the digestive system of a migratory bird in response to increased energy demand, and identified the digestive constraints responsible for the limits on sustained energy intake. Immediate spare capacity decreased from approximately 50% for birds acclimated to relatively benign temperatures to less than 20% as birds approached their maximum sustainable energy intake. Ultimate spare capacity enabled an increase in feeding rate of approximately 126% as measured in birds acclimated for weeks at −29°C compared with +21°C. Increased gut size and not tissue-specific differences in nutrient uptake or changes in digestive efficiency or retention time were primarily responsible for this increase in capacity with energy demand, and this change required more than 1–2 days. Thus, the pace of change in digestive organ size may often constrain energy intake and, for birds, retard the pace of their migration.
Removal of the phage-shock protein PspB causes reduction of virulence in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium independently of NRAMP1
Authors: Wallrodt Inke , Jelsbak Lotte , Thomsen Line E. , Brix Lena , Lemire Sébastien , Gautier Laurent , Nielsen Dennis S. , Jovanovic Goran , Buck Martin , Olsen John E.
Published: April 2014

The phage-shock protein (Psp) system is believed to manage membrane stress in all Enterobacteriaceae and has recently emerged as being important for virulence in several pathogenic species of this phylum. The core of the Psp system consists of the pspA–D operon and the distantly located pspG gene. In Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), it has recently been reported that PspA is essential for systemic infection of mice, but only in NRAMP1+ mice, signifying that attenuation is related to coping with divalent cation starvation in the intracellular environment. In the present study, we investigated the contribution of individual psp genes to virulence of S. Typhimurium. Interestingly, deletion of the whole pspA–D set of genes caused attenuation in both NRAMP1+ and NRAMP1− mice, indicating that one or more of the psp genes contribute to virulence independently of NRAMP1 expression in the host. Investigations of single gene mutants showed that knock out of pspB reduced virulence in both types of mice, while deletion of pspA only caused attenuation in NRAMP1+ mice, and deletion of pspD had a minor effect in NRAMP1− mice, while deletions of either pspC or pspG did not affect virulence. Experiments addressed at elucidating the role of PspB in virulence revealed that PspB is dispensable for uptake to and intracellular replication in cultured macrophages and resistance to complement-induced killing. Furthermore, the Psp system of S. Typhimurium was dispensable during pIV-induced secretin stress. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that removal of PspB reduces virulence in S. Typhimurium independently of host NRAMP1 expression, demonstrating that PspB has roles in intra-host survival distinct from the reported contributions of PspA.
Characterization of the bla
KPC-2 and bla
KPC-3 genes and the novel bla
KPC-15 gene in Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Wang Dongguo , Hou Wei , Chen Jiayu , Mou Yonghua , Yang Linjun , Yang Liqin , Sun Xiulian , Chen Meiyun
Published: April 2014

Three Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates exhibiting high-level resistance to carbapenem were analysed by PCR, PFGE, gene mapping, plasmid conjugation and Southern blot hybridization using a bla
KPC probe. In addition to the frequently reported bla
KPC-2 and bla
KPC-3 genes, a novel bla
KPC-15 gene was identified in one of the isolates. The results of plasmid analysis and Southern blot hybridization revealed that the three bla
KPC genes were located on transferable plasmids exhibiting three different patterns. The patterns A, B and C were observed in the genetic makeup of each individual plasmid, and all three structures contained ISKpn6-like and ISKpn8 transposons. The results of the gene mapping and hybridization experiments performed with the bla
KPC probe demonstrated that the plasmids harboured the three genes at approximately the 85.0, 54.0 and 73.0 kb positions. The study concluded that carbapenem resistance in the three isolates was primarily due to the production of carbapenem-hydrolysing β-lactamase.
Model adequacy and the macroevolution of angiosperm functional traits
Authors: Pennell Matthew , FitzJohn Richard G , Cornwell William K , Harmon Luke J
Published: April 2014

Making meaningful inferences from phylogenetic comparative data requires a meaningful model of trait evolution. It is thus important to determine whether the model is appropriate for the data and the question being addressed. One way to assess this is to ask whether the model provides a good statistical explanation for the variation in the data. To date, researchers have focused primarily on the explanatory power of a model relative to alternative models. Methods have been developed to assess the adequacy, or absolute explanatory power, of phylogenetic trait models but these have been restricted to specific models or questions. Here we present a general statistical framework for assessing the adequacy of phylogenetic trait models. We use our approach to evaluate the statistical performance of commonly used trait models on 337 comparative datasets covering three key Angiosperm functional traits. In general, the models we tested often provided poor statistical explanations for the evolution of these traits. This was true for many different groups and at many different scales. Whether such statistical inadequacy will qualitatively alter inferences draw from comparative datasets will depend on the context. Regardless, assessing model adequacy can provide interesting biological insights -- how and why a model fails to describe variation in a dataset gives us clues about what evolutionary processes may have driven trait evolution across time.
A signature of power law network dynamics
Authors: Bhan Ashish , Ray Animesh
Published: April 2014

Can one hear the sound of a growing network? We address the problem of recognizing the topology of evolving biological or social networks. Starting from percolation theory, we analytically prove a linear inverse relationship between two simple graph parametersthe logarithm of the average cluster size and logarithm of the ratio of the edges of the graph to the theoretically maximum number of edges for that graphthat holds for all growing power law graphs. The result establishes a novel property of evolving power-law networks in the asymptotic limit of network size. Numerical simulations as well as fitting to real-world citation co-authorship networks demonstrate that the result holds for networks of finite sizes, and provides a convenient measure of the extent to which an evolving family of networks belongs to the same power-law class.
Dissection of thousands of cell type-specific enhancers identifies dinucleotide repeat motifs as general enhancer features
Authors: Yáñez-Cuna J. Omar , Arnold Cosmas D. , Stampfel Gerald , Boryń Łukasz M. , Gerlach Daniel , Rath Martina , Stark Alexander
Published: April 2014

Gene expression is determined by genomic elements called enhancers, which contain short motifs bound by different transcription factors (TFs). However, how enhancer sequences and TF motifs relate to enhancer activity is unknown, and general sequence requirements for enhancers or comprehensive sets of important enhancer sequence elements have remained elusive. Here, we computationally dissect thousands of functional enhancer sequences from three different Drosophila cell lines. We find that the enhancers display distinct cis-regulatory sequence signatures, which are predictive of the enhancers’ cell type-specific or broad activities. These signatures contain transcription factor motifs and a novel class of enhancer sequence elements, dinucleotide repeat motifs (DRMs). DRMs are highly enriched in enhancers, particularly in enhancers that are broadly active across different cell types. We experimentally validate the importance of the identified TF motifs and DRMs for enhancer function and show that they can be sufficient to create an active enhancer de novo from a nonfunctional sequence. The function of DRMs as a novel class of general enhancer features that are also enriched in human regulatory regions might explain their implication in several diseases and provides important insights into gene regulation.
Rate of elongation by RNA polymerase II is associated with specific gene features and epigenetic modifications
Authors: Veloso Artur , Kirkconnell Killeen S. , Magnuson Brian , Biewen Benjamin , Paulsen Michelle T. , Wilson Thomas E. , Ljungman Mats
Published: April 2014

The rate of transcription elongation plays an important role in the timing of expression of full-length transcripts as well as in the regulation of alternative splicing. In this study, we coupled Bru-seq technology with 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (DRB) to estimate the elongation rates of over 2000 individual genes in human cells. This technique, BruDRB-seq, revealed gene-specific differences in elongation rates with a median rate of around 1.5 kb/min. We found that genes with rapid elongation rates showed higher densities of H3K79me2 and H4K20me1 histone marks compared to slower elongating genes. Furthermore, high elongation rates had a positive correlation with gene length, low complexity DNA sequence, and distance from the nearest active transcription unit. Features that negatively correlated with elongation rate included the density of exons, long terminal repeats, GC content of the gene, and DNA methylation density in the bodies of genes. Our results suggest that some static gene features influence transcription elongation rates and that cells may alter elongation rates by epigenetic regulation. The BruDRB-seq technique offers new opportunities to interrogate mechanisms of regulation of transcription elongation.
Actin-Dependent and -Independent Functions of Cortical Microtubules in the Differentiation ofArabidopsisLeaf Trichomes
Authors: Sambade Adrian , Findlay Kim , Schäffner Anton R. , Lloyd Clive W. , Buschmann Henrik
Published: April 2014

Arabidopsis thaliana tortifolía2 carries a point mutation in α-tubulin 4 and shows aberrant cortical microtubule dynamics. The microtubule defect of tortifolia2 leads to overbranching and right-handed helical growth in the single-celled leaf trichomes. Here, we use tortifolia2 to further our understanding of microtubules in plant cell differentiation. Trichomes at the branching stage show an apical ring of cortical microtubules, and our analyses support that this ring is involved in marking the prospective branch site. tortifolia2 showed ectopic microtubule bundles at this stage, consistent with a function for microtubules in selecting new branch sites. Overbranching of tortifolia2 required the C-terminal binding protein/brefeldin A-ADP ribosylated substrate protein ANGUSTIFOLIA1, and our results indicate that the angustifolia1 mutant is hypersensitive to alterations in microtubule dynamics. To analyze whether actin and microtubules cooperate in the trichome cell expansion process, we generated double mutants of tortifolia2 with distorted1, a mutant that is defective in the actin-related ARP2/3 complex. The double mutant trichomes showed a complete loss of growth anisotropy, suggesting a genetic interaction of actin and microtubules. Green fluorescent protein labeling of F-actin or microtubules in tortifolia2 distorted1 double mutants indicated that F-actin enhances microtubule dynamics and enables reorientation. Together, our results suggest actin-dependent and -independent functions of cortical microtubules in trichome differentiation.
Trauma through the lens of service coordinators: exploring their awareness of adverse life events among adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: M. Keesler John
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– With an expansion of trauma knowledge in the field of intellectual disabilities (ID) there is a responsibility among service providers to be trauma-informed. Among those providers are service coordinators (SCs) who are involved in the lives of individuals through the assessment of needs and linkage with necessary supports. The purpose of this paper is to explore SCs’ understanding of individuals’ experiences of adverse life events, trauma, and related services.

Design/methodology/approach

– Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 15 SCs, encompassing the experiences of 29 individuals with mild ID. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Findings

– From SCs’ perspective, individuals’ experiences were comprised of three major categories – experiencing adversity, responding to adversity and adapting to adversity – influenced by precipitating and perpetuating conditions. Despite a lack of familiarity with the term “trauma,” in general, SCs possessed a rich understanding of individuals’ comprehensive experiences including types of events, responses to events, environmental factors, and implications of respective services.

Originality/value

– This is an original approach to understanding the awareness of trauma among an integral group of providers for individuals with ID. This paper shows that, although there is a need to reframe current knowledge, SCs can be an asset to facilitate organizational endeavors to become trauma-informed thus having a potential impact on individuals’ quality of life.
Community dialectical behaviour therapy for emotionally dysregulated adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Baillie Aubrey , Slater Sean
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reflexively examine the challenges of implementing a community dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) service for adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) and describes the practical lessons learned about how to maximise the effectiveness of DBT with this client group.

Design/methodology/approach

– A brief overview of DBT is provided and reference is made to literature which highlights the potential benefits of providing a DBT service to clients with an ID. This is followed by a discussion of the clinical presentation of the clients receiving DBT in the service that is the focus of this case study. Using a reflexive approach, a detailed discussion follows of the challenges faced in implementing a community DBT service for the clients served.

Findings

– Solutions to a variety of challenges faced in four years of service delivery are described, key lessons learned are highlighted, together with issues meriting further research.

Research limitations/implications

– This case study and its implications are limited to community DBT services. Another limitation is that, although outcome data have been collected over the past two years, the dataset is not yet large enough to draw statistical conclusions.

Practical implications

– The paper describes adaptations to treatment structure and strategy which the authors believe are necessary to improve treatment outcomes in community DBT services for adults with ID. In particular, the practical experience suggests that a didactic approach to teaching DBT skills is not effective and should be replaced by the “community of learners” approach that involves the trainer contingently responding to client input. Pre-set lesson plans inhibit the trainers’ ability to respond contingently.

Originality/value

– The existing literature on providing a DBT service for people with an ID has principally focused on providing a rationale for providing this type of intervention, and on assessing outcomes. Given that this is still a relatively new type of provision for this client group, a detailed examination of process issues is called for.
Getting unstuck along the clinical pathway: an integrated multi-agency approach
Authors: Richards Luci , Uchendu Nwamaka , O’Hara Jean
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight how the management of an adult with intellectual disabilities and complex medical conditions by a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team approach across a clinical pathway (primary, secondary and tertiary care, health, social and third sector agencies) can be used to improve the person's physical and mental health outcome.

Design/methodology/approach

– Literature review and case report in which the paper describes the presentation of the patient with multiple complex physical health conditions, mild intellectual disability and challenging behaviour and description of the management process and the observed outcome.

Findings

– The patient required input from the multi-disciplinary community intellectual disabilities team and multi-agency team including social services and community support team, admission to a specialist intellectual disabilities ward to optimise her management. She improved relatively well and was discharged to the community. On discharge she continued to receive ongoing psychiatric, psychological and community psychiatric nurse input and maintains the sustained improvement in her mental health. She no longer displays risky or challenging behaviour, her mood has improved and there is no self-harm ideation. She remains anxious at times, however, her symptoms are much improved and do not affect her daily functioning.

Originality/value

– This case highlights the profound and enduring psychiatric and behavioural sequelae following brain malignancy and treatment and how essential a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency approach is in the successful management of complex issues. Her symptoms appeared relatively treatment resistant until she had a specialist inpatient admission. This case study also demonstrates the strengths and advantages of having specialist care pathway for such complex presentations, allowing for integrated community, secondary and tertiary care, and for the care system to work together in a coordinated and managed way.
Identifying and ranking the effective factors on customer values
Authors: Ghandehary Mahsa , Harati Hojjat , Khazaei Pool Javad
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to identify and rank the effective factors on customer values from the perspective of banking customers.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study is a practical and descriptive survey. In order to rank the factors affecting customer values, a fuzzy analytical hierarchical process has been used. The data were gathered through Delphi method and questionnaires.

Findings

– The results of this study indicate that the factors affecting customer values include costs, relational benefits, brand perceptions, and services quality. These factors influence customer values, respectively. The results also indicate that financial costs among costs, operational benefit among relational benefits, trust in employee behavior in customer brand perceptions, and finally confidence in service quality dimensions have the highest priority.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed model and research findings will greatly help researchers and practitioners understand the factors influencing customer value using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) in the banking industry.

Originality/value

– In this study, for the first time, factors influencing customer value are studied by using a FAHP in the banking industry. The use of this method in this study has a certain authenticity.
Exploring the factor structure of the CareerEDGE employability development profile
Authors: Dacre Pool Lorraine , Qualter Pamela , J. Sewell Peter
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– There has been little empirical research conducted in relation to graduate employability and diagnostic tools available in this area are very limited. The purpose of this paper is to introduce and explore the factor structure of a new measure of employability development, the CareerEDGE Employability Development Profile (EDP).

Design/methodology/approach

– The EDP was completed by 807 undergraduate students, providing data for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

Findings

– The analyses suggest that the EDP is multidimensional and maps clearly onto the CareerEDGE model of graduate employability.

Research limitations/implications

– These findings are discussed and interpreted as offering support for the use of the EDP with students as a developmental tool and as a measurement tool for use in the design, implementation and evaluation of employability interventions or other research purposes.

Originality/value

– The provision of a practical employability development tool that is suitable for use with students of any Higher Education institution. The findings also add to the limited literature on graduate employability.
Workplace learning – a healthcare perspective
Authors: Cronin Camille
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the complex relationship between the learner and the learning environment. As a method case study research was employed to examine the student's experience of the learning environment. Work experience is considered to be an essential course requirement for vocational programmes throughout the world. This paper exclusively describes the learning environment and presents a number of significant processes that the learner experiences, each one having an impact on the learning experience. This paper will be of interest to policy makers, academics and educators who face the challenge of trying to understand how students learn in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

– Case study research was used to systematically investigate the learning environments and examine five students’ experience of learning in healthcare settings which included nurseries, nursing homes and hospitals while studying on a two-year health studies Further Education (FE) programme. Through critical incident interviews, observations and documentation data were collected and analysed.

Findings

– This study has identified the learning environment as a complex entity comprising of six significant processes: physical environment, interaction communication, self-awareness, tasks, feelings and learning. These processes illustrate the multidimensional nature of the learning environment, how dependent they are on each other and how they coexist within the learning environment.

Practical implications

– In studying this particular student group many similarities have been found with pre-registration nurses and other professional groups studying on undergraduate programmes in higher education who rely on the “workplace” for learning, particularly where the workplace may provide up to half the educational experience in a programme's curriculum.

Social implications

– This study only really provides a snapshot of a number of healthcare settings that exist in one geographical area, and coupled with the size of the sample itself further limits the study. However, what is inherent in qualitative research particularly in a case study design is the focus on in-depth contextual data.

Originality/value

– This paper is unique as it examines the learning experience of students on a health studies programme in FE. It describes and discusses their experience of workplace learning.
Innovation and skills: implications for the agri-food sector
Authors: Jack Claire , Anderson Duncan , Connolly Niamh
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Despite the economic downturn, the Northern Ireland agri-food sector has remained resilient experiencing export growth, particularly in emerging economies. The sector recognises that to maintain its competitive advantage in both existing and new markets it will require a business strategy focused on product, service and process innovation. The purpose of this paper is to explore how firms within the sector consider how this will impact upon future skills and training needs and identifies where the industry considers the appropriate policy interventions are required.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was undertaken to explore how innovation and technology adoption within the agri-food and drinks sector is impacting on educational and skills requirements. In total, 30 companies were interviewed, providing representation from all the food and drinks sub-sectors and covering at least 50 per cent of employee numbers in each sub-sector. The survey focuses on current and future skills requirements for specific cohorts of employees in the sector; specifically those who have undertaken further full-time training beyond minimum school leaving age. In addition, it aimed to seek employer feedback on those entering the labour market for the first time.

Findings

– The results support the need for strong intermediate levels of educational attainment. In addition, the acquisition of work-related generic skills is essential for creating a more “flexible” and multi-skilled workforce. Up-skilling programmes, particularly for lower to mid-level management roles, will become increasingly important in the future. Experience gained through work placement and vacation and weekend work is viewed very positively. Companies expressed a greater need for engagement between the further and higher education sectors and industry in relation to the content, design and delivery of educational programmes to adequately meet the needs of the sector.

Originality/value

– At a time when government is looking to growth in the private sector to stimulate economic growth in the wider economy, this paper highlights the skills and training challenges which have emerged within the Northern Ireland agri-food sector, in response to business strategies which are more focused on product, service and process innovation.
Hotel managers' perceptions of the value of diversity training: an empirical investigation
Authors: Reynolds Dennis , Rahman Imran , Bradetich Stacey
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Recent research identifies several attributes that lead to the value proposition of a diversity-training program: corporate engagement in diversity training; participants' perceptions of how such programs aid their peers; self-analysis of participants in training; and perceptions regarding the benefit of diversity training for subordinates. The aim of this paper is to test a corresponding four-antecedent model of the value of diversity training from the point of view of hotel managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey instrument was devised and sent to a random sample of hotel properties that asked managers questions related to the value of diversity training. Multiple regression analysis and t-tests were used as methods of data analyses.

Findings

– Results from 242 responses returned by managers of 96 hotels indicated that managers perceive themselves and the corporate executives to significantly add value to the organization through diversity training. Furthermore, ethnic minority managers do not value diversity training significantly more highly than their non-minority counterparts do; similarly, little difference exists between genders on the four indicators of diversity-training efficacy.

Research limitations/implications

– This study examined only one aspect of diversity management – diversity training. Among other limitations are the small sample and low response rates, which made it difficult to compare ethnic groups to one another.

Practical implications

– Through this study, managers' perceptions about which groups of employees add value following diversity training are presented. The findings are likely to help hospitality corporations to implement diversity training more efficiently.

Originality/value

– This study indicates that hotel managers value diversity training and suggests the need for organizations to understand how to prioritize various organizational levels for such training.
Are traditional forecasting models suitable for hotels in Italian cities?
Authors: Ellero Andrea , Pellegrini Paola
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to assess the performance of different widely-adopted models to forecast Italian hotel occupancy. In particular, the paper tests the different models for forecasting the demand in hotels located in urban areas, which typically experience both business and leisure demand, and whose demand is often affected by the presence of special events in the hotels themselves, or in their neighborhood.

Design/methodology/approach

– Several forecasting models that the literature reports as most suitable for hotel room occupancy data were selected. Historical data on occupancy in five Italian hotels were divided into a training set and a test set. The parameters of the models were trained and fine-tuned on the training data, obtaining one specific set for each of the five Italian hotels considered. For each hotel, each method, with corresponding best parameter choice, is used to forecast room occupancy in the test set.

Findings

– In the particular Italian market, models based on booking information outperform historical ones: pick-up models achieve the best results but forecasts are in any case rather poor.

Research limitations/implications

– The main conclusions of the analysis are that the pick-up models are the most promising ones. Nonetheless, none of the traditional forecasting models tested appears satisfactory in the Italian framework, although the data collected by the front offices can be rather rich.

Originality/value

– From a managerial point-of-view, the outcome of the study shows that traditional forecasting models can be considered only as a sort of “first aid” for revenue management decisions.
Employment characteristics and retention predictors among hourly employees in large US theme parks and attractions
Authors: Milman Ady , Dickson Duncan
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to evaluate and analyze hourly line-level employees' characteristics and their perceptions of their employment experience in large US theme parks and attractions, as well as to explore predictors for their retention.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research instrument adopted a theoretical framework based on previous retention studies of hourly employees in various industries. Following a qualitative phase with theme park employees, the survey was tailored to the uniqueness of the industry. Since major theme park companies are protective of their employee database, a “snowball” sampling technique was adopted using a variety of Social Networking Sites (SNS). A total of 307 usable responses were attained.

Findings

– The results indicated that of the 27 employment characteristics studied, the most important were perceived to be advancement opportunities, humane approach to employees, and a fun and challenging job. Importance-Performance analysis revealed that the largest gaps were recorded in the areas of pay, advancement opportunities, and a humane approach to employees. The results also confirmed that hourly employees' retention was predicted by employees' level of satisfaction, better experience with pay, and better experience with employee development training classes. However, hourly employee retention was also predicted by the employees' negative experience with flexible working hours and performance reviews.

Research limitations/implications

– Data collection through Social Networking Sites (SNS) may not necessarily be as reliable a source for data collection as other methodologies, though some contemporary research justifies its reliability. Utilizing the “snowball” technique and the absence of random sampling may have slanted the responses. Although demographic data on the typical theme park employee is unavailable, the data was skewed towards younger employees who may not necessarily represent other age groups. Due to the US theme park industry's leading presence in Central Florida, the sample primarily represented hourly employees working for the Central Florida theme park industry.

Practical implications

– As the labor pool continues to decline, employers must adopt new creative strategies to keep their employees and attract new ones at the same time. This may be attained by developing and revising mission statements, values, and corporate visions that may be applicable to hourly employees: the largest labor segment in the theme park and attraction industry.

Originality/value

– While recent hospitality turnover research focused on its antecedents, this study explores the predictors of why employees stay. Previous retention studies have focused on hotels or restaurants and not on the unique group of theme park hourly employees that work in different settings and employment conditions. Knowing why people stay can help reduce turnover and thus lower the cost of staffing.
How do international tourists perceive hotel quality?
Authors: Taylan Dortyol Ibrahim , Varinli Inci , Kitapci Olgun
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to identify tourists' perceptions of services provided by hotels in Antalya/Turkey and to explore hotel service quality dimensions. Specifically, the objectives are as follows: to identify the dimensions of hotel service quality, and to determine the relative impact of those dimensions on customer satisfaction levels, on customer value and on customers' intentions to recommend or revisit a hotel.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present study uses the framework which originally appeared in Juwaheer's study investigating international tourists' perceptions of hotels in Mauritius. In this framework ten hotel service quality dimensions were defined by factor analysis and then the most important dimensions for each component were determined using stepwise regression analysis.

Findings

– Of the ten hotel service quality dimensions, “tangibles” and “food quality and reliability” influence the customer satisfaction level the most. Customer value is explained by five dimensions which generate 37.8 percent of the variance. “Hotel employees and problem solving”, “transportation”, “food quality and reliability”, “climate and hygiene”, “level of price”, “tangibles”, “interaction with Turkish culture” and “friendly, courteous and helpful employees” are the main dimensions which affect whether a guest will recommend a hotel. “Tangibles”, “interaction with Turkish culture”, and “level of price” are seen as the most influential dimensions in terms of customers' intentions to revisit a hotel.

Research limitations/implications

– The basic limitation of the study is the unexplained variance, which is the result of the regression analysis. Therefore, future research should aim to determine the factors explaining that variance.

Practical implications

– In light of these findings, hotel managers in Antalya can better understand their guests' priorities and consequently, they can arrange their service encounter process accordingly to fulfill these priorities.

Originality/value

– This study presents potentially valuable information for hotel managers in Antalya with regards to understanding customer value and satisfaction, which are the key elements in terms of guests revisiting a hotel and recommending it to others. As providing an opportunity for a comparative study of service quality searches, this study contributes to the field.
Generation Y's dining information seeking and sharing behavior on social networking sites
Authors: Bilgihan Anil , Peng Cheng , Kandampully Jay
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Since the advent of the internet, social networking sites (SNS) have grown rapidly in popularity. This paper aims to explore Generation Y's information seeking and sharing behavior with regard to information about SNS; it also investigates the impact of consumer characteristics and gender differences on information seeking and sharing behaviors, to help marketers and researchers gain better insight into Generation Y consumers and social media marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

– A self-administered survey was conducted among Generation Y college students. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and Mann-Whitney U-tests were employed to address the research questions.

Findings

– Generation Y'ers are heavy users of SNS. Consumer opinion leadership (COL) and consumer susceptibility to interpersonal influence (CSII) affect Generation Y's dining information seeking and sharing behavior on SNS. No gender differences emerged.

Research limitations/implications

– This research extends COL and CSII, from general consumer behavior to dining-related behavior, and offers insights into the information seeking and sharing behavior of Generation Y. In practical terms, it raises marketers' awareness of Generation Y consumers and highlights the importance of social media marketing. A limitation of this study is the sample size and generalizability of the results.

Originality/value

– This study represents a first attempt to use COL and CSII to explain dining behavior and link these two consumer characteristics with social media marketing.
Knowledge influencers: leaders influencing knowledge creation and mobilization
Authors: Reid Steven
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of leaders on knowledge creation and mobilization.

Design/methodology/approach

– This mixed methods study included three high-performing districts based on provincial assessment results and socio-economic factors. Interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data from 53 participants including: 11 principals, 11 teacher leaders, 26 teachers, and five system leaders.

Findings

– The findings of the study emphasized the importance of leaders supporting knowledge creation and mobilization processes through practices such as engaging school-based knowledge influencers and fostering cultures of trust and risk taking. The author defined knowledge influencers as leaders, formal or informal, who have access to knowledge creating groups at the local and system level. These leaders influenced knowledge mobilization at different levels of the district.

Research limitations/implications

– A research limitation of this study was present based on the sole use of high-performing districts and schools. Participation was determined via comparisons of provincial assessment results (Ontario, Canada) and socio-economic status (SES) factors. Although causal effects are cautioned, districts and schools from various SES communities (high, medium, low) were chosen to support broad generalizations and associations.

Practical implications

– This study provided pragmatic considerations and recommendations for system and school leaders, those charged with increasing student achievement (e.g. use of knowledge influencers and an expanded array of data use while creating knowledge).

Originality/value

– A knowledge creation model was developed by the author based on a synthesis of the findings. The model and study will be of interest to those wishing to further implement or study the creation and mobilization of knowledge within organizations.
Development and validity of the Ethical Leadership Questionnaire
Authors: Langlois Lyse , Lapointe Claire , Valois Pierre , de Leeuw Astrid
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This study had five objectives: explain the initial steps that led to the construction of the Ethical Leadership Questionnaire (ELQ); analyze the items and verify the ELQ reliability using item response theory (IRT); examine its factorial structure with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) approach; test the item bias of the ELQ; assess the relation between the ELQ dimensions and ethical sensitivity. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Study 1 and Study 2 involved 200 and 668 respondents, respectively. Step 1 consisted in IRT; Step 2 in CFA and ESEM analysis; Step 3 in invariance of the ELQ items across gender, and Step 4 in structural equation modeling.

Findings

– Results indicated the presence of the three types of ethic in the resolution of moral dilemmas, validating Starratt's model. The factor structure was gender invariant. Ethic of critique was significantly related to ethical sensitivity.

Research limitations/implications

– More replications will be needed to fully support the ELQ's validity. Given that the instrument may be used in diverse cultural contexts, invariance across cultures would be warranted.

Practical implications

– As educational organizations become aware of the crucial need for more ethical leaders, they will need to pay particular attention to the ethic of critique as it appears to play a significant role in the development of ethical sensitivity.

Social implications

– Results presented in this paper answer a vital need for more ethical skills in educational leadership.

Originality/value

– The ELQ provides a validated measure of Starratt's conceptual framework and highlights the key role played by ethical sensitivity and the ethic of critique.
Liquidity and real estate asset pricing: a pan-European study
Authors: Scholz Alexander , Lang Stephan , Schaefers Wolfgang
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Understanding the pricing of real estate equities is a central objective of real estate research. This paper aims to investigate the impact of liquidity on European real estate equity returns, after accounting for well-documented systematic risk factors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on risk factors derived from general equity data, the authors extend the Fama-French time-series regression approach by a liquidity factor, using a pan-European sample of 272 real estate equities.

Findings

– The empirical results indicate that liquidity is a significant pricing factor in real estate stock returns, even after controlling for market, size and book-to-market factors. In addition, the authors detect that real estate stock returns load predominantly positively on the liquidity risk factor, suggesting that real estate equities tend to behave like illiquid common equities. These findings are underpinned by a series of robustness checks. Running a comparative analysis with alternative factor models, the authors further demonstrate that the liquidity-augmented asset-pricing model is most appropriate for explaining European real estate stock returns.

Research limitations/implications

– The inclusion of sentiment and downside risk factors could provide further insights into real estate asset pricing in European capital markets.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the role of liquidity as a systematic risk factor in a pan-European setting.
Measuring European property investment performance: comparing different approaches
Authors: Devaney Steven
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Price indices for commercial real estate markets are difficult to construct because assets are heterogeneous, they are spatially dispersed and they are infrequently traded. Appraisal-based indices are one response to these problems, but may understate volatility or fail to capture turning points in a timely manner. This paper estimates “transaction linked indices” for major European markets to see whether these offer a different perspective on market performance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The assessed value method is used to construct the indices. This has been recently applied to commercial real estate datasets in the USA and UK. The underlying data comprise appraisals and sale prices for assets monitored by Investment Property Databank (IPD). The indices are compared to appraisal-based series for the countries concerned for Q4 2001 to Q4 2012.

Findings

– Transaction linked indices show stronger growth and sharper declines over the course of the cycle, but they do not notably lead their appraisal-based counterparts. They are typically two to four times more volatile.

Research limitations/implications

– Only country-level indicators can be constructed in many cases owing to low trading volumes in the period studied, and this same issue prevented sample selection bias from being analysed in depth.

Originality/value

– Discussion of the utility of transaction-based price indicators is extended to European commercial real estate markets. The indicators offer alternative estimates of real estate market volatility that may be useful in asset allocation and risk modelling, including in a regulatory context.
Auditing service providers: supporting auditors in cross-organizational settings
Authors: Bachlechner Daniel , Thalmann Stefan , Manhart Markus
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the particular information needs of external auditors performing information technology (IT) audits at service providers in cross-organizational settings and to promote a software-based approach towards their satisfaction. The approach is intended to supplement the manual approaches currently adopted by auditors to procure information in such settings.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors analyzed data collected by means of a series of 16 interviews and four think-aloud sessions with experienced professionals.

Findings

– Information procurement is perceived as tedious by auditors and largely relies on repeat interviews and perusal of documents. Given the growing complexity of cross-organizational settings, manual approaches to information procurement are reaching their limits. A considerable portion of the information required is often stored by service providers using software that is inaccessible to auditors. The authors argue that a software-based approach providing an interface for auditors to access relevant information held by such software presents an avenue worth exploring.

Practical implications

– The authors outline how the information stored by service providers using software can be made accessible with reasonable effort. Complementing manual approaches to information procurement with an audit interface would reduce workload and increase quality.

Originality/value

– The concept of an audit interface represents a novel and promising approach to meeting the information needs of auditors performing IT audits in cross-organizational settings more effectively. Both auditors and service providers would benefit from its implementation.