bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active role of fatty acid amino acid conjugates in nitrogen metabolism in
Spodoptera litura
larvae
Authors: Yoshinaga Naoko , Aboshi Takako , Abe Hiroaki , Nishida Ritsuo , Alborn Hans T. , Tumlinson James H. , Mori Naoki
Published: November 2008

Since the first fatty acid amino acid conjugate (FAC) was isolated from regurgitant of
Spodoptera exigua
larvae in 1997 [volicitin:
N
-(17-hydroxylinolenoyl)-
l
-glutamine], their role as elicitors of induced responses in plants has been well documented. However, studies of the biosyntheses and the physiological role of FACs in the insect have been minimal. By using
14
C-labeled glutamine, glutamic acid, and linolenic acid in feeding studies of
Spodoptera litura
larvae, combined with tissue analyses, we found glutamine in the midgut cells to be a major source for biosynthesis of FACs. Furthermore, 20% of the glutamine moiety of FACs was derived from glutamic acid and ammonia through enzymatic reaction of glutamine synthetase (GS). To determine whether FACs improve GS productivity, we studied nitrogen assimilation efficiency of
S. litura
larvae fed on artificial diets containing
15
NH
4
Cl and glutamic acid. When the diet was enriched with linolenic acid, the nitrogen assimilation efficiency improved from 40% to >60%. In the lumen, the biosynthesized FACs are hydrolyzed to fatty acids and glutamine, which are reabsorbed into tissues and hemolymph. These results strongly suggested that FACs play an active role in nitrogen assimilation in Lepidoptera larva and that glutamine containing FACs in the gut lumen may function as a form of storage of glutamine, a key compound of nitrogen metabolism.
Human genomes as email attachments
Authors: Christley Scott , Lu Yiming , Li Chen , Xie Xiaohui
Published: November 2008

Summary: The amount of genomic sequence data being generated and made available through public databases continues to increase at an ever-expanding rate. Downloading, copying, sharing and manipulating these large datasets are becoming difficult and time consuming for researchers. We need to consider using advanced compression techniques as part of a standard data format for genomic data. The inherent structure of genome data allows for more efficient lossless compression than can be obtained through the use of generic compression programs. We apply a series of techniques to James Watson's genome that in combination reduce it to a mere 4MB, small enough to be sent as an email attachment.

Availability: Our algorithms are implemented in C++ and are freely available from http://www.ics.uci.edu/~xhx/project/DNAzip.

Contact:  chenli@ics.uci.edu; xhx@ics.uci.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Are We Ready and How Do We Know? The Urgent Need for Performance Metrics in Hospital Emergency Management
Authors: Lazar Eliot J. , Cagliuso Nicholas V. , Gebbie Kristine M.
Published: November 2008

An extraordinary number of health care quality and patient safety indicators have been developed for hospitals and other health care institutions; however, few meaningful indicators exist for comprehensive assessment of hospital emergency management. Although health care institutions have invested considerable resources in emergency management preparedness, the need for universally accepted, evidence-based performance metrics to measure these efforts remains largely unfulfilled. We suggest that this can be remediated through the application of traditional health care quality paradigms, coupled with novel analytic approaches to develop meaningful performance data in hospital emergency management. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3:57–60)
Retinal degeneration triggered by inactivation of PTEN in the retinal pigment epithelium
Authors: Kim Jin Woo , Kang Kyung Hwa , Burrola Patrick , Mak Tak W. , Lemke Greg
Published: November 2008

Adhesion between epithelial cells mediates apical–basal polarization, cell proliferation, and survival, and defects in adhesion junctions are associated with abnormalities from degeneration to cancer. We found that the maintenance of specialized adhesions between cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) requires the phosphatase PTEN. RPE-specific deletion of the mouse pten gene results in RPE cells that fail to maintain basolateral adhesions, undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and subsequently migrate out of the retina entirely. These events in turn lead to the progressive death of photoreceptors. The C-terminal PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ)-binding domain of PTEN is essential for the maintenance of RPE cell junctional integrity. Inactivation of PTEN, and loss of its interaction with junctional proteins, are also evident in RPE cells isolated from ccr2−/− mice and from mice subjected to oxidative damage, both of which display age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Together, these results highlight an essential role for PTEN in normal RPE cell function and in the response of these cells to oxidative stress.
Novel long non-protein coding RNAs involved in Arabidopsis differentiation and stress responses
Authors: Ben Amor Besma , Wirth Sonia , Merchan Francisco , Laporte Philippe , d’Aubenton-Carafa Yves , Hirsch Judith , Maizel Alexis , Mallory Allison , Lucas Antoine , Deragon Jean Marc , Vaucheret Herve , Thermes Claude , Crespi Martin
Published: November 2008

Long non-protein coding RNAs (npcRNA) represent an emerging class of riboregulators, which either act directly in this long form or are processed to shorter miRNA and siRNA. Genome-wide bioinformatic analysis of full-length cDNA databases identified 76 Arabidopsis npcRNAs. Fourteen npcRNAs were antisense to protein-coding mRNAs, suggesting cis-regulatory roles. Numerous 24-nt siRNA matched to five different npcRNAs, suggesting that these npcRNAs are precursors of this type of siRNA. Expression analyses of the 76 npcRNAs identified a novel npcRNA that accumulates in a dcl1 mutant but does not appear to produce trans-acting siRNA or miRNA. Additionally, another npcRNA was the precursor of miR869 and shown to be up-regulated in dcl4 but not in dcl1 mutants, indicative of a young miRNA gene. Abiotic stress altered the accumulation of 22 npcRNAs among the 76, a fraction significantly higher than that observed for the RNA binding protein-coding fraction of the transcriptome. Overexpression analyses in Arabidopsis identified two npcRNAs as regulators of root growth during salt stress and leaf morphology, respectively. Hence, together with small RNAs, long npcRNAs encompass a sensitive component of the transcriptome that have diverse roles during growth and differentiation.
High-resolution human core-promoter prediction with CoreBoost_HM
Authors: Wang Xiaowo , Xuan Zhenyu , Zhao Xiaoyue , Li Yanda , Zhang Michael Q.
Published: November 2008

Correctly locating the gene transcription start site and the core-promoter is important for understanding transcriptional regulation mechanism. Here we have integrated specific genome-wide histone modification and DNA sequence features together to predict RNA polymerase II core-promoters in the human genome. Our new predictor CoreBoost_HM outperforms existing promoter prediction algorithms by providing significantly higher sensitivity and specificity at high resolution. We demonstrated that even though the histone modification data used in this study are from a specific cell type (CD4+ T-cell), our method can be used to identify both active and repressed promoters. We have applied it to search the upstream regions of microRNA genes, and show that CoreBoost_HM can accurately identify the known promoters of the intergenic microRNAs. We also identified a few intronic microRNAs that may have their own promoters. This result suggests that our new method can help to identify and characterize the core-promoters of both coding and noncoding genes.
Divergent Regulation of Terpenoid Metabolism in the Trichomes of Wild and Cultivated Tomato Species
Authors: Besser Katrin , Harper Andrea , Welsby Nicholas , Schauvinhold Ines , Slocombe Stephen , Li Yi , Dixon Richard A. , Broun Pierre
Published: November 2008

The diversification of chemical production in glandular trichomes is important in the development of resistance against pathogens and pests in two species of tomato. We have used genetic and genomic approaches to uncover some of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that underlie the divergence in trichome metabolism between the wild species Solanum habrochaites LA1777 and its cultivated relative, Solanum lycopersicum. LA1777 produces high amounts of insecticidal sesquiterpene carboxylic acids (SCAs), whereas cultivated tomatoes lack SCAs and are more susceptible to pests. We show that trichomes of the two species have nearly opposite terpenoid profiles, consisting mainly of monoterpenes and low levels of sesquiterpenes in S. lycopersicum and mainly of SCAs and very low monoterpene levels in LA1777. The accumulation patterns of these terpenoids are different during development, in contrast to the developmental expression profiles of terpenoid pathway genes, which are similar in the two species, but they do not correlate in either case with terpenoid accumulation. However, our data suggest that the accumulation of monoterpenes in S. lycopersicum and major sesquiterpenes in LA1777 are linked both genetically and biochemically. Metabolite analyses after targeted gene silencing, inhibitor treatments, and precursor feeding all show that sesquiterpene biosynthesis relies mainly on products from the plastidic 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway in LA1777 but less so in the cultivated species. Furthermore, two classes of sesquiterpenes produced by the wild species may be synthesized from distinct pools of precursors via cytosolic and plastidial cyclases. However, highly trichome-expressed sesquiterpene cyclase-like enzymes were ruled out as being involved in the production of major LA1777 sesquiterpenes.
Genome-Wide Analysis of MIKCC-Type MADS Box Genes in Grapevine
Authors: Díaz-Riquelme José , Lijavetzky Diego , Martínez-Zapater José M. , Carmona María José
Published: November 2008

MIKCC-type MADS box genes encode transcription factors that play crucial roles in plant growth and development. Analysis of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) genome revealed up to 38 MIKCC-type genes. We report here a complete analysis of this gene family regarding their phylogenetic relationships with homologous genes identified in other sequenced dicot genomes, their genome location, and gene structure and expression. The grapevine genes cluster in 13 subfamilies with their Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and poplar (Populus trichocarpa) counterparts. The lack of recent whole genome duplications in grapevine allows assigning the gene diversification processes observed within each subfamily either to an ancestral polyploidization event predating the divergence of those three species or to later duplication events within each lineage. Expression profiles of MIKCC-type genes in vegetative and reproductive organs as well as during flower and tendril development show conserved expression domains for specific subfamilies but also reflect characteristic features of grapevine development. Expression analyses in latent buds and during flower development reveal common features previously described in other plant systems as well as possible new roles for members of some subfamilies during flowering transition. The analysis of MIKCC-type genes in grapevine helps in understanding the origin of gene diversification within each subfamily and provides the basis for functional analyses to uncover the role of these MADS box genes in grapevine development.
A Heterocomplex of Iron Superoxide Dismutases Defends Chloroplast Nucleoids against Oxidative Stress and Is Essential for Chloroplast Development inArabidopsis
Authors: Myouga Fumiyoshi , Hosoda Chieko , Umezawa Taishi , Iizumi Haruko , Kuromori Takashi , Motohashi Reiko , Shono Yuriko , Nagata Noriko , Ikeuchi Masahiko , Shinozaki Kazuo
Published: November 2008

There are three iron superoxide dismutases in Arabidopsis thaliana: FE SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE1 (FSD1), FSD2, and FSD3. Their biological roles in chloroplast development are unknown. Here, we show that FSD2 and FSD3 play essential roles in early chloroplast development, whereas FSD1, which is found in the cytoplasm, does not. An fsd2-1 fsd3-1 double mutant had a severe albino phenotype on agar plates, whereas fsd2 and fsd3 single knockout mutants had pale green phenotypes. Chloroplast development was arrested in young seedlings of the double mutant. The mutant plants were highly sensitive to oxidative stress and developed increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during extended darkness. The FSD2 and FSD3 proteins formed a heteromeric protein complex in the chloroplast nucleoids. Furthermore, transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing both the FSD2 and FSD3 genes showed greater tolerance to oxidative stress induced by methyl viologen than did the wild type or single FSD2- or FSD3-overexpressing lines. We propose that heteromeric FSD2 and FSD3 act as ROS scavengers in the maintenance of early chloroplast development by protecting the chloroplast nucleoids from ROS.
Perceptions of foreign players for effective positioning in India
Authors: Sharma Somesh Kumar , Srinivasan R.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify facts of effective positioning mechanism for Indian market and develop a model that integrates three essential aspects of international trade, which have not been addressed combined yet.

Design/methodology/approach

The article develops the information framework for Indian market positioning. The information mentioned in the framework is validated using statistical tools with R Software and refined using Principal Component Analysis and Factor Analysis. The outcome of analysis develops the model for effective positioning mechanism for Indian market.

Findings

The study explores three statistically significant steps for effective Indian market positioning, which are finally summarized into 18 influencing variables in contrast to 91 variables available in literature.

Research implications

The 18 variables explored in this study should be considered as initial set of information, only for Indian market positioning. It should not be taken as standard paradigm to be followed in all cases. Research needs to be made to valuate such implications.

Practical implications

The model developed in this paper will be useful to both mature and ambitious international executives, in identifying the variables that can be considered for strategy formulation at different stages of Indian market positioning process.

Originality/value

This article offers a model that addresses research on Indian market positioning. It attempts to establish a relationship among the three components of international business, which can bring potential benefits to the foreign players.
The impact of mergers and acquisitions on corporate performance in India
Authors: Kumar Satish , Bansal Lalit K.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

While going for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) management smell financial synergy or/and operating synergy in different ways. But actually are they able to generate that potential synergy or not, is the important issue. The aim of this study is to find out whether the claims made by the corporate sector while going for M&As to generate synergy, are being achieved or not in Indian context.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study is based on secondary financial data and tabulation, ratio analysis, correlation etc. is being used for analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that in many cases of M&As, the acquiring firms were able to generate synergy in long run, that may be in the form of higher cash flow, more business, diversification, cost cuttings etc.

Research limitations/implications

The research shows that management cannot take it for granted that synergy can be generated and profits can be increased simply by going for mergers and acquisitions. A case study based research parallel to this study could be initiated to get nearer to reality show.

Originality/value

This study is an extension of M&A performance research, which has been conducted mostly in developed nations on their firms, to Indian firms by taking substantially large number of cases.
Internationalisation of Bharat Forge Limited: a case study
Authors: Pillania Rajesh K.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to follow the internationalisation of an Indian company, Bharat Forge Limited. It studies how a small company from India becomes one of the leading players in the global forging industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study approach for studying the process of internationalisation in one particular firm.

Findings

Bharat Forge Limited has followed the traditional stages model of internationalisation. It started global foray with exports and continued with that for more than three decades before going for acquisitions way. The company has gone for related‐diversified using its strengths in technology to diversify its products, markets and customers over the years and today has a global footprints in terms of sales and manufacturing locations.

Practical implications

It shows the way for companies even small ones and from developing countries, that how one can go for internationalisation and emerge as a leading global player.

Originality/value

India is one of the fastest emerging markets and there is growing interests in Indian economy and Indian firms. But there are few case studies on internationalisation of Indian firms and this study tries to fill that gap. Bharat Forge Limited is an Indian multinational company and has become a leading player in global forging industry.
LOEX‐of‐the‐West 2008: a first time attendee finds Greek sunshine in Las Vegas
Authors: Smith Brena
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this conference report is to provide a perspective of the LOEX‐of‐the‐West (LOTW) biennial conference from a first time attendee.

Design/methodology/approach

Reviews the conference from the perspective of a first time attendee and highlights several sessions that especially reflected the conference themes of experimentation and innovation.

Findings

The paper finds the LOTW biennial conference to be a valuable resource to all librarians in general; and especially valuable to new librarians.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the conference is of high value for reference and information literacy practitioners.
Building an information literacy first‐person shooter
Authors: Clyde Jerremie , Thomas Chris
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the feasibility of modifying a commercial off‐the‐shelf video game that incorporates elements of information literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines six game design elements of educational video games and discusses the resources required to design and build Benevolent Blue, a “modded” video game.

Findings

This paper provides a discussion of the skills, time and funding required to build a “mod” incorporating information literacy.

Research limitations/implications

Although modifying commercial videogames is quite popular, very little discussion or work is written about “modding” and its potential use designing video games for libraries. Further research is required to determine if the knowledge transfer of information literacy skills occurs with players. Additional study could look at incorporating information literacy into video games of different genres and well as the impact that video games have on undergraduate student engagement and satisfaction.

Practical implications

This paper outlines the resources needed to modify a commercial off‐the‐shelf video game and provides suggestions on how others in libraries might do the same.

Originality/value

This paper looks at serious educational games in a new way – the modification of commercial off the shelf games to develop complete game play experiences that sit outside the classroom and emphasize the importance of play.
Innovation – an LO library: reuse of learning objects
Authors: Mardis Lori A. , Jo Ury Connie
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to share the types, uses, and students' recommendations about reusable digital learning objects at Northwest Missouri State University, which can be used or adapted by other libraries in both online and on‐ground information literacy instruction environments.

Design/methodology/approach

The rationale for incorporation of learning objects, their application, and uses is discussed. Examples of successful applications of learning objects in online and on‐ground instructional classes are provided. Models for developing one's own learning objects are included. A survey and analysis for soliciting students' opinions about the reuse of learning objects is included.

Findings

The paper provides suggestions for developing and evaluating learning objects. This includes successful applications of digital learning objects in traditional and online information literacy classes. It shares easy to incorporate learning objects that can be used in tutorials or on‐ground bibliographic sessions and includes a student survey about reuse of learning objects, analysis of survey results, and suggestions for survey improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The survey population was small. The librarians plan to replicate the survey with a larger audience. The survey may be adapted for use by other academic libraries.

Practical implications

The paper provides links to libraries of digital learning objects that instruction librarians can immediately begin linking to and using in tutorials or information literacy sessions.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that access to a library of learning objects enables use of learning objects and enhances ideas for locally created prototypes. The survey can be easily adapted to other library environments to gather suggestions for reuse of local learning objects.
Library instruction and information literacy 2007
Authors: Johnson Anna Marie , Jent Sarah , Reynolds Latisha
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a selected bibliography of recent resources on library instruction and information literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies and annotates periodical articles, monographs, and audiovisual material, in the area of library instruction and information literacy.

Findings

The paper provides information about each source, discusses the characteristics of current scholarship, and describes sources that contain unique scholarly contributions and quality reproductions.

Originality/value

The information in the paper may be used by librarians and interested parties as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
Is talent management just “old wine in new bottles”?
Authors: Chuai Xin , Preece David , Iles Paul
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether talent management (TM) practices are fundamentally different from traditional approaches to human resource management (HRM) and whether TM in China is an element of the struggle by those in the human resource (HR) profession to improve its credibility and status.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies are the main method of collecting data. These are supplemented by documentary analysis. Four in‐depth case studies were undertaken in Beijing. The target organizations were chosen from the information technology, health care and education sectors. The interviews were semi‐structured and were conducted with a range of stakeholders in each organization, including at least one HR specialist (normally, the senior HR professional, senior and functional managers as well as non‐managerial staff. In addition, interviews were also conducted in three management consulting firms regarded as being at the cutting edge in order to explore the orientation of such firms to the TM phenomenon.

Findings

TM emerges as being different from traditional HRM, incorporating new knowledge rather than being a simple repackaging of old techniques and ideas with new labels. Therefore, TM should not be seen simply as “old wine in new bottles” with respect to the case of China. In addition, this study challenges the idea that TM is yet another struggle by HR professionals to enhance their legitimacy, status and credibility within their organizations.

Research limitations/implications

This study concerns itself with only well‐established and recognized multinational corporations in Beijing. There might be different conclusions for the other types of enterprises.

Originality/value

This paper offers new research on TM in China.
Entrepreneurs, social networks and work values of ethnic minorities in France
Authors: Senik Claudia , Verdier Thierry
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The objective of the paper is to shed light on theprima faciedivergence of work values of various ethnic minorities in France. The paper aims to evaluate the influence of entrepreneurial capital on labour market values and outcomes for each ethnic minority.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a French survey rich in attitudinal variables, matched with the French 1999 census of the population. It hinges on the regional variability of entrepreneurial ethnic networks in order to identify the impact of the latter on work values and professional integration of ethnic minorities.

Findings

It is shown that the contrasted labour market outcomes and work values of immigrants from North Africa and Southern Europe are, statistically, totally explained away by their different levels of entrepreneurial capital.

Originality/value

This study hinges on a recent survey, which contains unusual information about the immigrant population of the first and second generation in France. Statistical analysis is made possible by the over‐representation of these groups in the sample design. This paper is one of the first studies into the subjective work values of immigrants in France. The results enter an unchartered territory and provide original evidence of the importance of entrepreneurial ethnic networks in France.
Environmental management system certification and its influence on corporate practices
Authors: González P. , Sarkis J. , Adenso‐Díaz B.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the existence of differences in the implementation of environmental practices between companies that possess some form of certified environmental management system (ISO 14001 or EMS) and those that do not have any such system. This study also investigates whether companies with a certified EMS are also making additional environmental demands on their suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study utilizing survey data from automotive supplier organizations was completed. A total of 157 in‐person interviews were conducted with managers of Spanish companies which are automotive supplier organizations. Logistic regressions and non‐parametric tests are used to evaluate hypotheses.

Findings

A positive relation was found to exist between the possession of certified EMS, specifically ISO 14001 and eco‐management and audit scheme, and the environmental demands that these organizations impose on their suppliers. This finding implies that environmental concern spreads upstream in the supply chain. The environmental demands on suppliers increase with customer organization size, but the degree of internationalization, measured by the rates of imports and exports, does not show a significant relationship to these pressures.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to a single (important) industrial sector and cannot be directly extrapolated to other industries.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of research that relates the adoption of certified EMS by companies to the adoption and implementation of environmental practices in their own organizations and in supply chain partners. This is the first such study to be completed for the automotive industry.
Science, technology and risk perception
Authors: Henwood Karen L. , Anne Parkhill Karen , Pidgeon Nick F.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

A longstanding quantitative finding from surveys of public perceptions of hazardous technologies is that women and men respondents tend to express different levels of concern when asked about environmental and technological hazards. Traditional psychometric risk perception research has provided extensive empirical descriptions of this “gender effect”, but is criticised for having less success in developing substantive theory linking observations to socio‐cultural explanations to explicate this effect. The purpose of this paper is to build a theoretical platform to account for the existing empirical findings on gender and perceptions of risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a critical synthesis, drawing upon theory in contemporary risk research, gender theory, social studies of science and feminist studies of epistemology.

Findings

A theoretical platform is developed concerning the operation of gender as a regulatory process involving norms and discourse. The role is identified of moral discourses, hegemonic masculinities/gender authenticity, and epistemic subjectivities as plausible ways of understanding the gender–risk effect in risk perception.

Research limitations/implications

A novel theoretical exploration is provided of the relationship between gender and risk perceptions. Conceptual development in the gender and risk arena could be further refined by applying the theoretical platform developed here to empirical analyses and, to investigate its relevance to understanding how people discuss, deliberate and reason about risk issues.

Originality/value

Much of the existing literature fails to offer adequately grounded theoretical explanations for the observed empirical finding on gender and risk. This paper is the first to utilise a non‐essentialist reading of the gender‐risk effect by developing the “effects made by gender” approach.
Gender differences in engineers’ burnout
Authors: Ronen Sigalit , Malach Pines Ayala
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences in burnout, style of coping and the availability of peer support among high‐tech engineers

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal study investigated gender differences in burnout, style of coping and the availability of peer support among high‐tech engineers, an interesting occupational group from a gender perspective both because of the masculine culture of the engineering profession and the many prejudices against women engineers. Both the masculine culture and the prejudices help explain the paucity of women engineers and predict high levels of burnout among them.

Findings

The paper's findings supported this prediction. They revealed a significant gender difference in burnout, with women engineers reporting higher levels of burnout than men. The gender differences in burnout were interpreted as related to other findings: women's greater tendency to utilize emotion‐focused coping, their smaller peer support and greater work–family conflict.

Originality/value

In addition to their implications for gender theory and research and for burnout theory and research, the paper's findings point to the need to encourage and support the small and unique group of women engineers.
Subjective well‐being in rich and poor countries
Authors: Farid Mamdouh , Lazarus Harold
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss important predictors of subjective well‐being (SWB) that are relevant to explain well‐being as experienced by individuals in developing countries. The paper will use Egypt as example of an economy in transition to free market. Egypt is the largest country in Africa and Middle East and it is an example of an emerging market that struggles to achieve political stability and economic prosperity.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on data from international survey programs such as: Freedom in the World. Available at:www.freedomhouse.org; World Database of Happiness. Erasmus University Rotterdam. Available at:www.worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/statnat; Political Regimes Characteristics and Transitions. Available at:www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/polity/.Findings– The factors of absolute income, relative income and economic justice, freedom, human rights, social capital, and population density help to explain national SWB in developing countries and the SWB differences between rich and poor countries.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the literature findings that well‐being enhances work productivity; this paper strongly argues that managers in developing and in transition to free market countries should adopt the value of enhancing well‐being and happiness among their workers. Managers should create the appropriate conditions and work design and should also turn their attention to understand and monitor well‐being indicators. Some limitations of the existing literature is that it is still not completely understood why some factors, such as religion, and their moderators affect well‐being of societies and which factors are universal and which are cultural contextual.

Originality/value

The concept of well‐being has rarely been discussed in the management literature compared to the emerging attention to this concept in economic, psychology and sociology literature. Published research argues that economic measurements of national progress and people well‐being, by means of gross domestic product or per capita income, are not sufficiently comprehensive and that individuals' subjective satisfaction or SWB may be added as a more encompassing framework for the quality of life factors. In addition, limited research has been done on SWB in developing countries.
Shift of natural frequencies in earthquake‐damaged structures: an optimization approach
Authors: Horta‐Rangel Jaime , Carmona Socorro , Castaño Victor M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Earthquakes can produce important damage in civil infrastructure, including buildings and bridges, representing an important impact on the economy of many countries. The damage is particularly severe when the dominant frequency of the quake approaches one of the resonant frequencies of the structure. One typical failure occurs through the weakening of some beam‐column joints, generally along with the presence of cracking. The standard procedure for repairing this is by reinforcing the damaged zone with steel plates, sleeves or by means of a new section of reinforced concrete covering the old one. These arrangements change the mechanical stiffness and the mass of the structure itself. Accordingly, this work aims to study these mass and stiffness changes of structures through a non‐linear optimization of the modal analysis of the structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes the potential shifts in natural frequencies of the structure and thus proposes the best conditions under which a damaged bridge could be repaired efficiently.

Findings

In the cases analyzed a similar tendency was observed, namely, that the natural frequencies increase (i.e. diminish their period) with the increase of mass of the bottom columns and with the reduction of the uppers ones. The increase of frequencies by increasing the bottom sections seems to be a viable solution. It is observed that by carrying out the presented procedure it is possible to include more variables, in particular to consider not only the first frequency, but also higher orders.

Research limitations/implications

A purely theoretical approach has been taken in this study.

Originality/value

If confirmed by experimentation this study would have considerable interest to engineers undertaking repair works on earthquake damaged structures.
Managing disaster risks through quality infrastructure and vice versa
Authors: Palliyaguru Roshani , Amaratunga Dilanthi
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Reality suggests that the whole world is currently facing an unprecedented scale of natural disasters. Sri Lanka fell into this category after being one of the hardest hit countries of tsunami 2004. Irrespective of the major losses that tsunami 2004 resulted in, Sri Lanka is prone to certain natural disasters such as floods, landslides, etc., which frequently bring in severe damage throughout the country. Within the context of continuous occurrence of hazards and growing vulnerability, risk reduction has become one of the important solutions to mitigate disasters and for speedy recovery after a disaster. Disaster risk reduction entails measures to curb disaster losses by addressing hazards and the vulnerability of people, to them. Disaster risk reduction measures can be categorised in various ways. From another perspective, achieving best quality through reconstruction has shown poor results. However, there is a clear two‐way relationship between the concept of disaster risk reduction and quality of infrastructure, but it is not well explored. This paper aims to explore this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Research on which this paper is based focuses on the need for investigating and exploring the relationship between disaster risk reduction and quality of infrastructure. Accordingly, this paper presents the background of the study based on a critical literature review, mainly the rationale behind selection of this particular research and the expected research approach to be adopted.

Findings

The findings suggest the notion that disaster risk reduction has an ability to influence the ultimate quality of a construction project, ultimately the success of the project.

Originality/value

There is a clear two‐way relationship between the concept of disaster risk reduction and quality of infrastructure, which is not yet well explored. This research will be further extended towards investigating this two‐way relationship.
Generational differences in psychological traits and their impact on the workplace
Authors: Twenge Jean M. , Campbell Stacy M.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review data from 1.4 million people who completed personality, attitude, psychopathology, or behavior scales between the 1930s and the present and to discuss how those differences may impact today's workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The data are gathered from research reports using psychological scales over the last eight decades, primarily those using college student samples.

Findings

Generation Me (sometimes called Gen Y or Millennials) demonstrates higher self‐esteem, narcissism, anxiety, and depression; lower need for social approval; more externallocusof control; and women with more agentic traits.

Practical implications

Managers should expect to see more employees with unrealistically high expectations, a high need for praise, difficulty with criticism, an increase in creativity demands, job‐hopping, ethics scandals, casual dress, and shifting workplace norms for women. Organizations can respond to these changes with accommodations (e.g. praise programs) or with counter pressure (e.g. dress codes), and it is imperative that managers consider the best reaction for their workforce.

Originality/value

Most studies of generations interview workers at one time; thus any differences could be due to age or generation. Many of these reports are also based on subjective opinions and perceptions. In contrast, the paper reviews quantitative data on generational differences controlling for age. This empirically based look at generations in the workplace should be useful to managers and workers.
Learning orientation, organizational commitment and talent retention across generations
Authors: D'Amato Alessia , Herzfeldt Regina
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the relationships of learning, organizational commitment and talent retention across managerial generations in Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

Hypotheses are developed to explain the influence of learning and organizational commitment on talent retention across generations. A total of 1,666 European managers completed a survey on these issues. Depending on year of birth, they were categorized into four generational cohorts. Their answers were analyzed with statistic procedures.

Findings

Findings reveal that younger generations are less willing to remain in the same organization and have lower organizational commitment. The youngest generations (Early and Late Xers, born 1960 and after) show stronger learning orientation and lower organizational commitment than older generations (Early and Late Boomers, born 1946‐1959). Learning orientation predicted the intention to remain in the same organization for Early Xers and Late Xers. Organizational commitment mediated this relationship. For Late Boomers and Early Xers, it mediated the relationship between specific leadership development intentions and intention to stay.

Research limitations/implications

Managerial, job‐related learning is confirmed as an important antecedent for the intention to stay/leave one's current organization. The differential meaning of learning and commitment across generations needs to be better understood in order to develop effective strategies for the retention of talent in all generations. In particular, differences in the psychological contract between organizations and their managers need to be understood.

Practical implications

The findings suggest an approach of generation‐specific HR practices for talent retention.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first to date to address leadership development and learning orientation in the context of talent retention, as well as one of the first to address the discussion of generational challenges in Europe and across the specific population of people in managerial roles.
The sustainability of economic and cultural impacts of international students to regional Australia
Authors: Yao Lee J. , Bai Yiping
Published: November 2008

Purpose

Recent trends have seen an upward surge in the number of foreign students coming to study in Australia but most of them have chosen to stay in metropolitan cities. Recognising that foreign students studying in regional Australia are making a significant contribution to regional development, regional universities have put in plans to compete with their metropolitan counterparts for these students. The purpose of this paper is to investigate variables related to issues in quality of research, quality of teaching, life style, local cultures, spending patterns, student background, infrastructures etc in order to find out what factors determine the attractiveness for foreign students to come to study in a regional area, in particular to La Trobe University, Bendigo campus.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey that forms the backbone of the study was administered to all foreign students, who study in Bendigo, in order to answer this research question.

Findings

Based on the findings from the survey, it was found that regional universities have advantages over their metropolitan counterparts in costs, safety and environment etc.

Practical implications

A direct economic benefit of over one million dollars was realised by the city of Bendigo but there was potential to increase to three million dollars. Some recommendations were also provided for future development policy useful for the University, the governments, and regional centres’ economy.

Originality/value

Although educational export has become a vital part of the Australian economy, very few studies, if any, have examined the magnitude of the economic impacts that have been brought about by international students to regional Australia. To sustain the healthy economic growth of regional centres in Australia, a significant number of international students must be maintained so as to bring the wealth that is becoming so indispensable in order to maintain such sustainable growth. The international students will also bring with them the cultural diversity that otherwise is lacking in regional cities compared to other major cities in Australia. This study seeks to address and quantify the degree and extent of the economic impacts to Bendigo, an important regional city in Victoria. Factors that influence the decisions before the international students actually come to Australia are also examined together with what cultural activities they get involved in when they are here. The findings can provide measurable outputs for decision makers to direct necessary resources appropriately in order to sustain the growth of this industry and to develop strategies to address some problems related to the continuing growth of this industry.
A general theory of change
Authors: Zurewich John Alan
Published: November 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain how the process of change is determined by the product lifecycle and the product lifecycle's relation to the organization structure.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on years of experience helping business organizations adapt to change by installing computer systems and consulting with senior management in this process.

Findings

Business organizations are highly variable in their structure, it is the environment that determines the organization structure. Where businesses are in a stable environment business organizations are capital intensive. Where the environment is highly volatile capital investment is limited and small flexible organizations prevail. In addition, there is a biological theory that totally parallels this theory.

Originality/value

Those who fail to understand the concepts are inclined to make massive mistakes in capital investment. This is often the reason why small startup companies are able to beat out larger established competitors in highly volatile environments.
Unbitten, yet undeterred: the Salem witch trials as a demand‐pull phenomenon
Authors: Mixon Franklin G. , King Ernest W.
Published: November 2008

Purpose

In a relatively new and interesting study, a new theory was offered to explain events surrounding the Salem witch trials of 1692. According to the author of that study (Carlson), the behavior of the accusers can be explained by an outbreak of encephalitis. The purpose of this paper is to offer evidence that contradicts that hypothesis.

Design/methodology/approach

To these ends, this paper examines life expectancy data from the Wigglesworth 1789 life expectancy tables to reject the Carlson thesis. The current study also provides a graphical exposition of the Salem witch trials as a demand‐pull phenomenon.

Findings

According to the data, the age at‐death minus the Wigglesworth life expectancy of 28.15 years for the witch trials accusers averages between 26.4 years, a figure that is statistically significant. This result contradicts Carlson's view that the accusers encountered encephalitis. Finally, the stylized graphical model presented here provides an additional way of viewing the witchcraft episode in 1692 Salem as a demand‐pull phenomenon. Originality/value In refuting previous hypotheses about witchcraft episodes, and by offering a graphical model of witchcraft hysteria as a demand‐pull phenomenon, this study re‐focuses attention on the ethico‐economic aspects of the Salem witchcraft episode.