bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast spatial ancestry via flexible allele frequency surfaces
Authors: Rañola John Michael , Novembre John , Lange Kenneth
Published: July 2014

Motivation: Unique modeling and computational challenges arise in locating the geographic origin of individuals based on their genetic backgrounds. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) vary widely in informativeness, allele frequencies change non-linearly with geography and reliable localization requires evidence to be integrated across a multitude of SNPs. These problems become even more acute for individuals of mixed ancestry. It is hardly surprising that matching genetic models to computational constraints has limited the development of methods for estimating geographic origins. We attack these related problems by borrowing ideas from image processing and optimization theory. Our proposed model divides the region of interest into pixels and operates SNP by SNP. We estimate allele frequencies across the landscape by maximizing a product of binomial likelihoods penalized by nearest neighbor interactions. Penalization smooths allele frequency estimates and promotes estimation at pixels with no data. Maximization is accomplished by a minorize–maximize (MM) algorithm. Once allele frequency surfaces are available, one can apply Bayes’ rule to compute the posterior probability that each pixel is the pixel of origin of a given person. Placement of admixed individuals on the landscape is more complicated and requires estimation of the fractional contribution of each pixel to a person’s genome. This estimation problem also succumbs to a penalized MM algorithm.

Results: We applied the model to the Population Reference Sample (POPRES) data. The model gives better localization for both unmixed and admixed individuals than existing methods despite using just a small fraction of the available SNPs. Computing times are comparable with the best competing software.

Availability and implementation: Software will be freely available as the OriGen package in R.

Contact:  ranolaj@uw.edu or klange@ucla.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Serendipitous discovery of a thin stellar stream near the Galactic bulge in the Pan-STARRS1 3π Survey
Authors: Bernard Edouard J. , Ferguson Annette M. N. , Schlafly Edward F. , Abbas Mohamad , Bell Eric F. , Deacon Niall R. , Martin Nicolas F. , Rix Hans-Walter , Sesar Branimir , Slater Colin T. , Peñarrubia Jorge , Wyse Rosemary F. G. , Burgett William S. , Chambers Kenneth C. , Draper Peter W. , Hodapp Klaus W. , Kaiser Nicholas , Kudritzki Rolf-Peter , Magnier Eugene A. , Metcalfe Nigel , Morgan Jeffrey S. , Price Paul A. , Tonry John L. , Wainscoat Richard J. , Waters Christopher
Published: July 2014

We report the discovery of a thin stellar stream found in Pan-STARRS1 photometry near the Galactic bulge in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It appears as a coherent structure in the colour-selected stellar density maps produced to search for tidal debris around nearby globular clusters. The stream is exceptionally short and narrow; it is about 2 $_{.}^{\circ}$5 long and 6 arcmin wide in projection. The colour–magnitude diagram of this object, which harbours a blue horizontal-branch, is consistent with an old and relatively metal-poor population ([Fe/H] ∼−1.3) located 9.5 ± 0.9 kpc away at (l, b) ∼ (5°, +32°), and 5.0 ± 1.0 kpc from the Galactic centre. These properties argue for a globular cluster as progenitor. The finding of such a prominent, nearby stream suggests that many streams could await discovery in the more densely populated regions of our Galaxy.
High Rate of Clinical and Endoscopic Relapse After Healing of Erosive Peptic Esophagitis in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Yamamoto Erica , Brito Helena S.H. , Ogata Silvio K. , Machado Rodrigo S. , Kawakami Elisabete
Published: July 2014

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to estimate the rate of clinical and endoscopic relapse after initial treatment of erosive peptic esophagitis in children and adolescents.

Methods:

A total of 24 patients (2.1–16.4 years old, mean ± standard deviation [SD] 9.9 ± 3.1; male:female 3) with healed endoscopic erosive esophagitis and without gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)–predisposing conditions were followed up for 4 to 32.9 months (mean 20.8 ± 10.6 years). Structured clinical evaluation was performed every other week during the initial treatment and maintenance, and every 3 months after that. Whenever a clinical relapse happened, a new endoscopic evaluation was performed. Severity and frequency were scored on 10‐point and 6‐point semiquantitative scales, respectively.

Results:

At baseline, epigastric pain was the most reported symptom (70.8%), with intensity scored as >5 in 88.3% of patients, and median frequency of 3 (weekly; daily in 5, 20.8%). Clinical relapse was detected in 20 of 24 (83.3%) patients after a median period of 14.65 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.7–25.7 months). Endoscopic relapse was observed in 9 of 20 (45%) patients after a median of 25.7 months. The dose of lansoprazole needed to heal the esophagitis was not significantly associated with the risk for clinical relapse (hazard ratio [HR] 1.74, 0.94, 7.72, P = 0.06), whereas the body mass index (BMI) was directly associated with endoscopic relapse (HR 1.3, 1, 1.69, P = 0.05).

Conclusions:

Children with healed erosive esophagitis have up to 83% clinical relapse and of the 83%, 45% had endoscopic relapse. Correlation of endoscopic relapse with clinical symptom is poor. Higher grades of esophagitis and higher BMI are risk factors for endoscopic relapse.
Arsenic in Rice
Authors: Hojsak Iva , Braegger Christian , Bronsky Jiri , Campoy Cristina , Colomb Virginie , Decsi Tamas , Domellöf Magnus , Fewtrell Mary , Mis Nataša Fidler , Mihatsch Walter , Molgaard Christian , van Goudoever Johannes ,   ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition
Published: July 2014

Inorganic arsenic intake is likely to affect long‐term health. High concentrations are found in some rice‐based foods and drinks widely used in infants and young children. In order to reduce exposure, we recommend avoidance of rice drinks for infants and young children. For all of the rice products, strict regulation should be enforced regarding arsenic content. Moreover, infants and young children should consume a balanced diet including a variety of grains as carbohydrate sources. Although rice protein–based infant formulas are an option for infants with cows' milk protein allergy, the inorganic arsenic content should be declared and the potential risks should be considered when using these products.
Bacillus mesonae sp. nov., isolated from the root of Mesona chinensis
Authors: Liu Bo , Liu Guo-Hong , Hu Gui-Hing , Chen Mei-Chun
Published: July 2014

A Gram-stain-positive, short rod-shaped and motile, mildly halotolerant, endospore-forming bacterium, FJAT-13985T, was isolated from the internal tissues of Mesona chinensis root. Strain FJAT-13985T grew at 20–45 °C (optimum 30 °C) and pH 5.7–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl [optimum 1 % (w/v)]. The strain was catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The cell wall of strain FJAT-13985T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 (97.4 %). The major fatty acids of the strain were anteiso-C15 : 0 (23.3 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (40.8 %). The DNA G+C content was 41.64 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FJAT-13985T is a member of the genus

Bacillus

and is most closely related to

Bacillus drentensis

DSM 15600T (98.4 %),

Bacillus vireti

DSM 15602T (98.2 %) and

Bacillus novalis

DSM 15603T (98.3 %). DNA–DNA hybridization indicated that relatedness between strain FJAT-13985T and its closest relative,

B. drentensis

DSM 15600T, was 36.63 %. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties clearly indicate that strain FJAT-13985T represents a novel species of the genus

Bacillus

, for which the name
Bacillus

mesonae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-13985T ( = DSM 25968T = CGMCC1.12238T).
Oligoflexus tunisiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a Gram-negative, aerobic, filamentous bacterium of a novel proteobacterial lineage, and description of Oligoflexaceae fam. nov., Oligoflexales ord. nov. and Oligoflexia classis nov.
Authors: Nakai Ryosuke , Nishijima Miyuki , Tazato Nozomi , Handa Yutaka , Karray Fatma , Sayadi Sami , Isoda Hiroko , Naganuma Takeshi
Published: July 2014

A phylogenetically novel proteobacterium, strain Shr3T, was isolated from sand gravels collected from the eastern margin of the Sahara Desert. The isolation strategy targeted bacteria filterable through 0.2-µm-pore-size filters. Strain Shr3T was determined to be a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, filamentous bacterium. Oxidase and catalase reactions were positive. Strain Shr3T showed growth on R2A medium, but poor or no growth on nutrient agar, trypticase soy agar and standard method agar. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7. The dominant cellular fatty acids detected were C16 : 1ω5c and C16 : 0, and the primary hydroxy acid present was C12 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 54.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Shr3T was affiliated with an uncultivated lineage of the phylum

Proteobacteria

; the nearest known type strain, with 83 % sequence similarity, was

Desulfomicrobium orale

DSM 12838T in the class

Deltaproteobacteria

. The isolate and closely related environmental clones formed a novel class-level clade in the phylum

Proteobacteria

with high bootstrap support (96–99 %). Based on these results, the novel class Oligoflexia classis nov. in the phylum

Proteobacteria

and the novel genus and species Oligoflexus tunisiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are proposed for strain Shr3T, the first cultivated representative of the Oligoflexia. The type strain of Oligoflexus tunisiensis is Shr3T ( = JCM 16864T = NCIMB 14846T). We also propose the subordinate taxa Oligoflexales ord. nov. and Oligoflexaceae fam. nov. in the class Oligoflexia.
Prauserella coralliicola sp. nov., isolated from the coral Galaxea fascicularis
Authors: Wu Jia-Fa , Li Jie , You Zhi-Qing , Zhang Si
Published: July 2014

A novel Gram-stain-positive actinobacterium, designated strain SCSIO 11529T, was isolated from tissues of the stony coral Galaxea fascicularis, and characterized by using a polyphasic approach. The temperature range for growth was 22–50 °C (optimum 28–45 °C), the pH range for growth was 6.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0), and the NaCl concentration range for growth was 0–7 % (w/v) NaCl. The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown polar lipid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω6c, iso-C16 : 1 H and C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH. The DNA G+C content of strain SCSIO 11529T was 70.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SCSIO 11529T belongs to the genus

Prauserella

, with the closest neighbours being

Prauserella marina

MS498T (97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity),

Prauserella rugosa

DSM 43194T (96.4 %) and

Prauserella flava

YIM 90630T (95.9 %). Based on the evidence of the present study, strain SCSIO 11529T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Prauserella

, for which the name Prauserella coralliicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCSIO 11529T ( = DSM 45821T = NBRC 109418T).
Phylogenomic analyses of deep gastropod relationships reject Orthogastropoda
Authors: Zapata Felipe , Wilson Nerida G. , Howison Mark , Andrade Sónia C.S. , Jörger Katharina M. , Schrödl Michael , Goetz Freya E. , Giribet Gonzalo , Dunn Casey W.
Published: July 2014

Gastropods are a highly diverse clade of molluscs that includes many familiar animals, such as limpets, snails, slugs, and sea slugs. It is one of the most abundant groups of animals in the sea and the only molluscan lineage that has successfully colonised land. Yet the relationships among and within its constituent clades have remained in flux for over a century of morphological, anatomical and molecular study. Here we re-evaluate gastropod phylogenetic relationships by collecting new transcriptome data for 40 species and analysing them in combination with publicly available genomes and transcriptomes. Our datasets include all five main gastropod clades: Patellogastropoda, Vetigastropoda, Neritimorpha, Caenogastropoda and Heterobranchia. We use two different methods to assign orthology, subsample each of these matrices into three increasingly dense subsets, and analyse all six of these supermatrices with two different models of molecular evolution. All twelve analyses yield the same unrooted network connecting the five major gastropod lineages. This reduces deep gastropod phylogeny to three alternative rooting hypotheses. These results reject the prevalent hypothesis of gastropod phylogeny, Orthogastropoda. Our dated tree is congruent with a possible end-Permian recovery of some gastropod clades, namely Caenogastropoda and some Heterobranchia subclades.
An overview of knowledge management research viewed through the web of science (1993-2012)
Authors: Qiu Junping , Lv Hong
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a bibliometric analysis of scientific output of the knowledge management (KM), the aim being to offer an overview of research activity in this field and characterize its most significant aspects. In addition, this study aims to quantitatively analyze KM research trends, forecasts, and citations from 1993 to 2012 in Web of Science (WOS).

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 12,925 documents related to KM research were collected from following databases: Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts & Humanities Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science, and Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Social Science & Humanities. These documents were carefully reviewed and subjected to bibliometric data analysis techniques.

Findings

– A number of research questions pertaining to patterns in scientific outputs, subject categories and major journals, author keywords frequencies, characteristics of the international collaboration, most cited papers and significant papers distribution of KM research were proposed and answered. In addition, there are five research sights on KM research are as follows: management science, computer science, information science, business, and engineering. Based on these findings, many implications emerged that improve one's understanding of the identity of KM as a distinct multi-discipline scientific field.

Research limitations/implications

– Comprehensiveness and inclusiveness of the analyzed KM-related data set in WOS because of some KM-centric journals are not indexed by Thomson Reuters.

Originality/value

– The paper offers an overview and evaluation of research activity into the KM viewed through the WOS during 1993-2012.
Patterns in competitive structure among retail financial services brands
Authors: G. Dawes John
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine if services brands such as banks share their customers with competing brands in line with the market share of those competitors, and whether services brands with similar images form market partitions with heightened competitive intensity.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study uses brand usage, forced-choice and brand perceptions data obtained from a survey of consumers. The study uses a log-linear modelling framework to identify market structure and to test if partitions correspond to similarities in brand image.

Findings

– Analysis of in-market data shows customers share their requirements between competing brands in line with market share, and that brands with similar images do not form partitions. However, when consumers are asked to choose brands for a specific product, there is some tentative evidence of brand partitions among brands with similar brand image.

Practical implications

– The results here can help managers in service markets such as banking and insurance understand market structure. As a result, they can better plan customer acquisition and retention strategies.

Originality/value

– The study addresses a lack of research into customer sharing and switching in services markets. No previous study has successfully employed brand-sharing, forced-choice and brand image data to identify market structure in a services context.
Commercialised nostalgia
Authors: Hamilton Kathy , A. Wagner Beverly
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to develop a framework linking the concept of nostalgia and experiential consumption, articulating the transformation of a mundane activity to a special experience, using the context of the small business and afternoon tea.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology is based on a grounded theory approach and draws on multiple methods of data collection including participant observation, in-depth interviews with afternoon tea room managers, researcher introspection and consumer interviews.

Findings

– By employing nostalgia cues through product, ritual and aesthetics, an idealised home can be constructed emphasising belonging and sharing. The small business owner can be effective in transforming an ordinary activity to an experiential event. Contemporary tea rooms do not replicate tradition; they use it as a cultural resource to construct something novel.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper demonstrates how the careful configuration of the retail space can be a key success factor, not only for marketers in large flagship brand stores, but also for smaller, independent and local businesses. The essential interplay between product, ritual and aesthetics creates positive moods of belonging and sharing and may increase satisfaction.

Practical implications

– Understanding the emotional value of everyday experiences is a point of differentiation in a crowded marketplace and may directly influence consumer loyalty. Staging experiences is a key competitive strategy.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of the few to empirically assess links between the nostalgia paradigm and experiential consumption. Existing research has emphasised large retail spaces; in contrast, the authors demonstrate how consumer experiences can be staged in smaller, independent and local businesses.
Power imbalance issues in athlete sponsorship versus endorsement in the context of a scandal
Authors: Anthony Carrillat François , d’Astous Alain
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to contrast athlete endorsement vs athlete sponsorship from a power imbalance perspective when a scandal strikes the athlete.

Design/methodology/approach

– A first study was conducted with a probabilistic sample of 252 adult consumers where the type of brand–athlete relationship (endorsement or sponsorship) and the level of congruence between the two entities (low or high) were manipulated in a mixed experimental design. A second study with a probabilistic sample of 118 adult consumers was conducted to demonstrate that consumers perceive that the balance of power between the brand and the athlete is not the same in endorsement and sponsorship situations.

Findings

– The results of the first study showed that when an athlete is in the midst of a scandal, the negative impact on the associated brand is stronger in the case of an endorsement than in the case of a sponsorship. However, this occurs only when the brand–athlete relationship is congruent. The results of the second study showed that the athlete’s power relative to the brand is greater in an endorsement than in a sponsorship context.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings suggest that a company that worries about the possibility that the athlete with whom it wants to build a relationship be eventually associated with some negative event (e.g. a scandal) should consider sponsorship rather than endorsement as a strategy.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to compare the athlete endorsement and sponsorship strategies in general and the first to put forward the notion of power imbalance in brand–athlete partnerships, its impact on how the two entities are represented in consumers’ memory networks and the consequences on brand attitude when the athlete is associated with a negative event.
Status of digital heritage preservation management in Eastern Africa
Authors: Mudogo Mutula Stephen
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The primary purpose of this paper was to assess the status of digital heritage preservation management in Eastern Africa. The following research objectives were addressed: investigate digital heritage preservation management in Eastern Africa, find out the content which is prioritized for digital preservation, describe the challenges of digital heritage preservation management in Eastern Africa and propose a framework to address challenges of digital heritage preservation in Eastern Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is based on a literature review and an analysis of national digitization efforts in Eastern Africa. The research objectives were addressed using Document Lifecycle and World Summit on Information Society Action Lines 2, 3 and 8 as the theoretical frames.

Findings

– Results revealed growing awareness among institutions with statutory responsibility for heritage management about digital heritage preservation in Eastern Africa through the support of international agencies, civil societies and governments. However, institutions with responsibility for heritage management were ill-equipped to function in this role effectively. Content of academic, commercial, parliamentary and judicial and international treaties’ values were the preferred candidates for digitization. The findings revealed several challenges hampering digital heritage preservation management: weak policy and regulatory frameworks, limited capacity, inadequate government support and limited connectivity and bandwidth.

Originality/value

– Many countries in Eastern Africa are making efforts to preserve their national heritage through digitalization to bridge the content divide between the region and the developed world so as to enhance access by its people, not only to their respective national heritages but also for international information systems knowledge. However, most of these efforts remain undocumented, making it difficult to make comparisons with similar best practices around the world.
Enhancing the competitiveness of Palestinian SMEs through clustering
Authors: Sami Sultan Suhail
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to prove that competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) among developing countries in the conflict regions will be enhanced through clustering.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study used quantitative and qualitative methods of research. Questionnaires were administered on a sample of SMEs working in food-processing sector in Palestine, Jordan and Israel. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Palestinian SMEs to deeply understand the food-processing cluster. The dependent variable “SMEs competitiveness” is measured by the balanced scored card while the independent variable “cluster” is measured by the “related and supporting industries.”

Findings

– The cluster and SMEs performance of food-processing sector in Palestine is the lowest in relative to Jordan and Israel. The results show a significant positive relationship between cluster and SMEs performance in the Palestinian food-processing sector.

Practical implications

– Cluster can help SMEs in the food-processing sector in Palestine to enhance their performance. It has also been found that these SMEs need to build linkages among themselves and with related and supporting industries within the Palestinian territories, Jordan and Israel.

Originality/value

– The paper discusses the enhancement of SMEs performance working in a conflict region through clustering.
Networking for regional development: a case study
Authors: Khodabandehloo Akbar
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study how actors in a network for regional development perceive the network by addressing the questions of what characterizes a network for regional development and why the actors participate in such a network.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study focussed on using networking for regional development in Sweden, utilizing a qualitative method with a hermeneutic approach.

Findings

– Regional development requires the inclusion of a participatory multi-actor process, involving a diversity of societal stakeholders. A network for regional development entails hierarchy, and may be characterized by dominance. The informal character of networks for regional development creates vagueness, and might lead to unclear results, in the end affecting the function of the network. Leadership is crucial for the outcome of networks for regional development, but leadership is challenging in the absence of formal decision making and a controlling structure.

Research limitations/implications

– As this was an intra-case study, generalization of the findings and conducting a cross-case analysis were not feasible.

Practical implications

– The attributes of a network for regional development, i.e. hierarchy and dominance, constitute problems that need to be solved. The informal character of a network may create vagueness, making it difficult to produce tangible results. Hence it is vital to discuss results from different angles. An effective network requires a process leader who promotes trust and mutuality, and pushes the network in the desired direction.

Originality/value

– The present paper integrated research on network for regional development with general network theory, offering a better understanding of a topic in which research is relatively limited.
Health care as a worldwide concern. Insights on the Italian and Indian health care systems and PPPs from a VSA perspective
Authors: Saviano Marialuisa , Parida Ratri , Caputo Francesco , Kumar Datta Saroj
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Health is a fundamental populations’ need and an integral part of the socio-economic development of a country. However, it is required to explain the growing role of the private sectors in addressing various health care needs. The purpose of this paper is to analyse potential contribution, criticalities and conditions of success of public-private partnership (PPP) as a strategy to face the complexity of nationally relevant Italian and Indian service systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology is built upon the basis of the viable systems approach (VSA) integrated with the fundamental interpretative elements of service science and service-dominant logic to contextualize interpretation to the management of service systems benefitting from recent advances in these research fields.

Findings

– A VSA-based general framework of reference is built that is useful for analysing any relational context in which different aims and expectations need to be harmonized to make the collaboration effective. On the basis of this framework, first insights on Italian and Indian health care PPPs are proposed, highlighting key elements of analysis and criticalities that may challenge a positive conclusion on health care PPPs.

Practical implications

– The implications of the study are both theoretical and practical. From a theoretical perspective, the study contributes to the scholarly understanding of complex health care system in Italy as well as in India with particular reference to the public-private collaboration phenomenon. It also suggests theoretical approaches in the form of a generic VSA-based framework as applicable. From a practical perspective, the study stimulates managers to a critical reflection about current health care management approaches which are reflected in the adoption of PPPs solutions.

Originality/value

– The paper discusses relevant worldwide decision-making challenges, such as the equality in the populations’ access to health service, suggesting managers the way to create conditions of consonance among the diverse stakeholders for a successful health care PPPs.
Influence of personal attributes on perception of residential facilities management services
Authors: H.K. Lai Joseph
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to explore the influence of personal attributes, namely, gender, age, education and income, on the perception of facilities management (FM) services for residential buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

– Collected through an interview survey, the personal particulars of the users of a typical residential estate in Hong Kong and their perceived importance and performance levels of five main aspects of FM services were analyzed using the analytic hierarchy process and statistical analyses.

Findings

– The weighted performance ratings of the services, which are products of interaction between perceived importance and perceived performance, showed perfect rank correlations across user groups with different personal attributes. As for the shares contributed to the services’ overall weighted performance, the largest differences were associated with the security and leisure and landscape aspects rated between the users with tertiary education and those without.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings that male adults, users with tertiary education and those with earning capacity tended to give more consistent responses can serve as a reference for determining the target amount of samples in similar surveys in future. Further work is needed to research into how the method of this study may be adapted for use in investigating FM services for other types of buildings or the same type of buildings in other places.

Practical implications

– The approach taken in scrutinizing the performance contributions of the services, which helps to identify any improvements needed, can be used to evaluate FM services for similar residential buildings.

Originality/value

– The study results provide an understanding of the influence of personal attributes on perception of FM services.
Intersectionality, identity and identity work
Authors: Corlett Sandra , Mavin Sharon
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Special Issue developed from a joint research seminar of the Gender in Management and Identity Special Interest Groups of the British Academy of Management, entitled “Exploring the Intersectionality of Gender and Identity”. It also presents an introductory literature review of intersectionality for gender in management and identity/identity work researchers. The authors highlight the similarities and differences of intersectionality and identity approaches and introduce critiques of intersectional research. They then introduce the three papers in this Special Issue.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors review the intersectionality literature within and outside management and organisation studies and focus their attention on three intersectionality Special Issues (Sex Roles, 2008, 2013 and theEuropean Journal of Women’s Studies, 2006).

Findings

– The authors outline the ongoing debates relating to intersectionality research, including a framework and/or theory for identity/identity work, and explore the shared tenets of theories of intersectionality and identity. They highlight critiques of intersectionality research in practice and consider areas for future research for gender in management and identity researchers.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors provide an architecture for researchers to explore intersectionality and to consider issues before embarking on intersectional research. They also highlight areas for future research, including social-identities of disability, class and religion.

Originality/value

–Gender in Management: An International Journalinvited this Special Issue to make a significant contribution to an under-researched area by reviewing the shared and different languages and importantly the shared key tenets, of intersectionality, gender, identity and identity work from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Transformative and emancipatory potential of intersectionality research
Authors: Woodhams Carol , Lupton Ben
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to contribute to the debates of “doing” intersectionality in practice. The authors explore two of the primary approaches to researching from an intersectional perspective with the intention of critically reviewing the emancipatory potential of each. They argue for plurality and diversity of approaches in working toward a shared emancipatory goal.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors set up the debate via an exploration of emancipatory research principles. Based on their research experience the authors then critically reflect on the approaches to intersectionality research from the social constructionist and critical realist perspectives.

Findings

– The authors find that both approaches to intersectionality research have benefits and limitations in achieving emancipation for disadvantaged people in organizations. A critical realist approach underpinned by quantitative analysis of patterns within fixed multiple identity categories offers a convincing emancipatory case which can stimulate management action. However, it does not give prominence to the dynamic and political nature of the construction of “difference” in organizations. Social constructionist approaches address this weakness, but the wider patterns of disadvantage tend to have less prominence in the analysis. Accordingly, the policy implications can be less clear and the case for action less convincing.

Research limitations/implications

– The authors provide material that contributes to debates of how to “do” intersectionality as a method. They acknowledge limitations in their argument supporting a critical realist approach from both methodological and emancipatory perspectives.

Originality/value

– They call for consideration of pluralism in research approaches to exploit the emancipatory potential of diverse forms of research.
Do actions speak louder than words – study of a shared vision?
Authors: Reese Simon
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between actions taken by front-line managers and actions taken by employees as the organization progresses toward a new-shared vision. The shared vision to alter the organization's learning structures was communicated by the leadership team. The research evaluates if the actions speak louder than the words.

Design/methodology/approach

– The actions analyzed in the study are completion of curriculum courses designed by the Learning and Professional Development team to progress the organization toward the new vision. Pearson's Product Moment Correlation was calculated to determine the nature and strength of the relationship or learning actions between the employee and first line managers.

Findings

– Results indicate that a moderate positive relationship exists between employee and first line manager actions. The relationship highlights the importance of integrating an action element into the launch of a new-shared vision.

Originality/value

– Shared visions are a fundamental building block in reaching generative learning. One method to improve employee internalization of the shared vision is to create actions whereby the employee can experience elements of the vision. These experiences further the communications and build steps toward employee commitment and internalization.
University-led business support: a case study of a regional programme
Authors: Prochorskaite Agne
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a model of a university-led business support programme that ran in the West Midlands region of the UK. The initiative was designed with the specific aim of assisting businesses to grow into the renewable energy technology markets by engaging them in a spectrum of support activities. A distinctive form of university-industry collaboration was used in the implementation of the programme where the leadership and management roles were carried out by Staffordshire University, while technical consultancy was delivered by external industry experts. The effectiveness of this model is investigated through a survey of businesses assisted by the programme.

Design/methodology/approach

– The case study first describes the design and rationale of the support programme and then goes on to present findings from a survey conducted with firms who part took in the support programme (41 per cent response rate, n=54).

Findings

– Respondents’ overall satisfaction with the programme indicate that the university-business collaborative model worked well. However, the survey findings show that businesses preferred group-based activities over one-to-one, direct consultancy type of support. Results suggest that the overall effectiveness of the scheme could have been improved through greater industry focus and better management of companies’ expectations through clearer articulation of the programme's ability and scope for support.

Research limitations/implications

– The survey was carried out with participating businesses only four months after the programme had ended, which may have limited the time for programme-related impacts to mature and/or materialise.

Practical implications

– The presented model of university-led business support programme and recommendations can be of use to other Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as well as business organisations seeking to establish such collaborative initiatives.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the discourse on university-industry relationships and the nature of business support programmes by presenting a “real-world” case study of a university-led business support initiative. The findings and recommendations may be of interest and use to researchers, HEIs, policy makers as well as business support and training organisations.
CyberRx
Authors: Scott Rader Charles , Subhan Zahed , D. Lanier Clinton , Brooksbank Roger , Yankah Sandra , Spears Kristin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the state of the art in social media and pharmaceutical marketing through empirical analysis of online consumer conversations. Proliferation of social media has significantly changed traditional one-way, marketing-controlled communications. Balance of power has shifted to consumers, who use social networking sites, blogs and forums to obtain extensive brand and product information, often from each other. This prompts companies towards more intimate, transparent and constant two-way consumer engagement. Pharmaceutical marketing and direct to consumer advertising (DTCA) are not immune to this pervasive, disruptive cultural/technological phenomenon, which poses particular challenges given regulatory, legal and ethical constraints on their marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research uses “netnographic” data collection of online conversations occurring in social media and develops an explanatory framework using grounded theory analytical methods.

Findings

– This research shows that significantly impactful and pervasive bonding among consumers, bloggers and unofficial “experts” about pharmaceutical offerings is widespread, and occurs regardless (and perhaps in spite of) pharmaceutical companies’ involvement.

Originality/value

– Considering the structure and nature of online consumer bonding, a way forward is proposed for pharmaceutical companies to implement social media strategies as part of their pharmaceutical marketing and DTCA efforts through an intermediary and interactive online presence arising from disease and health care education.
Fast-fashion consumers’ post-purchase behaviours
Authors: Joung Hyun-Mee
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore fast-fashion consumers’ post-purchase behaviours and examine relationships among fast-fashion purchase, disposing, hoarding, participation in recycling, and environmental attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey questionnaire was developed and a total of 335 college students completed it in a classroom setting. Of the data collected, 274 students who purchased fast-fashions were used for this study. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and Pearson correlations were conducted to examine relationships among the variables.

Findings

– Results of Pearson correlations indicated that fast-fashion purchase was positively related to disposing and hoarding, but negatively related to participation in recycling. Apparel hoarding was positively related to recycling, but no relationships were found between environmental attitudes and any of the following: fast-fashion purchase, disposing, hoarding, or participation in recycling.

Practical implications

– Fast-fashion suppliers should encourage consumers’ participation in recycling and should take responsibility for collecting their post-purchase products.

Originality/value

– This paper provides important contributions to the literature about fashion retailing/marketing and post-purchase behaviours. Although young fashion-oriented consumers easily purchase and dispose of trendy and cheap fast-fashions, little is known about their post-purchase behaviours. Findings of this study showed that fast-fashion consumers had positive attitudes towards the environment, yet they did not participate in recycling. The finding implies that fast-fashion suppliers need to develop a culture to support sustainability of consumption.
Managerial competencies and organizational structures
Authors: Verle Karmen , Markič Mirko , Kodrič Borut , Gorenc Zoran Annmarie
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine whether there is a relationship among leadership, action, social, and personal competencies of managers in modern organizational structure types and whether a relationship exists between a company's organizational structure and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire was carried out among top managers in Slovene mid- and large-sized companies. The relationship among managerial competencies, the choice of organizational structure type and the company effectiveness were measured with a value-added approach. The method of structural models was used for establishing the affect among individual variables.

Findings

– The results support the hypothesized effect of managerial competencies on a company's organizational structure type. The effect of a modern, horizontal organizational structure on a company's performance and growth on the market facilitates the achievement of higher value added as well as has a direct impact of managerial competencies on a company's performance.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was limited to mid- and large-sized companies in Slovenia. Only top managers were included in the study as they are the ones that are responsible and have the largest influence in creating a company's organizational structure.

Practical implications

– The paper includes implications to those organizations in the process of restructuring and for those companies that are prepared to modify traditional principles of management participation.

Originality/value

– To the authors knowledge no research studies were found that examined the affect and relation of top management competencies with respect to different organizational structures.
Green innovation in the automobile industry
Authors: Lin Ru-Jen , Chen Rong-Huei , Huang Fei-Hsin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Despite the stimulation provided by market demand and green issues on business performance, the exact nature of the relationships among these aspects remains an issue of contention. This study sought to bridge this gap in the research by examining the effects of market demand on firm performance using green innovation and environmental performance as mediators. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Taiwanese hybrid vehicle industry was targeted as the scope of research. Using random sampling method, survey questionnaires were distributed to retailers, wholesalers, and component sale firms in the industry through post and e-mails. AMOS 5.0 and the structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to test the hypotheses and the theoretical model.

Findings

– Except for the impact of market demand on environmental performance, all relationships were found to be significant. The mediating effect of green innovation which was proven to be significant, while that of environmental performance remained insufficient.

Research limitations/implications

– This study has a number of limitations. The use of figures from a single industry partly restricts the generalizability of these findings.

Practical implications

– These results suggest that firms should make greater efforts to understand customer needs and promote core competencies in the innovation of green products and processes to align green initiatives with consumer values in order to satisfy market demand and ensure sustainable performance.

Social implications

– This study has important implications for the hybrid vehicle industry in particular and all businesses in general. The results provide guidelines for the enhancement of business performance. Based on the significant impact of market demand on green innovation, this study strongly recommends that firms make greater efforts to understand customer needs and expectations.

Originality/value

– This study was the first to establish a model for investigating the links among market demand, green innovation, environmental performance, and firm performance in the Taiwanese hybrid vehicle industry. The findings provide effective guidelines for the achievement of market leadership and sustainable performance.
Towards strategic flexibility: social networks, climate and uncertainty
Authors: Fernández-Pérez Virginia , Javier Llorens Montes Francisco , Jesús García-Morales Víctor
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study how the size of social networks and the strength of their ties can help CEOs acquire understanding and information from external sources to enable their firms to achieve greater strategic flexibility and the moderating role of organizational climate and uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypotheses were tested using the data provided by 203 managers of medium-sized and large Spanish firms using regression analysis.

Findings

– The paper shows that firms have higher levels of strategic flexibility when their CEOs’ social networks are larger. Furthermore, CEOs have more incentives to use strong social-networking ties to develop strategic flexibility when there exists a positive organizational climate and a high degree of environmental uncertainty.

Practical implications

– An understanding of these issues offers opportunities to assist CEOs embarking on a new strategic option or to become more effective in building and utilizing their networking activities or organizational climate.

Originality/value

– This study explores the paradox over the role of social networks regarding strategic flexibility in uncertain environments. Prior research has presented arguments that uncertainty may be addressed through a wide range of responses, from the promotion of entrepreneurial activities to the adoption of conservative attitudes. The multisector sample reveals evidence of both types of behavior, with each playing a different role with respect to strategic flexibility.