bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Two Anesthetics on Survival of Juvenile Culter mongolicus during a Simulated Transport Experiment
Authors: Lin Mingli , Wang Qidong , Xia Yuguo , Murphy Brian R , Li Zhongjie , Liu Jiashou , Zhang Tanglin , Ye Shaowen
Published: September 2012

Cultivation of the redtail culter Culter mongolicus has been increasing substantially over the last decade along the Yangtze River basin; such increases in production lead to increased juvenile transportation. However, redtail culter juveniles have high transport mortality rates due to a strong stress response that is exacerbated by the accumulation of toxic metabolic waste. Through a 24-h simulated transport experiment (sampling every 6 h), we assessed effects of tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) at 10 mg/L of water, 20 mg/L, and 40 mg/L on redtail culter survival and water quality parameters, and similarly we assessed clove oil at 2 mg/L of water, 5 mg/L, and 10 mg/L. None of the anesthetics significantly improved water quality during the initial 6–12 h of the experiment. However, MS-222 treatments at the first 12–24 h of the experiment had significantly higher dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonia, and pH than the control but failed to decrease un-ionized ammonia content. In contrast, the clove oil treatment significantly reduced the un-ionized ammonia but failed to improve DO and pH at 12–24 h. The improvements in water quality were reflected in cumulative mortality, MS-222 and clove oil anesthetic treatments having significantly lower cumulative mortality than the control at 12–24 h. The MS-222 and clove oil slowed water quality deterioration, ensured a better transport environment, and improved juvenile survival during transportation. We recommend 5 mg/L clove oil be used when transporting juvenile redtail culters because that concentration improves fish survival while keeping cost low.
Evidence that a transient but cognitively demanding process underlies forward blocking
Authors: Liu Pei-Pei , Luhmann Christian C.
Published: September 2012

Blocking is a learning phenomenon in which prior experience inhibits learning about novel cues. Though the phenomenon itself has been well documented, the details of blocking-related processes still remain contentious. Two experiments investigated whether participants were engaged in demanding cognitive processing during different portions of a standard blocking paradigm. Participants in Experiment 1 engaged in a simple secondary task while completing a standard blocking procedure. Results showed that performance on the secondary task was briefly diminished early in the second phase of the blocking paradigm, when the novel cue is first paired with the pretrained cue. Participants in Experiment 2 performed a difficult cognitive load task during either the early or the late portions of the second phase of blocking. The blocking effect was eliminated when learners were under load early in the second phase, but not when learners were under load late in the second phase. These results suggest that blocking relies on a cognitively demanding process with a distinct time course. Computational simulations illustrate how a model that includes top-down (i.e., cognitively demanding) attentional modulation can reproduce the observed behaviour. This suggests that purely associative processes are not sufficient to explain the observed behaviour. Implications for current accounts of blocking are discussed.
Macrophages induce differentiation of plasma cells through CXCL10/IP-10
Authors: Xu Wei , Joo HyeMee , Clayton Sandra , Dullaers Melissa , Herve Marie-Cecile , Blankenship Derek , De La Morena Maria Teresa , Balderas Robert , Picard Capucine , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Pascual Virginia , Oh SangKon , Banchereau Jacques
Published: September 2012

In tonsils, CD138+ plasma cells (PCs) are surrounded by CD163+ resident macrophages (Mϕs). We show here that human Mϕs (isolated from tonsils or generated from monocytes in vitro) drive activated B cells to differentiate into CD138+CD38++ PCs through secreted CXCL10/IP-10 and VCAM-1 contact. IP-10 production by Mϕs is induced by B cell–derived IL-6 and depends on STAT3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, IP-10 amplifies the production of IL-6 by B cells, which sustains the STAT3 signals that lead to PC differentiation. IP-10–deficient mice challenged with NP-Ficoll show a decreased frequency of NP-specific PCs and lower titers of antibodies. Thus, our results reveal a novel dialog between Mϕs and B cells, in which IP-10 acts as a PC differentiation factor.
Kinetics of Coil-to-Globule Transition of Dansyl-Labeled Poly(N-sopropylacrylamide) Chains in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Li Chun-liang , Ye Xiao-dong , Ding Yan-wei , Liu Shi-lin
Published: September 2012

The coil-to-globule transition of thermally sensitive linear poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) labeled with dansyl group is induced by 1.54 μm laser pulses (width≈10 ns). The dansyl group is used to follow the transition kinetics because its fluorescence intensity is very sensitive to its micro-environment. As the molar ratio of NIPAM monomer to dansyl group increases from 110 to 300, the effect of covalently attached dansyl fluorophores on the transition decreases. In agreement with our previous study in which we used 8-anilino-1-naphthalensulfonic acid ammonium salt free in water as a fluorescent probe, the current study reveals that the transition has two distinct stages with two characteristic times, namely, τfast≈0.1 ms, which can be attributed to the nucleation and formation of some “pearls" (locally contracting segments) on the chain, and τslow≈0.5 ms, which is related to the merging and coarsening of the “pearls". τfast is independent of the PNIPAM chain length over a wide range (Mw=2.8×106–4.2×107 g/mol). On the other hand, τslow only slightly increases with the chain length.
Extensive Computational Study on Conformations of Microsolvated Leucine Complexes
Authors: Liu Sha , Hu An-dong , Lin Zijing
Published: September 2012

The conformations for leucine (Leu) hydrated with one to three water molecules, Leu-(H2O)n(n=1–3), were carefully searched by considering the trial structures generated by all possible combinations of rotamers of Leu combined with all likely hydration modes. The structures were optimized at the BHandHLYP/6-31+G* level and the single point energies were calculated at the BHandHLYP/6-311++G** level. Good correspondence between the conformations of Leu-(H2O)n and bare Leu is found, showing that the conformations of Leu-(H2O)n may be efficiently and reliably determined by the hydration of Leu conformers. The simulated IR spectra of canonical and zwitterionic conformers of Leu-(H2O)n are compared with the experimental result of Leu in aqueous solution. The IR spectrum of zwitterionic Leu-(H2O)3 provides the best description of the experiment. The result demonstrates that the IR spectrum of solute in solution may be simulated by the solute hydrated with an adequate number of water molecules in the gas phase.
Preparation and Investigation on Lattice Distortion and Electrochemical Performances of Li0.95Na0.05FePO4/C
Authors: Xin Xiao-dong , Li Hong-ju , Chang Qin-qin , Wang Wen-lou
Published: September 2012

Na+ doped sample Li0.95Na0.05FePO4 was prepared through solid state method. Structure characterization shows Na+ is successfully introduced into the LiFePO4 matrix. Scanning electron microscopy shows the particle size mainly ranges in 1–3 μm. X-ray diffraction Rietveld refinement demonstrates lattice distortion with an increased cell volume. As one cathode material, it has a discharge capacity of 150 mAh/g at 0.1 C rate. The material exhibits a capacity of 109 and 107 mAh/g at 5 and 7.5 C respectively. When cycled at 1 and 5 C, the material retains 84% (after 1000 cycles) and 86% (after 350 cycles) of the initial discharge capacity respectively indicating excellent structure stability and cycling performance. Na+ doping enhances the electrochemical activity especially the cycle performance effectively.
VarB: a variation browsing and analysis tool for variants derived from next-generation sequencing data
Authors: Preston Mark D. , Manske Magnus , Horner Neil , Assefa Samuel , Campino Susana , Auburn Sarah , Zongo Issaka , Ouedraogo Jean-Bosco , Nosten Francois , Anderson Tim , Clark Taane G.
Published: September 2012

Summary: There is an immediate need for tools to both analyse and visualize in real-time single-nucleotide polymorphisms, insertions and deletions, and other structural variants from new sequence file formats. We have developed VarB software that can be used to visualize variant call format files in real time, as well as identify regions under balancing selection and informative markers to differentiate user-defined groups (e.g. populations). We demonstrate its utility using sequence data from 50 Plasmodium falciparum isolates comprising two different continents and confirm known signals from genomic regions that contain important antigenic and anti-malarial drug-resistance genes.

Availability and implementation: The C++-based software VarB and user manual are available from www.pathogenseq.org/varb.

Contact:  taane.clark@lshtm.ac.uk
Developmental Screening for Young Children
Authors: Le Geyt Jacqueline
Published: September 2012

Childhood development is the gaining of skills in various aspects of the child's life. It can be monitored using “developmental milestones”; objective targets reached at various stages, generally classified in to four main areas: gross motor, fine motor and vision, speech and hearing, and social and self-help skills. Although each stage of development will be reached at slightly different ages within the normal population, the order that the various skills are obtained by each child remains fairly consistent. Universally agreed ages that a child “should” have reached each skill are well documented, after which the attained skill is classified as being delayed. These milestone ages are important to allow the practitioner to assess if a child has a delay in any or all of the areas of development, and therefore highlight those children needing further assessment. Early intervention is essential for optimising developmental progress in the delayed child. Developmental delay (DD) is a common condition seen regularly by GPs.
Tepidimonas fonticaldi sp. nov., a slightly thermophilic betaproteobacterium isolated from a hot spring
Authors: Chen Wen-Ming , Huang Hsing-Wei , Chang Jo-Shu , Han Yin-Lung , Guo Tai-Rong , Sheu Shih-Yi
Published: September 2012

A slightly thermophilic bacterial strain, designated AT-A2T, was isolated from a hot spring water sample taken from the Antun hot spring in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain AT-A2T were aerobic, Gram-negative, motile by a single polar flagellum and formed non-pigmented colonies. Growth occurred at 35–60 °C (optimum, 55 °C), with 0–1.0 % NaCl (optimum, 0.2 %) and at pH 7.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AT-A2T belonged to the genus

Tepidimonas

and its closest neighbour was

Tepidimonas thermarum

AA-1T with a sequence similarity of 97.5 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 (40.2 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 20.1 %) and C17 : 0 cyclo (11.5 %). The major respiratory quinone was Q-8. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an uncharacterized aminolipid and several uncharacterized phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AT-A2T was 70.1 mol%. The mean level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain AT-A2T and

Tepidimonas thermarum

AA-1T was 23.9 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strain AT-A2T should be classified as representing a novel species, for which the name Tepidimonas fonticaldi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AT-A2T ( = LMG 26746T = KCTC 23862T = BCRC 80391T).
Classification of

Leptospira

genomospecies 1, 3, 4 and 5 as Leptospira alstonii sp. nov., Leptospira vanthielii sp. nov., Leptospira terpstrae sp. nov. and Leptospira yanagawae sp. nov., respectively
Authors: Smythe L. , Adler B. , Hartskeerl R. A. , Galloway R. L. , Turenne C. Y. , Levett P. N. ,   the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of
Published: September 2012

The genus

Leptospira

currently comprises 16 named species. In addition, four unnamed hybridization groups were designated

Leptospira

genomospecies 1, 3, 4 and 5. These groups represent valid species-level taxa, but were not assigned names in the original description by Brenner et al. [Int J Syst Bacteriol
49, 839–858 (1999)]. To rectify this situation, it is proposed that

Leptospira

genomospecies 1, genomospecies 3, genomospecies 4 and genomospecies 5 should be classified as Leptospira alstonii sp. nov., Leptospira vanthielii sp. nov., Leptospira terpstrae sp. nov. and Leptospira yanagawae sp. nov., respectively, with strains L. alstonii 79601T ( = ATCC BAA-2439T), L. vanthielii WaZ HollandT ( = ATCC 700522T), L. terpstrae LT 11-33T ( = ATCC 700639T) and L. yanagawae Sao PauloT ( = ATCC 700523T) as the type strains. The type strains are also available from the culture collections of the WHO Collaborating Centres in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Brisbane, Australia.
A dual response choice experiments (DRCE) design to assess rabbit meat preference in Catalonia
Authors: Kallas Zein , Gil José Maria
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyze consumer preferences toward fresh rabbit meat and obstacles and interest in consuming the product.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the dual response choice experiment (DRCE) design which allows for analyzing forced and unforced options in choice experiments using the same sample. The heteroscedastic extreme‐value (HEV) model is used due to its relaxation of the restrictive assumption made in the multinomial logit model regarding the identically distributed error term across alternatives. The empirical analysis uses consumer‐level questionnaires to elicit information regarding consumer attitudes toward rabbit meat in Catalonia (Spain).

Findings

The results demonstrate a higher preference for rabbit meat from “Catalan” origin followed by higher quality certification information. Convenience and “ready‐to‐eat” products made from rabbit meat may help bolster increased consumption. An effective communication campaign is needed to educate individuals regarding the health characteristics of rabbit compared to other types of meat. Furthermore, results demonstrate that the ordering of attributes is not significantly different from forced and non‐forced choices obtained from the DRCE design. However, significant differences on the magnitude of the preferences for some attributes' levels are found.

Research limitations/implications

From a methodological point‐of‐view, the study follows a similar design to the dual response choice experiments. However, the study is differentiated by asking consumers whether they are willing to buy the product. More emphasis is made on the purchasing context of the task leading consumers to focus more on their budget constraints by considering the price. The study uses the DRCE design as an alternative of the traditional single stage choice experiments. Owing to budgets constraint, the study could be improved by comparing results from both designs. At the empirical level, it would be interesting to extend the study to other geographical parts in Spain.

Social implications

The study can help policy makers in stimulating demand for rabbit meat. Rabbit meat farmers in Catalonia were forced to abandon their farms due to the lack of demand. Consumption has decreased dramatically. As recommended in the paper, high quality labelling of the meat, improving the carcass format and its presentation and the healthiest characteristic of the meat could be a good way to promote and stimulate demand.

Originality/value

From the empirical point‐of‐view, this study, to the authors' knowledge, is the first application of CE and CV to analyze consumers' preferences towards rabbit meat. Furthermore, it is the first paper that applies the HEV model in agro‐food economics and specifically towards rabbit meat.
Qualitative ferrographic analysis method by quantitative parameters of wear debris characteristics
Authors: Tonggang Liu , Jian Wu , Xiaohang Tang , Zhiyi Yang
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a method of qualitative ferrographic analysis by quantitative parameters of wear debris characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The amount of the wear debris needed for analysis on the ferrogram made by rotary ferrograph is discussed based on the theory of debris group. Quantitative parameters are constituted to express the characteristics of wear debris group, and correlation coefficients are employed to establish the relationship between wear debris and wear condition. The reliability of the method was verified by wear test experiments and ferrographic analysis.

Findings

The wear condition of machines should be determined by studying all the debris together as a group rather than by focusing on individual debris. In the proposed method, the qualitative analysis result is obtained by synthetic analysis of quantitative parameters of wear debris characteristics using a computer program, which makes the judgment of the wear system condition more objective and precise.

Research limitations/implications

In the procedure of wear condition monitoring by the proposed method, because the weight factors and correlation coefficients introduced in this paper are determined according to the experiences deriving from practice among mining machinery, further rectifications may be needed if they are applied to other industrial field.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates a more objective and precise ferrographic analysis method for wear condition monitoring.
Facilitating the acquisition of strategic skills
Authors: Parente Diane H. , Stephan John D. , Brown Randy C.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether managers can acquire strategic skills using management education methods in lieu of experience. It demonstrates that experienced‐based pedagogical methods can be effective in developing traditional skills or “hard” skills and “soft” skills such as interpersonal communication, which then facilitate the acquisition of strategic skills.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses data from questionnaires and achievement scores from capstone classes to determine whether exposure to an experiential technique called large‐scale simulation can lead students to acquire traditional, soft and strategic managerial skill sets.

Findings

The results show that soft and traditional skills are complementary and together lead to better acquisition of strategic skills and also imply that mastering soft skills may enhance the mastery of traditional skills.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of the research stems from the use of students as research subjects. While this limits generalizability, it is important to remember that many such students go on to be successful managers in large and small organizations, partly due to their educational background. Replicating these findings with graduate and executive students is required.

Practical implications

A key practical implication is that organizations may be able to effectively supplement their own experienced‐based developmental efforts for their managerial personnel with course‐based learning.

Originality/value

The paper's findings support an option for many firms, although this has not received much direct empirical support. Additionally, the results support the increasing emphasis placed on soft skills, suggesting that development of strategic skills may help managers grasp the bigger‐picture implications.
Labour market experiences of skilled British migrants in Vancouver
Authors: Harvey William S.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the labour market experiences of highly skilled migrants from developed countries who are not linguistic or visible minorities in the host country.

Design/methodology/approach

The results of the paper derive from interviews with 64 highly skilled British migrants in Vancouver. Participants were asked open‐end and closed‐ended questions and the data from the interviews were coded and analysed manually.

Findings

British migrants were divided with their labour market outcomes. Some cited positive experiences such as better responsibility, treatment and salary, while others cited negative experiences such as having to re‐accredit, unduly proving themselves to their employers and not having their international experience recognised.

Research limitations/implications

The results are particular to a single case study, hence they cannot be generalised or taken to represent the experiences of all British skilled migrants in Vancouver.

Practical implications

Governments and organisations should ensure that they fulfil any promises they make to highly skilled migrants before the migration process and manage their expectations. Otherwise they face problems with brain waste and migrant retention in the short term and attracting foreign talent in the long term. They should also consider taking a more flexible approach to recognising foreign qualifications, skills and international experience.

Originality/value

The paper adds to our understanding of migrant groups from countries who share similar social and cultural characteristics to the host population. The paper shows that labour market integration challenges are not exclusive to low skilled visible minority migrants, but also to highly skilled migrants who speak the same first language and have the same skin colour as the majority of the host population.
Development of image pattern for textile based on FFT
Authors: Hongxia Jiang , Hongfu Wang , Jihong Liu , Ruru Pan
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to research an auto generation method of developing FFT image and image pattern for textile based on FFT theory.

Design/methodology/approach

In the research, a program was developed to generate FFT images using the FFT algorithm. The process of auto generation FFT image can be divided into the following steps: initializing the size of image, painting source image, giving the color pattern, transforming FFT image by FFT, designing mask template, and image pattern combining by point diagram. These image patterns can be used to apply on the textile.

Findings

The results showed that the FFT images can be used for textile designer directly. The FFT images can also be used as elements for textile image design such as clothing. The auto generation FFT images by FFT reflect different modern sense of beauty from traditional geometric images.

Research limitations/implications

There are many parameters that affect the art effect of FFT image generating by FFT algorithm. However, there is no discussion about the relationship between the parameters and art effect. Three dimension effects are not obvious in the simulation results by virtual clothing software.

Originality/value

The paper presents a fundamental understanding of the property of the FFT image generating by FFT algorithm and application method of the image pattern in clothing.
Simulation of bespoke garments using parametrically designed patterns
Authors: Kim Sungmin
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the simulation of garments with various combinations of shape and size using a parametric pattern design method.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this study is to design garment patterns using a text‐based script language and assemble them on a deformable virtual body model to evaluate the appearance and fit of the resulting garment to facilitate the garment design process.

Findings

In this study, various garment patterns are designed parametrically by an expandable script language and simulated directly on a deformable body model.

Research limitations/implications

The size and shape of parametrically generated garment patterns are all different for each garment and therefore a full‐texture mapping technique cannot be applied.

Practical implications

This method may reduce the time required to evaluate the appearance and fit of bespoke garments by replacing the trial‐and‐error based traditional procedures.

Originality/value

The integration of a script‐based parametric pattern design method into the garment drape simulation system is one of the most useful applications for the practical garment design process.
School‐based management developments: challenges and impacts
Authors: Bandur Agustinus
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current school‐based management (SBM) policy reform in Indonesia, with an emphasis on the impacts of shifting authority and responsibility to school level, as well as challenges confronted by the school council members, followed by remedial measures to minimize the problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employed a mixed‐method research design comprising an extensive empirical survey followed by semi‐structured and focused group interviews and examination of relevant documents. The data reported here are on the basis of an empirical survey involving 504 school council members from Ngada‐Flores, followed by 42 interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) with all relevant stakeholders.

Findings

The research findings demonstrate how devolution of power and authority to school level can create partnership in participatory school decision making in terms of setting a school mission, shared‐vision, annual programs, school budget, school textbooks, school buildings, school‐based curriculum and even students’ discipline policies. In turn, devolving power and authority to school level has created several changes in schools, including in‐school culture changes, and increased participation of school communities. These factors have led to the improvements in teaching‐learning environments and student achievements.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study are specific to the context of Ngada‐Flores, Indonesia. The possibility for the general applicability of the findings is limited by the scope, the sample, and the cultural context of this study. Accordingly, even though there could be common features, the findings may not have general applicability to other systems.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that capacity building in school level is required for the effective implementation of SBM policies and programs, including in‐service training, regular professional development sessions and workshops on effective school leadership and management, as well as school development planning.

Originality/value

This paper could be significant because of the absence of similar studies in the Indonesian context. The findings could be helpful in informing practitioners, the local and national authorities and all those interested in school education on how SBM with devolution of power and authority to school‐level decision makers assists in‐school improvements and student achievements, as well as problems and challenges confronted by school leaders in the implementation of SBM.
The gift that keeps on giving
Authors: Hodgson Tyler W.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Various countries have recently passed anti‐corruption and bribery laws that have international jurisdictional reach. The overlapping jurisdiction of these “long arm” statutes presents the real possibility that an offender can be twice prosecuted for the same conduct, as recently demonstrated in the case of US v. Jeong. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the difference of approach between various nations in their understanding and application of the doctrine of international double jeopardy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores the profound divergence in the application of the doctrine of double jeopardy in an international context, primarily by comparing and contrasting two representative jurisdictions on the subject, Canada and the USA.

Findings

The dividing line between the approach to international double jeopardy by common law nations is the doctrine of dual sovereignty. Jurisdictions which have not adopted the dual sovereignty doctrine (such as Canada) are more likely to view a prior verdict from a foreign court as a bar any further prosecution for the same offence; by contrast, countries that have adopted the dual sovereignty doctrine (such as the UA) are less likely to view a previous foreign conviction or acquittal as a bar to further prosecution.

Practical implications

In negotiating a global settlement for acts of corruption or bribery, no finality can be achieved unless and until a resolution is reached with dual sovereignty jurisdictions.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to any individual or multi‐national concern that operates in more than one jurisdiction, as it outlines the potential dangers associated with reaching a premature global settlement for acts of bribery and corruption.
Corruption and control: a corruption reduction approach
Authors: Graycar Adam , Sidebottom Aiden
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Corruption is a significant financial crime which is estimated by the World Economic Forum to cost about 5 per cent of global GDP or $2.6 trillion dollars. Explanations of corruption, like explanations of crime, tend to focus on the individuals who commit corruption and the wider conditions which give rise to corrupt behaviour. Approaches designed to reduce corruption usually propose stiffer sanctions, institutional reforms and the passing of new laws. The purpose of this paper is to outline a complementary perspective with which to consider corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in situational crime prevention and related criminological theory, the paper argues that opportunities in the immediate environment play a causal role in generating corruption. It proposes that corruption can be minimised by removing or reducing opportunities which are conducive to corrupt behaviour. In total, five cases are chosen as illustrative examples of how situational crime prevention might usefully be applied to corruption, focussing on the Type, Activities, Sectors and Places (TASP) that comprise corruption events.

Findings

A framework is developed for the empirical study of corruption in local settings.

Originality/value

The paper explores how situational crime prevention can usefully inform the analysis and prevention of corruption.
Work‐family and interpersonal conflict as levers in the resource/demand‐outcome relationship
Authors: Ito Jack K. , Brotheridge Céleste M.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This article seeks to apply the challenge–hindrance conceptualization of demands to a model that relates stressors to emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. Supervisory support, a resource, is posited as a precursor to demands, and work–family conflict (WFC) and interpersonal conflict (IPC) at work are expected to mediate the demand–strain and job satisfaction relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross‐sectional self‐report survey included a sample of 600 government employees in Canada.

Findings

In addition to directly influencing job satisfaction, supervisory support reduces strain and increases motivation by decreasing hindrances and interpersonal conflict. Also, although, challenge and hindrance demands are both positively associated with strain, task complexity is positively associated with job satisfaction, whereas role ambiguity and interpersonal conflict are negatively associated with job satisfaction. Furthermore, work–family conflict and interpersonal conflict fully mediate the effects of supervisory support, role conflict, and task complexity on strain, and they reduce the effects of ambiguity on strain. Thus, these factors have limited effects on strain by themselves; rather, they act on strain through emotional demands.

Research limitations/implications

Some challenges have a strong connection with resources, yet also induce strain. Future models should incorporate the challenge‐hindrance approach to classifying demands and should examine challenge demands that motivate people to engage in stressful activities. Also, although work‐family conflict and interpersonal conflict at work concern different spheres, future research should incorporate both spheres and employ emotional demands as mediating variables.

Practical implications

Given that some challenges can be motivating yet stressful, the consequences of interventions can be difficult to forecast. Results point to the importance of carefully designing interventions and the role of WFC and IPC as potential levers in managing strain arising from complex jobs and other types of challenges.

Originality/value

This paper considers a unique model of demands, resources, and outcome variables that contributes to the knowledge about how to address stress.
Competitive intelligence in Greek furniture retailing: a qualitative approach
Authors: Gatsoris Lambros
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how furniture retailing firms in Greece monitor competition and its effects on the formation of their strategies with respect to competitive intelligence (CI) setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is exploratory in nature and data were collected by carrying out semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with 15 senior managers in an area of strategic marketing importance in Greece, representing a reasonable percentage of the firms in the sector.

Findings

Greek furniture retailing firms monitor competition with the help of traditional and effective marketing tools. Also, the pricing of the products is the principal information that the managers are interested in. Finally, the respondents believe in the importance of monitoring the competition and ideally they would apply it to their company.

Research limitations/implications

This research is an exploratory study of a small sample of managers from the major companies in a national setting. Recommendations are presented for further research.

Practical implications

In today's unstable business environment, CI can make a crucial strategic contribution to competitive success. It has clear value to strategic planning for marketing in Greece itself, but also in general.

Originality/value

The paper offers empirical findings from furniture retailing companies, where a shortage of studies has been observed and broadly confirms the findings and conclusions of earlier studies in other industries in the international context.
Integrating public and private home care services: the Kotitori model in Tampere, Finland
Authors: Tynkkynen Liina‐Kaisa , Hakari Kari , Koistinen Timo , Lehto Juhani , Miettinen Sari
Published: September 2012

Purpose

This case study aims to introduce a novel home care service integrator model called “Kotitori”. In the model the City contracts with a private provider, which, in turn, works with public, private, and third sector providers in order to meet the customer needs in a personalised way.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study draws from key policy documents and stakeholder interviews.

Findings

The study introduces a unique form of public‐private partnership in Finland, and describes the basic elements of Kotitori, the development process of the model, and the model's distinctive features compared to more traditional ways of home care service delivery.

Research limitations/implications

The Kotitori model is still in its early stages of implementation and reliable data on performance are limited.

Practical implications

The transferability potential of the Kotitori model is good both nationally and internationally. The model is potentially beneficial for countries with an interest in developing integrated care in general, as it reflects a form of “accountable care organisation”.

Originality/value

This is the first study describing the Kotitori model for an international audience.
Identifying reasons for ERP system customization in SMEs: a multiple case study
Authors: Zach Ondrej , Erik Munkvold Bjorn
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate possible reasons for enterprise resource planning (ERP) system customization in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on distinguishing influential factors of the SME context.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory qualitative research approach was employed, to identify new insights within the SME context. A multiple case study of four SMEs was conducted. Data were collected through 34 qualitative interviews with multiple informants across the four cases.

Findings

The paper reports findings from four SMEs where ERP customization has been applied to match organizational needs. First, the level and type of ERP system customization applied by the case organizations were investigated. Then, the reasons for ERP system customization were explored. The analysis identified seven possible reasons leading to ERP system customization, classified according to two phases of the ERP life‐cycle (prior to “going‐live” and after “going‐live”). Reasons specific to the SME context include unique business processes, ownership type, and organizational stage of growth.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on four cases only. Further research is needed to investigate the applicability of the findings in different contexts.

Practical implications

The study findings are believed to be valuable for organizations about to implement an ERP system, as well as for ERP vendors. By identifying the reasons leading to ERP system customization and investigating the effect of the SME context, the study contributes to a better understanding of ERP system implementation in SMEs.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the scarce literature on reasons for ERP system customization in SMEs. By classifying the reasons into two phases of the ERP life‐cycle, the study also contributes by exploring ERP system customization practice in different phases of the ERP life‐cycle.
Developing a methodology for assessing virtual teams’ performance perception
Authors: Gustavo Siqueira Ferreira Pedro , Pinheiro de Lima Edson , Gouvea da Costa Sergio E.
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to describe and test a methodology to measure the level of comprehension of priorities in performance measurement systems by virtual teams.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the combination of existing models for performance measurement, a methodology of using focus groups for identifying virtual team's performance perceptions and comprehension is proposed and tested.

Findings

Preliminary findings show that virtual teams could express their perception about companies’ goals and performance requirements, and could also improve their commitment to companies’ operations strategy by performance gaps assessment.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed methodology was tested in a portion of a team just to validate the applicability of such methodology.

Practical implications

Preliminary findings show that virtual teams could express their perception about companies’ goals and performance requirements, and could also improve their commitment to companies’ operations strategy by performance gaps assessment.

Originality/value

Literature is scant both on gender issues in performance measurement, as well as on virtual teams. This paper contributes to both areas, while evaluating the impact of such methodology in virtual teams.
Applicability of the high performance organization framework in the Middle East
Authors: de Waal André , Sultan Suhail
Published: September 2012

Purpose

Interest in creating high performance organizations (HPOs) has been growing in the Middle East and Middle Eastern managers have been looking into practices that will help them elevate organizational performance. Unfortunately there is a shortage of HPO studies conducted in the Middle East which could help these managers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the applicability of the recently developed HPO Framework in a Middle Eastern context, namely at Palestine Polytechnic University (PPU). The goal of the study was to evaluate whether this framework could be applied in the Middle Eastern context and thus help improve performance of Middle Eastern organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A workshop was conducted with management and staff of the university at PPU's premises in Hebron. During the workshop, management, staff and teachers filled in the HPO questionnaire, which gauges the current HPO status of an organization. The resulting HPO score of PPU, and the comparison with the scores of other Middle‐Eastern organizations in the database of the researchers, were discussed during a workshop with representatives of PPU and initial improvements were established and put down in an action plan.

Findings

With an average HPO score of 6.8, PPU was an average scoring organization that performed more or less the same as the other Middle‐East organizations. However, two main issues for PPU emerged that had to be addressed in order to transform the university in an HPO. The first issue was that PPU's performance management process had to be improved, as not everything that mattered to PPU's performance was communicated to everybody adequately enough. The second issue was that the performance‐driven behavior of PPU's people had to be strengthened, as the decision‐making and action‐taking processes took too long and people were nor resilient and flexible enough to deal quickly with changing conditions.

Practical implications

Practically, the research findings could help managers of Middle Eastern organizations to achieve sustainable high performance in their organizations.

Originality/value

The research described in this paper constitutes one of the first studies into the determining factors of sustainable high performance in the Middle East and as such, it adds to the strategic management literature by showing that the HPO concept can be applied in the Middle East to evaluate the high performance status of Middle Eastern organizations.
Women‐focused small business programming: client motives and perspectives
Authors: Orser Barbara , Elliott Catherine , Findlay‐Thompson Sandi
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to draw on feminist ethics of care theory to examine motives for accessing a women‐focused, small business programme (Centre). Perceived differences between women‐focused and other small business advisory agencies are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey captured verbatim responses from 212 respondents. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis using NVivo8.

Findings

Most respondents were growth‐oriented, well educated and employed prior to start‐up. Clients employed the Centre for three reasons, including acquisition of managerial, social capital and gender‐related motives. The Centre was perceived as being “different” to other agencies such that staff implicitly understood their needs as businesswomen, services were targeted specifically to women and clients felt empowered and comfortable seeking business advice in an inviting, low risk learning environment. Findings contradict studies and argument that targeted (gender‐based) programming offers few advantages.

Research limitations/implications

Future research might investigate how “gendered” client motives and learning needs are reflected in mainstream and gender‐based entrepreneurship policy and programme design. The geographic scope is limited to Nova Scotia (eastern Canada).

Practical implications

The study helps to explain observations that women‐focused small business training centres are modifying mandates from a focus on start‐up to growth, modifications that reflected client aspirations.

Originality/value

The study provides insights about the genderedness (Calás and Smircich) of small business programming and helps to define feminine ethics of care within the small firm training context.
Women's access to SME finance in Australia
Authors: van Hulten Andrew
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test whether Australian female and male entrepreneurs differ in their growth aspirations and demand for finance; denial, discouragement and financial constraint rates; and sources of finance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies logistic regression techniques to data drawn from a comprehensive survey of Australian small‐ and medium‐sized businesses, which was conducted in 2010.

Findings

After controlling for a wide range of firm, owner and risk characteristics, female entrepreneurs are found to have lower growth aspirations than males but do not differ in their demand for business finance. Gender does not influence the probability of reporting denial, discouragement or financial constraint. Females and males do not differ significantly in the types of finance that they use.

Research limitations/implications

The online survey had a low response rate.

Originality/value

First, the paper tests the proposition that gender mediates demand for finance whilst controlling for a wide range of firm, owner and risk variables. Second, the paper tests whether female entrepreneurs are more likely than males to be financially constrained, that is, to have foregone viable investment opportunities due to inadequate access to finance. In doing so, it endeavours to reconcile the financial discrimination and financial constraint literatures. Third, the paper tests whether gender produces its effects in interaction with owners' migration status.
ICSB‐WEC webinar report on women's entrepreneurship
Authors: Brush Candida G. , Duffy Susan , Kelley Donna
Published: September 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this short report is to provide a summary of the inaugural webinar session of the Women's Enterprise Committee (WEC), International Council for Small Business (ICSB).

Design/methodology/approach

In a live webinar from Babson College, Professors Brush, Duffy and Kelley discussed key findings from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2010 Women's Report.

Findings

An important finding was that there are over 40 percent more men than women entrepreneurs in all but one of the 59 countries studied. Women entrepreneurs are also more likely than men to engage in entrepreneurship due to necessity.

Research limitations/implications

It is recognised that further studies are required to determine the reasons behind the differences in male‐female entrepreneurship participation rates globally.

Practical implications

It would appear that considerable scope exists to develop the entrepreneurial potential of women across the globe.

Originality/value

The GEM Women's Report is the most comprehensive study ever conducted on women's entrepreneurial activity internationally, and the webinar offered researchers an opportunity to engage directly with the report authors.