bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An aromatic amino acid in the coiled-coil 1 domain plays a crucial role in the auto-inhibitory mechanism of STIM1
Authors: Yu Junwei , Zhang Haining , Zhang Mingshu , Deng Yongqiang , Wang Huiyu , Lu Jingze , Xu Tao , Xu Pingyong
Published: June 2013

STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1) is one of the key elements that mediate store-operated Ca2+ entry via CRAC (Ca2+- release-activated Ca2+) channels in immune and non-excitable cells. Under physiological conditions, the intramolecular auto-inhibitions in STIM1 C- and STIM1 N-termini play essential roles in keeping STIM1 in an inactive state. However, the auto-inhibitory mechanism of the STIM1 C-terminus is still unclear. In the present study, we first predicted a short inhibitory domain (residues 310–317) in human STIM1 that might determine the different localizations of human STIM1 from Caenorhabditis elegans STIM1 in resting cells. Next, we confirmed the prediction and further identified an aromatic amino acid residue, Tyr316, that played a crucial role in maintaining STIM1 in a closed conformation in quiescent cells. Full-length STIM1-Y316A formed constitutive clusters near the plasma membrane and activated the CRAC channel in the resting state when co-expressed with Orai1. The introduction of a Y316A mutation caused the higher-order oligomerization of the in vitro purified STIM1 fragment containing both the auto-inhibitory domain and CAD (CRAC-activating domain). We propose that the Tyr316 residue may be involved in the auto-inhibitory mechanism of the STIM1 C-terminus in the quiescent state. This inhibition could be achieved either by interacting with the CAD using hydrogen and/or hydrophobic bonds, or by an intermolecular interaction using repulsive forces, which maintained a dimeric STIM1.
Picking sides: distinct roles for CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 in rice oryzalexin biosynthesis
Authors: Wu Yisheng , Wang Qiang , Hillwig Matthew L. , Peters Reuben J.
Published: June 2013

Natural products biosynthesis often requires the action of multiple CYPs (cytochromes P450), whose ability to introduce oxygen, increasing solubility, is critical for imparting biological activity. In previous investigations of rice diterpenoid biosynthesis, we characterized CYPs that catalyse alternative hydroxylation of ent-sandaracopimaradiene, the precursor to the rice oryzalexin antibiotic phytoalexins. In particular, CYP76M5, CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 were all shown to carry out C-7β hydroxylation, whereas CYP701A8 catalyses C-3α hydroxylation, with oxy groups found at both positions in oryzalexins A–D, suggesting that these may act consecutively in oryzalexin biosynthesis. In the present paper, we report that, although CYP701A8 only poorly reacts with 7β-hydroxy-ent-sandaracopimaradiene, CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 readily react with 3α-hydroxy-ent-sandaracopimaradiene. Notably, their activity yields distinct products, resulting from hydroxylation at C-9β by CYP76M6 or C-7β by CYP76M8, on different sides of the core tricyclic ring structure. Thus CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 have distinct non-redundant roles in orzyalexin biosynthesis. Moreover, the resulting 3α,7β- and 3α,9β-diols correspond to oryzalexins D and E respectively. Accordingly, the results of the present study complete the functional identification of the biosynthetic pathway underlying the production of these bioactive phytoalexins. In addition, the altered regiochemistry catalysed by CYP76M6 following C-3α hydroxylation has some implications for its active-site configuration, offering further molecular insight.
Frontal Sinus Fractures: A Conservative Shift
Authors: Weathers William M. , Wolfswinkel Erik M. , Hatef Daniel A. , Lee Edward I. , Brown Rodger H. , Hollier Larry H.
Published: June 2013

This article reflects on the changing management of frontal sinus fractures. Severity of these injuries has decreased tremendously since the universal adoption of seat belts and air bags. Recently, there has been a shift from aggressive surgical management to more conservative management strategies, some forgoing surgery all together. New technologies, such as bioabsorbable plates and endoscopic sinus surgery, are leading the way in improved surgical management strategies and offer promising alternatives to the more traditional approaches.
Racialisation and the Figure of the Climate-Change Migrant
Authors: Baldwin Andrew
Published: June 2013

This paper analyses the growing discourse on climate change and migration from the perspective of critical race theory. The main contention put forward is that the figure of the climate change migrant is racialised to the extent that it is made to bear racial connotations. The paper traces the racialisation of the figure of the climate-change migrant through three specific racial tropes evident in the discourse on climate-change and migration: naturalisation; the loss of political status; and ambiguity. The paper concludes with the observation that the racialisation of climate-change and migration discourse does not point to any sort of universal theory of racialisation pertinent to the discourse but, instead, reaffirms the notion that racialisation is a contingent phenomenon. The paper also calls for an interpretation of climate change that is sensitive to racialisation as a key social process in the configuration of climate-change and migration discourse.
Buds, bushfires and resprouting in the eucalypts
Authors: Burrows G. E.
Published: June 2013

Eucalypts encounter a wide range of severe disturbances such as extensive defoliation by insects, major structural damage from cyclonic winds, as well as foliage and bark loss during drought and fire. Most healthy, mature eucalypts are not killed by these events, but regenerate vegetatively. With increasing intensity of disturbance, resprouting first occurs from the accessory buds in the small-diameter branchlets of the crown, followed by the epicormic buds in the medium- and large-diameter branches and stems, and then from the buds of the lignotuber. All these modes of regeneration are ultimately dependent on preventitious buds and, thus, the present review concentrates on axillary buds, their subsequent development into epicormic or lignotuber buds and their degree of protection from fire. The eucalypts have remarkably abundant, well protected and anatomically distinctive bud-forming structures in their leaf axils, branches, stems and lignotubers. These structures are quite consistent across this large genus, but are generally different from resprouting structures in many other plants. From an anatomical perspective, these structures seem best adapted to regeneration after fire, rather than damage from insects, storms or drought and this also correlates with ecological observations. On a worldwide basis, the eucalypts are some of the most successful post-fire resprouters, especially epicormic resprouting after medium- and high-intensity fires. Given the apparent ecological advantages of epicormic resprouting (the rapid reestablishment of extensive leaf area while simultaneously shading basal resprouters and seedlings) this could be an important factor in the success of eucalypts in Australia. Recent phylogenetic analysis has indicated a long relationship between eucalypts, fire and bud structures that facilitate resprouting.
Defining a length scale for millisecond-timescale protein conformational exchange
Authors: Sekhar Ashok , Vallurupalli Pramodh , Kay Lewis E.
Published: June 2013

Although atomic resolution 3D structures of protein native states and some folding intermediates are available, the mechanism of interconversion between such states remains poorly understood. Here we study the four-helix bundle FF module, which folds via a transiently formed and sparsely populated compact on-pathway intermediate, I. Relaxation dispersion NMR spectroscopy has previously been used to elucidate the 3D structure of this intermediate and to establish that the conformational exchange between the I and the native, N, states of the FF domain is driven predominantly by water dynamics. In the present study we use NMR methods to define a length scale for the FF I–N transition, namely the effective hydrodynamic radius (EHR) that provides an average measure of the size of the structural units participating in the transition at any given time. Our experiments establish that the EHR is less than 4 Å, on the order of the size of one to two amino acid side chains, much smaller than the FF domain hydrodynamic radius (13 Å). The small magnitude of the EHR provides strong evidence that the I–N interconversion does not proceed via the synchronous motion of large clusters of amino acid residues, but rather by the exposure/burial of one or two side chains from solvent at any given time. Because the hydration of small hydrophobic solutes (< 4 Å) does not involve considerable dewetting or disruption of the water–hydrogen bonding network, the FF domain I–N transition does not require appreciable changes to the structure of the surrounding water.
Prevalent genome streamlining and latitudinal divergence of planktonic bacteria in the surface ocean
Authors: Swan Brandon K. , Tupper Ben , Sczyrba Alexander , Lauro Federico M. , Martinez-Garcia Manuel , González José M. , Luo Haiwei , Wright Jody J. , Landry Zachary C. , Hanson Niels W. , Thompson Brian P. , Poulton Nicole J. , Schwientek Patrick , Acinas Silvia G. , Giovannoni Stephen J. , Moran Mary Ann , Hallam Steven J. , Cavicchioli Ricardo , Woyke Tanja , Stepanauskas Ramunas
Published: June 2013

Planktonic bacteria dominate surface ocean biomass and influence global biogeochemical processes, but remain poorly characterized owing to difficulties in cultivation. Using large-scale single cell genomics, we obtained insight into the genome content and biogeography of many bacterial lineages inhabiting the surface ocean. We found that, compared with existing cultures, natural bacterioplankton have smaller genomes, fewer gene duplications, and are depleted in guanine and cytosine, noncoding nucleotides, and genes encoding transcription, signal transduction, and noncytoplasmic proteins. These findings provide strong evidence that genome streamlining and oligotrophy are prevalent features among diverse, free-living bacterioplankton, whereas existing laboratory cultures consist primarily of copiotrophs. The apparent ubiquity of metabolic specialization and mixotrophy, as predicted from single cell genomes, also may contribute to the difficulty in bacterioplankton cultivation. Using metagenome fragment recruitment against single cell genomes, we show that the global distribution of surface ocean bacterioplankton correlates with temperature and latitude and is not limited by dispersal at the time scales required for nucleotide substitution to exceed the current operational definition of bacterial species. Single cell genomes with highly similar small subunit rRNA gene sequences exhibited significant genomic and biogeographic variability, highlighting challenges in the interpretation of individual gene surveys and metagenome assemblies in environmental microbiology. Our study demonstrates the utility of single cell genomics for gaining an improved understanding of the composition and dynamics of natural microbial assemblages.
Diversification through multitrait evolution in a coevolving interaction
Authors: Thompson John N. , Schwind Christopher , Guimarães Paulo R. , Friberg Magne
Published: June 2013

Mutualisms between species are interactions in which reciprocal exploitation results in outcomes that are mutually beneficial. This reciprocal exploitation is evident in the more than a thousand plant species that are pollinated exclusively by insects specialized to lay their eggs in the flowers they pollinate. By pollinating each flower in which she lays eggs, an insect guarantees that her larval offspring have developing seeds on which to feed, whereas the plant gains a specialized pollinator at the cost of some seeds. These mutualisms are often reciprocally obligate, potentially driving not only ongoing coadaptation but also diversification. The lack of known intermediate stages in most of these mutualisms, however, makes it difficult to understand whether these interactions could have begun to diversify even before they became reciprocally obligate. Experimental studies of the incompletely obligate interactions between woodland star (
Lithophragma
; Saxifragaceae) plants and their pollinating floral parasites in the moth genus
Greya
(Prodoxidae) show that, as these lineages have diversified, the moths and plants have evolved in ways that maintain effective oviposition and pollination. Experimental assessment of pollination in divergent species and quantitative evaluation of time-lapse photographic sequences of pollination viewed on surgically manipulated flowers show that various combinations of traits are possible for maintaining the mutualism. The results suggest that at least some forms of mutualism can persist and even diversify when the interaction is not reciprocally obligate.
Prey Selectivity of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon during Early Marine Migration in British Columbia
Authors: Price Michael H. H. , Glickman Barry W. , Reynolds John D.
Published: June 2013

Mortality of salmon during early marine life has long been thought to be a critical factor in limiting overall abundance. One of the key hypotheses proposed to explain the long‐term productivity decline of Canada's iconic Fraser River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, is deficient habitat conditions experienced during early marine life. Our study is a first step towards testing this hypothesis, with an aim of understanding food availability and prey choice of juvenile salmon early in their coastal migration. We investigated zooplankton density, diet composition, and foraging selectivity of juvenile Fraser Sockeye Salmon during the 2009 and 2010 migrations and determined whether the timing of their migration was related to feeding success. Sockeye Salmon diets showed high prey diversity and a preference for euphausiid, amphipod, decapod, terrestrial insect, fish, egg, and cumacean prey. Calanoid copepods, the most abundant available prey, were not strongly selected in either year. Zooplankton densities were highest in the tidally mixed Discovery Passage–Johnstone Strait area. The fish appeared to have an adequate prey resource pool during their early marine migration, and in the 2 years of our study we observed similar feeding success throughout the migration period. Importantly, we found no evidence of food limitations that might indicate that juveniles suffered food deprivation. Further research is needed to test the generality of these findings, including the potential impacts of warming ocean temperatures on the timing and availability of prey during migration.
First Report of Geranium Rust (Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis) in the State of Michoacán, México
Authors: Gregorio-Cipriano M. R. , Fernández-Pavía S. P. , Rodríguez-Alvarado G. , Gómez-Dorantes N.
Published: June 2013

Geranium is one of the most popular ornamental plants in México. In December 2012, rust symptoms were observed on leaves of common geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum L. H. Bailey) growing in pots in garden landscapes in Morelia, Michoacán. Dark brown pustules with chlorotic halos appeared on the lower leaf surface. A center pustule surrounded by one or more partial-to-complete concentric circles of smaller pustules was observed in each lesion. Urediniospores were globose or subglobose to ovoid, light brown, echinulated, thin-walled with two more or less conspicuous subequatorial pores, and 21 to 29 × 18 to 24 μm (25.5 × 22.8 μm average). Teliospores were not observed. Based on these characters, the rust was identified as Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis Doidge (1,2). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on three healthy P. × hortorum plants that were sprayed with water droplets containing urediniospores. The inoculated plants were covered with a plastic bag and placed in a screened house. The bags were removed after 24 h. Afterwards, the plants were maintained outside the screened house in full sun at ambient temperature (24 to 30°C in the day and 5 to 10°C at night). Initial symptoms were observed 15 to 17 days post inoculation. Symptoms appeared as small light yellow spots on the upper surface of mature leaves. Urediniospores production on the lower surface of the leaves was evident 22 to 25 days post inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. pelargonii-zonalis in the state of Michoacán, México. Geranium rust has been previously reported only in the state of Guanajuato (2).

References: (1) E. M. Doidge. Bothalia 2:1, 1926. (2) H. L. Gallegos and G. B. Cummings. Uredinales (royas) de México. Vol. 1. Culiacán, Sinaloa, México, SARH, 1981.
Three-dimensional distribution of polymorphs and magnesium in a calcified underwater attachment system by diffraction tomography
Authors: Leemreize Hanna , Almer Jonathan D. , Stock Stuart R. , Birkedal Henrik
Published: June 2013

Biological materials display complicated three-dimensional hierarchical structures. Determining these structures is essential in understanding the link between material design and properties. Herein, we show how diffraction tomography can be used to determine the relative placement of the calcium carbonate polymorphs calcite and aragonite in the highly mineralized holdfast system of the bivalve
Anomia simplex
. In addition to high fidelity and non-destructive mapping of polymorphs, we use detailed analysis of X-ray diffraction peak positions in reconstructed powder diffraction data to determine the local degree of Mg substitution in the calcite phase. These data show how diffraction tomography can provide detailed multi-length scale information on complex materials in general and of biomineralized tissues in particular.
Emergence of an optimal search strategy from a simple random walk
Authors: Sakiyama Tomoko , Gunji Yukio-Pegio
Published: June 2013

In reports addressing animal foraging strategies, it has been stated that Lévy-like algorithms represent an optimal search strategy in an unknown environment, because of their super-diffusion properties and power-law-distributed step lengths. Here, starting with a simple random walk algorithm, which offers the agent a randomly determined direction at each time step with a fixed move length, we investigated how flexible exploration is achieved if an agent alters its randomly determined next step forward and the rule that controls its random movement based on its own directional moving experiences. We showed that our algorithm led to an effective food-searching performance compared with a simple random walk algorithm and exhibited super-diffusion properties, despite the uniform step lengths. Moreover, our algorithm exhibited a power-law distribution independent of uniform step lengths.
Joseph Lister's first operation
Authors: Richardson Ruth , Rhodes Bryan
Published: June 2013

Joseph Lister was still a medical student in 1851 when he served as house surgeon at University College Hospital, London, under John Erichsen. Here we report the first major operation that Lister accomplished, hitherto apparently missed by biographers. We chart his exemplary dealings with an emergency case of eviscerating stab wound in a woman brought to casualty at night, when he had been in post for less than a month. The case demonstrates Lister's fundamental competence at an early stage in his training. We outline the context of debate and controversy over the repair of lacerated gut at the time, and argue that Lister's period at University College London was profoundly formative.
Processing power limits social group size: computational evidence for the cognitive costs of sociality
Authors: Dávid-Barrett T. , Dunbar R. I. M.
Published: June 2013

Sociality is primarily a coordination problem. However, the social (or communication) complexity hypothesis suggests that the kinds of information that can be acquired and processed may limit the size and/or complexity of social groups that a species can maintain. We use an agent-based model to test the hypothesis that the complexity of information processed influences the computational demands involved. We show that successive increases in the kinds of information processed allow organisms to break through the glass ceilings that otherwise limit the size of social groups: larger groups can only be achieved at the cost of more sophisticated kinds of information processing that are disadvantageous when optimal group size is small. These results simultaneously support both the social brain and the social complexity hypotheses.
Cambrian spiral-plated echinoderms from Gondwana reveal the earliest pentaradial body plan
Authors: Smith Andrew B. , Zamora Samuel
Published: June 2013

Echinoderms are unique among animal phyla in having a pentaradial body plan, and their fossil record provides critical data on how this novel organization came about by revealing intermediate stages. Here, we report a spiral-plated animal from the early Cambrian of Morocco that is the most primitive pentaradial echinoderm yet discovered. It is intermediate between helicoplacoids (a bizarre group of spiral-bodied echinoderms) and crown-group pentaradiate echinoderms. By filling an important gap, this fossil reveals the common pattern that underpins the body plans of the two major echinoderm clades (pelmatozoans and eleutherozoans), showing that differential growth played an important role in their divergence. It also adds to the striking disparity of novel body plans appearing in the Cambrian explosion.
Antimicrobial resistance and genetic characteristics of integron-carrier shigellae isolated in Hungary (1998–2008)
Authors: Nógrády Noémi , Király Margit , Borbás Klára , Tóth Ákos , Pászti Judit , Tóth István
Published: June 2013

Antimicrobial susceptibility, integron carriage, genetic relationship and presence of some important virulence genes of the integron-carrier strains ofShigella sonnei(n = 230) andShigella flexneri(n = 22) isolated from stool samples of patients in Hungary between 1998 and 2008 were investigated. Sixty-seven per cent (168/252) of the strains were resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SxT) followed by streptomycin (S, 47 %), ampicillin (A, 32 %) and tetracycline (Tc, 28 %). Thirty-six per cent (90/252) exhibited multidrug resistance, mostly showing SSxTTc or ASSxTc, ASSxTTc resistance patterns. AnS.sonneistrain of imported origin was resistant to cefotaxime and harboured ablaCTX-M-55-type extended-spectrum β-lactamase gene. Altogether 33 % of theS. sonnei(n = 75) and 14 % of theS. flexneri(n = 3) strains had either class 1 or class 2 integrons or both. The variable regions encodedaadA1ordfrA1-aadA1genes for the class 1 anddfrA1-sat2-aadA1ordfrA1-sat2genes for the class 2 integrons. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that those strains that have different integron types represented different genetic clusters. The Shiga toxin (stx1) gene was identified in oneS. sonneistrain and thecdtBgene was detected in anS. flexneristrain. The results reveal the high incidence of antibiotic resistance amongShigellaisolates and the presence of thestx1gene inS. sonneiand thecdtBgene inS. flexneri. The genetic diversity ofShigellaspp. isolated recently in Hungary was also demonstrated.
The million mutation project: A new approach to genetics in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Thompson Owen , Edgley Mark , Strasbourger Pnina , Flibotte Stephane , Ewing Brent , Adair Ryan , Au Vinci , Chaudhry Iasha , Fernando Lisa , Hutter Harald , Kieffer Armelle , Lau Joanne , Lee Norris , Miller Angela , Raymant Greta , Shen Bin , Shendure Jay , Taylor Jon , Turner Emily H. , Hillier LaDeana W. , Moerman Donald G. , Waterston Robert H.
Published: June 2013

We have created a library of 2007 mutagenized Caenorhabditis elegans strains, each sequenced to a target depth of 15-fold coverage, to provide the research community with mutant alleles for each of the worm's more than 20,000 genes. The library contains over 800,000 unique single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with an average of eight nonsynonymous changes per gene and more than 16,000 insertion/deletion (indel) and copy number changes, providing an unprecedented genetic resource for this multicellular organism. To supplement this collection, we also sequenced 40 wild isolates, identifying more than 630,000 unique SNVs and 220,000 indels. Comparison of the two sets demonstrates that the mutant collection has a much richer array of both nonsense and missense mutations than the wild isolate set. We also find a wide range of rDNA and telomere repeat copy number in both sets. Scanning the mutant collection for molecular phenotypes reveals a nonsense suppressor as well as strains with higher levels of indels that harbor mutations in DNA repair genes and strains with abundant males associated with him mutations. All the strains are available through the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center and all the sequence changes have been deposited in WormBase and are available through an interactive website.
Identification of Genes Involved in the Response of Arabidopsis to Simultaneous Biotic and Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Atkinson Nicky J. , Lilley Catherine J. , Urwin Peter E.
Published: June 2013

In field conditions, plants may experience numerous environmental stresses at any one time. Research suggests that the plant response to multiple stresses is different from that for individual stresses, producing nonadditive effects. In particular, the molecular signaling pathways controlling biotic and abiotic stress responses may interact and antagonize one another. The transcriptome response of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to concurrent water deficit (abiotic stress) and infection with the plant-parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii (biotic stress) was analyzed by microarray. A unique program of gene expression was activated in response to a combination of water deficit and nematode stress, with 50 specifically multiple-stress-regulated genes. Candidate genes with potential roles in controlling the response to multiple stresses were selected and functionally characterized. RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR-LIKE8 (AtRALFL8) was induced in roots by joint stresses but conferred susceptibility to drought stress and nematode infection when overexpressed. Constitutively expressing plants had stunted root systems and extended root hairs. Plants may produce signal peptides such as AtRALFL8 to induce cell wall remodeling in response to multiple stresses. The methionine homeostasis gene METHIONINE GAMMA LYASE (AtMGL) was up-regulated by dual stress in leaves, conferring resistance to nematodes when overexpressed. It may regulate methionine metabolism under conditions of multiple stresses. AZELAIC ACID INDUCED1 (AZI1), involved in defense priming in systemic plant immunity, was down-regulated in leaves by joint stress and conferred drought susceptibility when overexpressed, potentially as part of abscisic acid-induced repression of pathogen response genes. The results highlight the complex nature of multiple stress responses and confirm the importance of studying plant stress factors in combination.
Mainstreaming biodiversity accounting: potential implications for a developing economy
Authors: Siddiqui Javed
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The paper seeks to respond to calls by Jones for more studies exploring the possibility of operationalising accounting for biodiversity.

Design/methodology/approach

Archival data are used to produce a natural inventory report for the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2007.

Findings

The study extends prior research on biodiversity accounting by exploring the applicability of Jones' natural inventory model in the context of Bangladesh. The results indicate that application of Jones' natural inventory model is feasible in the context of developing countries such as Bangladesh. It is also recognised that the socio‐economic and political environment prevailing in developing economies may lead to the emergence of important stakeholder groups including local civil society bodies, international donor agencies and foreign governments. Biodiversity accounting may provide a legitimate basis for the government in allaying concerns regarding environmental stewardship and assist in negotiations with powerful stakeholder groups on important issues such as financial assistance after natural disasters and claims to the global climate change fund.

Originality/value

This is one of the early attempts to operationalise biodiversity accounting in the context of a developing economy.
Developing critical thinking skills and effective co‐operative international accounting degree programs in China
Authors: He Hong , Craig Russell , Wen Jing
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The authors aim to critically review the co‐operative education program conducted between 20 Chinese universities and the Certified General Accountants’ Association of Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

The assessments made are influenced by the results of a questionnaire survey of the opinions of students in the co‐operative education program; and by the experiences of the authors variously as a current teacher, former student, and independent observer of this program.

Findings

The authors offer suggestions to improve accounting education in China in areas of curriculum and teaching. In doing so, they emphasize the need to develop critical thinking skills.

Originality/value

This paper provides good insights to how many Chinese universities co‐operate with foreign universities and/or foreign professional accounting associations to educate accountants. This is particularly important in an era in which China's rapidly expanding international trade and overseas investment has prompted a growing need for it to develop more internationally‐proficient accountants.
Communication apprehension and communication self‐efficacy in accounting students
Authors: Hassall Trevor , Arquero Jose L. , Joyce John , Gonzalez Jose M.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a link between communication apprehension and communication self‐efficacy in accounting students.

Design/methodology/approach

This is achieved by the use of two questionnaires jointly distributed to the students involved. The Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA‐24) developed by McCroskey to measure oral communication apprehension[1] (OCA) and the instrument for written communication apprehension (WCA) developed by Daly and Miller and a questionnaire to measure communication self‐efficacy. This had been developed using the guidelines set out by Bandura and was designed to measure two constructs: oral communication self‐efficacy, and written communication self‐efficacy.

Findings

The two separate statistical tests to identify the connection between the two concepts both indicated the existence of a strong relationship between the two. This was shown not only in the overall relationship between communication apprehension and self‐efficacy but also equally strongly in their constituent components.

Practical implications

The existence of this relationship is important because it provides a possible development in terms of understanding the barrier to the development of communication skills and also indicates a possible redirection to alleviate and remove the barrier. In order for accountants to meet future challenges, there is substantial evidence that the development of communication skills will be vital.

Originality/value

This paper draws the conclusion that in the future consideration needs to be given to incorporating into the pedagogy of accounting education, especially in those areas involving the development of communication skills, approaches that increase self‐efficacy.
The role of manufacturers in food innovations in Sweden
Authors: Beckeman Märit , Bourlakis Michael , Olsson Annika
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how food manufacturers in Sweden define and view innovations, how they view their role and those of other actors and the interaction/collaboration regarding innovations in the food supply/value chain.

Design/methodology/approach

After an exploratory pre‐study with 12 participants, a full study of Swedish manufacturers comprised of representatives from 12 food companies was initiated. In total, 21 interviews were carried out. The majority of the respondents had food industry experience. They initially answered structured questions and thereafter open‐ended ones.

Findings

Few, if any, innovations in the Swedish food sector are considered radical. Many are “invisible” to meet demands for lower cost, shorter orders and sustainability. The food manufacturers seem to develop products in house for consumers and not by working with them or others inside or outside the supply chain; they do not adopt an “open” innovation mindset. There is lack of trust in the chain and limited exchange of information. Some manufacturers pursue horizontal collaboration with other manufacturers abroad.

Research limitations/implications

Innovations and strategies are a competitive edge for a company, so the respondents may not have been completely open.

Practical implications

Manufacturers and the whole supply chain would benefit from an “open innovation” mindset to organise and work differently and build trust.

Originality/value

There is no other published study on innovations and food manufacturers in Sweden. The food sector should embark on collaboration and coopetion and initiate discussions on what can be done to become more innovative.
Comparing usage between selective and bundled e‐monograph purchases
Authors: Lamothe Alain R.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the results from a quantitative analysis comparing usage between collections of individually purchased e‐books and collections of e‐books purchased as part of large consortially negotiated bundles. The aim of this study is to determine if individually purchased e‐books have recorded a greater level of usage than e‐books purchased in large packages and, consequently, which of the two acquisition models is best suited for the library.

Design/methodology/approach

Usage rates of e‐books purchased individually from NetLibrary and MyiLibrary were compared to usage rates of e‐books purchased in large bundles from the same aggregators. Usage of e‐books purchased in large bundles directly from SpringerLink was compared to usage of e‐books on NetLibrary and MyiLibrary. The number of e‐books was obtained by simple count. Additional statistics tracked include the number of viewings.

Findings

Initial results indicate that individually purchased titles from both NetLibrary and MyiLibrary have consistently recorded a greater level of usage than the bundled titles on their respective platforms. A second quantitative analysis comparing two aggregated collections of individually selected titles to a very large bundled collection acquired directly from SpringerLink yielded somewhat different results. For the most part, SpringerLink bundled e‐books have recorded a greater level of usage when compared to bundled titles on NetLibrary and MyiLibrary.

Originality/value

This research is one of very few studies systematically and quantitatively comparing usage levels between e‐monographs individually selected and acquired as large bundles by a Canadian academic library.
Applied theatre in corporate training
Authors: Fan Sheng‐Tao
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This article aims to be a synthesis among the latest learning and development books as well as academic journals across organizational behaviour, educational theatre, drama therapy, and performance studies. It pinpoints five management‐related competencies that the new trend of applied theatre in corporate training can facilitate.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an Asian practitioner‐performer‐scholar who identifies and distils knowledge in Western interdisciplinary contexts.

Findings

This article concludes that applied theatre can be a new concept and methodology for corporate training to enhance the main competencies in business settings – leadership, communication, creativity, team building, and emotion management. Practical implications – This study provides a conceptual foundation and practical language for human resource and training professionals as well as company directors who choose and evaluate training methodology.

Originality/value

This briefing links theory with practice as well as connecting academia to industry. It saves busy businesspeople's and researchers' time to integrate multiple‐fielded knowledge by presenting it in an insightful and single‐minded format.
Trust and reputation in new ventures: insights from an Indian venture capital firm
Authors: Panda Swati , Dash Shridhar
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This article aims to explore the importance of trust and reputation in new ventures that are raising venture capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on an interview with founding partners of an eminent Indian venture capital firm, conducted by an independent interviewer.

Findings

Venture capitalists are moving from a more formal approach for investing to a more relational one. Other than traditional methods of selecting and protecting their investments, the venture capitalists are resorting to trustworthiness of entrepreneurs and reputation as vital deterrence mechanisms.

Practical implications

The findings can be utilized to reduce contracting costs and develop a more efficient venture capitalist‐entrepreneur relationship.

Originality/value

The article proposes new criteria which the entrepreneurs should be aware of before trying to raise venture finance.
Private and public services: productivity and performance migration
Authors: Parker D. , Waller K. , Xu H.
Published: June 2013

Purpose

When comparing and contrasting features of the public service sector with those of the private service sector, the differences between the notions of customer and citizen, notable in the past, are now blurring. Whilst acknowledging the important differences that exist between the two service sectors, the authors seek to address the recent structural changes in the public service sector that aim to adopt best practices taken from the private into the public sector. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the important differences in public and private service delivery processes; with an emphasis on the need for improved definitions.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature reviews undertaken were qualitative synthesis in nature. Content analysis was undertaken and applied in reviewing 39 literature of sub‐fields of public and private service delivery, published in English‐speaking peer‐reviewed journals.

Findings

Based on the literature review, a promising approach for public sector productivity might be the disaggregated approach. Such an approach, focusing on the output components at a tactical level, could alleviate the problems related to public service productivity measurement (i.e. the problem of output definition). In particular, it could help define outputs at the operative level. Such measures could then percolate up to the strategic level (by aggregating the operative level results). Clearly this remains an interesting challenge for the productivity and performance management discipline and worthy of greater examination.

Research limitations/implications

The authors compared and contrasted appropriate performance and productivity tools and highlight the challenges in adopting performance and productivity measures in the public sector in an attempt to become more efficient and effective. Until greater understanding is gained, there is little likelihood of successfully transferring models of productivity and performance management between the sectors or the development of appropriate models.

Originality/value

To date, there has been inadequate attention given to identifying, comparing and contrasting the significant differences between the organisations that deliver the public funded services and those in the commercial private services sector. This work highlights specific areas for future research.
Retail logistics service quality: a cross‐cultural survey on customer perceptions
Authors: Bouzaabia Rym , Bouzaabia Olfa , Capatina Alexandru
Published: June 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare perceptions of retail logistics service quality among Romanian and Tunisian customers, and determine which dimensions of logistics service quality have the greatest influence on customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using self‐administered questionnaires from two convenience samples of hypermarket customers (100 in Romania and 100 in Tunisia). Logistics service quality was measured using two dimensions: the relational LSQ (The perception of Carrefour employees' assurance, responsiveness and caring) and the operational LSQ (Carrefour reliability). Data were analyzed by using confirmatory factor analysis, ANOVA and linear regression.

Findings

Respondents in both countries reported high levels of perceived logistics service quality in Carrefour. However, Romanians reported higher perceived logistics service quality than Tunisians for both dimensions. In the Tunisian sample, relational LSQ was the most important predictor of satisfaction, and the most important predictor of loyalty was the operational LSQ; in the Romanian sample, relational LSQ was the most important predictor of both satisfaction and loyalty.

Practical implications

Romanian Carrefour managers should focus on the customers' relationships with the staff in logistics service by implementing appropriate customer‐oriented training programs. Tunisian Carrefour managers should focus on the ability to perform the promised service dependably and accurately.

Originality/value

Despite the large number of studies on individual countries, no study compares logistics service quality among different countries. The present study compares perceptions of logistics service quality between consumers in two countries – Romania and Tunisia – that have different economic and cultural environments. This study shows that logistics service quality is an essential factor in satisfying and retaining retail customers in the retail sector.
Tokunbo ICT
Authors: Olumuyiwa Omobowale Ayokunle
Published: June 2013

Purpose

Information and communication technology (ICT) stands out as a major indicator and driver of the modern age. It catalytically advances globalization processes across professions, disciplines and agencies across international boundaries. In spite of the widespread utilization of ICT, Nigeria in particular and Africa in general lag behind in the ICT revolution. Striving to modernise and develop, though, Nigeria is rather dependent on the developed world for ICT access and utilization. Nigeria accesses ICT, indeed a great volume of the access rather comes through the second‐hand market. The study aims to integrate theoretical orientations of symbolism and rationalism to empirically explain second‐hand ICT utilization in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through 30 in‐depth interviews (IDIs) and six focus group discussions (FGDs) among sellers and consumers of imported second‐hand ICT at Abeokuta, Ibadan and Lagos cities in Nigeria. The data was collected between July and November 2010. The research is an extract from a larger study on “The dynamics of the Tokunbo phenomenon and second‐hand economy in South‐Western Nigeria”.

Findings

The paper concludes that as much as imported second‐hand ICT satisfies consumer modernity and development needs, it swells up Nigeria's e‐waste. The bulk of the used ICT exported into Nigeria are non‐usable scrap, while those that are functional or usable are at the tail end of their life cycles. By symbolically rationalizing imported second‐hand ICT utilization, the Nigerian population simply pays for the evacuation of e‐waste from producing countries of the developed world to Nigeria. Nigeria is yet to develop a wholesome policy to address second‐hand ICT import and grapple with e‐waste challenge. The economic and health costs of imported e‐waste are on Nigeria and Nigerians.

Originality/value

The primary focus of the paper is on second‐hand ICT utilization in Nigeria. The paper empirically discusses the utilization of second‐hand ICT from the perspective of symbolic‐rationality of modernity and development practice.
Measuring the social capital of professions: a study of dentists in Finland
Authors: Koivumäki Jaakko
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This article aims to introduce a two‐dimensional instrument for the measurement of the social capital of professions. On a general level, the social capital of a profession is defined as a source of power that allows a profession to further its goals and maintain its professional identity.

Design/methodology/approach

The measure is developed and tested by using data collected among Finnish dentists (N=1,302) in April 2012. The methods employed include confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), mean comparisons (ANOVA and t‐test) and OLS regression. Data analysis is guided by theories of social capital, especially the Putnamian tradition, and the literature on modern professions.

Findings

The first dimension of social capital is social cohesion, which consists of solidarity, trust, identification and commitment to professional ethical principles. The second dimension of social capital is network density, which includes both formal and informal professional networks. Social cohesion and network density are positively correlated. By conceptualizing social capital as an individual‐level attribute, this research shows that the employment of dentists across the public and private sectors increases the social capital of the profession.

Originality/value

Until now no tools have been available for the measurement of the social capital of professions. The article also sheds new light on the nature of modern professions, their associations and sources of power in contemporary societies.
Statistics as a technology of governance: the Norwegian need for numbers & numbers for need
Authors: Tøndel Gunhild , Sarheim Anthun Kjartan
Published: June 2013

Purpose

This study aims to explore the development in Norway from an awareness of the need for numbers to govern in the 70s to a statistical information system launched in 2006, called IPLOS, to respond to this need. The article seeks to discuss how this system was developed, what the Norwegian authorities attempted to achieve with the development, which goals they desired and how the statistics were intended to contribute to reach them.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has a multisite approach inspired by situational analysis, and draws on “governing by numbers” among other theoretical debates. It is based on original data (qualitative interviews) and secondary sources (policy and statistics development documents). The sources represent both top down and bottom up perspectives: authorities, municipalities, expertise involved in the development and disability activists.

Findings

The statistics development expresses three challenges in Norwegian health and care service policy: planning and governance, the growing complexity of the welfare state and changing welfare ideologies.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to a Norwegian context and does not provide generalized conclusions about the sociohistorical context for developing statistics as technologies for governance purposes.

Originality/value

Statistics and numbers for governance purposes are most often talked about as ready‐made facts. This study explores a quantifying tool and its numbers in the making, with a methodological approach that extends the governing by numbers tradition.