bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dedovshchinaon trial. Some evidence concerning the last Soviet generation of “sons” and “grandfathers”
Authors: Maklak Alena
Published: July 2015

The article analyzes violent practices –dedovshchina– among the recruits of the Soviet Armed Forces, which became commonplace during the late socialist period, but were not publicly discussed until the advent of glasnost'. By focusing on individual men's testimonies, it intends to capture male experiences and interpretations of this phenomenon as well as the significance and value they attached to it in the context of their individual life scripts. The study is based on 20 theme-oriented interviews with young, recently demobilized men conducted in the framework of a sociological project in 1988/1989. They are interpreted with the help of a narrative analysis. Having experienced various forms of violence as army soldiers, the young men's narratives embraceddedovshchinaas a functional tool of self-organization within the otherwise dysfunctional military institution and stressed the values of endurance and maturation central to male identity. Considering the unprecedented concurrent discussion ofdedovshchinain the Soviet media, which scandalized the phenomenon and raised moral and political questions concerning the state's failure to secure the physical wellbeing of its soldiers, these testimonies attain additional significance. They demonstrate attempts to contest the stories and interpretation generated by the media and to reassert individual morality in the face of personal involvement in practices now condemned as wrong.
Positing “not-yet-nationalism”: limits to the impact of nationalism theory on Kurdish historiography
Authors: Maxwell Alexander , Smith Tim
Published: July 2015

This article examines the impact of nationalism theory, and specifically the theory of national awakening, on Kurdish historiography. Kurdish experts cite several famous nationalism theorists, but seem most impressed by Anthony Smith's model of a singular transformation in which a not-yet-national community becomes a proper nation. Kurdish experts do not always use Smith's terminology, however, and often invoke other scholars in support of the singular transformation model. Kurdish historiography disagrees what the singular transformation entails, and different thresholds of nationalism imply wildly different dates for the birth of Kurdish nationalism. Stage theories of national awakening have had little impact, and ought to be reconsidered.
Developmental and nutritional regulation of isoflavone secretion from soybean roots
Authors: Sugiyama Akifumi , Yamazaki Yumi , Yamashita Kazuaki , Takahashi Seiji , Nakayama Toru , Yazaki Kazufumi
Published: July 2015

Isoflavones play important roles in plant–microbe interactions in rhizospheres. Soybean roots secrete daidzein and genistein to attract rhizobia. Despite the importance of isoflavones in plant–microbe interactions, little is known about the developmental and nutritional regulation of isoflavone secretion from soybean roots. In this study, soybeans were grown in hydroponic culture, and isoflavone contents in tissues, isoflavone secretion from the roots, and the expression of isoflavone conjugates hydrolyzing beta-glucosidase (ICHG) were investigated. Isoflavone contents did not show strong growth-dependent changes, while secretion of daidzein from the roots dramatically changed, with higher secretion during vegetative stages. Coordinately, the expression of ICHG also peaked at vegetative stages. Nitrogen deficiency resulted in 8- and 15-fold increases in secretion of daidzein and genistein, respectively, with no induction of ICHG. Taken together, these results suggest that large amounts of isoflavones were secreted during vegetative stages via the hydrolysis of (malonyl)glucosides with ICHG.
Fucophlorethol C, a phlorotannin as a lipoxygenase inhibitor
Authors: Kurihara Hideyuki , Konno Remi , Takahashi Koretaro
Published: July 2015

Fucophlorethol C, a phlorotannin, was isolated from the brown alga Colpomenia bullosa (Scyto-siphonaceae) as a novel lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. It was obtained as a free form from natural origin for the first time. The compound inhibited a soybean LOX to the same extent as the known inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid.
The role of lexical expertise in reading homophones
Authors: Burt Jennifer S. , Jared Debra
Published: July 2015

In Experiment 1, university students classified on lexical expertise on the basis of spelling plus nonword pronunciation accuracy made lexical decisions to homophones and control words. Homophones were accepted as words more slowly than control words, but lexical experts showed a smaller homophone cost than the less skilled group. In Experiment 2, similarly classified groups showed a large difference in their ability to detect homophones, with the low-expertise group showing a yes bias to high-frequency words, and having difficulty detecting homophones when mate-frequency was low. The results suggest superior use of orthography in the lexical experts and more reliance on semantic information in nonexperts, and support the importance of facility with orthography–phonology mappings in lexical expertise.
Non-equilibrium Dynamics of an Optomechanical Dicke Model
Authors: Debnath Kamanasish , Bhattacherjee Aranya B.
Published: July 2015

Motivated by the experimental realization of Dicke model in optical cavities, we model an optomechanical system consisting of two-level BEC atoms with transverse pumping. We investigate the transition from normal and inverted state to the superradiant phase through a detailed study of the phase portraits of the system. The rich phase portraits generated by analytical arguments display two types of superradiant phases, regions of coexistence and some portion determining the persistent oscillations. We study the time evolution of the system from any phase and discuss the role of mirror frequency in reaching their attractors. Further, we add an external mechanical pump to the mirror which is capable of changing the mirror frequency through radiation pressure and study the impact of the pump on the phase portraits and the dynamics of the system. We find the external mirror frequency changing the phase portraits and even shifting the critical transition point, thereby predicting a system with controllable phase transition.
(2+1)-Dimensional Spatial Localized Modes in Cubic-Quintic Nonlinear Media with the

-Symmetric Potentials*
Authors: Chen Yi-Xiang , Xu Zhou-Xiang , Jiang Yun-Feng , Shi Jin , Xu Fang-Qian
Published: July 2015

We obtain exact spatial localized mode solutions of a (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation with constant diffraction and cubic-quintic nonlinearity in

-symmetric potential, and study the linear stability of these solutions. Based on these results, we further derive exact spatial localized mode solutions in a cubic-quintic medium with harmonic and

-symmetric potentials. Moreover, the dynamical behaviors of spatial localized modes in the exponential diffraction decreasing waveguide and the periodic distributed amplification system are investigated.
On Calculations of Legendre Functions and Associated Legendre Functions of the First Kind of Complex Degree
Authors: Thylwe Karl-Erik , McCabe Patrick
Published: July 2015

Formulas for calculating Legendre functions and associated Legendre functions of the first kind of complex degree using an Ermakov–Lewis invariant are presented. These formulas are straight-forward to implement numerically and are motivated by the lack of computational routines in standard university tools like those of MatLab and Maple. Angular waves propagating in opposite directions are also obtained. The results are particularly useful in complex angular momentum theories and nearside/farside analysis of spin-dependent angular scattering from central potentials.
Abstract Bergman kernel expansion and its applications
Authors: Liu Chiung-ju , Lu Zhiqin
Published: July 2015

We give a purely complex geometric proof of the existence of the Bergman kernel expansion. Our method actually provides a sharper estimate, and in the case that the metrics are real analytic, we prove that the remainder decays faster than any polynomial.
Trichodiene Production in aTrichoderma harzianum erg1-Silenced Strain Provides Evidence of the Importance of the Sterol Biosynthetic Pathway in Inducing Plant Defense-Related Gene Expression
Authors: Malmierca M. G. , McCormick S. P. , Cardoza R. E. , Monte E. , Alexander N. J. , Gutiérrez S.
Published: July 2015

Trichoderma species are often used as biocontrol agents against plant-pathogenic fungi. A complex molecular interaction occurs among the biocontrol agent, the antagonistic fungus, and the plant. Terpenes and sterols produced by the biocontrol fungus have been found to affect gene expression in both the antagonistic fungus and the plant. The terpene trichodiene (TD) elicits the expression of genes related to tomato defense and to Botrytis virulence. We show here that TD itself is able to induce the expression of Botrytis genes involved in the synthesis of botrydial (BOT) and also induces terpene gene expression in Trichoderma spp. The terpene ergosterol, in addition to its role as a structural component of the fungal cell membranes, acts as an elicitor of defense response in plants. In the present work, using a transformant of T. harzianum, which is silenced in the erg1 gene and accumulates high levels of squalene, we show that this ergosterol precursor also acts as an important elicitor molecule of tomato defense-related genes and induces Botrytis genes involved in BOT biosynthesis, in both cases, in a concentration-dependent manner. Our data emphasize the importance of a balance of squalene and ergosterol in fungal interactions as well as in the biocontrol activity of Trichoderma spp.
Effect of Soil Inoculum Density and Temperature on the Incidence of Cucumber Black Root Rot
Authors: Shishido Kuniaki , Murakami Hiroyuki , Kanda Daiki , Fuji Shin-ichi , Toda Takeshi , Furuya Hiromitsu
Published: July 2015

The effects of the density of Phomopsis sclerotioides in soil and other environmental factors on black root rot of cucumber were investigated. Cucumber plants were grown in soil containing P. sclerotioides at 1, 10, 100, and 1000 CFU/g. Wilt incidence from 3 to 7 weeks after transplanting was strongly correlated with P. sclerotioides density in soil (P < 0.05). Root rot of squash rootstock occurred in soil with very low inoculum densities (0.1 CFU/g), and was strongly related to P. sclerotioides density (Y = −0.3x + 1.2, R2 = 0.743, P < 0.05) at 8 weeks after transplanting. Cucumber plants showed wilt symptoms in soil containing 1 CFU/g. Wilt symptoms in cucumber plants occurred 4 to 7 days earlier in soil at 22°C than in soil at 27 or 17°C. Root rot development could be predicted from the density of P. sclerotioides in soil and soil temperature. However, further studies on the effects of other environmental factors are required to test the linear model in commercial fields. This information is essential for determining the threshold pathogen density at which most control techniques, particularly those other than soil disinfection, will be effective.
Bottom-up effects of a no-take zone on endangered penguin demographics
Authors: Sherley Richard B. , Winker Henning , Altwegg Res , van der Lingen Carl D. , Votier Stephen C. , Crawford Robert J. M.
Published: July 2015

Marine no-take zones can have positive impacts for target species and are increasingly important management tools. However, whether they indirectly benefit higher order predators remains unclear. The endangered African penguin (
Spheniscus demersus
) depends on commercially exploited forage fish. We examined how chick survival responded to an experimental 3-year fishery closure around Robben Island, South Africa, controlling for variation in prey biomass and fishery catches. Chick survival increased by 18% when the closure was initiated, which alone led to a predicted 27% higher population compared with continued fishing. However, the modelled population continued to decline, probably because of high adult mortality linked to poor prey availability over larger spatial scales. Our results illustrate that small no-take zones can have bottom-up benefits for highly mobile marine predators, but are only one component of holistic, ecosystem-based management regimes.
First evidence of neurons in the male copulatory organ of a spider (Arachnida, Araneae)
Authors: Lipke Elisabeth , Hammel Jörg U. , Michalik Peter
Published: July 2015

Spider males have evolved a remarkable way of transferring sperm by using a modified part of their pedipalps, the so-called palpal organ. The palpal organ is ontogenetically derived from tarsal claws; however, no nerves, sensory organs or muscles have been detected in the palpal bulb so far, suggesting that the spider male copulatory organ is numb and sensorily blind. Here, we document the presence of neurons and a nerve inside the male palpal organ of a spider for the first time. Several neurons that are located in the embolus are attached to the surrounding cuticle where stresses and strains lead to a deformation (stretching) of the palpal cuticle on a local scale, suggesting a putative proprioreceptive function. Consequently, the male copulatory organ of this species is not just a numb structure but likely able to directly perceive sensory input during sperm transfer. In addition, we identified two glands in the palpal organ, one of which is located in the embolus (embolus gland). The embolus gland appears to be directly innervated, which could allow for rapid modulation of secretory activity. Thus, we hypothesize that the transferred seminal fluid can be modulated to influence female processes.
Spirosoma fluviale sp. nov., isolated from river water
Authors: Hatayama Kouta , Kuno Teruaki
Published: July 2015

A bacterial strain, designated MSd3T, was isolated from a freshwater sample collected from the Hosoda River in Japan. The cells of strain MSd3T were Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, aerobic, non-motile, curved rods forming rings, coils and undulating filaments. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain MSd3T showed closest similarity to that of Spirosoma linguale DSM 74T (97.6 % similarity) and similarity to other members of the genus Spirosoma ranged from 90.3 to 95.9 %. Strain MSd3T contained menaquinone 7 as the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 1ω5c. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminophospholipids and three unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 53.3 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain MSd3T and S. linguale DSM 74T was 19 % or 25 % (reciprocal value). From the chemotaxonomic and physiological data and the levels of DNA–DNA relatedness, strain MSd3T should be classified as the representative of a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma fluviale sp. nov. (type strain MSd3T = JCM 30659T = DSM 29961T) is proposed.
Lewinella xylanilytica sp. nov., a member of the family Saprospiraceae isolated from coastal seawater
Authors: Sung Hye-Ri , Lee Jin-Man , Kim Mibang , Shin Kee-Sun
Published: July 2015

An orange-pigmented bacterium, designated strain 13-9-B8T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected at Marado, Jeju Island, South Korea. The novel strain was Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, non-gliding, rod-shaped and aerobic. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain clustered with members of the genus Lewinella of the family Saprospiraceae in the phylum Bacteroidetes and was most closely related to the species Lewinella marina (95.6 % similarity to the type strain). Strain 13-9-B8T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and with 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain 13-9-B8T contained MK-7 as the predominant menquinone and summed feature 3, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The polar lipids detected in strain 13-9-B8T were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and eight unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain 13-9-B8T was 59.1 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data presented, strain 13-9-B8T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Lewinella, for which the name Lewinella xylanilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 13-9-B8T ( = DSM 29526T = KCTC 32663T).
Beyond power: Multivariate discovery, replication, and interpretation of pleiotropic loci using summary association statistics
Authors: Ning Zheng , Tsepilov Yakov A. , Sharapov Sodbo Zh. , Grishenko Alexander K. , Feng Xiao , Shirali Masoud , Joshi Peter K. , Wilson James F. , Pawitan Yudi , Haley Chris S. , Aulchenko Yurii S. , Shen Xia
Published: July 2015

The ever-growing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed widespread pleiotropy. To exploit this, various methods which consider variant association with multiple traits jointly have been developed. However, most effort has been put on improving discovery power: how to replicate and interpret these discovered pleiotropic loci using multivariate methods has yet to be discussed fully. Using only multiple publicly available single-trait GWAS summary statistics, we develop a fast and flexible multi-trait framework that contains modules for (i) multi-trait genetic discovery, (ii) replication of locus pleiotropic profile, and (iii) multi-trait conditional analysis. The procedure is able to handle any level of sample overlap. As an empirical example, we discovered and replicated 23 novel pleiotropic loci for human anthropometry and evaluated their pleiotropic effects on other traits. By applying conditional multivariate analysis on the 23 loci, we discovered and replicated two additional multi-trait associated SNPs. Our results provide empirical evidence that multi-trait analysis allows detection of additional, replicable, highly pleiotropic genetic associations without genotyping additional individuals. The methods are implemented in a free and open source R package MultiABEL.

Author summary

By analyzing large-scale genomic data, geneticists have revealed widespread pleiotropy, i.e. single genetic variation can affect a wide range of complex traits. Methods have been developed to discover such genetic variants. However, we still lack insights into the relevant genetic architecture - What more can we learn from knowing the effects of these genetic variants?

Here, we develop a fast and flexible statistical analysis procedure that includes discovery, replication, and interpretation of pleiotropic effects. The whole analysis pipeline only requires established genetic association study results. We also provide the mathematical theory behind the pleiotropic genetic effects testing.

Most importantly, we show how a replication study can be essential to reveal new biology rather than solely increasing sample size in current genomic studies. For instance, we show that, using our proposed replication strategy, we can detect the difference in genetic effects between studies of different geographical origins.

We applied the method to the GIANT consortium anthropometric traits to discover new genetic associations, replicated in the UK Biobank, and provided important new insights into growth and obesity.

Our pipeline is implemented in an open-source R package MultiABEL, sufficiently efficient that allows researchers to immediately apply on personal computers in minutes.
HTS-IBIS: fast and accurate inference of binding site motifs from HT-SELEX data
Authors: Orenstein Yaron , Shamir Ron
Published: July 2015

Recent technological advancements enable measuring the binding of a transcription factor to thousands of DNA sequences, in order to infer its binding preferences. High-throughput-SELEX measures protein-DNA binding by deep sequencing over several cycles of enrichment. We devised a new algorithm called HTS-IBIS for the inference task. HTS-IBIS corrects for technological biases, selects the cycle and k, and builds a motif starting from a consensus k-mer in that cycle. In large scale tests, HTS-IBIS outperformed the extant automatic algorithm for the motif finding task on bothin vitroandin vivobinding prediction.

Availability

HTS-IBIS is available on acgt.cs.tau.ac.il/HTS-IBIS.

Contact

rshamir@tau.ac.il
Chaperoning 5S RNA assembly
Authors: Madru Clément , Lebaron Simon , Blaud Magali , Delbos Lila , Pipoli Juliana , Pasmant Eric , Réty Stéphane , Leulliot Nicolas
Published: July 2015

In eukaryotes, three of the four ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs)—the 5.8S, 18S, and 25S/28S rRNAs—are processed from a single pre-rRNA transcript and assembled into ribosomes. The fourth rRNA, the 5S rRNA, is transcribed by RNA polymerase III and is assembled into the 5S ribonucleoprotein particle (RNP), containing ribosomal proteins Rpl5/uL18 and Rpl11/uL5, prior to its incorporation into preribosomes. In mammals, the 5S RNP is also a central regulator of the homeostasis of the tumor suppressor p53. The nucleolar localization of the 5S RNP and its assembly into preribosomes are performed by a specialized complex composed of Rpf2 and Rrs1 in yeast or Bxdc1 and hRrs1 in humans. Here we report the structural and functional characterization of the Rpf2–Rrs1 complex alone, in complex with the 5S RNA, and within pre-60S ribosomes. We show that the Rpf2–Rrs1 complex contains a specialized 5S RNA E-loop-binding module, contacts the Rpl5 protein, and also contacts the ribosome assembly factor Rsa4 and the 25S RNA. We propose that the Rpf2–Rrs1 complex establishes a network of interactions that guide the incorporation of the 5S RNP in preribosomes in the initial conformation prior to its rotation to form the central protuberance found in the mature large ribosomal subunit.
Functional compensation among HMGN variants modulates the DNase I hypersensitive sites at enhancers
Authors: Deng Tao , Zhu Z. Iris , Zhang Shaofei , Postnikov Yuri , Huang Di , Horsch Marion , Furusawa Takashi , Beckers Johannes , Rozman Jan , Klingenspor Martin , Amarie Oana , Graw Jochen , Rathkolb Birgit , Wolf Eckhard , Adler Thure , Busch Dirk H. , Gailus-Durner Valérie , Fuchs Helmut , Hrabě de Angelis Martin , van der Velde Arjan , Tessarollo Lino , Ovcherenko Ivan , Landsman David , Bustin Michael
Published: July 2015

DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs) are a hallmark of chromatin regions containing regulatory DNA such as enhancers and promoters; however, the factors affecting the establishment and maintenance of these sites are not fully understood. We now show that HMGN1 and HMGN2, nucleosome-binding proteins that are ubiquitously expressed in vertebrate cells, maintain the DHS landscape of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) synergistically. Loss of one of these HMGN variants led to a compensatory increase of binding of the remaining variant. Genome-wide mapping of the DHSs in Hmgn1−/−, Hmgn2−/−, and Hmgn1−/−n2−/− MEFs reveals that loss of both, but not a single HMGN variant, leads to significant remodeling of the DHS landscape, especially at enhancer regions marked by H3K4me1 and H3K27ac. Loss of HMGN variants affects the induced expression of stress-responsive genes in MEFs, the transcription profiles of several mouse tissues, and leads to altered phenotypes that are not seen in mice lacking only one variant. We conclude that the compensatory binding of HMGN variants to chromatin maintains the DHS landscape, and the transcription fidelity and is necessary to retain wild-type phenotypes. Our study provides insight into mechanisms that maintain regulatory sites in chromatin and into functional compensation among nucleosome binding architectural proteins.
A Constitutively Active Allele of Phytochrome B Maintains Circadian Robustness in the Absence of Light
Authors: Jones Matthew Alan , Hu Wei , Litthauer Suzanne , Lagarias J. Clark , Harmer Stacey Lynn
Published: July 2015

The sensitivity of the circadian system to light allows entrainment of the clock, permitting coordination of plant metabolic function and flowering time across seasons. Light affects the circadian system via both photoreceptors, such as phytochromes and cryptochromes, and sugar production by photosynthesis. In the present study, we introduce a constitutively active version of phytochrome B-Y276H (YHB) into both wild-type and phytochrome null backgrounds of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to distinguish the effects of photoreceptor signaling on clock function from those of photosynthesis. We find that the YHB mutation is sufficient to phenocopy red light input into the circadian mechanism and to sustain robust rhythms in steady-state mRNA levels even in plants grown without light or exogenous sugars. The pace of the clock is insensitive to light intensity in YHB plants, indicating that light input to the clock is constitutively activated by this allele. Mutation of YHB so that it is retained in the cytoplasm abrogates its effects on clock function, indicating that nuclear localization of phytochrome is necessary for its clock regulatory activity. We also demonstrate a role for phytochrome C as part of the red light sensing network that modulates phytochrome B signaling input into the circadian system. Our findings indicate that phytochrome signaling in the nucleus plays a critical role in sustaining robust clock function under red light, even in the absence of photosynthesis or exogenous sources of energy.
The long-term performance of cross-border mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Lan Sai , Yang Fan , Zhu Hong
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine Chinese firms’ long-term value creation derived from cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBMAs).

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors collected a sample of 140 CBMAs conducted by Chinese firms listed in Shenzhen and Shanghai stock markets between 1997 and 2010. Long-horizon event study methodology was used to test hypotheses.

Findings

– The authors find Chinese firms gain long-term value from CBMAs. In particular, the authors find that Chinese firms tend to gain more value from targets from developed countries, and Chinese state-owned firms are more capable of gaining value from CBMAs than Chinese private firms.

Originality/value

– Given Chinese firms are increasingly acquiring targets outside of China in recent years, it is still unclear about whether Chinese firms gain value from these very expensive cross-border deals. This is one of the first studies that address the question: What are the long-term performance outcomes of Chinese CBMAs in recent years?
KKCL: exploring growth opportunities
Authors: Kainth Jyoti , Kainth Gautam
Published: July 2015

Subject area

Product Management, Marketing Strategy, Growth Strategies.

Study level/applicability

Bachelor of Business Studies, MBA, Executive MBA.

Case overview

The case documents the humble beginning of Kewal Kiran Clothing Limited (KKCL) in 1981 to its current position as a leading fashion apparel brand in India. However, competition from new national players, emergence of global players in India, private labels of retailers and dawn of Internet retailing has created significant growth challenges for the firm. Mr Jain, the Managing Director of KKCL, is contemplating the growth strategies for the firm and possible changes in the business model, as he is developing the 2014-2015 strategic plan for KKCL. This is imperative to reach the ambitious sales target of INR 10 billion by 2018-2019. The students are expected to assess the performance of KKCL on multiple quantitative and qualitative data points given in the case and exhibits. It encourages them to come up with possible growth strategies for the firm.

Expected learning outcomes

The case is expected to guide students in comprehending the multi-thronged challenges pertaining to fashion apparel industry; in Situational Analysis of the firm, which includes assessing internal and external factors; and in recommending the best possible growth strategy after due evaluation and deliberation using Ansoff's Matrix.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Accounts of self-gift giving: nature, context and emotions
Authors: Heath Teresa Pereira , Tynan Caroline , Ennew Christine
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a contextualized view of participants’ accounts of self-gift consumer behaviour (SGCB) throughout the consumption cycle, from the motivations to the emotions that follow.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses an interpretive approach, focused on participants’ constructions of meanings, using 99 critical incident technique interviews, which followed 16 in-depth interviews.

Findings

– This paper identifies the following self-gift motivations: To Reward Myself (and Others); To celebrate; To remember or get closer; To forget or part; To feel loved or cheered up; and To enjoy life. It also uncovers a compensatory/therapeutic dimension in most self-gifts. The authors identify changes in emotional responses to SGCB over time, and suggest a relationship between these emotions and the contexts that drive self-gifts. Self-gifts are conceptualized as pleasure-oriented, symbolic and special consumption experiences, which are self-directed, or both self- and others-directed; perceived by the consumer to be justified by the contexts in which they occur; and driven and followed by context-dependent emotions.

Originality/value

– This manuscript offers novel insights into participants’ uses of both SGCB and the act of labelling purchases “self-gifts”. It uncovers how consumers are concerned with accounting for indulgent spending and how this problematizes the concept of “self-gift”. It challenges the idea of a single context for SGCB, showing how interacting motivations explain it. It also introduces a temporal dimension to self-gift theory by considering emotional responses at different times. Finally, it offers a new conceptualization of and theoretical framework for SGCB.
Predictors of protean career and the moderating role of career strategies among professionals in Malaysian Electrical and Electronics (E
&
E) Industry
Authors: Wong Siew Chin , Mohd Rasdi Roziah
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of individually related variables and the moderating role of career strategies on protean career among professionals in Malaysian Electrical
&
Electronics (E
&
E) industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– Research data were gathered from a sample of 306 of professional employees in 18 E
&
E multinational corporations in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed to examine the influences of individually related factors and the moderating role of career strategies on protean career.

Findings

– The results demonstrate that individually related variables, namely, self-efficacy, outcome expectation, goal orientation and locus of control are viewed as potential predictors of protean career. There are significant moderating effects of career strategies on the relationship between goal orientation and protean career among professional employees.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper provide an empirical framework to explain protean career based on the review of career-related literatures.

Practical implications

– The findings provide implications to both individuals and human resource development (HRD) practitioners on new career trends of protean career. Practical interventions are suggested to assist individuals and organizations towards protean career development.

Social implications

– This paper supports individual protean career development.

Originality/value

– This paper offers new insight into the predicting factors of protean career and its moderating role on career strategies.
Exploring shared and distinctive aspects of coaching and mentoring approaches through six disciplines
Authors: Salter Tina , Gannon Judie M
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine where and how coaching and mentoring disciplines overlap or differ in approach. Coaching and mentoring have emerged as important interventions as the role of helping relationships have gained prominence in human resource development. However, there appear to be contexts where one or other is preeminent, without consistent explanation of their suitability. Such inconsistency arguably creates confusion and doubt about these interventions and their efficacy notably amongst those who commission such interventions and their potential beneficiaries. This study focuses on this inconsistency of coaching or mentoring by exploring practitioners’ approaches within six disciplines: executive coaches, coaching psychologists, sports coaches, mentors of leaders, mentors of newly qualified teachers and mentors of young people, with the aim of assisting those seeking support with development.

Design/methodology/approach

– This exploratory study was undertaken using a qualitative methodology, where in-depth interviews were completed with experienced practitioners to elucidate their approaches and practice.

Findings

– The findings show that approaches may be discipline-specific, where practitioners specialise in a particular type of coaching or mentoring requiring distinctive knowledge and/or skills. However, the sharing of good practice across disciplines and the value of understanding the common dimensions which emerged is also evident, providing clients and those who commission coaching and mentoring with reassurances regarding the nature of these helping relationships.

Research limitations/implications

– As the research focused only on the practitioners’ experiences of their work in these disciplines, it is vital that the mentees’ and coachees’ experiences are captured in future research. There is also value in further exploration of the model developed.

Practical implications

– By deploying the model concerned with the future development of these interventions suggests practitioners can expand their capacity and scope by adopting interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches.

Originality/value

– By directly exploring the shared and distinctive approaches of coaching and mentoring practitioners in six contexts, this study provides opportunities to understand where practitioners can benefit from imparting best practice across these interventions and highlighting specific aspects for their context.
A consensus based vulnerability assessment to climate change in Germany
Authors: Greiving Stefan , Zebisch Marc , Schneiderbauer Stefan , Fleischhauer Mark , Lindner Christian , Lückenkötter Johannes , Buth Mareike , Kahlenborn Walter , Schauser Inke
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose a collaborative approach toward an integrated vulnerability assessment to climate change in Germany that attempts to bridge the gap between scientific output and policy demand.

Design/methodology/approach

– Conceptually, the approach follows the definition of vulnerability as used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, but it has modified this basic concept. It clearly distinguishes between three time slices (presence, near and remote future) not only regarding the change in the climatic conditions but also socio-economic development trends.

Findings

– The paper concentrates on the selected methodological framework, the collaborative research design and those preliminary results of the nationwide vulnerability assessment that are transferable to other settings.

Practical implications

– A Vulnerability Network (“Netzwerk Vulnerabilitaet”) emerged from an applied research project commissioned under the Adaptation Action Plan of the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety and the Federal Environment Agency. The assessment serves as evidence basis for the implementation of the German Adaptation Strategy. Thus, all relevant federal authorities and agencies are represented in the Vulnerability Network.

Originality/value

– The approach is the first really integrative vulnerability assessment for the whole Germany, as it considers not only 16 sectors but also interconnections between these sectors and cumulative effects for three different time slices. Moreover, the normative component of the assessment was clearly separated from the analytic one. The Vulnerability Network as a whole has been responsible for all normative decisions to be taken during the assessment procedure thus ensuring a wide understanding and acceptance of commonly achieved results.
Employment effects of union-bargained minimum wages
Authors: Skedinger Per
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of collectively agreed increases in minimum wages for manual workers on employment transitions and hours.

Design/methodology/approach

– The econometric approach relies on the identification of workers affected by minimum wage changes, depending on their position in the wage distribution and contrasts outcomes for these workers to those for unaffected workers, with slightly higher wages.

Findings

– The analysis suggests that separations increase as minimum wages increase and that substitution between worker groups in response to changes in minimum wages is important in retail. In general, though, hours do not change much as minimum wages increase.

Research limitations/implications

– Analyses that deal with employment consequences of increasing minimum wages but disregard hours may exaggerate the overall decline in employment to the extent that job losses are concentrated among low-paid, part-time workers.

Practical implications

– With union-bargained minimum wages, unions and employers need to carefully consider the effects of increasing rates on employment.

Social implications

– The findings that there is a trade-off between higher wages among the low-paid and employment loss and that employment to some extent is reshuffled between individuals should be important from a welfare perspective.

Originality/value

– The literature on employment effects of minimum wages is large, but very few studies are concerned with union-bargained minimum wages. The assumptions of the econometric model are tested in a novel way by imposing fictitious minimum wages on lower-level non-manuals in the same industry, with turnover characteristics similar to those of manuals but covered by a different collective agreement with non-binding actual minimum wages.
Educational mismatch and unemployment scarring
Authors: Ordine Patrizia , Rose Giuseppe
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate educational mismatch and its interrelationships with unemployment duration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors study unemployment histories of Italian workers using dependent competing risk models. The authors evaluate the impact of overeducation on wage using propensity score and treatment models.

Findings

– The authors show that overeducated have longer unemployment spells than their well-matched peers. This evidence implies that when assessing the impact of overeducation on wages, the duration of joblessness should be taken into account to evaluate possible additional unemployment scarring effects. The authors show that when controlling for unemployment spell duration the wage effect of overeducation significantly increases of about 7 percent. This result is supported by improvements in the sensitivity analysis.

Originality/value

– The findings are consistent with an interpretation of educational mismatch as a penalizing phenomenon in the individuals’ working life associated with long-term unemployment.
Performance outcomes of behavioral attributes in buyer-supplier relationships
Authors: Graca Sandra Simas , Barry James M. , Doney Patricia M.
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explain the impact of relationship capital (trust and commitment) and the exchange climate (communication, conflict resolution and cooperation) on performance satisfaction in the context of buyer–supplier relationships. The study also examines the influence of national culture on the proposed relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual model and accompanying research hypotheses are tested on data from a survey of 169 US and 110 Brazilian buyers. Structural equation modeling (AMOS 18.0) is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– Results suggest that performance satisfaction is highly dependent on the level of relationship capital and climate of information exchange between buyer and supplier. Quality communication and conflict resolution have the greatest impact on performance satisfaction while trust’s influence is both direct and mediated by the exchange climate.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is limited to a two-country sample in a business-to-business (B2B) context. Also, this study examines only the impact of socio-psychological behaviors on performance outcomes; economic variables are not considered.

Practical implications

– Results provide insight into what behavioral attributes are most influential in increasing a buyer’s satisfaction with a supplier’s performance in distinct countries. Based on the findings, suppliers can better formulate strategies to enter overseas markets.

Originality/value

– This study extends the strategic alliance literature on performance-relevant behaviors to the context of buyer–supplier relationships. In addition, the study contributes to the extant literature by including a sample from an emerging market.
Resource complementarity, transformative capacity, and inbound open innovation
Authors: Huang Hao-Chen , Lai Mei-Chi , Huang Wei-Wei
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examine the potential impact of external complementary resources on inbound open innovation and whether transformative capacity acts as a mediator in the process. If small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are to successfully implement inbound open innovation, they require injections of external complementary resources.

Design/methodology/approach

– Structural equation modeling was used to conduct confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate measurement model, while ordinary least squares regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses; research data are collected using surveys of 200 Taiwanese-owned SMEs in mainland China.

Findings

– Empirical results indicate that when SMEs seek to implement inbound open innovation, technological complementarity is the most important factor in resource complementarity. In addition, transformative capacity has a significant mediating role on the relationship between resource complementarity and inbound open innovation.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this paper lies in explaining the role played by transformative capacity in the process of inbound open innovation for SMEs through empirical analysis.
The risk of real estate ownership: evidence from German equities
Authors: Rochdi Karim
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the repercussions and impact of corporate real estate on the returns of non-real-estate equities in a time-series setting. While the ownership of real estate constitutes a considerable proportion of most listed firms’ balance sheet, in the existing literature, whether or not the benefits outweigh the risks associated with corporate real estate, is the subject of controversy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The role of corporate real estate ownership in the pricing of returns is examined, after taking well-documented systematic risk factors into account. Employing a data sample from 1999 to 2014, the conditions and characteristics faced by firms with distinct levels of corporate real estate holdings are identified and analyzed.

Findings

– The findings reveal that corporate real estate intensity indeed serves as a priced determinant in the German stock market. Among other results, the real-estate-specific risk factor shows countercyclical patterns and is particularly relevant for companies within the manufacturing sector.

Practical implications

– The findings provide new insights into the interpretation of corporate real estate and expected general equity returns. Thus, the present analysis is of particular interest for investors, as well as the management boards of listed companies.

Originality/value

– To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first paper to investigate the ownership of corporate real estate as a priced factor for German equities, after accounting for the well-documented systematic risk factors, namely, market (market risk premium), size (small minus big) and book-to-market-ratio (BE/ME) (high minus low).
The changing relationships between government bond yields and capitalisation rates
Authors: Jones Colin , Dunse Neil , Cutsforth Kevin
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the gap between government bonds (index-linked and long-dated) and real estate yields/capitalization rates over time for the UK, Australia and the USA. The global financial crisis was a sharp shock to real estate markets, and while interest rates and government bond yields fell in response around the world, real estate yields (cap rates) have risen.

Design/methodology/approach

– The absolute yield gap levels and their variation over time in the different countries are compared and linked to the theoretical reasons for the yield gap and, in particular, a changing real estate risk premium. Within this context, it assesses whether there have been structural breaks in long-term relationships during booms and busts based on autoregressive conditionally heteroscedastic (ARCH) models. Finally, the paper provides further insights by constructing statistical models of index-linked and long-dated yield gaps.

Findings

– The relationships between bond and property yields go through a traumatic time around the period of the global financial crisis. These changes are sufficiently strong to be statistically defined as “structural breaks” in the time series. The sudden switch in the yield gaps may have stimulated a greater appreciation of structural change in the property market.

Research limitations/implications

– The research focuses on the most transparent real estate markets in the world, but other countries with less developed markets may respond differently.

Practical implications

– The practical implications relate to how to value real estate yields relative to interest rates.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper that has compared international yield gaps over time and examined the role of the gap between index-linked government bonds and real estate yields.
Thinking afresh about central bank’s interest rate policy
Authors: Singh Gurbachan
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to improve policy, and also to simplify theory and policy.

Design/methodology/approach

– Theory is used in a simple and yet powerful way. Stylized facts are used. This paper reconsiders the prevailing macroeconomic policy regime, and proposes an alternative policy regime.

Findings

– The low interest rate policy of the central bank in a recession is tantamount to imposition of tax on lenders’ interest income and a subsidy for borrowers implying an implicit tax-subsidy scheme. This scheme may be replaced by a different and explicit tax-subsidy scheme. This may also be supplemented by lower consumption taxes in a recession. From the viewpoint of stabilization of aggregate demand, the prevailing policy regime and the proposed policy regime can be equivalent. However, from the viewpoint of general macroeconomic and asset price stability, the proposed policy regime is superior, though it has (additional) cost of administration.

Social implications

– Macroeconomic and financial instability has large social cost. This paper can be useful in this context, as it has suggestions for improved macroeconomic policy. It also has policy implications for developing countries and highly indebted countries.

Originality/value

– This paper’s innovation goes well beyond refinements to prevailing theories and policies. Also, it paves the way for further research.