bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher Education and the Developing World
Authors: Collins Christopher S. , DuMez Meg
Published: July 2016

Higher education in the developing world is a subsection of the larger topic of international issues in higher education (see Oxford Bibliographies in Education “International Issues in Higher Education”). Higher education has become a global sector with extensive cross-border interactions, including flows of students, education providers, and even policy frameworks. The intersection between higher education and international development flows in both directions of influence. In some cases, the international development arena has influenced higher education (particularly in developing countries) and, in other cases, higher education is designed to play a role in development goals, such as reducing poverty and promoting social and economic growth. The question of how to explore higher education in the developing world begins with the notion of what constitutes developing. The first section of this article explores definitions of development and the global forces that shape those definitions. This opening section includes ideological and theoretical anchors that help to articulate arguments for and against the particulars of development in practice. A second section explores the biggest actors on the global development stage—International Organizations (IOs). These organizations include development banks, multilateral and unilateral aid agencies, and government and nongovernment organizations that operate with goals that include promoting poverty reduction, economic growth, social progress, and other attributes considered to be essential to a functioning nation-state. Behind the large-scale endeavors of IOs are a host of issues that have created the history of development and facilitated the interaction of nation-states based on power and wealth differences. These issues include the categorization of indigenous knowledge, colonial endeavors, and notions of social and economic progress. Included in the article is a list of regional reports that relate to the issue of development, primarily focused on Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and portions of Central America and South America. The concluding section provides a reference guide to major journals that cover topics related to the issue of higher education in the developing world.
A tutorial on how (not) to over-interpret STRUCTURE/ADMIXTURE bar plots
Authors: Lawson Daniel J , van Dorp Lucy , Falush Daniel
Published: July 2016

Genetic clustering algorithms, implemented in popular programs such as STRUCTURE and ADMIXTURE, have been used extensively in the characterisation of individuals and populations based on genetic data. A successful example is the reconstruction of the genetic history of African Americans who are a product of recent admixture between highly differentiated populations. Histories can also be reconstructed using the same procedure for groups which do not have admixture in their recent history, where recent genetic drift is strong or that deviate in other ways from the underlying inference model. Unfortunately, such histories can be misleading. We have implemented an approach (badMIXTURE, available at github.com/danjlawson/badMIXTURE) to assess the goodness of fit of the model using the ancestry “palettes” estimated by CHROMOPAINTER and apply it to both simulated data and real case studies. Combining these complementary analyses with additional methods that are designed to test specific hypotheses allows a richer and more robust analysis of recent demographic history based on genetic data.
A Dynamic Mode of Mitotic Bookmarking by Transcription Factors
Authors: Teves Sheila S. , An Luye , Hansen Anders S. , Xie Liangqi , Darzacq Xavier , Tjian Robert
Published: July 2016

During mitosis, transcription is shut off, chromatin condenses, and most transcription factors (TFs) are reported to be excluded from chromosomes. How do daughter cells re-establish the original transcription program? Recent discoveries that a select set of TFs remain bound on mitotic chromosomes suggest a potential mechanism for maintaining transcriptional programs through the cell cycle termed mitotic bookmarking. Here we report instead that many TFs remain associated with chromosomes, and that the exclusion previously described is largely a fixation artifact. In particular, most TFs we tested are significantly enriched on mitotic chromosomes. Studies with Sox2 reveal that this mitotic interaction is more dynamic than in interphase and requires both DNA binding and nuclear import. Furthermore, this dynamic mode results from lack of transcriptional activation rather than decreased accessibility of underlying DNA sequences in mitosis. The nature of the cross-linking artifact prompts careful re-examination of the role of TFs in mitotic bookmarking.

Highlights

Many transcription factors bind to mitotic chromosomes

Sox2 mitotic interaction is dynamic and requires DNA binding and nuclear import

DNA remains highly accessible in mitotic chromosomes

Formaldehyde-based cross-linking leads to mis-localization of TFs
Self-Organizing Global Gene Expression Regulated Through Criticality: Mechanism of the Cell-Fate Change
Authors: Tsuchiya Masa , Giuliani Alessandro , Hashimoto Midori , Erenpreisa Jekaterina , Yoshikawa Kenichi
Published: July 2016

Background A fundamental issue in bioscience is to understand the mechanism that underlies the dynamic control of genome-wide expression through the complex temporal-spatial self-organization of the genome to regulate the change in cell fate. We address this issue by elucidating a physically motivated mechanism of self-organization. Principal Findings Building upon transcriptome experimental data for seven distinct cell fates, including early embryonic development, we demonstrate that self-organized criticality (SOC) plays an essential role in the dynamic control of global gene expression regulation at both the population and single-cell levels. The novel findings are as follows: i) Mechanism of cell-fate changes: A sandpile-type critical transition self-organizes overall expression into a few transcription response domains (critical states). A cell-fate change occurs by means of a dissipative pulse-like global perturbation in self-organization through the erasure of initial-state critical behaviors (criticality). Most notably, the reprogramming of early embryo cells destroys the zygote SOC control to initiate self-organization in the new embryonal genome, which passes through a stochastic overall expression pattern. ii) Mechanism of perturbation of SOC controls: Global perturbations in self-organization involve the temporal regulation of critical states. Quantitative evaluation of this perturbation in terminal cell fates reveals that dynamic interactions between critical states determine the critical-state coherent regulation. The occurrence of a temporal change in criticality perturbs this between-states interaction, which directly affects the entire genomic system. Surprisingly, a sub-critical state, corresponding to an ensemble of genes that shows only marginal changes in expression and consequently are considered to be devoid of any interest, plays an essential role in generating a global perturbation in self-organization directed toward the cell-fate change. Conclusion and Significance 'Whole-genome' regulation of gene expression through self-regulatory SOC control complements gene-by-gene fine tuning and represents a still largely unexplored non-equilibrium statistical mechanism that is responsible for the massive reprogramming of genome expression.
Toxoplasma gondiiestablishes an extensive filamentous network consisting of stable F-actin during replication
Authors: Periz Javier , Whitelaw Jamie , Harding Clare , Lemgruber Leandro , Gras Simon , Reimer Madita , Insall Robert , Meissner Markus
Published: July 2016

Apicomplexan actin is well conserved and clearly important during the parasite's life cycle. Several studies assert that its polymerization kinetics are unusual, permitting only short, unstable F-actin filaments. However, it has not been possible to study actinin vivo, so its physiological role has remained obscure. This has led to functional models which are mutually conflicting, incompatible with actin behavior from other eukaryotes, and cannot explain actin's importance during basic processes such as parasite replication and egress. Here we use a chromobody that specifically binds F-actin to demonstrate thatToxoplasmaforms stable actin filamentsin vivo. F-actin is not only important for parasite replication, but also forms an extensive network that connects individuals both within and between parasitophorous vacuoles, and allows vesicles to be exchanged between parasites within a vacuole. During host cell egress, prior to motility, this network collapses in a calcium-dependent manner. This study demonstrates unexpected roles ofToxoplasmaactin during the asexual life cycle, and proves that formation of F-actin depends on a critical concentration of G-actin, implying a polymerization mechanism similar to mammalian actin.

One Sentence Summary

Toxoplasmaestablishes a stable F-actin network that is essential for replication and material transport between individual parasites.
Engineering Microbial Physiology with Synthetic Polymers: Cationic Polymers Induce Biofilm Formation inVibrio choleraeand Downregulate the Expression of Virulence Genes
Authors: Perez-Soto Nicolas , Moule Lauren , Crisan Daniel N. , Insua Ignacio , Taylor-Smith Leanne M. , Voelz Kerstin , Fernandez-Trillo Francisco , Krachler Anne Marie
Published: July 2016

Here we report the first application of non-bactericidal synthetic polymers to modulate the physiology of a bacterial pathogen. Poly(N-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]methacrylamide) (P1) and poly(N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide) (P2), cationic polymers that bind to the surface ofV. cholerae,the infectious agent causing cholera disease, can sequester the pathogen into clusters. Upon clustering,V. choleraetransitions to a sessile lifestyle, characterised by increased biofilm production and the repression of key virulence factors such as the cholera toxin (CTX). Moreover, clustering the pathogen results in the minimisation of adherence and toxicity to intestinal epithelial cells. Our results suggest that the reduction in toxicity is associated with the reduction to the number of free bacteria, but also the downregulation of toxin production. Finally we demonstrate that these polymers can reduce colonisation of zebrafish larvae upon ingestion of water contaminated withV. cholerae. Overall, our results suggest that the physiology of this pathogen can be modulated without the need to genetically manipulate the microorganism and that this modulation is an off-target effect that results from the intrinsic ability of the pathogen to sense and adapt to its environment. We believe these findings pave the way towards a better understanding of the interactions between pathogenic bacteria and polymeric materials and will underpin the development of novel antimicrobial polymers.
Global genome nucleotide excision repair is organized into domains that promote efficient DNA repair in chromatin
Authors: Yu Shirong , Evans Katie , van Eijk Patrick , Bennett Mark , Webster Richard M. , Leadbitter Matthew , Teng Yumin , Waters Raymond , Jackson Stephen P. , Reed Simon H.
Published: July 2016

The rates at which lesions are removed by DNA repair can vary widely throughout the genome, with important implications for genomic stability. To study this, we measured the distribution of nucleotide excision repair (NER) rates for UV-induced lesions throughout the budding yeast genome. By plotting these repair rates in relation to genes and their associated flanking sequences, we reveal that, in normal cells, genomic repair rates display a distinctive pattern, suggesting that DNA repair is highly organized within the genome. Furthermore, by comparing genome-wide DNA repair rates in wild-type cells and cells defective in the global genome–NER (GG-NER) subpathway, we establish how this alters the distribution of NER rates throughout the genome. We also examined the genomic locations of GG-NER factor binding to chromatin before and after UV irradiation, revealing that GG-NER is organized and initiated from specific genomic locations. At these sites, chromatin occupancy of the histone acetyl-transferase Gcn5 is controlled by the GG-NER complex, which regulates histone H3 acetylation and chromatin structure, thereby promoting efficient DNA repair of UV-induced lesions. Chromatin remodeling during the GG-NER process is therefore organized into these genomic domains. Importantly, loss of Gcn5 significantly alters the genomic distribution of NER rates; this has implications for the effects of chromatin modifiers on the distribution of mutations that arise throughout the genome.
Developing dynamic capabilities for learning and internationalization
Authors: Tallott Margaret , Hilliard Rachel
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the development process of dynamic capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper adopts a qualitative, longitudinal participant-observation research design. A single case study firm was observed over a ten-year period of active researcher engagement allowing for the collection of rich data on the development and deployment of dynamic capabilities as they evolved.

Findings

– Dynamic capabilities can be identified as sensing, seizing and transforming. They are capable of intentional development by managers through strategic decision making and deliberative learning, within a path-dependent evolution.

Research limitations/implications

– A longitudinal single case study allowed for a close look at the development of dynamic capabilities, exploring the context and conditions that facilitated change and tracing the evolution of the organization’s processes. However, this study remains subject to the limits of a single case approach. Future cross-sectional research would be able to test the conceptual model and allow for generalization of the findings to other populations of firms.

Practical implications

– The dynamic capability concept has been criticized for being of little practical use to managers. This research shows the process of intentional dynamic capability development, offering insights to practicing managers.

Originality/value

– This research adds to the relatively scant base of empirical work on dynamic capabilities and offers a conceptual model of dynamic capability development. The paper contributes to the neglected area of dynamic capabilities in SME’s, showing that the dynamic capability concept is relevant to this sector. The paper provides insight for practitioners by showing that intentional dynamic capability development is achievable.
Achieving a firm’s competitive advantage through dynamic capability
Authors: Lin Chinho , Tsai Hua-Ling
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a quantitative model to help managers diagnose what dynamic capabilities a firm needs to address the demands of a rapidly changing environment.

Design/methodology/approach

– A two-firm model based on the VRIO framework is built using quantitative techniques to assist top management in formulating and implementing strategies regarding when and how to develop a firm’s dynamic capabilities for achieving a competitive advantage. This model is developed by considering both internal and external competences, with the former measured by the features of the organizational capabilities of the focal firm and latter evaluated by comparing the relative utilities of the dynamic capabilities of the two competing firms.

Findings

– Three resource allocation strategies are introduced to guide a firm to leverage dynamic capability that generates strong organizational performance. The first two strategies are, respectively, synergy oriented, focussing on acquiring various knowledge or experiences of a capability, and uniqueness oriented, emphasizing the depth of knowledge and technology of the capabilities. The third one is a hybrid of the first two strategies.

Originality/value

– The proposed model is useful to help top management determine how and when to renew, bundle, and leverage resources and capabilities in a dynamic environment. It enables decision makers to detect changes in the competitive environment and take corrective action in a timely and appropriate manner.
Establishing a parsimonious model through comparing impact of key student and school factors on secondary school value-added effects
Authors: Li Lijuan , Kennedy Kerry John , Mok Magdalena Mo Ching
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish and compare multilevel models that significantly predict school effects on adding value to their students regarding English reading from Secondary One to Secondary Six.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data were collected from 3,993 students within 66 schools in 2006 by the Educational Bureau of Hong Kong.

Findings

– When entering Secondary One, the students’ English reading ability was tested then again at Secondary Six. A range of value-added models were fitted to the data. The comparison across these models suggests that student individual scores at intake are the most powerful indicators of value-added. The intake aptitude test scores, aggregated to school level, and gender made no significant difference. At the individual level, student band was the significant predictor. School level effects were largely non-significant. Specific findings on value-added across the schools are visualized as evidence of the parsimony of the selected model.

Research limitations/implications

– Secondary data such as this while collected at one point in time nevertheless can still shed light on current policies and practices. It is particularly the case considering that the value-added effects system is still working in Hong Kong over decades but less examined academically.

Originality/value

– This study has produced some insights for stakeholders to identify influences on the value-added patterns.
Perceptions of higher education reform in Hong Kong: a glocalisation perspective
Authors: Lanford Michael
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– In 2012, the eight UGC-funded higher education institutions in Hong Kong completed a multi-year process in which the majority of academic programmes were transformed from three-year to four-year undergraduate curricula to accommodate liberal arts education. The purpose of this paper is to discuss why stakeholders in Hong Kong felt that reforms were necessary and summarizes the implementation of these reforms. Afterwards, recent literature that has similarly addressed higher education reforms is reviewed. Finally, the results of a qualitative research study, grounded in glocalization theory, are presented and contextualized.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper first draws upon policy documents, newspaper accounts, and other published primary sources for the review of Hong Kong’s educational reforms. Subsequently, an exploratory qualitative research design consisting of semi-structured interviews with 23 administrators and professors in Hong Kong is presented. These individuals are designated as “key informants”, as they gave presentations, made speeches, or were otherwise active in conceptualizing Hong Kong’s undergraduate educational reform on macro- and micro-levels.

Findings

– Four primary findings concerning educational reform in Hong Kong are highlighted. They include tensions between international benchmarking and internal value systems; confusion over multiple educational paradigms; the limited efficacy of outside speakers and leadership; and controversy over outcome-based assessment.

Originality/value

– First, recent educational reforms in Hong Kong’s higher education sector are summarized. Second, the implications of educational reforms for Hong Kong and glocalization theory are discussed. Third, conclusions that may resonate with educational reform processes in other international contexts are drawn.
Narcissistic consumers in retail settings
Authors: Naderi Iman , Paswan Audhesh K.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how narcissistic consumers perceive and respond to variations in price and store image in retail settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected from a sample of 248 respondents who participated in an experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 between-subjects design.

Findings

The findings show that while narcissists and non-narcissists do not differ in their perceptions of product quality, they show completely different behavioral intentions. For instance, narcissistic consumers ascribe more importance to store image than to product price, whereas price is more critical in non-narcissists’ decision-making.

Research limitations/implications

Using a young sample and only one product category (i.e. clothing) may affect the generalization of the findings. The inherent drawback of experiments (i.e. gaining internal validity at the cost of external validity) is another limitation of this work.

Practical implications

The construct of narcissism plays a critical role in the way people evaluate products’ symbolic value and ultimately decide to purchase goods from a store which has a certain type of image, including the expected price of the merchandise. Therefore, the findings of this study have significant managerial implications for critical areas of retail business such as segmentation using narcissism, store image management and merchandise pricing.

Originality/value

Despite a long history in social and clinical psychology, few empirical studies have examined narcissism and its impact on consumer behavior. The present study is an attempt to address this gap in retail settings and provides insights into the joint effects of product price and store image on narcissists’ purchase behavior.
Retrospective evaluations of playful experiences
Authors: Mukherjee Sayantani , Lau-Gesk Loraine
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of key affective moments of a playful experience on consumers’ overall retrospective evaluations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build on past literature on hedonic psychology and sequential preferences and link it to specific characteristics of playful experiences to derive their hypotheses. The hypotheses are tested through two field experiments conducted at a videogame arcade.

Findings

Results demonstrated that consumers’ overall evaluations are better aligned with the affective intensity at the final or end moment of a playful experience. Findings also revealed the complexity of understanding playful experiences, for it is the meaningfulness of end moments rather than simply their recent position in the experience that underlies overall evaluations. When end moments cease to be meaningful, the trough or least affective intense moment impacts overall evaluations.

Practical implications

This research has implications for marketers who are deciding on which point of a playful experience to concentrate their resources for optimizing evaluations.

Originality/value

This research contributes to literature on playful consumption by illuminating how consumers rely on affective moments of a playful experience to construct overall evaluations. Additionally, it highlights the important role of meaningfulness of end moments, a relatively underexplored process, which extends literature on key moments and retrospective evaluations.
Brand personality as a direct cause of brand extension success: does self-monitoring matter?
Authors: Ferguson Graham , Lau Kong Cheen , Phau Ian
Published: July 2016

Purpose

Focusing on symbolic brands, this paper aims to re-test whether perceived â€∼fit’ between the personality of the parent brand, and the brand extension causes consumers to the feel increased affect towards the brand extension. The contention is that high brand personality fit causes consumers to like the brand extension more because, like the parent brand, consumers can use the brand extension to maintain and project a desirable self-identity. This relationship is obscured because consumers process brand personality fit as part of the overall brand image fit; therefore, the potential mediating role of brand image is tested. Consumers differ in their self-monitoring disposition as well, which may explain differences in response to perceived personality fit. Therefore, the potential moderating role of self-monitoring is tested.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental design, respondents viewed an advertisement for a brand extension that showed either congruent, moderately incongruent or incongruent personality fit with the parent brand. This was completed for four symbolic brands: two watch brands and two motor vehicle brands.

Findings

The results indicate that brand personality fit between the brand extension and the parent brand is causally related to affect felt towards the brand extension, but that this relationship is fully mediated by image fit for the BMW brand and partially mediated for Volkswagen Beetle, Omega and Swatch. For BMW and Swatch, the relationship between the independent variable personality fit and the mediator variable image fit is positively moderated by the self-monitoring disposition of the consumer.

Research limitations/implications

The implication is that, while marketers can communicate a wide range of attributes when advertising brand extensions, marketers of symbolic brands should clearly demonstrate brand personality fit as an important component of brand image fit. This is even more important for consumers with a high self-monitoring disposition.

Originality/value

The study conclusively tests the importance of personality fit for symbolic brands, the mediating role of brand image and the interaction effect of self-monitoring on personality fit. These findings contribute to the research literature and help marketers to manage the level of personality fit that should be emphasized in their marketing communications.
Consumer perceptions and intentions toward smoking cessation tools
Authors: Diamond William D.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine preferences for different smoking cessation tools, investigates smokers’ perceptions of these tools by examining their brand personalities and determines whether these perceptions predict intentions to use particular cessation tools.

Design/methodology/approach

Two surveys of smokers evaluated cessation tools from electronic cigarettes to hypnosis.

Findings

Smokers showed a strong preference for electronic cigarettes over other cessation tools. Different aspects of brand personality predicted intention to use different cessation tools.

Research limitations/implications

The research used online surveys rather than real purchasing behavior. The results indicate that advertisements emphasizing the personality attributes of different cessation tools could be effective in encouraging the use of appropriate cessation tools.

Social implications

If research validates e-cigarettes as a valuable cigarette smoking cessation tool, then public service advertisements encouraging their use should emphasize their sincerity and excitement. If e-cigarettes have a net negative effect on public health, public service advertising should stress that the marketing of e-cigarettes is not sincere.

Originality/value

This research extends the idea of brand personality, showing how it can encourage behavior that promotes public health goals.
Introduction: priority setting, equitable access and public involvement in health care
Authors: Weale Albert , Kieslich Katharina , Littlejohns Peter , Tugendhaft Aviva , Tumilty Emma , Weerasuriya Krisantha , Whitty Jennifer A
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on improving equitable access to health care through increased public and patient involvement (PPI) in prioritization decisions by discussing the conceptualization, scope and rationales of PPI in priority setting that inform the special issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper employs a mixed-methods approach in that it provides a literature review and a conceptual discussion of the common themes emerging in the field of PPI and health priority setting.

Findings

– The special issue focuses on public participation that is collective in character, in the sense that the participation relates to a social, not personal, decision and is relevant to whole groups of people and not single individuals. It is aimed at influencing a decision on public policy or legal rules. The rationales for public participation can be found in democratic theory, especially as they relate to the social and political values of legitimacy and representation.

Originality/value

– The paper builds on previous definitions of public participation by underlining its collective character. In doing so, it develops the work by Parry, Moyser and Day by arguing that, in light of the empirical evidence presented in this issue, public participatory activities such as protests and demonstrations should no longer be labelled unconventional, but should instead be labelled as “contestatory participation”. This is to better reflect a situation in which these modes of participation have become more conventional in many parts of the world.
Corporate venture capital program autonomy, corporate investors’ attention and portfolio diversification
Authors: Yang Yi , Chen Tianxu , Zhang Lei
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– From the attention-based view, the purpose of this paper is to examine how structural autonomy of a corporate venture capital (CVC) program influences its CVC managers’ investment decisions with regard to investment portfolio diversification.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study collects data from VentureXpert, Compustat, and the US Patent Office. The final sample consists of 868 CVC portfolio-year observations from 1990 to 2004. Panel linear regressions and hierarchical linear regressions are used in the analysis.

Findings

– The major finding of this study reveals that that structural autonomy of a CVC program is significantly related to its investment portfolio diversification. In addition to the direct effect, the authors also find that CVC structure autonomy moderates the relationship between corporate investor’s strategic attention and its CVC portfolio diversification. Specifically, when the autonomous level of a CVC program is high, the negative relationship between its parent’s relative growth potentials and CVC portfolio diversification will become positive, and the positive relationship between its parent’s business diversification and CVC portfolio diversification will become negative.

Originality/value

– The CVC literature has suggested the impact of CVC portfolio diversification on value creation for corporate investors (e.g. Yanget al., 2014), however, few studies have investigated why some corporate investors diversify their portfolio of venture companies while others do not. To fill such a gap, this study identifies antecedents of CVC portfolio diversification such as CVC structural autonomy and corporate investor’s strategic attention as well as their interactive impacts. The finding also provides valuable managerial implications on CVC program designs.
Employer trustworthiness, worker pride, and camaraderie as a source of competitive advantage
Authors: Butler Timothy David , Armstrong Craig , Ellinger Alex , Franke George
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between being a “great place to work” (GPTW) and firm performance. While lists such as the “Fortune 100 best places to work” were initially regarded solely as publicity vehicles for ranked firms, researchers have since tried to untangle the relationship between being a GPTW and firm performance, often by focussing on HRM systems and practices. In contrast, the study focusses on the valuable, rare, costly to imitate, and organization-exploitability aspects of being a trustworthy employer, place where workers take pride in their work and enjoy the people with whom they work.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study uses four distinct samples of firms drawn from Fortune’s best companies to work for,Glassdoor.com’sEmployees’ Choice Awards, Careerbliss.com’s 50 Happiest Companies in America, and Achievers.com’s 50 Most Engaged Workplaces Awards databases in a longitudinal design to compare performance attributes of listed firms to their respective industry peer groups.

Findings

– Being a GPTW is associated with greater productivity, growth potential, and higher operating profits.

Research limitations/implications

– Some GPTW firms are privately held and were excluded from analysis.

Practical implications

– Rather than focussing on individual HRM practices and techniques, employers may realize greater performance improvements by focussing on building a reputation as a trustworthy employer and fostering an environment where employees take pride in their work and enjoy working with each other.

Originality/value

– Other GPTW studies have focussed on HRM practices as antecedents to performance outcomes, which may not accurately reflect the attributes of the GPTW construct. This study focusses squarely on the underlying attributes of being a GPTW: employer trustworthiness, worker pride, and camaraderie and how they affect firm performance.
Competency models for assessing strategic thinking
Authors: Goldman Ellen , Scott Andrea Richards
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the competency models used by organizations to assess the strategic thinking ability of their leaders, managers, and other employees.

Design/methodology/approach

– A basic interpretive study was conducted with human resource executives across a broad range of large organizations. Participants were interviewed, and competency models in use were shared, reviewed, and discussed. The model development process was also explored in depth. Findings were verified via member checks and triangulation.

Findings

– Models in use either identify strategic thinking as a stand-alone competency, or embed it under three different areas. Most cover one or more executive levels, stating varying expectations for strategic thinking by job title or level, or differentiating strategic thinking performance levels. The models include descriptions of strategic thinking behaviors that cross seven categories of strategy development, implementation, and organizational alignment.

Research limitations/implications

– The study provides indications of potential generalizations that should be considered with more organizations across sectors.

Practical implications

– The findings provide practitioners with format and content examples to enhance the assessment of strategic thinking in existing competency models, as well as process considerations for model development/revision. The findings also identify how competency model components are used across the spectrum of talent management activities.

Originality/value

– The study fills a gap in the literature by providing empirically based identification of the strategic thinking behaviors organizations consider essential competencies and how they are assessed. In so doing, the study provides a glimpse of how strategic thinking is used in practice and across a range of strategic management activities. In addition, the study links strategic thinking to the competency development literature, illustrating details of competency model development for strategic thinking, and identifying opportunities for related theory development in both domains.
Gonality of abstract modular curves in positive characteristic
Authors: Cadoret Anna , Tamagawa Akio
Published: July 2016

Let$C$be a smooth, separated and geometrically connected curve over a finitely generated field$k$of characteristic$p\geqslant 0$,$\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$the generic point of$C$and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}_{1}(C)$its étale fundamental group. Let$f:X\rightarrow C$be a smooth proper morphism, and$i\geqslant 0$,$j$integers. To the family of continuous$\mathbb{F}_{\ell }$-linear representations$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70B}_{1}(C)\rightarrow \text{GL}(R^{i}f_{\ast }\mathbb{F}_{\ell }(j)_{\overline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}}})$(where$\ell$runs over primes$\neq p$), one can attach families of abstract modular curves$C_{0}(\ell )$and$C_{1}(\ell )$, which, in this setting, are the analogues of the usual modular curves$Y_{0}(\ell )$and$Y_{1}(\ell )$. If$i\not =2j$, it is conjectured that the geometric and arithmetic gonalities of these abstract modular curves go to infinity with$\ell$(for the geometric gonality, under a certain necessary condition). We prove the conjecture for the arithmetic gonality of the abstract modular curves$C_{1}(\ell )$. We also obtain partial results for the growth of the geometric gonality of$C_{0}(\ell )$and$C_{1}(\ell )$. The common strategy underlying these results consists in reducing by specialization theory to the case where the base field$k$is finite in order to apply techniques of counting rational points.
Integrity Assessment of Offshore Subsea Wells: Evaluation of Wellhead Finite Element Model Against Monitoring Data Using Different Soil Models
Authors: Russo Massimiliano , Zakeri Arash , Kuzmichev Sergey , Grytøyr Guttorm , Clukey Edward , Kebadze Elizbar B.
Published: July 2016

Understanding well conductor–soil interaction mechanism plays an important role in well integrity assessment. Evaluation of field data obtained from monitored offshore wells can provide valuable insights into the matter. This paper presents a comparison of the numerical results obtained from a full three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) analyses model of the blowout preventer (BOP), wellhead (WH), conductor, and surface casing versus the field measured data obtained during drilling operations. Sensitivity studies were also performed for several parameters that were considered important in the local well response analysis under observed sea state conditions. The conductor–soil analyses were simulated using the Winkler spring p–y curves obtained by two different approaches: American Petroleum Institute (API) RP2GEO and a recently developed model by Zakeri et al. The results of bending moments in conductor and surface casing have indicated good agreement between FE model results and the field measurements.
General Procedure for Selecting and Testing Materials and Coatings in Response to a Tribological Problem
Authors: Pellier Julie , Paris Jean-Yves , Denape Jean , Bry Joël , Genissieux Vincent
Published: July 2016

In general, there is no available tool which can help engineers and researchers to choose optimal materials for friction pairs. This article proposes a dual approach for the choice of materials and coatings. First, in order to select the initial materials, a selection matrix helps to rank a reduced number of solutions to a tribological problem with the aim of building the most credible and viable experimental campaign. Then, this experimental phase is necessary for final selection taking into account tribological properties. The final step involves experimental validation on a prototype and on the real device. This methodology was applied on the complex geometry of an air compressor under severe friction conditions. Technical specifications are defined by a functional analysis of the tribological system. Then, the selection matrix is created on the basis of empirical rules and bibliographic data, including predetermined material/coating properties, process considerations, and tribological features, in accordance with the functional analysis. As an example, four potential solutions were tested: diamondlike carbon (DLC) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coatings on 15-5PH stainless steel and two composites, reinforced PTFE and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Experimental results were then compared to expected values from the specifications. The performance of each solution was highlighted by a graphic radar representation. The selection matrix gave the DLC coatings as one of the best solutions, and experimental tests confirmed this choice while allowing to refine the preselected solutions. This result shows that the selection matrix gives a reliable choice of optimal solutions.
Acoustically Coupled Microphone Arrays
Authors: Miles R. N.
Published: July 2016

An analysis is presented of the performance benefits that can be achieved by introducing acoustic coupling between the diaphragms in an array of miniature microphones. The introduction of this coupling is analogous to the principles employed in the ears of small animals that are able to localize sound sources. Measured results are shown, which indicate a dramatic improvement in acoustic sensitivity, and noise performance can be achieved by packaging a pair of small microphones so that their diaphragms share a common back volume of air. This is also shown to reduce the adverse effects on directional response of mismatches in the mechanical properties of the microphones.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Putative Densovirus of the Asian Citrus Psyllid,
Diaphorina citri
Authors: Nigg Jared C. , Nouri Shahideh , Falk Bryce W.
Published: July 2016

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a putative densovirus of the Asian citrus psyllid,
Diaphorina citri
.
Diaphorina citri
densovirus (DcDNV) was originally identified through metagenomics, and here, we obtained the complete nucleotide sequence using PCR-based approaches. Phylogenetic analysis places DcDNV between viruses of the
Ambidensovirus
and
Iteradensovirus
genera
.
Complete Genome Sequence of
Photobacterium
sp. Strain J15, Isolated from Seawater of Southwestern Johor, Malaysia
Authors: Roslan Noordiyanah Nadhirah , Sabri Suriana , Oslan Siti Nurbaya , Baharum Syarul Nataqain , Leow Thean Chor
Published: July 2016

Here, we report the genome sequences of
Photobacterium
sp. strain J15, isolated from seawater in Johor, Malaysia, with the ability to produce lipase and asparaginase. The PacBio genome sequence analysis of
Photobacterium
sp. strain J15 generated revealed its potential in producing enzymes with different catalytic functions.
Complete Genome Sequences of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 Strains SRCC 1675 and 28RC, Which Vary in Acid Resistance
Authors: Baranzoni Gian Marco , Fratamico Pina M. , Reichenberger Erin R. , Kim Gwang-Hee , Breidt Frederick , Kay Kathryn , Oh Deog-Hwan
Published: July 2016

The level of acid resistance among
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 strains varies, and strains with higher resistance to acid may have a lower infectious dose. The complete genome sequences belonging to two strains of
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 with different levels of acid resistance are presented here.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Agrobacterium rhizogenes
Strain NCPPB2659
Authors: Valdes Franco Jose A. , Collier Ray , Wang Yi , Huo Naxin , Gu Yong , Thilmony Roger , Thomson James G.
Published: July 2016

This work reports the draft genome sequence of
Agrobacterium rhizogenes
strain NCPPB2659 (also known as strain K599). The assembled genome contains 5,277,347 bp, composed of one circular chromosome, the pRi2659 virulence plasmid, and 17 scaffolds pertaining to the linear chromosome. The wild-type strain causes hairy root disease in dicots and has been used to make transgenic hairy root cultures and composite plants (nontransgenic shoots with transgenic roots). Disarmed variants of the strain have been used to produce stable transgenic monocot and dicot plants.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
Strain #22 Isolated from a Patient with Short Bowel Syndrome and Previous
d
-Lactic Acidosis and Encephalopathy
Authors: Domann Eugen , Fischer Florence , Glowatzki Fabian , Fritzenwanker Moritz , Hain Torsten , Zechel-Gran Silke , Giffhorn-Katz Susanne , Neubauer Bernd A.
Published: July 2016

d
-Lactic acidosis with associated encephalopathy caused by overgrowth of intestinal lactic acid bacteria is a rarely diagnosed neurological complication of patients with short bowel syndrome. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
strain #22 isolated from a patient with short bowel syndrome and previous
d
-lactic acidosis/encephalopathy.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Raffaelea quercivora
JCM 11526, a Japanese Oak Wilt Pathogen Associated with the Platypodid Beetle,
Platypus quercivorus
Authors: Masuya Hayato , Manabe Ri-ichiroh , Ohkuma Moriya , Endoh Rikiya
Published: July 2016

The Japanese oak wilt pathogen
Raffaelea quercivora
and the platypodid beetle,
Platypus quercivorus
, cause serious mass mortality of
Quercus
spp. in Japan. Here, we present the first draft genome sequence of
R. quercivora
JCM 11526 to increase our understanding of the mechanism of pathogenicity and symbiosis with the ambrosia beetle.
Whole-Genome Sequence of
Enteractinococcus helveticum
sp. nov. Strain UASWS1574 Isolated from Industrial Used Waters
Authors: Crovadore Julien , Calmin Gautier , Chablais Romain , Cochard Bastien , Lefort François
Published: July 2016

We report here the whole-genome shotgun sequences of the strain UASWS1574 of the undescribed
Enteractinococcus helveticum
sp. nov., isolated from used water. This is the first genome registered for the whole genus.
Highly Variable Streptococcus oralis Strains Are Common among Viridans Streptococci Isolated from Primates
Authors: Denapaite Dalia , Rieger Martin , Köndgen Sophie , Brückner Reinhold , Ochigava Irma , Kappeler Peter , Mätz-Rensing Kerstin , Leendertz Fabian , Hakenbeck Regine
Published: July 2016

Streptococcus pneumoniae
is a rare example of a human-pathogenic bacterium among viridans streptococci, which consist of commensal symbionts, such as the close relatives
Streptococcus mitis
and
S. oralis
. We have shown that
S. oralis
can frequently be isolated from primates and a variety of other viridans streptococci as well. Genes and genomic islands which are known pneumococcal virulence factors are present in
S. oralis
and
S. mitis
, documenting the widespread occurrence of these compounds, which encode surface and secreted proteins. The frequent occurrence of CRISP-Cas gene clusters and a surprising variation of a set of small noncoding RNAs are factors to be considered in future research to further our understanding of mechanisms involved in the genomic diversity driven by horizontal gene transfer among viridans streptococci.
Medical and social issues of child refugees in Europe
Authors: Williams Bhanu , Cassar Christine , Siggers Georgie , Taylor Sebastian
Published: July 2016

In mid-2015, there were an estimated 20.2 million refugees in the world; over half of them are children. Globally, this is the highest number of refugees moving across borders in 20 years. The rights of refugee children to access healthcare and be free from arbitrary detention are enshrined in law. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children have a statutory medical assessment, but refugee children arriving with their families do not. Paediatricians assessing both unaccompanied and accompanied refugee children must be alert to the possibilities of nutritional deficiencies, infectious diseases, dental caries and mental health disorders and be aware of the national and international health guidance available for support.
Vesicular stomatitis
Authors: Timoney Peter
Published: July 2016

More than 800 premises in eight states in the USA have recently reported cases of vesicular stomatitis in their horses. Here, Peter Timoney, of the Gluck Equine Research Center in Kentucky, discusses this zoonotic disease in more detail