bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sphingolipids in the Root Play an Important Role in Regulating the Leaf Ionome inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chao Dai-Yin , Gable Kenneth , Chen Ming , Baxter Ivan , Dietrich Charles R. , Cahoon Edgar B. , Guerinot Mary Lou , Lahner Brett , Lü Shiyou , Markham Jennifer E. , Morrissey Joe , Han Gongshe , Gupta Sita D. , Harmon Jeffrey M. , Jaworski Jan G. , Dunn Teresa M. , Salt David E.
Published: March 2011

Sphingolipid synthesis is initiated by condensation of Ser with palmitoyl-CoA producing 3-ketodihydrosphinganine (3-KDS), which is reduced by a 3-KDS reductase to dihydrosphinganine. Ser palmitoyltransferase is essential for plant viability. Arabidopsis thaliana contains two genes (At3g06060/TSC10A and At5g19200/TSC10B) encoding proteins with significant similarity to the yeast 3-KDS reductase, Tsc10p. Heterologous expression in yeast of either Arabidopsis gene restored 3-KDS reductase activity to the yeast tsc10Δ mutant, confirming both as bona fide 3-KDS reductase genes. Consistent with sphingolipids having essential functions in plants, double mutant progeny lacking both genes were not recovered from crosses of single tsc10A and tsc10B mutants. Although the 3-KDS reductase genes are functionally redundant and ubiquitously expressed in Arabidopsis, 3-KDS reductase activity was reduced to 10% of wild-type levels in the loss-of-function tsc10a mutant, leading to an altered sphingolipid profile. This perturbation of sphingolipid biosynthesis in the Arabidopsis tsc10a mutant leads an altered leaf ionome, including increases in Na, K, and Rb and decreases in Mg, Ca, Fe, and Mo. Reciprocal grafting revealed that these changes in the leaf ionome are driven by the root and are associated with increases in root suberin and alterations in Fe homeostasis.
AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR8 RegulatesArabidopsisPetal Growth by Interacting with the bHLH Transcription Factor BIGPETALp
Authors: Varaud Emilie , Brioudes Florian , Szécsi Judit , Leroux Julie , Brown Spencer , Perrot-Rechenmann Catherine , Bendahmane Mohammed
Published: March 2011

Plant organ growth and final size are determined by coordinated cell proliferation and expansion. The BIGPETALp (BPEp) basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor was shown to limit Arabidopsis thaliana petal growth by influencing cell expansion. We demonstrate here that BPEp interacts with AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR8 (ARF8) to affect petal growth. This interaction is mediated through the BPEp C-terminal domain (SDBPEp) and the C-terminal domain of ARF8. Site-directed mutagenesis identified an amino acid consensus motif in SDBPEp that is critical for mediating BPEp-ARF8 interaction. This motif shares sequence similarity with motif III of ARF and AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID proteins. Petals of arf8 mutants are significantly larger than those of the wild type due to increased cell number and increased cell expansion. bpe arf8 double mutant analyses show that during early petal development stages, ARF8 and BPEp work synergistically to limit mitotic growth. During late stages, ARF8 and BPEp interact to limit cell expansion. The alterations in cell division and cell expansion observed in arf8 and/or bpe mutants are associated with a change in expression of early auxin-responsive genes. The data provide evidence of an interaction between an ARF and a bHLH transcription factor and of its biological significance in regulating petal growth, with local auxin levels likely influencing such a biological function.
APO1 Promotes the Splicing of Chloroplast Group II Introns and Harbors a Plant-Specific Zinc-Dependent RNA Binding Domain
Authors: Watkins Kenneth P. , Rojas Margarita , Friso Giulia , van Wijk Klaas J. , Meurer Jörg , Barkan Alice
Published: March 2011

Arabidopsis thaliana APO1 is required for the accumulation of the chloroplast photosystem I and NADH dehydrogenase complexes and had been proposed to facilitate the incorporation of [4Fe-4S] clusters into these complexes. The identification of maize (Zea mays) APO1 in coimmunoprecipitates with a protein involved in chloroplast RNA splicing prompted us to investigate a role for APO1 in splicing. We show here that APO1 promotes the splicing of several chloroplast group II introns: in Arabidopsis  apo1 mutants, ycf3-intron 2 remains completely unspliced, petD intron splicing is strongly reduced, and the splicing of several other introns is compromised. These splicing defects can account for the loss of photosynthetic complexes in apo1 mutants. Recombinant APO1 from both maize and Arabidopsis binds RNA with high affinity in vitro, demonstrating that DUF794, the domain of unknown function that makes up almost the entirety of APO1, is an RNA binding domain. We provide evidence that DUF794 harbors two motifs that resemble zinc fingers, that these bind zinc, and that they are essential for APO1 function. DUF794 is found in a plant-specific protein family whose members are all predicted to localize to mitochondria or chloroplasts. Thus, DUF794 adds a new example to the repertoire of plant-specific RNA binding domains that emerged as a product of nuclear-organellar coevolution.
Optimization of geometric parameters of latticed structures using genetic algorithm
Authors: Hashemian Amir H. , Kargarnovin Mohammad H. , Jam Jafar E.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze a squared lattice cylindrical shell under compressive axial load and to optimize the geometric parameters to achieve the maximum buckling load. Also a comparison between buckling loads of a squared lattice cylinder and a solid hollow cylinder with equal weight, length and outer diameter is performed to reveal the superior performance of the squared lattice cylindrical shells.

Design/methodology/approach

A cylindrical lattice shell includes circumferential and longitudinal rods with geometric parameters such as cross‐section areas of the rods, distances and angles between them. In this study, the governing differential equation for buckling load which can be presumed as a criterion for designing lattice structures with a specific weight is derived and is used as an objective function in genetic algorithm (GA) method to calculate the optimum geometric parameters of the shell. The optimum parameters were modelled in finite element method (FEM) in order to verify the buckling loads obtained from GA. In another effort, the FEM was applied to analyze the solid hollow cylinders.

Findings

The results demonstrate relatively close agreement between the buckling loads obtained from GA and FEM for such shells. It was also shown that latticed cylinders have better performance to carry compressive axial loads than the equivalent solid hollow cylinders with equal weights, lengths and outer diameters.

Research limitations/implications

The studies reported in this paper have been carried out for a single squared lattice shell without using two‐side skins. However, using skins can give better performance in carrying compressive axial loads.

Practical implications

The results in this paper show that this type of effective, economical lightweight and functional structures could be applied as inter‐stages, inter‐tanks, aircraft fuselage, rocket motor cases, pressure vessels and other elements of civil engineering structures in order to have greater strength and lower weight.

Originality/value

Squared lattice cylindrical shell with optimum geometric design could provide the chance for eliminating the stiffeners of shells in aerospace structures in order to decrease the weight and increase the load‐bearing capacity.
Outgassing studies on thermal control coatings for micro‐satellites
Authors: Chandrakant Joshi Sunil
Published: March 2011

Purpose

With the advent of micro‐satellites technology, passive thermal controls in the form of surface coatings have become important for onboard thermal management. The thermal coatings, however, suffer outgassing and mass loss due to their direct exposure to harsh thermal environment and high vacuum in space. The purpose of this paper is to discuss testing and evaluation on outgassing of AA6061‐T6 specimen surfaces treated with various types of anodized coatings of different thicknesses and the related mass loss before and after thermal exposure.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples of chromic acid, polytetrafluroethylene polymer, and black‐ and brown‐colour anodized aluminum coupons were subjected to high vacuum (∼1×10−6 mbar), before and after thermal baking at 120°C. Spectrum analysis of the outgassed material to know their quantities and proportion was conducted subsequently using a Quadrupole mass analyzer.

Findings

The surface coatings under study complied with the spacecraft requirements for the mass loss of less than 1 percent of the total mass of the coating material used for that surface. The mass spectrum analysis of the outgassed material indicated that the majority of the coating mass loss was on account of water vapours and organic solvents like ethylene.

Practical implications

These results provided a good insight into the reliability of the coating materials studied and the bonding between the aluminum substrates and the coatings.

Originality/value

The coatings and the technology needed for their application on aluminum are readily available. The present work on outgassing and mass loss in a simulated space environment will provide useful insight on their usage for micro‐satellites.
Validation of comprehensive dynamics analysis predictions for a rotor in descending flight
Authors: Park Jae S. , Jung Sung N. , You Young H. , Park Soo H. , Yu Yung H.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the prediction capability of comprehensive structural dynamics (CSD) analysis codes for the higher harmonic control aeroacoustic rotor test (HART) II data.

Design/methodology/approach

A nonlinear flexible multibody dynamics analysis code DYMORE, as well as the comprehensive analytical model of rotorcraft aerodynamics and dynamics (CAMRAD) II, are used to perform the task. The predicted results on rotating free vibration analysis, airloads, blade elastic motions, and structural moments are correlated with the measured data for the baseline, minimum noise, and minimum vibration cases.

Findings

The DYMORE analysis results with a free wake model show a good performance in capturing blade vortex interaction peaks in the prediction of section normal forces but apparently with a phase shift problem. The high‐frequency behavior in the airloads signal does not affect much on the aeroelastic response and structural moments of the rotor.

Originality/value

The present approach uses two separate CSD codes to systematically validate the HART II data. The accuracy of each code on structural dynamic aspects of HART II rotor is assessed using a consistent set of inputs. The effects of blade tip deflections on the interaction of blades and their trailed vortices leading to a reduced noise emission are also investigated.
Optical flow‐based obstacle avoidance of a fixed‐wing MAV
Authors: Rezaei Mahdi , Saghafi Fariborz
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe optical flow‐based navigation of a very light fixed‐wing aircraft in flight between obstacles.

Design/methodology/approach

The optical flow information of two cameras mounted on the aircraft is used to detect the obstacle. It is assumed that the image processing has been completed and the optical flow vectors have been obtained beforehand. The optical flow is used to detect the obstacles and make a rapid turn manoeuvre for the aircraft.

Findings

It is shown that using the optical flow feedback by itself is unable to give a rapid turn to the aircraft and its rate should be employed into the control law. Six degree‐of‐freedom flight simulation showed that the proposed navigation and control strategy give satisfactory results in different flight environments like corridors with parallel and non‐parallel walls and in the L junctions. Simulations also showed that the aircraft flight velocity has little effect on collision avoidance performance.

Practical implications

This paper provides a theoretical framework to study the different parameters affect the obstacle detection and avoidance of an aircraft.

Originality/value

An analytical equation has been developed to relate the obstacle detection distance to the aircraft manoeuvrability parameters. In addition, an optical flow‐based controller also has been designed to provide rapid turn manoeuvres using the aileron control surface.
Aircraft terrain following flights based on fuzzy logic
Authors: Rahim Mohammad , Móhammad‐Bagher Malaek Seyed
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach in terrain following (TF) flight using fuzzy logic. The fuzzy controller as presented in this work decides where and how the aircraft needs to change its altitude. The fast decision‐making nature of this method promises real‐time applications even for tough terrains in terms of shape and peculiarities. The method could always assist to design trajectories in an off‐line manner.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the aforementioned goal, the method effectively incorporates the dynamics of the aircraft. Basically, the mathematical method employs special relationships among existing slope of the terrain and its derivative together with aircraft flying speed and height above the ground to construct suitable fuzzy rules. The fuzzification method is based on Sugeno and three rule‐sets are used for fuzzy structure. These rules are implemented using Fuzzy Logic Toolbox in MATLAB.

Findings

Different case studies conducted for flights in XZ‐plane show the effectiveness of the method as compared to other existing methods available to the authors. The results illustrate a good tracking based on the fuzzy approach while using both 18 and 27 rules with respect to the optimal approach. Furthermore, it is shown that decreasing number of rules from 27 to 18 rules causes only minor changes in the solution.

Practical implications

The current work offers a new approach in low‐level flights where maintaining a suitable height above the ground is essential. This is especially important for civil aircraft approaching an airport with low or non‐visibility and during aborted landing manoeuvres. The domain of the current work is however confined to only planning of TF manoeuvres. Nevertheless, the work could be expanded into TF/terrain avoidance and three‐dimensional manoeuvres which are not in the scope of the current work.

Originality/value

The current work addresses the problems associated with low‐level flight; such as TF using artificial intelligence and fuzzy logic. The provided intelligence helps the aircraft conduct TF manoeuvres by understanding the general patterns of the existing terrain. The method is fast enough to be applied for real‐time applications.
Stratospheric communication platforms as an alternative for space program
Authors: Ilcev St. D.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential applications of stratospheric communication platforms (SCP), which have been recently introduced as an alternative for satellite communications.

Design/methodology/approach

Various applications, solutions and services are planned by using aircraft or airship SCP, which could be classified as digital narrowband or broadband, depending on the broadband required. The platforms as base stations can provide service for fixed and mobile applications, with commercial and military solutions. Subscribers will use uplink to the platform for transmitting and receiving information, where onboard SCP switching devices will downlink to the ground station and route traffic directly to other subscribers within the same platform coverage, to another platform via optical inter‐platform links, trough heterogeneous networks including satellite or to the terrestrial telecommunications network. Each SCP can deploy an antenna for large coverage area or a multibeam antenna capable of projecting numerous spot beams within its potential coverage area.

Findings

This paper outlines the findings of fixed and mobile applications, features, testing and some specific development programs of SCP using aircraft solutions, such as SkyTower and airship solutions, such as CRL/TAO/NAL.

Research limitations/implications

Particular consideration is given to the use of SCP for delivery of future broadband, broadcast and multimedia wireless communications including research for new communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) implications.

Practical implications

SCP will provide communication facilities that can exploit the best features for both terrestrial and satellite schemes.

Originality/value

Emerging solutions of voice, data and video over IP are offered by SCPs operating in the stratosphere at altitudes of up to 25 km.
Muscadine‐wines, wineries and the hospitality industry
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Muscadines (Vitis Rotundifolia Michx.), a vine native to the southern USA, is processed into different products, including wines. Today, many wineries in the southern USA offer an experience that combines muscadine wine tastings, tours, education, and in some cases food. However, apart from offering on‐site sales and a tourist experience related to the hospitality industry, to what extent are wineries engaged in relationships with local or state restaurants? Also, what, if any, challenges do wine operators face in the process of seeking to market their wines to hospitality operations? The present study aims to explore these areas from a winery operator's perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 31 winery owners located in different southern states, including Alabama, Florida and North Carolina, predominantly via telephone interviews.

Findings

Almost half of the respondents (15, 48.4 per cent) acknowledge synergies between their wineries and hospitality businesses; however, the other 16 (51.6 per cent) are not involved in such relationships. Such absence of networks and relationships is to a great extent due to concerns of surrendering control of their wines to wholesalers and distributors (in many cases winery operators are not allowed to sell directly to restaurateurs), and the apparent lack of appreciation of muscadine wines by many hospitality businesses.

Research limitations/implications

While the findings of this study may provide useful information to the muscadine wine industry, particularly as a foundation for future research, the low number of participating wineries presents a limitation.

Practical implications

Muscadine wines have the potential to enhance not only winery visitors' experience when travelling to areas where muscadine grapes are grown, but also their restaurant/dining experience. However, support in the form of promotion, education and legislation, allowing more direct winery‐hospitality industry relationship, is critical for the long‐term sustainability of the muscadine‐wine industry.

Originality/value

The present study examines an area that, despite its clear links to hospitality and tourism, to date has been overlooked in contemporary research.
A consumer‐oriented segmentation study in the Swiss wine market
Authors: Brunner Thomas A. , Siegrist Michael
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The main objectives of this study are to develop a comprehensive questionnaire and to analyze the nature of wine market segments. Past research has focused on involvement, lifestyle or motives as segmentation criteria. The present study seeks to combine all three perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

A postal paper‐and‐pencil survey was sent out randomly using addresses from the telephone book in the German‐speaking part of Switzerland, resulting in a final sample size of n=929.

Findings

A principal component analysis identified 17 factors with satisfactory reliability coefficients. Using factor scores, a hierarchical cluster analysis was run, resulting in six wine consumer segments. These segments were further analyzed and described as: the price‐conscious wine consumer; the involved, knowledgeable wine consumer; the image‐oriented wine consumer; the indifferent wine consumer; the basic wine consumer; and the enjoyment‐oriented, social wine consumer.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology used to identify the wine consumer segments was exploratory. It is recommended that future work should continue to develop and validate such a methodology for the wine industry.

Practical implications

Wine producers and marketers should appreciate that there are different segments of wine consumers. The information provided by this research is useful for marketers who seek to gain a competitive advantage through differentiation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the academic literature by presenting a useful extension to the available segmentation literature. Combining different approaches for segmenting a market proved to be a fruitful method in identifying wine consumer segments.
The moderating role of trust in contractual choice
Authors: Fernández‐Olmos Marta
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The aim of this research is to determine how trust might moderate the effect of asset specificity on the contractual choice.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is drawn from the qualified appellation of origin (DOCa) Rioja wine market. A binomial logit was used as the primary technique for investigation of the hypothesis for the final sample size of 68 observations (34 oral contracts and 34 written contracts).

Findings

The evidence presented in this paper points to the fact that asset specificity, the most important characteristic in transaction cost economics, will not be a strong predictor of the level of contract formalisation for transactions that enjoy a high level of trust.

Research limitations/implications

This study has important limitations that imply caution in generalising the findings. First, the agrarian legal framework is likely to alter the effectiveness of formal contracts as governance devices. Another limitation of this analysis is that it is not a dynamic analysis and, hence, it does not consider the possibility of trust emerging over time.

Practical implications

It is suggested that the possession of trust between contractual parties allows them to reduce transaction costs without resorting to a high level of contractual formalisation.

Originality/value

This paper is useful for practitioners and academics in the field of contractual choice. The research provides some initial insight into the moderating influence of trust on the relationship between asset specificity and level of contractual incompleteness in the viticulture sector.
Retailer brand share statistics in four developed economies from 1992 to 2005
Authors: Chimhundu Ranga , Hamlin Robert P. , McNeill Lisa
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine long‐term trends in retailer and manufacturer brand shares in grocery product categories, and to relate these trends to retailer category strategy with regard to these two types of brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study makes use of secondary data and empirical materials from the literature to establish and explain the trends in four countries: the UK, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, interview data are used to develop issues.

Findings

The results indicate the existence of long‐term equilibrium points between the shares of manufacturer brands and retailer brands in grocery product categories in the USA, New Zealand and Australia. Only the UK shows strong growth of retailer brands in line with retailer consolidation and power, but this trend is arrested, reversed and brought to equilibrium in 2001.

Research limitations/implications

The data presented are restricted to four major English‐speaking economies between 1992 and 2005. The data are also consolidated national data. Equilibria within individual categories will vary due to variations in category structure and pace of innovation.

Practical implications

This research indicates that major retailers deploy manufacturer brands to drive the categories via innovation and retailer brands to generate additional profit for the retailers. Therefore manufacturer brands do have a long‐term future. Individual manufacturer brands are likely to be assessed by the retailer primarily on this driving capability, and on the manufacturers' ongoing investment in the capacity to innovate that supports it.

Originality/value

The paper provides a fresh perspective of looking at retailer and manufacturer strategy via brand share trends.
National and regional ethnocentrism: a case study of beer consumers in Poland
Authors: Siemieniako Dariusz , Kubacki Krzysztof , Glińska Ewa , Krot Katarzyna
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Earlier studies into consumer ethnocentrism focused on identification of the level of ethnocentric tendencies in different countries and their investigation for various categories of products. This research contributes to a wider understanding of that phenomenon, aiming to explore the characteristics of Polish consumers' national and regional ethnocentric attitudes and behaviours, especially symptoms of those attitudes in relationship with locally produced brands of beer.

Design/methodology/approach

All the data were collected on a university campus in Poland in late autumn 2007 in a group of ten university students. Purposive sampling was used to establish two focus groups within the industry's main target market age group, each of which met on two occasions, three weeks apart.

Findings

The main identified issues broadly covered two main categories: national ethnocentrism and regional ethnocentrism. The findings point to the relative importance of elements such as brand image (based on Polish culture and referring to its symbols), local brands as contributors to local identities and the form of their expression, as well as a moral obligation to buy local brands.

Originality/value

Indicative findings suggest that several areas need to be further investigated in future research in order to better understand the characteristics of national and regional ethnocentric tendencies, and the contribution they make to local identities.
Dedicated and generic marketing strategies
Authors: Adinolfi Felice , De Rosa Marcello , Trabalzi Ferruccio
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Within a competing global food market marketing strategies become ever more important; in Italy an important marketing strategy in the wine sector focuses on the so‐called designations of origins (Appellations). This paper aims to analyse the public perception of regional wines with designation of origins.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi‐structured questionnaire was administered to a sample of wine consumers in national wine shows in Rome and the provinces. The questionnaire aimed at testing consumers' knowledge and preferences toward wines with a designation of origin produced within the Lazio region. A multivariate analysis has clustered consumers according to their behaviors in relation to wines with a designation of origin. A perception analysis relative to the knowledge and meaning of designations of origins was further performed. The latter has made it possible to rank regional wines and to establish the market effect of designations of origin.

Findings

With regard to behaviors toward wines with a designation of origin, the data suggest three ideal‐types of customers: “sensible” (i.e. customers knowledgeable of the meaning of designations of origins); “indifferent”; and “thrifty” (i.e. customers who understand the importance of designation of origins but are also conscious of price). The conclusions indicate that a designation of origin is a necessary but not a sufficient factor for having a good market performance.

Research limitations/implications

Implications in terms of marketing strategies are evident: wine production is characterized by different worlds of production and marketing strategies should be consequential.

Originality/value

The enthusiasm towards designations of origin is not always justified: the proliferation of designations of origin can de‐sensitize consumers with dramatic effects on rural territories whose economy rotates around the production of quality wines. Organizational adjustment and more efficient communication strategies are indeed necessary complements to obtaining an appellation.
The relationship between student consumption of animal products and attitudes to animals in Europe and Asia
Authors: Izmirli Serdar , Phillips Clive J.C.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This research aims to determine the relationship between the consumption of animal products and attitudes towards animals among university students in Eurasia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with collaborators in each country who supervised volunteers to personally invite 16,777 students to take part. The sample was composed of 3,433 students from 103 universities in 11 Eurasian countries. ANOVA was used to compare the responses. All analyses were conducted using the statistical packages Minitab 15 and SPSS 15.

Findings

A total of 47 per cent of university students avoided some meat products, 4 per cent were vegetarians and 0.4 per cent vegans. Students avoiding some meat did so principally for environmental and health reasons, and beef and lamb were the meats most likely to be avoided. Vegetarians avoided meat mainly for health reasons. Vegans had greater concern about humans using animals than vegetarians, who in turn had greater concerns than those avoiding some meat.

Social implications

Avoidance of animal products was related to an increased level of concern for animal rights, animal experimentation and wildlife, with vegans demonstrating the greatest concern. This implied that students' attitudes to animal welfare and rights can affect animal product‐eating behaviours.

Originality/value

This study conflicts with previous studies by demonstrating that health rather than environment was a major reason for vegetarianism. The study highlights the importance of environmental, health and welfare concerns but not religion in avoidance of animal products.
UK higher education libraries and the role of JISC, the Joint Information Systems Committee
Authors: Joint Nicholas
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give a working librarian's view of the role of the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), and make some suggestions about how effective it is from the perspective of practice with a view to justifying its role in terms of recent policies introduced by national government in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The author sketches some of the broader government initiatives that affect this area and combines this sketch with commentary from the arena of information practice, in order to sum up the case for and against the value of JISC.

Findings

In balance, this paper finds the evidence for the beneficial impact of JISC's work to be quite compelling, but also argues that there is a lack of awareness of how strong this case is at practitioner level. At a time when all public services are under strong financially led scrutiny, this lack of appreciation at practitioner level is of some concern.

Research limitations/implications

This is a brief and selective account of one particular sphere of JISC's workings. In order to make the case more effectively, a broader investigation could be carried out, but with the requirement that the findings should be focussed on practical outcomes and benefits that are well understood by information professionals working in everyday library and information environments.

Practical implications

This account tries to make clear in straightforward and practical terms what the larger specific benefits of introducing federated access into the UK university community have been.

Originality/value

This paper gives a double viewpoint on its topic, combining a high‐level view of national information management issues from the government perspective, with a practice‐led view of the same issues.
Building an integrated work force through shared values
Authors: Keene Judith , Fairman Roger
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the need to integrate staff from a number of services from the public and academic sectors who will be working together in a new joint‐use library. Staff workshops aimed at producing agreed core values were used as a way of starting the process of integration and engaging all staff with the vision of the new library.

Design/methodology/approach

The decision to focus on core values and to actively involve staff in their development is explained with reference to other work on vision and values. The format of the workshops is described, and an overview given of the qualitative and quantitative feedback from staff at the workshops, which was used to assess the success of the approach and inform future work, which is briefly outlined.

Findings

The paper concludes that the workshops were successful in helping staff start to get to know about each other's services and develop joint values. The opportunity to participate and be consulted by managers was welcomed.

Practical implications

Practical workshops can be an effective way of bringing together staff from different services and organisations and start engaging them with a vision. The authors intend to continue the process by working to embed the values and providing more of these opportunities for their staff, looking next at training needs.

Originality/value

Merging staff from different services can be difficult and threaten the success of joint‐use libraries. As partnership work is increasingly promoted amongst libraries, this case study suggests one effective way of encouraging integration.
A survey of information literacy education in library schools in Africa
Authors: Baro Emmanuel E.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the state of information literacy (IL) education in library schools in Africa. Principally, to understand how prepared the library schools are to take the lead by integrating IL courses into their school curricula.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey was carried out in two parts: first, the researcher conducted a survey of web sites maintained by library schools in Africa to identify the IL course offered and also to analyze the course contents. That was followed by sending an e‐mail message containing three research questions to library and information science (LIS) faculty members to ascertain the availability of IL courses in their curricula.

Findings

Results from the study revealed that, presently, only a few library schools offer the course IL as a stand‐alone course in their curricula. Many library schools have not yet incorporated “IL” as a stand‐alone course in their LIS curricula, rather, it is briefly discussed as a topic in related courses. The reason being that the LIS departments lack the technological facilities and qualified personnel to teach the course “IL.” Although not all the library schools in Africa were examined due to language barrier, more than 60 library schools were investigated, among them 20 institutions were found offering IL courses or a related area.

Research limitations/implications

The researcher could not examine all the library schools in Africa due to language barriers, as many of the African countries have French as their official language and others Portuguese.

Originality/value

The results from the study reported in this paper will provide important data and insight into the current state of IL education in African library schools, and generate suggestions for educators and policy makers developing and including “IL” as a stand‐alone course in the LIS curriculum.
Integration of information literacy into the curriculum: a meta‐synthesis
Authors: Derakhshan Maryam , Singh Diljit
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on academics' point of view towards integration of information literacy into the curriculum.

Design/methodology/approach

This meta‐synthesis analyzed 48 journal articles that examined issues related to integration information literacy into the curriculum. Using the Stevick‐Colaizzi‐Keen method, a meta‐synthesis of seven studies was conducted.

Findings

This process revealed four themes that outline issues related to the academics perspective: collaboration; information literacy pedagogy; information literacy skills; and knowledge.

Research limitations/implications

As this is a literature review, one limitation is lack of literature on perceptions towards information literacy. The issue will be examined further with a wider population.

Practical implications

These results suggest that more knowledge is needed to integrate information literacy into the curriculum to prepare information literate students who can effectively learn information literacy skills and research strategies to be lifelong learners.

Originality/value

The paper explores academics' perceptions towards information literacy and shows the importance of their perceptions as a key step towards embedding its successful adoption.
Personal ontological information responsibility
Authors: Kearns Jodi , Rinehart Rhonda
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Archivists and Librarians are subjected to social stereotypes by those outside and within the field of library and information science. Many of these role descriptions come from within the LIS professions themselves; the differences between information responsibilities of Archivists and Librarians are not clearly defined. The purpose of this paper is to dispel myths of distinguishable differences in information role responsibilities of Archivists and Librarians.

Design/methodology/approach

A simple survey was developed and completed by Archivists and Librarians who volunteered to express, in their own words, up to three descriptions of what their information responsibilities are. Responses were recorded in the respondents' own words, and so, the responses were necessarily compared, reduced, and categorized into nine recognizable categories of synonymous and qualifying terms for comparison.

Findings

Results of the survey demonstrate that both Archivists and Librarians list access most often as their information responsibility. Similarly, preserve and process are listed as second and third, in reverse order; and collect and evaluate are listed fourth and fifth, in reverse order. Results indicate the major differences as Archivists naming collect more often, and Librarians listing teach more often.

Originality/value

Archivists and Librarians usually both receive their education and training in schools of library and information science. Other than collection types and patrons served, which vary significantly among libraries and archives themselves, this exploratory study indicates no major differences in personally expressed information responsibilities of those within the fields of practice, and debunks the misconceptions that Archivists and Librarians have distinct, observable differences in their approaches to information.
Development and evaluation of a knowledge risk management model for project‐based organizations
Authors: Jafari Mostafa , Rezaeenour Jalal , Mahdavi Mazdeh Mohammad , Hooshmandi Atefe
Published: March 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to develop a model for risk management of knowledge loss in a project‐based organization in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a multi‐stage research approach. In the first stage, existing practices are examined to develop a model for risk management of knowledge loss. In the second stage, the model is evaluated by testing it in a case study. The methods integrated as the foundations of the Integrated KM and RM model are: the PMBOK risk management (RM) approach, the Fraunhofer IPK knowledge management (KM) model, and the TVA knowledge risk assessment framework.

Findings

The analytical approach includes a six‐step integrated model that manages the risk of critical knowledge in the case study. The results show that, after a year of implementing the model, the job positions facing knowledge loss were reduced by 88 percent.

Research limitations/implications

The integrated KM and RM model can be used to assist the planning, establishment and evaluation of knowledge loss in projects. This helps to ensure that key issues regarding knowledge loss are covered during the planning and implementation phases of project management.

Originality/value

This study provides an integrated perspective of KM in project‐based organizations. It offers valuable guidelines that can help decision makers consider key issues during a risk assessment of knowledge factors in project management. Outputs of this model can prepare an extensive assessment report about the risk of knowledge loss in a project‐based organization with suggestions for preservation plans to mitigate its effects.
What attracts decision makers' attention?
Authors: Bentzen Eric , Christiansen John K. , Varnes Claus J.
Published: March 2011

Purpose

Managers' attention is a scarce resource in complex innovation settings. Prior research on the factors to which managers pay attention is mostly based on surveys. The present study aims to address the need for knowledge about the behavior of decision makers based on observations from portfolio meetings. The study seeks to investigate how managers allocate their attention and the role of different factors for their attention. Observations also make it possible to compare prior research and expectations with the actual observed behavior of decision makers.

Design/methodology/approach

The present analysis draws on insights from previous research into decision making in product and portfolio management and studies on organizational decision making. The authors frame why the attention of decision makers is so critical in complex situations. Data for this study were collected through direct observation, from a portfolio management system, and from an information quality measurement system in an internationally operating petrochemical company. Observations were transcribed, coded and analyzed with regression analysis using the Proc Lifereg procedure in SAS.

Findings

Six potential factors that might explain decision makers' attention are identified. The analysis shows that the quality of information was not significant for explaining variations of decision makers' attention; but, even more surprisingly, differences in project status did not explain variations in attention. Delayed projects did not get significantly more attention than those delivered on time. By controlling for other project characteristics, the newness of projects to the corporate portfolio was found to be the most important parameter.

Originality/value

First, the analysis is based on observations from actual meetings rather than from surveys. Second, several observations contradict prior research on product development, e.g. it has been argued that decision makers should pay special attention to certain phases and projects having trouble meeting expectations towards planned deadlines. It is also new that findings on the different treatment of new projects and ongoing projects have been brought forward in research on product and portfolio management.
Decision‐making biases in the alliance life cycle
Authors: Chao Yu‐Chieh
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to examine how a focal firm's decision‐making biases at each stage of the alliance life cycle can cause alliance failures such as premature termination and less‐than‐expected productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A dyadic decision‐making approach is used to examine the consequences of decision‐making biases in the evolution of alliances. Concrete cases are presented to substantiate the arguments.

Findings

Paying insufficient attention to an alliance partner's behavior causes different judgmental mistakes or decision‐making biases at different stages of the alliance life cycle. These biases can lead to alliance failure.

Research limitations/implications

Dyadic decision making provides a framework to explain persistent but poorly understood dysfunctional behavior in alliances. Although previous authors have acknowledged that safeguards and trust are effective ways to reduce dysfunctional behavior, their mechanisms are still unclear. The paper's arguments suggest that decision‐making biases may serve as crucial mediators of the relationship between governance designs (safeguards or trust) and alliance outcomes. Future work can provide evidence to verify this postulate.

Practical implications

Decision‐making biases emerge in the evolution of alliances and influence alliance performance. Understanding the influence of biases helps to prevent their negative effects and reduces the probability of alliance failure.

Originality/value

Dyadic decision making provides a behavioral framework that complements traditional economic and organizational perspectives in explaining interorganizational decision‐making outcomes in the real world. Three kinds of biases – overconfidence, single outcome calculation, and adjustment and anchoring – are discussed in the paper. The paper addresses how these biases can emerge in the alliance life cycle and lead to various types of dysfunctional behavior, which, in turn, may cause alliance failures such as premature termination and less‐than‐expected productivity.
To trust or not to trust?
Authors: Camén Carolina , Gottfridsson Patrik , Rundh Bo
Published: March 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how contracts are used to build and develop long‐term relationships in contexts where trust cannot be expected in advance – i.e. there is a lack of initial trust.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a qualitative approach, while the present study used a documentary study focusing on 21 formal contractual dyads between contractors and fulfillers within the public transport sector.

Findings

The analysis of contracts in the public sector reveals the importance of formal contracts in relationship building, as a result of a number of factors that characterize this setting, including: the highly detailed specification of terms, legislation having an effect on the design of the contract, the bidding process, in situations where there is no negotiation process, no scope for further discussion after signing contracts, no learning processes, and contracts being used to conduct day‐to‐day business.

Originality/value

This research acknowledges the fact that there is a lack of empirical investigation into the nature and form of contractual arrangements, while the study contributes to this area by using formal contracts in a public context.