bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acinetobacter harbinensis sp. nov., isolated from river water
Authors: Li Weiguang , Zhang Duoying , Huang Xiaofei , Qin Wen
Published: January 2014

A bacterial strain, HITLi 7T, with nitrifying ability was isolated from the surface water of the Songhua River in China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, oxidase-negative, non-motile coccobacilli, capable of growth in mineral media with acetate as the sole carbon source and ammonia as the sole source of nitrogen. The cells did not grow at 37 °C, but did grow at 2 °C. The DNA G+C content was 45.5 mol%. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated a close relationship between this isolate and

Acinetobacter lwoffii

(98.4 % similarity for strain DSM 2403T). rpoB and gyrB gene sequences did not show significant similarity with those from other species of the genus

Acinetobacter

. Predominant cellular fatty acids were 9-octadecenoic acid (C18 : 1ω9c) and summed feature 4 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c). Acid was not produced from d-glucose, and gelatin was not hydrolysed by the isolate. Genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data from this study indicate that the isolate should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus

Acinetobacter

. The name Acinetobacter harbinensis sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, with HITLi 7T ( = CGMCC 1.12528T = KCTC 32411T) as the type strain.
Paenibacillus
relictisesami sp. nov., isolated from sesame oil cake
Authors: Shimoyama Takefumi , Johari Nurziha Binti , Tsuruya Atsuki , Nair Arun , Nakayama Toru
Published: January 2014

A facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain KB0549T, was isolated from sesame oil cake. Cells were motile, round-ended rods, and produced central or terminal spores. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diamino acid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain KB0549T was 51.9 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny, strain KB0549T was affiliated with the genus

Paenibacillus

in the phylum

Firmicutes

and was most closely related to

Paenibacillus cookii

with 97.4 % sequence similarity. Strain KB0549T was physiologically differentiated from

P. cookii

by the high content of anteiso-C17 : 0, inability to grow at 50 °C, spore position, and negative Voges–Proskauer reaction. Based on these unique physiological and phylogenetic characteristics, it is proposed that the isolate represents a novel species, Paenibacillus relictisesami sp. nov.; the type strain is KB0549T ( = JCM 18068T = DSM 25385T).
Puniceibacterium antarcticum gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from seawater
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhang Xi-Ying , Su Hai-Nan , Zhou Ming-Yang , Chen Bo , Li Hai , Chen Xiu-Lan , Zhao Dian-Li , Zhou Bai-Cheng , Shi Mei , Zhang Yu-Zhong
Published: January 2014

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain SM1211T, was isolated from Antarctic seawater. The isolate grew at 4–35 °C and with 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl. It could produce bacteriochlorophyll a, but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite or hydrolyse DNA. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1211T constituted a distinct phylogenetic line within the family

Rhodobacteraceae

and was closely related to species in the genera

Litorimicrobium

,

Leisingera

,

Seohaeicola

and

Phaeobacter

with 95.1–96.0 % similarities. The predominant cellular fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1211T was 60.7 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, strain SM1211T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus within the family

Rhodobacteraceae

, for which the name Puniceibacterium antarcticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Puniceibacterium antarcticum is SM1211T ( = CCTCC AB 2013147T = KACC 16875T).
Photorhabdus
heterorhabditis sp. nov., a symbiont of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis zealandica
Authors: Ferreira Tiarin , van Reenen Carol A. , Endo Akihito , Tailliez Patrick , Pagès Sylvie , Spröer Cathrin , Malan Antoinette P. , Dicks Leon M. T.
Published: January 2014

The bacterial symbionts SF41T and SF783 were isolated from populations of the insect pathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis zealandica collected in South Africa. Both strains were closely related to strain Q614 isolated from a population of Heterorhabditis sp. collected from soil in Australia in the 1980s. Sequence analysis based on a multigene approach, DNA–DNA hybridization data and phenotypic traits showed that strains SF41T, SF783 and Q614 belong to the same species of the genus

Photorhabdus

with

Photorhabdus temperata subsp. cinerea

as the most closely related taxon (DNA–DNA hybridization value of 68 %). Moreover, the phylogenetic position of

Photorhabdus temperata subsp. cinerea

DSM 19724T initially determined using the gyrB sequences, was reconsidered in the light of the data obtained by our multigene approach and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments. Strains SF41T, SF783 and Q614 represent a novel species of the genus

Photorhabdus

, for which the name Photorhabdus
heterorhabditis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain SF41T = ATCC BAA-2479T = DSM 25263T).
Significantly distinct branches of hierarchical trees: A framework for statistical analysis and applications to biological data
Authors: Sun Guoli , Krasnitz Alexander
Published: January 2014

Background

One of the most common goals of hierarchical clustering is finding those branches of a tree that form quantifiably distinct data subtypes. Achieving this goal in a statistically meaningful way requires (a) a measure of distinctness of a branch and (b) a test to determine the significance of the observed measure, applicable to all branches and across multiple scales of dissimilarity.

Results

We formulate a method termed Tree Branches Evaluated Statistically for Tightness (TBEST) for identifying significantly distinct tree branches in hierarchical clusters. For each branch of the tree a measure of distinctness, or tightness, is defined as a rational function of heights, both of the branch and of its parent. A statistical procedure is then developed to determine the significance of the observed values of tightness. We test TBEST as a tool for tree-based data partitioning by applying it to five benchmark datasets, one of them synthetic and the other four each from a different area of biology. For each dataset there is a well-defined partition of the data into classes. In all test cases TBEST performs on par with or better than the existing techniques.

Conclusions

Based on our benchmark analysis, TBEST is a tool of choice for detection of significantly distinct branches in hierarchical trees grown from biological data. An R language implementation of the method is available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network:cran.r-project.org/web/packages/TBEST/index.html.
Impact of RNA degradation on measurements of gene expression
Authors: Gallego Romero Irene , Pai Athma A. , Tung Jenny , Gilad Yoav
Published: January 2014

The use of low quality RNA samples in whole-genome gene expression profiling remains controversial. It is unclear if transcript degradation in low quality RNA samples occurs uniformly, in which case the effects of degradation can be normalized, or whether different transcripts are degraded at different rates, potentially biasing measurements of expression levels. This concern has rendered the use of low quality RNA samples in whole-genome expression profiling problematic. Yet, low quality samples are at times the sole means of addressing specific questions  e.g., samples collected in the course of fieldwork. We sought to quantify the impact of variation in RNA quality on estimates of gene expression levels based on RNA-seq data. To do so, we collected expression data from tissue samples that were allowed to decay for varying amounts of time prior to RNA extraction. The RNA samples we collected spanned the entire range of RNA Integrity Number (RIN) values (a quality metric commonly used to assess RNA quality). We observed widespread effects of RNA quality on measurements of gene expression levels, as well as a slight but significant loss of library complexity in more degraded samples. While standard normalizations failed to account for the effects of degradation, we found that a simple linear model that controls for the effects of RIN can correct for the majority of these effects. We conclude that in instances where RIN and the effect of interest are not associated, this approach can help recover biologically meaningful signals in data from degraded RNA samples.
[μ-3,3′-Diisopropyl-1,1′-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1,3-diazinan-2-ylidene)]bis[bromido(η4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I)]
Authors: Pawar Gajanan Manohar , Wurst Klaus , Wang Dongren , Buchmeiser Michael
Published: January 2014

The title compound, [Rh2Br2(C8H12)2(C17H32N4)], was obtained by the reaction of 3,3′-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1-isopropyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-1-ium) bromide and [{Rh(cod)Cl}2] (cod is cycloocta-1,5-diene) in tetrahydrofuran. The two RhIatoms each have a distorted square-planar coordination environment, defined by a bidentate cod ligand, a bromide anion and one C atom of the bridging bidentate bis-N-heterocyclcic carbene (NHC) ligand. The average Rh—CNHCdistance is 2.038 (7) Å, suggesting that the bond has a major σ contribution with very little back donation. The distances between the cod ligands and the RhIatoms vary between 2.104 (4) and 2.210 (4) Å.
1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)piperazine-1,4-diium tetrachloridocobalt(II) monohydrate
Authors: Mghandef Marwa , Boughzala Habib
Published: January 2014

The asymmetric unit of the title inorganic–organic hybrid compound, (C10H16N2O)[CoCl4]·H2O, consists of a tetrahedral [CoCl4]2−anion, together with a [C10H18N2O]2+cation and a water molecule. Crystal cohesion is achieved through N—H...Cl, O—H...Cl and N—H...O hydrogen bonds between organic cations, inorganic anions and the water molecules, building up a three-dimensional network.
1-Dodecylindoline-2,3-dione
Authors: Qachchachi Fatima-Zahrae , Ouazzani Chahdi Fouad , Misbahi Houria , Bodensteiner Michael , El Ammari Lahcen
Published: January 2014

The structure of the title compound, C20H29NO2, is isotypic to that of its homologue 1-octylindoline-2,3-dione. The indoline ring and the two carbonyl-group O atoms are approximately coplanar, the largest deviation from the mean plane being 0.0760 (10) Å. The mean plane through the fused-ring system is nearly perpendicular to the mean plane passing through the 1-dodecyl chain [dihedral angle = 77.69 (5)°]. All C atoms of the dodecyl group are in an antiperiplanar arrangement. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.
Hydrido(prolinato-κ2N,O)tris(trimethylphosphane-κP)iridium(III) hexafluoridophosphate
Authors: Merola Joseph S. , Roy Christopher P.
Published: January 2014

The title complex, [Ir(C5H8NO2)H(C3H9P)3]PF6, has two independent anion–cation pairs in the asymmetric unit. The geometry about each IrIIIatom is pseudo-octahedral with a meridional arrangement of the P(CH3)3ligands,N,O-bidentate coordination of prolinate and a hydride ligandtransto the prolinate N atom. The independent IrIIImoieties are joined by N—H...O hydrogen bonds and the N—H...O bonding motif continues throughout the structure, creating an extended chain parallel to thec-axis direction. The methyl groups of one P(CH3)3ligand are rotationally disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.62 (2):0.38 (2) ratio.
Developing an approach for first-principles catalyst design: application to carbon-capture catalysis
Authors: Kulik Heather J. , Wong Sergio E. , Baker Sarah E. , Valdez Carlos A. , Satcher Joe H. , Aines Roger D. , Lightstone Felice C.
Published: January 2014

An approach to catalyst design is presented in which local potential energy surface models are first built to elucidate design principles and then used to identify larger scaffold motifs that match the target geometries. Carbon sequestrationviahydration is used as the model reaction, and three- and four-coordinatesp2orsp3nitrogen-ligand motifs are considered for ZnIImetals. The comparison of binding, activation and product release energies over a large range of interaction distances and angles suggests that four-coordinate short ZnII—Nsp3bond distances favor a rapid turnover for CO2hydration. This design strategy is then confirmed by computationally characterizing the reactivity of a known mimic over a range of metal–nitrogen bond lengths. A search of existing catalysts in a chemical database reveals structures that match the target geometry from model calculations, and subsequent calculations have identified these structures as potentially effective for CO2hydration and sequestration.
Superconductivity of lithium-doped hydrogen under high pressure
Authors: Xie Yu , Li Quan , Oganov Artem R. , Wang Hui
Published: January 2014

The high-pressure lattice dynamics and superconductivity of newly proposed lithium hydrides (LiH2, LiH6and LiH8) have been extensively studied using density functional theory. The application of the Allen–Dynes modified McMillan equation and electron–phonon coupling calculations show that LiH6and LiH8are superconductors with critical temperatures (Tc) of 38 K at 150 GPa for LiH6and 31 K at 100 GPa for LiH8, while LiH2is not a superconductor. TheTcof LiH6increases rapidly with pressure and reaches 82 K at 300 GPa due to enhancement of the electron–phonon coupling and the increased density of states at the Fermi level, while theTcof LiH8remains almost constant.
Investigation of real materials with strong electronic correlations by the LDA+DMFT method
Authors: Anisimov V. I. , Lukoyanov A. V.
Published: January 2014

Materials with strong electronic correlations are at the cutting edge of experimental and theoretical studies, capturing the attention of researchers for a great variety of interesting phenomena: metal–insulator, phase and magnetic spin transitions, `heavy fermion' systems, interplay between magnetic order and superconductivity, appearance and disappearance of local magnetic moments, and transport property anomalies. It is clear that the richness of physical phenomena for these compounds is a result of partially filled 3d, 4for 5felectron shells with local magnetic moments preserved in the solid state. Strong interactions ofdandfelectrons with each other and with itinerant electronic states of the material are responsible for its anomalous properties. Electronic structure calculations for strongly correlated materials should explicitly take into account Coulombic interactions betweendorfelectrons. Recent advances in this field are related to the development of the LDA+DMFT method, which combines local density approximation (LDA) with dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) to account for electronic correlation effects. In recent years, LDA+DMFT has allowed the successful treatment not only of simple systems but also of complicated real compounds. Nowadays, the LDA+DMFT method is the state-of-the-art tool for investigating correlated metals and insulators, spin and metal–insulator transitions (MIT) in transition-metal compounds in paramagnetic and magnetically ordered phases.
Manipulating topological phase transition by strain
Authors: Liu Junwei , Xu Yong , Wu Jian , Gu Bing-Lin , Zhang S. B. , Duan Wenhui
Published: January 2014

First-principles calculations show that strain-induced topological phase transition is auniversalphenomenon in those narrow-gap semiconductors for which the valence band maximum (VBM) and conduction band minimum (CBM) have different parities. The transition originates from the opposite responses of the VBM and CBM, whose magnitudes depend critically on the direction of the applied strain. Our work suggests that strain can play a unique role in tuning the electronic properties of topological insulators for device applications, as well as in the achievement of new topological insulators.
C—H...O and C—H...N interactions in three hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitriles
Authors: Vishnupriya R. , Suresh J. , Maharani S. , Kumar R. Ranjith
Published: January 2014

The structures of three new pyridine derivatives, 2-methoxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile, C20H22N2O2, (I), 2-ethoxy-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile, C20H21N3O3, (II), and 2-ethoxy-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydrocycloocta[b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile, C21H24N2O2, (III), differ in the nature of the substituents either at the 2-position of the central pyridine ring or on the pendent aryl ring. This simple change in the structure substantially alters the intermolecular interaction patterns. The substituted phenyl group adopts a synclinal geometry with respect to the plane of the pyridine ring in all three compounds. In (I), a C—H...N interaction results in a one-dimensional chain parallel to thebaxis. In (II), there are two C—H...N(nitrile) interactions from different symmetry-related molecules, resulting in a two-dimensional network parallel to thebcplane. There is also a weak C—H...O interaction from the ethoxy group to an adjacent nitro O atom. The present work is an example of how the simple replacement of a substituent in the main molecular scaffold may transform the structure type, paving the way for a variety of supramolecular motifs and consequently altering the complexity of the intermolecular interaction patterns.
N—H...S and N—H...O hydrogen bonds: `pure' and `mixed'R22(8) patterns in the crystal structures of eight 2-thiouracil derivatives
Authors: Hützler Wilhelm Maximilian , Egert Ernst
Published: January 2014

The preferred hydrogen-bonding patterns in the crystal structures of 5-propyl-2-thiouracil, C7H10N2OS, (I), 5-methoxy-2-thiouracil, C5H6N2O2S, (II), 5-methoxy-2-thiouracil–N,N-dimethylacetamide (1/1), C5H6N2O2S·C4H9NO, (IIa), 5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil, C6H8N2OS, (III), 5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil–1-methylpyrrolidin-2-one (1/1), C6H8N2OS·C5H9NO, (IIIa), 5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil–N,N-dimethylformamide (2/1), 2C6H8N2OS·C3H7NO, (IIIb), 5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil–N,N-dimethylacetamide (2/1), 2C6H8N2OS·C4H9NO, (IIIc), and 5,6-dimethyl-2-thiouracil–dimethyl sulfoxide (2/1), 2C6H8N2OS·C2H6OS, (IIId), were analysed. All eight structures containR22(8) patterns. In (II), (IIa), (III) and (IIIa), they are formed by two N—H...S hydrogen bonds, and in (I) by alternating pairs of N—H...S and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the structures of (IIIb), (IIIc) and (IIId) contain `mixed'R22(8) patterns with one N—H...S and one N—H...O hydrogen bond, as well asR22(8) motifs with two N—H...O hydrogen bonds.
Learn and thou shall thrive: advancing a model of workplace familism and organizational learning capability in small and medium enterprise (SMEs) manufacturers in Malaysia
Authors: Char Fei Ho Theresa , Hazlina Ahmad Noor , Thurasamy Ramayah
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper proposes a conceptual framework that would be able to explain the importance of workplace familism on business performance through an organizational learning capability as a mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

– A conceptual approach is taken whereby this paper is based on an extensive literature review of workplace familism and organizational learning capability. Four prepositions were proposed to highlight the focus of this study which is how workplace familism can be capitalized through organizational learning capability to enhance SMEs business performance.

Findings

– This paper provides a theoretical discussion on the importance of organizational learning capability in ensuring the survival of the family business. The concept of workplace familism are relatively new, hence, it offers an interesting avenue for further research especially in the Malaysian context.

Practical implications

– The paper draws attention to the importance of workplace familism and learning organization in fostering entrepreneurial survival and performance among SMEs.

Originality/value

– This paper shed some insight on the subject on workplace familism and organizational learning capability in small and medium enterprise (SMEs) which hopefully would attract scholars and researchers to pursue more research on this area.
How much did the return of rural migrant labor affect China's national economy?
Authors: Jia Wei , Liu Xiaoyun
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– What this paper aims to tackle is how much did the return of rural migrant labor during the financial crisis affect China's GDP and the growth rate of the national economy.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper constructs a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model and uses data of China's 2007 Input-Output Table to analyze the impact of the return of rural migrant labor on China's economy during the financial crisis.

Findings

– The results show that the return of rural migrant labor during the financial crisis had substantial impacts on China's economy. The national GDP decreased by about 0.499-1.463 percent, mainly due to the number of rural labor who migrated from the non-agricultural sector to agriculture. Of the major sectors of economy, the manufacturing, construction and other services sectors were the most affected.

Originality/value

– This paper assesses the impacts of return of rural migrant labor during the financial crisis on China's GDP and the growth rate of the national economy.
Rural-urban income gap and agricultural growth in China
Authors: Gao Yanyan , Zheng Jianghuai , Bu Maoliang
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the effect of rural-urban income gap on agricultural growth in China and its dynamics over time and across regions since reform and opening up.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two types of indices are constructed to measure the rural-urban income gap: the intra-provincial index and the inter-provincial index. A provincial panel data from 1978 to 2010 and growth accounting method are used to estimate the size of the adverse effect of rural-urban income gap on agricultural growth in China.

Findings

– The empirical results show that both indices of rural-urban income gaps are negatively associated with agriculture output, but the inter-provincial rural-urban income gap produces a larger adverse effect than the intra-provincial rural-urban income gap. Growth accounting analysis further shows that such adverse effects are decreasing over time and are larger in the central provinces. The results represent resource diversion effects of rural-urban income gap on agriculture.

Originality/value

– This paper bridges the gap in existing literature on the relationship between sectoral income gaps and agricultural growth, which confirms Schultz's argument that agricultural activities are efficient even in developing countries and the rural resources diverted out by income gap are not surplus. The results imply that equalized rural-urban and regional policies are required to maintain sustainable agricultural growth in China.
Study on the survival of China agri-food export trade relationships
Authors: Tian Dongwen , Li Rui , Yao Wei , Huang Li
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study whether, of China's food and agriculture (agri-food) export, the trade relationships along the extensive margin can transform into short-term ones, and further convert into long-term ones along the intensive margin with survival and maintenance, especially, under what kind of conditions these transformation realize successfully, and what the factors are and how they impact on the length of the trade relationships duration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper comprises three stages: decomposing China's agricultural export data (1999-2008) into highly disaggregated three distinct parts; with the Kaplan-Meier (KM) nonparametric estimation, discovering the practical source of stable and long-term export growth, and the threshold at which the short-run trade relationships deriving from newly established ones convert into long-run ones successfully; by semi parametric estimation through Cox proportional hazard model, preliminarily examining the possible impact of different factors on the trade relationship's hazard rate and duration.

Findings

– The paper reveals that China agri-food trade pattern at the product level is surprisingly dynamic with newly established trade relations being more likely to fail. While the frequent volatilities of short-term relations at the extensive margin could be used to evaluate the source of short-term export growth especially and effectively, the pattern of negative dependence together with the threshold effect of duration indicates, only when these short-term relations live longer than four years will they substantially contribute to a stable and prolonged export growth. Simultaneously, trade duration significantly correlates to importing country's development status, region it belongs to, product processing degree, export experience and geographical space between trading partners.

Research limitations/implications

– To avoid the likelihood of misleading when estimating quantitatively the source of long-term export growth, researchers should be cautious in accurately evaluating the impacts of all possible factors on the two trade margins' performances, which is beyond the scope of this paper though, and a matter of ongoing work on the research agenda.

Practical implications

– The study presents a set of important policy implications. Now that turnovers along the extensive margin have little impact on long-term China agri-food export growth, it turns out that improving export survival would result in significantly higher and stable export growth.

Originality/value

– By distinguishing the survival of trade relationship channels from their deepening, the discoveries in the paper are crucial to understand the different role the intensive and extensive margins play in China agri-food export growth. The diversified hazard rates of export relations in different duration intervals suggest that the constant hazard rate assumption in Melitz and Bernard et al. is in some sense not appropriate.
Steadying the ladder
Authors: Z. Chen Kevin , Hsu Claire , Fan Shenggen
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to draw lessons from China's development experiences, particularly in the areas of agricultural and rural development, to increase growth and reduce poverty in Africa South of the Sahara. It also examines China's rising economic involvement in Africa and makes recommendations for how the win-win outcomes from this engagement can be strengthened.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the authors compare the trends in economic and agricultural growth, as well as poverty and hunger reduction, in China and Africa South of the Sahara. The authors then examine strategies for development – in particular agricultural and rural development – and poverty reduction. Next, the authors review China's economic engagement in Africa in the areas of trade, investment, aid, and technical cooperation.

Findings

– Having conducted a comparative review of China and Africa's distinct development paths and current policy contexts, the authors discuss China's development lessons for Africa South of the Sahara and policy recommendations for China-Africa engagement related to agricultural and rural development, openness and liberalization, evidence-based policymaking, pro-poor policies, institutions and capacity, rising inequality, and environmental degradation.

Originality/value

– This paper rigorously integrates China's positive and negative development lessons for Africa in light of the most recent research on emerging domestic and international development strategies.
Assessing Korean consumers' valuation for domestic, Chinese, and US rice
Authors: Yong Lee Ji , Bong Han Doo , M. Nayga Jr Rodolfo , Min Yoon Jong
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess Korean consumers' valuation for domestic rice and imported rice from China and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to identify Korean consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for domestic, Chinese, and US rice, the non-hypothetical experimental auction approach (i.e. the random nth price auction) was utilized. Auction participants were randomly assigned to three treatments: no labelling information, country of origin labelling information, and food miles labelling information to analyze the effects of differing labelling information on consumers' valuation.

Findings

– The results suggest that Korean consumers have a positive perception of and preference for domestic rice, particularly when country of origin information is provided. However, food miles information alone may not help consumers to distinguish between domestic and Chinese rice.

Originality/value

– The marketing of imported rice will increase since Korea will be opening its rice market under tariffication after 2015. Therefore, it is necessary for Korea and other exporting countries to identify the feasibility of marketing both domestic and imported rice, and also to investigate which rice from specific countries Korean consumers prefer. Therefore, the authors conducted the random nth price auction using real rice products and cash in transactions.
Quantifying the benefits associated with the use of alternative marketing arrangements by US farmers
Authors: Hu Wu-Yueh , Phaneuf Daniel , Zheng Xiaoyong
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to quantify the benefits to farmers from using alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs) in the USA. The authors first estimate a behavioral model explaining farmers' joint decisions on which commodities to produce and which marketing channels to use when selling their outputs. The authors then use the estimated model to quantify the benefits to farmers from using AMAs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use the discrete choice random utility maximization model to examine farmers' choices on production regimes, where a regime is defined as a possible combination of all the individual commodity/marketing arrangement channels that the farmer can choose to use. The farmer is assumed to compare the utilities he gets from each of the possible production regimes and then selects the production regime that yields the highest utility to him. The benefit of having access to a particular AMA is measured as the negative of the welfare loss associated with forcing the farmer to abandon that particular AMA.

Findings

– The results indicate that AMAs yield an economically significant amount of benefits to farmers who rely on them to market their outputs. At the national level, the benefit of using production contracts to hog farmers is valued at $336.4 million. The benefits of using marketing contracts are valued at $374.2, $156.6 and $92.1 million for corn, soybeans and wheat producers.

Originality/value

– The paper is the first study that uses the farm-level data to study the welfare effects of marketing contracts in the grain sector. The results show that considering a multi-enterprises farm, farmers' welfare loss might be smaller when the hog production contract is no longer existed.
Income inequality and mobility of rural households in China from 2003 to 2006
Authors: Sun Wenkai , Wang Xianghong , Bai Chong-En
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to illustrate the trends of income growth and income inequality and examines the dynamics and determinants of income mobility in rural China from 2003 to 2006.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors decomposed the Gini coefficient by different sources and analyzed income mobility using the method of income transition matrix. The authors then estimated the effects of demographic variables, labor migration, and other household characteristics on income growth using a dynamic panel data model.

Findings

– The study obtained important findings on income mobility and income inequality in rural China. First, annual income inequality in rural China was smoothed during this period after a decline from 2003, with the largest contribution from the income of migration work. Second, income mobility remained rather stable and relatively high, with higher mobility in the interior provinces than in the coastal provinces. Third, the income levels of the poor and the wealthy households converged during this period after controlling other factors. Fourth, income growth depends on in the households' demographic composition, their human capital accumulation, and their chances of getting migration jobs.

Originality/value

– The sound econometric methods applied to the most current rural household survey data provide important contributions to the literature of income inequality and income mobility in China.
An evaluation model for digital libraries' user interfaces using fuzzy AHP
Authors: Lai Chin-Feng , Chiu Po-Sheng , Huang Yueh-Min , Chen Tzung-Shi , Huang Tien-Chi
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to improve the service quality of digital libraries (DLs) through an evaluation model for DLs' user interfaces. This evaluation model can provide a useful reference for existing DLs or relevant research.

Design/methodology/approach

– Relevant literature was synthesized, an evaluation framework was established, and the Fuzzy AHP was employed to investigate the evaluation model for DLs' user interfaces, obtain the relative weights for the importance of the evaluation criteria, and establish the priority ranking for the criteria of DLs' user interfaces.

Findings

– The top five criteria are ease of use, searching, language, presentation, and design, respectively. For users, an interface should be intuitive. Good interface presentation and design are critical when users evaluate a digital library.

Practical implications

– All of the students, teachers and experts considered that the presentation and design of DL user interfaces were what users had had contact with in the very beginning, and they were critical influential factors in DL user interfaces. Furthermore, ease-of-use and searching were fundamental interface functions, as well as important evaluation criteria. Interfaces should also provide interactive functions to improve interaction, while tailor-made services should be taken into account to establish an excellent interface in order to meet each user's need.

Originality/value

– The evaluation model for DLs' user interfaces employed in this study will help developers of DL user interfaces discover the criteria that they should aim for as a reference, perform comprehensive criteria evaluation according to their actual needs, and employ top criteria for evaluation.
School students’ introduction to the world of work
Authors: McKechnie Jim , Howieson Cathy , Hobbs Sandy , Semple Sheila
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to investigate the type of activities carried out by young people in a range of jobs that are typically undertaken by school students. The research examines opportunities for skill development in these jobs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research consisted of a nationally representative survey of school students. Multivariate analysis was used to examine the variables which predict the likelihood that a school student will be employed in a job which has a higher “job activity score” as measured by the frequency and number of activities undertaken.

Findings

– In total, 38 per cent of school students were working at the time of the survey. The survey demonstrates the diversity of the employment experiences and the opportunities it provides for skill development. The analysis supports the view that this first exposure to employment may offer opportunities for skill development. Unlike previous research in Britain the study is able to explore the extent of variations between jobs.

Practical implications

– The data demonstrates the extent to which school students combine full-time education with part-time employment and the value of this experience. This raises questions about whether schools should engage with naturally occurring employment experiences.

Originality/value

– The paper uses a unique British data set to investigate what school students do in their part-time jobs, extending the hitherto limited research in this area. By addressing this issue the paper contributes to the debate regarding the value of this early exposure to the world of work.
The relationship between student's MBTI, preferences and academic performance at a Syrian university
Authors: M. Ayoubi Rami , Ustwani Bayan
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The main purpose of this paper is to find whether a correlation exists between students’ natural preferences or what is known as psychological type as determined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI); the extent of their enthusiasm measured by their level of “like” to the subject, and students’ grade point average (GPA).

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from 89 students who took the MBTI inventory in five selected faculties at Damascus University in Syria. In order to rate the subjects’ like or dislike level, the students were asked to complete a form prepared for this purpose. The students’ GPAs were also included in the analysis.

Findings

– Using paired sample t-test, the results indicate a statistically significant correlation between type of student and his/her faculty of study, type of student and overall study subject like, and type of student and his/her GPA. There was, however, a statistically significant correlation between various personality dichotomies of the type (Extraversion-Introversion, Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, Judging-Perceiving) and faculty, individual subjects like, and GPA. The study also indicates a statistically significant correlation between study like and GPA, and faculty and GPA. The most critical conclusion from the study is that Sensing-Intuition dichotomy of the MBTI inventory has the strongest correlation to distribution of students among faculties, the subject's like or dislike, and the GPA. In addition, the higher the level of like for a subject, the higher the GPA is.

Research limitations/implications

– The study results were based on a sample of students from a specific subject area of study. To validate the results of the study, future research is highly needed on a larger sample of students from different subject disciplines.

Practical implications

– Empirically, this study provides decision makers of the higher education sector with relevant information regarding the intended future attempts to reform the university admission policy with regards to the career path.

Originality/value

– The usefulness of MBTI inventory has not been assessed in the Arab countries before. This study is therefore considered as one of the initial studies in this field.
Training and labour needs of young workers in Vietnamese organisations
Authors: Goodwin John , O’Connor Henrietta , Quinn Martin
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is report on findings from a survey of Vietnamese employers in 2008 highlighting key tends in training and future labour needs.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses data collected from a survey of Vietnamese employers during 2008. The survey was design by the authors and the fieldwork undertaken by representatives of the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Findings

– The survey shows that Vietnamese organisations understand the importance of training for their young workers but require more support from government and the VCCI to ensure effective training.

Practical implications

– The paper contains a number of practical implications for Vietnamese employers and the VCCI.

Originality/value

– Despite some opening of trade between Vietnam and the west, relatively little is still known about work, employment and training in Vietnam and there a few opportunities to undertake research of this nature. The main contribution of this paper is to report on current training practices and labour needs in Vietnam.
The road to facility management
Authors: Steenhuizen Dore , Flores-Colen Inês , Reitsma A.G. , Branco Ló Pedro
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into facility management in Portugal as well as in Europe and what a facility management study programme must entail in Portugal in order to implement this.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper describes the mixed-methods approach. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used based on extensive literature research of the subject. Semi-structured interviews were held with ten professionals from the FM field. The quantitative method was in the shape of a questionnaire sent to 40 professionals in Europe.

Findings

– The results show that Portugal is not on the same level as the rest of Europe when it comes to FM. Also, FM is rather of a technical nature and lacks service orientation and managerial elements. Moreover, Portugal should first focus on creating awareness about the field of FM and provide FM study programmes accordingly. Research shows that this could be a lengthy process.

Originality/value

– Currently there is no facility management study programme offered in Portugal. However, by gaining insight into this field and how facility management is of great added value to the market, a step closer to implementing a study programme is taken.
Discussion of facilities management as an academic discipline
Authors: Junghans Antje , O.E. Olsson Nils
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore what an academic discipline is and to apply and discuss this definition using facilities management as an example. The paper addresses an academic world that is facing the challenge of developing research and education in response to emerging disciplines and dealing with changes in the higher education system. Institutions are also confronted with the aim of the European Commission to “enhance the performance and international attractiveness of Europe's higher education”.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structured framework with six criteria outlining an academic discipline was applied to describe the state of the art of facilities management on the basis of systematical literature research. A survey was conducted with 215 contributions from the European Facility Management Network (EuroFM) and additionally 41 Master theses and 25 scientific papers were studied to gain up-to-date insights.

Findings

– This paper provides a methodical approach on how to analyse and describe emerging disciplines. In addition, an overview of the state of the art in facilities management is shown.

Research limitations/implications

– The methodological approach for the analysis of academic disciplines was tested using the example of FM. Before transferring the same methodology to other disciplines, researchers are advised to test and further develop the methodology for other disciplines.

Practical implications

– This paper includes implications for the development and discussion of emerging disciplines in the academic world.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to a better understanding of academic disciplines and how they emerge.
Arab-uprising: an analysis from political economy perspective
Authors: Huq Pramanik Ataul
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims at examining the past as well as the current issues responsible for the most recent Arab-uprising.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical evidence based on regression and correlation together with tabular presentations suggests that the issue of Arab-uprising can be examined from both theoretical and factual evidence. Both theoretical and empirical findings testify the extremely high interrelationships existing among the determinants and co-determinants of Arab-uprising. Based on the three most fundamental pre-requisites for living a life with satisfaction based on personal honour, dignity, voice, peace, justice and equality of opportunity, the economic, political and socio-cultural components are found to be neglected in the Arab World. The constraint of data limited the scope to use systematically available and reliable independent variables, in particular, warranted by any sophisticated empirical model.

Findings

– The findings will have policy directions for the policy-makers/politicians to address the serious issues involving empowerments. It is argued that thead hocsolution based on buying the dissent of the critics using handouts is not a long-term sustainable solution to the problems. The findings are also expected to create social consciousness among those who are most concerned to see the changes in the society for betterment where every citizen can stand for his honour, dignity and voice, justice and equality.

Originality/value

– It is expected that the general reader can understand the issues raised in this paper, internalize the ideas and create an overall environment to redirect the policy frameworks for resolving the social problems without conflict.
Action Research for community business development
Authors: MacLeod Greg
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce the idea of Action Research as a way of making academic research more relevant for social economic change.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper seeks a middle path by presenting a method for Action Research that is both scientific and that results in practical social-economic impact on a local society. The method is divided into 11 systematic steps.

Findings

– The author has found that the method results in job creation and place-based economic development.

Originality/value

– Usually social activists and academic professionals do not mix. This approach combines both theory and practice, which is unusual in university circles.
Sense of community and perceptions of festival social impacts
Authors: M. Van Winkle Christine , M. Woosnam Kyle
Published: January 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between psychological sense of community (SOC) and perceived social impacts of festival events.

Design/methodology/approach

– SOC was measured using the four-dimensional Brief Sense of Community Scale (BSCS) and the Festival Social Impact Attitudes Scale (FSIAS) was used to measure perceived impacts. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires provided to residents of Caldwell, Texas following the annual Kolache Festival.

Findings

– Results revealed a relation between two dimensions of the BSCS, needs fulfillment and influence, and the way in which impacts are perceived. Specifically, needs fulfillment was positively related to social benefits and individual benefits. Needs fulfillment was negatively related to social costs. Influence related to impacts in the same manner.

Research limitations/implications

– This research provides support for a four-dimensional conceptualization of SOC and highlights the importance of examining the relation between psycho-social variables and perceptions of impact. Further research in additional settings is recommended.

Practical implications

– Results suggest that individuals with greater SOC are better able to perceive festival impacts and could be mobilized by festival administrators to address festival issues. Further research in additional settings is recommended.

Originality/value

– Empirical explorations of psychological SOC have been common in a range of community settings but have not received much attention with in the festival literature. Exploring how SOC is related to festival experiences can enhance theory development within this field of study as well as provide needed insight for festival administrators.