bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA methylation and gene expression dynamics during cotton ovule and fiber development
Authors: Song Qingxin , Guan Xueying , Jeffrey Chen Z.
Published: October 2014

Cotton is the largest source of renewable textile fiber and a successful model of transgenic applications in crop production. However, improving cotton production using fiber-related transgenes is somewhat difficult. This is probably related to unique epigenetic and gene expression changes during fiber development. Here we show that inhibiting DNA methylation impairs fiber development. Genome-wide methylcytosine-, mRNA-, and small RNA-sequencing analyses reveal minor changes in CG and CHG methylation and distinct changes in CHH methylation among different tissues. In ovules CHH hypermethyaltion is associated with small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) and expression changes of nearby genes in euchromatin. Remarkably, ovule-derived fiber cells not only maintain euchromatic CHH methylation, but also generate additional heterochromatic CHH hypermethylation independent of RdDM, which represses transposable elements (TEs) and nearby genes including fiber-related genes. Furthermore, DNA methylation contributes to the expression bias of homoeologous genes in ovules and fibers. This spatiotemporal DNA methylation in promoters could act as a double-lock feedback mechanism to regulate TE and gene expression, which could be translated into genomic and biotechnological improvement of agronomic traits.
Extensive capsule locus variation and large-scale genomic recombination within theKlebsiella pneumoniaeclonal complex 258/11
Authors: Wyres Kelly L. , Gorrie Claire , Edwards David J. , Wertheim Heiman FL , Hsu Li Yang , Van Kinh Nguyen , Zadoks Ruth , Baker Stephen , Holt Kathryn E.
Published: October 2014

Klebsiella pneumoniaeclonal complex (CC) 258/11, comprising sequence types (STs) 258, 11 and closely related STs, is associated with dissemination of theK. pneumoniaecarbapenemase (KPC). Hospital outbreaks of KPC CC258/11 infections have been observed globally and are very difficult to treat. As a consequence there is renewed interest in alternative infection control measures such as vaccines and phage or depolymerase treatments targeting theK pneumoniaepolysaccharide capsule. To date, 78 immunologically distinct capsule variants have been described inK. pneumoniae. Previous investigations of ST258 and a small number of closely related strains suggested capsular variation was limited within this clone; only two distinct ST258 capsular synthesis (cps) loci have been identified, both acquired through large-scale recombination events (>50 kbp). Here we report comparative genomic analysis of the broaderK. pneumoniaeCC258/11. Our data indicate that several large-scale recombination events have shaped the genomes of CC258/11, and that definition of the complex should be broadened to include ST395 (also reported to harbour KPC). We identified 11 differentcpsloci within CC258/11, suggesting that capsular switching is actually common within the complex. We also observed several insertion sequences (IS) within thecpsloci, and show further diversification of two loci through IS activity. These findings suggest the capsular loci of clinically importantK. pneumoniaeare under diversifying selection, which alters our understanding of the evolution of this important clone and has implications for the design of control measures targeting the capsule.
Structure–specificity relationships in Abp, a GH27 β-L-arabinopyranosidase fromGeobacillus stearothermophilusT6
Authors: Lansky Shifra , Salama Rachel , Solomon Hodaya V. , Feinberg Hadar , Belrhali Hassan , Shoham Yuval , Shoham Gil
Published: October 2014

L-Arabinose sugar residues are relatively abundant in plants and are found mainly in arabinan polysaccharides and in other arabinose-containing polysaccharides such as arabinoxylans and pectic arabinogalactans. The majority of the arabinose units in plants are present in the furanose form and only a small fraction of them are present in the pyranose form. The L-arabinan-utilization system inGeobacillus stearothermophilusT6, a Gram-positive thermophilic soil bacterium, has recently been characterized, and one of the key enzymes was found to be an intracellular β-L-arabinopyranosidase (Abp). Abp, a GH27 enzyme, was shown to remove β-L-arabinopyranose residues from synthetic substrates and from the native substrates sugar beet arabinan and larch arabinogalactan. The Abp monomer is made up of 448 amino acids, and based on sequence homology it was suggested that Asp197 is the catalytic nucleophile and Asp255 is the catalytic acid/base. In the current study, the detailed three-dimensional structure of wild-type Abp (at 2.28 Å resolution) and its catalytic mutant Abp-D197A with (at 2.20 Å resolution) and without (at 2.30 Å resolution) a bound L-arabinose product are reported as determined by X-ray crystallography. These structures demonstrate that the three-dimensional structure of the Abp monomer correlates with the general fold observed for GH27 proteins, consisting of two main domains: an N-terminal TIM-barrel domain and a C-terminal all-β domain. The two catalytic residues are located in the TIM-barrel domain, such that their carboxylic functional groups are about 5.9 Å from each other, consistent with a retaining mechanism. An isoleucine residue (Ile67) located at a key position in the active site is shown to play a critical role in the substrate specificity of Abp, providing a structural basis for the high preference of the enzyme towards arabinopyranoside over galactopyranoside substrates. The crystal structure demonstrates that Abp is a tetramer made up of two `open-pincers' dimers, which clamp around each other to form a central cavity. The four active sites of the Abp tetramer are situated on the inner surface of this cavity, all opening into the central space of the cavity. The biological relevance of this tetrameric structure is supported by independent results obtained from size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), dynamic light-scattering (DLS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) experiments. These data and their comparison to the structural data of related GH27 enzymes are used for a more general discussion concerning structure–selectivity aspects in this glycoside hydrolase (GH) family.
Alliin is a suicide substrate ofCitrobacter freundiimethionine γ-lyase: structural bases of inactivation of the enzyme
Authors: Morozova Elena A. , Revtovich Svetlana V. , Anufrieva Natalya V. , Kulikova Vitalia V. , Nikulin Alexey D. , Demidkina Tatyana V.
Published: October 2014

The interaction ofCitrobacter freundiimethionine γ-lyase (MGL) and the mutant form in which Cys115 is replaced by Ala (MGL C115A) with the nonprotein amino acid (2R)-2-amino-3-[(S)-prop-2-enylsulfinyl]propanoic acid (alliin) was investigated. It was found that MGL catalyzes the β-elimination reaction of alliin to form 2-propenethiosulfinate (allicin), pyruvate and ammonia. The β-elimination reaction of alliin is followed by the inactivation and modification of SH groups of the wild-type and mutant enzymes. Three-dimensional structures of inactivated wild-type MGL (iMGL wild type) and a C115A mutant form (iMGL C115A) were determined at 1.85 and 1.45 Å resolution and allowed the identification of the SH groups that were oxidized by allicin. On this basis, the mechanism of the inactivation of MGL by alliin, a new suicide substrate of MGL, is proposed.
Enzyme–adenylate structure of a bacterial ATP-dependent DNA ligase with a minimized DNA-binding surface
Authors: Williamson Adele , Rothweiler Ulli , Leiros Hanna-Kirsti Schrøder
Published: October 2014

DNA ligases are a structurally diverse class of enzymes which share a common catalytic core and seal breaks in the phosphodiester backbone of double-stranded DNAviaan adenylated intermediate. Here, the structure and activity of a recombinantly produced ATP-dependent DNA ligase from the bacteriumPsychromonassp. strain SP041 is described. This minimal-type ligase, like its close homologues, is able to ligate singly nicked double-stranded DNA with high efficiency and to join cohesive-ended and blunt-ended substrates to a more limited extent. The 1.65 Å resolution crystal structure of the enzyme–adenylate complex reveals no unstructured loops or segments, and suggests that this enzyme binds the DNA without requiring full encirclement of the DNA duplex. This is in contrast to previously characterized minimal DNA ligases from viruses, which use flexible loop regions for DNA interaction. ThePsychromonassp. enzyme is the first structure available for the minimal type of bacterial DNA ligases and is the smallest DNA ligase to be crystallized to date.
Structure-based identification of inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase fromEntamoeba histolytica
Authors: Faisal Tarique Khaja , Arif Abdul Rehman Syed , Betzel Christian , Gourinath Samudrala
Published: October 2014

Inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase fromEntamoeba histolytica(EhIPPase) is an Mg2+-dependent and Li+-sensitive enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [Ins(1,4)P2] intomyo-inositol 1-monophosphate and PO43−. In the present work, EhIPPase has been biochemically identified and its crystal structure has been determined in the presence of Mg2+and PO43−at 2.5 Å resolution. This enzyme was previously classified as a 3′(2′),5′-bisphosphate nucleotidase in the NCBI, but its biochemical activity and structural analysis suggest that this enzyme behaves more like an inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase. The ability of EhIPPase to hydrolyze the smaller Ins(1,4)P2 better than the bulkier 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphate (PAP) is explained on the basis of the orientations of amino-acid residues in the binding site. This structure is the first of its class to be determined from any protozoan parasite, and is the third to determined among all organisms, following its rat and bovine homologues. The three-dimensional fold of EhIPPase is similar to those of other members of the inositol monophosphatase superfamily, which also includes inositol monophosphatase, 3′(2′),5′-bisphosphate nucleotidase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphate 1-phosphatase. They all share conserved residues essential for metal binding and substrate hydrolysis, with the motif D-Xn-EE-Xn-DP(I/L)DG(S/T)-Xn-WD-Xn-GG. The structure is divided into two domains, namely α+β and α/β, and the substrate and metal ions bind between them. However, the ability of each enzyme class to act specifically on its cognate substrate is governed by the class-specific amino-acid residues at the active site.
Structural and functional characterization of an arylamineN-acetyltransferase from the pathogenMycobacterium abscessus: differences from other mycobacterial isoforms and implications for selective inhibition
Authors: Cocaign Angélique , Kubiak Xavier , Xu Ximing , Garnier Guillaume , Li de la Sierra-Gallay Inès , Chi-Bui Linh , Dairou Julien , Busi Florent , Abuhammad Areej , Haouz Ahmed , Dupret Jean-Marie , Herrmann Jean-Louis , Rodrigues-Lima Fernando
Published: October 2014

Mycobacterium abscessusis the most pathogenic rapid-growing mycobacterium and is one of the most resistant organisms to chemotherapeutic agents. However, structural and functional studies ofM. abscessusproteins that could modify/inactivate antibiotics remain nonexistent. Here, the structural and functional characterization of an arylamineN-acetyltransferase (NAT) fromM. abscessus[(MYCAB)NAT1] are reported. This novel prokaryotic NAT displays significantN-acetyltransferase activity towards aromatic substrates, including antibiotics such as isoniazid andp-aminosalicylate. The enzyme is endogenously expressed and functional in both the rough and smoothM. abscessusmorphotypes. The crystal structure of (MYCAB)NAT1 at 1.8 Å resolution reveals that it is more closely related toNocardia farcinicaNAT than to mycobacterial isoforms. In particular, structural and physicochemical differences from other mycobacterial NATs were found in the active site. Peculiarities of (MYCAB)NAT1 were further supported by kinetic and docking studies showing that the enzyme was poorly inhibited by the piperidinol inhibitor of mycobacterial NATs. This study describes the first structure of an antibiotic-modifying enzyme fromM. abscessusand provides bases to better understand the substrate/inhibitor-binding specificities among mycobacterial NATs and to identify/optimize specific inhibitors. These data should also contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms that are responsible for the pathogenicity and extensive chemotherapeutic resistance ofM. abscessus.
Crystal structure of poly[[{μ2-1,4-bis[(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]benzene}[μ6-5-(4-carboxylatophenoxy)isophthalato]-μ3-hydroxido-dicobalt(II)] 0.25-hydrate]
Authors: Li Yaping , Sun Dajun , Ming Julia , Han Liying , Su Guanfang
Published: October 2014

The title coordination polymer, {[Co2(C15H7O7)(OH)(C14H14N4)]·0.25H2O}n, was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit contains two Co2+ions, oneL3−anion originating from 5-(4-carboxyphenoxy)isophthalic acid (H3L), one OH−ligand, one 1,4-bis[(1H-imidazol-l-yl)methyl]benzene (bix) ligand and one disordered lattice water molecule (occupancy 0.25). The two Co2+ions have different environments. One has an octahedral O4N2coordination sphere, defined by four O atoms from three carboxylate groups and one OH−ligand, and two N atoms from two symmetry-related bix ligands. The other has a trigonal-bipyramidal O5coordination sphere resulting from three carboxylate groups and two OH−ligands. The dihedral angles between the two benzene rings in theL3−ligand and between the benzene ring and the two imidazole rings in the bix ligand are 67.05 (15), 75.27 (17) and 82.05 (17)°, respectively. Four neighbouring Co2+ions are linked by six carboxylate groups and twoμ3-OH ligands, forming a butterfly-shaped secondary building unit (SBU). These SBUs are connected byL3−anions into layers parallel to (1-10). Adjacent layers are cross-linked by the bix ligands, forming a three-dimensional framework that has a bimodal (3,8)-connected tfz-d topology. The disordered lattice water molecule is located in the voids of the framework and has O...O and O...N contacts of 2.81 (2) and 2.95 (2) Å, suggesting medium-strength hydrogen bonds. The title compound may be a good candidate for artificial eye lenses.
Crystal structure of bis[2-tert-butoxy-6-fluoro-3-(pyridin-2-yl-κN)pyridin-4-yl-κC4](pentane-2,4-dionato-κ2O,O′)iridium(III)
Authors: Park Ki-Min , Kang Youngjin
Published: October 2014

The title molecule, [Ir(C14H14FN2O)2(C5H7O2)], is located on a twofold rotation axis, which passes through the IrIIIatom and the central C atom of the pentane-2,4-dionate anion. The IrIIIatom adopts a distorted octahedral coordination geometry, beingC,N-chelated by two 2-tert-butoxy-6-fluoro-3-(pyridin-2-yl)pyridin-4-yl ligands andO,O′-chelated by the pentane-2,4-dionato ligand. The bipyridinate ligands, which are perpendicular to each other [dihedral angle between the two least-squares planes = 89.95 (5)°], are arranged in acis-C,C′andtrans-N,N′fashion relative to the central metal cation. Intramolecular C—H...O and C—H...N hydrogen bonds and intermolecular C—H...F hydrogen bonds as well as π—π interactions between neighbouring pyridine rings [centroid–centroid distance 3.680 (1) Å] contribute to the stabilization of the molecular and crystal structure, respectively.
Crystal structure of 3,13-dimethoxy-5,6,10,11-tetrahydrofuro[3,4-i][5]helicene-7,9-dione
Authors: Sooksimuang Thanasat , Kamtonwong Siriporn , Parnchan Waraporn , Kangkaew Laongdao , Sahasithiwat Somboon
Published: October 2014

The title compound, C26H20O5, crystallizes with two independent molecules (AandB) in the asymmetric unit, which differ primarily in the location of the –OCH3groups. In the crystal, the molecules form a layered structure parallel to (10-1) by C—H...O hydrogen-bonded networks. Adjacent layers are also linked by further C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional structure.
Crystal structure of 2-acetyl-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-5H-1,3-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylate
Authors: Prasad N. L. , Krishnamurthy M. S. , Nagarajaiah H. , Begum Noor Shahina
Published: October 2014

In the title molecule, C20H22N2O4S, the pyrimidine ring is in a flattened half-chair conformation and the 3-methoxyphenyl substituent is in an axial arrangement. The thiazole ring forms a dihedral angle of 81.3 (1)° with the benzene ring. In the crystal, weak C—H...S interactions link molecules into chains along [001]. In addition, there are π–π interactions between inversion-related thiazole rings with a centroid–centroid distance of 3.529 (2) Å. The ethyl group was refined as disordered over two sets of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.52 (3):0.48 (2).
Crystal structures and hydrogen bonding in the proton-transfer salts of nicotine with 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid and 5-sulfosalicylic acid
Authors: Smith Graham , Wermuth Urs D.
Published: October 2014

The structures of the 1:1 anhydrous salts of nicotine (NIC) with 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) and 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5-SSA), namely (1R,2S)-1-methyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrrolidin-1-ium 2-carboxy-4,6-dinitrophenolate, C10H15N2+·C7H3N2O7−, (I), and (1R,2S)-1-methyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrrolidin-1-ium 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate, C10H15N2+·C7H5O6S−, (II), are reported. The asymmetric units of both (I) and (II) comprise two independent nicotinium cations (CandD) and either two DNSA or two 5-SSA anions (AandB), respectively. One of the DNSA anions shows a 25% rotational disorder in the benzene ring system. In the crystal of (I), inter-unit pyrrolidinium N—H...Npyridinehydrogen bonds generate zigzag NIC cation chains which extend alonga, while the DNSA anions are not involved in any formal inter-species hydrogen bonding but instead form π–π-associated stacks which are parallel to the NIC cation chains alonga[ring-centroid separation = 3.857 (2) Å]. Weak C—H...O interactions between chain substructures give an overall three-dimensional structure. In the crystal of (II),AandBanions form independent zigzag chains withCandDcations, respectively, through carboxylic acid O—H...Npyridinehydrogen bonds. These chains, which extend alongb, are pseudocentrosymmetrically related and give π–π interactions between the benzene rings of anionsAandBand the pyridine rings of the NIC cationsCandD, respectively [ring centroid separations = 3.6422 (19) and 3.7117 (19) Å]. Also present are weak C—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions between the chains, giving an overall three-dimensional structure.
Crystal structure of 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-oxo-1-azaspiro[4.5]deca-1,6,9-trien-1-ium-1-olate
Authors: Martins Lucimara Julio , Simoni Deborah de Alencar , Aparicio Ricardo , Coelho Fernando
Published: October 2014

The title compound, C18H17NO5, was prepared by a synthetic strategy based on the Heck reaction from Morita–Baylis–Hillman adducts. The five-membered ring adopts a slightly twisted conformation on the Ca—Cm(a = aromatic and m = methylene) bond. The dihedral angle between the five-membered ring and the spiro aromatic ring is 89.35 (7)°; that between the five-membered ring and the 4-methoxybenzene ring is 4.65 (7)°. Two short intramolecular C—H...O contacts occur. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure of pentakis(ethylenediamine-κ2N,N′)lanthanum(III) trichloride–ethylenediamine–dichloromethane (1/1/1)
Authors: Sartain Hope T. , Staples Richard J. , Biros Shannon M.
Published: October 2014

We report here the crystal structure of a ten-coordinate lanthanum(III) metal coordinated by five bidentate ethylenediamine ligands, [La(C2H8N2)5]Cl3·C2H8N2·CH2Cl2. One free ethylenediamine molecule and three Cl−anions are also located in the asymmetric unit. The overall structure is held together by an extensive hydrogen-bonding network between the Cl−anions and the NH groups on the metal-bound ethylenediamine ligands. The free ethylenediamine molecule is held in an ordered position by additional hydrogen bonds involving both the chlorides and –NH groups on the metal-bound ligands. One highly disordered molecule of dichloromethane is located on an inversion center; however, all attempts to model this disorder were unsuccessful. The electron density in this space was removed using the BYPASS procedure [van der Sluis & Spek (1990).Acta Cryst.A46, 194–201].
Crystal structure of (Z)-2-hydroxy-4-methyl-N′-(4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide trihydrate
Authors: Li Peijuan , Kang Zizhen , Fan Xin , Jin Longfei
Published: October 2014

In the title compound, C11H11N3O3S·3H2O, the non-H atoms of the main molecule are approximately planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.030 Å. There is a bifurcated intramolecular N—H...(O,S) hydrogen bond present formingS(6) andS(5) ring motifs. In the crystal, O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure ofS,N-dibenzyl-D-penicillamine monohydrate
Authors: Yoshinari Nobuto , Konno Takumi
Published: October 2014

In the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C19H23NO2S·H2O, there are two independent organic molecules and two water molecules. Both organic molecules exist as the zwitterionic form. The dihedral angles between the planes of the rings in the organic molecules are 86.84 (10) and 88.77 (11)°. An intramolecular N—H...S hydrogen bond occurs. In the crystal, organic and water molecules are linked by N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds, generating a tape structure running along theb-axis direction.
Crystal structure of a mixed-valence μ-oxide Sn12cluster
Authors: Kireenko Marina M. , Zaitsev Kirill V. , Karlov Sergey S. , Egorov Mikhail P. , Churakov Andrei V.
Published: October 2014

The mixed-valence μ-oxide Sn12cluster, decacarbonyltetra-μ4-oxido-hexa-μ3-oxido-tetrakis[μ-2,2′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis(1,1-diphenylethanolato)]decatin(II)ditin(IV)dimolybdenum(O)(2Mo—Sn) toluene heptasolvate, [Mo2Sn12(C33H27NO2)4O10(CO)10]·7C7H8, has a crystallographically imposed inversion centre. The asymmetric unit also contains three and a half toluene solvent molecules, one of which is disordered about a centre of symmetry. The complex molecule comprises six distinct Sn atom species with four different coordination numbers, namely 3, 4, 5, and 6. The SnIIatoms forming the central Sn10O10core adopt distorted trigonal–pyramidal, square-pyramidal and octahedral coordination geometries provided by the μ-oxide atoms and by the O- and N-donor atoms of two pyridinediethanolate ligands. The terminal SnIVatoms have distorted trigonal–bipyramidal coordination geometries, with a μ4-oxide atom and the N atom of a pyridinediethanolate ligand occupying the axial positions, and the Mo atom of a Mo(CO)5group and the alkoxy O atoms of a ligand forming the equatorial plane. In the crystal, weak intra- and intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds are observed.
Diffuse scattering and partial disorder in complex structures
Authors: Welberry T. R. , Goossens D. J.
Published: October 2014

The study of single-crystal diffuse scattering (SCDS) goes back almost to the beginnings of X-ray crystallography. Because SCDS arises from two-body correlations, it contains information about local (short-range) ordering in the sample, information which is often crucial in the attempt to relate structure to function. This review discusses the state of the field, including detectors and data collection and the modelling of SCDS using Monte Carlo andab initiotechniques. High-quality, three-dimensional volumes of SCDS data can now be collected at synchrotron light sources, allowing ever more detailed and quantitative analyses to be undertaken, and opening the way to approaches such as three-dimensional pair distribution function studies (3D-PDF) and automated refinement of a disorder model, powerful techniques that require large volumes of low-noise data.
Nanocrystalline materials: recent advances in crystallographic characterization techniques
Authors: Ringe Emilie
Published: October 2014

Most properties of nanocrystalline materials are shape-dependent, providing their exquisite tunability in optical, mechanical, electronic and catalytic properties. An example of the former is localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), the coherent oscillation of conduction electrons in metals that can be excited by the electric field of light; this resonance frequency is highly dependent on both the size and shape of a nanocrystal. An example of the latter is the marked difference in catalytic activity observed for different Pd nanoparticles. Such examples highlight the importance of particle shape in nanocrystalline materials and their practical applications. However, one may ask `how are nanoshapes created?', `how does the shape relate to the atomic packing and crystallography of the material?', `how can we control and characterize the external shape and crystal structure of such small nanocrystals?'. This feature article aims to give the reader an overview of important techniques, concepts and recent advances related to these questions. Nucleation, growth and how seed crystallography influences the final synthesis product are discussed, followed by shape prediction models based on seed crystallography and thermodynamic or kinetic parameters. The crystallographic implications of epitaxy and orientation in multilayered, core-shell nanoparticles are overviewed, and, finally, the development and implications of novel, spatially resolved analysis tools are discussed.
Towards information leadership
Authors: Huvila Isto
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose information leadership as a concept for describing the activity of leading information processes in organisations and in the society, and consequently, to distinguish and articulate the influence and consequences of making decisions about the use, organisation and management of information resources and information infrastructures.

Design/methodology/approach

– To complement the earlier observations of the usefulness of making an analytical distinction between information and knowledge, and management and leadership within information management/knowledge management, this paper posits that it is useful to distinguish information and knowledge leadership as two separate yet inherently connected processes of orchestrating respectively information infrastructures and resources, and the processes of knowing in an organisation.

Findings

– This paper defines information leadership as the leadership of information resources and infrastructures in contrast to the leadership of social knowledge processes, knowing and organisational learning. The distinction helps to explicate the informational premises of knowledge in organisations, articulate the difference of the infrastructural and social forms of leadership and to be more explicit about the respective consequences of information and information infrastructures and knowledge held and practised within an organisation and on its boundaries.

Practical implications

– The concept of information leadership can be used both for describing the activity of leading the development and using information resources and infrastructures in organisations, and for articulating the influence and consequences of making decisions about the use, organisation and management of information resources and information infrastructures.

Originality/value

– To the knowledge of the authors, this is the first time information leadership is defined comprehensively in the context of information and knowledge management and specifically in relation to knowledge leadership.
Why do users intend to continue using the digital library? An integrated perspective
Authors: Cheng Yung-Ming
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid model based on expectation-confirmation model (ECM), technology acceptance model (TAM), and updated DeLone and McLean information system (IS) success model to examine whether quality factors as the antecedents to user beliefs affected users’ continuance intention of the digital library.

Design/methodology/approach

– Sample data for this study were collected from students enrolled in a comprehensive university in Taiwan. A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed in the campus library, and 525 (87.5 percent) usable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in this study.

Findings

– Findings show that the proposed research model integrating ECM, TAM, and updated DeLone and McLean IS success model has good explanatory power for quality antecedents of users’ continuance intention of the digital library. Information relevance, system accessibility, and technical support play key roles in explaining users’ continuance intention of the digital library via their beliefs.

Originality/value

– This study’s empirical evidence on capturing ECM, TAM, and updated DeLone and McLean IS success model reveals deep insights into quality evaluation for users’ continuance intention of the digital library. Especially, this study additionally contributes to the identification of interface features that may lead to users’ continuance intention of the digital library.
Do halal certification country of origin and brand name familiarity matter?
Authors: E. Rios Rosa , E. Riquelme Hernan , Abdelaziz Yasser
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine how consumers perceive the trustworthiness of halal certifications from various Muslim and non-Muslim countries, a topic highly disregarded despite the size of the market and the importance in penetrating the multibillion market.

Design/methodology/approach

– A customized factorial design was employed to measure main effects of brand familiarity, country trustworthiness and country favourability and interaction effects.

Findings

– Although Indonesia and Malaysia are Muslim countries, they are not perceived as trustworthy as others such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for the consumer product under study. The perception of trustworthiness of halal certification of origin explains the highest proportion of the variance in the preference for a product, followed by the interaction of country favourability and brand name country of origin (COO).

Research limitations/implications

– Managers of international companies should be aware that not all halal country certifications are equally perceived as trustworthy therefore, they should seek alliances, with institutions in markets where they seek to penetrate.

Practical implications

– The procedure for certification considers the whole value chain rather than just simple ritual of slaughtering. Managers have a big responsibility to produce their products according to the expected standards (and this goes beyond the simple slaughtering ritual) and make sure that all employees understands the importance of such adherence.

Social implications

– Muslim consumers’ preferences vary according to the COO of halal products, even within Muslim countries therefore, halal certification country-of-origin is a sensitive social concern.

Originality/value

– This research is based on COO and brand familiarity frameworks, and it extends the knowledge in a context (halal products) not frequently explored.
Perceived benefits and church participation
Authors: Casidy Riza , Tsarenko Yelena
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between perceived benefits and church participation among regular and irregular church goers (ICG).

Design/methodology/approach

– The research incorporates a descriptive research design. In total, 564 questionnaires were completed by active and relapsed members of churches in Australia. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between constructs.

Findings

– This study provides empirical evidence that perceived spiritual and social benefits have a positive and significant relationship with church participation in both regular and ICG sample group. Perceived purpose-in-life (PIL) benefits are not related to church participation in both sample groups.

Practical implications

– The findings may guide leaders of religious organisations to understand the importance of spiritual and social benefits in attracting prospective church members. The marketing message of religious organisation should therefore focus on spiritual and social appeals.

Originality/value

– Past researchers have not looked into the dynamic relationships between perceived benefits and church participation among regular and irregular church members, particularly in Australia, hence research is to be called for in this area. The study provides a further empirical support for the importance of social benefits within the church settings.
Antecedents of customers’ intention to support Islamic social enterprises in Indonesia
Authors: Rahayu Hijrah Hati Sri , Idris Aida
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of extrinsic factors, namely, age, education, gender, marital status and income on customers’ intention to support Islamic social enterprises via donation. The paper also assesses the influence of religiosity on support intention (SI). The impact of customers’ perceptual reaction to the credibility of social enterprises’ advertising is also measured to assess its influence on SI.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 214 completed questionnaires from online and offline surveys were analysed using several statistical analyses, including structural equation modelling, to assess the effects of the independent variables on SI.

Findings

– The study found that customers’ socioeconomic status and religiosity have no significant influence on their intention to channel their donations via Islamic social enterprises. It is the social enterprises’ advertising which significantly influences their SI.

Research limitations/implications

– The study focuses on an Islamic research context of social entrepreneurship. Thus, the results cannot be generalised directly to the non-Islamic social entrepreneurship context.

Practical implications

– Findings of the study suggest that organisations should develop effective communication strategies through advertising to highlight organisational credibility as it plays an important role in shaping customers’ attitudes and intentions.

Originality/value

– The study investigates the effects of marketing on customers’ SI. It also considers credibility, advertising, and the concept of branding in a context of social entrepreneurship, a concept that is still largely unexplored in the literature.
Accounting for the cost of social media
Authors: A. Crumpton Michael
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss the importance of identifying the cost associated with using social media for library marketing efforts, as well as assessing the effectiveness of social media activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper references articles and trends on this topic.

Findings

– With an increase in use of social media activities within libraries, there is clear evidence that creating formal assessment practices and tracking expenditures provides an increase in effectiveness and efficiency of those activities.

Originality/value

– This paper is written from the author’s own perceptions and actions taken on this topic.
Taking the numb out of numbers
Authors: McMullen Anthony
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide insights and commentary into issues encountered in maintaining and assessing library technologies and technology-based services with limited budgets and with limited personnel.

Design/methodology/approach

– Uses real-world experiences, data and examples gleaned from the evolution of baseball metrics to propose alternative methods of assessing library resources and services.

Findings

– Traditional methods of measuring success in baseball proved to be insufficient in telling the entire story behind the numbers. The same is true of libraries where librarians have been very good at gathering numbers, but very poor at using these data to the greatest advantage.

Originality/value

– This paper examines the parallels between the baseball and library worlds. It uses anecdotes gleaned from popular media to illustrate the similarities in the number-driven aspects of these institutions. It suggests that libraries take a path similar to that of baseball in developing new measures to paint a more accurate picture of their value and return on investment.
Lose the silver bullets
Authors: Luther Cottrell Terrance
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to reveal and dissuade the facilitation, fostering and support of silver bullet employee situations in libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The concept of a “silver bullet” employee is first explained, and then brought into the context of library management in a variety of settings. Steps are given to counteract this phenomenon through strategic cross-training and knowledge management initiatives.

Findings

– Silver bullet employees can be common, but they are not unavoidable aspects of institutional development. Realizing when and how a staff member is becoming too specialized can serve to save time and money down the road when this type of employee moves on.

Originality/value

– Silver bullet employees are not discussed enough in library literature or at professional conferences. Not planning for employee departure, especially for the departure of highly skilled, talented and specialized employees incurs unnecessary stress and cost to an organization’s leadership personnel.
Accept, coach, and inspire: a formula for success
Authors: D. Hall-Ellis Sylvia
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– Technical services librarians, catalogers and metadata specialists serve as the integral managers of comprehensive integrated systems designed to facilitate the ingestion, annotation, cataloging, storage, retrieval and distribution of organized, discoverable resources. Yet, despite the escalating costs to upgrade integrated library systems, maintain authority control for name and subject heading points of access and create original surrogate records for new library resources, technical services departments did not grow.

Design/methodology/approach

– The goal of sharing metadata is to reduce the local cost of its creation with minimal changes. However, research suggests that catalogers and metadata specialists review and authenticate the standards-compliant work of others, thus negating the goal of sharing and increasing the cost of building and maintaining online catalogs and discovery tools. How can a library administrator encourage the acceptance of metadata created at other information organizations and make prudent investments to support technical services functions?

Findings

– There are four strategies that administrators can adopt regarding these issues.

Research limitations/implications

– All libraries can benefit from considering the four strategies.

Practical implications

– First, cultivate a robust community of practice within the information organization. Second, recognize the importance of accepting standards-compliant bibliographic metadata with few modifications. Third, provide opportunities for managers to become skilled at coaching their team members. Fourth, inspire confidence.

Social implications

– Librarianship is a profession that an individual enters through graduate education in library and information science. As a new entrant, an individual becomes of a member of the community of practice and assumes personal responsibility for learning and mastering technical skills and competencies through experience, mentoring, professional development and continued actions (or tasks) comprising activities situated in a library or information environment.

Originality/value

– This is an original opinion piece.
Libraries in the information age
Authors: Eze Asogwa Brendan
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to measure the competencies of libraries in Nigerian universities, identify constraints to their performance and recommend infrastructures and competencies required. Institutional accreditation has compelled academic libraries in Nigerian to improve their quality, competencies and performances for accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The population of the study was all the university librarians in the 89 universities in Nigeria that the author selected from federal, state and private universities. Of the 81 sets of questionnaires emailed, 49 were returned, which represents a 60.5 per cent response rate and provides the working population of the study. Data were analysed using frequency tables, simple percentages and bar charts.

Findings

– The results indicate that academic libraries and librarians in Nigeria are competent in three key areas – educational roles, professional development and research. However, they are not very effective in the provision and use of library resources in cyberspace, adequate funding, collection development and information technology skills. The main constraints are: poor Internet penetration, low bandwidth, unreliable power supply and weak Internet proficiency. This paper suggests that adequate funding, benchmark performance and multi-skilling can serve as strategies against these constraints in developing regions.

Practical implications

– This study contributes to library staff assessment because it links strategic objectives to performance measures and associated long-term targets. It broadens issues which affect sustainable performance in academic libraries in Nigeria, as well as in Africa and other developing countries.

Originality/value

– While performance measurement is well established in developed countries, it is less or not so well established in Nigeria and other developing countries. The current research seeks to develop a performance measurement framework for academic libraries that is testable and expandable to Nigeria and the whole African context.
Empowering employees: job standardization and innovative behavior
Authors: Luoh Hsiang-Fei , Tsaur Sheng-Hshiung , Tang Ya-Yun
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– This study aims to explore the relationship between job standardization and employee innovative behavior, as well as the mediating and moderating effects of employee psychological empowerment. Little research has been focused on the conflicting concepts of job standardization and employee innovative behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Respondents chosen from frontline services in tourist hotels in Taiwan were used to examine the mediating and moderating roles of psychological empowerment on the established relationships between job standardization and employee innovative behavior. The results were analyzed using hierarchical regression models.

Findings

– The results show that job standardization had a negative effect on employee innovative behavior. In addition, employee psychological empowerment mediated the effect of job standardization on innovative behavior. Subsequently, employee psychological empowerment played a buffering role and moderated the job standardization–innovative behavior relationship.

Practical implications

– Hotel management needs to use both training and work process review to help employees innovate while still understanding the meaning of their work, enhancing self-efficacy, self-determination and the impact of decision-making.

Originality/value

– This study gives both theoretical and empirical evidence to clarify the effect of psychological empowerment on the importance of job standardization and innovative behavior in organizations. This is the only study that has investigated this topic in the hospitality field and therefore makes significant strides in understanding the impact of psychological empowerment on hotel employees’ innovative behavior.
Promote the price promotion
Authors: Huang Hui-Chun , Chang Ya-Ting , Yeh Che-Yi , Liao Chung-Wei
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The authors empirically evaluated the effect of price promotions on customer quality evaluations and repeat-purchase intentions in coffee chain stores. The moderating role of customer characteristics in this process was also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

– Consumers in 12 coffee chain stores were surveyed and 488 usable questionnaires were obtained. Relationships in the test model were examined using structural equation modeling techniques. A multiple-group solution was used to test the moderating effects of consumer characteristics.

Findings

– The results of structural equation modeling analyses suggested that price-promotion activities at Starbucks in Taiwan had a favorable effect on customer quality evaluations and positively influenced repeat-purchase intentions. The moderating effects of consumer characteristics were partially supported. Whereas sex showed no significant moderating effect, consumption frequency did demonstrate a moderating effect.

Practical implications

– The results indicate that existing customers may see price promotions at Starbucks in Taiwan as a reward or incentive, and thus lead to an increase in favorable evaluations. The findings provide a new perspective that may encourage those involved in the marketing of coffee chain stores to manage price promotions in a more strategic manner by considering customer characteristics.

Originality/value

– The effects of price promotions on brand evaluation remain controversial and may vary among product categories. Additionally, most studies regarding price promotions have used an experimental approach, and few studies of price promotions in the coffee industry have been reported. The study is among the first to empirically examine the effects of price promotions and the moderating role of consumer characteristics in the process at coffee chain stores.