bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
P–S bond cleavage in reactions of thiophosphinidene-bridged dimolybdenum complexes with [Co2(CO)8] to give phosphinidene-bridged heterometallic derivatives
Authors: Alvarez Belén , Alvarez M. Angeles , García M. Esther , Ruiz Miguel A.
Published: June 2015

P–S bond cleavage occurs in the title reactions to give arylphosphinidene complexes which may not bear a sulphido ligand.
A computational analysis of the apparent nido vs. hypho conflict: are we dealing with six- or eight-vertex open-face diheteroboranes?
Authors: Nunes João Pedro F. , Holub Josef , Rankin David W. H. , Wann Derek A. , Hnyk Drahomír
Published: June 2015

Computational studies have been undertaken to investigate the electronic structures of six hetero-substituted borane cages, concluding that hypho-7,8-[S2B6H9]− is the only true hypho species in this series.
As-stereogenic C2-symmetric organoarsines: synthesis and enantioselective self-assembly into a dinuclear triple-stranded helicate with copper iodide
Authors: Adachi Hiroki , Imoto Hiroaki , Watase Seiji , Matsukawa Kimihiro , Naka Kensuke
Published: June 2015

As-stereogenic C2-symmetric organoarsines were safely synthesized from non-volatile precursors. The racemic mixture of the As-stereogenic ligands was enantioselectively self-assembled into a dinuclear triple-stranded helicate.
The synthesis of heteroleptic phosphines
Authors: Kendall Alexander J. , Tyler David R.
Published: June 2015

This perspective presents an overview of modern synthetic approaches to heteroleptic phosphines.
The DIONESUS algorithm provides scalable and accurate reconstruction of dynamic phosphoproteomic networks to reveal new drug targets
Authors: Ciaccio Mark F. , Chen Vincent C. , Jones Richard B. , Bagheri Neda
Published: June 2015

DIONESUS, a scalable recursive algorithm based on partial least squares regression, reconstructs a phosphoproteomic signaling network from microwestern array data.
Applying random forest and subtractive fuzzy c-means clustering techniques for the development of a novel G protein-coupled receptor discrimination method using pseudo amino acid compositions
Authors: Sokouti Babak , Rezvan Farshad , Dastmalchi Siavoush
Published: June 2015

This is a novel and high performance GPCR discrimination method, which uses the partial Chou's pseudo amino acid composition features.
Formation and nonlinear optical properties of Ag nanocrystals capped with the conjugated ligand carbazolyl styryl terpyridine
Authors: Sun Wan , Zhu Yingzhong , Wang Anran , Kong Lin , Li Shengli , Wu Jieying , Tian Yupeng
Published: June 2015

NLO (non-linear optics) properties of the optical organic molecules were significantly improved when capped with nano-Ag.
Photo-assisted oxidation of thiols to disulfides using cobalt “Nanorust” under visible light
Authors: Chauhan Deepak , Kumar Pawan , Joshi Chetan , Labhsetwar Nitin , Ganguly Sudip K. , Jain Suman L.
Published: June 2015

A pyrolyzed cobalt based heterogeneous catalyst was found to be a more effective catalyst than the heterogenized CoPc@CeO2 for oxidation of thiols to disulfides under visible light.
Mannose-centered aromatic galactoclusters inhibit the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Ligeour Caroline , Vidal Olivier , Dupin Lucie , Casoni Francesca , Gillon Emilie , Meyer Albert , Vidal Sébastien , Vergoten Gérard , Lacroix Jean-Marie , Souteyrand Eliane , Imberty Anne , Vasseur Jean-Jacques , Chevolot Yann , Morvan François
Published: June 2015

Two galactosylated glycoclusters show high affinity for LecA fromPseudomonas aeruginosaand anti-biofilm activity.
Enantioselective cooperative catalysis
Authors: Inamdar Suleman M. , Shinde Valmik S. , Patil Nitin T.
Published: June 2015

This review focuses on enantioselective cooperative catalytic reactions, wherein two catalysts work simultaneously to form products which cannot be obtained by the use of a single catalyst alone, which have attracted considerable attention in recent years.
Synthesis, characterization, and field-effect transistor properties of tetrathienoanthracene-based copolymers using a two-dimensional π-conjugation extension strategy: a potential building block for high-mobility polymer semiconductors
Authors: Li Chao , Zheng Naihang , Chen Huajie , Huang Jianyao , Mao Zupan , Zheng Liping , Weng Chao , Tan Songting , Yu Gui
Published: June 2015

Novel polymer semiconductors with 2D π-extended tetrathienoanthracene units for field-effect transistor applications, exhibiting a high mobility of 0.15 cm2V−1s−1.
Correction: Stimuli responsive nanostructured porous network from triblock copolymer self-assemblies
Authors: Mouline Zineb , Semsarilar Mona , Barboiu Mihail , Deratani Andre , Quemener Damien
Published: June 2015

Correction for ‘Stimuli responsive nanostructured porous network from triblock copolymer self-assemblies’ by Zineb Mouline, et al., Polym. Chem., 2015, 6, 2023–2028.
Sulfone promoted Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H activation and base assisted 1,5-H shift strategy for the construction of seven-membered rings
Authors: Chen Dianpeng , Xing Gangdong , Zhou Hongwei
Published: June 2015

A sequence of Rh(iii)-catalyzed C–H cleavage, 1,5-H shift and intramolecular allene insertion was developed for the construction of seven-membered rings.
Low-cost blood plasma separation method using salt functionalized paper
Authors: Nilghaz Azadeh , Shen Wei
Published: June 2015

This study presents a low-cost method for separating blood plasma on μPADs.
Design and tailoring of three-dimensional graphene–Vulcan carbon–Bi2S3 ternary nanostructures for high-performance lithium-ion-battery anodes
Authors: Park Seung-Keun , Woo Seunghee , Lee Sohee , Seong Chae-Yong , Piao Yuanzhe
Published: June 2015

Design of the structure and morphology of electrode materials is crucial for creating short transport pathways for lithium ions and electrons in high-performance lithium-ion battery systems.
Mechanism of fixation of CO2 with an epoxide catalyzed by ZnBr2 and a choline chloride co-catalyst: a DFT study
Authors: Huang Tengfei , Fang Lei , Li Ya , He Hongqing , Wang Li , Zhang Jinglai
Published: June 2015

The cycloaddition mechanism of the reaction of propylene oxide with CO2 catalyzed by ZnBr2/choline chloride is elucidated using a DFT method.
A colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for detection of palladium in the red light region
Authors: Xiang Kaiqiang , Liu Yunchang , Li Changjiang , Tian Baozhu , Zhang Jinlong
Published: June 2015

We synthesized a colorimetric and ratiometric red-light emissive chemosensor with high selectivity and sensitivity towards palladium species.
Ethanol electro-oxidation on nanoworm-shaped Pd particles supported by nanographitic layers fabricated by electrophoretic deposition
Authors: Daryakenari Ahmad Ahmadi , Hosseini Davood , Saito Takumi , Apostoluk Aleksandra , Müller Christoph R. , Delaunay Jean-Jacques
Published: June 2015

Different morphologies of nanographitic flake coatings used as catalyst supports for nanoworm-shaped palladium (Pd) were fabricated via the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of dispersed nanographitic flakes in isopropyl alcohol.
Photophysics of crystal violet lactone in reverse micelles and its dual behaviour
Authors: Maity Banibrata , Chatterjee Aninda , Ahmed Sayeed Ashique , Seth Debabrata
Published: June 2015

The photophysics of Crystal Violet Lactone (CVL) in aqueous and non aqueous reverse micelles (RMs) have been studied. It was observed that in RMs, the CTA → CTB transformation is retarded.
A magnetically-separable Fe3O4nanoparticle surface grafted with polyacrylic acid for chromium(iii) removal from tannery effluents
Authors: Guan Xiaoyu , Chang Jinming , Chen Yi , Fan Haojun
Published: June 2015

A magnetically-separable nanoadsorbent was synthesized, and evaluated as an alternative for chromium(iii) removal from tannery effluent.
Hydroiodic acid treated PEDOT:PSS thin film as transparent electrode: an approach towards ITO free organic photovoltaics
Authors: Sarker Ashis K. , Kim Jaehoon , Wee Boon-Hong , Song Hyung-Jun , Lee Yeonkyung , Hong Jong-Dal , Lee Changhee
Published: June 2015

Conductivity enhancement of PEDOT:PSS thin films by hydroiodic acid treatment and their application in organic solar cells.
PVDF layer as a separator on the solution-side of air-cathodes: the electricity generation, fouling and regeneration
Authors: Song Jing , Liu Lifen , Yang Qiao , Liu Jiadong , Yu Tingting , Yang Fenglin , Crittenden John
Published: June 2015

PVDF and Nafion as a separator on the solution-side of air-cathodes: the electricity generation, cathode fouling and regeneration.
Utilization of cloud-point extraction for colorimetric determination of trace amounts of thorium(iv) in real samples
Authors: Amin Alaa S. , Kassem Mohammed A. , Mohammed Talaat Y.
Published: June 2015

Absorption spectra for 0.5 μg mL−1 without CPE and 5.0 ng mL−1 complexed with DMPAHPD using CPE at pH 7.8.
Diazaspiro-iminosugars and polyhydroxylated spiro-bislactams: synthesis, glycosidase inhibition and molecular docking studies
Authors: Parihar Vijay Singh , Pawar Nitin J. , Ghosh Sougata , Chopade Balu , Kumbhar Navanath , Dhavale Dilip D.
Published: June 2015

Synthesis of a new class of iminosugars1–4has been reported.
Viscoelastic changes measured in partially suspended single bilayer membranes
Authors: Hasan Imad Younus , Mechler Adam
Published: June 2015

Non-tethered partially suspended single bilayer membranes formed on functionalized gold surface allow for the determination of phase transition temperature from viscosity change upon chain melting, measured with quartz crystal microbalance.
Mapping surface tension induced menisci with application to tensiometry and refractometry
Authors: Mishra Avanish , Kulkarni Varun , Khor Jian-Wei , Wereley Steve
Published: June 2015

In this work, we discuss an optical method for measuring surface tension induced menisci.
Linear microrheology with optical tweezers of living cells ‘is not an option’!
Authors: Tassieri Manlio
Published: June 2015

Optical tweezers are exceptional tools for microrheology studies of viscoelastic fluids and complex solids, but not for those of living cells.
s-Triazine-based biocompatible hyperbranched epoxy adhesive with antibacterial attributes for sutureless surgical sealing
Authors: Barua Shaswat , Chattopadhyay Pronobesh , Karak Niranjan
Published: June 2015

Hyperbranched epoxy based antimicrobial, biodegradable and non-toxic surgical sealant.
Light-controlled C2H2 gas sensing based on Au–ZnO nanowires with plasmon-enhanced sensitivity at room temperature
Authors: Zheng Z. Q. , Wang B. , Yao J. D. , Yang G. W.
Published: June 2015

A visible light-controlled sensing response of the Au–ZnO nanowires for C2H2 gas at room temperature by plasmon-enhanced sensitivity.
Influential it Management Trends: An International Study
Authors: Luftman Jerry , Derksen Barry , Dwivedi Rajeev , Santana Martin , Zadeh Hossein S , Rigoni Eduardo
Published: June 2015

This paper is based on data collected as part of an 11-year authors’ survey research on IT trends in different geographic regions, including North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Latin America. This study focuses on global similarities and differences in technology trends (e.g., management concerns, influential technologies, budgets/spending, organizational considerations) among geographies to gain insight into the challenges that IT and non-IT executives face today as well as provide an understanding of the impact these technologies have on the organization's long-term plans and investments. The results for the 11-year period show that the top five management concerns are: (i) IT-business alignment; (ii) business agility; (iii) business cost reduction/controls; (iv) business productivity; and (v) security/privacy. The five most influential technologies are: (i) analytics/business intelligence; (ii) cloud computing; (iii) ERP systems; (iv) CRM systems; and (v) security technologies. Taken together, these findings suggest that the alignment of IT and the business and leveraging IT to reduce business expenses and generate revenue are and will remain essential. The results also suggest that the role of the CIO is evolving and offshore outsourcing is on the rise. Budgets, hiring, and salaries are also increasing, albeit cautiously. This research provides important implications for IT managers to benchmark considerations such as organizational, sourcing, spending, issues/concerns, and technologies across geographies, and sheds light on a perspective on leveraging important IT trends to make thoughtful decisions about them over the coming years, and address current business challenges.
The Australian 75+ Health Assessment: could it detect early functional decline better?
Authors: Grimmer Karen , Kennedy Kate , Milanese Steven , Price Kay , Kay Debra
Published: June 2015

Objective The aim of the present study was to identify opportunities to improve the reach and impact of the Australian Medicare 75+ Health Assessment (75+HA) to detect early functional decline (FD). Methods A comparison of two published review articles produced two outputs: (1) assessments identified in the systematic review that underpinned the 75+HA items were ranked for evidence of effectiveness and compared with the volume of research into assessment areas identified by a recent review on indicators of early FD; and (2) items in the 75+HA were compared with those in the recent review. Results The review underpinning the 75+HA found 19 assessment areas, with strongest evidence of effectiveness for vision/hearing, teeth/oral, balance/gait, cognitive and service use. The more recent review reported on six domains (eight subdomains) of FD assessment: physical and cognitive elements of the performance capacity domain were the least well assessed, whereas the most comprehensively assessed domains were health service use, performance capacity (mental subdomain), participation (motivation/volition subdomain) and demographics. The 75+HA addresses only some items related to early FD as identified by the recent literature. Conclusion Reassessment of the 75+HA with a view to including current evidence-based assessments for early FD is recommended. Updating the 75+HA items with ways to detect FD earlier may increase its relevance to Australia’s ageing population. What is known about the topic? There are consistent predictions of increasing lifespan of Australians, increasing numbers of older Australians wanting to live independently in the community and the increasing burden on already scarce hospital resources associated with managing the ramifications of declining function in older Australians. The 75+HA is now 15 years old and has not been updated. The imperative is to identify and address early FD in primary care before it becomes a problem. What does this paper add? This paper highlights how the 75+HA can be updated to support a comprehensive and multifactorial assessment of early FD, making it more relevant to the current climate of aging Australians and their desire to age in place. Adding the elements suggested in this paper to the 75+HA may assist in increasing the relevance of the assessment and in the earlier detection of FD. What are the implications for practitioners? A regular comprehensive assessment of key antecedents and features of early FD from multiple stakeholder perspectives will provide a stronger and more evidence-based framework within which to support older Australians to age in place.
On terminological figurativeness
Authors: Timofeeva-Timofeev Larissa , Vargas-Sierra Chelo
Published: June 2015

Terminologists’ interest in studying the role of metaphor and metaphorical terms in specialized communication has proliferated since the first papers addressing this issue appeared in the 1990s. However, we believe that some facets of terminological meaning still remain overlooked or merit further analysis. This paper attempts to contribute to the study of one of these facets: the figurative meaning of some compound terms used in the domain of luxury marketing and business. In order to present a systematized view of this phenomenon we will adopt some theoretical tools from the Conventional Figurative Language Theory, in order to confirm the validity of some of its postulates for compound term analysis. Next, a contrastive approach between English, Spanish and Russian compound terms will put the theoretical ideas into practice with the aim of illustrating their applied and metalinguistic potential. Some basic conclusions will be offered at the end of the paper.
Ancient Egyptian fauna
Authors: Ikram Salima
Published: June 2015

The vast range of animals found in ancient Egypt not only contributed to creating its language and religion, but they were also a mainstay of its economy, and played key roles in daily life, ranging from providers of food to companionship. They are also key indicators in our understanding of the changing environment. The study of Egyptian fauna can thus elucidate many aspects of ancient Egyptian culture. This chapter outlines the sources available for the study of animals in Egypt, such as artistic images, texts, and physical remains. It provides an overview of the history of Egyptian archaeozoology, outlines current methods, and goes on to look at the future of this discipline within Egyptology.
The Eucharist
Authors: Bauerschmidt Frederick Christian
Published: June 2015

The Eucharist is the Church’s chief act of worship and pre-eminent means by which the lives of the faithful are sanctified by God’s grace. The ritual meals and sacrifices of Israel are the remote origins of the Christian Eucharist, and the proximate origin is Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. At this meal Jesus associated the bread with his body and the wine with his blood, and he does so in the context of speaking of his death as something he will undergo ‘for’ his disciples, to establish a covenant with God, thus presenting his death and its Eucharistic commemoration in sacrificial terms reminiscent of Exodus 24:3–8. After a discussion of the development of the Eucharistic liturgy, the essay considers in more detail the Eucharist as a sacrifice in order to put in context Catholic teaching on the real presence of Christ under the forms of bread and wine.
The Lands of Germania in the Later Pre-Roman Iron Age
Authors: Sievers Susanne
Published: June 2015

This chapter focuses on the lands of Germania in the later pre-Roman Iron Age, which covers the period of the oppida in the south (including parts of the low central mountain range (Mittelgebirge)), the so-called Jastorf culture in the northeast, and several regional groups in the northwest. It begins with an overview of the so-called oppida region from the south of Germany up to northern Hesse and Thuringia, with particular emphasis on Manching, Kelheim, Heidengraben, Steinsburg, the Heidetränk oppidum, Dünsberg, Donnersberg, and Martberg, as well as open settlements and enclosed farmsteads, Viereckschanzen. It then considers the archaeology of Iron Age societies in northern Germany and the area belonging to the Mittelelbe–Havel group of the Jastorf culture. The chapter concludes with a discussion of graves, infrastructure, economy, agriculture, money, warfare, and religion in Germania in the later pre-Roman Iron Age.
Sr36- and Sr5-Mediated Resistance Response to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Is Associated with Callose Deposition in Wheat Guard Cells
Authors: Wang X. , McCallum B. D. , Fetch T. , Bakkeren G. , Saville B. J.
Published: June 2015

Race-specific resistance of wheat to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici is primarily posthaustorial and often involves the induction of a hypersensitive response (HR). The aim of this study was to investigate host defense responses induced in interactions between P. graminis f. sp. tritici races and wheat lines carrying different race-specific stem rust resistance (Sr) genes. In incompatible interactions between wheat lines carrying Sr36 in three genetic backgrounds (LMPG, Prelude, or W2691) and avirulent P. graminis f. sp. tritici races MCCFC or RCCDM, callose accumulated within 24 h in wheat guard cells contacted by a P. graminis f. sp. tritici appressorium, and P. graminis f. sp. tritici ingress was inhibited following appressorium formation. Accordingly, the expression of transcripts encoding a callose synthase increased in the incompatible interaction between LMPG-Sr36 and avirulent P. graminis f. sp. tritici race MCCFC. Furthermore, the inhibition of callose synthesis through the infiltration of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (DDG) increased the ability of P. graminis f. sp. tritici race MCCFC to infect LMPG-Sr36. A similar induction of callose deposition in wheat guard cells was also observed within 24 h after inoculation (hai) with avirulent P. graminis f. sp. tritici race HKCJC on LMPG-Sr5 plants. In contrast, this defense response was not induced in incompatible interactions involving Sr6, Sr24, or Sr30. Instead, the induction of an HR and cellular lignification were noted. The manifestation of the HR and cellular lignification was induced earlier (24 hai) and was more extensive in the resistance response mediated by Sr6 compared with those mediated by Sr24 or Sr30. These results indicate that the resistance mediated by Sr36 is similar to that mediated by Sr5 but different from those triggered by Sr6, Sr24, or Sr30. Resistance responses mediated by Sr5 and Sr36 are prehaustorial, and are a result of very rapid recognition of molecules derived from avirulent isolates of P. graminis f. sp. tritici, in contrast to the responses triggered in lines with Sr6, Sr24, and Sr30.
Effective knowledge management boosts virtual teams
Authors: Pathak Atul Arun
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Describes the role of human-resource management (HRM) in ensuring effective knowledge management in virtual teams.

Design/methodology/approach

– Explains how the various policies and processes designed and implemented by the HRM enable virtual teams to manage knowledge effectively and thereby provide a competitive advantage to an organization.

Findings

– Highlights how developments in information technology have made virtual teams more common.

Practical implications

– Advances the view that appropriate recruitment, induction, training and appraisal processes are needed to ensure effective knowledge management in virtual teams.

Social implications

– Reveals that virtual teams are increasingly common across a wide range of industries and sectors and so their effective management is growing in importance.

Originality/value

– Provides insights into how the challenge of managing knowledge in virtual teams can be overcome by suitably designed and implemented HRM practices.
Engaged leaders develop schools as quality organisations
Authors: Snyder Kristen
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper explores the question, “what does it mean to be an engaged school leader in an educational context that promotes standards-based accountability as a model of quality development?” Specifically, what drives educational leaders? What do they do to lead schools as quality organisations? and How do they lead schools as quality organisations?

Design/methodology/approach

– An ethnographically grounded theory case study was conducted with 16 principles in Sweden, USA and Finland, who participated in a three-year project to lead schools as global learning centers.

Findings

– Findings showed that school leaders used a variety of leadership styles as they developed worked cultures grounded in a value system, to support student learning and development. Also, work cultures that engaged members of the school and community were critical for leading schools as learning organisations.

Research limitations/implications

– The small sample may not be generalizable to all educational systems.

Practical implications

– This study provides evidence about the complexities for school leadership today that are not currently addressed in most principal preparation programs. The findings can serve to help inform further development of principal preparation.

Originality/value

– The experiences shared in this study provide an alternative perspective about what it is that school leaders do and think about amidst a high-stakes testing context of school development. The grounded theory nature of this study, combined with an ethnographic approach, provides deep insights into the daily working life of engaged school leaders to learn first hand from their dialogue about what it takes to lead schools as quality organisations.
First evidences from “lean
&
safety” projects
Authors: Crema Maria , Verbano Chiara , Chiozza Maria Laura
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the significant features that characterize these projects: organizational aspects, phases and activities, tools, techniques, practices and key factors for successful implementation. No studies in the academic literature have yet focused on the relation between healthcare lean management (HLM) and clinical risk management (CRM) to enhance multiple aspects of performance, although the possibility of implementing “lean
&
safety” projects has been highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two significant projects have been selected from the same Italian hospital in two different fields of application. Within- and cross-case analyses have been performed to obtain useful findings.

Findings

– The results suggest that HLM can provide support for CRM, and an integrated methodology should be considered. The first indications concerning how this new synergistic methodology may be developed are provided and these should stimulate future research, testing and exploiting the methodology in other contexts.

Originality/value

– From the results of this paper, guidelines for the implementation of a “lean
&
safety” project could be developed to improve the management of clinical processes pursuing multiple objectives. This study could contribute to the development of safer and more sustainable health care systems for the benefit of the entire community.
The paradigm shift to Business Excellence 2.0
Authors: Enquist Bo , Johnson Mikael , Rönnbäck Åsa
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to contribute to the debate on business excellence by comparing the business excellence models of Malcolm Baldrige, European Foundation for Quality Management and Swedish Institute for Quality. By assessing these in relation to today’s new business landscape, the authors suggest that emphasising issues such as stakeholder co-creation of value, stakeholder dialogue, service innovation, service logic, business ethics and different views on resource integration can alter the view of quality improvement from economic, social and environmental perspectives, in turn, leading to Business Excellence 2.0.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study examines three business excellence models and compares their adoption of the concepts of today’s new business landscape. The study focuses on whether the models’ fundamental principles and concepts are aligned with the views on sustainability, stakeholder co-creation and service innovation.

Findings

– The examined business excellence models do not fully respond to the requirements of today’s business landscape. To gain relevance in the private sector, the fundamental ideas of the models in terms of concepts, criteria and evaluation processes must be rethought. Such an opportunity enables the quality movement and service logic research to come together to develop new business excellence models that incorporate the challenges of today’s business landscape.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper illustrates the need to develop business excellence models to address the perspectives of today’s new business landscape.

Practical implications

– By incorporating strategies in sustainability, stakeholder co-creation and service innovation in business excellence models, organisations can deliver sustainable business growth.

Originality/value

– The paper sheds new light on how business excellence models can incorporate aspects of the new business landscape. It also shows how the quality movement and the ongoing service logic research can come together to develop a new business excellence model that addresses the challenges in the new business landscape.
Integration of CSR principles in quality management
Authors: Frolova Irina , Lapina Inga
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyse the case of a non-governmental organization (NGO) and the possibilities of implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy and principles in an organizational quality management system (QMS) to reduce the rate of staff turnover and improve the overall excellence of the organization. QMS provides a framework for implementing CSR policy, strategy, activities and culture at all management levels of organization, creating a basis for establishing a sustainable development policy and providing overall employee and management commitment and continuous improvement of the system.

Design/methodology/approach

– Several research methods, such as literature review, logical and comparative analysis, in-depth interviews, Ishikawa diagram method and organization performance assessment via M. Baldrige excellence criteria, were applied in this research.

Findings

– The authors came to the conclusion that implementing employee-related CSR activities in an organizational QMS in a long-term period can reduce employee turnover, increase loyalty and commitment and improve the overall process performance in an NGO. The QMS framework allows maintaining, monitoring and evaluating continuous effect and execution of CSR principles, and including CSR strategies in organizational policy.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is restricted due to the fact that the authors cannot disclose the name of the analysed NGO because of ethical and confidentiality considerations.

Originality/value

– The paper presents an encompassing approach of integration of CSR principles in quality management principles for reducing staff turnover, completing a case study of an NGO.
Comprehensive quality assessment of Czech higher education institutions
Authors: Nenadál Jaroslav
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The paper aims to sum up the principal and original set of information related to the special project covered by Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, which was oriented to quality assurance and assessment at Czech higher education institutions. It brings main results and lessons learned from comprehensive quality assessment methodology pilot testing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Brainstorming conferences, seminars, comparative analysis, interviews, design review and validation were used by the expert team to develop and to test the comprehensive quality assessment methodology.

Findings

– The EFQM Excellence Model is the most comprehensive tool for quality assurance and quality assessment. It is pragmatic and practical, but it is necessary to adapt this model for effective use at Czech higher education institutions as a set of assessment criteria. The comprehensive quality assessment approach does not only examine what universities and other higher schools have achieved in the past (through lagging indicators), but it also includes assessment of their potential for the future through the so-called leading indicators.

Research limitations/implications

– The pilot testing of designed methodology of comprehensive quality assessment was performed within 12 Czech higher education institutions, but the lessons learned have common validity for any Czech higher education institution.

Originality/value

– The proposed methodology of comprehensive quality assessment is a quite new approach from the point of Czech higher education institutions view. It offers new and efficient tool for next higher schools and universities development.
Conceptual generalisation
Authors: Adriaenssen Daniel J. , Johannessen Jon-Arild
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to make a small contribution to reflections on general methodology, not specific methods, in social science.

Design/methodology/approach

– Systemic methodology.

Findings

– First, schematic typology of six conceptual models. Second, typology for determining levels of abstraction for different models and degrees of generalisation. Third, typology for generalisation on the basis of a case study. Fourth, strategy for developing conceptual models.

Research limitations/implications

– Research falls into two main categories: conceptual generalisation and empirical generalisation. Conceptual generalisation is an investigation whereby the researcher uses other researchers’ empirical findings in conjunction with his or her own process of conceptualisation in order to generalise and identify a pattern. This contrasts with empirical generalisation, where the researcher investigates a phenomenon or problem that is apparent in the empirical data, and only thereafter generalises in the light of his or her own findings.

Practical implications

– A low level of understanding of conceptual generalisation among masters and PhD students. With this paper the authors try to change this perception among students.

Originality/value

– Developing a systemic methodology in order for students and university teachers to understand conceptual generalisations.
Parameter optimization of intermittent demand forecasting by using spreadsheet
Authors: Ogcu Kaya Gamze , Demirel Omer Fahrettin
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– Accurate forecasting of intermittent demand is very important since parts with intermittent demand characteristics are very common. The purpose of this paper is to bring an easier way of handling the hard work of intermittent demand forecasting by using commonly used Excel spreadsheet and also performing parameter optimization.

Design/methodology/approach

– Smoothing parameters of the forecasting methods are optimized dynamically by Excel Solver in order to achieve the best performance. Application is done on real data of Turkish Airlines’ spare parts comprising 262 weekly periods from January 2009 to December 2013. The data set are composed of 500 stock-keeping units, so there are 131,000 data points in total.

Findings

– From the results of implementation, it is shown that using the optimum parameter values yields better performance for each of the methods.

Research limitations/implications

– Although it is an intensive study, this research has some limitations. Since only real data are considered, this research is limited to the aviation industry.

Practical implications

– This study guides market players by explaining the features of intermittent demand. With the help of the study, decision makers dealing with intermittent demand are capable of applying specialized intermittent demand forecasting methods.

Originality/value

– The study brings simplicity to intermittent demand forecasting work by using commonly used spreadsheet software. The study is valuable for giving insights to market players dealing with items having intermittent demand characteristics, and it is one of the first study which is optimizing the smoothing parameters of the forecasting methods by using spreadsheet in the area of intermittent demand forecasting.
A hybrid decision-support model for self-managed career
Authors: Yildiz Didem , Beskese Ahmet , Bozbura Faik Tunc
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a self-managed career model, in which protean and boundaryless careers were used.

Design/methodology/approach

– A hybrid methodology is proposed where Buckley’s fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) method was used for prioritization of these criteria, sub-criteria, and indicators, and fuzzy TOPSIS method was used to select the most appropriate career path for a given individual.

Findings

– The hybrid model for self-managed career was tested with a real numerical example. Findings were congruent with the example’s current career and future career aspirations.

Research limitations/implications

– The model was tested with one numerical example. The model could be applied to individuals from various cultures, age groups and backgrounds to further discuss its validity.

Originality/value

– Career decisions are affected from individuals’ values and perceptions. New career orientations like Protean and Boundaryless Career are built upon this fact to include subjectivity. Because of the shortcomings of traditional methods to deal with uncertainty related to subjective evaluations, a FAHP and fuzzy TOPSIS based hybrid multi-attribute decision-support model was utilized to help individuals with their career decisions.
Detection and self-healing of cluster breakages in mines and tunnels: an empirical investigation
Authors: Khan Muhammad  Yousaf , Qaisar Saad B. , Naeem Muhammad , Aslam Awais , Shahid Saleem , Naqvi Ijaz
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The study aims at providing a reliable system of real-time monitoring for underground mine and tunnels which detects any structural change in the network and reconfigures it for resuming the data delivery process. In high stress environments, e.g. underground mines and tunnels, real-time activity monitoring is an emerging issue. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) play a key role in ensuring the safety of people working in underground mines and tunnels. WSN not only provide real-time monitoring of underground environment but also detects any structural change in the network itself.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, results of empirical implementation of a re-configurable WSN, capable of self-healing approach, reconfigure the network connectivity upon failure or addition of nodes in the system. An open-source radio-frequency identification standard for WSN, named as DASH7, is used for practical implementation. The proposed system is capable of determining cluster breakage by sudden disruptions caused by roof falls, explosions and node failures, sensor coverage hole, node re-addition to the network and distress priority signal generation by the miner.

Findings

– The proposed platform contributes to re-attain network state for establishing a communication link with fusion center in terms of: instant and accurate detection of collapse holes, acceptable error rate, time to re-attain network state, rapid distress signal propagation and low deployment cost. This platform is deployed in four different environments of anechoic chamber, hallway, outdoor and underground mine environment, to test the aforementioned scenarios using DASH7-compatible Bitsense Sensor Motes operating at 433 MHz. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been experimentally validated for the single and multiple adjacent and disjoint node failures in all the four environments.

Originality/value

– The number of monitoring systems was implemented for safety assurance in high stress environments before, but the novelty of our platform is long range, cost effectiveness, quick response to any structural change in the network, rapid and accurate data delivery using WSN operated on DASH7 protocol stack.
Detecting explosives and chemical weapons: a review of recent developments
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: June 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide details of recent developments in sensors for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following an introduction, this paper first discusses a selection of new sensing techniques aimed at detecting explosives and explosive devices. It then considers new developments in sensors for detecting chemical warfare agents. Brief concluding comments are drawn.

Findings

– This paper shows that a diversity of sensor technologies is being investigated, including various advanced optical methods, nanomaterials, microelectromechanical system, electronic noses, biosensors and electrochemical techniques, several of which offer levels of sensitivity in the parts-per-trillion region. These not only have the potential to yield improved devices for detecting explosives and chemical weapons but may also play a role in health care, environmental monitoring, drug detection and industrial health and safety.

Originality/value

– In an era of escalating terrorism and military conflicts, this provides a timely review of new technologies for detecting explosives and chemical warfare agents.
Interactive flood hazard visualisation in Adobe Flash
Authors: Coller M.L.F. , Wheeler P. , Kunapo J. , Peterson J.
Published: June 2015

Advances in analytical flood modelling need to be accompanied by similar advances in the means by which model results can be disseminated across a wide range of stakeholder groups. In this paper, we exemplify the use of Adobe Flash as a means to design interactive flood mapping methods that can portray a wide range of potential flood levels, and place them into a context of flood frequency. We apply this methodology to a coastal flood‐prone locality in Australia, integrating a range of flood‐related information into a single intuitive interface. We demonstrate how a temporal dimension can be incorporated to represent future changes to inundation probability based on climate change projections of sea‐level rise. The resulting visualisation is accessible directly via the web, and is designed for ease of use and understanding for all stakeholders. Such flexible methods of representing flood hazard can foster education on flood issues, support community decision‐making and assist emergency response when floods eventuate. In this way, such mapping methods can play a vital role in integrated coastal zone management initiatives.
Persistent Bacillus Calmette–Guerin Reaction: A Potential Clue to Underlying Immune Deficiency
Authors: Khalsa Amrit , Rubin Adam I. , Jen Melinda
Published: June 2015

Bacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccine complications in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) have been well documented in the literature. We present a case in which the BCG vaccine was administered to an infant who was later diagnosed with SCID and presented with worsening localized BCG reaction upon arrival in the United States. Although the BCG vaccine is not routinely administered in the United States, it is important for physicians to be aware of potential complications of BCG vaccination since prompt treatment can be lifesaving.
Traffic‐Based Labor Planning in Retail Stores
Authors: Chuang Howard Hao‐Chun , Oliva Rogelio , Perdikaki Olga
Published: June 2015

Staffing decisions are crucial for retailers since staffing levels affect store performance and labor‐related expenses constitute one of the largest components of retailers’ operating costs. With the goal of improving staffing decisions and store performance, we develop a labor‐planning framework using proprietary data from an apparel retail chain. First, we propose a sales response function based on labor adequacy (the labor to traffic ratio) that exhibits variable elasticity of substitution between traffic and labor. When compared to a frequently used function with constant elasticity of substitution, our proposed function exploits information content from data more effectively and better predicts sales under extreme labor/traffic conditions. We use the validated sales response function to develop a data‐driven staffing heuristic that incorporates the prediction loss function and uses past traffic to predict optimal labor. In counterfactual experimentation, we show that profits achieved by our heuristic are within 0.5% of the optimal (attainable if perfect traffic information was available) under stable traffic conditions, and within 2.5% of the optimal under extreme traffic variability. We conclude by discussing implications of our findings for researchers and practitioners.
Hormone signalling pathways are differentially involved in quantitative resistance of potato to Phytophthora infestans
Authors: Saubeau G. , Perrin F. , Marnet N. , Andrivon D. , Val F.
Published: June 2015

Quantitative resistance may depend on the effectiveness of PAMP‐triggered immunity. This study highlights the diversity of mechanisms involved in the quantitative resistance of potato to Phytophthora infestans. The investigation focused on the implication of the hormone signalling pathways induced in four potato genotypes by a concentrated culture filtrate (CCF) of P. infestans. The genotypes were ranked according to their level of resistance to P. infestans and discriminant analysis of gene expression profiles separated the most resistant genotype from the three others, particularly because of a strong induction of the salicylic acid (SA) pathway. In this genotype, transcripts involved in the SA pathway, EDS1, WRKY1, PR‐1 and PR‐2, were induced by CCF. SA pathway involvement was confirmed by a peak of SA accumulation 12 h after elicitation and by the induction of jaz1 (jasmonate Zim domain protein 1) transcripts, which inhibit defence responses mediated by jasmonic acid (JA). By contrast, neither a significant induction of SA‐mediated responses nor an accumulation of free SA and PR‐2 were observed in the other resistant or two susceptible cultivars. Expression of genes in the ET and JA pathways was either not, or weakly, induced by CCF in potato. Finally, the involvement of signalling pathways was genotype dependent rather than correlating with resistance level.
Reflections on Leadership: An Interview with Sean O'Keefe
Authors: Lambright W. Henry
Published: June 2015

This interview with Sean O'Keefe by PAR Associate Editor W. Henry Lambright is a departure from traditional Administrative Profiles. It represents an opportunity to elicit from a man who has held executive positions in government, industry, and the university lessons he has learned about leadership from those experiences. It is his perspective, in his own words, about a host of questions of interest to scholars and practitioners of public administration. These include commonalities and differences in leading organizations in various sectors. O'Keefe discusses how executives can deal with people and get the most from them, how executives use administrative power in achieving organizational goals, and why executives sometimes make the wrong calls in key decisions. He comments on what he learned about leadership from mentors during his formative years. He explains the limits he faced in making controversial decisions, such as his termination of a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.
Adult patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection: impact of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on outcomes
Authors: Pilie P. , Werbel W.A. , Riddell J. , Shu X. , Schaubel D. , Gregg K.S.
Published: June 2015

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common community‐acquired pathogen responsible for a substantial disease burden in adults. We investigated the outcomes after RSV infection in hospitalized adults over a 3‐year period.

Methods

This single‐center, retrospective study identified 174 patients hospitalized with RSV upper or lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2012. Clinical data were extracted from medical records. The primary outcome analyzed was all‐cause mortality, defined as death during the index hospital admission. Subjects were divided into 3 groups for comparison: hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, solid organ transplant (SOT) patients, and non‐transplant patients.

Results

In our study, 41/174 (23.6%) were HSCT recipients and 28/174 (16.1%) were SOT recipients. Twelve of 174 (6.9%) died. Death occurred in 2/41 (4.9%) HSCT and 3/28 (10.7%) SOT recipients, compared to 7/106 (6.6%) non‐transplant patients. When compared to the non‐transplant cohort, HSCT and SOT were not found to be significant risk factors for mortality (P = 0.685 and 0.645, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression, age >60 was associated with mortality (P = 0.019), while lymphopenia on admission trended toward an association with death (P = 0.054). HSCT patients were less likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit (odds ratio [OR] 0.26, P = 0.04), but were significantly more likely to receive ribavirin therapy (OR 11.62, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Adults hospitalized with RSV LRTI are at significant risk of mortality, and this risk may be increased in patients age >60 or with lymphopenia on admission. This study did not identify any significant increased mortality or morbidity associated with RSV infection in immune suppressed transplant recipients vs. patients who had not received a transplant.