bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin A exhibits synergism with antifungals against Candida parapsilosis species complex
Authors: Cordeiro Rossana de Aguiar , Macedo Ramila de Brito , Teixeira Carlos Eduardo Cordeiro , Marques Francisca Jakelyne de Farias , Bandeira Tereza de Jesus Pinheiro Gomes , Moreira José Luciano Bezerra , Brilhante Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira , Rocha Marcos Fábio Gadelha , Sidrim José Júlio Costa
Published: April 2014

Candida parapsilosis complex comprises three closely related species, C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida metapsilosis and Candida orthopsilosis. In the last decade, antifungal resistance to azoles and caspofungin among C. parapsilosis sensu lato strains has been considered a matter of concern worldwide. In the present study, we evaluated the synergistic potential of antifungals and the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin A (Cys) against planktonic and biofilms of C. parapsilosis complex from clinical sources. Susceptibility assays with amphotericin, fluconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin and Cys were performed by microdilution in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Synergy testing against planktonic cells of C. parapsilosis sensu lato strains was assessed by the chequerboard method. Combinations formed by antifungals with Cys were evaluated against mature biofilms in microtitre plates. No differences in the antifungal susceptibility pattern among species were observed, but C. parapsilosis sensu stricto strains were more susceptible to Cys than C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis. Synergism between antifungals and Cys was observed in C. parapsilosis sensu lato strains. Combinations formed by antifungals and Cys were able to prevent biofilm formation and showed an inhibitory effect against mature biofilms of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, C. metapsilosis and C. orthopsilosis. These results strengthen the potential of calcineurin inhibition as a promising approach to enhance the efficiency of antifungal drugs.
Differential regulation of the two-component regulatory system senX3-regX3 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Rifat Dalin , Karakousis Petros C.
Published: April 2014

The highly successful pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has evolved strategies to adapt to various stress conditions, thus promoting survival within the infected host. The two-component regulatory system (2CRS) senX3-regX3, which has been implicated in the Mtb response to inorganic phosphate depletion, is believed to behave as an auto-regulatory bicistronic operon. Unlike other 2CRS, Mtb senX3-regX3 features an intergenic region (IR) containing several mycobacterium interspersed repetitive units (MIRU) of unknown function. In this study, we used a lacZ reporter system to study the promoter activity of the 5′ untranslated region of senX3, and that of various numbers of MIRUs in the senX3-regX3 IR, during axenic Mtb growth in nutrient-rich broth, and upon exposure to growth-restricting conditions. Activity of the senX3 promoter was induced during phosphate depletion and nutrient starvation, and IR promoter activity under these conditions was directly proportional to the number of MIRUs present. Quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT)-PCR analysis of exponentially growing Mtb revealed monocistronic transcription of senX3 and regX3, and, to a lesser degree, bicistronic transcription of the operon. In addition, we observed primarily monocistronic upregulation of regX3 during phosphate depletion of Mtb, which was confirmed by Northern analysis in wild-type Mtb and by RT-PCR in a senX3-disrupted mutant, while upregulation of regX3 in nutrient-starved Mtb was chiefly bicistronic. Our findings of differential regulation of senX3-regX3 highlight the potential regulatory role of MIRUs in the Mtb genome and provide insight into the regulatory mechanisms underlying Mtb adaptation to physiologically relevant conditions.
Natural CMT2 variation is associated with genome-wide methylation changes and temperature seasonality
Authors: Shen Xia , De Jonge Jennifer , Forsberg Simon , Pettersson Mats , Sheng Zheya , Hennig Lars , Carlborg Örjan
Published: April 2014

As Arabidopsis thaliana has colonized a wide range of habitats across the world it is an attractive model for studying the genetic mechanisms underlying environmental adaptation. Here, we used public data from two collections of A. thaliana accessions to associate genetic variability at individual loci with differences in climates at the sampling sites. We use a novel method to screen the genome for plastic alleles that tolerate a broader climate range than the major allele. This approach reduces confounding with population structure and increases power compared to standard genome-wide association methods. Sixteen novel loci were found, including an association between Chromomethylase 2 (CMT2) and temperature seasonality where the genome-wide CHH methylation was different for the group of accessions carrying the plastic allele. Cmt2 mutants were shown to be more tolerant to heat-stress, suggesting genetic regulation of epigenetic modifications as a likely mechanism underlying natural adaptation to variable temperatures, potentially through differential allelic plasticity to temperature-stress.
(E)-3-Isopropyl-1-methyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-oneO-nicotinoyl oxime
Authors: Vinuchakkaravarthy T. , Sivakumar R. , Srinivasan T. , Thanikachalam V. , Velmurugan D.
Published: April 2014

In the title compound, C27H29N3O2, the piperidine ring exists in a chair conformation with an equatorial orientation of the phenyl and methyl substituents. The C—C=N bond angles are significantly different [119.1 (2) and 127.2 (2)°]. The phenyl rings are inclined to one another by 44.90 (14)°, and by 80.85 (13) and 79.62 (12)° to the mean plane of the piperidine ring. The terminal pyridine ring is inclined to the piperidine ring mean plane by 74.79 (15)°. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming a three-dimensional network.
Plural forms of governance in the beef industry: a case study in Brazil
Authors: José Carrer Marcelo , Meirelles de Souza Filho Hildo , de Melo Brandão Vinholis Marcela
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the forms of coordinating transactions used by a large beef slaughterhouse and processing companies and their suppliers of beef cattle, and to identify the reasons for the adoption of plural forms of governance for their transactions with cattle suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study format was selected for this investigation. The focal company selected offers a large number of products derived from beef for different commercialisation channels in the domestic and foreign market. A non-probability sample of 30 suppliers (cattle farmers) of the focal company provided data on finished steers sold in 2010, according to the three types of governance used in the transactions (spot market, forward contracts and long-term contracts).

Findings

– The simultaneous use of more than one type of governance structure to coordinate similar transactions has been termed plural forms of governance in the literature. In Brazil, new forms of governance, such as formal and informal contracts, have been adopted for transactions between beef processing companies and cattle farmers, in addition to the use of spot market and vertical integration. It has been shown that the adoption of plural forms reduces the risk of complex transactions; and is a strategy to deal with unpredictable institutional environments and high heterogeneity of both suppliers and distribution channels.

Research limitations/implications

– The research provides empirical evidence of plural forms of governance, as well as the reasons for the adoption of this strategy by firms, which contributes to the ongoing theoretical discussion on this subject.

Practical implications

– The paper has implications for company supply chain management.

Originality/value

– This paper presents theoretical review on plural forms of governance, new empirical evidence and determinant factors for their adoption.
Perceptions of healthy eating in transitional phases of life
Authors: Bech-Larsen Tino , Kazbare Laura
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Although adolescents and older adults are often targets for nutritional change interventions, little has been done to explore how people in these transitional life phases perceive the matter themselves. The aim of this paper is to explore and compare adolescents' and older adults' own perceptions of the barriers and facilitators of a change towards healthier eating.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study design consisted of four focus groups that were conducted with adolescents and older adults to identify their health orientations, and their expected and experienced outcomes and self-efficacies in implementing approach and avoidance behaviours in relation to healthy eating, i.e. increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables and decreasing consumption of soft drinks and red meat.

Findings

– The study resulted in a number of interesting insights, e.g. that older and younger participants alike: were keen not to seem “overly healthy” to their important others, had a demonstratively detached orientation towards healthy eating and felt that their diets were generally healthy (although this was generally disproved by their self-reported intake data).

Originality/value

– The study and findings reported in this article contribute by providing the first steps towards a better understanding of how social cognition and self-efficacy perceptions related to healthy eating develop in the transitional phases of adolescence and older adulthood. In order to complement and validate the findings of the study; and with the aim of facilitating efficient nutritional change interventions directed at adolescents and older people, further studies should be conducted.
Demand for safety and regional certification of food
Authors: Doherty Edel , Campbell Danny
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore the relationship between consumer demand for enhanced food safety features and regional identification of food amongst consumers across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses the choice experiment method to determine preferences for food testing standards, traceability standards, health and welfare standards, region of origin and price.

Findings

– The results show that substantial differences exist in preferences for the features between consumers in both countries. In addition, while stark differences are apparent between the two countries, in their preferences for food originating from their local region, the results suggest that consumers perceive significant substitutability between the enhanced safety features and the local regional label in both countries.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a unique insight into preferences for a wide range of enhanced food safety features amongst consumers in these two countries. This is the first study to undertake a comparison of these countries using the choice experiment method. In addition, the paper provides a thorough overview of how consumers perceive the relationship between enhanced safety features and region of origin of food.
Method development for the cyclic characterization of thin copper layers for PCB applications
Authors: Fellner K. , Fuchs P.F. , Pinter G. , Antretter T. , Krivec T.
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The overall aim of this research work was the improvement of the failure behavior of printed circuit boards (PCBs). In order to describe the mechanical behavior of PCBs under cyclic thermal loads, thin copper layers were characterized. The mechanical properties of these copper layers were determined in cyclic four-point bend tests and in cyclic tensile-compression tests, as their behavior under changing tensile and compression loads needed to be evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

– Specimens for the four-point bend tests were manufactured by bonding 18-μm-thick copper layers on both sides of 10-mm-thick silicone plates. The silicone was characterized in tensile, shear and blow-up tests to provide input data for a hyperelastic material model. Specimens for the cyclic tensile-compression tests were produced in a compression molding process. Four layers of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin (thickness 90 μm) and five layers of copper (thickness 60 μm) were applied.

Findings

– The results showed that, due to the hyperelastic material behavior of silicone, the four-point bend tests were applicable only for small strains, while the cyclic tensile-compression tests could successfully be applied to characterize thin copper foils in tensile and compression up to 1 percent strain.

Originality/value

– Thin copper layers (foils) could be characterized successfully under cyclic tensile and compression loads.
An investigation into the effect of surplus free cash flow, corporate governance and firm size on earnings predictability
Authors: Ahmed AL-Dhamari Redhwan , Nor Izah Ku Ismail Ku
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Existing studies on corporate governance mainly focus on how a strong governance system enhances the valuation of firms with cash holding or free cash flow agency problem. The aims of this paper are threefold. First, it investigates the impact of surplus free cash flows (SFCF) on earnings predictability. Second, it investigates whether corporate governance variables moderate the negative impact of SFCF on earnings predictability. Finally, this study examines whether the ability of corporate governance to mitigate SFCF and improve the predictive value of earnings varies between large and small firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses heteroskedasticity-corrected least square regressions upon a sample of Malaysian listed firms.

Findings

– This paper finds that firms with high SFCF experience less earnings predictability. It also indicates that earnings of firms with high SFCF are more predictable when institutional investors hold a large stake of shares and when a chairperson is independent. Finally, this paper reveals that the role of institutional and managerial ownership in mitigating agency conflict of free cash flow and improving earnings predictability is more prominent in larger firms. This study implies that investors still have reservations about the ability of boards to enhance earnings numbers in Malaysia, although efforts were taken to reform the corporate governance mechanisms following the Asian financial crisis.

Originality/value

– This research is considered as the first attempt to examine the relationships between SFCF, corporate governance, firm size, and earnings predictability in a developing county such as Malaysia. The findings of this paper serve as a wake-up call to policy makers to evaluate the importance of governance structure in enhancing earnings predictability in emerging economies.
Socio-moral climate, debate, and decision comprehensiveness interplay for team innovation
Authors: Seyr Sarah , Vollmer Albert
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to address both the socio-moral climate and how teams process debate and decision comprehensiveness as pre-conditions for team innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 67 teams comprising 413 participants were surveyed. Data were analyzed with a multiple-step multiple-mediation procedure.

Findings

– The socio-moral climate was positively related to innovation. The positive relation between the socio-moral climate and innovation was mediated stepwise through debate and decision comprehensiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– To overcome the limitations of a cross-sectional design, future research opportunities exist in the longitudinal evaluation of participatory socio-moral climates and comparisons between organizations. Debate and decision comprehensiveness can be further studied using behavior-based methodological designs, such as observation.

Practical implications

– From this study, practitioners can learn of the needs and opportunities for participative approaches when managing innovation in teams. Promoting a socio-moral climate of cooperation, communication, openness, appreciation, trust and respect and leaving open the possibility that debating can help integrative decision comprehensiveness and thus innovation.

Originality/value

– This paper expands the literature on organizational climate, debate, decision comprehensiveness, and innovation. On the one hand, the results empirically linked the socio-moral climate, a theoretically well-founded climate construct, to process variables. On the other hand, the literature on debate and decision comprehensiveness was expanded by adding the socio-moral climate as a pre-condition of debate and decision comprehensiveness. Furthermore, both were linked to a crucial outcome variable, innovation.
Improving change management: how communication nature influences resistance to change
Authors: Matos Marques Simoes Paula , Esposito Mark
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– Little has been studied yet in terms of how communication nature influences change process. The purpose of this paper is to explore a case study that takes part in a broader research project, aimed to contribute in this direction.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mix methodology has been applied to the findings, to characterize resistance to change and communication nature within one organization under a radical change process.

Findings

– One main theoretical contribution is an instrumental grid to characterize dialogic communication nature.

Originality/value

– Findings of the case study originally indicate that resistance to change reduces under dialogic communication and by revealing how communication dimensions perform in time, practitioners may enhance guidelines to effective change communication management.
Management learning, performance and reward: theory and practice revisited
Authors: Rowland Caroline , Hall Roger
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which organizational learning is recognized through performance management systems as contributing to organizational effectiveness and competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

– It reviews several pieces of research, employing a wide range of methods, including: content analysis of managers’ reflections; questionnaires completed by managers and mentors; a large-scale survey involving ethnography, interviews and questionnaires; and analysis of documents from professional bodies and management delivery centres.

Findings

– Genuine integration of individual and organizational goals or transfer of learning from the individual to the organization is not evident. Few qualitative measures of organizational performance are employed. The impact of metrics such as IIP or EFQM on organizational effectiveness is nor discernible. Management learning and development is rarely measured even when it is encouraged by the organization. There is a clear divide between research, teaching and learning and workplace practice. Performance management systems create perceptions of unreliability and inequity.

Research limitations/implications

– Espousing the value of learning and learning to learn, measuring them accurately and rewarding them with meaningful changes to working life can only improve organizational effectiveness. Research into the few organizations that have successfully embraced triple loop learning in their development of managers may offer a template for transformational learning to sustain competitive advantage.

Originality/value

– Management development processes have been successful in developing individuals but less successful in achieving organizational development. This paper offers new insights into that gap and the omissions in the metrics by which performance is measured.
A conceptual model for understanding the process of self-leadership development and action-steps to promote personal leadership development
Authors: Ross Stanley
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The goal of the leadership development process is to enable the individual to learn how to become a self-leader and for any organization to develop leaders. Self-leadership represents an individual's ability to exercise control (self-efficacy) over his or her choice of situations in which to participate in and to provide intrinsic rewards that are usually associated with achieving goals. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study presents and describes a conceptual model that will help us to understand the critical dimensions (e.g. self-esteem) associated with self-leadership and the interrelatedness of these dimensions.

Findings

– The conceptual model that the author describes in this paper provides a comprehensive overview of self-leadership that extends Neck and Manz's (2010) conceptual model. It does so by identifying all the critical super ordinate mediators referred to by Deciet al.(1981) as internal states (referred to in this study as “dimensions”). These “dimensions” are then organized into his or her own singular system which leads to specific types of behavior. Through elucidating the important mediators and learning about and understanding how behavior, an individual's internal processes and external forces influence each other (in what Manz, 1986; Bandura, 1978 refer to as reciprocal determinism), we can begin to understand how to design more effective leadership development programs. Additionally, by studying these mediators any organization can develop clearly defined profiles of potential leaders; in turn, this will help an organization screen candidates more effectively to fill leadership jobs.

Originality/value

– This concept piece offers a comprehensive model of the self-leadership process that includes all the important issues and the relationship among the important issues.
The moderating role of brand reputation and moral obligation
Authors: Bang Hyejin , A. Odio Michael , Reio Thomas
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the influences of theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs (i.e. attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC)) on individuals’ volunteer intention for future sporting events, and second, to investigate the moderating effects of brand reputation and moral obligation in the relationships between TPB constructs and volunteer intention.

Design/methodology/approach

– The sample consisted of 107 volunteers at the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Moderated hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypothesized relationships of the model.

Findings

– Subjective norm and PBC were significantly associated with volunteer intention. Brand reputation was found to be a moderator in the relationships between attitude and volunteer intention and between subjective norm and volunteer intention, and moral obligation moderated the relationship between PBC and volunteer intention.

Practical implications

– Sporting events/volunteer managers must understand individuals’ decision-making process with respect to volunteering at sporting events and important insights into new strategies to increase volunteer recruitment, retention, and reliability.

Social implications

– Because sporting event managers face considerable obstacles in recruiting and retaining a volunteer workforce, an enhanced understanding of volunteering may highlight new ways to remove obstacles to being a volunteer to the benefit of individuals and society.

Originality/value

– This paper emphasizes the importance of brand reputation and moral obligation as moderators of the effects of the TPB constructs on volunteer intention in the context of sporting events.
Multi-event ethnography: doing research in pluralistic settings
Authors: Aguilar Delgado Natalia , Barin Cruz Luciano
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to overcome the challenges of doing research in pluralistic settings by performing multi-event ethnographies. The proposal redirects the efforts of longitudinal data collection toward field-configuring events (FCEs), wherein multiple organizations with divergent perspectives over an issue are strategizing in concentrated efforts, at the same time and space. The authors apply traditional ethnographic tools in this understudied setting. On the one hand, these tools allow for a thick description that results in in-depth accounts of actors within FCEs. On the other hand, they provide flexibility because they can be used in complementary ways.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors propose the use of three interconnected ethnographic tools in multiple events: shadowing, practitioner's diary and researcher's reflexive journal.

Findings

– The illustration of an ongoing research project showed how the approach helped the researchers to follow a practitioner in multiple discursive spaces but also to see how the practitioner, even with a different status in a later FCE, transported a deviant practice that denounces his persistent disadvantaged position in the field. The approach delineated here allowed the researchers to open a new window for the appreciation of the activities of marginal actors fighting against hegemonic discourses.

Research limitations/implications

– The application of the shadowing technique might be challenging. Attention might also be paid to the implications of previous FCEs to current dynamics.

Practical implications

– The tools developed in this approach have a large potential to have practical implications, as the practitioner accounts of the phenomenon in question are at the center of the data collection and analysis.

Originality/value

– The proposal contributes to the literature on organizational ethnography by drawing attention to the importance of tracking multiple events, not only different sites, to unveil organizational practices in pluralistic settings as events progress over time.
Annual maintenance budget estimation for a plant system
Authors: Gupta Piyush , Gupta Shashank , Gandhi O.P.
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to evaluate the annual maintenance budget (AMB) for a plant system as a percentage of its asset replacement value (ARV).

Design/methodology/approach

– Variables influencing the budget for the plant system are identified and modeled in terms of a plant maintenance Budget digraph. The nodes in the digraph represent the function of budget influencing variables and edges represent the degree of influence among these. The plant maintenance budget function is derived from the equivalent matrix of the plant maintenance budget digraph and is used to evaluate the AMB for the plant system as a percentage of its ARV. The presented model is illustrated with an example.

Findings

– The proposed methodology enables the maintenance managers and practicing engineers to evaluate the AMB for maintenance tasks based on plant specific variables that can vary from one plant to another, without resorting to general rules-of-thumb method of budgeting or to expert judgment.

Research limitations/implications

– The methodology suggested does not claim to cover all aspects of budgeting and is confined to direct maintenance costs.

Practical implications

– A fair estimation of AMB for a plant system gives an appropriate direction to maintenance actions and ensures that the assets will be kept in healthy and reliable state. This is desirable because it will ensure that maintenance resources are appropriately benchmarked and the resources are utilized judiciously. This ensures maintenance effectiveness.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a structural approach to budgeting for maintenance tasks. This approach is valuable for plant managers, with ease in implementation.
Opportunistic maintenance (OM) as a new advancement in maintenance approaches
Authors: Ab-Samat Hasnida , Kamaruddin Shahrul
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– This paper reviews the literature on opportunistic maintenance (OM) as new advance maintenance approach and policy. The purpose of this paper is to conceptually identify common principle and thereby provide absolute definition, concept and characteristics of this policy.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual analysis was conducted on various literatures to clarify a number of principle and concepts as a method for understanding information on OM. The analysis involves the process of separating the compound terms used in the literatures into a few parts, analyse them and then recombining them to have more clear understanding of the policy.

Findings

– The paper discussed the maintenance approach, genealogy, principle, concept and applications of OM both in numerical analysis and real industry. OM policy is developed based on combination of age replacement policy and block replacement policy and in practical; OM is applied as the combination of corrective maintenance which is applied when any failure occurred, with preventive maintenance (PM) – a planned and scheduled maintenance approach to prevent failure to happen. Any machine shutdown or stoppages due to failure is the “opportunity” to conduct PM even though it is not as planned. The characterization of OM was provided in order to present its theoretical novelty for researchers and practical significance for industries.

Practical implications

– To date, there is no publication that reviews the OM in-depth and provides clear understanding on the topic. Therefore, this paper aims to show lineage of OM and the current trend in researches. This discussion will pave the way of new research areas on this optimal maintenance policy. Clear definition and principle of OM provided in this paper will trigger interest in its practicality as well as aid industries to understand and conduct OM in operation plant.

Originality/value

– This paper discussed the available literature about OM in various perspectives and scopes for further understanding of the topic by maintenance management professionals and researchers. Therefore, OM can be widely studied and applied in real industry as it is an effective and optimal maintenance policy.
Earthmoving trucks condition level prediction using neural networks
Authors: Marinelli Marina , Lambropoulos Sergios , Petroutsatou Kleopatra
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an artificial neural network (ANN) model that predicts earthmoving trucks condition level using simple predictors; the model's performance is compared to the respective predictive accuracy of the statistical method of discriminant analysis (DA).

Design/methodology/approach

– An ANN-based predictive model is developed. The condition level predictors selected are the capacity, age, kilometers travelled and maintenance level. The relevant data set was provided by two Greek construction companies and includes the characteristics of 126 earthmoving trucks.

Findings

– Data processing identifies a particularly strong connection of kilometers travelled and maintenance level with the earthmoving trucks condition level. Moreover, the validation process reveals that the predictive efficiency of the proposed ANN model is very high. Similar findings emerge from the application of DA to the same data set using the same predictors.

Originality/value

– Earthmoving trucks’ sound condition level prediction reduces downtime and its adverse impact on earthmoving duration and cost, while also enhancing the maintenance and replacement policies effectiveness. This research proves that a sound condition level prediction for earthmoving trucks is achievable through the utilization of easy to collect data and provides a comparative evaluation of the results of two widely applied predictive methods.
Making the most of free legal research: a selected annotated bibliography
Authors: Krenelka Chase Ashley
Published: April 2014

Purpose

- This selected annotated bibliography is designed to aid any user with access to the internet in performing legal research, without requiring access to expensive legal research databases and subscription services.

Design/methodology/approach

- These online resources are regularly referred to by those hoping to help self-represented litigants or those without access to paid legal resources.

Findings

- As traditional legal research databases, such as HeinOnline, Lexis, and Westlaw become more and more expensive, while at the same time legal services become more expensive, these free and open legal research resources are increasingly important, particularly for self-represented litigants. This selected bibliography contains resources that will be helpful to librarians in all types of libraries, from public to academic, from county law libraries to large, private law school libraries.

Originality/value

- This is an original annotated bibliography that may be valuable to those working in libraries, who are regularly asked questions about legal research or resources.
Differentiating attitudes: team loyalty and attitude towards spectating behaviour
Authors: Sumida Ken , Fujimoto Junya , Sakata Masayuki
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to differentiate sport spectators’ attitudes, specifically team loyalty and attitude towards spectating behaviour by investigating the reliability and validity of the proposed model, and the influence of the attitudinal factors on intention to re-attend sporting events.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this quantitative study, data were longitudinally collected from five professional soccer teams of the Japanese professional soccer league official surveys of 2008. The study was analysed in two phases by first examining the reliability and validity of the measurements and then the appropriateness of the model. Finally, a multiple group analysis was conducted to examine the applicability across the aforementioned five teams.

Findings

– Team loyalty conceptually and empirically differed from attitudes towards spectating behaviour. The proposed model indicated how attitudes have impacts on spectators’ future attendance at professional sports events, but the model significantly changed when parameters of the model were progressively constrained, suggesting that each team's uniqueness may influence spectators’ intention to attend future games.

Originality/value

– Sport spectators’ attitudes play a significant role in the decision-making process of deciding to attend an event, and an understanding of how spectators’ attitudes influence their intention to re-attend events could be of value to both scholars and sports team managers. Spectators of each team have their own characteristics and although this makes it difficult to generalise the results, this study contributes to an understanding of spectators’ attitudes.
Sports service quality for event venues: evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Ho Voon Boo , Lee Nagarajah , Murray Duncan
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically test the proposed measure of sports service quality (SSQ) and examine the relationships between emotional experience (EE) and user satisfaction (US) for sports competitions/training venues (i.e. for the sport of badminton).

Design/methodology/approach

– Focus group discussions and related literature review were used to generate items for the SSQ. Structured questionnaires captured the perceptions of 240 users of sports venues in Malaysia. The relationships between SSQ, EE and US were assessed via structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

– Results show that the SSQ has five dimensions (peripheral, reliability, responsiveness, core and value). Core, peripheral and value have positive effects on users’ EE whereas peripheral, reliability, responsiveness and core have positive effects on US. The SEM analysis suggests that EE mediates the relationship between SSQ and US.

Research limitations/implications

– The SSQ scale is developed using data from the badminton sport industry and is yet to be validated in other types of sports venues. In addition, measures of customer loyalty also need to be considered.

Practical implications

– Findings suggest that provision of quality service directly influences satisfaction with sports venues and enhances the EE of customers. Sports venue managers should monitor the service management, particularly in terms of the physical environment and personnel.

Originality/value

– This paper proposes a specific measure of service quality tailored for use in sports venues. It also provides further support for the mediating role EE plays in the service quality-satisfaction relationship.
Tourism in a transforming world economy
Authors: Clayton Anthony H. , Pinnock Fritz H. , Ajagunna Ibrahim
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– As the world is being rapidly reshaped by the accelerating pace of scientific and technological advance, demographic trends, the rise of new centres of global manufacturing, surging demand for resources, rapid shifts in the pattern of environmental impacts, changes in the nature of risk, political and economic influence, competition and conflict, and the geopolitical balance of power, and potential global threats such as climate change, this conceptual paper aims to examine what impact some of these changes may have on developing nations that are highly dependent on the tourism sector, and what implications this may have for the tourism industry in general.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper seeks to examine what impact what some of these changes may have on developing nations that are highly dependent on the tourism sector, and what implications this may have for the tourism industry in general.

Findings

– Based on the pattern of growth and emerging new world, it appears that the tourism industry will undergo a significant transformation over the next several decades as a result of current social, economic, technological and environmental changes, which raises important questions as to how the small nations can plan and prepare for these developments.

Practical implications

– While we are living in turbulent times, and it seems likely that times of even more profound change lie ahead, there are ways in which even the smallest and poorest developing countries can increase their resilience, support their most important economic sectors, which in many cases now is their tourism industry, and protect their people. One of the most important steps is policy integration, which would allow multiple objectives to be met as efficiently and economically as possible.

Originality/value

– A number of small, developing nations are now heavily dependent on the tourism industry. This paper suggests that integrated planning could help in this regard by assisting the small developing nations to solve a number of impediments at the same time, and thereby increasing their resilience.
The role of properly structured public-private partnerships in promoting economic development
Authors: Busler Michael
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to find the characteristics that determine the success of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in promoting economic development and specifically to determine the long- and short-term public involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

– A grounded theory approach is utilized, involving desk research and a review of the current literature, as well as examining case studies. This reduction in data collection was based on the availability of literature and case studies which can be assimilated to develop theoretically justifiable conclusions.

Findings

– In less-than-developed countries (LDC), the lack of private investment capital severely hinders economic development. In developed countries it is often high risk factors and very large capital investment that slows economic development. In both cases, an input from the public sector is needed. The findings suggest that government involvement should be time limited, so that to achieve long-term success, a public sector exit strategy should be formulated. The length of time for public sector involvement varies but is generally longer in the LDC.

Research limitations/implications

– While the current literature provides some conclusions regarding the effect of PPPs on economic development, there is a gap when examining the proper structure particularly for developing countries.

Originality/value

– While the current literature provides some conclusions regarding the effect of PPPs on economic development, there is a gap when examining the proper structure. This paper also provides some guidance for participants to determine the optimum length of time that public involvement is needed. Both academics and practitioners should find this to be valuable information.
Instrumental delivery and ultrasound : a multicentre randomised controlled trial of ultrasound assessment of the fetal head position versus standard care as an approach to prevent morbidity at instrumental delivery
Authors: Ramphul M , Ooi PV , Burke G , Kennelly MM , Said SAT , Montgomery AA , Murphy DJ
Published: April 2014

Objective

To determine whether the use of ultrasound can reduce the incidence of incorrect diagnosis of the fetal head position at instrumental delivery and subsequent morbidity.

Design

Two‐arm, parallel, randomised trial, conducted from June 2011 to December 2012.

Setting

Two maternity hospitals in the Republic of Ireland.

Sample

A cohort of 514 nulliparous women at term (≥37 weeks of gestation) with singleton cephalic pregnancies, aiming to deliver vaginally, were recruited prior to an induction of labour or in early labour.

Methods

If instrumental delivery was required, women who had provided written consent were randomised to receive clinical assessment (standard care) or ultrasound scan and clinical assessment (ultrasound). [Correction added on 17 April 2014, after first online publication: Sentence was amended.]

Main outcome measure

Incorrect diagnosis of the fetal head position.

Results

The incidence of incorrect diagnosis was significantly lower in the ultrasound group than the standard care group (4/257, 1.6%, versus 52/257, 20.2%; odds ratio 0.06; 95% confidence interval 0.02–0.19; P < 0.001). The decision to delivery interval was similar in both groups (ultrasound mean 13.8 minutes, SD 8.7 minutes, versus standard care mean 14.6 minutes, SD 10.1 minutes, P = 0.35). The incidence of maternal and neonatal complications, failed instrumental delivery, and caesarean section was not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions

An ultrasound assessment prior to instrumental delivery reduced the incidence of incorrect diagnosis of the fetal head position without delaying delivery, but did not prevent morbidity. A more integrated clinical skills‐based approach is likely to be required to prevent adverse outcomes at instrumental delivery.
FDI and Outsourcing in a Service Industry: Welfare Effects of Liberalising Trade and Investment
Authors: Lu Te‐Cheng , Lin Yan‐Shu , Hu Jin‐Li
Published: April 2014

This study examines a foreign firm's entry decision and its effects on the host country's welfare in a model with a composite good in which both commodity and service generate utility for consumers. Along with the commodity it produces, a producer can provide the service by itself or outsource the service. The result shows that the incentive for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the service sector increases under liberalising trade in the final‐good market. Moreover, there exist policy combinations of trade and investment liberalisation, whereby the domestic firms' profitability is traded off with the host country's social welfare when the foreign firm provides a service through FDI or through outsourcing, respectively. Finally, the welfare after simultaneously liberalising trade and investment is not necessarily greater than that under autarky.
Federal dynamics in times of economic and financial crisis
Authors: Braun Dietmar , Trein Philipp
Published: April 2014

The global economic and financial crisis is a challenge for all governments, but particularly for federal states because divided and/or shared territorial powers make federations susceptible to coordination problems in fiscal policy making. This article explores the effects of the ongoing crisis on federal relations. Three kinds of problems that may become the cause of federal tensions and conflicts are evoked: opportunism of subgovernments, centralisation and erosion of solidarity among members of the federation. Our analysis of fiscal policies and federal conflicts of 11 federations between 2007 and the present reveals three kinds of coordination problems: shirking in the use of federal government grants, rent‐seeking in equalisation payments, and over‐borrowing and over‐spending. Our results show that shirking remained limited to few cases and occurred only in the first part of the crisis. However, rent‐seeking and over‐borrowing and over‐spending led to a reduction of solidarity among subgovernments and to increased regulation of the fiscal discretion of the members of the federation. Subsequently, tensions in federal relations increased – although only in one case did this challenged the federal order.
Glucosinolates in oilseed rape: secondary metabolites that influence interactions with herbivores and their natural enemies
Authors: Bruce T.J.A.
Published: April 2014

Glucosinolates are sulphur‐containing secondary metabolites characteristic of Brassicaceous plants. Glucosinolate breakdown products, which include isothiocyanates, are released following tissue damage when hydrolytic enzymes act on them. The isothiocyanates have toxic effects on generalist herbivores when they attempt to feed on oilseed rape, Brassica napus, and also function as repellents. However, specialist herbivores such as Brevicoryne brassicae aphids, flea beetles, Psylliodes chrysocephala and the Lepidopteran pest, Pieris rapae, are adapted to the presence of glucosinolates and thrive on plants containing them. They may do this by avoiding tissue damage to prevent the formation of isothiocyanates or by metabolising or tolerating glucosinolates. For many specialist herbivores, the isothiocyanates function as attractants and glucosinolates can even be sequestered for defence against predatory insects. Thus, these herbivores have evolved resistance to host‐plant secondary metabolites and this type of evolutionary history may have given some insects an enhanced ability to adapt to xenobiotics. In an agricultural context, this may make pests better able to evolve resistance to artificially applied pesticides. The effect of increased glucosinolate content in making oilseed rape cultivars more susceptible to specialist pests was highlighted in a seminal article in the Annals of Applied Biology in 1995. This review of the literature considers developments in this area since then.
A Checkpoint Effect? Evidence from a Natural Experiment on Travel Restrictions in the West Bank
Authors: Longo Matthew , Canetti Daphna , Hite‐Rubin Nancy
Published: April 2014

Does nonviolent repression prompt subject groups to obey or rebel? By what mechanism does it do so? To address these questions, we exploit a natural experiment based on a 2009 policy toward the “easement” of checkpoints—nonviolent impediments to movement—in the West Bank. We sample populations across 17 villages (n = 599), beside one checkpoint slated for easement (treatment) and one that will undergo no change (control), before and after the intervention. We then pursue difference‐in‐difference estimation. This design is experimental, as easement was orthogonal to Palestinian attitudes; for robustness, we test our findings against an independent panel (n = 1,200). We find that easement makes subject populations less likely to support violence; we suggest humiliation as the mechanism bridging nonviolent repression with militancy. This warrants rethinking Israeli security policy, as short‐term concerns over Palestinian mobility may be compromising Israel's long‐term interests. By extension, checkpoint easement may positively affect peace negotiations.