bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Climate Issue to Oil Issue: Offices of Public Administration, Versions of Economics, and the Ordinary Technologies of Politics
Authors: Asdal Kristin
Published: September 2014

Economics does not come in only one version. In order to understand the emergence of carbon markets, this paper turns to the offices of politics and administration and argues that carbon markets ought to be seen as an effect of different versions of economics. Hence, the paper suggests that, in analysing and exploring the emergence of carbon markets, it is not sufficient to focus on market devices. We must study a wider set of devices, such as modelling practices, planning documents, and paper trails. The basis for this analysis is a study of a particular office, the Norwegian Ministry of Finance. The paper traces how, within this office, the climate issue was transformed into an oil issue and how accounting and planning technologies took part in enacting the macroeconomy, rather than the environment, as an endangered object. Hence, when studying the performativity of economics, the macroeconomy must be included, the paper argues, and so must the study of the issue that is being enacted. In pursuing the analysis in this way, the paper seeks to demonstrate that the emergence of carbon markets pertained to not only an emergent climate issue but also to an emergent oil issue.
Chapter 4. On arguing from diachrony for paradigms
Authors: Joseph Brian D.
Published: September 2014

Paradigms hold a special place in most linguistic descriptions and are often crucial in linguistic reconstruction and in the determining genealogical relations. Nonetheless, theoreticians debate whether paradigms constitute a necessary basic construct or instead are secondary, deriving from other basic constructs. This debate impacts the usefulness of the paradigm in typological and historical comparisons, for if the paradigm itself is derivative, it may not offer anything tangible for comparison. However, the diachronic evidence from analogical change demonstrates that speakers clearly recognize the importance of paradigms, for analogies often are restricted to just the paradigm, not extending to derivationally related forms. The role of paradigms for cross-linguistic comparisons, for establishing morphological cognates or for determining typological patterns is thus reaffirmed.
The revolt of small towns: the meaning of Morocco's history and the geography of social protests
Authors: Bogaert Koenraad
Published: September 2014

Attempts to understand the wider context of the Arab uprisings in Morocco mainly focus on the dynamic created by the 20 February Movement, while the long history of increasing socio-economic struggle tends to be underestimated. This article argues that the political and democratic protests of the last two years and the history of socio-economic protests cannot be viewed as unrelated phenomena but must be understood as part of the same process. The account focuses on different disturbances, such as the riots in the phosphate mining region of Khouribga, to show the particular dynamic between civil democratic and socio-economic struggles.
Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry
Authors: Mitchell David A. , Mitchell Laura
Published: September 2014

Concise and practically focused, this new edition of the Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry balances a pragmatic approach alongside evidence-based clinical knowledge, guidelines and protocols. With even more images and diagrams to aid understanding, it has been fully updated with sources and further reading, including the most up-to-date e-learning and web resources. This online resource includes revised chapters on fast-moving areas of dental practice such as therapeutics and anaesthesia, as well as updates on the aetiology and management of cancer, reflecting recent discoveries. New material also includes the impact of bisphosphonates, and new approaches to the management of Class III malocclusions in the growing child. Sections on the differences in healthcare and legal requirements of the UK devolved countries have been added, and all life support protocols have been updated.
Relationship between Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia and Intraoperative Mean Arterial Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Having Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Turan Alparslan , You Jing , Egan Cameron , Fu Alex , Gazmuri Ignazia , Khanna Ashish , Eshraghi Yashar , Ghosh Raktim , Bose Somnath , Qavi Shahbaz , Arora Lovkesh , Sessler Daniel I. , Doufas Anthony G.
Published: September 2014

Background:

Recurrent nocturnal hypoxemia in obstructive sleep apnea enhances sympathetic function, decreases baroreceptor sensitivity, and weakens peripheral vascular responses to adrenergic signals. The authors hypothesized that the percentage of total sleep time spent at oxyhemoglobin saturation (Sao
2) less than 90% and minimum nocturnal Sao
2 on preoperative polysomnography are associated with decreased intraoperative mean arterial pressure.

Methods:

The authors examined the records of all patients who had laparoscopic bariatric surgery at Cleveland Clinic between 2005 and 2009 and an available polysomnography study. The authors assessed the relationships between the percentage of total sleep time spent at Sao
2 less than 90% and minimum nocturnal Sao
2, and the time-weighted average of mean arterial pressure. The authors used multivariable regression models to adjust for prespecified clinical confounders.

Results:

Two hundred eighty-one patients were included in the analysis. The average change in the time-weighted average of mean arterial pressure was −0.02 (97.5% CI, −0.08, 0.04) mmHg for each 1% absolute increase in the percentage of sleep time spent at Sao
2 less than 90% (P = 0.50). The average change was −0.13 (97.5% CI, −0.27, 0.01) mmHg, for each 1% absolute decrease in the minimum Sao
2 (P = 0.04 > significance criterion of 0.025, Bonferroni correction). An unplanned analysis estimated 1% absolute decrease in minimum Sao
2 was associated with −0.22 (98.75% CI, −0.39, −0.04) mmHg, change in mean arterial pressure (P = 0.002) in the time period between endotracheal intubation and trocar insertion.

Conclusion:

Recurrent nocturnal hypoxemia in obstructive sleep apnea is not a risk marker for intraoperative hypotension.
Experimental reduction in dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids depresses sperm competitiveness
Authors: Rahman Md. Moshiur , Gasparini Clelia , Turchini Giovanni M. , Evans Jonathan P.
Published: September 2014

The health benefits of diets containing rich sources of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) are well documented and include reductions in the risk of several diseases typical of Western societies. The dietary intake of n-3 LC-PUFA has also been linked to fertility, and there is abundant evidence that a range of ejaculate traits linked to fertility in humans, livestock and other animals depend on an adequate intake of n-3 LC-PUFA from dietary sources. However, relatively few studies have explored how n-3 LC-PUFA influence reproductive fitness, particularly in the context of sexual selection. Here, we show that experimental reduction in the level of n-3 LC-PUFA in the diet of guppies (
Poecilia reticulata
) depresses a male's share of paternity when sperm compete for fertilization, confirming that the currently observed trend for reduced n-3 LC-PUFA in western diets has important implications for individual reproductive fitness.
Two-phase importance sampling for inference about transmission trees
Authors: Numminen Elina , Chewapreecha Claire , Sirén Jukka , Turner Claudia , Turner Paul , Bentley Stephen D. , Corander Jukka
Published: September 2014

There has been growing interest in the statistics community to develop methods for inferring transmission pathways of infectious pathogens from molecular sequence data. For many datasets, the computational challenge lies in the huge dimension of the missing data. Here, we introduce an importance sampling scheme in which the transmission trees and phylogenies of pathogens are both sampled from reasonable importance distributions, alleviating the inference. Using this approach, arbitrary models of transmission could be considered, contrary to many earlier proposed methods. We illustrate the scheme by analysing transmissions of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
from household to household within a refugee camp, using data in which only a fraction of hosts is observed, but which is still rich enough to unravel the within-household transmission dynamics and pairs of households between whom transmission is plausible. We observe that while probability of direct transmission is low even for the most prominent cases of transmission, still those pairs of households are geographically much closer to each other than expected under random proximity.
The evolutionary interplay of intergroup conflict and altruism in humans: a review of parochial altruism theory and prospects for its extension
Authors: Rusch Hannes
Published: September 2014

Drawing on an idea proposed by Darwin, it has recently been hypothesized that violent intergroup conflict might have played a substantial role in the evolution of human cooperativeness and altruism. The central notion of this argument, dubbed ‘parochial altruism’, is that the two genetic or cultural traits, aggressiveness against the out-groups and cooperativeness towards the in-group, including self-sacrificial altruistic behaviour, might have coevolved in humans. This review assesses the explanatory power of current theories of ‘parochial altruism’. After a brief synopsis of the existing literature, two pitfalls in the interpretation of the most widely used models are discussed: potential direct benefits and high relatedness between group members implicitly induced by assumptions about conflict structure and frequency. Then, a number of simplifying assumptions made in the construction of these models are pointed out which currently limit their explanatory power. Next, relevant empirical evidence from several disciplines which could guide future theoretical extensions is reviewed. Finally, selected alternative accounts of evolutionary links between intergroup conflict and intragroup cooperation are briefly discussed which could be integrated with parochial altruism in the future.
Non-climatic constraints on upper elevational plant range expansion under climate change
Authors: Brown Carissa D. , Vellend Mark
Published: September 2014

We are limited in our ability to predict climate-change-induced range shifts by our inadequate understanding of how non-climatic factors contribute to determining range limits along putatively climatic gradients. Here, we present a unique combination of observations and experiments demonstrating that seed predation and soil properties strongly limit regeneration beyond the upper elevational range limit of sugar maple, a tree species of major economic importance. Most strikingly, regeneration beyond the range limit occurred almost exclusively when seeds were experimentally protected from predators. Regeneration from seed was depressed on soil from beyond the range edge when this soil was transplanted to sites within the range, with indirect evidence suggesting that fungal pathogens play a role. Non-climatic factors are clearly in need of careful attention when attempting to predict the biotic consequences of climate change. At minimum, we can expect non-climatic factors to create substantial time lags between the creation of more favourable climatic conditions and range expansion.
FourCSeq: Analysis of 4C sequencing data
Authors: Klein Felix A. , Anders Simon , Pakozdi Tibor , Ghavi-Helm Yad , Furlong Eileen E. M. , Huber Wolfgang
Published: September 2014

1

1.1

Motivation

Circularized Chromosome Conformation Capture (4C) is a powerful technique for studying the spatial interactions of a specific genomic region called the “viewpoint” with the rest of the genome, both in a single condition or comparing different experimental conditions or cell types. Observed ligation frequencies show a strong, regular dependence on genomic distance from the viewpoint, on top of which specific interaction peaks are superimposed. Here, we address the computational task to find these specific interactions and to detect changes between interaction profiles of different conditions.

1.2

Results

We model the overall trend of decreasing interaction frequency with genomic distance by fitting a smooth monotonously decreasing function to suitably transformed count data. Based on the fit,z-scores are calculated from the residuals, with highzscores being interpreted as peaks providing evidence for specific interactions. To compare different conditions, we normalize fragment counts between samples, and call for differential contact frequencies using the statistical methodDESeq2adapted from RNA-Seq analysis.

1.3

Availability and Implementation

A full end-to-end analysis pipeline is implemented in the R packageFourCSeqavailable atwww.bioconductor.org.

1.4

Contact

felix.klein@embl.de,whuber@embl.de
Inducible Knockdown of MONOGALACTOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL SYNTHASE1 Reveals Roles of Galactolipids in Organelle Differentiation in Arabidopsis Cotyledons
Authors: Fujii Sho , Kobayashi Koichi , Nakamura Yuki , Wada Hajime
Published: September 2014

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) is the major lipid constituent of thylakoid membranes and is essential for chloroplast biogenesis in plants. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), MGDG is predominantly synthesized by inner envelope-localized MONOGALACTOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL SYNTHASE1 (MGD1); its knockout causes albino seedlings. Because of the lethal phenotype of the null MGD1 mutant, functional details of MGDG synthesis at seedling development have remained elusive. In this study, we used an inducible gene-suppression system to investigate the impact of MGDG synthesis on cotyledon development. We created transgenic Arabidopsis lines that express an artificial microRNA targeting MGD1 (amiR-MGD1) under the control of a dexamethasone-inducible promoter. The induction of amiR-MGD1 resulted in up to 75% suppression of MGD1 expression, although the resulting phenotypes related to chloroplast development were diverse, even within a line. The strong MGD1 suppression by continuous dexamethasone treatment caused substantial decreases in galactolipid content in cotyledons, leading to severe defects in the formation of thylakoid membranes and impaired photosynthetic electron transport. Time-course analyses of the MGD1 suppression during seedling germination revealed that MGDG synthesis at the very early germination stage is particularly important for chloroplast biogenesis. The MGD1 suppression down-regulated genes associated with the photorespiratory pathway in peroxisomes and mitochondria as well as those responsible for photosynthesis in chloroplasts and caused high expression of genes for the glyoxylate cycle. MGD1 function may link galactolipid synthesis with the coordinated transcriptional regulation of chloroplasts and other organelles during cotyledon greening.
Expression, purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the cryptic polo-box domain ofCaenorhabditis elegansZYG-1
Authors: Shimanovskaya Ekaterina , Dong Gang
Published: September 2014

ZYG-1 is a polo-like kinase essential for centriole assembly inCaenorhabditis elegans. The targeting of ZYG-1 to nascent centrioles isviaits central cryptic polo-box (CPB) domain. To shed light on the molecular basis of ZYG-1 recruitment, it is necessary to obtain structural knowledge of the ZYG-1 CPB. Here, the expression, purification and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the ZYG-1 CPB are reported. The protein was overexpressed inEscherichia colistrain BL21 (DE3), purified by multi-step chromatography and crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method. Crystals of the wild-type protein exhibited an order–disorder pathology, which was solved by reductive lysine methylation. A complete anomalous data set was collected to 2.54 Å resolution at the Se Kedge (λ = 0.9792 Å). The crystal belonged to space groupP2, with unit-cell parametersa= 53.3,b= 60.09,c= 87.51 Å, β = 93.31°. There were two molecules in the asymmetric unit.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of human IL-18 and its extracellular complexes
Authors: Kimura Takeshi , Tsutsumi Naotaka , Arita Kyohei , Ariyoshi Mariko , Ohnishi Hidenori , Kondo Naomi , Shirakawa Masahiro , Kato Zenichiro , Tochio Hidehito
Published: September 2014

Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a pro-inflammatory cytokine belonging to the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family, is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune/autoinflammatory and allergic diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and bronchial asthma. IL-18 forms a signalling complex with the IL-18 receptor α (IL-18Rα) and β (IL-18Rβ) chains; however, the detailed activation mechanism remains unclear. Here, the IL-18–IL-18Rα binary and IL-18–IL-18Rα–IL-18Rβ ternary complexes were purified and crystallized as well as IL-18 alone. An X-ray diffraction data set for IL-18 was collected to 2.33 Å resolution from a crystal belonging to space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 68.15,b= 79.51,c= 73.46 Å, β = 100.97°. Crystals of both the IL-18 binary and ternary complexes belonging to the orthorhombic space groupsP21212 andP212121, respectively, diffracted to 3.10 Å resolution. Unit-cell parameters were determined asa= 135.49,b= 174.81,c= 183.40 Å for the binary complex anda= 72.56,b= 111.56,c= 134.57 Å for the ternary complex.
Expression, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of cystathionine β-lyase fromAcinetobacter baumanniiOXA-23
Authors: Nguyen Diem-Quynh , Ngo Ho-Phuong-Thuy , Ahn Yeh-Jin , Lee Sang Hee , Kang Lin-Woo
Published: September 2014

Multidrug-resistantAcinetobacter baumannii(Ab) has emerged as a leading nosocomial pathogen because of its resistance to most currently available antibiotics. Cystathionine β-lyase (CBL), a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme, catalyzes the second step in the transsulfuration pathway, which is essential for the metabolic interconversion of the sulfur-containing amino acids homocysteine and methionine. The enzymes of the transsulfuration pathway are considered to be attractive drug targets owing to their specificity to microbes and plants. As a potential target for the development of novel antibacterial drugs, the AbCBL protein was expressed, purified and crystallized. An AbCBL crystal diffracted to 1.57 Å resolution and belonged to the trigonal space groupP3112, with unit-cell parametersa=b= 102.9,c= 136.5 Å. The asymmetric unit contained two monomers, with a correspondingVMof 2.3 Å3 Da−1and a solvent content of 46.9%.
Purification and X-ray crystallographic analysis of 7-keto-8-aminopelargonic acid (KAPA) synthase fromMycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Fan Shanghua , Li Defeng , Fleming Joy , Hong Yuan , Chen Tao , Zhou Lin , Bi Lijun , Wang Dacheng , Zhang Xianen , Chen Guanjun
Published: September 2014

7-Keto-8-aminopelargonic acid synthase (KAPA synthase; BioF) is an essential enzyme for mycobacterial growth that catalyses the first committed step in the biotin-synthesis pathway. It is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme and is a potential drug target. Here, the cloning, expression, purification and crystallization of KAPA synthase fromMycobacterium smegmatis(MsBioF) and the characterization of MsBioF crystals using X-ray diffraction are described. The crystals diffracted to 2.3 Å resolution and belonged to the monoclinic space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 70.88,b= 91.68,c= 109.84 Å, β = 97.8°. According to the molecular weight of MsBioF, the unit-cell parameters and the self-rotation function map, four molecules are present in each asymmetric unit with aVMvalue of 2.06 Å3 Da−1and a solvent content of 40.20%.
Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase fromEscherichia coli
Authors: Zhang Li , Guo Zheng , Huang Jing , Liu Meiruo , Wang Yuandong , Ji Chaoneng
Published: September 2014

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase is one of the most important enzymes in the glycolytic pathway and catalyzes the reversible cleavage of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. The full-lengthfbaB gene encoding fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase class I (FBPA I) was cloned fromEscherichia colistrain BL21. FBPA I was overexpressed inE. coliand purified. Biochemical analysis found that the optimum reaction temperature of FBPA I is 330.5 K and that the enzyme has a high temperature tolerance. Crystals of recombinant FBPA I were obtained by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion technique in a condition consisting of 19 mg ml−1FBPA I in 0.1 MTris pH 9.0, 10%(w/v) polyethylene glycol 8000 and diffracted to 2.0 Å resolution. The crystals belonged to the monoclinic space groupC2, with unit-cell parametersa= 217.7,b= 114.9,c= 183.9 Å, β = 124.6°. The asymmetric unit of these crystals may contain ten molecules, giving a Matthews coefficient of 2.48 Å3 Da−1and a solvent content of 50.5%.
Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of Drep2 CIDE domain
Authors: Lee Seung Mi , Park Hyun Ho
Published: September 2014

Drep2 is a novel nuclease from the fruit fly that might have a similar function in apoptosis to DFF40 and DFF45, which are primary players in apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Drep2 contains a conserved CIDE domain of ∼90 amino-acid residues that is involved in protein–protein interaction. In this study, the Drep2 CIDE domain was purified and crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. X-ray diffraction data were then collected to a resolution of 2.3 Å. The crystals were found to belong to the orthorhombic space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 50.28,b= 88.70,c= 113.37 Å.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a novel sphingomyelinase D fromLoxosceles gauchovenom
Authors: Ullah Anwar , Magalhães Geraldo Santana , Masood Rehana , Mariutti Ricardo Barros , Coronado Monika Aparecida , Murakami Mário Tyago , Barbaro Katia Cristina , Arni Raghuvir Krishnaswamy
Published: September 2014

Brown spider envenomation results in dermonecrosis, intravascular coagulation, haemolysis and renal failure, mainly owing to the action of sphingomyelinases D (SMases D), which catalyze the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to produce ceramide 1-phosphate and choline or the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine to produce lysophosphatidic acid. Here, the heterologous expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of LgRec1, a novel SMase D fromLoxosceles gauchovenom, are reported. The crystals belonged to space groupP21212, with unit-cell parametersa= 52.98,b= 62.27,c= 84.84 Å and diffracted to a maximum resolution of 2.6 Å.
Benchmarking of business incubators
Authors: Caiazza Rosa
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Despite of the relevance of incubators, science and technology parks on technology diffusion, few studies have compared different systems of innovation to identify the main factors affecting their capability to support spin-offs. Although research on incubators has received increased attention in recent years, few studies have been focused on the main factors affecting their underdevelopment in some developed economies. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap in the literature by analysing the Italian system of innovation through a comparative analysis with other developed economies.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper proposes a comparative analysis in order to evidence the main differences between systems of innovation. Based on these differences, it aims to analyse the main factors characterizing the Italian system of innovation.

Findings

– This paper identifies the main factors that explain diversity among systems of innovation. It then presents a deep analysis of the Italian system.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the theoretical and practical debate on entrepreneurship and innovation systems.
The double psychological contracts of temporary agency workers
Authors: Morf Manuela , Arnold Alexandra , Staffelbach Bruno
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how temporary agency workers’ job attitudes are influenced by the fulfilment of the psychological contract; a set of employees’ expectations, formed with the temporary work agency and its client: the host organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper estimated moderated regressions with data collected through an online survey of 352 temporary agency workers employed by a large temporary work agency in Switzerland.

Findings

– Results suggest that temporary agency workers’ job satisfaction, commitment towards the host organisation, and intentions to stay with the temporary work agency relate positively to the fulfilment of the psychological contract by both organisations. Additionally, reported spill-over-effects imply that the fulfilment of the psychological contract by one organisation moderates job attitudes towards the other organisations.

Research limitations/implications

– Results of the explorative study reveal that future research should consider the interrelated nature of psychological contracts in working arrangements when multiple employers are involved. However, for more generalisable results, a greater international sample, including different temporary work agencies, would be favourable.

Practical implications

– Findings will help temporary work agencies to better understand how they rely on host organisations to fulfil the temporary agency workers’ psychological contract to attract and retain temporary agency workers.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the literature in the understudied field of non-traditional work arrangements as one of the few to examine these spill-over-effects both empirically and theoretically.
High performance work systems, cultures and gender demography
Authors: Pichler Shaun , Varma Arup , Yu Andrew , Beenen Gerard , Davoudpour Shahin
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and test hypotheses about the independent relationships between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and high-performance work cultures (HPWC) and employee turnover. Given the growth of women in the workforce, the authors also develop competing predictions about how organizational gender demography (i.e. a higher percentage of women) may either strengthen or weaken the relationship of HPWSs to turnover.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey of 171 human resource (HR) executives across organizations of various sizes and industries in the Chicago metropolitan area in the USA was conducted.

Findings

– The authors found that HPWS and HPWC are associated with lower turnover, though the relationship between HPWC and turnover was stronger. Results also indicate that HPWS are more strongly related to lower turnover among organizations that employ relatively more women.

Research limitations/implications

– The results indicates that HPWS may not be universalistic in terms of their effectiveness specifically as related to turnover. This was a cross-sectional study; it would be useful for future research to use a longitudinal research design.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that organizations should consider how their cultures, use of high-performance work practices, and gender demography are related to important HR metrics such as turnover.

Social implications

– This paper represents an important contribution to understanding the importance and implications of changes in the workforce demographic characteristics.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to integrate an organizational demography perspective with HPWS.
The bank that likes to say yes to expansion
Authors: Kumar Goel Alok , Rana Geeta
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the steps taken by human resource (HR) managers at India’s Yes Bank to enhance employee retention and to create an environment conducive to growth.

Design/methodology/approach

– Information gathered from semi-structured interviews has been presented.

Findings

– This paper reveals how Yes Bank has transformed its working environment through innovative HR practices.

Practical implications

– The approach adopted by an emerging Indian bank to address various HR issues has been detailed, and it is shown how the bank responded to changes and challenges in the internal and external environments.

Social implications

– This paper explains that Indian banks are about to come under increasing competitive pressure, as limits on foreign direct investment are relaxed.

Originality/value

– This paper provides plenty to interest practicing managers, researchers and students in HR management, organizational behavior and industrial relations.
What keeps mobile banking customers loyal?
Authors: Thakur Rakhi
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Customer satisfaction and loyalty have been traditionally two main goals aimed at by managers. Focusing on the mobile banking (m-banking), the importance of these concepts is even greater due to the increasing focus of banks on mobile phones in order to reach out to a larger set of customers. The purpose of this paper is to characterize both these concepts in the m-banking context.

Design/methodology/approach

– The influence of satisfaction and trust and their antecedents in developing customer loyalty in the m-banking were measured. The proposed model was tested through PLS-SEM.

Findings

– This research showed that satisfaction from m-banking based on previous interactions had a positive effect on customer loyalty. In addition, mobile interface usability and service were found to have a positive effect on customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

– In order to develop customer loyalty in m-banking, banks should prioritize user friendly interface and provide services valued by m-banking customers.

Originality/value

– Although the increasing competitiveness in m-banking is motivating banks to offer the same to customers, there is lack of studies that analyze the formation of satisfaction, trust and loyalty concepts in this context. This study therefore represents an initial contribution to the field of m-banking, which is gradually acquiring popularity in recent years especially in developing countries.
Banking service quality in the Middle Eastern countries
Authors: Mahmoud Al-jazzazi Akram , Sultan Parves
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review some of the key studies that are published in the last three decades on banking service quality with particular attention to the Middle Eastern countries, and provide some future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Literature review.

Findings

– The review generated 11 research questions related to Islamic and conventional banking services in the Middle Eastern countries.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper reviews leading, current studies on conventional and Islamic banking in the Middle East, and provides future research directions for scholars and practitioners alike. Future research should address each of the research questions as identified in this paper with empirical data/evidence.

Practical implications

– This paper reviews leading, current studies on conventional and Islamic banking in the Middle East and provides future directions of research for scholars and practitioners alike. Future research should address each of the research questions the authors identify with empirical data and scientific evidence.

Originality/value

– This paper would be useful for guiding the development and resolution of researchers’ and practitioners’ research questions and could help to strengthen the banking industry in Middle Eastern countries.
Critical failure factors of Lean Six Sigma: a systematic literature review
Authors: Albliwi Saja , Antony Jiju , Abdul Halim Lim Sarina , van der Wiele Ton
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a continuous improvement methodology that aims to reduce the costs of poor quality, improve the bottom-line results and create value for both customers and shareholders. The purpose of this paper is to explore the critical failure factors for LSS in different sectors, such as manufacturing, services, higher education, etc.

Design/methodology/approach

– The following research is based on a systematic literature review of 56 papers that were published on Lean, Six Sigma and LSS in well-known academic databases from 1995 to 2013.

Findings

– There are 34 common failure factors of LSS cited in this paper. There are some common factors for failure, such as a lack of top management commitment and involvement, lack of communication, lack of training and education, limited resources and others. Many gaps and limitations are discussed in this paper and need to be explored in future research.

Originality/value

– The paper is one of the first systematic literature reviews to explore the critical failure factors of LSS and discuss the top failure factors from different angles, i.e. countries’ evolution, organisations’ size (small- and medium-sized enterprises and large organisations) and industry nature.
Good for science, but which implications for business? An analysis of the managerial implications in high-impact B2B marketing articles published between 2003 and 2012
Authors: Baraldi Enrico , La Rocca Antonella , Perna Andrea
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to analyze a set of features in the managerial implications of the most-cited business-to-business (B2B) marketing articles which are related to their managerial relevance. The purpose is to further identify which are the most recurrent features of managerial implications, as well as the connections between such features. Finally, the articles aim to verify if these features of managerial implications vary depending on the scientific impact of the article.

Design/methodology/approach

– The 60 most-cited articles were selected from both generalist and specialized academic journals and a content analysis was conducted. Then the article assesses the formal features (e.g. dedicated space), the language (e.g. consulting or normative), the translation of scientific results (e.g. message efficacy) and such other features as time orientation, specificity and abstraction of the managerial implications in these high-impact articles. The article also analyses patterns and associations between the aforementioned dimensions across the 60 articles, also depending on their level of scientific impact (i.e. their number of citations).

Findings

– The results point that six out of nine features contributing to managerial relevance are the most frequently present in the implications (dedicated section easy to find, balance between academic and consulting language, partly scientific approach, overlap with scientific findings, message neither too complicated nor too simplistic, and long-term orientation). However, three other features reducing managerial relevance afflict nearly half of the articles: non-normative, generic and abstract implications. The ten articles lacking completely managerial implications are slightly more frequent among highest impact ones, which also often include overly complicated implications; while speculative and overly simplistic implications typically appear more among lowest impact articles which, however, also stand for very specific messages. There seems not to be any statistical correlation between the features contributing to managerial relevance and the scientific impact (number of citations) of an article. Instead, several of these features are correlated among each other, meaning that when one is missing, it is likely that the others also are. Finally, when implications are included in a dedicated section of the article, they tend to be specific and consequently also tend to have the other features favoring relevance.

Originality/value

– The article provides an empirically grounded assessment of features that influence the managerial relevance of scientific research in the areas of B2B marketing. Our results are, in fact, grounded in a detailed examination of the managerial implications of 60 high-impact articles in this disciplinary domain.
Motivational effects and age differences of gamification in product advertising
Authors: Bittner Jenny V. , Shipper Jeffrey
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study motivational effects and age differences of gamification in product advertising. Game-elements can easily be embedded within product advertisements, but little is known about the success factors of this technology. We investigated which motivational incentives of game designs influence the purchase intentions of consumers. The theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) was expected to explain purchase intentions for non-gamified sports products, whereas the modified technology acceptance model (Herziget al., 2012) was expected to predict purchase intentions of gamified sports products.

Design/methodology/approach

– Participants were 101 consumers who performed sports on a regular basis. Age and prior experience with digital games were assumed to influence the effectiveness of gamification.

Findings

– Purchase intentions of conventional products were predicted by attitudes, subjective norm and perceived control, whereas purchase intentions of gamified products were predicted by attitudes and the perceived usefulness. Enjoyment and flow were significant mediators between motivational incentives and purchase intentions. Consumers with prior gaming experience had higher purchase intentions for gamified products.

Practical implications

– Gamify products for younger target groups with gaming experience; use intrinsic and extrinsic motivational incentives; focus on enjoyment, flow and the perceived usefulness.

Social implications

– Game-elements in sports advertisements might also be suitable for public health campaigns. They may motivate people be more physically active and lead a healthier lifestyle.

Originality/value

– This study specifies predictors for purchase intentions of gamified products and emphasizes the importance of flow and enjoyment as mediators. Age differences indicate that young consumers had higher intentions to purchase the gamified product, judged it as more useful and perceived more flow and enjoyment than the older age group.
Developing sales training programs to promote a competitive advantage: linking corporate strategy with human resource development
Authors: C. Ross Stanley
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for any organization to follow in designing training programs by describing a hypothetical sales training model linked to an organization’s strategic focus. Training strategy shapes the type of training programs provided by organizations. What influences an organization’s training strategy is important to understand if we are to grasp the valuable role training plays in the long-term performance of the organization. Strategic focus provides a framework for organizations to follow when creating specialized training programs. This paper represents an initiative to help put in a broader and clearer context an organization’s strategic focus from which training program initiatives originate. Furthermore, the paper examines how strategic focus influences an organization’s decisions regarding the specific purposes, content and frequency of training. The paper identifies and describes several important dimensions of the conceptual model, as well as the interconnectedness among the dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper describes the link between sales training and an organization’s strategic focus. The use of a conceptual model linking strategic focus with a training program provides a “big picture” perspective showing the link between an organization’s vision and the role training plays in helping to realize this vision. The conceptual model shows the cause and effect link between the strategic focus and the development of training programs.

Findings

– The model demonstrates how practitioners can move from a strategic, conceptual focus to deliver a training program that represents the ability to implement strategic intent.

Practical implications

– The conceptual model shows the cause and effect link between the strategic focus and the development of training programs.

Originality/value

– The value of this conceptual model is to demonstrate the ability to link strategy to specific business activities associated with the implementation of strategy.
A novel remote sensing image retrieval method based on visual salient point features
Authors: Wang Xing , Shao Zhenfeng , Zhou Xiran , Liu Jun
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a novel feature design that is able to precisely describe salient objects in images. With the development of space survey, sensor and information acquisition technologies, more complex objects appear in high-resolution remote sensing images. Traditional visual features are no longer precise enough to describe the images.

Design/methodology/approach

– A novel remote sensing image retrieval method based on VSP (visual salient point) features is proposed in this paper. A key point detector and descriptor are used to extract the critical features and their descriptors in remote sensing images. A visual attention model is adopted to calculate the saliency map of the images, separating the salient regions from the background in the images. The key points in the salient regions are then extracted and defined as VSPs. The VSP features can then be constructed. The similarity between images is measured using the VSP features.

Findings

– According to the experiment results, compared with traditional visual features, VSP features are more precise and stable in representing diverse remote sensing images. The proposed method performs better than the traditional methods in image retrieval precision.

Originality/value

– This paper presents a novel remote sensing image retrieval method based on VSP features.
A piezoelectric active sensing method for detection of bolt load loss
Authors: Liu Shaopeng , Li Yourong , Wang Tao , Luo Yi
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a bolt loosening detection approach which integrates piezoelectric ceramics with active sensor technology.

Design/methodology/approach

– When the ultrasonic wave propagates across the contact surface at the bolted joints, because of the existence of imperfect interface, only part of the ultrasonic wave energy is passed through it. According to the Hertz contact theory, the passed energy depends on the true contact area which is decided by the bolt pretension. Hence, by measuring the received energy with the sensing piezoelectric material, the bolt pretension or bolt loosening can be detected.

Findings

– The experiment revealed that the wave energy propagated across the interface is strongly correlated to the torque level. This relationship will be a good indicator to detect the status of bolted joints. The presented method has a potential application for the monitoring of bolt load loss in-site. Moreover, some factors which will affect the propagation of ultrasonic wave across the bolted joints are discussed in this paper.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a good criterion to detect bolt load loss.
Assessment with children who experience difficulty in mathematics
Authors: Gillum James
Published: September 2014

In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the impact that difficulties in mathematics can have on the life chances of children and young people. Consequently, a range of targeted interventions has been developed to support learners. However, when difficulties persist in spite of such intervention, next steps are not always clear. This article describes how assessment can be used in such cases, to build a better understanding of a child's situation and plan appropriate intervention. Two complimentary approaches to assessment are outlined: curriculum‐based assessment, which considers which parts of the maths curriculum a learner finds difficult and diagnostic assessment which asks why this might be so. Assessment tools and links between assessment and intervention are also discussed.
Novel agents in the future: Therapy beyond anti‐TNF agents in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Peng Jiang Chen , Shen Jun , Ran Zhi Hua
Published: September 2014

Anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α agents emerge as the hot spot in the last decade for treating patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The effect of anti‐TNF‐α agents is satisfactory; however, some patients fail to achieve clinical response. Fortunately, in recent years, great efforts have been made and multiple novel therapies have been developed in the treatment for IBD. In this article, we aim to introduce anti‐TNF‐α drugs as well as other novel treatments currently undergoing clinical trials for IBD.
The Effects of Ghrelin Antagonists [D‐Lys3]‐GHRP‐6 or JMV2959 on Ethanol, Water, and Food Intake in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Gomez Juan L. , Ryabinin Andrey E.
Published: September 2014

Background

Alcohol use and abuse patterns have created a need for novel treatment models. Current research has turned its focus on reward pathways associated with intrinsic necessities, such as feeding. Theories suggest that drugs of abuse seize control of natural reward pathways and dysregulate normal function, leading to chronic addiction. One such pathway involving the hunger stimulating peptide, ghrelin, is the focus of our study.

Methods

Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to groups and treated with vehicle or a ghrelin antagonist, either [D‐Lys3]‐GHRP‐6 (DLys) or JMV2959. Three experiments tested ghrelin antagonism using different doses; experiment 1 tested 12 mg/kg JMV2959; experiment 2 tested 15 mg/kg DLys; experiment 3 tested 9 mg/kg JMV2959. Using a 2‐bottle choice 24‐hour access paradigm, data were collected for ethanol intake, preference, water intake, and food intake at 4 and 24 hours after injection.

Results

Experiment 1 showed that 12 mg/kg of JMV2959 decreased ethanol, water, and food intake, without affecting preference. Experiment 2 showed that 15 mg/kg of DLys decreased ethanol intake, preference, and water intake only on the first day of treatment. Experiment 3 showed that 9 mg/kg of JMV2959 decreased only ethanol and food intake. No change was seen during deprivation, and JMV2959 was still effective at reducing ethanol intake upon reintroduction. Despite the change in food intake, there were no differences in body weight throughout the experiments. It should be noted that the majority of significant effects were only found 4 hours postinjection.

Conclusions

The results show that compounds that block ghrelin receptor activity are effective at decreasing ethanol intake. However, DLys was only effective at reducing intake and preference on the first day, suggesting a quick tolerance and selectivity for ethanol. JMV2959 consistently reduced ethanol intake, but at the higher dose also reduced all other consummatory behaviors. Thus, ghrelin antagonists provide a viable potential for treatment of alcohol abuse disorders, but further research is needed to determine an appropriate dose and administration paradigm.