bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sphingomonas endophytica sp. nov., isolated from Artemisia annua L.
Authors: Huang Hai-Yu , Li Jie , Zhao Guo-Zhen , Zhu Wen-Yong , Yang Ling-Ling , Tang Hai-Yun , Xu Li-Hua , Li Wen-Jun
Published: August 2011

A novel bacterium (strain YIM 65583T) belonging to the genus

Sphingomonas

was isolated from surface-sterilized tissue of Artemisia annua L., which was collected from Yunnan province, south-west China. Its morphology, physiology and biochemical features were consistent with those of members of the genus

Sphingomonas

. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain YIM 65583T further confirmed that it should be classified as a member of the genus

Sphingomonas

and was most closely related to

Sphingomonas phyllosphaerae

FA2T (99.7 %) and

Sphingomonas yunnanensis

YIM 003T (98.3 %). The isolate was Gram-negative and formed yellow-pigmented colonies on ISP 2 medium. It grew optimally at pH 6.0–8.0, at 20–37 °C and in the presence of 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl. The major respiratory lipoquinone was ubiquinone-10; C18 : 1ω7c, anteiso-C16 : 1, C14 : 0-2OH, C17 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C15 : 0 were the major fatty acids. Major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and sphingoglycolipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.3 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values of the isolate YIM 65583T with

S. phyllosphaerae

FA2T and

S. yunnanensis

YIM 003T were 43.1 % and 37.9 %, respectively. Based on these features, it is concluded that the strain represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name

Sphingomonas

endophytica sp. nov. is proposed, with YIM 65583T ( = CCTCC AA 209035T = JCM 17394T) as the type strain.
Functional characterization of VC1929 of Vibrio cholerae El Tor: role in mannose-sensitive haemagglutination, virulence and utilization of sialic acid
Authors: Sharma Sandeep K. , Moe The Su , Srivastava Ranjana , Chandra Deepak , Srivastava Brahm S.
Published: August 2011

The nonadhesive mutant CD11 ofVibrio choleraeEl Tor, defective in expression of mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin, lacks a protein when compared with its parent strain. Determination of the amino acid sequence revealed the identity of the protein as the product of VC1929, which is annotated to encode a protein, DctP, involved in the transport of C4-dicarboxylates. We cloned thedctPgene in pUC19 vector and expressed it in mutant CD11. Expression of DctP in the resulting complemented strain restored virulence, adhesive and colonizing capabilities, mannose-sensitive haemagglutination (MSHA) and ability to grow in medium containing sialic acid as a sole carbon source. The mutation in CD11 was caused by insertion of an adenine nucleotide in the reading frame ofdctP. Recombinant purified DctP protein showed MSHA of human red blood cells, and protected rabbits against infection byV. cholerae.The protein was localized in membrane and cell wall fractions. The mutant, recombinant CD11 expressing DctP and parent strains were grown in M9 minimal medium in the presence of various carbohydrates (glucose, malate, fumarate, succinate orN-acetylneuraminic acid). The mutant was unable to grow in minimal medium containingN-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid) as the sole carbon source whereas the recombinant and parent strains utilized all the sugars tested. It is concluded that DctP is a mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin and a virulence factor and is involved in the utilization of sialic acid.
Genetic markers for Clostridium difficile lineages linked to hypervirulence
Authors: Knetsch Cornelis W. , Hensgens Marjolein P. M. , Harmanus Céline , van der Bijl Madelon W. , Savelkoul Paul H. M. , Kuijper Ed J. , Corver Jeroen , van Leeuwen Hans C.
Published: August 2011

Rapid identification of hypervirulent Clostridium difficile strains is essential for preventing their spread. Recent completion of several full-length C. difficile genomes provided an excellent opportunity to identify potentially unique genes that characterize hypervirulent strains. Based on sequence comparisons between C. difficile strains we describe two gene insertions into the genome of hypervirulent PCR ribotypes 078 and 027. Analysis of these regions, of 1.7 and 4.2 kb, respectively, revealed that they contain several interesting ORFs. The 078 region is inserted intergenically and introduces an enzyme that is involved in the biosynthesis of several antibiotics. The 027 insert disrupts the thymidylate synthetase (thyX) gene and replaces it with an equivalent, catalytically more efficient, thyA gene. Both gene insertions were used to develop ribotype-specific PCRs, which were validated by screening a large strain collection consisting of 68 different PCR ribotypes supplemented with diverse 078 and 027 strains derived from different geographical locations and individual outbreaks. The genetic markers were stably present in the hypervirulent PCR ribotypes 078 and 027, but were also found in several other PCR ribotypes. Comparative analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphisms, PCR ribotype banding patterns and toxin profiles showed that all PCR ribotypes sharing the same insert from phylogenetically coherent clusters. The identified loci are unique to these clusters, to which the hypervirulent ribotypes 078 and 027 belong. This provides valuable information on strains belonging to two distinct lineages within C. difficile that are highly related to hypervirulent strains.
Low oxygen induces the type III secretion system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa via modulation of the small RNAs rsmZ and rsmY
Authors: O’Callaghan Julie , Reen F. Jerry , Adams Claire , O’Gara Fergal
Published: August 2011

A steep oxygen gradient within the mucus of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung combined with the biofilm mode of bacterial growth forces respiratory pathogens to adapt to varying oxygen availability. This study presents the novel finding that the Pseudomonas aeruginosa response to limiting oxygen stress includes induction of its type III secretion system (T3SS), which subsequently contributes towards host cell cytotoxicity. In P. aeruginosa, the global anaerobic response regulator Anr perceives low oxygen and subsequently triggers gene expression of a range of target genes, including the response regulator narL. Here we demonstrate that microaerobic induction of the T3SS is dependent on Anr, and that this is mediated through direct NarL transcriptional repression of the sRNAs rsmY and rsmZ, allowing free RsmA protein to positively regulate the T3SS. This study reveals a novel interplay between the Anr–NarL and RsmAYZ regulatory circuits, and introduces RsmA as an important regulator during P. aeruginosa adaptation to a low-oxygen environment.
Bacillus subtilis Fur represses one of two paralogous haem-degrading monooxygenases
Authors: Gaballa Ahmed , Helmann John D.
Published: August 2011

Identification of genes regulated by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) protein has provided insights into the diverse mechanisms of adaptation to iron limitation. In the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, Fur senses iron sufficiency and represses genes that enable iron uptake, including biosynthetic and transport genes for the siderophore bacillibactin and uptake systems for siderophores produced by other organisms. We here demonstrate that Fur regulates hmoA (formerly yetG), which encodes a haem monooxygenase. HmoA is the first characterized member of a divergent group of putative monooxygenases that cluster separately from the well-characterized IsdG family. B. subtilis also encodes an IsdG family protein designated HmoB (formerly YhgC). Unlike hmoA, hmoB is constitutively expressed and not under Fur control. HmoA and HmoB both bind haemin in vitro with approximately 1 : 1 stoichiometry and degrade haemin in the presence of an electron donor. Mutational and spectroscopic analyses indicate that HmoA and HmoB have distinct active site architectures and interact differently with haem. We further show that B. subtilis can use haem as an iron source, but that this ability is independent of HmoA and HmoB.
Phloem Loading Strategies and Water Relations in Trees and Herbaceous Plants
Authors: Fu Qiushi , Cheng Lailiang , Guo Yangdong , Turgeon Robert
Published: August 2011

Most herbaceous plants employ thermodynamically active mechanisms of phloem loading, whereas in many trees, the mechanism is passive, by diffusion. Considering the different water transport characteristics of herbs and trees, we hypothesized that water relations play a role in the adoption of phloem loading strategies. We measured whole-plant hydraulic conductance (K  p), osmolality, concentrations of polar metabolites, and key inorganic ions in recently mature leaves of 45 dicotyledonous species at midafternoon. Trees, and the few herbs that load passively, have low K  p, high osmolality, and high concentrations of transport sugars and total polar metabolites. In contrast, herbs that actively load sucrose alone have high K  p, low osmolality, and low concentrations of sugars and total polar metabolites. Solute levels are higher in sugar alcohol-transporting species, both herbs and trees, allowing them to operate at lower leaf water potentials. Polar metabolites are largely responsible for leaf osmolality above a baseline level (approximately 300 mm) contributed by ions. The results suggest that trees must offset low K  p with high concentrations of foliar transport sugars, providing the motivating force for sugar diffusion and rendering active phloem loading unnecessary. In contrast, the high K  p of most herbaceous plants allows them to lower sugar concentrations in leaves. This reduces inventory costs and significantly increases growth potential but necessitates active phloem loading. Viewed from this perspective, the elevation of hydraulic conductance marks a major milestone in the evolution of the herbaceous habit, not only by facilitating water transport but also by maximizing carbon use efficiency and growth.
Interaction of Antiparallel Microtubules in the Phragmoplast Is Mediated by the Microtubule-Associated Protein MAP65-3 inArabidopsis
Authors: Ho Chin-Min Kimmy , Hotta Takashi , Guo Fengli , Roberson Robert W. , Lee Yuh-Ru Julie , Liu Bo
Published: August 2011

In plant cells, microtubules (MTs) in the cytokinetic apparatus phragmoplast exhibit an antiparallel array and transport Golgi-derived vesicles toward MT plus ends located at or near the division site. By transmission electron microscopy, we observed that certain antiparallel phragmoplast MTs overlapped and were bridged by electron-dense materials in Arabidopsis thaliana. Robust MT polymerization, reported by fluorescently tagged End Binding1c (EB1c), took place in the phragmoplast midline. The engagement of antiparallel MTs in the central spindle and phragmoplast was largely abolished in mutant cells lacking the MT-associated protein, MAP65-3. We found that endogenous MAP65-3 was selectively detected on the middle segments of the central spindle MTs at late anaphase. When MTs exhibited a bipolar appearance with their plus ends placed in the middle, MAP65-3 exclusively decorated the phragmoplast midline. A bacterially expressed MAP65-3 protein was able to establish the interdigitation of MTs in vitro. MAP65-3 interacted with antiparallel microtubules before motor Kinesin-12 did during the establishment of the phragmoplast MT array. Thus, MAP65-3 selectively cross-linked interdigitating MTs (IMTs) to allow antiparallel MTs to be closely engaged in the phragmoplast. Although the presence of IMTs was not essential for vesicle trafficking, they were required for the phragmoplast-specific motors Kinesin-12 and Phragmoplast-Associated Kinesin-Related Protein2 to interact with MT plus ends. In conclusion, we suggest that the phragmoplast contains IMTs and highly dynamic noninterdigitating MTs, which work in concert to bring about cytokinesis in plant cells.
The lost scent of Eastern European wines in Western Europe
Authors: Panzone Luca A.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

Eastern European countries have an important history of quality and tradition in winemaking. The radical economic modification that the wine sector had to face during communism exposed these countries to various problems during transition, when their market share in Western European markets shrunk. This paper aims to argue that an important cause of the decline is the inability of price to convey information about the quality level of the wine, as from the theory of asymmetric information.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the econometric theory of hedonic pricing to explore the research question, relating price to the characteristics of the wine, including a quality rating from a respected British wine expert for the year 2006. Results are presented for a sample of 134 wines coming from different Eastern European countries (EEC) sold in the UK. The analysis also tackles the issue of understanding which parameters contributed to the quality level of Eastern European wines, modelling the qualitative description in order to identify the keywords that explains the change in quality level.

Findings

The results show evidence of no correlation between ratings and price in the considered segment of the UK wine market, suggesting an imperfect communication of quality via the price information. Moreover, Romania, which is a very important producing country, has a weak brand value, suggesting the need for restructuring the industry and improving quality management schemes to compete in their newly enlarged destination market. The quality model shows that fruity flavours are those playing a most important role in defining the quality level; hence a more targeted product supply should be encouraged.

Originality/value

No previous research has used hedonic modelling to the case of Eastern European wines. Furthermore, the context used here is to understand the weaknesses of the specific segment, and the tool is used to investigate the loss of competitive advantage of Eastern European products in the UK markets, focusing on the quality/price relation.
Contract award procedures and award criteria in the catering services in Finland
Authors: Tikkanen Irma , Kaleva Hanna
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore what kinds of contract award procedures and award criteria are followed when the municipalities make public procurements in catering services in Finland.

Design/methodology/approach

The literary review is related to the concepts of public procurements and, subsequently, interrelated regulations are introduced. Moreover, the municipal catering services are illustrated. Empirical data were collected in the spring of 2009 from the Finnish public procurement journal and from HILMA internet websites concerning the contract notices and the contract award notices between 1 January 2007 and 14 May 2009. The objects of the contract, thresholds, contract award procedures, sectors of contract awards, as well as both the selection and the award criteria were analysed in the contract notices. A total of 34 contract notices were discovered, out of which 24 could be utilised.

Findings

The contract award procedures could be divided into either open procedures or restricted procedures. Maximum budgets in the contract notices consisted of both the types exceeding the EU thresholds or those remaining below it. Concerning the award criteria, the relative weightings (median) concerning the price amounted to 60 per cent, whereas the quality measured 40 per cent.

Practical implications

The results can be utilised when exploring the competitive tendering in catering services using larger data, and as a guidebook when public catering services are put out to tender.

Originality/value

The dimensions of quality found offer new ideas for procurement authorities as the award criteria.
Developing communities: serving ACE through tertiary education
Authors: Sofo Francesco
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the focus and practice of Adult and Community Education (ACE) as well as its conceptualization and delivery and to suggest parameters for an approach based on excellence, a balanced scorecard and performance to meet community needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The review examines key aspects of the field of ACE and its strategic shaping, especially towards professionalization and a masculine‐oriented approach portrayed through Australian tertiary ACE courses.

Findings

A new understanding emerged that sees the practice of ACE in tertiary institutions already leading to the professionalization of work roles such as community educators, developers and counsellors. Through universities, ACE has embraced developments in information and communication technology and new productivity agendas without losing its caring approach. A proposed framework suggests that it is time for ACE to be transformed in the modern era, to become more systematized, to collaborate more deeply with universities and to strengthen its ability to balance a nurturing focus with a stronger masculine strategic approach.

Originality/value

A new ACE game of hitting winners is being played by Australian universities engaged in the professionalization of ACE through their accredited programmes. These tertiary strategies are fusing the feminine aspects of ACE such as social connectedness and caring with the masculine characteristics of performativity, strategic policy agendas, standards and scientific approaches to quality. ACE should be fully reviewed, improved and integrated better with the new higher education performance approach.
Expectation gaps, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment of fresh graduates
Authors: Jusoh Mazuki , Simun Maimun , Choy Chong Siong
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The aim of this research is to attempt to reveal the difference between what fresh graduates expect and their actual experiences pertaining to the working environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a set of self‐administered questionnaires, data were collected from 128 graduates. They were asked to indicate their preferences on organizational culture, leadership, communication, decision making, team working, motivation, and development. Using the same dimensions, the respondents then reported their actual experiences, thus enabling gaps to be determined.

Findings

The results from paired‐sample t‐tests suggest that significant expectation gaps exist in all the areas surveyed. While communication, decision making and motivation are found to be significantly related to job satisfaction, none of the seven variables is found to be significantly correlated to organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses only on a rather limited sample size of Malaysian graduates; therefore it cannot ensure generalization of results obtained.

Practical implications

The resulting expectation gaps, and their influence on the graduates' job satisfaction and organizational commitment, have implications for the important roles played by employers, higher learning institutions, and graduate themselves.

Originality/value

This study makes significant contributions in three key areas. First, it is perhaps one of the earliest studies to comprehensively address the issue of expectation gaps using a myriad factors. Second, it is also one of the few that examines the influence of the expectation gaps on job satisfaction and commitment. Third, instead of focusing on employees as a whole, which has been the practice of prior research, this study concentrates only on fresh graduates who have been in the workforce for less than two years.
Performance of building technology graduates in the construction industry in Ghana
Authors: Ayarkwa J. , Dansoh Ayirebi , Adinyira E. , Amoah P.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the perception of the Ghanaian construction industry of the performance of entry‐level building technology graduates. Also, other non‐technical skills or attributes expected from building technology graduates are to be compared with the actual proficiency of the graduates.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings in this paper are based on a series of interviews and structured questionnaire survey of randomly selected contractors and consultants in the Ghanaian construction industry.

Findings

The overall performance of the graduates was considered acceptable by the construction industry. However, much more needed to be done in “coordination” and “scheduling” of site activities by graduates who work as site managers, and in “coordination of site activities” and “issuance of site instructions” for those who work as project managers for contractors. There was a considerable gap between the expectations of the construction industry practitioners and the actual proficiency of building technology graduates in “initiative and creativity”, “practical building knowledge”, “ability to define and solve problems”, and other equally important attributes. The graduates, however, met the expectations of contractors in “computer literacy”, “communication skills”, and “interpersonal skills”, and consultants in “computer literacy” and “leadership capability”.

Social implications

The results of the study enable entry‐level graduates to realize their deficiencies for continual improvement, and the training institution to develop training curricula responsive to the needs of the industry.

Originality/value

Even though results from this study generally show a disparity in the expected and actual proficiency levels of building technology graduates, as frequently reported in the literature, it provides a new insight into this problem by providing evidence to the effect that the problem is only manifest in some specific non‐technical skill requirements.
Re‐imagining the users' experience
Authors: Kim Wu Somaly , Lanclos Donna
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the process and work undertaken by the library anthropologist and the Usability Task Force (UTF) for reconfiguring the library's physical and virtual spaces to meet the educational needs and expectations of users, including students, faculty, and community patrons.

Design/methodology/approach

Through formal usability studies and ethnographic research, the paper describes the process and work undertaken by the library anthropologist and the UTF.

Findings

Through surveys, focus groups observation data were obtained about the current study and web habits of undergraduates and faculty.

Originality/value

This paper presents an ethnographic approach to policy development and implementation to re‐orient the physical and virtual library environments at a large research library. Libraries and library administrators will find value in the policies established and processes outlined for the development of user‐centered learning spaces.
Information literacy in learning landscapes: flexible, adaptable, low‐cost solutions
Authors: Kammerlocher Lisa , Couture Juliann , Sparks Olivia , Harp Matthew , Allgood Tammy
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to describe the rapidly changing learning landscapes academic libraries are facing using a case study of Arizona State University. Flexible, adaptable and low‐cost solutions are available for libraries who find themselves in a diverse learning landscape coupled with economic challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study provides details of the processes for implementing low‐cost alternatives to creating, managing and disseminating learning objects.

Findings

Low‐cost solutions can give libraries an important information literacy presence within the university learning landscape. Locally managed learning object repositories can be implemented with minimal fuss and facilitate faculty and student in a wide range of academic programs access to library learning content.

Practical implications

How to manage learning content in a local learning objects repository to maximize access, use and reuse for faculty, students and librarians. This article describes an option for implementing a learning object repository with few fiscal and personnel resources.

Originality/value

Online information literacy on a budget is within reach for many academic libraries by tapping into the potential of free or low‐cost web resources for creating and managing learning content.
Progressive LGBTQ reference: coming out in the 21st century
Authors: Mehra Bharat , Braquet Donna
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an exploratory practice‐based framework that identifies strategic goals, objectives, and activities for each of the five areas of modern‐day reference, namely – access to electronic resources, user instruction, library commons, outreach liaison, and virtual reference – with a focus on meeting the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (LGBTQ) individuals during the coming out process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper highlights findings for progressive reference services in the twenty‐first century based on qualitative studies and action research conducted by two openly gay library and information science professionals in the University of Tennessee‐Knoxville during the period 2005‐2011.

Findings

Findings reveal elements of the proposed framework geared towards meeting the needs of LGBTQ patrons during the five phases of coming out – self‐recognition, sharing with other LGBTQ people, telling close friends/family, positive self‐identification, and integration of LGBTQ identity.

Originality/value

Minimal research has been done involving reference services for LGBTQ patrons. This paper's original value is in its extended vision of traditional reference that focused solely on information provision to a more encompassing conceptualization and implementation that designs, delivers, and assesses reference services in a community engagement context to develop fair and equitable services for LGBTQ patrons.
Evaluating the impact of learning space
Authors: Ramsden Bryony
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find a method to analyse the impact of learning space on learning behaviour and, in particular, learning support, using the context of a university library.

Design/methodology/approach

A method was created based partially on pre‐/post‐occupancy evaluation methods used in other institutions, and partially on methods utilised by the library on other occasions, gathering qualitative and quantitative data from staff observations, desk enquiries and student use. The method was tested at the University of Huddersfield Library and Computing Centre following extensive refurbishment.

Findings

The method overall was deemed successful, but was problematic due to lack of student engagement.

Research limitations/implications

Research was conducted at one university only, so can be considered either a starting point for further research, or as a toolkit for other universities to utilize.

Practical implications

Ensuring full understanding and engagement of students via academics would increase potential of the method for understanding learning behaviours and utilisation of the library.

Originality/value

The paper assesses what impact library usage and potentially newly observed learning behaviours made on library staff.
Information literacy instruction for satellite university students
Authors: Nicholson Heather , Eva Nicole
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how librarians at the University of Lethbridge Library recently undertook a pilot project to deliver information literacy to satellite campus students using Skype. Distance delivery of post‐secondary education is on the rise; this creates unique challenges for academic libraries who strive to meet the resource and instructional needs of students.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study outlines the literature review and environmental scan the authors took before deciding to teach their distance education students via Skype, and looks at the successes and challenges of their pilot.

Findings

Skype has some limitations as an instructional delivery tool; however, for the purpose of this pilot study proved fairly successful and a good “first step” for distance information literacy delivery.

Practical implications

Readers will learn from the authors' experience, getting ideas and tips on how to conduct information literacy classes for distance students.

Originality/value

This paper is of value to those librarians who must teach distance students, providing them with ideas on low‐cost and low‐tech solutions.
A locational analysis of academic library computer use
Authors: Weessies Kathleen W.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure, characterize and correlate relationships between spaces within an academic library and the amount of use they receive from patrons.

Design/methodology/approach

Login data gathered from computers were analyzed spatially using AutoCAD and ArcGIS to characterize the relative popularity of each computer. The login data were correlated to each computer's proximity to the entrance, a picture window, its printer, quantity of neighboring computers, and service points.

Findings

Descriptive statistics reveal high usage of computers close to the entrance and close to service points. The strongest relationship of all was with a combination of attractors rather than any one attractor. Other measures were less closely correlated with usage, with proximity to window having little to no correlation. These hypotheses merit further study.

Originality/value

Understanding the use of technology in library spaces is important to inform future facility planning to meet patron needs.
Perceived pay communication, justice and pay satisfaction
Authors: Day Nancy E.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

Although some research shows that positive outcomes occur when workers understand how their pay is determined, little is known about the dynamics of how pay communication affects pay satisfaction. This research proposes that the relationships between pay communication and pay satisfaction exist because justice perceptions mediate them. Pay communication is of particular interest to managers of public sector organizations, where many aspects of the pay system are in the public domain, and without adequate communication, may be easily misunderstood by workers. The purpose of this paper is to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of a sample of 384 employees of a Midwestern public university in the USA who completed two questionnaires. Structural equation modeling is used.

Findings

Pay communication has both direct and mediated relationships with pay satisfaction (satisfaction with pay level, benefits, pay raise, and pay administration). Distributive justice accounts for more variance in all pay satisfaction dimensions than procedural justice. Interpersonal and information justice are essentially unrelated to pay satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The sample over‐represents women, non‐minorities, and workers with long‐service records. Results may not be generalizeable to other organizational contexts, particularly to private sector organizations.

Practical implications

Perceived pay communication predicts not only pay satisfaction, but also perceptions of organizational justice. In turn, justice's mediation is critical to enhancing satisfaction with pay. Organizations should carefully design and implement pay communication programs.

Originality/value

First, the relationships between perceived pay communication and pay satisfaction are shown to be, in part, based on justice perceptions. Second, issues of pay communication have rarely been studied in US public sector organizations, which require open pay systems. Third, this paper presents improvements in measures and other methods over past research in pay communication.
Understanding employment relationship in Indian organizations through the lens of psychological contracts
Authors: Krishnan T.N.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

Most research on employment relationship has been done on the Anglo‐Saxon context, the results of which may not be totally valid for India. The emerging employment relationship in India is best viewed through the lens of psychological contracts. Psychological contract has significant influence on valuable workplace outcomes. This paper seeks to propose a model for understanding employment relationship through the concept of psychological contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of published case studies in the Indian context and based on social exchange theory, this paper proposes a model wherein trust mediates the relationship between the perception of breach of the psychological contract and HR systems.

Findings

As more and more employees come under non‐unionized workforce, the non‐formal aspects of employment through the lens of psychological contracts becomes an important lever to manage employment relationships. The model presented in this paper suggests that depending on the HR system an organization adopts, the perception of breach of psychological contract gets affected. Based on the notion of consistency of HR practices, it is argued that HR systems across organizations form two archetypal extremes and each of these give rise to a different perception of breach of psychological contract.

Originality/value

As HR managers are faced with a range of choices in implementing HR systems, it becomes difficult to narrow down the available options. This study would provide some guidelines to do so, by highlighting the process through which HR systems impact the perception of breach of psychological contracts and the resulting employment relationship.
What do tattoo artists know about HRM? Recruitment and selection in the body art sector
Authors: Timming Andrew R.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the recruitment and selection procedures employed in the body art sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative interviews were conducted with the owners/managers of eight body art studios located across the USA and the UK.

Findings

The results suggest that recruitment and selection in the body art sector is characteristically informal and instinctive. It was also found that the use of formal methods of recruitment and selection in one of the case studies appeared to enhance difficulties in attracting and retaining talent.

Practical/implications

The research corroborates the argument that smaller firms employ HRM strategies that are distinct from larger firms. But, more importantly, it also suggests that firm size could be a red herring in light of the various other factors that simultaneously influence HR service delivery.

Originality/value

This paper explores HRM practices in a hitherto unstudied sector of the economy. It also adds another layer of complexity to the academic debates surrounding HRM in small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises.
Third‐party logistics providers in Spain
Authors: Núñez‐Carballosa Ana , Guitart‐Tarrés Laura
Published: August 2011

Purpose

Companies consider logistics outsourcing for strategic reasons, and build close‐knit relationships with third‐party logistics (3PLs) providers. The purpose of this paper is to analyse logistics outsourcing in Spain from the viewpoint of 3PLs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper suggests three propositions and conducts a case study of four 3PLs in Spain, chosen because of their market coverage and their range of services.

Findings

The results identify the main reasons why companies choose to outsource logistics, what kind of relationship they build with providers, and how much involvement in the management of their supply chain they seek from providers.

Practical implications

Most companies in Spain continue to outsource mainly on the basis of costs, and do so tactically. However, the option of developing an alliance with a 3PL provider is not always more economical, as cost reduction is due more to optimisation of the supply chain than to outsourcing itself. Based on the experiences of the four 3PLs providers under analysis, the paper makes a set of recommendations for senior management in the sector.

Originality/value

The research helps to fill an existing gap in the study of logistics outsourcing in Spain because it analyses logistics outsourcing from the perspective of the 3PLs provider and not from the viewpoint of the outsourcing organisation, as the vast majority of the studies conducted in Spain have done to date.
ILLiad and the new brand of ILL service in the University of Edinburgh
Authors: Lobban Marjory
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the introduction of ILLiad at the University of Edinburgh and its wider impact.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a hands‐on description by a practitioner of an interlibrary loans (ILL) system new to the UK.

Findings

The paper finds that the introduction of ILLiad has not halted the decline in ILL but has opened the library up to international resource sharing to a significant extent.

Originality/value

This is the first description published of the introduction of ILLiad into the UK.
No fate but what we make? Current trends and challenges in the UK document supply community
Authors: Johnson Gareth J.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide a practitioner‐based review of the broad issues, challenges and opportunities that currently exist within the UK document supply sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a survey and personal discussions with individuals across the sector, backed up by a literature review and background research.

Findings

Currently, there are a number of areas of particular concern facing UK interlenders. Most interlenders in the UK are experiencing a reduction in patron requests, and an upswing in direct requests from other libraries. Other challenges include the reduction in funding and subsequent impacts on services, the lending of electronic documents restricted by rights management software and licences, as well as the opportunities and potential threats offered by open access resources. Finally there seems to be a need to demonstrate effectively to senior management the value of interlending services to patrons.

Originality/value

The paper provides an overview of developments in interlending within the UK sector by a current practitioner and service manager.
The Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative: education, advocacy and inspiration for libraries
Authors: Posner Beth , Simpson Evan
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to communicate the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative's goals and activities to an international audience of librarians concerned with using best practices and technology to make library resource sharing more responsive to user needs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a descriptive analysis explaining the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative's mission and the activities it employs to fulfill it.

Findings

The paper explains how the activities of the Rethinking Resource Sharing Initiative contribute to improving the delivery of library information services.

Originality/value

The paper provides examples of innovative strategies, programs and activities designed to advocate for, inspire, and enable successful resource sharing.
Demand‐driven cooperative collection development: three case studies from the USA
Authors: Austin Booth H. , O'Brien Kathleen
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to ask how best to integrate cooperative and demand‐driven collection development in order to simultaneously lower costs, create efficiency, reduce redundancy, increase the range of accessible materials and satisfy patron demand.

Design/methodology/approach

By means of example, this paper outlines ways in which the University at Buffalo Libraries are merging demand‐driven collection strategies with cooperative collection development and the rationale behind combining the two approaches.

Findings

This paper presents an analysis of three demand‐driven cooperative collection development programs describing the opportunities and challenges posed by such a combination and future directions in demand‐driven collaborative programs.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into the structure and implementation of academic and multi‐type library demand‐driven cooperative collection development programs with possible applications for other library consortia.
Improving job fit for mission workers by including expatriate and local job experts in job specification
Authors: Manson Jennifer M. , Carr Stuart C.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

International development policy proposes that reducing poverty depends on alignment of international aid projects with local priorities, which would imply a role for local as well as expatriate job experts in job selection processes. This paper aims to explore whether person‐job “fit” with both local and expatriate job specification relates to work performance indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

Mission organizations and their individual workers play an influential role in poverty reduction projects. In Study I, N=70 host nation missionaries, i.e. local job experts (n=22), expatriate mission leaders (n=25) and expatriate mission workers (n=23) provided mean panel ratings of the importance of SHL's Universal Competencies, alongside religious values, for mission jobs. In Study II, N=130 individual expatriate mission workers also provided ratings of the same set of competencies for mission jobs and rated themselves on these competencies. Each individual worker's profile was assessed for “fit” with competencies identified by the panels in Study I. Individuals were also measured on the criteria of job satisfaction, work engagement and satisfaction with life.

Findings

From Study I, we learned that local and expatriate ratings differed significantly, indicating different job criteria, as policy suggests. In Study II, degree of fit with local and expatriate priorities each predicted significant amounts of variance in job satisfaction, engagement and life satisfaction. Hence at an everyday behavioural level, alignment with local job experts' perspectives on required competencies played a role in aid worker motivation.

Originality/value

Whilst recognising the limits of self‐report, this paper applies fit theory to poverty reduction projects. Discussed are the findings' relevance for psychological theory, methods and interventions in poverty reduction work.
Women in self‐organized groups at work: do they promote agency and reduce poverty?
Authors: Schein Virginia E. , Marsella Anthony J. , Wiesenfeld Esther , Sánchez Euclides , O'Neill Berry Mary , Reichman Walter
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to reflect on the work of Virginia E. Schein and her paper “The functions of work‐related group participation for poor women in developing countries: an exploratory look.”

Design/methodology/approach

Professor Schein traveled to Nicaragua, to lower‐income settings, where she observed and recorded the experiences of women working in self‐organized groups, and used those observations to argue to the profession generally that self‐organized groups of women, however marginal the work itself, can be instrumental in developing the key sense of agency, and self‐efficacy. These are basic capabilities; the stuff of the Millennium Development Goals.

Findings

For this special issue, therefore, the authors have made Schein's 2003 study a focal point. To set the context they asked Dr Schein to reiterate the rationale for the research, and provide a brief overview of the original observations. To help expand the debate on gender, work and poverty reduction, the authors have asked noted colleagues to provide a series of Commentaries on the original article.

Originality/value

Women, especially those raising children alone, are among the poorest of the poor in developing and more developed economies. Research that is applicable and relevant to their work‐related concerns can and should be a larger part of worldwide efforts to reduce poverty. Organizational psychology has much to contribute to those long‐overdue efforts.
The impact of buyer firm information connectivity enablers on supplier firm performance
Authors: Sanders Nada R. , Autry Chad W. , Gligor David M.
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of buyer investment in interorganizational, information‐related connectivity enablers on supplier firm performance within the context of buyer‐seller matched dyads.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study were obtained from a field survey. A mail questionnaire was constructed that contained items measuring the five key constructs of interest. Based on the supply chain information literature and the relational view, two competing models linking the focal constructs using structural equation modeling were evaluated.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that buyer‐to‐supplier information sharing, buyer‐to‐supplier performance feedback, and buyer investment in inter‐organizational information technology are key enablers of buyer‐to‐supplier communication openness. However, only buyer‐to‐supplier communication openness plays the direct and critical role in achieving significant performance improvement.

Research limitations/implications

In this study performance is only examined from the supplier's perspective. It would be valuable to reevaluate and compare the performance outcomes from a buyer's perspective as well, or even more significantly, to compare these findings in a dyadic study where paired buyer and supplier data are collected over time to establish a pattern governing these efforts.

Practical implications

The fact that investments in the buyer‐side information resources engender supplier‐side competitiveness provides an incentive for suppliers to assist buyers in their investments in buyer‐side information resources. The study provides validation for the positive impact of such investments on supplier performance, therefore reassuring suppliers that their contribution to the dyad will pay off.

Originality/value

While information connectivity between buyers and suppliers has long been considered a critical enabler of buyer‐supplier integration, research had yet to explore the relationship between buyer investments in interorganizational information initiatives and supplier performance. The paper has addressed this gap.