bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
UniRef clusters: a comprehensive and scalable alternative for improving sequence similarity searches
Authors: Suzek Baris E. , Wang Yuqi , Huang Hongzhan , McGarvey Peter B. , Wu Cathy H. ,   the UniProt Consortium
Published: November 2014

Motivation: UniRef databases provide full-scale clustering of UniProtKB sequences and are utilized for a broad range of applications, particularly similarity-based functional annotation. Non-redundancy and intra-cluster homogeneity in UniRef were recently improved by adding a sequence length overlap threshold. Our hypothesis is that these improvements would enhance the speed and sensitivity of similarity searches and improve the consistency of annotation within clusters.

Results: Intra-cluster molecular function consistency was examined by analysis of Gene Ontology terms. Results show that UniRef clusters bring together proteins of identical molecular function in more than 97% of the clusters, implying that clusters are useful for annotation and can also be used to detect annotation inconsistencies. To examine coverage in similarity results, BLASTP searches against UniRef50 followed by expansion of the hit lists with cluster members demonstrated advantages compared with searches against UniProtKB sequences; the searches are concise (∼7 times shorter hit list before expansion), faster (∼6 times) and more sensitive in detection of remote similarities (>96% recall at e-value <0.0001). Our results support the use of UniRef clusters as a comprehensive and scalable alternative to native sequence databases for similarity searches and reinforces its reliability for use in functional annotation.

Availability and implementation: Web access and file download from UniProt website at http://www.uniprot.org/uniref and ftp://ftp.uniprot.org/pub/databases/uniprot/uniref. BLAST searches against UniRef are available at http://www.uniprot.org/blast/

Contact:  huang@dbi.udel.edu
M3D: a kernel-based test for spatially correlated changes in methylation profiles
Authors: Mayo Tom R. , Schweikert Gabriele , Sanguinetti Guido
Published: November 2014

Motivation: DNA methylation is an intensely studied epigenetic mark implicated in many biological processes of direct clinical relevance. Although sequencing-based technologies are increasingly allowing high-resolution measurements of DNA methylation, statistical modelling of such data is still challenging. In particular, statistical identification of differentially methylated regions across different conditions poses unresolved challenges in accounting for spatial correlations within the statistical testing procedure.

Results: We propose a non-parametric, kernel-based method, M3D, to detect higher order changes in methylation profiles, such as shape, across pre-defined regions. The test statistic explicitly accounts for differences in coverage levels between samples, thus handling in a principled way a major confounder in the analysis of methylation data. Empirical tests on real and simulated datasets show an increased power compared to established methods, as well as considerable robustness with respect to coverage and replication levels.

Availability and implementation: R/Bioconductor package M3D.

Contact:  G.Sanguinetti@ed.ac.uk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SplitMEM: a graphical algorithm for pan-genome analysis with suffix skips
Authors: Marcus Shoshana , Lee Hayan , Schatz Michael C.
Published: November 2014

Motivation: Genomics is expanding from a single reference per species paradigm into a more comprehensive pan-genome approach that analyzes multiple individuals together. A compressed de Bruijn graph is a sophisticated data structure for representing the genomes of entire populations. It robustly encodes shared segments, simple single-nucleotide polymorphisms and complex structural variations far beyond what can be represented in a collection of linear sequences alone.

Results: We explore deep topological relationships between suffix trees and compressed de Bruijn graphs and introduce an algorithm, splitMEM, that directly constructs the compressed de Bruijn graph in time and space linear to the total number of genomes for a given maximum genome size. We introduce suffix skips to traverse several suffix links simultaneously and use them to efficiently decompose maximal exact matches into graph nodes. We demonstrate the utility of splitMEM by analyzing the nine-strain pan-genome of Bacillus anthracis and up to 62 strains of Escherichia coli , revealing their core-genome properties.

Availability and implementation: Source code and documentation available open-source http://splitmem.sourceforge.net .

Contact:  mschatz@cshl.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Local statistics allow quantification of cell-to-cell variability from high-throughput microscope images
Authors: Handfield Louis-François , Strome Bob , Chong Yolanda T. , Moses Alan M.
Published: November 2014

Motivation: Quantifying variability in protein expression is a major goal of systems biology and cell-to-cell variability in subcellular localization pattern has not been systematically quantified.

Results: We define a local measure to quantify cell-to-cell variability in high-throughput microscope images and show that it allows comparable measures of variability for proteins with diverse subcellular localizations. We systematically estimate cell-to-cell variability in the yeast GFP collection and identify examples of proteins that show cell-to-cell variability in their subcellular localization.

Conclusions: Automated image analysis methods can be used to quantify cell-to-cell variability in microscope images.

Contact:  alan.moses@utoronto.ca

Availability and Implementation: Software and data are available at http://www.moseslab.csb.utoronto.ca/louis-f/

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
High-speed photospheric material flow observed at the polarity inversion line of a δ-type sunspot producing an X5.4 flare on 2012 March 7
Authors: Shimizu Toshifumi , Lites Bruce W. , Bamba Yumi
Published: November 2014

Solar flares abruptly release the free energy stored as a non-potential magnetic field in the corona and may be accompanied by eruptions of the coronal plasma. Formation of a non-potential magnetic field and the mechanisms for triggering the onset of flares are still poorly understood. In particular, photospheric dynamics observed near those polarity inversion lines that are sites of major flare production have not been well observed with high spatial resolution spectro-polarimetry. This paper reports on a remarkable high-speed material flow observed along the polarity inversion line located between flare ribbons at the main energy release side of an X5.4 flare on 2012 March 7. Observations were carried out by the spectro-polarimeter of the Solar Optical Telescope on board Hinode. The high-speed material flow was observed in the horizontally oriented magnetic field formed nearly parallel to the polarity inversion line. This flow persisted from at least six hours before the onset of the flare, and continued for at least several hours after the onset of the flare. Observations suggest that the observed material flow represents neither the emergence nor convergence of the magnetic flux. Rather, it may be considered to be material flow working both to increase the magnetic shear along the polarity inversion line and to develop magnetic structures favorable for the onset of the eruptive flare.
Molecular Structure and Organization of Starch Granules from Developing Wheat Endosperm
Authors: Waduge Renuka N. , Kalinga Danusha N. , Bertoft Eric , Seetharaman Koushik
Published: November 2014

Wheat starches isolated from seeds harvested between 7 and 49 days after anthesis (DAA) were fractionated into large (>8 μm) and small (<8 μm) granules and studied for starch structure and architecture. Starch granules at 7 DAA possessed unimodal size distribution, whereas it was bimodal at later maturity stages. The apparent amylose fraction of starch granules at early maturity (7 and 14 DAA) consisted of intermediate‐type materials, whereas starch at later maturity stages (28 and 49 DAA) contained branched amylose. Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) revealed a well‐developed polymorphic structure already at 7 DAA. Although the presence of a small proportion of B‐type crystallites mixed with A‐type crystallites was observed in the X‐ray diffractogram of starches at early maturation (7 and 14 DAA), it was masked by the A‐type crystallites at later maturity stages. However, the large granules had a higher proportion of B‐type crystallites and lower relative crystallinity (RC) than their small‐granule counterpart. The iodine absorption properties of the starch granules demonstrated different levels of mobility of the starch polymers at different stages of maturity and the mobility of more glucan polymers in the large granule population compared with the small granules at the same maturity stage. Iodine did not change the characteristic A‐type crystalline pattern of starch, but it increased RC. Changes in peak width at half height based on WAXS data further suggested the possible interaction of iodine with amylopectin intercluster chain segments and branch chains in formation of inclusion complexes.
Soaking Conditions During Brown Rice Parboiling Impact the Level of Breakage‐Susceptible Rice Kernels
Authors: Buggenhout Joke , Brijs Kristof , Delcour Jan A.
Published: November 2014

If properly executed, parboiling, a hydrothermal treatment consisting of soaking, steaming, and drying of rice, substantially reduces its milling breakage susceptibility. Here, brown rice was soaked at 40, 55, or 65°C for different times (150 s to 240 min) and subsequently parboiled under standardized steaming and drying conditions. The moisture absorption during initial soaking induced fissures in more than 90% of the rice grains, which disappeared with further soaking. The fissuring incidence in the soaked rice samples was related to that of the parboiled rice samples. The extent of starch gelatinization during steaming increased with the moisture content of the soaked grains. In addition, as a result of starch gelatinization, the level of white bellies (i.e., parboiled grains with translucent outer layers and an opaque center) decreased from over 90% to less than 3%. Rice grains need to absorb sufficient moisture during soaking to minimize the level of breakage‐susceptible white bellies and fissured rice grains in the parboiled end product.
The developmental transcriptome of contrasting Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) morphs
Authors: Gudbrandsson Jónes , Ahi Ehsan P. , Franzdottir Sigrídur R. , Kapralova Kalina. H. , Kristjóson Bjarni K. , Steinhaeuser Sophie S. , Jónesson Ísak M. , Maier Valerie H. , Snorrason Sigurdur S. , Jónsson Zophonías O. , Pálsson Arnar
Published: November 2014

Species showing repeated evolution of similar traits can help illuminate the molecular and developmental basis of diverging traits and specific adaptations. Following the last glacial period, dwarfism and specialized bottom feeding morphology evolved rapidly in several landlocked Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) populations in Iceland. To initiate study of the genetic divergence between small benthic morphs and larger morphs with limnetic morphotype, we conducted an RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of developing charr. We sequenced mRNA from whole embryos at four stages in early development of two stocks with contrasting morphologies, the small benthic (SB) charr from Lake Thingvallavatn and Holar aquaculture (AC) charr.

The data reveal significant differences in expression of several biological pathways during charr development. There was also an expression difference between SB- and AC-charr in genes involved in energy metabolism and blood coagulation genes. We confirmed expression difference of five genes in whole embryos with qPCR, includinglysozymeandnatterin likewhich was previously identified as a fish-toxin of a lectin family that may be a putative immunopeptide. We also verified differential expression of 7 genes in developing heads, that associated consistently with benthic v.s. limnetic craniofacial morphology (studied in 4 morphs total). Comparison of Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies reveals extensive genetic differentiation between the SB- and AC-charr (60 fixed SNPs and around 1300 differing by more than 50% in frequency). In SB-charr the high frequency derived SNPs are in genes related to translation and oxidative processes. Curiously, three derived alleles in the otherwise conserved 12s and 16s mitochondrial ribosomal RNA genes are found in benthic charr.

The data implicate multiple genes and molecular pathways in divergence of small benthic charr and/or the response of aquaculture charr to domestication. Functional, genetic and population genetic studies on more freshwater and anadromous populations are needed to confirm the specific loci and mutations relating to specific ecological or domestication traits in Arctic charr.
V genes in rodents from whole genome sequencing data
Authors: Olivieri David , Gambón-Cerdá Santiago , Gambón-Deza Francisco
Published: November 2014

We studied the V exons of 14 rodent species obtained from whole genome sequencing (WGS) datasets. Compared to other mammals, we found an increase in the number of immunoglobulin (IG) V genes in the heavy (IGH) and kappa chain (IGK) loci. We provide evidence for a reduction genes in lambda chain (IGL) locus, disappearing entirely in one of the species (Dipodomys ordii). We show relationships amongst the V genes of the T-cell receptors (TR) found in primates, possessing ortholog sequences between them. As compared with other mammals, there is an increase in the number of TRAV genes within rodents. Such an increase within this locus is caused by duplication events involving a few putative V genes. This duplication phenomenon does not occur in the TRBV locus. In those species that underwent an expansion of TRAV genes, we found that they also have a correspondingly larger number of MHC Class I genes. The results suggest that selective pressures have conditioned the expansion of V genomic repertoire the TRA, IGK and IGH loci during the diversification process of rodents.
Sequence and primer independent stochastic heterogeneity in PCR amplification efficiency revealed by single molecule barcoding
Authors: Best Katharine , Oakes Theres , Heather James M , Shawe-Taylor John , Chain Benny
Published: November 2014

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most widely used techniques in molecular biology. In combination with High Throughput Sequencing (HTS), PCR is widely used to quantify transcript abundance for RNA-seq and especially in the context of analysis of T cell and B cell receptor repertoires. In this study, we combine molecular DNA barcoding with HTS to quantify PCR output from individual target molecules. Our results demonstrate that the PCR process exhibits very significant unexpected heterogeneity, which is independent of the sequence of the primers or target, and independent of bulk experimental conditions. The mechanistic origin of this heterogeneity is not clear, but simulations suggest that it must derive from inherited differences between different DNA molecules within the reaction. The results illustrate that single molecule barcoding is important in order to derive reproducible quantitative results from any protocol which combines PCR with HTS.
Crystal structure of (E)-4-{2-[4-(allyloxy)phenyl]diazenyl}benzoic acid
Authors: Rahman Md. Lutfor , Mohd. Yusoff Mashitah , Ismail Jamil , Kwong Huey Chong , Quah Ching Kheng
Published: November 2014

The title compound, C16H14N2O3, has anEconformation about the azobenzene [—N=N– = 1.2481 (16) Å] linkage. The benzene rings are almost coplanar [dihedral angle = 1.36 (7)°]. The O atoms of the carboxylic acid group are disordered over two sets of sites and were refined with an occupancy ratio of 0.5:0.5. The two disordered components of the carboxylic acid group make dihedral angles of 1.5 (14) and 3.8 (12)° with the benzene ring to which they are attached. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviapairs of O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming inversion dimers. The dimers are connectedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons lying parallel to [120]. These ribbons are linkedviaC—H...π interactions, forming slabs parallel to (001).
Crystal structure of (2-benzyloxypyrimidin-5-yl)boronic acid
Authors: Durka Krzysztof , Kliś Tomasz , Serwatowski Janusz
Published: November 2014

The boronic acid group in the title compound, C11H11BN2O3, adopts asyn–anticonformation and is almost coplanar with the aromatic rings , making a dihedralangle of 3.8 (2)°. In the crystal, adjacent molecules are linkedviapairs of O—H...O interactions, forming centrosymmetric dimers with anR22(8) motif, which have recently been shown to be energetically very favorable (Durkaet al., 2012, 2014). The hydroxy groups in ananticonformation are engaged in lateral hydrogen-bonding interactions with N atoms from neighbouring molecules, leading to the formation of chains along [001]. O...B [3.136 (2) Å] and C(π)...B [3.393 (2) Å] stacking interactions in turn link parallel chains of centrosymmetric dimers into layers parallel to (010).
Crystal structure of 3-{1-[(1-allyl-1H-indazol-6-yl)amino]ethylidene}-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2,4(3H)-dione
Authors: El Ghozlani Mohamed , Rakib El Mostapha , Gamouh Ahmed , Saadi Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: November 2014

In the title compound, C18H17N3O3, the dihedral angle between the planes of the indazole ring system [maximum deviation = 0.012 (1) Å] and the pyran-2,4-dione ring is 54.03 (6)°. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond closes anS(6) ring. The same H atom also participates in an intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond, which generates an inversion dimer. The dimers are linked by weak C—H...O contacts, thereby forming a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure of 4-(3-carboxypropanamido)-2-hydroxybenzoic acid monohydrate
Authors: Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Ahmed Muhammad Naeem , Butt Arshad Farooq , Shad Hazoor Ahmad
Published: November 2014

In the title hydrate, C11H11NO6·H2O, the organic molecule is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation for the non-H atoms = 0.129 Å) and an intramolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond closes anS(6) ring. In the crystal, the benzoic acid group participates in an O—H...O hydrogen bond to the water molecule and accepts a similar bond from another water molecule. The other –CO2H group forms a carboxylic acid inversion dimer, thereby forming anR22(8) loop. These bonds, along with N—H...O and C—H...O interactions, generate a three-dimensional network.
Drivers and enablers of corporate entrepreneurship
Authors: Bhardwaj B.R. , Sushil  , Momaya K.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the various systems, processes, tools and mechanisms related to vision, team management, and compensation for stimulating entrepreneurial behavior within the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a historical analysis of the reasons why the company implemented corporate entrepreneurship (CE), reflecting upon the various systems and processes the company adopted to design vision, team management, and compensation structures to stimulate entrepreneurship within the organization. It elaborates on how these initiatives have helped the organization to reach its goals in innovation and new business creation and be competitive.

Findings

The paper identifies the current major challenges the company faced in designing the vision and the processes and systems to support it such as the design of appropriate structure to enable proper communication and interaction between departments. The paper develops a model showing top‐down and front‐line CE processes. The design of appropriate reward structure should complement the vision of the company. These are some of the drivers of corporate entrepreneurship as a guiding force for continuous future development.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes by describing a guiding model on the basis of case study research, which shows the top‐down and front‐line CE processes to stimulate entrepreneurial behavior within the organization. Future researchers can study this model and its impact on the CE outcomes in terms of performance and competitiveness.

Practical implications

This model describes the various processes including how executives can champion entrepreneurial initiatives, support and monitor the business unit. The study also suggests how an organization can effectively allocate resources to support entrepreneurial activities.

Originality/value

The paper identifies the current design challenges facing the organization and describes some of the processes to codesign the objectives and goals, compensation and design of new venture teams.
Audit fees and discretionary accruals: compensation structure effect
Authors: Alali Fatima
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between discretionary accruals (DAs) and audit fees and whether this relationship is affected by the chief financial officer's (CFO) compensation structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a large sample of cross‐sectional firms over the period 2000‐2006, multiple ordinary least square regression models are estimated.

Findings

The paper finds that there is a positive and significant association between DAs and audit fees. Evidence shows that this relationship is significantly higher as CFO's bonuses increase and that this relationship is moderated as CFO's salaries increase. It is also found that income‐increasing DAs are positively and significantly related with audit fees and that increase in CFO's bonuses signifies this positive relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Results may change during the current financial crisis (i.e. 2007‐present) due to the increased regulatory scrutiny of executive compensation.

Practical implications

The study has regulatory implications because of the recent calls to require a mandate regulating executive compensation practices. The results support these calls as data show that increased bonuses are associated with higher discretionary accruals and thus higher audit fees. There is also a call to limit executive compensation to fixed amounts and data support that increase in salaries moderates the positive association between discretionary accruals and audit fees. These results can also be used by independent auditors when assessing risks and thus the results have practical audit implications.

Originality/value

The paper uses a large sample of public firms in years leading to the current financial crisis and contributes to the literature in executive compensation and audit practice.
Is value chain financing a solution to the problems and challenges of access to finance of small‐scale farmers in Rwanda?
Authors: Kopparthi Murty S. , Kagabo Nkubito
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relationship between value chain financing and access to finance of small‐scale farmers in Rwanda. The authors propose two models of access to finance and their correlation with improved productivity and therefore profit for producers was obvious. Value chain financing products in Mukunguli, southern Rwanda have improved the life of small‐scale farmers tremendously.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on documentary reviews on value chain financing and direct interviews conducted with 122 farmers and staff from the microfinance institution. SPSS was used to analyze results from the field and actions are recommended for future prospects.

Findings

It was evident from the data collected from selected respondents that impact of the access to value chain financing products had a straight link to the levels of profit and production.

Research limitations/implications

Access to basic documentation was among the limitations of this paper. Furthermore, reliability of data collected from interviewers was open to question as it required deep analysis on some of the samples.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications of access to finance in agriculture sector through value chain financing products. The feasibility of the tested products had been approved, by both the financial institution and farmers. Value chain finance has improved the productivity and profits of farmers as well as the profit of the microfinance institution.

Social implications

The well being of small‐scale farmers has improved tremendously.

Originality/value

The paper is original in proving that value chain finance products can work in Rwanda – the first experience being in Mukunguli. It also proves that a microfinance institution can solve problems faced by small‐scale farmers in remote areas.
Report on AAAS 2010: on bridging science and society
Authors: Mihram Danielle , Arthur Mihram G.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the 2010 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), its 176th meeting, held February 18‐22, 2010 in San Diego.

Design/methodology/approach

Provides an overview of nine presentations as well as internet links (or bibliographic citations) of pertinent research, on each topic covered, for further understanding of the subject matter.

Findings

There is plenty of research on which to report.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on the latest research on: current technological advances relating to connectivity to the internet; key questions relating to the voluminous amount of data generated annually; and, how computational science, and its enabling cyberinfrastructure, is tackling some of the “grand challenges” facing science and society today.
The importance of team processes for different team types
Authors: Honts Christopher , Prewett Matthew , Rahael John , Grossenbacher Michael
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent to which team processes vary between team types, as well as the relative importance of these processes for different team types.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey study evaluated a sample of 316 members of various work teams that were classified as either intellectual (e.g. executive team) or physical (e.g. production team) teams. Independent samples t‐tests, paired samples t‐tests, and confirmatory factor analysis were used to evaluate hypotheses.

Findings

Confirmatory analysis indicated transition and action oriented process behaviors were distinct from one another. Intellectual teams were found to value transition processes (planning and strategizing) more highly than physical teams. Intellectual teams also valued transition processes (planning and strategizing), more than action processes (monitoring and coordinating).

Research limitations/implications

Research on team processes tends to focus upon a “one size fits all” approach to teamwork, but this approach has yielded inconsistent frameworks. This study provides evidence that these inconsistencies are due to the changing nature of teamwork. This study was limited in that only two broad types of teams and two types of process competencies were assessed.

Practical implications

Differences in the importance of certain processes for specific team types should be taken into account when implementing systems for team selection, performance appraisal, and training.

Originality/value

This paper provides empirical support for previous theoretical suppositions that different team types differ in the level of importance they place on certain processes.
A service evaluation of a community‐based mental health crisis house in inner city Liverpool
Authors: Ryan Tony , Nambiar‐Greenwood Gayatri , Haigh Carol , Mills Catherine
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The search for alternatives to inpatient mental health care in the UK and further afield has been going on over the last few decades of the previous century. Amongst the range of alternatives that have been developed are community‐based mental health crisis houses that seek to work with people, who may otherwise have been admitted to hospital. Amethyst House is a four‐bed mental health crisis house based in inner city Liverpool and works solely with the local Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHTT) to work with people who require support that could not be delivered at home. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of one element of a service evaluation: the effectiveness of the service in relation to the mental health needs of people admitted.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the service model, which integrates the crisis house and the CRHTT, with the latter acting as gatekeepers to the service.

Findings

Findings showed improvements in mental health symptomatology and disabilities associated with the crisis between admission and discharge from the service.

Originality/value

The paper describes the profile of the people who used the service over a six‐month period in 2009, their care pathways through the service and their clinical outcomes between admission and discharge.
Safety capital: the management of organizational knowledge on occupational health and safety
Authors: Nuñez Imanol , Villanueva Mikel
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The concept of Safety Capital was developed by analyzing the creation and composition of the Intellectual Capital embedded in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) systems. The paper aims to address this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

By drawing a theoretical link for the relationship between OHS activities and intellectual capital, guidelines for the management of organizational knowledge on OHS systems are outlined.

Findings

The paper shows that occupational health and safety should be considered among the sources of intellectual capital of the firm.

Originality/value

The theoretical framework is a potential guide for substantial improvement of advanced OSH management systems, a key element to visualize incentives to invest in safety and a powerful instrument for research in intellectual capital quantification.
Beyond the ba: managing enabling contexts in knowledge organizations
Authors: Wei Choo Chun , Correa Drummond de Alvarenga Neto Rivadávia
Published: November 2014

Purpose

Looking at the practical experience of organizations pursuing knowledge management, it is found that their efforts are primarily focused on creating the conditions and the context that will enable knowledge creation. This need for developing enabling conditions and contexts was identified more than a decade ago when Nonaka and associates introduced the concept of “ba.” This paper aims to map the development of the concept of “ba” in a number of disciplines in order to understand its theoretical evolution and practical application.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive search and evaluation of the literature resulted in a database of 135 papers, four dissertations and four books. Using content analysis, citation analysis, and concept mapping, four categories of research findings are identified that in turn suggest four groups of conditions for enabling knowledge creation.

Findings

The paper discusses each of these conditions (the social/behavioral, cognitive/epistemic, information systems/management, and strategy/structural), and introduces a framework that relates these conditions to the type of knowledge process and the level of interaction that characterize a knowledge management activity in the organization.

Originality/value

It is concluded that managing knowledge in organizations is fundamentally about creating an environment in the organization that is conducive to and encourages knowledge creation, sharing and use. Organizations interested in pursuing knowledge management and innovation may wish to be guided by the enabling conditions presented here that have been discovered over ten years of research. These conditions and the frameworks of which they are part can help managers to analyze, discuss, and introduce specific combinations of enabling factors that are tailored according to the type of knowledge process and level of interaction needed to address a particular knowledge problem or vision.
Game of two passions: a football fan's autoethnography
Authors: Parry Keith D.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of autoethnography within the context of sports fandom. This paper advocates the use of such qualitative methodologies to enable a greater understanding of sports fans. The paper also aims to provide greater understanding of sports fandom.

Design/methodology/approach

The research moves away from traditional methodologies of studying sports fandom from an objective viewpoint and uses an evocative autoethnography to provide an account of the lived experience of a sports fan.

Findings

By writing himself into his research it has been possible to gain a deeper insight into sports fandom. The subject of passion arises and while the Dualistic Model of Passion was explored as a mechanism for dealing with obsessive passion it is suggested that attempting to move away from a state of obsessive passion may diminish the enjoyment of being a sports fan.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the benefits that methodologies such as autoethnography can have for academics studying sports fandom and other disciplines. It encourages academics to overcome the perceived lack of academic acceptance of the method.

Originality/value

This paper utilises a qualitative methodology to explore the experience of being a sports fan. This methodological approach is yet to be fully embraced within this field and hence there is a lack of in‐depth data on the experiences of sports fans. This account will allow readers to develop a greater understanding and insight of sports fans.
How SCIE are guiding good practice on adult protection
Authors: Cass Elaine
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This short briefing aims to discuss Social Care Institute for Excellence's (SCIE's) work in safeguarding adults.

Design/methodology/approach

SCIE has produced a research briefing on self‐directed support and personal budgets, and work on restraint, personalisation and risk as well as other projects that promote best practice in adult protection.

Findings

Placing the person at the centre of safeguarding processes will support practitioners to move away from “service‐led” procedure‐focused responses.

Originality/value

Together, these resources aim to improve access to up‐to‐date knowledge. This will support the rapid pace of change in safeguarding practice.
Improving care for people with dementia in acute hospital: the role of person‐centred assessment
Authors: Webster Jonathan
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This paper seeks to demonstrate the role of person‐centred assessment in improving the standard of care for people with dementia in acute hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers a review of recent research and literature on person centred care highlighting its role in acute hospital settings. Case studies are also used by way of illustration.

Findings

Acute hospitals are inherently complex environments which pose particular challenges for the care and management of people with dementia. Evidence drawn from the literature and recent research suggests that person‐centred assessment has the capacity to enhance the quality of care for people with dementia and improve outcomes. Patients who are understood, listened to, and responded to tend to display lower levels of challenging behaviour, are calmer, more receptive to accepting treatment and have higher levels of well being. Although experienced nurses working in acute wards often have in‐depth knowledge of older peoples' health‐related needs, a reliance on inflexible “assessment frameworks” can distract them from focusing on the individual. The routinised nature of many ward environments, shift patterns, high staff turnover and weak clinical leadership also act as barriers. Person‐centred assessment can be employed to identify the needs of people with dementia based upon their life history and patterns of daily living; it can also underpin the design and delivery of person‐centred care and treatment throughout their hospital stay.

Originality/value

The capacity of person‐centred care to improve care suggests that it needs to be embedded in gerontological nursing practice in acute hospital settings as a clinical and managerial priority.
The aims, role and impact of an intermediate care service for people with dementia: reflections on a conference workshop
Authors: Wilkie David , Middleton James , Culverwell Alison , Milne Alisoun
Published: November 2014

Purpose

This article aims to describe the aims, role and impact of a specialist intermediate care service for people with dementia in Kent, entitled the Home Treatment Service (HTS). The authors reflect on two workshops about the service, delivered as part of the “Dementia Care: A Positive Future” conference held in May 2010.

Design/methodology/approach

The 45 participants in the workshops included service providers, professionals and family carers. The aims and nature of the service were outlined by members of the clinical team as: adopting a multi‐professional approach, emphasising the value of a shared assessment process and having a commitment to flexible and intensive working within a person centred framework.

Findings

Focusing on the HTS's work with care homes, presenters offered case illustrations to highlight its collaborative approach to working with service users, staff, managers and families to improve the quality of life for users presenting with “challenging behaviour” and preventing placement breakdown. Discussion with participants explored the obstacles and opportunities in working productively with care homes. The HTS's potential to reduce reliance on anti‐psychotic medication was specifically highlighted. In addition to improving user and carer quality of life, outcomes of HTS intervention include a reduction in and quicker discharge from, mental health hospitals and maintaining the person in their existing setting.

Originality/value

The importance of including all parties – the older person with dementia, relatives, care staff and professionals – in co‐creating “solutions” was identified as one the HTS's keys to success.
Private Telecommunications Investment in Emerging Economies: Comparing the Latin American and Asian Experience
Authors: Doh Jonathan P. , Teegen Hildy J.
Published: November 2014

Using a proprietary database of telecommunications projects in emerging markets, we investigate key location characteristics of private infrastructure projects in Latin America and Asia. We identify economic, institutional, sectoral, and cultural variables that influence project structure, and compare these environmental and structural characteristics between and within our focal regions. We find that investment projects in Latin America and Asia differ along a number of dimensions and that countries that are successful in attracting projects within regions demonstrate distinct environmental features that appear to draw that investment. We suggest that a contingency perspective is useful for understanding how different regions and countries offer advantages in some areas to compensate for liabilities in others.
Market Forces, Strategic Management, Human Resource Management Practices and Organizational Performance: A Model Based on a European Sample
Authors: Campos e Cunha Rita , Pina e Cunha‐Kintana Miguel , Morgado António , Brewster Chris
Published: November 2014

This study uses structural equation modeling to test a model of the impact of human resources management practices on perceived organizational performance, on a large sample of European companies. The influences of competitive intensity, industry attractiveness, and strategic management are considered in the model, and their direct and indirect influence on organizational performance is assessed. The model produced an adequate fit, and results show that strategic management does influence human resource practices. Human resource flexibility practices and performance management have a positive impact on organizational performance, while training was not found to have a significant impact. A direct positive impact of competitive intensity and industry attractiveness on strategic management was supported by the data, as well as a direct positive effect of industry attractiveness on perceived organizational performance.
Managing Customer Switching Costs: A Framework for Competing in the Networked Environment
Authors: Hess Mike , Enric Ricart Joan
Published: November 2014

Previous research argues that customer switching costs play an important role in the firm’s ability to retain customers and achieve competitive advantage. Research also indicates that in the increasingly networked environment, switching costs are changing in important ways. Despite switching costs’ recognized role in contributing to competitive advantage and its increasingly strategic characteristics in the expanding networked environment, we find a lack of coherence and completeness in the conceptual tools and models developed to understand its role and help effectively to manage the phenomenon. In this paper we attempt to address these needs by expanding and refining the conceptualization of customer switching costs and developing a more useful and comprehensive framework for managers.
Competitive Strategies and Firm Performance
Authors: Garrigós‐Simón Fernando J. , Palacios Marqués Daniel
Published: November 2014

Our paper contrasts and validates the relevance of Miles and Snow (1978) and Robinson and Pearce (1988) strategic models, and their causal relationships with performance. The empirical study was carried out on a sample of 189 enterprises from the Spanish hospitality sector. The results confirm the relevance of both models, and the importance of the different strategies as a source to explain performance. The analysis uses structural equation models and variance analysis (ANOVA) methodologies.
Combined musculoskeletal dynamics/structural finite element analysis of femur physiological loads during walking
Authors: Wagner David W. , Divringi Kaan , Ozcan Can , Grujicic M. , Pandurangan B. , Grujicic A.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present and evaluate a methodology for automatically constructing and applying the physiologically‐realistic boundary/loading conditions for use in the structural finite element analysis of the femur during various exertion tasks (e.g. gait/walking).

Design/methodology/approach

To obtain physiologically‐realistic boundary/loading conditions needed in the femur structural finite element analysis, a whole‐body musculoskeletal inverse dynamics analysis is carried out and the resulting muscle forces and joint reaction forces/moments extracted.

Findings

The finite element results obtained are compared with their counterparts available in literature and it is found that the overall agreement is acceptable while the highly automated procedure for the finite element model generation developed in the present work made the analysis fairly easy and computationally highly efficient. Potential sources of errors in the current procedure have been identified and the measures for their mitigation recommended.

Originality/value

The present approach enables a more accurate determination of the physiological loads experienced by the orthopedic implants which can be of great value to implant designers and orthopedic surgeons.
The Effect of Rotation on 2‐D Thermal Shock Problems for a Generalized Magneto‐thermo‐Elasticity Half‐Space Under Three Theories
Authors: Othman Mohamed , Qin Song Ya
Published: November 2014

The theory of generalized thermoelasticity, based on the Lord‐Shulman theory (LS) with one relaxation time and the Green‐Naghdi theory (GN) (of type II) without energy dissipation, as well as the classical dynamical coupled theory (CD), is used to study the electromagneto‐thermoelastic interactions in a semi‐infinite perfectly conducting solid subjected to a thermal shock on its surface. The entire elastic medium is rotating with a uniform angular velocity. There acts an initial magnetic field parallel to the plane boundary of the half‐space. The medium deformed because of thermal shock, the rotation and due to the application of the magnetic field. The normal mode analysis is used to obtain the exact expressions for the considered variables. The distributions of the variables considered are represented graphically for two different cases. From the distributions, the wave type heat propagation in the medium can be found. This indicates that the generalized heat conduction mechanism is completely different in essence from the classic Fourier’s law. Comparisons are made with the results predicted by the three theories in the presence and absence of rotation and a magnetic field.
The microeconomics of early child investment
Authors: Chevalier Arnaud , Finn Claire , Harmon Colm , Heckman James
Published: November 2014

This article illustrates the key findings from the economics literature on education investment, in particular the findings focused on early child investment. The article shows the impact of early investment, particularly evidence from experimental programmes on later life outcomes such as labour market performance and societal position. It demonstrates how investment in children is both an important investment for the child but also an important tool for economic and social policy.
Relational agency in collaborations for the well‐being of children and young people
Authors: Edwards Anne
Published: November 2014

This article focuses on the conditions that are conducive to effective work on reducing children's vulnerability to social exclusion. It draws on three studies of practitioners who are collaborating to prevent the social exclusion of children and young people. Two ideas are discussed: distributed expertise and relational agency. Distributed expertise recognises that expertise is distributed across local systems and that practitioners need to become adept at recognising, drawing on and contributing to it. Relational agency offers a finer‐grained analysis of what is involved in working in systems of distributed expertise. Findings include the need for professionals to develop relational agency as an extra layer of expertise alongside their core professional expertise and a concern that interprofessional work may result in seeing clients as tasks to be worked on rather than people to be worked with relationally. Implications for training and professional development are outlined.
Historical recovery heroes – Charles Darwin
Authors: Wakely Elizabeth , Carson Jerome
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The paper reviews Darwin's health problems and suggests they may have been a “creative malady”.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors look at Darwin's upbringing, his career and achievements, evidence for mental illness and his status as a historical recovery hero.

Findings

In addition to the published literature, Darwin himself acknowledged that his health problems enabled him to dedicate his life to his scientific research.

Originality/value

The authors combine their perspectives as a historian and psychologist to interpret the literature on Darwin's illness.