bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communication: Molecular dynamics simulations of the interfacial structure of alkali metal fluoride solutions
Authors: Feng Haijun , Zhou Jian , Lu Xiaohua , Fichthorn Kristen A.
Published: August 2010

Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to study the interfacial profiles of alkali metal fluoride solutions (NaF, KF, RbF, and CsF) at 1 atm and 300 K. For these solutions, we find that the occupancy of the cations in the interfacial region is comparable to or greater than that of the F− anion. Cations that have weaker hydration abilities have higher concentrations at the interface. The order of enhanced concentrations of cations at the interface is Na+<K+<Rb+<Cs+. The partitioning mechanism can be understood in terms of ionic hydration theory, which shows that the interfacial behavior of ions is related to hydration interactions. This work provides new insight into the interfacial structure of electrolyte solutions and enriches the theory of electrolyte interfaces.
Electrical characterization of organic resistive memory with interfacial oxide layers formed by O2 plasma treatment
Authors: Cho Byungjin , Song Sunghoon , Ji Yongsung , Lee Takhee
Published: August 2010

We studied organic resistive memory devices with interfacial oxide layers, the thickness of which depended on O2 plasma treatment time. The different interfacial oxide thicknesses sequentially changed the ON and OFF states of the final memory devices. We found that the memory devices that had undergone additional plasma treatment showed higher ON/OFF ratios than devices without the treatment, which was due to the relatively large OFF resistance values. However, a long oxidation process widened the threshold voltage distribution and degraded the switching reproducibility. This indicates that the oxidation process should be carefully optimized to provide practical high-performance organic memory.
Enhanced tunability of the multiphoton absorption cross-section in seeded CdSe/CdS nanorod heterostructures
Authors: Xing Guichuan , Chakrabortty Sabyasachi , Chou Kok Loong , Mishra Nimai , Huan Cheng Hon Alfred , Chan Yinthai , Sum Tze Chien
Published: August 2010

We present a method to separately tune the multiphoton absorption (MPA) and multiphoton excited photoluminescence using semiconductor core/enlarged-shell quantum dots (QDs), where the enlarged shell greatly enhances the MPA cross-sections while varying the core size facilitates emission wavelength selectivity. Following two-photon absorption (2PA) primarily in the shell and ultrafast charge-carrier localization to the core, luminescence occurs. We exemplify the validity of this method with CdSe/CdS nanorod heterostructures and find that the 2PA cross-section is enlarged to ∼1.4×106 GM for 180 nm nanorods (with 800 nm, 150 fs laser pulse excitation) which is two to four orders larger than that of CdSe QDs.
Super-radiance in the sodium resonance lines from sodium iodide arc lamps
Authors: Karabourniotis D. , Drakakis E.
Published: August 2010

Super-radiance observed within the centers of the sodium resonance D lines emitted by arc lamps containing sodium iodide as additive in a high-pressure mercury plasma environment was studied by high-resolution emission spectroscopy. The spectral radiance of these self-reversed lines including super-radiance was simulated by considering a local enhancement of the source function due to the presence of an additional source of radiation near the arc wall. Causes of this hitherto unrecognized source of radiation are given.
Calculation of spin transfer torque in partially polarized spin valves including multiple reflections
Authors: Hernández Stephanie , Victora R. H.
Published: August 2010

An analytic expression that includes the effect of multiple reflections within the interface of a spin-valve composed of materials with partial spin polarization was obtained. Inclusion of this term in a micromagnetic calculation demonstrates the effect of the spin polarization of the magnetic material on the current induced behavior of the structure. We show that neglecting to include interfacial scattering events results in an underestimation of the switching current compared to the method detailed in this letter. Multiple reflections also produce a strong dependence of the switching current on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the fixed layer.
Quantum oscillations observed in graphene at microwave frequencies
Authors: Jiang P. , Young A. F. , Chang W. , Kim P. , Engel L. W. , Tsui D. C.
Published: August 2010

We have measured the microwave conductance of mechanically exfoliated graphene at frequencies up to 8.5 GHz. The conductance at 4.2 K exhibits quantum oscillations, and is independent of the frequency.
High-efficiency inverted bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells with UV ozone-treated ultrathin aluminum interlayer
Authors: Zhang Hongmei , Ouyang Jianyong
Published: August 2010

Highly efficient inverted heterojunction polymer solar cells were developed with an UV ozone-treated ultrathin aluminum interlayer between the active layer and indium tin oxide (ITO). The ultrathin aluminum interlayer was fabricated by thermally depositing on ITO and subsequently treating it with UV ozone. Thus, it forms an alumina layer that improves electron extraction. Power conversion efficiency of 3.92%, open circuit voltage of 0.583 V, short-circuit current of 10.95 mA/cm2 and fill factor of 0.614 were achieved on the inverted devices of a poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blend under AM1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm2), which are significantly higher than that of the control device without the interlayer. The significant improvement in device performances is attributed to the reduction in energy barrier for electron extraction due to the formation of alumina, as revealed by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy.
Enhanced electron correlation in rare-earth doped Ca3Co4O9
Authors: Wang Yang , Xu Luxiang , Sui Yu , Wang Xianjie , Cheng Jinguang , Su Wenhui
Published: August 2010

Thermoelectric and thermodynamic properties of a series of Ca-site rare-earth R3+ doped Ca3Co4O9 were investigated. For a fixed doping level, with the reduction in R3+ radius, thermopower is found to gradually increase despite the carrier concentration remains unchanged. The scaling behavior between thermopower and electron specific heat coefficient reveals that the additional increase in thermopower originates from enhanced electron correlation which may be attributed to doping-induced chemical pressure.
Possible microscopic origin of large broadening parameter in point Andreev reflection spectroscopy
Authors: Wei Jian , Sheet Goutam , Chandrasekhar Venkat
Published: August 2010

We report on the low frequency noise in ballistic point-contacts between a silver tip and a niobium foil. The ballistic nature is confirmed by point-contact Andreev reflection (PCAR) spectroscopy. As has been found by others, a broadening parameter Γ needs to be introduced to fit the PCAR spectra. For contacts with higher resistance, a larger Γ is required to fit the PCAR spectra and we find that random two level fluctuations dominate the noise spectra. This finding suggests that two level fluctuations contribute to the broadening of the gap features.
Analysis of surface roughness in Ti/Al/Ni/Au Ohmic contact to AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Gong Rumin , Wang Jinyan , Liu Shenghou , Dong Zhihua , Yu Min , Wen Cheng P. , Cai Yong , Zhang Baoshun
Published: August 2010

A mechanism of the formation of the bulges on the surface of Ti/Al/Ni/Au Ohmic contact in AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors is proposed. According to the analysis of TEM images and corresponding electron dispersive x-ray spectra, the bulges were found to consist of Ni–Al alloy in the body and Au–Al alloy surrounding. We deduce that the bulges were formed due to Ni–Al alloy aggregation in some local areas during the rapid thermal annealing process, which accounts for the rough surface morphology.
QuantProReloaded: quantitative analysis of microspot immunoassays
Authors: Jöcker Anika , Sonntag Johanna , Henjes Frauke , Götschel Frank , Tresch Achim , Beißbarth Tim , Wiemann Stefan , Korf Ulrike
Published: August 2010

Summary: Protein microarrays are well-established as sensitive tools for proteomics. Particularly, the microspot immunoassay (MIA) platform enables a quantitative analysis of (phospho-) proteins in complex solutions (e.g. cell lysates or blood plasma) and with low consumption of samples and reagents. Despite numerous biological and clinical applications of MIAs there is currently no user-friendly open source data analysis software available with versatile options for data analysis and data visualization. Here, we introduce the open source software QuantProReloaded that is specifically designed for the analysis of data from MIA experiments.

Availability and implementation: QuantProReloaded is written in R and Java and is open for download under the BSB license at http://code.google.com/p/quantproreloaded/

Contact:  a.joecker@dkfz.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Phaeospirillum oryzae sp. nov., a spheroplast-forming, phototrophic alphaproteobacterium from a paddy soil
Authors: Lakshmi K. V. N. S. , Sasikala Ch. , Takaichi S. , Ramana Ch. V.
Published: August 2010

Two strains (JA317T and JA559) of spiral shaped, spheroplast-forming, anaerobic, Gram-negative, motile purple non-sulfur bacteria were isolated from rhizosphere soils of paddy and were characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids, rhodopin, lycopene and rhodopin glucoside, were present as photosynthetic pigments. Intracellular photosynthetic membranes were of stacked type. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c in both strains. The genomic DNA G+C content was 63.3±0.8 mol%. The two strains were closely related (mean DNA–DNA hybridization >85 %). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the strains clustered with the species of the genus Phaeospirillum, which belongs to the family Rhodospirillaceae within the class Alphaproteobacteria. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains JA317T and JA559 showed highest sequence similarity with the type strains of Phaeospirillum chandramohanii (98.2 %), Phaeospirillum molischianum (97.4 %) and Phaeospirillum fulvum (97.1 %) of the family Rhodospirillaceae. Strain JA317T can be clearly distinguished from P. chandramohanii with respect to spheroplast formation and several other morphological and physiological properties. DNA–DNA relatedness of strain JA317T with its closest relatives of the genus Phaeospirillum was less than 55 %. It is evident from the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular genetic evidence that strain JA317T represents a novel species of the genus Phaeospirillum, for which the name Phaeospirillum oryzae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of the species is JA317T ( = NBRC 104938T  = KCTC 5704T).
Burkholderia bannensis sp. nov., an acid-neutralizing bacterium isolated from torpedo grass (Panicum repens) growing in highly acidic swamps
Authors: Aizawa Tomoko , Vijarnsorn Pisoot , Nakajima Mutsuyasu , Sunairi Michio
Published: August 2010

Two strains of acid-neutralizing bacteria, E25T and E21, were isolated from torpedo grass (Panicum repens) growing in highly acidic swamps (pH 2–4) in actual acid sulfate soil areas of Thailand. Cells of the strains were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming rods, 0.6–0.8 µm wide and 1.6–2.1 µm long. The strains showed good growth at pH 4.0–8.0 and 17–37 °C. The organisms contained ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acids. Their fatty acid profiles were similar to those reported for other Burkholderia species. The DNA G+C content of the strains was 65 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the strains were shown to belong to the genus Burkholderia. Although the calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of E25T to strain E21 and the type strains of Burkholderia
unamae, B. tropica, B. sacchari, B. nodosa and B. mimosarum was 100, 98.7, 98.6, 97.6, 97.4 and 97.3 %, respectively, strains E25T and E21 formed a group that was distinct in the phylogenetic tree; the DNA–DNA relatedness of E25T to E21 and B. unamae CIP 107921T, B. tropica LMG 22274T, B. sacchari LMG 19450T, B. nodosa LMG 23741T and B. mimosarum LMG 23256T was 90, 42, 42, 42, 45 and 35 %, respectively. The results of physiological and biochemical tests including whole-cell protein pattern analysis allowed phenotypic differentiation of these strains from previously described Burkholderia species. Therefore, strains E25T and E21 represent a novel species, for which the name Burkholderia bannensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E25T ( = NBRC 103871T  = BCC 36998T).
Toward in Vivo Chemical Imaging of Epicuticular Waxes
Authors: Weissflog Ina , Vogler Nadine , Akimov Denis , Dellith Andrea , Schachtschabel Doreen , Svatos Ales , Boland Wilhelm , Dietzek Benjamin , Popp Jürgen
Published: August 2010

Epicuticular waxes, which are found on the outer surface of plant cuticles, are difficult to study in vivo. To monitor the growth, development, and structural alterations of epicuticular wax layers, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) might be used. CARS, as a Raman-based technique, not only provides structural insight but also chemical information by imaging the spatial distribution of Raman-active vibrations. Here, we present a comparative study using CARS and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the structure of epicuticular waxes. The ability of CARS to provide detailed structural information on the biologically important wax layer was detailed on the examples of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), hoya (Hoya carnosa), and ceriman/Swiss cheese plant (Monstera sp. aff. deliciosa). We anticipate that the work presented will open a doorway for online monitoring of formation and alterations of epicuticular wax layers.
Do lender‐imposed sweeps affect ethanol technology investment?
Authors: Fewell Jason , Gustafson Cole
Published: August 2010

Purpose

New federal legislation proposes to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with biofuel production. To comply, existing corn ethanol plants will have to invest in new more carbon efficient production technology such as dry fractionation. However, this will be challenging for the industry given the present financial environment of surplus production, recent profit declines, numerous bankruptcies, and lender‐imposed covenants. The purpose of this paper is to examine a dry mill ethanol firm's ability to invest in dry fractionation technology in the face of declining profitability and stringent lender cash flow repayment constraints. Firm level risk aversion also is considered when determining a firm's willingness to invest in dry fractionation technology.

Design /methodology/approach

A Monte Carlo simulation model is constructed to estimate firm profits, cash flows, and changes in equity following new investment in fractionation to determine an optimal investment strategy.

Findings

The addition of a lender‐imposed sweep, whereby a percentage of free cash flow is used to pay off extra debt in high profit years, reduces the firm's ability to build equity and increases bankruptcy risk under investment. However, the sweep increases long‐run equity because total financing costs are reduced with accelerated debt repayment.

Practical implications

Results show that while ethanol firm profits are uncertain, imposition of a lender sweep combined with increased profit from dry fractionation technology helps the firm increase long‐run financial resiliency.

Originality/value

Examination of ethanol plant financial structures and investment capabilities has received scant research attention to date.
Tax‐deferred exchanges of farmland: theory and evidence from federal tax data
Authors: Williamson James M. , Brady Michael P. , Durst Ron
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), a piece of US tax law that allows for tax‐deferred exchanges of like‐kind property.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper derives a theoretical premium value for exchanges and presents the first national level analysis of Federal tax data on the use of like‐kind exchanges involving farmland between 1999 and 2005.

Findings

There is significant interest in Section 1031 from stakeholders in rural communities because there is widespread belief that the recent growth in farmland values may have, in part, been stimulated by Section 1031 exchanges of farmland. Despite these concerns, little is known about the extent of such exchanges.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight into the value and use of the IRC's Section 1031 provision. Based on simulations of a theoretical model using plausible assumptions about asset growth, the paper shows how proposed tax changes will affect the tax value of the deferral.
The relationship between organizational socialization and commitment in the workplace among employees in long‐term nursing care facilities
Authors: Cohen Aaron , Veled‐Hecht Aya
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the relationship between organizational socialization and commitment in the workplace (affective organizational commitment, occupational commitment, workgroup commitment, work involvement and job involvement). It also examines whether this relationship holds when organizational justice is included in the equation.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 109 employees employed no longer than 3.5 years in long‐term nursing care facilities in Israel completed the questionnaire (a 70 per cent response rate).

Findings

The results showed that organizational socialization was related to all forms of commitment, particularly to organizational commitment, workgroup commitment and job involvement. The relationship held when organizational justice was added to the equations, particularly for the previously mentioned three commitment forms. The models explained a relatively large amount of the variance in commitment forms. The implications of the findings for future research on commitment and organizational socialization are discussed.

Originality/value

While a number of studies have explored the relationship between socialization and commitment, very few studies have examined how socialization is related to more than one focus of commitment simultaneously. This paper aims to fill this gap.
Explaining engagement in personal activities on company time
Authors: Eddy Erik R. , D'Abate Caroline P. , Thurston Paul W.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore rationalizations individuals provide for engaging in personal activities on company time.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 121 survey respondents working in a variety of organizations and backgrounds. Respondents provided information on the number of times they engage in various personal activities while at work, the amount of time engaged in these activities, and their rationalizations for performing personal activities during work hours.

Findings

Results suggest that employees spend nearly five hours in a typical workweek engaged in personal activities. More than 90 per cent of this time is spent using the internet, email, phone, or conversing with co‐workers. Employees use a variety of rationalizations for such behavior, but only two rationalizations (i.e. boredom and convenience) were statistically reliable predictors of the extent to which they engaged in personal activities on company time.

Practical implications

The current research finds that boredom and convenience are related to the extent that employees engage in personal activities on company time. Improvements in the work environment to reduce boredom might show a marked decrease in these behaviors, thereby mitigating the need for organizations to develop formal policies against these behaviors.

Originality/value

This is only the second quantitative study to examine the amount of time individuals spend engaged in specific personal activities on the job. It is the first quantitative exploration of the rationalizations employees use to justify these behaviors.
Reviewing sexual harassment in the workplace – an intervention model
Authors: Hunt C.M. , Davidson M.J. , Fielden S.L. , Hoel H.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this literature review is to provide an intervention model, which can be used by organisations to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. Sexual harassment has been somewhat ignored over recent years, with much of the academic literature focusing on harassment specifically on workplace bullying, or psychological harassment of a generic nature. For the purpose of this review, the authors have specifically reviewed individual and organisational antecedents, particularly focusing on the organisation's culture and training programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the sexual harassment literature has been conducted to examine primary, secondary and tertiary interventions to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

Findings

There are a variety of antecedents of sexual harassment which can be examined; these cover three main categories: groups and individuals; organisational and situational; and societal. Sexual harassment should be seen as an issue which needs to be addressed by the organisation, rather than simply increasing and improving an individual's skills in order to deal with harassment (Fitzgerald and Shullman).

Originality/value

This paper provides an up‐to‐date review of the sexual harassment literature and from this provides a model, which organisations can utilise when attempting to tackle the problem of sexual harassment.
Complex adaptive leading‐ship and open‐processional change processes
Authors: Ford Randal
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to determine what leader‐leading competencies enable management of turbulent, uncertain change and what principles from a complex adaptive systems perspective constitute it.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a qualitative research case study.

Findings

It is found that there are three leading‐ship competencies: administrative, adaptive and enabling.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that complex adaptive organizations oblige leaders to view differently organizational networks and their role within such networks.
Followers' attachment styles and their preference for social or for personal charismatic leaders
Authors: Shalit Alon , Popper Micha , Zakay Dan
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Psychological research on leadership deals mainly with the effect of leadership styles on workers' attitudes and performance. This paper seeks to focus the attention to patterns of preference of followers to different types of leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

In the two studies presented in the paper, followers classified on the basis of attachment theory as having secure attachment style or avoidant attachment style were asked to indicate their preference for a personalized charismatic leader or for a socialized charismatic leader.

Findings

Subjects with a secure attachment style preferred a socialized charismatic leader, while those with an avoidant attachment style preferred personalized charismatic leaders.

Practical implications

The study adds knowledge regarding compatibility between leaders' and followers' personality characteristics. This knowledge could serve processes of selection and assignments to teams and missions.

Oriiginality/ value

This study provides a relatively new angle for looking at leader‐led dynamics and is an attempt to examine the initial (unconscious) attractions of followers to different types of leaders.
Entry barriers and industry rivalry
Authors: Sharma Bishnu , Gadenne David
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of quality management practices on performance and the extent to which industry rivalry and entry barriers moderate the relationship between the implementation of quality management practices and quality management performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was administered for this research using Powell's quality management framework. The respondents were required to indicate their degree of implementation of quality management practices and to rate their TQM performance in relation to overall performance, the firm's competitive position and the nature of the impact of quality management on the organisation. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that firms with high levels of executive commitment to quality management and those that pay close attention to customer needs tend to improve their competitive position, view quality as being positive for the organisation, and improve overall performance. The results suggest that the degree of quality management implementation is positively associated with entry barriers, which would mean reduced level of threat from new entrants; whereas the industry rivalry issues were not significantly associated with either quality management or organisational performance. The findings also show that existing firms' ability to create entry barriers facilitates increased opportunities to improve their organisational performance.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was relatively small, subjective measures of organisational performance were used which may be biased due to respondents' interpretation of their own firm's performances, and there is a possibility that many firms with low levels of QM implementation may not have participated in the study, leading to self‐selection bias. These factors may limit the generalisability of the research findings to other settings. Therefore further research is required to ascertain whether the same practices are evident across organisations of different sizes and industry groups within a broader sampling frame.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that quality management implementation by firms within an environment where higher levels of entry barriers exist results in higher organisational performance due to the firms' relative protection against new competitors.

Originality/value

This is one of the very few papers to investigate the role of Porter's industry analysis framework in relation to quality management implementation and firm performance.
Modeling failure types and failure times of turning and boring machine systems
Authors: Ghosh Abhijit , Majumdar S.K.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to model the occurrences of successive failure types and times to failure of the two repairable machine systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical data on failure types and time to failures of the given machine systems (4 nos) were gainfully used. Second order time homogeneous Markov Chain models were used to characterize the occurrences of the two broad failure type, namely, mechanical and electrical, after having found that the occurrences of failure types were dependent. Second order time homogeneous Markov Chain with Bivariate Distribution function (M2BVD) was used to model the times between successive failures {Tn, n≥1} for each machine system.

Findings

It is possible to apply the theoretical framework of Markov chain models to the accumulated data on failure types and failure times of any repairable system, which provide a wealth of information on the systems and are often left unused.

Research limitations/implications

The framework used in the study can be improved to accommodate multiple failure types and failure times of any repairable system to the extent that a more accurate prediction of these two variables and a better estimate of the system reliability are available.

Originality/value

The models for failure types and failure times of the given machine systems would be of immense use to the maintenance crew for predicting the future failure types and failure times of any given system and subsequently organizing and fine‐tuning their state of preparedness.
Goodwill, triggering events, and impairment accounting
Authors: Comiskey Eugene E. , Mulford Charles W.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the assessment process for goodwill impairment. The paper evaluates compliance with goodwill impairment tests required under the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 142 and International Accounting Standard 36, highlighting challenges encountered in complying with these standards. The paper explores areas in which improvements might be made in both goodwill‐impairment compliance and disclosures and identifies areas for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is exploratory in nature. A combination of data collection, analysis, and interpretation is employed.

Findings

The research highlights a number of features of the impairment testing and measurement process that make implementation a challenge. Triggering events are many and vary greatly in significance and severity. Different valuation models are used and there is little conformity in the selection of discount rates. In some cases, though not consistently, control premiums are used to enhance the indicated market values of reporting units. Some firms may even deny the need for an indicated impairment charge. In all of the cases examined, the paper notes the need for judgmental estimates and the possibility that these estimates might be managed to alter or avoid goodwill impairments, limiting the comparability of results across firms.

Practical implications

The findings will provide feedback to standard setters and practicing professionals in an effort to improve practice. For investors and creditors, the results should prove helpful in evaluating the likelihood of goodwill impairments. For researchers, the paper identifies certain questions that may provide fruitful avenues for further investigation.

Originality/value

The findings are based on an examination of a large sample of current filings of public companies that has yet to be performed. The observed richness and variation in the practices employed and disclosures provided both broaden and deepen our understanding of goodwill impairment accounting.
Learning from cooperative inter‐organizational relationships: the case of international joint venture
Authors: Huang Yen‐Tsung
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Facing increasing global competition, firms must ceaselessly acquire new knowledge and enhance their capabilities in response to rapidly changing customer requirements. Amidst the varying collaborative relationships that occur between firms, it is particularly important for firms to learn from international joint ventures. However, few existing studies have explored this issue empirically. Rooted in the organizational learning perspective, this study seeks to investigate the learning intent, learning process and learning outcomes of host parent companies taking part in international joint ventures, and to propose and verify a theoretical model of learning for host parent companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used Taiwanese firms as research objects and employed the survey method to collect sample data. In total, 64 international joint ventures involving Taiwanese firms were collected and analyzed. The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between latent constructs, such as learning intent, learning process and learning outcome. Thus, the structural equation modeling approach was adopted to test the theoretical model. However, the sample size used in this study was small, so the partial least squares (PLS) method was employed.

Findings

The empirical results showed that a parent company's learning outcome is affected by the interaction between the parent company and the joint venture, as well as the internal knowledge integration capacity of the parent company. The interaction between the parent company and the joint venture will simultaneously drive the parent's intra‐organisational knowledge integration. Moreover, the parent company's strategic intent to learning from the joint venture will affect the parent company's knowledge integration, along with the interaction between the parent company and the joint venture. Likewise, the parent company's learning intent will affect its evaluation of the joint venture's knowledge, while further influencing its intra‐organizational knowledge integration.

Originality/value

The paper combines the perspectives of learning intent, learning process and learning outcomes in order to propose and test empirically a model that explains how the host parents of developing countries enhance their knowledge and capabilities by means of international joint ventures. Thus, the study attends to the deficiency of the literature in addressing the field of learning through international joint ventures. It also provides some insights and suggestions for firms that regard alliance strategy as a learning opportunity for enhancing a firm's knowledge base and organizational capabilities.
Building an academic library fundraising program “from scratch”
Authors: Reid Michele
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this review is to advocate for establishing development programs founded on clear goals and priorities tied to strategic planning and resulting in compelling cases for support.

Design/methodology/approach

Five recent authors' perspectives cover hiring a professional development officer, a team strategy including fostering a synergistic relationship with development staff, and building a donor base prior to successful fundraising rooted in customer service, outreach and marketing.

Findings

Public university libraries without development programs should attempt to start such programs. Library deans should expect to be more involved in advocacy and fundraising, and to develop the necessary skills. Staff should understand it as intrinsic to the library environment. There will be a continuing demand for fundraising professionals in libraries.

Originality/value

Libraries that have not previously established their own fundraising programs will minimize their disadvantages in competing for donors and alternative funding with institutions that have by beginning programs prior to a sustained economic recovery.
Being known as a problem solver
Authors: Fitsimmons Gary
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to show the importance of being known as a problem solver.

Design/methodology/approach

The article lists questions for determining the extent to which one may consider themselves a tenacious problem solver and then discusses each as a valid indicator and how to position oneself as a problem solver relative to that question.

Findings

If you assume that every problem has a perfect solution and work towards finding that solution you will be actively engaged in continuous improvement.

Originality/value

The article is a valuable tool for reviewing whether you and/or your staff are working toward continuously improvement or just maintaining the status quo.
Guidance on guides
Authors: Maxymuk John
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the LibGuides website that hosts library user guides.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper outlines the features and benefits of the LibGuides site, describes how it can be used as a web portal and peruses its hosted content.

Findings

LibGuides is a good place to see how different libraries are incorporating Web 2.0 approaches into their library guides.

Originality/value

The familiar library guide still can have a strong impact in the Web 2.0 environment and enhance a library's online presence.
Service strategies in a supply chain
Authors: Löfberg Nina , Witell Lars , Gustafsson Anders
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper seeks to investigate how and why service strategies differ among manufacturing companies at different positions in a supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was based on a multiple case study of three original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) – a heavy truck provider, a bus provider, and a construction equipment provider – and eight of their suppliers in the automotive industry. A total of 19 semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews were conducted with managers, including service managers, production managers, marketing managers, and chief executive officers.

Findings

A company's choice of service strategy appears to be influenced by its position in the supply chain. Whereas the OEMs were all after‐sales service providers, the suppliers were either development partners or had a customer service strategy. The main reasons for the difference in strategies seem to relate to differences in customer demand, the products to which the services were related, and the size of the companies.

Research limitations/implications

The paper was conducted as a multiple case study that focused on two positions in the supply chain. In order to further validate the results, future studies should include more case studies that cover additional positions in the supply chain.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the sparsely researched area of manufacturing firms as services providers. Previous research has tended to focus on the actions of OEMs. The wider scope of the supply chain, covered in this paper, shows that small suppliers are influenced by the service infusion of the manufacturing industry.
Triangle model of fairness: investigating spillovers and reciprocal transfers
Authors: Folger Robert , Ford Robert C. , Bardes Mary , Dickson Duncan
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and partially test the triangle model of fairness (TMF) by examining employee reactions to customer fairness.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 217 undergraduate hospitality students at a US university participated in the study. Participants seated in a classroom were asked to take part in the study. Customer interpersonal justice was manipulated (high justice versus low justice) in a completely randomized between‐subjects design. The manipulation consisted of written scenarios that depicted interactions between a customer and an employee. Participants read the scenarios. Then, they were instructed to imagine they were the employee in the scenario and were asked to answer questions that assessed their reactions to the interaction with the customer.

Findings

Consistent with the predictions, the results of the study revealed that when employees experience interpersonally fair treatment from customers, they are more likely to engage in helping behaviors toward their organization and future customers.

Originality/value

The paper examines employee responses to fairness from customers, in terms of helping (or harming) the organization and future customers. As rationale for the study, the authors drew on the TMF. The study makes a contribution to research on services and organizational justice by being the first to empirically examine the TMF. Overall, this paper demonstrates that organizations need to be cognizant of the effects of customers' treatment on service employees, as customers' treatment can have serious effects on employees' subsequent behaviors.
CSR advertisements: a legitimacy tool?
Authors: Farache Francisca , Perks Keith J.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how companies use corporate social responsibility (CSR) advertisements to legitimise their ethical positions and how CSR advertisements vary across countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper evaluates CSR advertisements from Chevron and Banco Real published in the news/business magazines (The) Economist and Time in the UK as well as in Veja and Exame in Brazil, leaders in their categories. The advertisements were analysed using a set of semiotic concepts.

Findings

Companies use different strategies for publicising CSR. There are campaigns that appeal to consumer rationality as well as campaigns that appeal to the emotions. There is also evidence that companies use their advertisements to respond to public pressure and thus create or maintain their legitimacy in the eyes of society.

Originality/value

CSR communication is an emerging field, with research focusing on corporate social disclosure mainly through web sites and corporate reports. However, little is known regarding CSR advertisements. The paper provides insights on this issue and focuses on comparative research, which is also a neglected area in the CSR field.
From image to economic value: a genre analysis of sustainability reporting
Authors: Bowers Tom
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the extent to which the genre of the sustainability report has evolved due to the increased emphasis placed on the economic value of addressing environmental and social problems.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the concept of genre, this paper compares the most recent sustainability reports of ten global companies to earlier versions of these same companies' sustainability reports.

Findings

A concerted effort to define sustainability in terms of economic value is evident in the opening sections and chief executive letters. More recent reports illustrate an increase in efforts to advance the business case for sustainability, including attempts to provide measurable economic outcomes from various sustainable activities and initiatives. In sum, while sustainability reports still convey a company's efforts to comply with environmental and social regulations, sustainability reports are showing an increase in communicating the direct economic benefits that sustainable actions can bring to the company.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new approach, in the form of genre analysis, to the study of sustainability reporting. The findings from this paper suggest further lines of inquiry, including the need to examine the relation between the global reporting initiative and the emphasis on economic value, to explore the intersection of materiality and the shift toward economic value, and to consider the influence of economic pursuits on the public perception and definition of sustainability.
Towards a more dynamic stakeholder model: acknowledging multiple issue arenas
Authors: Luoma‐aho Vilma , Vos Marita
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that corporate communications is becoming less predictable as interaction with stakeholders is moving from organizational control toward “issue arenas”, places of interaction where an issue is discussed by stakeholders and organizations both online and within the traditional media. The role of corporate communications and public relations (PR) is broadening beyond the traditional relationship management to issue arena monitoring.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a theoretical approach with six axioms suggested.

Findings

Several central theories of corporate communications are combined with issues management and stakeholder theory to argue for a multiplicity of new “issue arenas”, which require an increased amount of monitoring. Six axioms are suggested for future research on corporate communications, and a mosaic of multiple strategies for multiple publics moved by multiple issues is recommended.

Research limitations/implications

The axioms suggested require empirical testing with different arenas across contexts and cultures, and the axioms may change over time as the virtual arenas expand. Future studies should focus on the process of arena formation as well as the division of voice on the arenas.

Practical implications

Monitoring becomes central as corporate communication is less controllable. Corporate communication and PR will play a key role in organizational survival in the future through the processes of finding the right issues and “issue arenas” for interaction, facilitating the organization‐public debate and through this managing organizational reputation. A change in thinking is required, as identifying issues should precede identifying stakeholders.

Originality/value

The paper argues that organizational survival depends not only on communicating with the right stakeholders, but also on finding the relevant issue arenas in which organizations should participate in discussion.
Subcontractor procurement in construction: the interplay of price and trust
Authors: Hartmann Andreas , Caerteling Jasper
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative importance of price and trust and their interaction in subcontractor selection. By doing so, it aims to respond to the currently dominant view that trust‐based procurement is the remedy to performance problems in construction. The paper also aims to argue that a specific interplay of both price and trust is always inherent to the selection of subcontracted services.

Design/methodology/approach

A choice‐based conjoint experiment was conducted to underpin the initial argument. The conjoint analysis is based on a sample of medium‐sized contractors from the Dutch residential building industry.

Findings

The research shows that neither price nor trust can be downplayed as procurement mechanisms. On the one hand, through repeated relationships main contractors become more confident in judging the performance of subcontractors. The level of trust increases and finally affects the supplier selection. On the other hand, favourable quotes are a prerequisite for trust to become choice relevant. Moreover, the extent to which subcontractors have performed with respect to quality, technical know‐how and cooperation in the past finally accounts for whether they are chosen or not.

Research limitations/implications

The joint occurrence of price and trust as procurement mechanisms should be acknowledged. More research is needed to understand the trade‐offs main contractors make between price and trust while procuring subcontracted services.

Practical implications

Subcontractors need to offer competitive bids to be able to increase their chance of recurrent relationships with main contractors and thus trust development.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first that considers the interaction of price and trust in subcontractor procurement. It contributes to the ongoing discussion around partnering and supply chain integration in construction.