bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring gene expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR).
Authors: Honeyborne I.
Published: May 2013

This chapter discusses the need for molecular-based quantification of bacterial load in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and the reasons for a lack of a molecular assay for enumeration of M. tuberculosis in sputum. Measuring gene expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to determine bacterial load in sputum samples is described.
The identification of 2-aminothiazole-4-carboxylates (ATCs) as a new class of tuberculosis agent: a lesson in 'HIT' identification.
Authors: Coxon G.
Published: May 2013

This chapter discusses the strategies to find new tuberculosis drug scaffolds and the validated drug targets for mycobacterial killing. The rationale, design and synthesis of the thiazole ring scaffold which led to the identification of methyl 2-amino-5-benzylthiazole-4-carboxylate and methyl 2-(2-bromoacetamido)-5-(3-chlorophenyl) thiazole-4-carboxylate are described.
Rifamycins revisited.
Authors: Boeree M. J.
Published: May 2013

This chapter reviews several rifamycins against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The history, microbiological activity, clinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics and adverse effects of rifampicin, rifapentine and rifabutin are described. The minimum inhibitory concentration and suspension of development of rifalazil are briefly discussed.
Uniform hyperbolicity along periodic orbits
Authors: Fakhari Abbas
Published: May 2013

We introduce the notion of uniform hyperbolicity along periodic orbits (UHPO) for homoclinic classes and provide equivalent conditions under which the UHPO property on a

C
1

C^1

-generic homoclinic class implies hyperbolicity. It is shown that for a

C
1

C^1

-generic locally maximal homoclinic class the UHPO property is equivalent to the non-existence of zero Lyapunov exponents. Using the notion of UHPO, we also give new proofs for some recent

C
1

C^1

-dichotomy theorems.
Self-interaction of transmembrane helices representing pre-clusters from the human single-span membrane proteins
Authors: Kirrbach Jan , Krugliak Miriam , Ried Christian L. , Pagel Philipp , Arkin Isaiah T. , Langosch Dieter
Published: May 2013

Motivation: Most integral membrane proteins form dimeric or oligomeric complexes. Oligomerization is frequently supported by the non-covalent interaction of transmembrane helices. It is currently not clear how many high-affinity transmembrane domains (TMD) exist in a proteome and how specific their interactions are with respect to preferred contacting faces and their underlying residue motifs.

Results: We first identify a threshold of 55% sequence similarity, which demarcates the border between meaningful alignments of TMDs and chance alignments. Clustering the human single-span membrane proteome using this threshold groups ∼40% of the TMDs. The homotypic interaction of the TMDs representing the 33 largest clusters was systematically investigated under standardized conditions. The results reveal a broad distribution of relative affinities. High relative affinity frequently coincides with (i) the existence of a preferred helix–helix interface and (ii) sequence specificity as indicated by reduced affinity after mutating conserved residues.

Contact:  langosch@tum.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effects of Copaifera duckei Dwyer oleoresin on the cell wall and cell division of Bacillus cereus
Authors: Gomes dos Santos Elizabeth Cristina , Donnici Claudio Luis , Camargos Elizabeth Ribeiro da Silva , Augusto de Rezende Adriana , Andrade Eloisa Helena de Aguiar , Soares Luiz Alberto Lira , Farias Luiz de Macêdo , Roque de Carvalho Maria Auxiliadora , Almeida Maria das Graças
Published: May 2013

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Copaifera duckei oleoresin and to determine its possible mechanism of action against bacteria of clinical and food interest. The antibacterial activity was determined by agar diffusion and dilution methods; the mechanism of action by transmission electron microscopy and by SDS-PAGE; the bioactive compounds by bioautography; and the chemical analysis by GC/MS. Oleoresin showed activity against nine of the 11 strains of bacteria tested. Bacillus cereus was the most sensitive, with a MIC corresponding to 0.03125 mg ml−1 and with a bactericidal action. Oleoresin acted on the bacterial cell wall, removing proteins and the S-layer, and interfering with the cell-division process. This activity probably can be attributed to the action of terpenic compounds, among them the bisabolene compound. Gram-negative bacteria tested were not inhibited. C. duckei oleoresin is a potential antibacterial, suggesting that this oil could be used as a therapeutic alternative, mainly against B. cereus.
Arboretum: Reconstruction and analysis of the evolutionary history of condition-specific transcriptional modules
Authors: Roy Sushmita , Wapinski Ilan , Pfiffner Jenna , French Courtney , Socha Amanda , Konieczka Jay , Habib Naomi , Kellis Manolis , Thompson Dawn , Regev Aviv
Published: May 2013

Comparative functional genomics studies the evolution of biological processes by analyzing functional data, such as gene expression profiles, across species. A major challenge is to compare profiles collected in a complex phylogeny. Here, we present Arboretum, a novel scalable computational algorithm that integrates expression data from multiple species with species and gene phylogenies to infer modules of coexpressed genes in extant species and their evolutionary histories. We also develop new, generally applicable measures of conservation and divergence in gene regulatory modules to assess the impact of changes in gene content and expression on module evolution. We used Arboretum to study the evolution of the transcriptional response to heat shock in eight species ofAscomycotafungi and to reconstruct modules of the ancestral environmental stress response (ESR). We found substantial conservation in the stress response across species and in the reconstructed components of the ancestral ESR modules. The greatest divergence was in the most induced stress, primarily through module expansion. The divergence of the heat stress response exceeds that observed in the response to glucose depletion in the same species. Arboretum and its associated analyses provide a comprehensive framework to systematically study regulatory evolution of condition-specific responses.
Functional Characterization and Determination of the Physiological Role of a Calcium-Dependent Potassium Channel from Cyanobacteria
Authors: Checchetto Vanessa , Formentin Elide , Carraretto Luca , Segalla Anna , Giacometti Giorgio Mario , Szabo Ildiko , Bergantino Elisabetta
Published: May 2013

Despite the important achievement of the high-resolution structures of several prokaryotic channels, current understanding of their physiological roles in bacteria themselves is still far from complete. We have identified a putative two transmembrane domain-containing channel, SynCaK, in the genome of the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a model photosynthetic organism. SynCaK displays significant sequence homology to MthK, a calcium-dependent potassium channel isolated from Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. Expression of SynCaK in fusion with enhanced GFP in mammalian Chinese hamster ovary cells’ plasma membrane gave rise to a calcium-activated, potassium-selective activity in patch clamp experiments. In cyanobacteria, Western blotting of isolated membrane fractions located SynCaK mainly to the plasma membrane. To understand its physiological function, a SynCaK-deficient mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, ƊSynCaK, has been obtained. Although the potassium content in the mutant organisms was comparable to that observed in the wild type, ƊSynCaK was characterized by a depolarized resting membrane potential, as determined by a potential-sensitive fluorescent probe. Growth of the mutant under various conditions revealed that lack of SynCaK does not impair growth under osmotic or salt stress and that SynCaK is not involved in the regulation of photosynthesis. Instead, its lack conferred an increased resistance to the heavy metal zinc, an environmental pollutant. A similar result was obtained using barium, a general potassium channel inhibitor that also caused depolarization. Our findings thus indicate that SynCaK is a functional channel and identify the physiological consequences of its deletion in cyanobacteria.
Analysis of N—H...O hydrogen bonds in new C(O)—NH—P(O)-based phosphoric triamides and analogous structures deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database
Authors: Pourayoubi Mehrdad , Toghraee Maryam , Divjakovic Vladimir , van der Lee Arie , Mancilla Percino Teresa , Leyva Ramírez Marco A. , Saneei Anahid
Published: May 2013

Five new compounds belonging to the phosphoric triamide family have been synthesized: two of them with the formulaXC(O)NHP(O)Y[X= CF3(1) and CClF2(2),Y= NHCH2C(CH3)2CH2NH] involving a 1,3-diazaphosphorinane ring part, and three 2,6-Cl2C6H3C(O)NHP(O)Z2phosphoric triamides [Z= NHC(CH3)3(3), N(CH3)(C6H11) (4) and N(CH3)(CH2C6H5) (5)]. The characterization was performed by31P{1H},1H,13C NMR, IR spectroscopy besides19F NMR for fluorine containing compounds (1) and (2), and X-ray single-crystal structure analysis for (1), (3), (4) and (5). In each molecule the P atom has a distorted tetrahedral environment. The N atoms bonded to P atom have mainlysp2character with a very slight tendency to a pyramidal coordination for some amido groups. Different types of N—H...O hydrogen bonds have been analyzed for (1), (3), (4) and (5) and 118 other structures (including 194 hydrogen bonds) deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database, containing either C(O)—NH—P(O)[N(C)(C)]2or C(O)—NH—P(O)[NH(C)]2. The participation of NCP—H...O=P [NCP= the nitrogen atom of the C(O)—NH—P(O) fragment], N—H...O=P, N—H...O=C and NCP—H...O=C hydrogen bonds in different hydrogen-bonded motifs are discussed. Moreover, the involvement of the O atoms of C=O or P=O in the [NCP—H][N—H]...O=P, [N—H]2...O=P, [N—H]2...O=C and [N—H]3...O=C groups are considered. A histogram of N...O distances, the distribution of N—H...O angles and the scatterplot of N—H...O anglesversusN...O distances are studied.
Monophosphate tungsten bronzes with pentagonal tunnels: reinvestigation through the peephole of the superspace
Authors: Pérez Olivier , Elcoro Luis , Pérez-Mato J. M. , Petříček Václav
Published: May 2013

The large family of monophosphate tungsten bronzes with pentagonal tunnels (MPTBp), (PO2)4(WO3)2mwithmranging from 4 to 14, can be considered as modular structuresviaa description with (PO2)2(WO3)mmodules related together by a symmetry operation and alternating along thezaxis. Following the success of the application of the superspace for the description of the lillianites homologous series, a (3 + 1)-dimensional superspace model is efficiently defined to unify the structural analysis of the MPTBp. The (3 + 1)-dimensional model reveals hidden common characteristics such as the symmetry. An evaluation of the model for six well known members of the series was carried out from experimental data collected to this aim.
Polarization dependence of molecular adsorption on ferroelectrics
Authors: Kraya Laura Y. , Kraya Ramsey
Published: May 2013

The structural details of ferroelectric surfaces influence the effect of ferroelectric polarization on surface chemistry, and it is important to understand and control defect functionality as well as identify adsorption sites in ferroelectric materials. Ferroelectric domain polarization has been found to have a significant effect on surface properties and interactions. Here, both the structure and the presence of local electric fields are examined simultaneously. The surface structure and ferroelectric domain orientation are controlled while molecular adsorption effects are quantified. We use scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to determine the surface and electronic effects of polarization–gas interactions on a model ferroelectric surface, BaTiO3(001).
Revised values of the bond-valence parameters for TeIV—O, TeVI—O and TeIV—Cl
Authors: Mills Stuart J. , Christy Andrew G.
Published: May 2013

Bond-valence parametersr0andbhave been re-determined for TeIV—O:r0= 1.9605 Å,b= 0.41; TeVI—O:r0= 1.921 Å,b= 0.56; and TeIV—Cl:r0= 2.3115 Å,b= 0.555. Bond distance data from 208 independent TeIV—O polyhedra, 118 TeVI—O polyhedra and 26 TeIV—Cl polyhedra were used, and all neighbours out to 3.5 Å were included. Root-mean square deviations of bond-valence sums on Te from ideal values were 0.1934, 0.1939 and 0.0865 v.u. The good fit for TeIV—O over a range of Te coordination numbers from 3 to 12 demonstrates that there is no essential difference in character between short `primary' Te—O bonds, oriented away from the Te lone pair, and longer `secondary' Te—O bonds on the same side of the Te atom as the lone pair. Comparison of bond-valence sums for Te—O polyhedra obtained using the new parameters with those calculated using earlier literature values shows that the new parameters give a narrower spread of calculated bond-valence sums, which means much closer to the formal valence for both oxidation states of tellurium.
The dark side of the movie. The difficult balance between risk and return
Authors: Teti Emanuele
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the risk and return trade‐off in the film industry, and to explain the managerial decisions justifying significant investments in such a risky and uncertain sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive dataset of movies released in US theatres over a period of 12 years along with descriptive statistics, frequency analysis and scatter plot methodology are used.

Findings

The findings highlight: a positive relationship, although with high levels of variance, between production budgets and revenues; and a random association between costs and rates of return.

Practical implications

Differently from other commodities, whose demand can be quite accurately estimated, the success of a new film production is extremely uncertain. Therefore, the reason why major film companies have been successful over the last decades, in spite of the extreme variance that is characteristic of the industry, must be found in the management decision approach that they employ to deal with this uncertainty.

Originality/value

The paper uses statistical evidence to draw management implications, rather than only identifying the economic and financial behaviour of the firms running the film industry, in recognising that correct management decision approaches are behind the success of such an uncertain and volatile industry.
Can competitive advantage be predicted?
Authors: Hinterhuber Andreas
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The fundamental problem of the resource‐based view (RBV) of the firm is its lack of predictive ability and its inability to identify, ex ante, those resources and capabilities leading to competitive advantage and superior profitability. This paper aims to propose an extension of the RBV model that incorporates the demand‐based variables of customer needs and size of addressable market segment in the definition of the resources and capabilities that enable competitive advantage and superior profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is to use a literature review and two case studies.

Findings

In this model a company has a competitive advantage if its resources and capabilities are valuable, rare, non‐imitable, organized, and if these resources and capabilities address unmet customer needs in market segments large enough to cover organizational fixed costs.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed extension of the RBV is based on current literature and two qualitative case studies. Future longitudinal studies should establish causal links between current resources and capabilities meeting the proposed criteria and future performance.

Practical implications

The model appears to be able to guide decisions about investment in resources and capabilities to further develop existing competitive advantages and to build new ones. The benefit of this model lies in its ability to identify, ex ante, those resources and capabilities leading to competitive advantage and superior firm profitability.

Social implications

An improved ability to predict future firm performance based on more rigorous tests of current resources and capabilities improves the resource allocation process in firms and thus benefits society.

Originality/value

The benefit of this model lies in its ability to identify, ex ante, those resources and capabilities leading to competitive advantage and superior firm profitability.
Organizational resources and intrapreneurial activities: an international study
Authors: Urbano David , Alvarez Claudia , Turró Andreu
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of resources and capabilities on the probability of becoming an intrapreneur, using resource‐based theory as a conceptual framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a logistic regression analysis and data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) for 39 countries and 36,325 individuals.

Findings

Results show that companies' resources and capabilities are a key factor in the development of intrapreneurship. Entrepreneurial resources and capabilities, such as previous entrepreneurial experience, entrepreneurial competences and the ability to detect business opportunities, influence intrapreneurial behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The contributions of this research are both conceptual (advancing corporate entrepreneurship theory) and practical (relating to the design of policies to foster intrapreneurial activities).

Originality/value

The importance of entrepreneurship for social and economic growth is generally accepted. In addition, intrapreneurship or corporate entrepreneurship is recognized as one of the key elements for organizational development. Despite this, there are very few empirical articles using an explicit and integrated theoretical framework such as resource‐based theory for the analysis of intrapreneurial phenomenon.
Influence of customer verbal aggression on employee turnover intention
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Zhou Erhua
Published: May 2013

Purpose

To discover new explanatory variables for employee turnover in call centres, this study seeks to examine the impact of customer verbal aggression on employee turnover intention and the mediating role of employees' emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, it aims to analyse the moderating effect created by perceived organisational support (POS) in a team climate on the relationship between customer verbal aggression and employees' emotional exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a deductive logic approach to develop hypotheses and analytical frameworks. Interviews and questionnaires were employed to collect data from two call centres, 81 units, and 1,112 employees in China. Finally, the data were analysed and the hypotheses were tested via descriptive analysis and hierarchical linear modeling analysis using SPSS and HLM, respectively.

Findings

First it was found that customer verbal aggression significantly predicted employee turnover intention. Second, that employees' emotional exhaustion fully mediated the relationship between customer verbal aggression and employee turnover intention. Third, the correlation between customer verbal aggression and employee emotional exhaustion was found to be weaker for teams with higher levels of emotional POS, but not weaker for those with higher levels of instrumental POS.

Practical implications

These results suggest that service‐oriented enterprises (such as call centres) should consider employee turnover intention from the perspective of customer behaviour and improve the climate of organisational support to more efficiently reduce employee turnover.

Originality/value

Previous studies on workplace behaviours in call centres focused on customer relationship management. However, research concerning employee emotions during customer interactions is lacking. This study examined the influence of customer verbal aggression on the emotional exhaustion of call centre employees and the resultant turnover intention stemming from the conservation of resources theory. The results extend the Price–Mueller turnover model and explain how a team climate of organisational support can affect employee emotions..
Relationship quality in business to business: a cross‐cultural perspective from universities
Authors: Segarra‐Moliner Jose‐Ramon , Moliner‐Tena Miguel‐Angel , Sánchez‐Garcia Javier
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The objective of this study is to analyse relationship quality in a business‐to‐business context. Given that the relationship between market orientation and customer‐perceived service quality is well known in the area of higher education, this paper draws on its antecedents to examine relationship quality in cultural services.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 68 customers (cultural entities) was obtained from a postal survey (April 2010). Partial least squares (PLS) models were used to test the proposed hypotheses. This is a structural equation (SEM) technique based on variances that is suited to working with small and medium sized samples.

Findings

The authors’ results show that satisfaction, trust and commitment are key components of relationship quality. While service quality is a determining factor of satisfaction, relationship quality can be improved by taking into account that customer‐perceived market orientation acts as a precursor for service quality, satisfaction and commitment.

Originality/value

This article attempts to expand upon the previous relationship quality literature on business‐to‐business relationships to: study behaviours conducive to lasting relationships between two different sectors (higher education and cultural industry); understand the antecedents of relationship quality; confirm relationship quality dimensions; and compare the hypothesized relationships from the customer's perspective.
The role of price satisfaction in managing customer relationships: the case of financial services
Authors: Lymperopoulos Constantine , Chaniotakis Ioannis E. , Soureli Magdalini
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The financial services market is constantly changing in terms of both competition and consumer behaviour. Customer switching is increasing, while bank marketers attempt to maintain a loyal customer base, in order for the banks to survive and be profitable. The aim of this research was to provide deeper insight into the direct effect of price satisfaction as expressed by its various dimensions on bank customer switching behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved a review of the literature on factors affecting customer switching behaviour, with a particular emphasis on the role of price. In order to obtain the necessary data, a survey was designed and conducted in the greater Athens area. The questionnaire was administered to 306 bank customers by means of personal interviews.

Findings

The data analysis suggests that bank customer “intentions to switch banks” are affected by the level of their “price satisfaction”. “Price satisfaction” in turn is affected positively by “transparency”, “price quality ratio”, “relative price”, “reliability” and “price fairness”. In addition, “information search” exerts a positive impact on “price satisfaction”.

Originality/value

This study extends previous academic research, by analysing “price satisfaction” in depth, through its various dimensions and by examining the relationships between these variables and consumer switching intention. In addition, statistical evidence of these relationships and their synergies is provided.
Perspectives of SMEs on knowledge sharing
Authors: Cyril Eze Uchenna , Guan Gan Goh Gerald , Yih Goh Choon , Ling Tan Tiong
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors (trust, formalization, knowledge technology, empowering leadership, effective reward systems and motivation) that influence knowledge sharing among the small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia, in order to meet the challenges of today's dynamic business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic sampling was used to select 680 manufacturing sector participants from the SME Corporation Malaysia business directory to participate in the survey, out of which 250 valid responses were returned, yielding a response rate of 36.75 percent. Factor analysis and reliability analysis were conducted before testing the seven hypotheses formulated for this study using regression analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that knowledge technology, motivation, effective reward systems, trust and empowering leadership explain up to 60.2 percent of the variance observed in attitude towards knowledge sharing. It was also found that attitude towards knowledge sharing influences intention to share knowledge with anR2of 0.387.

Research limitations/implications

The sample for this study is based on manufacturing sector SMEs only and it is suggested that future studies enlarge the scope to include the SMEs in the service sector.

Practical implications

In order to encourage knowledge sharing within SMEs, firms need to ensure that both the technical (knowledge technology) and social (motivation, effective reward systems, trust and empowering leadership) elements are addressed. Hence, a socio‐technical approach needs to be adopted to ensure the effectiveness of the knowledge management strategies formulated by SMEs.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of six factors in encouraging knowledge sharing intentions in SMEs operating within the manufacturing sector and confirms that knowledge technology, which encompasses a range of information and communication technologies does play a pivotal rolevis‐à‐visensuring that SMEs have favorable attitudes towards knowledge sharing for their sustained competitive advantage.
Earnings quality and the adoption of IFRS‐based accounting standards
Authors: Adibah Wan Ismail Wan , Anuar Kamarudin Khairul , van Zijl Tony , Dunstan Keitha
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the differences in earnings quality of Malaysian companies after the adoption of IFRS‐based accounting standards named FRS.

Design/methodology/approach

It is hypothesize that under the new set of accounting standards, the quality of earnings reported by these companies is relatively higher. Specifically, the study tests whether the level of earnings management is significantly lower after the adoption of IFRS, and reported earnings is more value relevant during the IFRS period. This study uses a large sample of 4,010 observations over a three‐year period before and a three‐year period after the adoption of the new set of accounting standards.

Findings

The results show that IFRS adoption is associated with higher quality of reported earnings. It is found that earnings reported during the period after the adoption of IFRS is associated with lower earnings management and higher value relevant.

Originality/value

The results of this study contribute additional evidence to the literature on earnings quality and the impact of IFRS adoption. As most of the existing studies on earnings quality and IFRS have been conducted on data from the U.S and European countries, this study fills a gap in the existing literature by studying the effect of adoption of IFRS on earnings quality in an emerging market.
Customer value disclosure and cost of equity capital
Authors: Orens Raf , Aerts Walter , Lybaert Nadine
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the association between a firm's extent and precision of customer value disclosure and its implied cost of equity capital. In addition, it aims to investigate whether industry competition intensity attenuates this association.

Design/methodology/approach

The content of corporate websites from four continental European countries is analysed on the presence and precision of customer value information and empirically test whether content and precision are associated with the firm's implied cost of equity capital measurement.

Findings

The results show a negative association between cross‐sectional differences in the extent of customer value disclosure and cross‐sectional differences in a firm's cost of equity capital. In addition, the precision of the customer value information disclosed affects this association. It is observed that a negative relationship between quantitative (or hard) customer value disclosure and a firm's cost of equity capital, but not for qualitative (or soft) customer value disclosure. As expected, industry competition intensity attenuates the association between quantitative customer value disclosures and a firm's cost of equity capital.

Research limitations/implications

The paper considers web placement of customer value disclosure although a firm might disclose such information through other information channels as well.

Practical implications

A firm tends to benefit economically from more precise customer value disclosure.

Originality/value

The paper extends existing evidence by considering the capital market implications of disclosing customer value information. In addition, it examines whether industry competition affects the association between customer value disclosure and the firm's cost of equity capital.
Understanding the work done by NHS commissioning managers
Authors: Checkland Kath , Harrison Stephen , Snow Stephanie , Coleman Anna , McDermott Imelda
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the practical daily work undertaken by middle‐level managers in Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), focusing upon the micro‐processes by which these managers enact sensemaking in their organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research took a case study approach, undertaking detailed case studies in four PCTs in England. Data collection included shadowing managers, meeting observations and interviews.

Findings

The research elucidated two categories of enactment behaviour exhibited by PCT managers: presence/absence; and the production of artefacts. Being “present” in or “absent” from meetings enacted sensemaking over and above any concrete contribution to the meeting made by the actors involved. This paper explores the factors affecting these processes, and describes the situations in which enactment of sense is most likely to occur. Producing artefacts such as meeting minutes or PowerPoint slides also enacted sense in the study sites in addition to the content of the artefact. The factors affecting this are explored.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications for all managers seeking to maximise their influence in their organisations. It also provides specific evidence relevant to managers working in the new Clinical Commissioning Groups currently being formed in England.

Originality/value

The study expands the understanding of sensemaking in organisations in two important ways. Firstly, it moves beyond discourse to explore the ways in which behaviours can enact sense. Secondly, it explores the distinction between active and unconscious sensemaking.
Senior management leadership, social support, job design and stressor‐to‐strain relationships in hospital practice
Authors: Buttigieg Sandra C. , West Michael A.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the quality of senior management leadership on social support and job design, whose main effects on strains, and moderating effects on work stressors‐to‐strains relationships were assessed.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey involving distribution of questionnaires was carried out on a random sample of health care employees in acute hospital practice in the UK. The sample comprised 65,142 respondents. The work stressors tested were quantitative overload and hostile environment, whereas strains were measured through job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Structural equation modelling and moderated regression analyses were used in the analysis.

Findings

Quality of senior management leadership explained 75 per cent and 94 per cent of the variance of social support and job design respectively, whereas work stressors explained 51 per cent of the variance of strains. Social support and job design predicted job satisfaction and turnover intentions, as well as moderated significantly the relationships between quantitative workload/hostility and job satisfaction/turnover intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are useful to management and to health employees working in acute/specialist hospitals. Further research could be done in other counties to take into account cultural differences and variations in health systems. The limitations included self‐reported data and percept‐percept bias due to same source data collection.

Practical implications

The quality of senior management leaders in hospitals has an impact on the social environment, the support given to health employees, their job design, as well as work stressors and strains perceived.

Originality/value

The study argues in favour of effective senior management leadership of hospitals, as well as ensuring adequate support structures and job design. The findings may be useful to health policy makers and human resources managers.
Reflection of plane waves in thermodiffusive elastic half‐space with voids
Authors: Sharma Kunal
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The present investigation aims to examine the reflection of plane waves from a free surface of a thermodiffusive elastic half space with void.

Design/methodology/approach

Generalized theory of thermoelasticity developed by Lord‐Shulma was used to investigate the problem. The amplitude ratios of various reflected waves are obtained in a closed form. The dependence of these amplitude ratios with an angle of propagation as well as other material parameter are shown graphically.

Findings

Effects of void and diffusion are observed on these amplitude ratios and have been found to be significant.

Originality/value

It is found that there exist four longitudinal waves (namely P‐wave, thermal wave (T‐wave), mass diffusion wave (MD‐wave), volume fraction wave (VF‐wave, carrying a change in void volume fraction) and a transverse SV wave). Some special cases of interest are also deduced from the present investigation.
Theoretical study of magnetic properties of SrMn1‐xFexO3 perovskites
Authors: Masrour R. , Benyoussef A. , Hamedoun M.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to combine the results of magnetic measurements with high temperature series expansions to determine the magnetic phase diagram of SrMn1−xFexO3 0≤x≤1 perovskites materials.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have found antiferromagnetic ordering for lightly and heavily Fe‐substituted material, while intermediate substitution leads to spin‐glass behavior. Near the SrMn0.5Fe0.5O3 composition these two types of ordering are found to coexist and affect one another.

Findings

The spin glass behavior may be caused by competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions among Mn4+ and observed Fe3+ and Fe5+ ions.

Originality/value

The magnetic perovskites materials are several application in industrial applications (spintronics, magnetic random‐access memory (MRAM), …).
Reflection and refraction of elastic waves at the interface of an elastic half‐space and initially stressed thermoelastic with voids half‐space
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh , Kumar Rajeev
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to study the reflection and refraction of elastic waves at the interface of an elastic half‐space and initially stressed thermoelastic with voids half‐space.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐dimensional model was considered of an isotropic elastic half‐space (medium I) lying over a homogeneous isotropic generalized initially stressed thermoelastic with voids half‐space(medium II). There exist two waves, P‐wave and SV‐wave in isotropic elastic half‐space and three quasi‐longitudinal waves namely, quasi‐longitudinal wave (QP‐mode), quasi‐longitudinal thermal wave (QPT‐mode), quasi‐longitudinal volume fractional wave (QPV‐mode) and one quasi‐transverse wave (QSV‐mode) exists in initially stressed thermoelastic with voids half‐space.

Findings

The energy ratios of these waves are computed along various directions of incident wave, and it is found that the sum of all energy ratios is exactly unity at each value of incident angle. The amplitude ratios of various waves were obtained numerically.

Originality/value

Reflection and refraction of an elastic medium is of great practical importance. Since valuable organic and inorganic deposits beneath the earth surface are difficult to detect by drilling randomly, wave propagation is the simplest and most economic technique to these and does not require any drilling through the earth. Almost all the oil companies rely on seismic interpretation for selecting the sites for exploratory oil wells because seismic wave methods have higher accuracy, higher resolution and more economical, as compared to drilling which is expansive and time consuming.
It's hard to tell how research feels: using fiction to enhance academic research and writing
Authors: Kara Helen
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the scope of fiction writing in academic research as a way of studying “messier” aspects of the process, such as emotion.

Design/methodology/approach

The author reflects on her “lived experience” of conducting doctoral research, five years earlier and re‐searched for the paper, by composing a fictional narrative that aims to capture some of the emotional and other complexities of the process.

Findings

The author demonstrates that fictionalisation opens possibilities for a deeper probing of the emotional aspects of the research experience. Her conclusion is that this method can help researchers to think about the processes of writing, reflexivity, and emotion. It can also be useful to academic writers more widely, by showing how fiction writing techniques can convey some of the more complex aspects of their day‐to‐day activities.

Practical implications

The paper can act as a model for extending academic writing skills in the area of fiction, by introducing characterisation, plot and dialogue.

Originality/value

This paper offers an original account of the emotions of the doctoral writer, situated within current discourses on emotion, fiction writing and methodology. It will be of value to scholars of arts, humanities and social sciences.
External liberalization by India and China: recent experience and future challenges
Authors: Panagariya Arvind , Sundaram Asha
Published: May 2013

Purpose

In this study, the authors aim to analyze India's trade performance from the period of liberalization until the recent financial crisis, and compare it to China's.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors then examine Indian trade and investment policy and also institutional factors that potentially determine these trade patterns and performance, especially where they differ from China's.

Findings

Finally, the authors highlight future trade policy challenges for India and also provide suggestions to ensure strong growth in trade and integration with the global market.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by performing a comparative analysis of the Indian and Chinese experiences under trade liberalization and also by outlining potential challenges for Indian trade policy in the future.
Towards optimal portfolio strategy to control maximum drawdown
Authors: Yang Zhaoji (George) , Zhong Liang
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a discrete quantitative trading strategy to directly control a portfolio's maximum percentage of drawdown losses while trying to maximize the portfolio's long‐term growth rate.

Design/methodology/approach

The loss control target is defined through a Rolling Economic Drawdown (REDD) with a constant look‐back time window. The authors specify risk aversion in the power‐law portfolio wealth utility function as the complement of maximum percentage loss limit and assume long‐term stable Sharpe ratios for asset class indexes while updating volatility estimation in dynamic asset allocation implementation.

Findings

Over a test period of the past 20 years (1992‐2011), a risk‐based out‐of‐sample dynamic asset allocation among three broad based indexes (equity, fixed income and commodities) and a risk free asset, is robust against variations in capital market expectation inputs, and out‐performs the in‐the‐sample calibrated model and traditional asset allocation significantly.

Research limitations/implications

The current proposal can lead to a new mathematical framework for portfolio selection. Besides investors' liquidity and behavioural constraints, macroeconomic and market cycle, and the potential of central bank interventions following a market crash, could be additionally considered for a more rigorous dynamic asset allocation model.

Practical implications

Besides the benefit of a clear mandate to construct suitable client portfolios, the portfolio approach can be applied to design invest‐able securities, such as principal‐guaranteed investment products, target risk asset allocation ETFs, and target‐date mutual funds with a glide path, etc. The formulation can also be implemented as a managed futures hedge fund portfolio.

Originality/value

The paper introduces the Rolling Economic Drawdown (REDD) concept and specifies risk aversion as the floor of maximum percentage loss tolerance. Dynamic asset allocation is implemented through updating estimation of asset class volatilities.
Busy boards and corporate performance
Authors: Lu Xianwei , Wang Jianqiong , Dong Dayong
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and examine the relationship between busy boards and corporate performance in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of non‐financial listed companies in the Chinese stock market from 2007 to 2010, by defining several measures of busy board, the paper investigates the relationship between busy boards and corporate performance in China.

Findings

The paper finds many busy boards in Chinese listed companies; compared to companies without multiple directorships, the companies with multiple directorships have better corporate performance; the number of multiple directorships in boards should maintain a certain ratio, or the busy boards will be harmful to the corporate performance.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to analyze and examine the impacts of busy boards on firm performance in China directly. The findings are also useful to regulation of limiting the numbers of independent directors seated on other boards.
Trait‐mediated seed predation, dispersal and survival among frugivore‐dispersed plants in a fragmented subtropical forest, Southwest China
Authors: LAI Xin , GUO Cong , XIAO Zhishu
Published: May 2013

By tracking the fate of individual seeds from 6 frugivore‐dispersed plants with contrasting seed traits in a fragmented subtropical forest in Southwest China, we explored how rodent seed predation and hoarding were influenced by seed traits such as seed size, seed coat hardness and seed profitability. Post‐dispersal seed fates varied significantly among the 6 seed species and 3 patterns were witnessed: large‐seeded species with a hard seed coat (i.e. Choerospoadias axillaries and Diospyros kaki var. silvestris) had more seeds removed, cached and then surviving at caches, and they also had fewer seeds predated but a higher proportion of seeds surviving at the source; medium‐sized species with higher profitability and thinner seed coat (i.e. Phoebe zhennan and Padus braohypoda) were first harvested and had the lowest probability of seeds surviving either at the source or at caches due to higher predation before or after removal; and small‐seeded species with lower profitability (i.e. Elaeocarpus japonicas and Cornus controversa) had the highest probability of seeds surviving at the source but the lowest probability of seeds surviving at caches due to lower predation at the source and lower hoarding at caches. Our study indicates that patterns of seed predation, dispersal and survival among frugivore‐dispersed plants are highly determined by seed traits such as seed size, seed defense and seed profitability due to selective predation and hoarding by seed‐eating rodents. Therefore, trait‐mediated seed predation, dispersal and survival via seed‐eating rodents can largely affect population and community dynamics of frugivore‐dispersed plants in fragmented forests.
Neuropeptide Y Y2R blockade in the central amygdala reduces anxiety‐like behavior but not alcohol drinking in alcohol‐dependent rats
Authors: Kallupi Marsida , Vendruscolo Leandro F. , Carmichael Casey Y. , George Olivier , Koob George F. , Gilpin Nicholas W.
Published: May 2013

Electrophysiological data suggest a dual role of Y2 receptors (Y2Rs) as autoreceptors regulating neuropeptide Y release and heteroceptors regulating gamma‐aminobutyric acid release in the central amygdala (CeA). Here, we report that neither systemic (JNJ‐31020028) nor intra‐CeA (BIIE0246) Y2R antagonism altered operant alcohol responding by alcohol‐dependent or non‐dependent rats. Conversely, BIIE0246 in the CeA reduced anxiety‐like behavior in alcohol‐dependent and alcohol‐naïve rats. The finding that Y2R antagonism reduces anxiety‐like behavior but not alcohol drinking suggests that these two effects may occur via different functions of the Y2R (e.g. autoreceptor versus heteroceptor function).
The absence of fire can cause a lag phase: The invasion dynamics ofBanksia ericifolia(Proteaceae)
Authors: Geerts Sjirk , Moodley Desika , Gaertner Mirijam , Le Roux Johannes J. , McGeoch Melodie A. , Muofhe Cedric , Richardson David M. , Wilson John R. U.
Published: May 2013

The transition from a species introduction to an invasion often spans many decades (a lag phase). However, few studies have determined the mechanisms underlying lag phases. Such a mechanistic understanding is vital if the potential ecosystem‐level impacts are to be predicted and the invasion risks to be managed proactively. Here we examineBanksia ericifolia, introduced for floriculture toSouthAfrica, as a case study. We found 18 sites where the species has been planted, with self‐sustaining (naturalized) populations at four sites, and an invasive population at one site. The invasion originated from around 100 individuals planted 35 years ago; after several fires this population has grown to approximately 10 000 plants covering about 127 ha. The current invasion ofB. ericifoliaalready has ecosystem‐level impacts, for example the nectar available to bird pollinators has more than doubled, potentially disrupting native pollination networks. If fires occurred at the other naturalized sites we anticipate populations would rapidly spread and densify with invaded areas ultimately become banksia‐dominated woodlands. Indeed the only site other than the invasive site where fire has occurred regularly is already showing signs of rapid population growth and spread. However, recruitment is mainly immediately post fire and no seed bank accumulates in the soil, mechanical control of adult plants is cheap and effective, and immature plants are easily detected. This study is a first in illustrating the importance of fire in driving lag phases and provides a valuable example for why it is essential to determine the mechanisms that mediate lag phases in introduced plant species. Serotinous species that have been introduced to areas where fire is suppressed could easily be misinterpreted as low risk species whilst they remain in a lag phase, but they can represent a major invasion risk.