bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Occludin OCEL-domain interactions are required for maintenance and regulation of the tight junction barrier to macromolecular flux
Authors: Buschmann Mary M. , Shen Le , Rajapakse Harsha , Raleigh David R. , Wang Yitang , Wang Yingmin , Lingaraju Amulya , Zha Juanmin , Abbott Elliot , McAuley Erin M. , Breskin Lydia A. , Wu Licheng , Anderson Kenneth , Turner Jerrold R. , Weber Christopher R.
Published: August 2013

In vitro and in vivo studies implicate occludin in the regulation of paracellular macromolecular flux at steady state and in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF). To define the roles of occludin in these processes, we established intestinal epithelia with stable occludin knockdown. Knockdown monolayers had markedly enhanced tight junction permeability to large molecules that could be modeled by size-selective channels with radii of ∼62.5 Å. TNF increased paracellular flux of large molecules in occludin-sufficient, but not occludin-deficient, monolayers. Complementation using full-length or C-terminal coiled-coil occludin/ELL domain (OCEL)–deficient enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)–occludin showed that TNF-induced occludin endocytosis and barrier regulation both required the OCEL domain. Either TNF treatment or OCEL deletion accelerated EGFP-occludin fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, but TNF treatment did not affect behavior of EGFP-occludinΔOCEL. Further, the free OCEL domain prevented TNF-induced acceleration of occludin fluorescence recovery, occludin endocytosis, and barrier loss. OCEL mutated within a recently proposed ZO-1–binding domain (K433) could not inhibit TNF effects, but OCEL mutated within the ZO-1 SH3-GuK–binding region (K485/K488) remained functional. We conclude that OCEL-mediated occludin interactions are essential for limiting paracellular macromolecular flux. Moreover, our data implicate interactions mediated by the OCEL K433 region as an effector of TNF-induced barrier regulation.
Information Transmission in Irrigation Technology Adoption and Diffusion: Social Learning, Extension Services, and Spatial Effects
Authors: Genius Margarita , Koundouri Phoebe , Nauges Céline , Tzouvelekas Vangelis
Published: August 2013

In this article, we investigate the role of information transmission in promoting agricultural technology adoption and diffusion through extension services and social learning. We develop a theoretical model of technology adoption and diffusion, which we then empirically apply, using duration analysis, on a micro‐dataset consisting of recall data covering the period 1994–2004 for olive‐producing farms from Crete, Greece. Our findings suggest that both extension services and social learning are strong determinants of technology adoption and diffusion, while the effectiveness of each of the two informational channels is enhanced by the presence of the other.
Decoy-free protein-level false discovery rate estimation
Authors: Teng Ben , Huang Ting , He Zengyou
Published: August 2013

Motivation: Statistical validation of protein identifications is an important issue in shotgun proteomics. The false discovery rate (FDR) is a powerful statistical tool for evaluating the protein identification result. Several research efforts have been made for FDR estimation at the protein level. However, there are still certain drawbacks in the existing FDR estimation methods based on the target-decoy strategy.

Results: In this article, we propose a decoy-free protein-level FDR estimation method. Under the null hypothesis that each candidate protein matches an identified peptide totally at random, we assign statistical significance to protein identifications in terms of the permutation P-value and use these P-values to calculate the FDR. Our method consists of three key steps: (i) generating random bipartite graphs with the same structure; (ii) calculating the protein scores on these random graphs; and (iii) calculating the permutation P value and final FDR. As it is time-consuming or prohibitive to execute the protein inference algorithms for thousands of times in step ii, we first train a linear regression model using the original bipartite graph and identification scores provided by the target inference algorithm. Then we use the learned regression model as a substitute of original protein inference method to predict protein scores on shuffled graphs. We test our method on six public available datasets. The results show that our method is comparable with those state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of estimation accuracy.

Availability: The source code of our algorithm is available at: https://sourceforge.net/projects/plfdr/

Contact:  zyhe@dlut.edu.cn

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
First Report of Broad bean wilt virus-2 in Pepper in the Czech Republic
Authors: Svoboda J. , Leisova-Svobodova L.
Published: August 2013

In August 2012, field-grown pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants were inspected for the presence of viral diseases in Moravia, Czech Republic. Leaves taken from plants showing virus-like symptoms were examined for the presence of pepper viruses by double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA. Of the 80 collected samples, 22 were infected with Cucumber mosaic virus, 17 with Potato virus Y, 13 with Broad bean wilt virus-1, and 11 with Broad bean wilt virus-2 (BBWV-2). The BBWV-2 positive samples were collected near the villages of Hrádek and Tasovice in Znojmo District and Loděnice in Brno-Country District. Six samples positive for BBWV-2 were also infected with one or two other viruses. BBWV-2 was mechanically transmitted from the field-collected samples where it was present alone onto Chenopodium quinoa plants. After systemic mottling emerged on indicator plants, symptomatic leaves were collected and the presence of BBWV-2 was confirmed by electron microscopy and reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Isometric particles of about 25 nm corresponding in size and shape to the BBWV-2 virions (2) were observed. Total RNA was extracted from infected C. quinoa leaves, and RT-PCRs with primer pairs specific to four BBWV-2 genome regions (1) were carried out using oligo-dT and random hexamer mixtures for the cDNA synthesis. Amplicons of expected sizes, ~400 bp for Fab5′R1, ~460 bp for Pol2, ~500 bp for MP4, and ~250 bp for SCP were obtained for all samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a natural occurrence of BBWV-2 in the Czech Republic.

References: (1) R. M. Ferrer et al. Arch. Virol. 156:1445, 2011. (2) V. Lisa and G. Boccardo. The Plant Viruses 5:229. Plenum Press, New York, 1996.
DrosophilaF-BAR protein Syndapin contributes to coupling the plasma membrane and contractile ring in cytokinesis
Authors: Takeda Tetsuya , Robinson Iain M. , Savoian Matthew M. , Griffiths John R. , Whetton Anthony D. , McMahon Harvey T. , Glover David M.
Published: August 2013

Cytokinesis is a highly ordered cellular process driven by interactions between central spindle microtubules and the actomyosin contractile ring linked to the dynamic remodelling of the plasma membrane. The mechanisms responsible for reorganizing the plasma membrane at the cell equator and its coupling to the contractile ring in cytokinesis are poorly understood. We report here that Syndapin, a protein containing an F-BAR domain required for membrane curvature, contributes to the remodelling of the plasma membrane around the contractile ring for cytokinesis. Syndapin colocalizes with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) at the cleavage furrow, where it directly interacts with a contractile ring component, Anillin. Accordingly, Anillin is mislocalized during cytokinesis in Syndapin mutants. Elevated or diminished expression of Syndapin leads to cytokinesis defects with abnormal cortical dynamics. The minimal segment of Syndapin, which is able to localize to the cleavage furrow and induce cytokinesis defects, is the F-BAR domain and its immediate C-terminal sequences. Phosphorylation of this region prevents this functional interaction, resulting in reduced ability of Syndapin to bind to and deform membranes. Thus, the dephosphorylated form of Syndapin mediates both remodelling of the plasma membrane and its proper coupling to the cytokinetic machinery.
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis
Authors: Narayanan Parameswaran , Rustagi Rashi S. , Sivaprakasam Prabha , Subramanian Mahadevan , Parameswaran Sreejith , Mandal Jharna , Kaplan B. S.
Published: August 2013

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is a recognized complication of infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and Shigella dysenteriae type 1. Infections with other micro-organisms, especially Streptococcus pneumoniae, have been cited as causes of HUS. In addition, influenza virus and other viruses may rarely be associated with this syndrome. A 2-year-old girl presented with severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis with renal failure and ecthyma gangrenosum. Further investigations revealed features of HUS. She was managed with antibiotics and other supportive measures including peritoneal dialysis, and subsequently made a full recovery. A possible role of neuraminidase in the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa-associated HUS was proposed. This is the first reported case of P. aeruginosa sepsis leading to HUS.
An in-house assay for BK polyomavirus quantification using the Abbott m2000 RealTime system
Authors: Muldrew Kenneth L. , Lovett Jennie L.
Published: August 2013

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) quantification is useful for monitoring renal transplant patient response to therapy. The Abbott m2000 RealTime System employed by some clinical laboratories to perform US Food and Drug Administration-approved assays can also be used to develop in-house assays such as the one presented here. This study aimed to validate an in-house quantitative real-time PCR assay targeting the BKPyV major capsid VP1 gene for assessment of viral load using the Abbott m2000 RealTime System. BKPyV load was measured in 95 urine and plasma samples previously tested for BKPyV by one of three laboratories (46 BKPyV-positive samples consisting of 35 plasma and 11 urine samples; 49 samples negative for BKPyV consisting of 47 plasma and two urine samples). Two additional plasma specimens from the College of American Pathologists proficiency testing survey were also analysed. Precision studies were performed by diluting a high-viral-titre patient sample into BKPyV-negative pooled plasma to create high-positive (6.16 log10 copies ml−1) and low-positive (3.16 log10 copies ml−1) samples. For precision studies of inter-assay variability, a high-positive (7.0 log10 copies ml−1) and a low-positive (3.0 log10 copies ml−1) sample were measured in 20 separate runs. The assay’s limit of quantification and limit of detection were 2.70 and 2.25 log10 copies ml−1, respectively. The assay was linear from 2.70 to 9.26 log10 copies ml−1. Of the 48 known positives, 43 were detected as positive, with three reported by the reference laboratory as values lower than the limit of detection. Two known positives at 3.27 and 3.80 log10 copies ml−1 tested negative by the m2000 BKPyV assay. Of the 49 known negative samples, 48 were negative by the m2000 BKPyV load assay, with one sample confirmed positive by a reference laboratory. Qualitative analysis prior to discrepancy testing demonstrated a sensitivity of 89.58 % and a specificity of 97.96 %. Precision studies demonstrated inter-assay coefficients of variation of 0.63 % (high positive) and 4.38 % (low positive). Genotyping was performed on 22 patient samples, of which 21 (95.45 %) were type I and one (4.55 %) was type II. In conclusion, the m2000 BKPyV viral load assay sensitivity, specificity, linear range, precision and cost effectiveness make it an attractive methodology for clinical laboratories using the Abbott m2000 RealTime System.
Consumers' expectations and needs towards healthy cereal based snacks
Authors: Crofton Emily C. , Markey Anne , Scannell Amalia G.M.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine consumers' perceptions and expectations towards healthy snacks, with particular emphasis on the cereal snack market, and to explore new areas of opportunities for healthy snacks by identifying consumer needs and wants.

Design/methodology/approach

Six focus group discussions were conducted to generate attitudinal data across three different adult consumer groups.

Findings

Results revealed that consumers expected a healthy snack to contain low levels of calories, fat, salt and sugar, and to contain high levels of whole‐grain, oats, bran, nuts, seeds, pulses and fruit, e.g. blueberries, cranberries, gogi berries. Additionally, healthy snacks were required to be free from any artificial colours, sweeteners and flavours. Major factors encouraging healthy snack consumption included reduced risk of weight gain, diabetes, heart burn and bloating. Conversely, perceived taste, portion size, the lack of available convenient nutritional snacks, accessibility and confusion over the credibility of the “healthy product” tag were the main factors preventing healthy consumption in the adult population examined. Consumers expressed a desire for a wider choice of filling snacks with specific health benefits for a variety of usage occasions, particularly those with associated health claims such as “high fibre”, “omega 3 for mental health” and “reduces cholesterol”.

Research limitations/implications

The study sample size was not extensive and was limited to a small geographical spread of Dublin and Meath on the East coast of Ireland. A more representative sample of the entire Irish population could be the basis for further research.

Practical implications

These findings increase the understanding of current expectations of the Irish adult consumer regarding healthy snack foods. They also highlight the potential new product development opportunities for snack food manufacturers to explore.

Originality/value

The present paper focuses specifically on healthy snacks and contributes to a limited amount of existing literature by providing consumer research for the development of new healthy snack foods.
Measurement of oil film thickness between piston ring and liner using strain gauge
Authors: Bulsara Mukesh A. , Bhatt Dhananjay V. , Mistry Kishore N.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to develop a technique to measure the oil film thickness between piston ring and liner throughout the stroke, without impairing the surface properties of the piston ring and liner. Mechanical properties of the piston ring, like ring stiffness, are also not altered. Effect of variation in bore on the movement of piston ring can be studied with the proposed technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The gap Hmin between the cylinder liner and the piston ring is formed due to the hydrodynamic pressure generated by the presence of oil film between piston ring and liner. This gap can be inferred by measuring the movement of the inner surface of piston ring with reference to a sensor mounted on the piston at a fixed distance from the piston ring. The piston ring is connected to the sensor through reasonably rigid member. The underlying assumption here is that there is no elastic deformation of the piston ring due to the hydrodynamic pressure. The fundamental sensor to measure oil film thickness used in this setup is a set of strain gauges.

Findings

It is possible to measure oil film thickness by the proposed arrangement for the entire stroke without changing the surface properties. Mechanical properties of the piston ring, like ring tension, are not affected. The results possibly provide the correct picture of the piston ring movement throughout the stroke. The measurement at near zero speed can give information on the movement of the piston ring due to hydrodynamic action and to the variation in the bore. The measurement is not affected by engine vibrations. The proposed technique can be helpful in validating the theoretical models proposed in the literature.

Originality/value

The measurement is possible only in unfired condition. However, this attempt can be considered as the basis to measure OFT in fired condition with necessary improvements. It is not feasible to measure quantity of lubricant/extent of lubricant on leading or trailing edge of piston. Effect of temperature on the oil film thickness cannot be studied as the engine is not fired. It is assumed that the piston ring does not pass through elasto‐hydrodynamic lubrication regime. Debris/worn out particles in the oil may affect the indicated oil film thickness at local points.
The tribological behaviour of Fe‐C‐Al cast iron – effect of temperature
Authors: Maleque M.A. , Sugrib S.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to study the tribological behaviour of Fe‐C‐Al cast iron at different temperatures using universal pin‐on‐disk machine.

Design/methodology/approach

The cold set resin bonded sand mould casting process was employed to develop Fe‐C‐Al cast iron and Fe‐C‐Si cast iron. The microstructures of materials were studied using field emission scanning electron microscope. The wear and friction tests were conducted using universal pin‐on‐disk machine at 25°C, 100°C, 200°C and 300°C temperature. The worn surface was characterized using scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

The lower wear rate was found for Fe‐C‐Al cast iron compared to Fe‐C‐Si cast iron and delamination type wear morphology was observed in both types of cast iron materials. The results also showed that the friction coefficient value of Fe‐C‐Al cast iron was lower than that of Fe‐C‐Si cast iron at different temperatures. It can be concluded that the overall tribological behaviour of Fe‐C‐Al cast iron at higher temperatures was better than conventional Fe‐C‐Si cast iron.

Originality/value

The information on the development and tribological properties of the Fe‐C‐Al cast iron at different temperatures is scarce in the literature. The special type of cold set resin bonded sand mould was used for casting this Fe‐C‐Al cast iron material. Therefore, the current study is quite new and it is hoped that it will provide a high value to the automotive and other engineering researchers for the application of this material.
Static performance characteristics of hybrid journal bearings with plugged entry holes
Authors: Garg H.C. , Kumar Vijay
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect of plugging of holes on the static performance characteristics of a constant flow valve compensated hole‐entry hybrid journal bearing system operating with Newtonian and non‐Newtonian lubricants. The analysis considers the generalized Reynolds equation governing the flow of lubricant having variable viscosity in the clearance space and equation of flow of lubricant through constant flow valve restrictor. The non‐Newtonian lubricant is assumed to follow the power law. The performance characteristics are computed for the two values of power law index (n=1.0 and 0.566). The computed results indicate that the blockage of holes during operation will not be the likely causes for the imminent failure of a well‐designed non‐recessed hole‐entry hybrid journal bearing.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite element method has been used to solve generalized Reynolds equation governing the flow of lubricant having variable viscosity in the clearance space and equation of flow of lubricant through constant flow valve restrictor.

Findings

The computed results indicate that the blockage of holes during operation will not be the likely causes for the imminent failure of a well‐designed non‐recessed hole‐entry hybrid journal bearing. The bearing configuration with plugged holes provides sufficient fluid film thickness and low power requirement as less lubricant is required to be pumped in the bearing.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, no study which considers the influence of plugging of holes on the static performance characteristics of a constant flow valve compensated hole‐entry hybrid journal bearing system operating with Newtonian and non‐Newtonian lubricant is yet available in the literature.
Narrative online advertising: identification and its effects on attitude toward a product
Authors: Ching Russell K.H. , Tong Pingsheng , Chen Ja‐Shen , Chen Hung‐Yen
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Drawing on extant literature on narrative persuasion, online advertising, and transportation theory, this research aims to study Internet‐based online narrative advertising and investigate the effects of four pertinent advertising design elements, interactivity, entertainment, vividness, and self‐referencing, on consumer products and the moderating effects of advertisement involvement on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using an online questionnaire that contained measures adapted from prior studies. Participants first selected a product that they would seriously consider purchasing and answered a set of questions prior to viewing a narrative online advertisement, which was followed by a different set of questions. Structural equation modeling was used to empirically test the authors’ proposed model.

Findings

Greater levels of interactivity, vividness, entertainment, and self‐referencing in narrative online advertisements led to more favorable attitudes toward a product. In particular, self‐referencing had a substantial effect on transportation in forming product attitudes. Advertisement Involvement moderates (i.e. enhances) the effect of self‐referencing on attitudes toward a product.

Practical implications

If properly designed, a narrative online advertisement can fully utilize Internet‐enabled features and can maximize their potential to produce a favorable consumer attitude toward a featured product.

Originality/value

This study advances narrative advertising research and provides empirical evidence to highlight the effects of the pertinent characteristics of Internet‐based advertising, interactivity and entertainment in the conversion process of transportation and consumer attitudes. Moreover, this study identifies and sheds light on important contingencies (i.e. advertisement involvement) of the focal relationships.
Love Internet, love online content
Authors: Ji Pan , Wayne Fu W.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This study aims to examine how information and social gratifications sought by Internet users affect their affinity for the Internet or for particular types of online content.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered in Singapore to collect data. A correlation analysis, a paired‐samplettest, and hierarchical regression analyses are conducted to address the research questions and hypotheses.

Findings

Affinity for the Internet and affinity for particular types of online content are correlated and distinct. Both relate positively to social gratifications. The passive social gratification of Internet access and the active pursuit of interactions exert similar impact on both types of affinity. Information affects neither after social gratifications are controlled.

Practical implications

Constant access to online contacts or quality online interaction may facilitate social gratifications, thereby boosting user affinity for the Internet or for particular types of online content. Online information should be presented interactively to attract and retain users. The selection of online content and applications should also be made easier to cultivate a loyal user market.

Originality/value

This study contributes to U&G theory by adapting a television‐based proposition to cyberspace, and examining the attitudinal effect of online social gratifications involving different levels of user activity.
Sales coordination and structural complexity: a national‐international comparison
Authors: Rehme Jakob , Kowalkowski Christian , Nordigården Daniel
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The existing literature on key account management (KAM) has focused more on sales forces and management levels than on their evolution. The purpose of this paper is to explore how sales activities can be coordinated to accommodate national and international KAM programs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a longitudinal study of the industrial conglomerate ABB, 1996‐2008.

Findings

The diversity associated with geography and product complexity creates demands for a more flexible organization that can provide a more complete offering portfolio across national boundaries and still handle the demands of local organizations. In addition to internal organizational contingencies, the key factors and driving forces for the development of KAM programs are the marketing and purchasing strategies that buyer and seller firms perceive and encounter.

Research limitations/implications

The data are limited to one corporation and some of its key customers in different industries. Although the internal and construct validity of the findings are strong, the external validity cannot be assessed precisely.

Originality/value

The 12‐year study brings valuable insights to the development of KAM programs in multinational corporations and addresses coordination issues related to geographical and product complexity.
Application of customer lifetime value model in make‐to‐order manufacturing
Authors: Tukel Oya I. , Dixit Ashutosh
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The applicability of the customer life time value (CLV) concept goes beyond consumer markets. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to show how a make‐to‐order manufacturing company in a supply chain can set customer‐focus manufacturing strategies using CLV.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from an integrated steel plant is used to calculate the life time value of customers based on the past value, the potential value, and their loyalty. The past value of a customer is based on the historical data and the future value of a customer is then forecasted. The loyalty index of a customer is determined by survey results.

Findings

In general, it was found that the CLV for the most valuable customers increases exponentially and the top 28 percent of customers constitute 80 percent of the total value of all customers.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on make‐to‐order manufacturing organizations and the three strategies suggested for business process improvement need to be re‐evaluated for make‐to‐stock or mass production.

Practical implications

Based on these results, the authors suggest three strategies for business process improvement and revenue growth for the plant.

Originality/value

This study constitutes an initial effort to develop a CLV model for make‐to‐order manufacturing organizations for improving plant performance. The model links customers with not only the front office functions but also with ERP systems. Organizations that are part of value chains can benefit significantly from CLV applications.
Entrepreneurial migration: characteristics, causes and effects
Authors: Thi Thanh Thai Mai , Turkina Ekaterina
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on “Entrepreneurial migration: characteristics, causes and effects”.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature review.

Findings

Studies on immigrant entrepreneurship have become increasingly popular and the importance of social context and social connections has been recognized by scholars. However, research on their effects on immigrant entrepreneurship has been rather limited. This special issue explains the essential steps of the entrepreneurial process by immigrants (i.e. host country choice, entrepreneurial engagement, new venture creation, business network development and corporate political activities) and discusses the effects of immigrant entrepreneurs on their host countries.

Originality/value

The paper presents a review of literature on entrepreneurial migration and social impacts.
Immigration, education and entrepreneurship in developed countries
Authors: Neupert Kent E. , Baughn C. Christopher
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a country‐level consideration of the relationship between entrepreneurship, immigration and education. In contrast to studies that report on immigration and entrepreneurship in a region or single country, the authors seek to determine whether levels of immigration, and the level of education obtained by the immigrants, are predictive of levels of entrepreneurship activity. A common set of variables and data from developed countries are used to test the hypothesized relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data on 21 OECD countries and five measures of entrepreneurship from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project, the authors assess the significance of immigration and education level on entrepreneurial activity using regression analysis.

Findings

The stock of immigrants in a country was found to be predictive of the proportion of that country's population involved in starting and managing a new business (early stage entrepreneurship), as well as the growth expectations held by those early‐stage entrepreneurs. Also, levels of high growth and high growth expectation entrepreneurship were predicted by the proportion of more highly‐educated immigrants.

Originality/value

This study provides national‐level comparative evidence linking entrepreneurial activity to immigration and to the level of education obtained by those immigrants, thereby adding to our understanding of immigration, education and entrepreneurship. The results have implications for the immigration policies of countries seeking to add to their economic base by encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation.
An emerging African business quarter amid urban decline
Authors: Barrett Giles Andrew , McEvoy David
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and assess the sustainability of an emergent West African business quarter in Manchester, UK. Comparisons are drawn with developments among other ethnic groups. The research is placed in the context of international literature on ethnic entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is primarily qualitative, using semi‐structured interviews and conversational life histories with a sample of West African retail businesses and a comparative group of other local businesses. Some use is made of quantitative information from census and other public data sources.

Findings

New West African enterprises appear, over the last few years, to have stabilised the declining retail district of Moston Lane in north Manchester. These new businesses are however confined to few sectors: food stores, hair and beauty salons, cafes, Internet cafes and clothing shops. These developments may parallel the success of longer established retail quarters in Manchester and elsewhere. However, most of the businesses may not survive long, having provided a temporary living, and some entrepreneurial experience, for their owners.

Research limitations/implications

Limited sample size and short time frame make results exploratory rather than definitive. The research provides however a base for future investigations.

Practical implications

The businesses studied provide economic opportunities for some immigrants with limited labour market opportunities.

Social implications

Immigrants are helped to maintain the integrity of their culture through the purchase of appropriate goods and services.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first consideration of a specifically African retail quarter in Britain, adding an additional ethnicity to the roster of identifiable geographic business locations.
Using Web 2.0 technologies for communication, collaboration and community building: a Caribbean perspective
Authors: Wood Beverley A.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate how Web 2.0 technologies may be used to counter some of the challenges encountered traditionally by the Caribbean library and information science (LIS) field.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the key features of each Web 2.0 technology discussed and then shows how these characteristics might be beneficially applied to resolve or alleviate one of the challenges explored.

Findings

By providing examples of best practice the paper shows that there are Web 2.0 technologies being used by the LIS community in the Caribbean to encourage wider communication, collaboration and community building. It notes however that there are still more emerging technologies which may be successfully used to overcome other traditional challenges.

Originality/value

The paper adds a Caribbean perspective to the Web 2.0 discussions. It also demonstrates how emerging/Web 2.0 technologies might effectively be used as problem solving tools.
The evolution of research data: strategies for curation and data management
Authors: Schubert Carolyn , Shorish Yasmeen , Frankel Paul , Giles Kelly
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to report on the presentations and discussions from The Evolution of Data conference.

Design/methodology/approach

Conference report.

Findings

Review of presentations about research data projects and initiatives that address issues throughout the data lifecycle.

Originality/value

The conference report captures a unique discussion among various different professionals and organizations around current efforts and needs for research data infrastructure and support. This one‐time conference presents a current snapshot of the field.
Workplace bullying and the challenge of pre‐emptive management
Authors: Beirne Martin , Hunter Paul
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to take a critical look at anti‐bullying initiatives at work. It questions current prescriptive thinking about effective ways of tackling workplace bullying, illuminating neglected contextual conditions and organizational constraints that affect attempts to develop and sustain pre‐emptive management programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case approach was employed for a comparative analysis of two anti‐bullying initiatives: one each in the public and private sectors.

Findings

The case results challenge the popular belief that business needs provide an impetus to coherent action against mistreatment at work, revealing the significance of local reactions and the mediating influence of competing subcultures and group identities on the “working out” of formal initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

This research underlines the importance of extending bullying research to include more in‐depth and applied work on the problems of enacting and sustaining anti‐bullying initiatives.

Practical implications

Effective action against bullying involves more than policy making, rule forming and guideline setting. It is important to cultivate the resilience of those at the sharp end of anti‐bullying projects, and engage with managers and employees who experience difficulties or confront unpalatable changes to their work situation as anti‐bullying initiatives develop.

Originality/value

This article casts light on an under‐researched area, since available literature concentrates on the underlying causes and consequences of workplace bullying. Prescriptions for tackling the problem tend to be drawn out of causal and impact studies with limited empirical evidence about their viability, or analysis of possible constraints on their implementation.
Social entrepreneurship – innovative challengers or adjustable followers?
Authors: Gawell Malin
Published: August 2013

Purpose

Social entrepreneurial initiatives are often ascribed innovative roles for the public good. However, it is also argued that the same initiatives react to conditions in different contexts as well as to local or global trends. But, what roles and values are brought into practice by initiatives today and how can these be conceptualised as innovative? The aim of this paper is to empirically describe and analyse social entrepreneurship initiatives and contribute to the understanding of their role in the development of society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a framework focusing on entrepreneurial dynamics, organisations and institutions. Empirically, it is grounded in four studies of social enterprises and their entrepreneurial initiatives in Sweden.Findings– The results reveal an intricate interplay between innovative challenges and institutional inertia as well as a combined role for social entrepreneurship initiatives in which innovative aspects can be more or less extensive.

Originality/value

The study contributes to problemising and nuancing the understanding of social entrepreneurship and social enterprises in relation to innovation in society.
Managers' competences in social enterprises: which specificities?
Authors: Moreau Charlotte , Mertens Sybille
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The management of an organisation and the context within which this organisation evolves are recognised as two important aspects of any organisation. Few studies have been conducted however on the management function within the specific context of social enterprises, organisations that mix social goals and economic imperatives. This paper aims to examine the specific competences of management in social enterprises, by constructing a competence model, the emblematic tool of competence‐based management, relevant to the management of social enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors hypothesise that certain competences required of managers in social enterprises are specific, regarding the particular internal and external context of social enterprises, the governance model, etc. The methodology used is based on four main steps: a review of the literature and the conducting of exploratory interviews, the construction of a first draft of the competence model, the conducting of group interviews with managers of social enterprises in six European countries as this research takes place within the framework of a European research project on lifelong learning, and the final adaptation and validation of the competence model.

Findings

Seven main competences specific to the context of social enterprises emerge, each one being further developed as knowledge, skills, and competences.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the interest in building up a competence model for the management of social enterprises.
Culture change enables ambitious growth at Nelsons
Authors: Rickatson Simon
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how the oldest manufacturer of natural healthcare products in Europe, Nelsons, needed to make a leap in its development to take advantage of the opportunities in export markets and to meet ambitious production and revenue targets.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study follows how Nelsons put in place a new culture among managers to achieve its growth targets, which involved moving away from being the custodians of a traditional brand towards leadership of a fast‐moving global enterprise. A management development scheme was introduced to support the fundamental changes, to create a new cadre of staff with the skills and confidence to lead, and overcome the discomfort which can come from rapid and wide‐ranging change.

Findings

If there is a good team of staff prepared to lead as much as manage change, implementing major initiatives can become relatively easy.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that the program demonstrated the importance of creating leaders for change, which have underpinned record outputs at the firm and strong progress towards the overall targets.
Employee engagement welcomes the dawn of an empowerment culture
Authors: Cattermole Gary , Johnson Jaime , Roberts Karen
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This paper seeks to address the role and impact of employee engagement within an organization undergoing cultural transformation, addressing the issues of monitoring and increasing levels of staff engagement over time.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on in‐depth employee engagement surveys over a five year period as part of a case study to illustrate how HR drives and monitors change through employee engagement.

Findings

This paper follows a company through enormous organizational change, firstly towards a high performance culture and then to a culture of empowerment. The role of engagement and monitoring processes are highlighted as part of the transition.

Research limitations/implications

The case study does not offer a true multinational case study as only a small proportion of employees are based overseas.

Originality/value

This paper illustrates how an international organization can deliver organizational change and build employee engagement to drive the business forward. The case study offers best practice material for HR managers.
Implementing electronic health records: implications for HR professionals
Authors: Boswell Robert A.
Published: August 2013

Purpose

This case study aims to report findings on the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) by a multi‐specialty physician group in the greater south central Pennsylvania area and offers implications for HR professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

Sixteen employees from the physician group participated in a one‐on‐one interview. Interview questions were intended to identify actions that define successful EHR implementation, readiness to take the actions towards successful EHR implementation, pros and cons of EHR implementation, and strategies used for change.

Findings

The findings describe the behaviors, readiness, pros and cons, and strategies involved for HR professionals looking to implement EHR.

Research limitations/implications

The population of this study was limited to a physician group that is implementing or planning to implement EHR. This population is not representative of all medical offices implementing EHR, nor is it representative of other types of organizations.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that HR professionals should tailor change initiatives involving EHR implementation to employees' readiness in an organization.

Originality/value

Human resource professionals could utilize this case study due to its ability to describe an organization's readiness for EHR implementation and its ability to focus on activities and events that create successful modification of behavior based on readiness to change.
Institutionalizing corporate social responsibility: effects on corporate reputation, culture, and legitimacy in Malaysia
Authors: Abdullah Zulhamri , Abdul Aziz Yuhanis
Published: August 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop measures of Asian corporate social responsibility (CSR) based on David's dual process model for Malaysian government linked corporations (GLC) and publicly listed companies (PLC).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey consisting was conducted and a structural equation model was used to test the relationships among constructs. An instrument to measure CSR practices focusing on CSR relational, CSR ethical/moral, and CSR discretionary is developed to evaluate impacts on corporate reputation, culture, and legitimacy.

Findings

Findings suggest CSR antecedents emerge through formalization of corporate communication management in Malaysian organizations. The structural model provides evidence that CSR initiatives impact corporate reputation directly. The study acknowledges the increase in CSR initiatives in corporate communication practices in GLCs and PLCs in the quest to gain public legitimacy and corporate governance.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the corporate communication literature by linking CSR to corporate reputation and culture, and developing a CSR model that explores a critical dimension in management of corporate identity in an Asian country.
Project Argus and the Resilient Citizen
Authors: Malcolm James A.
Published: August 2013

This article sheds light on the involvement of members of the public in the United Kingdom's resilience agenda through an examination of the Project Argus initiative. The article argues that it is principally through knowledge sharing between state and citizen that Argus seeks to foster increased resilience. It then moves on to elaborate the idea of the resilient citizen, emphasising the way in which it represents a potentially more permeating form of institutionalisation of the resilience agenda. The development of the resilient citizen, the article concludes, captures a bargain struck between state and citizen: extra knowledge for extra responsibility.
Pocket calculator: a humdrum ‘obviator’ in Papua New Guinea?
Authors: Pickles Anthony J.
Published: August 2013

This article examines the significance of pockets for controlling money in Highland Papua New Guinea. Contextualizing elaborate ‘systems’ for compartmentalizing monies in separate pockets, I draw upon the connection Highlanders make between transaction and skin. Pockets, I argue, offer opportunities to hide one's wealth reserves while gifting, keeping intentions opaque and leaving interlocutors guessing at the meaning of donors' speech, and forcing recipients to perceive their gift as ample. The article suggests that expectations are deliberately conventionalized in order to be exceeded, drawing parallels with Roy Wagner's notion of obviation. After characterizing Gorokan pockets and their gifting ‘logic’, I analyse how pocket‐users are themselves conventionalized as forthright or selfish in local discourse, based upon the pockets they display and where their clothes come from. Giving people clothing that includes pockets is therefore a way to regain control over their capacity to reveal wealth from their pockets.
To cry one's distress: death, emotion, and ethics among the Warao of the Orinoco Delta
Authors: Allard Olivier
Published: August 2013

This article relates three contexts crucially defined by the experience of grief and distress among the Warao, an Amerindian population of Venezuela: ritual wailing performed by women at death, in front of the corpse; drunken intoxication, which essentially takes place on 2 November (the Day of the Dead), during and after visits to cemeteries; and discursive references, in the course of ordinary interactions, to the fact that one will cry, or has cried, for someone else. It shows how emotional states can be intentionally managed and yet experienced as moving forces, and stresses the ethical efficacy of sorrow, which accounts for the funerary and memorial practices of the Warao.
Speech, silence, and slave descent in highland Madagascar
Authors: Freeman Luke
Published: August 2013

This article is an examination of the uses and effects of words and silence. It analyses the rhetorical strategies used in connection with a fundamental cleavage in highland Malagasy society: the distinction between people of free and slave descent. A pervasive silence hangs over this topic since it is almost never mentioned between the two groups. This silence, along with the careful words used to play down status differentiation, forms the rhetorical micro‐politics of village life. The article takes the view that this wholesale avoidance constitutes a generalized speech act: that is to say, it is constituted of diverse motivations and strategies, and has multiple and contradictory effects. One of these is that while allowing a liveable fiction of equality to be evoked, these rhetorical strategies also entrench the division even more deeply.