bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spirituality, recruiting, and total wellness: overcoming challenges to organizational attraction
Authors: King, Jr James E. , Holmes Oscar
Published: October 2012

As individuals and organizations are more consciously exploring the intersection of spirituality and work the question arises as to what impact spirituality will have in terms of organizational recruitment. Drawing on the literature surrounding recruitment, as well as signaling theory,
diversity, and person-organizational fit, we explore the potential influence of spirituality on organizational attractiveness. After considering the various organizational motivations for projecting spirituality into recruitment efforts, we develop attraction-related propositions associated
with those distinct motivations. Finally, we propose that a singular approach to contextualizing spirituality will have the most positive effect on organizational attraction regardless of organizational motivation.
Calibration of ActiGraph GT3X, Actical and RT3 accelerometers in adolescents
Authors: Romanzini Marcelo , Petroski Edio Luiz , Ohara David , Dourado Antonio Carlos , Reichert Felipe Fossat
Published: October 2012

The objective of this study was to develop count cut‐points for three different accelerometer models: ActiGraph GT3X, RT3 and Actical to accurately classify physical activity intensity levels in adolescents. Seventy‐nine adolescents (10–15 years) participated in this study. Accelerometers and oxygen consumption () data were collected at rest and during 11 physical activities of different intensities. Accelerometers were worn on the waist and was measured by a portable metabolic system: Cosmed K4b2. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine cut‐points. Cut‐points for sedentary (SED), moderate‐to‐vigorous (MVPA) and vigorous‐intensity physical activity (VPA) were 46, 607 and 818 counts·15s−1 to the vertical axis of ActiGraph; 180, 757 and 1112 counts·15s−1 to the vector magnitude of ActiGraph; 17, 441 and 873 counts·15s−1 for Actical; and 5.6, 20.4 and 32.2 counts·s−1 for RT3, respectively. For all three accelerometer models, there was an almost perfect discrimination of SED and MVPA (ROC >0.97) and an excellent discrimination of VPA (ROC>0.90) observed. Areas under the ROC curves indicated better discrimination of MVPA by ActiGraph (AUC=0.994) and Actical (AUC=0.993) when compared to RT3 (AUC=0.983). The cut‐points developed in this study for the ActiGraph (vector magnitude), RT3 and Actical accelerometer models can be used to monitor physical activity level of adolescents.
Interaction of sedentary behaviour, sports participation and fitness with weight status in elementary school children
Authors: Drenowatz Clemens , Kobel Susanne , Kettner Sarah , Kesztyüs Dorothea , Steinacker Jürgen M.
Published: October 2012

Even though the effect of single components contributing to weight gain in children have been addressed only limited research is available on the combined association of sports participation, physical fitness and time spent watching TV with body weight in children. Baseline data from 1594 children (809 male; 785 female), 7.1±0.6 years of age participating in a large school‐based intervention in southern Germany was used. Height and weight was measured and body mass index (BMI) percentiles (BMIPCT) were determined accordingly. Sports participation and time spent watching TV was assessed via parent questionnaire while fitness was determined via a composite fitness test. Combined and single associations of sports participation, TV time and fitness with BMIPCT and weight status were assessed via ANCOVA as well as logistic regression analysis, controlling for age and sex. A significant interaction of TV time, sports participation and fitness on BMIPCT occurred, despite low correlations among the three components. Further, there was a combined association of sports participation and TV time on BMIPCT. TV time and fitness were also independently associated with BMIPCT. Similarly, only increased TV time and lower fitness were associated with a higher odds ratio for overweight/obesity. These results underline the complex interaction of TV time, sports participation and fitness with BMIPCT. In children, TV time and fitness have a stronger influence on BMIPCT compared to sports participation. Sports participation, however, may not reflect overall activity levels of children appropriately. More research is necessary to examine the complex interaction of various behaviours and fitness with BMIPCT.
Deletion and anergy of polyclonal B cells specific for ubiquitous membrane-bound self-antigen
Authors: Taylor Justin J. , Martinez Ryan J. , Titcombe Philip J. , Barsness Laura O. , Thomas Stephanie R. , Zhang Na , Katzman Shoshana D. , Jenkins Marc K. , Mueller Daniel L.
Published: October 2012

B cell tolerance to self-antigen is critical to preventing antibody-mediated autoimmunity. Previous work using B cell antigen receptor transgenic animals suggested that self-antigen–specific B cells are either deleted from the repertoire, enter a state of diminished function termed anergy, or are ignorant to the presence of self-antigen. These mechanisms have not been assessed in a normal polyclonal repertoire because of an inability to detect rare antigen-specific B cells. Using a novel detection and enrichment strategy to assess polyclonal self-antigen–specific B cells, we find no evidence of deletion or anergy of cells specific for antigen not bound to membrane, and tolerance to these types of antigens appears to be largely maintained by the absence of T cell help. In contrast, a combination of deleting cells expressing receptors with high affinity for antigen with anergy of the undeleted lower affinity cells maintains tolerance to ubiquitous membrane-bound self-antigens.
TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) exerts therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia in mice
Authors: Steinwede Kathrin , Henken Stefanie , Bohling Jennifer , Maus Regina , Ueberberg Bianca , Brumshagen Christina , Brincks Erik L. , Griffith Thomas S. , Welte Tobias , Maus Ulrich A.
Published: October 2012

Apoptotic death of alveolar macrophages observed during lung infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae is thought to limit overwhelming lung inflammation in response to bacterial challenge. However, the underlying apoptotic death mechanism has not been defined. Here, we examined the role of the TNF superfamily member TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in S. pneumoniae–induced macrophage apoptosis, and investigated the potential benefit of TRAIL-based therapy during pneumococcal pneumonia in mice. Compared with WT mice, Trail−/− mice demonstrated significantly decreased lung bacterial clearance and survival in response to S. pneumoniae, which was accompanied by significantly reduced apoptosis and caspase 3 cleavage but rather increased necrosis in alveolar macrophages. In WT mice, neutrophils were identified as a major source of intraalveolar released TRAIL, and their depletion led to a shift from apoptosis toward necrosis as the dominant mechanism of alveolar macrophage cell death in pneumococcal pneumonia. Therapeutic application of TRAIL or agonistic anti-DR5 mAb (MD5-1) dramatically improved survival of S. pneumoniae–infected WT mice. Most importantly, neutropenic mice lacking neutrophil-derived TRAIL were protected from lethal pneumonia by MD5-1 therapy. We have identified a previously unrecognized mechanism by which neutrophil-derived TRAIL induces apoptosis of DR5-expressing macrophages, thus promoting early bacterial killing in pneumococcal pneumonia. TRAIL-based therapy in neutropenic hosts may represent a novel antibacterial treatment option.
Molecular mechanism for depolarization-induced modulation of Kv channel closure
Authors: Labro Alain J. , Lacroix Jerome J. , Villalba-Galea Carlos A. , Snyders Dirk J. , Bezanilla Francisco
Published: October 2012

Voltage-dependent potassium (Kv) channels provide the repolarizing power that shapes the action potential duration and helps control the firing frequency of neurons. The K+ permeation through the channel pore is controlled by an intracellularly located bundle-crossing (BC) gate that communicates with the voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). During prolonged membrane depolarizations, most Kv channels display C-type inactivation that halts K+ conduction through constriction of the K+ selectivity filter. Besides triggering C-type inactivation, we show that in Shaker and Kv1.2 channels (expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes), prolonged membrane depolarizations also slow down the kinetics of VSD deactivation and BC gate closure during the subsequent membrane repolarization. Measurements of deactivating gating currents (reporting VSD movement) and ionic currents (BC gate status) showed that the kinetics of both slowed down in two distinct phases with increasing duration of the depolarizing prepulse. The biphasic slowing in VSD deactivation and BC gate closure was strongly correlated in time and magnitude. Simultaneous recordings of ionic currents and fluorescence from a probe tracking VSD movement in Shaker directly demonstrated that both processes were synchronized. Whereas the first slowing originates from a stabilization imposed by BC gate opening, the subsequent slowing reflects the rearrangement of the VSD toward its relaxed state (relaxation). The VSD relaxation was observed in the Ciona intestinalis voltage-sensitive phosphatase and in its isolated VSD. Collectively, our results show that the VSD relaxation is not kinetically related to C-type inactivation and is an intrinsic property of the VSD. We propose VSD relaxation as a general mechanism for depolarization-induced slowing of BC gate closure that may enable Kv1.2 channels to modulate the firing frequency of neurons based on the depolarization history.
Health, Naturalism, and Functional Efficiency
Authors: Hausman Daniel M.
Published: October 2012

This essay develops an account of health, the functional efficiency theory, which derives from Christopher Boorse's biostatistical theory (BST). Like the BST, the functional efficiency theory is a nonevaluative view of health, but unlike the BST, it argues that the fundamental theoretical task is to distinguish levels of efficiency with which the parts and processes within organisms and within systems within organisms function. Which of these to label as healthy or pathological is of secondary importance. Because the statistical distributions that Boorse's account relies on are distributions of functional efficiency, the functional efficiency theory arguably complements rather than challenges the BST.
Stabilization of p-type dopant nitrogen in BeZnO ternary alloy epitaxial thin films
Authors: Chen Mingming , Xiang Rong , Su Longxing , Zhang Quanlin , Cao Jiashi , Zhu Yuan , Gui Xuchun , Wu Tianzhun , Tang Zikang
Published: October 2012

We demonstrate the growth of Be
x
Zn1−x
O alloy thin films on c-sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The formation of Be
x
Zn1−x
O is very sensitive to the Be content in the alloy. Be atoms occupy the Zn lattice sites at low Be content, but move partly to the interstitial sites with increasing Be content. We also investigated the thermal stability of N, one of the most frequently used p-type dopants, in the Be
x
Zn1−x
O films. Secondary ion mass spectrometry shows that Be element plays a crucial role in stabilizing N in the Be
x
Zn1−x
O host, which is favourable in improving the solid solubility and the thermal stability of acceptor dopants in ZnO-based wide-gap semiconductors.
Capacitance transient study of a bistable deep level in e−-irradiated n-type 4H–SiC
Authors: Beyer F C , Hemmingsson C G , Pedersen H , Henry A , Isoya J , Morishita N , Ohshima T , Janzén E
Published: October 2012

Using capacitance transient techniques, a bistable centre, called FB centre here, was observed in electron irradiated 4H–SiC. In configuration A, the deep level known as EH5 (E

a
 = E

C
 − 1.07 eV) is detected in the deep level transient spectroscopy spectrum, whereas for configuration B no obvious deep level is observed in the accessible part of the band gap. Isochronal annealing revealed the transition temperatures to be T

A → B
 > 730 K and for the opposite process T

B → A
 ≈ 710 K. The energy needed to conduct the transformations were determined to be E

A
(A → B) = (2.1 ± 0.1) eV and E

A
(B → A) = (2.3 ± 0.1) eV, respectively. The pre-factor indicated an atomic jump process for the opposite transition A → B and a charge carrier-emission dominated process in the case of B → A. Minority charge carrier injection enhanced the transformation from configuration B to configuration A by lowering the transition barrier by about 1.4 eV. Since the bistable FB centre is already present after low-energy electron irradiation (200 keV), it is likely related to carbon.
Identification of the Curie point in Fe-based metallic glasses using in situ hard x-ray diffraction
Authors: Michalik S , Bednarcik J , Kovac J , Franz H , Sovak P
Published: October 2012

In situ temperature-resolved x-ray diffraction was used to follow structural changes of amorphous Fe(73.5−x)Mn
x
Si13.5Cu1Nb3B9 (x = 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) during constant rate heating experiments. Analysing diffraction patterns in reciprocal space by tracing the position of the first sharp diffraction peak provided information about the thermal expansion behaviour on atomic scale. Two distinct zones showing different slopes were identified for all expansion curves in the temperature range between 40 and 450 °C. The temperatures at which the expansion curves change their slopes are in good accordance with the Curie temperatures determined from thermomagnetic curves. Therefore, it is concluded that the in situ high-energy x-ray diffraction enables detection of the transition from a ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic state in the case of Fe-based metallic glasses.
Conjugacy in Thompson’s group 𝐹
Authors: Gill Nick , Short Ian
Published: October 2012

We complete the program begun by Brin and Squier of characterising conjugacy in Thompson’s group

F
F

using the standard action of

F
F

as a group of piecewise linear homeomorphisms of the unit interval.
Eclipse of an Era
Authors: Hasan Mushirul
Published: October 2012

This chapter describes the grandeur of British rule in India under whose bright light, the older order was eclipsed. The last decades of the nineteenth century saw India witness many vivid expressions of imperial grandeur, pageantry, and power (1887, 1903). In 1911, George V (1865–1936) was crowned king of England and Emperor of India. His Durbar in Delhi brought princely India and British India together in feudal pageantry which also saw the subordination of Indians. The chapter describes how C F Andrews witnessed the Durbar while Nazir Ahmad, who died on May 3, 1912, would have heard some people raising the cry ‘God Save the King Emperor’ in Shajahanabad's lanes and by-lanes. Muhammad Zakaullah died two years earlier, and so was not able to witness the curtain being drawn on another phase in India's turbulent history.
Fragmentation of Society in Manipur
Authors: Hassan M. Sajjad
Published: October 2012

This chapter investigates the dynamics of the exclusivist political mobilization in Manipur. It explores the social basis, aspirations, and interests of the rising middle class in the Imphal Valley. The nature of ‘civil society’ in Manipur is explained. It reveals that the growing imbalance between rising education levels and aspirations, and avenues for gainful employment to satisfy those aspirations has resulted to contests intensifying over economic opportunities. Developments in Manipur's neighbourhoods threatening its territorial integrity further concretized the ethnic basis of making territorial claims. It discusses that the case of Manipur reveals that the tendency towards an ethnic basis of society formation may be enhanced when state power is controlled by external agents. It also represents an extreme example of how internal and external political and social dynamics could work together to create a distinctly ethnic basis for society formation, resulting in fragmentation and conflicts.
5 The Builders
Authors: Singh Balmiki Prasad
Published: October 2012

The establishment of British rule brought India in direct contact with Christianity and English education which led to fresh awakening. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the emergence of great rational minds and an enormous urge for freedom characterized the Indian scene. The era, which, in historical terms, commenced with Raja Rammohan Roy of Bengal, heralded a major attitudinal change among the people of India. The unequal society that had been built in India over the ages needed to be changed in favour of equality and giving people a greater say in religious, political, and economic systems. The contribution of three leaders is indeed of great historical value: Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941); Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902); and Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948). Each one grew to become a formidable figure in his sphere of human activity: Gurudev Tagore in literature, Swami Vivekananda in religion, and Mahatma Gandhi in politics.
7 Among People
Authors: Singh Balmiki Prasad
Published: October 2012

India’s chequered political history and intertwining of religion into the socio-political fabric has imparted an all-pervasive sense of Indianness amidst all the distinct personalities of different communities. The author wanted to test the bahudhā approach within the broad civilizational framework of the Indian people. A forty-day field visit was conducted from 4 January 2005 to 12 February 2005. The visit covered Calicut in Kerala; Kenduli village in West Bengal; Khuntitoli village in Jharkhand; Sarisab-pahi village in Bihar; and Hajo in Assam. The basic objective of this visit was to bring out how the common people in India retain the essence of harmonious living and manage crises and conflicts in everyday life. One notices that democratic culture is widespread and is strengthened by mutual interdependence and culture. The continuous process of dialogue, however, should be continued for national consolidation and harmony.
8 The Culture of Bahudhā
Authors: Singh Balmiki Prasad
Published: October 2012

Terrorism and human bombs are the latest instruments in violent conflicts that are being sanctioned in the name of redressal of religious and ethnic grievances. In this context, the need for belief in ‘one truth, many interpretations’ has acquired great relevance in terms of formulation of a widely shared public policy of harmony. In the process of dialogue, this chapter argues that it is essential to have a state of mind where one can strongly believe in one’s own way of looking at issues while simultaneously accommodating another’s point of view. If the principles of non-violence and truth can guide the affairs of each individual and society, this approach can be further strengthened. This chapter examines the nature of conflicts, bahudhā and the major civilizations, and UNESCO’s efforts.
The Trio around Mahatma Gandhi
Authors: Edib Halidé
Published: October 2012

At Mahatma Gandhi's house, the author also met his wife, Kasturbai. She has been a child-wife, a wife, a mother, and the only woman Gandhi has loved in the flesh. Love and respect for her is unanimous throughout India. Aside from Gandhi's wife, his adopted daughter, and his secretary Mahadev Desai, another woman in the household was Miraben. She was an Englishwoman who has imbibed from Gandhi the essential spirit of religion. Those who know her intimately call her a Hindu of Hindus, but to those who look at Hinduism as a labyrinth of castes and believe that only birth can make one a Hindu, she is a stranger. As a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, Miraben did every chore, from milking the goats to cleaning the house, washing dishes, teaching, and writing.
Peshawar
Authors: Edib Halidé
Published: October 2012

In this chapter, the author recounts her visit to Peshawar, which reminded her of the Anatolian high plateau because of the high altitudes. She was to be the guest of the late Abdur Rahman Qureshi's family, and taken care of by Abdur Rahman's youngest sister, Naz-Perver (breeder of grace). However, her real host at Peshawar was Sir Abdul Qayyum, who invited her to come to Peshawar to lecture at the Peshawar College. Abdul Qayyum represented the liberal, constitutional and pro-English side of Peshawar, just as Dr Abdul-Gaffar, the leader of the ‘Red Shirts’, had represented the revolutionary side. Yet what set the Frontier apart from other parts was that no matter for what different, even opposing, currents of thought different individuals might stand, they had a strange oneness in being the children of the Frontier.
Benares
Authors: Edib Halidé
Published: October 2012

In this chapter, the author recounts her visit to Benares, where she spent time resting and sight-seeing. She was escorted by Professor Mujeeb and stayed at the house of Dr Bhagavan Das. It was her first time to stay in a Hindu house, and witnessed Dr Bhagavan Das and family live like real Hindus. The author also met Babu Shiva Prasad, a multi-millionaire who lives as a poor Indian and spends his money on helping the older educational institutions or on founding new ones. Prasad thought that if religion separates, it can also unite. So he built a temple in Benares with India's Map as the supreme deity. The author's itinerary also included a visit to Benares Hindu University and to a kindergarten of Montessori type. She saw a temple dedicated to Vishnu, the largest in Benares, and met Abdul Majid, a Muslim notable.
The Hindi Public Sphere 1920–1940
Authors: Orsini Francesca
Published: October 2012

This book analyses how a language became the instrument with which the contours of a new nation were traced. Mapping the success of formalized Hindi in creating a regional public sphere in north India in the early twentieth century, the book explores the way many educated Indians, influenced by the British ideas and institutions, expressed interest in new concepts such as progress, unity, and a common cultural heritage. From the development of new codes and institutions to a language that helped to create space for argument and debate, the book gives an overview of the Hindi public sphere. Furthermore, it throws light on the work of Vasudha Dalmia about the nascent Hindi public sphere and brings to light how early twentieth-century discourses on language, literature, gender, history, and politics form the core of the Hindi culture that exists today.
Understanding Economic Growth
Authors: Balakrishnan Pulapre
Published: October 2012

This chapter provides a critical exposition of some prominent theoretical representations of growth and a historical perspective on its drivers. Among the former, two are taken up: the neo-classical approach based on the idea of a production function and the methodology of ‘growth accounting’ which derives from it, and the one based on the idea of growth as endogenous cumulative change. It is argued that growth accounting is not only a non-starter as an explanation — for an explanation is more than accounting — but also potentially misleading as it is based on some questionable assumptions. The vision of growth through ‘circular and cumulative causation’ in a market economy is taken up next. In this representation, growth in the system is seen as being, at the same time, an impulse to further growth and a response to the impulse. The second part of the chapter attempts to isolate the main drivers of growth in a cross-country historical comparison.
Second Wind, 1965–91
Authors: Balakrishnan Pulapre
Published: October 2012

This chapter examines the economic growth in India for the period 1950–64. What is distinctive about this period is that while the policy regime had remained more or less unchanged, the rate of growth of the economy accelerated. Economic growth is explained in terms of the wider impact of the Green Revolution. Initiated with renewed vigour in the mid-1960s, this intervention not only increased the rate of growth of agriculture, notably food production, but energized the rest of the economy via forward and backward linkages. This account was validated in an econometric investigation of inter-sectoral growth relations prior to and inclusive of the transition date.
Are Food Choices Really Habitual? Integrating Habits, Variety‐seeking, and Compensatory Choice in a Utility‐maximizing Framework
Authors: Adamowicz Wiktor L. , Swait Joffre D.
Published: October 2012

Given the large number of food choices that consumers make each day it seems likely that they will adopt decision strategies that minimize cognitive effort. To examine this issue, we develop a conceptual and empirical model of habitual choice, and the factors that result in transitions to two strategies other than habitual selection: utility‐maximizing choice and a variety‐seeking strategy. Our approach provides an alternative to traditional state dependence methods used in this type of panel data. We apply this framework to the choice of two food products that illustrate the heterogeneity across types of products in decision strategies and routine choice patterns.
MULTOVL: fast multiple overlaps of genomic regions
Authors: Aszódi András
Published: October 2012

Summary: We present the MULTOVL application suite that detects and statistically analyses multiple overlaps of genomic regions in a fast and efficient manner. The package supports the detection of multiple region intersections, unions and ‘solitary’ genomic regions. The significance of actually observed overlaps is estimated by comparing them with empirical null distributions generated by random shuffling of the input regions.

Availability and implementation: Source code and binaries are downloadable from: http://www.csf.ac.at/facilities/scc/tools.

Contact:  andras.aszodi@csf.ac.at
SortMeRNA: fast and accurate filtering of ribosomal RNAs in metatranscriptomic data
Authors: Kopylova Evguenia , Noé Laurent , Touzet Hélène
Published: October 2012

Motivation: The application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies to RNAs directly extracted from a community of organisms yields a mixture of fragments characterizing both coding and non-coding types of RNAs. The task to distinguish among these and to further categorize the families of messenger RNAs and ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) is an important step for examining gene expression patterns of an interactive environment and the phylogenetic classification of the constituting species.

Results: We present SortMeRNA, a new software designed to rapidly filter rRNA fragments from metatranscriptomic data. It is capable of handling large sets of reads and sorting out all fragments matching to the rRNA database with high sensitivity and low running time.

Availability:  http://bioinfo.lifl.fr/RNA/sortmerna

Contact:  evguenia.kopylova@lifl.fr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Clinical Outcomes and Radiologic Changes After Microsurgical Bilateral Decompression by a Unilateral Approach in Patients With Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Grade I Degenerative Spondylolisthesis With a Minimum 3-Year Follow-Up
Authors: Jang Jun-Won , Park Jin-Hun , Hyun Seung-Jae , Rhim Seung-Chul
Published: October 2012

Study Design:

A retrospective study.

Objective:

To analyze the clinical outcomes and radiologic changes after microsurgical bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

Summary of Background Data:

Satisfactory short-term results have been observed after minimally invasive decompressive procedures, but intermediate-term and long-term outcomes have not been assessed. It is not yet clear whether decompressive laminectomy with concomitant fusion is the optimal surgical treatment for spinal stenosis combined with mild DS. We, therefore, evaluated minimum 3-year clinical outcomes and radiologic changes in patients with LSS and grade 1 DS, who underwent microsurgical bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach, without fusion.

Methods:

We assessed 21 consecutive patients who underwent surgery conducted by a single surgeon of our hospital, between 2005 and 2007. The Oswestry Disability Index was determined preoperatively, just before discharge, and at last follow-up. Plain dynamic x-rays were used to determine slip percentages.

Results:

Average patient age and clinical and radiologic follow-up periods were 67 years, 49.3 months, and 18 months, respectively. Preoperative, immediate postoperative, and last follow-up average Oswestry Disability Indices were 59.52±9.00, 50.19±7.23, and 26.19±12.42, respectively. However, 1 patient experienced aggravated symptoms and later underwent a fusion procedure. Of the 22 levels with spondylolisthesis, 15 had no sagittal motion as the difference in slip percentage on dynamic x-rays, but 7 showed sagittal motion. Average slip percentages increased from 13.90±5.41% to 14.60±5.78% for levels without sagittal motion on dynamic x-ray, and from 13.12±3.48% to 18.58±4.55% for levels with sagittal motion.

Conclusions:

Despite small case series with retrospective design and the absence of a control group, our study suggests that bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach in patients with LSS and grade 1 DS showed good mid-term clinical outcomes, despite an increase in slip percentage.

However, more marked increases in slippage were observed in patients with sagittal motion in spondylolisthesis levels on preoperative dynamic x-ray, than in patients without sagittal motion. Therefore, bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach can aggravate symptoms related to instability in patients with preoperative sagittal motion on dynamic x-ray, and needs a longer term follow-up than in our study.
OxycodoneN-oxide
Authors: Sonar Vijayakumar N. , Parkin Sean , Crooks Peter A.
Published: October 2012

The title compound, (5R,9R,13S,14S,17R)-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methyl-4,5-epoxymorphinan-6-oneN-oxide, C18H21NO5, has been prepared in a diastereomerically pure form by the reaction of oxycodone with 3-chloroperbenzoic acid and subsequent crystallization of the product from chloroform. The crystal packing shows that the molecule exhibits intramolecular O—H...O [D...A= 2.482 (2) Å] hydrogen bonding. In addition, there are weak intermolecular C—H...O interactions which, along with van der Waals forces, stabilize the structure. The new chiral center at the 17-position is demonstrated to beR.
Chinese S&T parks: the emergence of a new model
Authors: Jolly Dominique , Zhu Fuquan
Published: October 2012

Purpose

Chinese S&T parks are one component of the Chinese system of innovation which has emerged over the last 20 years; they are not simply a copy‐paste of the American model. This paper aims to focus on this topic.

Design/methodology/approach

Developments were inferred from an extensive literature review (in English, in Chinese and in French) that was completed by an archive research as well as interviews of heads of Chinese S&T parks.

Findings

Six features make Chinese S&T parks different from what can be found elsewhere in the world: the Chinese people have the willingness to restore previous glory and share of the world economy; the Chinese government apparatus acts as the driving force with an overpowering impact; there are very few foreign companies in Chinese S&T parks – making those parks mostly inhabited by Chinese companies, but returnees play a significant role; an astonishing scale when benchmarked to European references; the greening of business has emerged as a new and powerful driver; and an evolutionary process is leading to the transformation of China into an innovative country.

Research limitations/implications

This paper stands more as an essay reflecting the authors' understanding of the Chinese situation and, as such, it may be subjectively biased.

Practical implications

As Western managers are now considering China as a possible place to carry R&D, this paper helps them to get a better understanding of the features of the specific locations where they might implement their R&D labs.

Originality/value

The emergence of China as a technological country is a recent phenomenon. The authors have identified no such analysis in the published literature.
Using a business game concept to enhance servitization: a longitudinal case study
Authors: Laine Teemu , Paranko Jari , Suomala Petri
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential benefits of a business game on customers’ business in enhancing servitization. The concept is proposed to be helpful in the phases of defining the servitization initiative and gaining shared understanding about it at a manufacturer.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a longitudinal case study at a manufacturer (2003‐2008), with a focus on the business game concept on customers’ business. The researchers and approximately 140 company representatives contributed to both early and later phases of the development of the concept.

Findings

The business game concept appeared to serve the purpose of generating and sharing ideas about the customers’ business and the desired role of the OEM in it, as a potential outcome of servitization. The concept synthesizes the previously fragmented customer awareness across the business units and provides useful information for various stakeholders. The presence of personnel across the different business units and from a key customer company in the game events enabled new types of discussion related to the servitization initiative.

Research limitations/implications

The concept presented in this paper represents a potential tool for enhancing a servitization initiative. Due to the limitations of the case, the findings are tentative and primarily transferrable to contexts where a manufacturer provides machinery for industrial production. Moreover, the ability of the concept to capture real‐life customer values is critical for success and thus should be carefully examined.

Originality/value

The case study enables an in‐depth view of the phenomena under examination. Moreover, due to the researchers’ interventions in developing and using the concept, they observed actual processes of overcoming the challenges of servitization.
CSR in corporate self‐storying – legitimacy as a question of differentiation and conformity
Authors: Susanne Johansen Trine , Ellerup Nielsen Anne
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address corporte social responsibility (CSR) as a form of corporate self‐storying that highlights isomorphic processes influencing legitimacy as a key organisational concern.

Design/methodology/approach

Having constructed a theoretical framework incorporating CSR and corporate identity literature, the paper draws on a discourse perspective to analyse the legitimation strategies applied by a single organisation storying its CSR involvement. The strategies are subsequently addressed in relation to isomorphic discourses of legitimacy.

Findings

The analysis supports the view that corporate self‐storying of CSR balances between the needs for differentiation and conformity. Organisations thus navigate between the value associated with compliance with societal norms and expectations and the value of promoting organisational uniqueness.

Research limitations/implications

Institutional processes result in isomorphic organisational practices also in relation to legitimacy reflected in the storying of CSR involvement. However, this study implies that isomorphism also offers organisations opportunities to stand out.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper is twofold. First, it articulates a framework for addressing CSR communication as a form of corporate self‐storying that is embedded in a differentiation/conformity paradox. Second, it explores how an organisation's extended responsibility – i.e. responsibility for supplier practices – is storied in a way that suggests that addressing legitimacy is a question of navigating the paradox.
Don't leave your heart at home
Authors: Ouweneel Else , Le Blanc Pascale M. , Schaufeli Wilmar B.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The main objective of this study is to apply broaden‐and‐build theory to occupational wellbeing. More specifically, it seeks to test whether positive emotions “build” resources and to what extent they contribute to work engagement through an increase in personal or job resources. Additionally, it aims to hypothesize that positive emotions, resources, and work engagement are reciprocally related to each other in a way akin to a gain cycle.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to test whether positive emotions, personal and job resources, and work engagement are related over time, a structural equation model was constructed. The model was based on two waves of data, with a time lag of six months.

Findings

Results show a reciprocal relationship between positive emotions and personal resources. Furthermore, there is a causal effect of personal resources on work engagement and a reversed causal effect of work engagement on positive emotions. Most surprising is the fact that no relationships with job resources are found to be significant.

Research limitations/implications

Because the authors exclusively used self‐report measures to assess positive emotions, resources, and work engagement, the cross‐paths might have been inflated.

Practical implications

The results underline the importance of increasing both positive emotions and the level of personal resources in order to create an engaged workforce.

Originality/value

The study adds to the existing literature in the sense that the research model entailed positive emotions as a “novel” variable in the context of resources and work engagement. The model recognized the building capacity of positive emotions as well as the potential of personal resources in predicting work engagement.
The relationship between ERP system and supply chain management performance in Malaysian manufacturing companies
Authors: Saleh Shatat Ahmad , Mohamed Udin Zulkifli
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This research aims to improve supply chain management performance through the successful usage of ERP system. This can be through investigating the relationship between enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and supply chain management (SCM) performance in the context of Malaysian manufacturing companies that use ERP system.

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire survey was posted to the Malaysian manufacturing companies that are using ERP system in order to investigate the relationship between ERP system and SCM performance. The respondents of this study were the MIS or IT executives. A total of 80 usable responses were received and used in the analysis.

Findings

The findings of this research indicated that there is a positive and significant relationship between ERP system i.e. (integration, material management, production planning, and controlling), and SCM performance. The workflow management, however, does not have a significant relationship with SCM performance. The findings of this study imply that the successful implementation and the effective usage of ERP system can contribute toward enhancing supply chain management performance in many ways such as, integration of internal business processes, enhancement of information flow among different departments inside the company, improvement of the company's relationships and collaboration with outsourcing suppliers, customers, and supply chain partners.

Research limitations/implications

This research focuses only on post‐implementation of ERP system life cycle, where ERP system passes through three implementation stages of system life cycle and that includes pre‐implantation stage, implementation stage, and finally post‐implementation stage. Two or three stages of ERP system life cycle could be investigated simultaneously.

Practical implications

There should be many success records in ERP system and this is to prove to companies that ERP systems can contribute toward improving their overall business performance. Therefore, this research encourages companies to adopt ERP systems and then contribute to technology diffusion. The finding of this study supports this justification and records a new success of ERP systems in Malaysian manufacturing companies.

Originality/value

The results of this study will enable companies to achieve optimum usage of ERP system after the implementation stage and help to avoid system failure and achieve better SCM performance. The study contributes toward technology diffusion between companies through reducing the likelihood of ERP systems failure, and therefore introduces ERP systems to other manufacturing companies in Malaysia.
Measuring the resemblance between pictorial and verbal city image spaces
Authors: Pezenka Ilona , Buchta Christian
Published: October 2012

Purpose

This study focuses on the emotional aspects of destinations and employs two different scales for capturing the affective component of city destination image. The aim of this paper is not only to measure the emotions assigned to different European cities, but also to compare these two instruments/scales by means of Procrustes analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected measurements on two different scales (verbal and pictorial) for capturing the emotional (affective) component of destination image – both based on Russell's circumplex model of affect – in two independent surveys.

Findings

Significant differences were found between the multidimensional scaling (MDS) results of both scales. Because the two samples match in terms of demographics and psychographics, the differences of the perceptual spaces are likely due to the form of stimuli (pictures compared to verbal items) presented. The results indicate that pictures are easy to use, but they also are subject to broader interpretations. In contrast, verbal items are more concise, but perhaps respondents may find it harder to assign them to cities (especially negative emotions).

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the literature by suggesting a methodology for detailed analysis of the differences in measurements, and introducing implications that apply primarily to researchers once new measurement methods are introduced. The limitations of this research relate to the sample (convenience sample): the respondents were solely Austrians, and thus only one culture was represented.

Originality/value

Although several other researchers suggest measuring both the cognitive and the affective image, very few studies incorporate both aspects in evaluating destination image. In contrast, this study applies different scales to incorporate emotions in destination image measurement and demonstrates the applicability of the scales in the tourism context.
Extensions on the conceptualization of customer perceived value: insights from the airline industry
Authors: Mayr Thomas , Zins Andreas H.
Published: October 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test and compare different conceptual approaches for perceived value in a service context.

Design/methodology/approach

Perceived value is an outcome construct that results from various benefits received and sacrifices devoted to achieve a particular exchange of a service. The paper compares three different modeling approaches (Type 1, Type 2, and Type 4) for perceived value using data from an in‐flight survey. The questionnaire covered topics such as perceived service quality and overall satisfaction, price perception, customer value, and customer retention.

Findings

The theoretical discussion repeatedly emphasizes that only the formative modeling of perceived value fits the arguments put forward in the existing literature. This study replicates and extends a study by Lin et al. in the airline service context. The paper reports details about the impact of the proposed seven “get” and “give” components, together with an analysis of the consequences perceived value has on satisfaction, loyalty, and word‐of‐mouth.

Research limitations/implications

The findings suggest extensions and improvements concerning measurement and conceptual issues.

Practical implications

Perceived value shows a substantial effect on behavioral consequences. Service operations must observe the perception of atmospherics emerging from the main service encounters next to considering functional aspects.

Originality/value

Misconceptualizations of multi‐item constructs are well known. However, critical discussions and empirical tests are still scarce in the tourism field. This paper tests and compares different conceptual approaches for perceived value in a service context.
RFID for the extended lean enterprise
Authors: Powell Daryl , Skjelstad Lars
Published: October 2012

Purpose

In the traditional sense, information technology has often been viewed as a contributor to waste within lean production. However, as the business world changes and competition from low‐cost countries increases, new models must be developed which deliver competitive advantage by combining contemporary technological advances with the lean paradigm. The purpose of this paper is therefore to contribute within this area, and it aims to evaluate the supporting role of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in the context of lean thinking. The paper also aims to consider the application of RFID in order to revolutionize the lean paradigm, and to propose a framework for the use of RFID in order to create the extended lean enterprise, which the authors suggest can improve the competitiveness of manufacturing supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's applied research methodology is case study. Having first explored the relevant literature surrounding the topic, the paper presents a conceptual framework for the role of RFID in the extended lean enterprise, and apply the framework to two practical case studies. Data were primarily collected through semi‐structured interviews with key contacts within the companies. For triangulation, the authors also made use of direct observations and company documentation.

Findings

The paper operationalizes the five lean principles with practical examples in the context of RFID in the extended lean enterprise. It uses the results to propose a conceptual framework for the role of RFID in the extended lean enterprise, which can be used by researchers and practitioners to better integrate information technology such as RFID in the lean paradigm. The case studies provide good practical examples of the applications and implications of RFID in the extended lean enterprise, with theoretically grounded insights. Such a concept appears very little in current academic literature. The findings suggest that RFID technologies are a key enabler in the development and further support of the extended lean enterprise.

Originality/value

Within the field of lean production and information technology, there has been a continuous debate as to whether both approaches are complimentary or contradictory. Therefore, this paper fulfils an identified need to study the interactions between a modern example of information technology (RFID) and its role within lean production, making a valid contribution within this field of research.