bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Controlling morphology and optical properties of self-catalyzed, mask-free GaN rods and nanorods by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy
Authors: Tessarek C. , Bashouti M. , Heilmann M. , Dieker C. , Knoke I. , Spiecker E. , Christiansen S.
Published: October 2013

A simple self-catalyzed and mask-free approach will be presented to grow GaN rods and nanorods based on the metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy technique. The growth parameter dependent adjustment of the morphology of the structures will be discussed. Rods and nanorods with diameters reaching from a few μm down to 100 nm, heights up to 48 μm, and densities up to 8⋅107 cm–2 are all vertically aligned with respect to the sample surface and exhibiting a hexagonal shape with smooth sidewall facets. Optical properties of GaN nanorods were determined using cathodoluminescence. It will be shown that the optical properties can be improved just by reducing the Ga precursor flow. Furthermore, for regular hexagonal shaped rods and nanorods, whispering gallery modes with quality factors up to 500 were observed by cathodoluminescence pointing out high morphological quality of the structures. Structural investigations using transmission electron microscopy show that larger GaN nanorods (diameter > 500 nm) contain threading dislocations in the bottom part and vertical inversion domain boundaries, which separate a Ga-polar core from a N-polar shell. In contrast, small GaN nanorods (∼200 nm) are largely free of such extended defects. Finally, evidence for a self-catalyzed, Ga-induced vapor-liquid-solid growth will be discussed.
Effect of gas puffing from different side on lower hybrid wave-plasma coupling in experimental advanced superconductive tokamak
Authors: Ding B. J. , Kong E. H. , Zhang T. , Ekedahl A. , Li M. H. , Zhang L. , Wei W. , Li Y. C. , Wu J. H. , Xu G. S. , Zhao H. L. , Wang M. , Gong X. Z. , Shan J. F. , Liu F. K. ,   EAST Team
Published: October 2013

Effect of gas puffing from electron-side and ion-side on lower hybrid wave (LHW)-plasma is investigated in experimental advanced superconductive tokamak for the first time. Experimental results with different gas flow rates show that electron density at the grill is higher in the case of gas puffing from electron-side; consequently, a lower reflection coefficient is observed, suggesting better effect of puffing from electron-side on LHW-plasma. The difference in edge density between electron- and ion-side cases suggests that local ionization of puffed gas plays a dominant role in affecting the density at the grill due to different movement direction of ionized electrons and that part of gas has been locally ionized near the gas pipe before diffusing into the grill region. Such difference could be enlarged and important in ITER due to the improvement of plasma parameters and LHW power.
Extending of band gaps in silicon based one-dimensional phononic crystal strips
Authors: Feng Duan , Xu Dehui , Wu Guoqiang , Xiong Bin , Wang Yuelin
Published: October 2013

A kind of methodology for the design of silicon based one dimensional phononic crystal strips is demonstrated. It is shown that full bandgaps can be obtained by etching periodic array of semi-circular void holes at the side faces of the strip. The relationships between the phononic bandgaps and parameters are discussed by analyzing band structures and eigenmodes of the phononic crystal strips. We found that with proper design, it is possible to gain a gap-to-midgap ratio up to 62%. The result also shows that higher order eigenmodes are more sensitive to the specified parameters of phononic crystal strips.
Insectivory in Fijian flying foxes (Pteropodidae)
Authors: Scanlon Annette T. , Petit Sophie , Sternberg Leonel da S.
Published: October 2013

We used scat and isotope analyses to assess insectivory in Fijian flying foxes (Pteropodidae), seeking insights into niche partitioning of co-occurring bat species with high plant diet overlap. Moth scales were most common in scats of Notopteris macdonaldi (87%; P. tonganus: 62%; Pteropus samoensis: 36%) and may indicate shared resources. The small and highly manoeuvrable N. macdonaldi exploited nectar-rich flowers also favoured by moths (e.g. Barringtonia spp.). Other invertebrate remains were most frequent in scats of P. tonganus (69%). On the basis of scat results and ecological observations, P. tonganus uses a combination of insectivory and a highly varied plant diet to obtain sufficient nutrients. Scats of P. samoensis contained few invertebrate remains, but abundant protein-rich plant species (including Freycinetia spp.), and juveniles seemed to consume moths frequently. Clustered δ15N and δ13C for N. macdonaldi and P. samoensis indicated a narrower dietary breadth than that of P. tonganus. P. tonganus juveniles appeared at a significantly higher trophic level than did adults, probably the result of milk consumption and/or higher rates of protein synthesis. The methods used detected little evidence that bats partitioned resources vertically. This study generates hypotheses for the further examination of flying-fox diets.
Regulation of estrogen receptor α by histone methyltransferase SMYD2-mediated protein methylation
Authors: Zhang Xi , Tanaka Kaori , Yan Jiusheng , Li Jing , Peng Danni , Jiang Yuanyuan , Yang Zhe , Barton Michelle C. , Wen Hong , Shi Xiaobing
Published: October 2013

Significance

Histone-modifying enzymes play an important role in regulating chromatin-associated processes such as transcription. In addition to modifying histones, these enzymes control gene expression through modifying nonhistone proteins, including transcription factors. In this study, we show that SET and MYND domain containing 2 (SMYD2), a histone H3K4 and H3K36 methyltransferase, directly methylates estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) protein at lysine 266 and represses ERα transactivation activity. Upon estrogen activation, this repressive mark is relieved by the histone H3K4 demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 1, followed by p300/cAMP response element-binding protein–binding protein (CBP)-mediated protein acetylation. Our study suggests that the cross-talk of distinct posttranslational modifications in the hinge region of ERα plays an important role in fine tuning the functions of ERα at chromatin in hormone response.
DNA conformations in mismatch repair probed in solution by X-ray scattering from gold nanocrystals
Authors: Hura Greg L. , Tsai Chi-Lin , Claridge Shelley A. , Mendillo Marc L. , Smith Jessica M. , Williams Gareth J. , Mastroianni Alexander J. , Alivisatos A. Paul , Putnam Christopher D. , Kolodner Richard D. , Tainer John A.
Published: October 2013

Significance

We developed and applied nanogold labels for DNA complexes with proteins examined by small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to follow DNA conformations acting in error detection by the mismatch repair (MMR) system in solution. This technique can examine short or long pieces of DNA and in most solution conditions, including those closest to cellular environments. Thus, we expect the technique to be useful for many biologically important systems involving DNA complexes and conformations. Specifically, we reveal DNA bending followed by straightening by the repair protein MutS at the site of a mismatch as a suitable mechanism for error detection and signaling needed to avoid mutations and cancers and to control microbial stability and evolution in response to environmental stress.
Human cytomegalovirus tegument protein pp150 acts as a cyclin A2–CDK-dependent sensor of the host cell cycle and differentiation state
Authors: Bogdanow Boris , Weisbach Henry , von Einem Jens , Straschewski Sarah , Voigt Sebastian , Winkler Michael , Hagemeier Christian , Wiebusch Lüder
Published: October 2013

Significance

Depending on the host cell type and differentiation status, herpesviruses establish different modes of infection to either maintain or replicate their genomes. How viruses discriminate between individual host cell environments upon infection is poorly understood. Here we identify a viral sensor mechanism that restricts human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication to the G0/G1 phase of the cell division cycle and to differentiated cells. The mechanism is based on the HCMV tegument 150-kDa phosphoprotein which enters the cell as a constituent of the virus particle, interacts with cyclin A2, and blocks the onset of viral lytic gene expression when cyclin A2-dependent kinase activity is high. This suggests a scenario where specific tegument–host interactions enable herpesviruses to select sites of silent or productive infection.
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 is required for remote ischemic preconditioning of the heart
Authors: Cai Zheqing , Luo Weibo , Zhan Huiwang , Semenza Gregg L.
Published: October 2013

Significance

Remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a phenomenon in which brief cycles of limb ischemia and reperfusion, which can be induced in mice by clamping and unclamping the femoral artery and in human subjects by inflating and deflating a blood pressure cuff, result in protection of the heart against a prolonged episode of ischemia and reperfusion. The underlying mechanism may involve signals transmitted by the nervous system and by secreted factors, including interleukin-10. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcriptional activator hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is necessary and sufficient for remote IPC in mice and for induction of
Il10
gene expression in cultured mouse myocytes. Strategies designed to induce HIF-1 activity may afford cardioprotection in patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery.
Zij surfde, maar hij durfte niet
Authors: De Schryver Johan , Neijt Anneke , Ghesquière Pol , Ernestus Mirjam
Published: October 2013

Hoewel de spelling van Nederlandse verledentijdsvormen van zwakke werkwoorden algemeen als eenvoudig wordt beschouwd (ze zijn immers klankzuiver) maken zelfs universiteitsstudenten opvallend veel fouten bij de keuze tussen de uitgangen -te en -de. Voor een deel zijn die fouten ‘natuurlijk’ in die zin dat ze het gevolg zijn van de werking van frequentie en analogie. Anderzijds stellen we vast dat Nederlanders veel meer fouten maken dan Vlamingen, althans als de stam op een coronale fricatief eindigt (s, z, f, v). Aangezien de Nederlandse proefpersonen de ‘regel’ (het ezelsbruggetje ’t kofschip) beter lijken te beheersen dan de Vlamingen, moet de verklaring voor het verschil gezocht worden in een klankverandering die zich wel in Nederland maar niet of nauwelijks in Vlaanderen voordoet, de verstemlozing van de fricatieven. Het spellingprobleem vraagt om didactische maatregelen en/of politieke: het kan wellicht grotendeels worden opgelost door de spellingregels een weinig aan te passen.
Which is the best listener group?
Authors: Zhu Yinyin
Published: October 2013

This study investigated the perception of six Chinese emotional prosodies (neutrality, happiness, anger, surprise, sadness and sarcasm) by 20 Chinese native listeners, 20 naïve Dutch listeners and 20 advanced Dutch L2 learners of Chinese. The results showed that advanced Dutch L2 learners of Chinese recognized Chinese emotional prosody significantly better than Chinese native listeners and Dutch naïve listeners. The results also indicated that naïve non-native listeners could recognize emotions in an unknown language as well as the natives did. Chinese native listeners did not show an in-group advantage for identifying emotions in Chinese more accurately and confidently. Neutrality was the easiest emotion for all the three listener groups to identify and anger was recognized equally well by all the listener groups. The prediction made in the beginning of the study is confirmed, which claims that listeners of a tonal language will be less intent on paralinguistic use of prosody than listeners of a non-tonal language.
Heegaard splittings and singularities of the product map of Morse functions
Authors: Takao Kazuto
Published: October 2013

We give an upper bound for the Reidemeister–Singer distance between two Heegaard splittings in terms of the genera and the number of cusp points of the product map of Morse functions for the splittings. It suggests that a certain development in singularity theory may lead to the best possible bound for the Reidemeister–Singer distance.
Diaphragmatic Function Is Preserved during Severe Hemorrhagic Shock in the Rat
Authors: Carreira Serge , Lê Dinh Matthieu , Soubeyrand Marc , Poloujadoff Marie-Pierre , Riou Bruno , Similowski Thomas , Coirault Catherine , Demoule Alexandre
Published: October 2013

Background:

Acute diaphragmatic dysfunction has been reported in septic and cardiogenic shock, but few data are available concerning the effect of hemorrhagic shock on diaphragmatic function. The authors examined the impact of a hemorrhagic shock on the diaphragm.

Methods:

Four parallel groups of adult rats were submitted to hemorrhagic shock induced by controlled exsanguination targeting a mean arterial blood pressure of 30 mmHg for 1 h, followed by a 1-h fluid resuscitation with either saline or shed blood targeting a mean arterial blood pressure of 80 mmHg. Diaphragm and soleus strip contractility was measured in vitro. Blood flow in the muscle microcirculation was measured in vivo using a Laser Doppler technique. Muscle proinflammatory cytokine concentrations were also measured.

Results:

Hemorrhagic shock was characterized by a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure to 34 ± 5 mmHg (−77 ± 4%; P< 0.05) and high plasma lactate levels (7.6 ± 0.9 mM; P < 0.05). Although tetanic tension of the diaphragm was not altered, hemorrhagic shock induced dramatic impairment of tetanic tension of the soleus (−40 ± 19%; P < 0.01), whereas proinflammatory cytokine levels were low and not different between the two muscles. Resuscitation with either blood or saline did not further modify either diaphragm or soleus performance and proinflammatory cytokine levels. The shock-induced decrease in blood flow was much more pronounced in the soleus than in the diaphragm (−75 ± 13% vs. −17 ± 10%; P = 0.02), and a significant interaction was observed between shock and muscle (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Diaphragm performance is preserved during hemorrhagic shock, whereas soleus performance is impaired, with no further impact of either blood or saline fluid resuscitation.
New Caledonian crows attend to multiple functional properties of complex tools
Authors: St Clair James J. H. , Rutz Christian
Published: October 2013

The ability to attend to the functional properties of foraging tools should affect energy-intake rates, fitness components and ultimately the evolutionary dynamics of tool-related behaviour. New Caledonian crows
Corvus moneduloides
use three distinct tool types for extractive foraging: non-hooked stick tools, hooked stick tools and tools cut from the barbed edges of
Pandanus
spp. leaves. The latter two types exhibit clear functional polarity, because of (respectively) a single terminal, crow-manufactured hook and natural barbs running along one edge of the leaf strip; in each case, the ‘hooks’ can only aid prey capture if the tool is oriented correctly by the crow during deployment. A previous experimental study of New Caledonian crows found that subjects paid little attention to the barbs of supplied (wide) pandanus tools, resulting in non-functional tool orientation during foraging. This result is puzzling, given the presumed fitness benefits of consistently orienting tools functionally in the wild. We investigated whether the lack of discrimination with respect to (wide) pandanus tool orientation also applies to hooked stick tools. We experimentally provided subjects with naturalistic replica tools in a range of orientations and found that all subjects used these tools correctly, regardless of how they had been presented. In a companion experiment, we explored the extent to which normally co-occurring tool features (terminal hook, curvature of the tool shaft and stripped bark at the hooked end) inform tool-orientation decisions, by forcing birds to deploy ‘unnatural’ tools, which exhibited these traits at opposite ends. Our subjects attended to at least two of the three tool features, although, as expected, the location of the hook was of paramount importance. We discuss these results in the context of earlier research and propose avenues for future work.
2,2′-Bis{8-[(benzylamino)methylidene]-1,6-dihydroxy-5-isopropyl-3-methylnaphthalen-7(8H)-one}
Authors: Hakberdiev Shukhrat M. , Talipov Samat A. , Dalimov Davranbek N. , Ibragimov Bakhtiyar T.
Published: October 2013

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C44H44N2O6, contains two independent molecules with similar conformations. The dihydronaphthalene ring systems are approximately planar [maximum deviations = 0.036 (2), 0.128 (2), 0.0.24 (2) and 0.075 (2) Å]. The dihedral angle between two dihydronaphthalene ring systems is 83.37 (4)° in one molecule and 88.99 (4)° in the other. The carbonyl O atom is linked with the adjacent hydroxy and imino groupsviaintramolecular O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, molecules are linked through O—H...O hydrogen bonds into layers parallel to (001), and adjacent layers are further stacked by π–π interactions between dihydronaphthalene and phenyl rings into a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture. In the crystal, one of the isopropyl groups is disordered over two positions with an occupancy ratio of 0.684 (8):0.316 (8).
Benchmarking award winning health care organizations in the USA
Authors: Welborn Cliff , Bullington Kimball
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to benchmark the use of process improvement techniques among US health care organizations that won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

Design/methodology/approach

– The applications from 13 Baldrige award winning health care organizations were researched to determine which process improvement techniques were used most frequently to guide their operations.

Findings

– The results from this study identify several best practices in process improvement techniques. Furthermore, the study pinpoints in which aspect of performance that a process improvement technique is most likely to be used.

Research limitations/implications

– Only applications from organizations winning the Baldrige award have been studied. The identity and application for organizations that do not win the award are not released to the public. Statistical analysis of the data is limited to the relatively small number (13) of award winners.

Practical implications

– The results clearly show that there are certain process improvement techniques used by a majority of the Baldrige winners. It is not possible to guarantee that the use of these same techniques by other health care organizations will result in performance improvement, only that the winners used the techniques and have achieved a high level of performance. The results identify processes for further benchmarking studies.

Originality/value

– The process improvement techniques identified in this study have been used by successful health care organizations. This information may be useful to other health care organizations when deciding on which process improvement techniques to pursue in order to improve their own performance. While the Baldrige award process has driven benchmarking efforts, this study uses the Baldrige process to identify benchmarking opportunities for process improvement in health care organizations.
Implementing CAF in public administration
Authors: A. Vakalopoulou Melpomeni , Tsiotras George , Gotzamani Katerina
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to stimulate interest in the use of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF), a self-evaluation quality tool for the public sector, to disseminate relevant experiences from CAF implementation in Europe, to offer ideas about CAF optimization and to provide a basis and direction for further improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology that is followed in the paper is based on the study of best practices (BP) of CAF implementation in European public administrations. The BP were selected in order to cover a wide range of political fields and to prove that CAF can be used by organizations in all parts of the public sector with different characteristics of size and structure.

Findings

– Studying relevant examples leads to the conclusion that effective CAF implementation can improve the performance of public administration and help establish a quality philosophy. The paper shows that CAF is a tool that can be easily modified and adapted to the organizations' special needs and characteristics.

Practical implications

– The study of the selected cases and the related information that is presented in this paper helps to disseminate relevant experiences from CAF implementation in Europe. It offers managers of the public sector ideas and helps on how to implement the CAF model, by providing real examples of organizations that have implemented it. It also helps them understand the benefits from CAF implementation, as well as the obstacles and barriers that may be faced, in order to be better prepared for its successful implementation.

Originality/value

– The value of this paper lies in the identification and presentation of several ideas and tools which have been successfully developed by European organizations and may as well be implemented by others. Ideas about modifying CAF and adjusting it into the uniqueness of every organization can be obtained only through careful study and analysis of its implementation.
The effect of international experience on the degree of SME insidership in newly opened business networks
Authors: Hilmersson Mikael
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to develop internationalization process theory by examining the relationship between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) international experience and their degree of insidership in newly opened business networks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study applies a quantitative approach. Data were collected on-site at 203 SMEs having entered the Baltic States, Poland, Russia and China. The data are analysed with structural equation modeling in SmartPLS.

Findings

– The paper reveals that international experience is positively associated with both the country and customer experience in the newly opened business network. Country experience, in turn, is strongly associated with a firm's degree of insidership in the business network. Conflicting with the hypothesized model, no support is found for the direct relationship between international experience and insidership. Nor does the analysis reveal any significant relationship between a firm's customer experience, in terms of variation, in the newly opened business network and the degree of insidership in the network.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper empirically discriminates different types of international experience derived from theory and examines their relationship with the degree of firm insidership in newly opened business networks.

Originality/value

– Theoretically this paper advances internationalization process theory by developing its network aspect as well as discriminating different experience types and their role in predicting network insidership in newly opened business networks.
Tough decisions: phasing out a popular option to maintain overall service viability
Authors: Herrera Kevin
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the University of Mississippi Libraries' experience in implementing a printing cost-recovery service, unexpectedly finding itself managing a large number of cash transactions, and ultimately – many years later – eliminating the cash payment option.

Design/methodology/approach

– An analysis of print logs was completed along with a study of the various costs (hardware/software, personnel, consumables, and transaction fees) in order to examine the total operating costs of the system.

Findings

– Personnel costs related to cash transactions were the greatest expense related to operating the system. Increasing cash-handling costs were driving up the overall operating costs of the public print system. After the cash payment option was eliminated, overall print volume decreased, but the corresponding decrease in operating expenses meant that the library had new opportunities for expanding the and enhancing the service.

Originality/value

– This case study could be of benefit to others looking to do a similar analysis of fee-based services – particularly high-volume services where cash is a common method of payment.
Is the chain of command working for you?
Authors: A. Crumpton Michael
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of having a chain of command strategy, in particular with staff repurposing activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper refers to field literature to support this concept.

Findings

– The literature and readings cited demonstrate need and consideration.

Originality/value

– The paper highlights considerations needed for present decision making that will have future impact.
Developing a vision for the library
Authors: Fitsimmons Gary
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– This article's purpose is to show how to develop and maintain a shared vision for library services among a library staff.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article shows what a shared vision is, then how to develop it.

Findings

– The article finds that a sense of ownership in the organization and relationships are keys in building a shared vision.

Practical implications

– A shared vision guides the development and offering of effective library services.

Originality/value

– The value of the article is in learning what goes in to vision building and how to do it.
Mapping values in old vs new members of the European Union
Authors: Capell Ben , Kubra Canhilal S. , Alas Ruth , Sommer Lutz , Ossenkop Carolin
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is twofold. The first purpose is to provide a synthesis of the dominant cross-cultural models and to present the more recent tri-axial model as a promising alternative that responds well to the limitation of prevailing models. Consequently, the second purpose is to employ the model to explore key differences in the culture and values of public service organisations in old and new EU member states.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper surveyed public sector employees in four different countries, two old EU (OEU) states (Germany, The Netherlands) and two new EU (NEU) states (Estonia, Lithuania). The employees were asked to classify 60 values on the three axes of the tri-axial model and to select the five most important values in their organization. The survey replies were analyzed and mapped to facilitate comparison of the tri-axial cultural profile of the two EU clusters.

Findings

– The results show differences in value orientation between the two groups of countries: the public sector in the OEU member states appears to be more ethically and less pragmatically oriented than in the NEU member states. Findings show that in the new member states, value congruence is very high across demographic groups, in contrast to the situation encountered in the OEU member states.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research should include more countries before generalising the conclusions of this study to the rest of the OEU and NEU countries. Furthermore, although collecting data from a homogeneous unit (e.g. public sector) suggests more valid comparison, in the future, research should strive to also examine additional units, for example private companies.

Practical implications

– The conclusions derived from this exploratory cultural mapping provide useful knowledge for improving international collaboration across public sector organizations.

Originality/value

– This study is the first study that maps the values in the public sector using the tri-axial model.
Mapping the values and culture in Chinese public sectors: an exploratory study
Authors: Liu Ying , Bao Yuanjie , Liu Wei
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The exploratory study introduced the tri-axial model as a basic framework of cultural value to Chinese public sectors. The study tries to display value mapping of the Chinese public sectors and to examine the relationship between the identified values with organizational outcome variables, which is normally characteristic of an exploratory research. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– 404 civil servants were asked to classify 62 cultural values into three axes, emotional, economical and ethical, and to attain the importance of the 62 values.

Findings

– Five cultural values including happiness, belonging, harmony, achievement, and efficiency are identified to be the most important values in Chinese public sectors. Harmony and achievement were found to affect organizational outcome variables.

Research limitations/implications

– Sample size is relatively small, and more cultural differences have been neglected within Chinese culture. And the paper collected data twice and used different means, but analyzed the combined data, which could be problematic.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that Chinese civil servants pay much attention on emotional-developmental type of cultural values. Ethic-related culture needs to be emphasized more on culture building behaviors both at the organizational level and at the national level.

Originality/value

– This is the first time the tri-axial model was introduced into Chinese culture. Testing with Chinese samples, the tri-axial model appears to address some of the important limitations of previous models that were summarized before. The paper successfully grouped all the cultural values into three pre-defined axes. The most important values are identified.
Public sector values: between the real and the ideal
Authors: Gabel-Shemueli Rachel , Capell Ben
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the core values of the Peruvian public sector in the particular context of recent public management reforms.

Design/methodology/approach

– After distinguishing between traditional private and public sector values, the paper compared the presence of each of these types of values in two very different sources of data: input from employees' values survey and formal values statements of Peruvian public sector organizations. The analysis includes both a comparison of the presence of traditional public and private sector values in the two sources of data and the identification of the cultural profile of the public sector of Peru using the tri-axial model.

Findings

– The findings indicate a large gap between values at the theoretical level and values at the practical level. While values statements of public organizations in Peru clearly reflect traditional public sector values, in practice, public sector employees appear to follow a mixture of public and private sector values. Strengthening this conclusion is the finding that the cultural tri-axial profile of the sector is purely economic-pragmatic, which suggests that ethical and emotional values are positioned lower on the values hierarchy.

Originality/value

– This paper provides the first evidence of two important cultural phenomena in the Peruvian public sector: a broad adoption of private sector values and a gap between the values that are proposed as ethical guidelines (ideal) and the values that are followed in practice (real). The combination of these two phenomena suggests a potential risk to the ethical functioning of the public administration. This risk is especially significant in a developing country like Peru, where many of its poor citizens depend on government support. The paper discusses both the research and practical implications of this study.
Coping with job insecurity
Authors: Richter Anne , Näswall Katharina , De Cuyper Nele , Sverke Magnus , De Witte Hans , Hellgren Johnny
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of the present paper is to investigate how employees' coping (problem, emotion and avoidance focused coping) may affect the reactions to job insecurity. Because the coping investigated in the present study addresses the stressor in different ways, the authors expect different moderating effects depending on the type of coping, which results in three different hypotheses.

Design/methodology/approach

– A sample of 579 Swedish accountants was used to test these hypotheses via surveys.

Findings

– The findings support the authors' assumptions that emotion focused coping weakened the relation of job insecurity and some of the outcomes. Both avoidance and problem focused coping strengthened the relation between job insecurity and some of the outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

– As this study utilizes cross-sectional data and only one occupational group, it is important to test the relations using longitudinal data with different occupational groups in future research.

Practical implications

– From these results some practical conclusions can be drawn as to which coping forms might be more beneficial, which can be helpful for organizations in order to develop intervention programs.

Originality/value

– This study expanded the understanding of coping in the context of job insecurity by testing different forms of coping and including a variety of important outcomes of job insecurity.
Too much or too little? A study of the impact of career complexity on executive adaptability
Authors: Zhu Guorong , B. Wolff Steve , T. (Tim) Hall Douglas , Las Heras Mireia , Gutierrez Betzaluz , Kram Kathy
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– In today's turbulent business environment leaders must be able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. For this research the authors aim to focus on the issue of adaptability defined as the ability to work effectively within a variety of changing situations, and with various individuals or groups. They also aimed to examine how variables of career complexity affect development of adaptability.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors draw on a unique database containing the career histories of 52 senior executives in a major global corporation. They use the term career complexity to represent the degree of variety in these individuals' career experiences, and they test the degree to which career complexity contributes to the development of adaptability later in their careers.

Findings

– Findings from this study shed light on the relationship between specific career experiences and executive adaptability. Executives who had the experience to serve in an executive assistant role developed higher levels of adaptability. For executives without the executive assistant opportunity, job rotations through different types of roles provided a boost to their adaptability. Three role type changes (e.g. line, staff, or matrix) is optimal; 100 months is an optimal time to spend in each role type.

Originality/value

– While the field of leadership development has generated substantial insight into the competencies required by executives, there are few models and empirical studies that describe the process of how specific competencies are developed. The authors' study highlighted the utility of the career complexity construct for both prospective understanding of career actions and processes and retrospective understanding of paths, patterns, and outcomes. The authors demonstrated the predictive value of the career complexity construct by presenting results of the statistical analyses of the hypothesized relationships between career complexity and career outcomes.
Hedge funds
Authors: Morgan Jamie
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The paper's aim is to explore the impact of statistical arbitrage and high-frequency trading as hedge fund investment strategies that have a significant impact on the environment of corporations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is a meta-analysis of the role of investment strategies within complex systems.

Findings

– The growth of hedge fund investment activity based on statistical arbitrage tends to produce a vulnerability; more funds using the strategy helps to create the profitable outcomes that the strategy relies upon. However, the growth also reduces the time lines of profitability and produces an underlying instability based on overlapping holdings and the use of leverage. The shortened timelines also create a further impetus towards technological competition and promotes high frequency trading, which then introduces further vulnerabilities based on “stop-loss cascades”.

Research limitations/implications

– Much of the trading creates a superficial form of liquidity, which gives a limited sense of market vulnerabilities. The basis of complex interactions between high frequency traders is also not clearly understood. Researchers and agents of policy ought to pay greater attention to the issues than is currently the case.

Originality/value

– The area is one that is under-researched.
Useful traditional knowledge indicators for drought forecasting in the Mzingwane Catchment area of Zimbabwe
Authors: Chisadza Bright , J. Tumbare Mike , Nhapi Innocent , R. Nyabeze Washington
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify, analyse and document local traditional indicators used in drought forecasting in the Mzingwane Catchment and to assess the possibility of integrating traditional rainfall forecasting, using the local traditional indicators, with meteorological forecasting methods.

Design/methodology/approach

– Self-administered structured questionnaires were conducted on 101 respondents in four districts of the Mzingwane Catchment area, namely, Beitbridge, Mangwe, Esighodini and Mwenezi from February to August 2012. In addition, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were also used in data collection and the collected data were analysed for drought history and demographics; drought adaptation and the use of drought forecasting methods in the catchment using Statistical Package for Social Science.

Findings

– The paper reveals the growing importance of precipitation forecasts among Mzingwane communities, particularly the amount, timing, duration and distribution of rainfall. Rainfall was cited as the major cause of drought by 98 per cent of the respondents in the catchment. Whilst meteorological rainfall forecasts are available through various channels, they are not readily accessible to rural communities. Furthermore, they are not very reliable at local level. The paper shows that communities in the Mzingwane Catchment still regard local traditional knowledge forecasting as their primary source of weather forecasts. The paper finds that plant phenology is widely used by the local communities in the four districts for drought forecasting. Early and significant flowering of Mopane trees (Colophospermum mopane) from September to December has been identified to be one of the signals of poor rainfall season in respect to quantity and distribution and subsequent drought. Late and less significant flowering of Umtopi trees (Boscia albitrunca) from September to December also signals a poor rainfall season.

Originality/value

– The paper fulfils an identified need to study and document useful traditional drought indicators. Furthermore, the paper provides a platform for possible integration of traditional drought forecasting and meteorological forecasting and ensure sustainable rural livelihood development. The paper is useful to both meteorological researchers and resource-constrained communities in Mzingwane Catchment.
A study of non-profit organisations in cause-related marketing
Authors: Liston-Heyes Catherine , Liu Gordon
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– Cause-related marketing (CRM) involves firms working in partnership with non-profit organizations (NPOs). While CRM offers a range of potential benefits to NPOs, some managers are reluctant to partake in these ventures. The purpose of this paper is to uncover their concerns and highlight what can be done to improve their experience of CRM.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses semi-structured interviews with 160 UK NPO managers and a stakeholder theory framework to document their experience of the CRM process and investigate what they can do to improve it.

Findings

– It identifies three types of concerns relating to issues of: organizational identity, alliance risks, and the prioritization of NPO stakeholders. The analyses also uncover a number of strategies used by NPO managers to safeguard their organisations.

Research limitations/implications

– By focusing not only on the measurable outcomes of CRM but also on its processes, the authors provide a more thorough analysis of CRM and its impact on NPOs.

Practical implications

– By emphasizing potential NPO stakeholder dissent, the authors' study provides a list of pitfalls that may help NPO managers select more suitable corporate partners, come better prepared to the negotiation table, improve the selection and training of negotiators, and generally manage the CRM process more efficiently.

Originality/value

– Studies of CRM have been predominantly from the corporate perspective. Consequently, the understanding of CRM from an NPO viewpoint remains limited both theoretically and empirically. The authors' paper complements this literature by investigating NPO managers' concerns about the process of CRM.
Consumers' responses to sponsorship by foreign companies
Authors: Meng-Lewis Yue , Thwaites Des , Gopalakrishna Pillai Kishore
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The study aims to explore the novel issue of how consumers perceive sponsorship initiatives by foreign companies and how the sponsors' country-of-origin (COO) cue may influence sponsorship outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The measurement model and proposed relationships were tested based on a sample of 811 Chinese consumers using confirmatory factor analysis and structural path analysis.

Findings

– The results reveal that attitudes toward the sponsor completely mediate the effect of event involvement on willingness to buy from the sponsor (WBS). Attitudes toward the sponsor also partially mediate the relationship between economic animosity towards a specific sponsor's COO and WBS. Additionally, the level of a country's economic competitiveness found to moderate the negative relationship between economic animosity, attitudes toward the sponsor and WBS.

Research limitations/implications

– The nature of the product type and the desire of the consumer to own such a product may have influenced the measurement of willingness to buy.

Practical implications

– The research adds to the existing knowledge by identifying the opportunities and potential biases that a foreign company may encounter when considering sponsoring a mega sport event in a different cultural context. The study helps managers to understand how sports sponsorship could be used effectively in emerging markets.

Originality/value

– The proposed conceptual model advances the application of classical conditioning theory, the consumer animosity model of foreign product purchase and the belief-attitude-intention hierarchy in the sponsorship arena. It is the first investigation of the role of event involvement and economic animosity in understanding sponsorship responses.
Antecedents and consequences of brand-oriented companies
Authors: Huang Yen-Tsung , Tsai Ya-Ting
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– Building a strong brand is an important way to build a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Brand-oriented companies regard their brands as strategic resources, and they create value and increase competitiveness by building a strong brand. However, studies on how companies become brand-oriented and how brand orientation influences brand performance are still rather limited. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model explaining what factors contribute to brand orientation, as well as the impact of brand orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Questionnaire surveys were distributed to branding companies in Taiwan. The sample data of 106 branding companies were collected in order to test the theoretical model using partial least squares (PLS).

Findings

– The empirical results showed that organizational resources (product differentiation capability), organizational structure (cross-function departmental integration), and organizational culture (members' organizational identification and long-term remuneration criteria) could facilitate the building of brand-oriented companies. It was also found that a higher level of brand orientation contributed to better brand performance.

Practical implications

– According to this research, corporate managers can understand how to build brand-oriented companies by shaping their organizational context. In other words, if companies want to become brand-oriented, they should build product differentiation capabilities, promote cross-functional integration among departments, and develop an organizational culture with high organizational members' identification and long-term remuneration criteria.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first study to propose some antecedents of brand-oriented companies based on the organizational context perspective. The empirical results of this study illustrate how companies can become brand-oriented by arranging their organizational context, as well as the impact of brand orientation on brand performance.
When having is not enough: implications of being satisfied
Authors: Yang Zhong Jing , Mitchell Vincent-Wayne
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– While having “more” in life seems to have a positive impact on consumers' well-being, the role of how satisfied consumers need to be with this “more” before it is able to enhance their well-being is not clear. This study aims to examine an integrated model of the mediating effect of satisfaction on the relationship between objective life circumstances and subjective well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

– The new model proposed is tested by using data obtained from British Household Panel Survey. A fixed-effects econometric model is estimated using Stata 10 to identify the mediating effect of satisfaction with life circumstances on the relationship between life circumstances and well-being.

Findings

– The results show that objective circumstances affect well-being primarily through the mediating effect of satisfaction with corresponding life domains irrespective of the level of objective circumstances. However, this mediating effect varies by life domain and cannot be generalized.

Practical implications

– The implications for public policy makers are that intervention policies that improve the three life domains of health, leisure and housing will effectively enhance consumers' well-being. Meanwhile, government should also allocate more resources to increase consumers' positive thinking to help them to improve their well-being.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the mediating effect of subjective satisfaction on the effect of objective circumstances on well-being across six life domains.