bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-Cell Imaging of HIV-1 Provirus (SCIP)
Authors: Di Primio Cristina , Quercioli Valentina , Allouch Awatef , Gijsbers Rik , Christ Frauke , Debyser Zeger , Arosio Daniele , Cereseto Anna
Published: March 2013

Recent advances in fluorescence microscopy provided tools for the investigation and the analysis of the viral replication steps in the cellular context. In the HIV field, the current visualization systems successfully achieve the fluorescent labeling of the viral envelope and proteins, but not the genome. Here, we developed a system able to visualize the proviral DNA of HIV-1 through immunofluorescence detection of repair foci for DNA double-strand breaks specifically induced in the viral genome by the heterologous expression of the I-SceI endonuclease. The system for Single-Cell Imaging of HIV-1 Provirus, named SCIP, provides the possibility to individually track integrated-viral DNA within the nuclei of infected cells. In particular, SCIP allowed us to perform a topological analysis of integrated viral DNA revealing that HIV-1 preferentially integrates in the chromatin localized at the periphery of the nuclei.
Atomic structure and hierarchical assembly of a cross-β amyloid fibril
Authors: Fitzpatrick Anthony W. P. , Debelouchina Galia T. , Bayro Marvin J. , Clare Daniel K. , Caporini Marc A. , Bajaj Vikram S. , Jaroniec Christopher P. , Wang Luchun , Ladizhansky Vladimir , Müller Shirley A. , MacPhee Cait E. , Waudby Christopher A. , Mott Helen R. , De Simone Alfonso , Knowles Tuomas P. J. , Saibil Helen R. , Vendruscolo Michele , Orlova Elena V. , Griffin Robert G. , Dobson Christopher M.
Published: March 2013

The cross-β amyloid form of peptides and proteins represents an archetypal and widely accessible structure consisting of ordered arrays of β-sheet filaments. These complex aggregates have remarkable chemical and physical properties, and the conversion of normally soluble functional forms of proteins into amyloid structures is linked to many debilitating human diseases, including several common forms of age-related dementia. Despite their importance, however, cross-β amyloid fibrils have proved to be recalcitrant to detailed structural analysis. By combining structural constraints from a series of experimental techniques spanning five orders of magnitude in length scale—including magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray fiber diffraction, cryoelectron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy—we report the atomic-resolution (0.5 Å) structures of three amyloid polymorphs formed by an 11-residue peptide. These structures reveal the details of the packing interactions by which the constituent β-strands are assembled hierarchically into protofilaments, filaments, and mature fibrils.
Critical width of tidal flats triggers marsh collapse in the absence of sea-level rise
Authors: Mariotti Giulio , Fagherazzi Sergio
Published: March 2013

High rates of wave-induced erosion along salt marsh boundaries challenge the idea that marsh survival is dictated by the competition between vertical sediment accretion and relative sea-level rise. Because waves pounding marshes are often locally generated in enclosed basins, the depth and width of surrounding tidal flats have a pivoting control on marsh erosion. Here, we show the existence of a threshold width for tidal flats bordering salt marshes. Once this threshold is exceeded, irreversible marsh erosion takes place even in the absence of sea-level rise. This catastrophic collapse occurs because of the positive feedbacks among tidal flat widening by wave-induced marsh erosion, tidal flat deepening driven by wave bed shear stress, and local wind wave generation. The threshold width is determined by analyzing the 50-y evolution of 54 marsh basins along the US Atlantic Coast. The presence of a critical basin width is predicted by a dynamic model that accounts for both horizontal marsh migration and vertical adjustment of marshes and tidal flats. Variability in sediment supply, rather than in relative sea-level rise or wind regime, explains the different critical width, and hence erosion vulnerability, found at different sites. We conclude that sediment starvation of coastlines produced by river dredging and damming is a major anthropogenic driver of marsh loss at the study sites and generates effects at least comparable to the accelerating sea-level rise due to global warming.
Dielectric properties of water under extreme conditions and transport of carbonates in the deep Earth
Authors: Pan Ding , Spanu Leonardo , Harrison Brandon , Sverjensky Dimitri A. , Galli Giulia
Published: March 2013

Water is a major component of fluids in the Earth’s mantle, where its properties are substantially different from those at ambient conditions. At the pressures and temperatures of the mantle, experiments on aqueous fluids are challenging, and several fundamental properties of water are poorly known; e.g., its dielectric constant has not been measured. This lack of knowledge of water dielectric properties greatly limits our ability to model water–rock interactions and, in general, our understanding of aqueous fluids below the Earth’s crust. Using ab initio molecular dynamics, we computed the dielectric constant of water under the conditions of the Earth’s upper mantle, and we predicted the solubility products of carbonate minerals. We found that MgCO
3
(magnesite)—insoluble in water under ambient conditions—becomes at least slightly soluble at the bottom of the upper mantle, suggesting that water may transport significant quantities of oxidized carbon. Our results suggest that aqueous carbonates could leave the subducting lithosphere during dehydration reactions and could be injected into the overlying lithosphere. The Earth’s deep carbon could possibly be recycled through aqueous transport on a large scale through subduction zones.
Preferential eradication of acute myelogenous leukemia stem cells by fenretinide
Authors: Zhang Hui , Mi Jian-Qing , Fang Hai , Wang Zhao , Wang Chun , Wu Lin , Zhang Bin , Minden Mark , Yang Wen-Tao , Wang Huan-Wei , Li Jun-Min , Xi Xiao-Dong , Chen Sai-Juan , Zhang Ji , Chen Zhu , Wang Kan-Kan
Published: March 2013

Leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play important roles in leukemia initiation, progression, and relapse, and thus represent a critical target for therapeutic intervention. However, relatively few agents have been shown to target LSCs, slowing progress in the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Based on in vitro and in vivo evidence, we report here that fenretinide, a well-tolerated vitamin A derivative, is capable of eradicating LSCs but not normal hematopoietic progenitor/stem cells at physiologically achievable concentrations. Fenretinide exerted a selective cytotoxic effect on primary AML CD34
+
cells, especially the LSC-enriched CD34
+
CD38
−
subpopulation, whereas no significant effect was observed on normal counterparts. Methylcellulose colony formation assays further showed that fenretinide significantly suppressed the formation of colonies derived from AML CD34
+
cells but not those from normal CD34
+
cells. Moreover, fenretinide significantly reduced the in vivo engraftment of AML stem cells but not normal hematopoietic stem cells in a nonobese diabetic/SCID mouse xenotransplantation model. Mechanistic studies revealed that fenretinide-induced cell death was linked to a series of characteristic events, including the rapid generation of reactive oxygen species, induction of genes associated with stress responses and apoptosis, and repression of genes involved in NF-κB and Wnt signaling. Further bioinformatic analysis revealed that the fenretinide–down-regulated genes were significantly correlated with the existing poor-prognosis signatures in AML patients. Based on these findings, we propose that fenretinide is a potent agent that selectively targets LSCs, and may be of value in the treatment of AML.
Adolescent–parent attachment as a mediator of relations between parenting and adolescent social behavior and wellbeing in China
Authors: Cai Mengfei , Hardy Sam A. , Olsen Joseph A. , Nelson David A. , Yamawaki Niwako
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this study was to examine links between parenting dimensions (authoritative parenting, psychological control, and parental authority) and adolescent wellbeing (self‐esteem, autonomy, and peer attachments) as mediated by parent–teen attachment, among Chinese families. The sample included 298 Chinese adolescents, ages 15–18 years (M age = 16.36, SD = .68; 60% female). The mediation model was examined using path analyses (one model with parental authority as overprotection, and one with it as perceived behavioral control). To improve model fit a direct path was added from authoritative parenting to autonomy. Authoritative parenting was positively predictive of attachment, while psychological control and overprotection (but not behavioral control) were negative predictors. In turn, adolescent–parent attachment was positively related to the three outcomes. Lastly, the model paths did not differ by adolescent gender. These findings suggest that parenting behaviors may play a crucial role in adolescent social behaviors and wellbeing via adolescent–parent attachment.
Parametric Bayesian priors and better choice of negative examples improve protein function prediction
Authors: Youngs Noah , Penfold-Brown Duncan , Drew Kevin , Shasha Dennis , Bonneau Richard
Published: March 2013

Motivation: Computational biologists have demonstrated the utility of using machine learning methods to predict protein function from an integration of multiple genome-wide data types. Yet, even the best performing function prediction algorithms rely on heuristics for important components of the algorithm, such as choosing negative examples (proteins without a given function) or determining key parameters. The improper choice of negative examples, in particular, can hamper the accuracy of protein function prediction.

Results: We present a novel approach for choosing negative examples, using a parameterizable Bayesian prior computed from all observed annotation data, which also generates priors used during function prediction. We incorporate this new method into the GeneMANIA function prediction algorithm and demonstrate improved accuracy of our algorithm over current top-performing function prediction methods on the yeast and mouse proteomes across all metrics tested.

Availability: Code and Data are available at: http://bonneaulab.bio.nyu.edu/funcprop.html

Contact: shasha@courant.nyu.edu or bonneau@cs.nyu.edu

Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Selling Liberia: Moss H. Kendrix, the Liberian Centennial Commission, and the Post-World War II Trade in Black Progress
Authors: Greer Brenna W.
Published: March 2013

This article examines the activities of Moss H. Kendrix, a budding black entrepreneur and Public Relations Officer for the Centennial Commission of the Republic of Liberia, during the years immediately following World War II. To secure US investment in Liberia’s postwar development, Kendrix re-presented African Americans and Americo-Liberians as new markets valuable to US economic growth and national security. This article argues that his tactics advanced the global significance of black peoples as modern consumers and his worth as a black markets specialist, while simultaneously legitimating notions of progress that frustrated black claims for unconditional self-determination or first-class citizenship. Kendrix’s public relations work on behalf of Liberia highlights intersections between postwar black entrepreneurialism and politics and US foreign relations, as well as the globalization of US business and consumerism.
Quantification of Live ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Populations Using Real-Time PCR and Propidium Monoazide
Authors: Hu H. , Davis M. J. , Brlansky R. H.
Published: March 2013

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating citrus disease. It is associated with a phloem-restricted bacterium, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’, and primarily transmitted by Asian citrus psyllid in Florida. Because Liberibacter cannot be cultured, early diagnosis of HLB relies on DNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including real-time quantitative (q)PCR. Although estimating genomes from live bacteria (GLB) is critical for HLB research, PCR does not distinguish between live and dead cells and, thus, does not estimate GLB in hosts. Propidium monoazide (PMA), a novel DNA-binding dye, has been successfully used on many bacterial pathogens to effectively remove DNA from dead cells but there is no report of its use on uncultured bacteria. In this study, PMA-qPCR protocols were first optimized to work with plant and psyllid samples, respectively. Both TissueLyser treatment and plant tissue were demonstrated to have an insignificant impact on the GLB detected by PMA-qPCR. Finally, a standard curve for GLB determination was successfully established between PMA-qPCR results and microscopic counts and then applied in two studies with different greenhouse plant samples. This rapid qPCR method provides a more accurate way to determine GLB in HLB hosts which, in turn, should benefit disease epidemiology studies and serve as a crucial component in HLB management.
Development of a Semiselective Medium for Detection of Nalanthamala psidii, Causal Agent of Wilt of Guava
Authors: Hong C. F. , Hsieh H. Y. , Chen C. T. , Huang H. C.
Published: March 2013

Guava wilt, caused by Nalanthamala psidii, has become an important disease of guava (Psidium guajava) in Taiwan since the 1970s. This study was conducted to develop a semiselective medium for detecting N. psidii in soil and in tissues of diseased guava trees. Among 9 carbon and 21 nitrogen compounds tested in a modified Czapek-Dox medium, the most effective carbon and nitrogen sources for mycelial growth of N. psidii were sucrose and glycine, respectively. Among eight fungicides tested, iprodione at 5 μg ml–1 and azoxystrobin at 1 μg ml–1 were the most effective fungicides for detection of N. psidii in artificially infested soil or in naturally infected guava debris. Based on the requirement for carbon and nitrogen sources and response to fungicides, a semiselective medium designated as modified sucrose-glycine semiselective medium (mSGSSM) was developed for isolation of N. psidii, using the modified Czapek-Dox medium containing 3% sucrose, 0.3% glycine, iprodione at 5 μg ml–1, azoxystrobin at 1 μg ml–1, streptomycin at 200 μg ml–1, and neomycin at 200 μg ml–1. Colonies of N. psidii on mSGSSM at 30°C for 5 to 10 days were white to orange with sparse aerial hyphae. N. psidii was detected more accurately and efficiently on mSGSSM than on other media, including potato dextrose agar, modified Nash-Snyder medium, and modified Czapek-Dox medium. This semiselective medium is effective in detection of N. psidii from various parts of diseased guava trees and in soil; therefore, it would be a useful medium for etiological, ecological, and epidemiological studies of guava wilt.
Aggressiveness of Fusarium Species and Impact of Root Infection on Growth and Yield of Soybeans
Authors: Arias María M. Díaz , Leandro Leonor F. , Munkvold Gary P.
Published: March 2013

Fusarium spp. are commonly isolated from soybean roots but the pathogenic activity of most species is poorly documented. Aggressiveness and yield impact of nine species of Fusarium were determined on soybean in greenhouse (50 isolates) and field microplot (19 isolates) experiments. Root rot severity and shoot and root dry weights were compared at growth stages V3 or R1. Root systems were scanned and digital image analysis was conducted; yield was measured in microplots. Disease severity and root morphology impacts varied among and within species. Fusarium graminearum was highly aggressive (root rot severity >90%), followed by F. proliferatum and F. virguliforme. Significant variation in damping-off (20 to 75%) and root rot severity (<20 to >60%) was observed among F. oxysporum isolates. In artificially-infested microplots, root rot severity was low (<25%) and mean yield was not significantly reduced. However, there were significant linear relationships between yield and root symptoms for some isolates. Root morphological characteristics were more consistent indicators of yield loss than root rot severity. This study provides the first characterization of aggressiveness and yield impact of Fusarium root rot species on soybean at different plant stages and introduces root image analysis to assess the impact of root pathogens on soybean.
Maintenance of essential amino acid synthesis pathways in the
Blattabacterium cuenoti
symbiont of a wood-feeding cockroach
Authors: Tokuda Gaku , Elbourne Liam D. H. , Kinjo Yukihiro , Saitoh Seikoh , Sabree Zakee , Hojo Masaru , Yamada Akinori , Hayashi Yoshinobu , Shigenobu Shuji , Bandi Claudio , Paulsen Ian T. , Watanabe Hirofumi , Lo Nathan
Published: March 2013

In addition to harbouring intestinal symbionts, some animal species also possess intracellular symbiotic microbes. The relative contributions of gut-resident and intracellular symbionts to host metabolism, and how they coevolve are not well understood. Cockroaches and the termite
Mastotermes darwiniensis
present a unique opportunity to examine the evolution of spatially separated symbionts, as they harbour gut symbionts and the intracellular symbiont
Blattabacterium cuenoti
. The genomes of
B. cuenoti
from
M. darwiniensis
and the social wood-feeding cockroach
Cryptocercus punctulatus
are each missing most of the pathways for the synthesis of essential amino acids found in the genomes of relatives from non-wood-feeding hosts. Hypotheses to explain this pathway degradation include: (i) feeding on microbes present in rotting wood by ancestral hosts; (ii) the evolution of high-fidelity transfer of gut microbes via social behaviour. To test these hypotheses, we sequenced the
B. cuenoti
genome of a third wood-feeding species, the phylogenetically distant and non-social
Panesthia angustipennis
. We show that host wood-feeding does not necessarily lead to degradation of essential amino acid synthesis pathways in
B. cuenoti
, and argue that ancestral high-fidelity transfer of gut microbes best explains their loss in strains from
M. darwiniensis
and
C. punctulatus
.
A note on ‘Einstein's special relativity beyond the speed of light by James M. Hill and Barry J. Cox’
Authors: Andréka Hajnal , Madarász Judit X. , Németi István , Székely Gergely
Published: March 2013

We show that the transformations Hill and Cox introduce, between inertial observers moving faster than light with respect to each other, are consistent with Einstein's principle of relativity only if the space–time is two dimensional.
Enhanced noradrenergic activity potentiates fear memory consolidation and reconsolidation by differentially recruiting α1- and β-adrenergic receptors
Authors: Gazarini Lucas , Stern Cristina A. Jark , Carobrez Antônio P. , Bertoglio Leandro J.
Published: March 2013

Consolidation and reconsolidation are phases of memory stabilization that diverge slightly. Noradrenaline is known to influence both processes, but the relative contribution of α1- and β-adrenoceptors is unclear. The present study sought to investigate this matter by comparing their recruitment to consolidate and/or reconsolidate a contextual fear memory trace under enhanced noradrenergic activity induced by yohimbine. We report that this α2-adrenoceptor antagonist was able to potentiate fear memory trace consolidation or reconsolidation when administered immediately after acquisition or retrieval, respectively, resulting in increased freezing expression. In either case, generalization of this response to an unpaired context was also seen when it achieved a ceiling level in the paired context. These effects endured for over 7 d and relied on action at central rather than peripheral sites, but were prevented when a memory trace was not acquired, when memory reactivation was omitted, or when administration of yohimbine was delayed until 6 h after acquiring or retrieving the memory trace. The β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol was able to prevent the above-mentioned effects of yohimbine, while pretreatment with the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin blocked only its facilitating effects on memory reconsolidation. These results highlight a differential participation of α1- and β-adrenoceptors in fear memory processing. Moreover, it was shown that the α2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, as opposed to yohimbine, mitigates fear expression by weakening memory consolidation or reconsolidation.
Formation of the Unusual Semivolatile Diterpene Rhizathalene by the Arabidopsis Class I Terpene Synthase TPS08 in the Root Stele Is Involved in Defense against Belowground Herbivory
Authors: Vaughan Martha M. , Wang Qiang , Webster Francis X. , Kiemle Dave , Hong Young J. , Tantillo Dean J. , Coates Robert M. , Wray Austin T. , Askew Whitnee , O’Donnell Christopher , Tokuhisa James G. , Tholl Dorothea
Published: March 2013

Secondary metabolites are major constituents of plant defense against herbivore attack. Relatively little is known about the cell type–specific formation and antiherbivore activities of secondary compounds in roots despite the substantial impact of root herbivory on plant performance and fitness. Here, we describe the constitutive formation of semivolatile diterpenes called rhizathalenes by the class I terpene synthase (TPS) 08 in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. The primary enzymatic product of TPS08, rhizathalene A, which is produced from the substrate all-trans geranylgeranyl diphosphate, represents a so far unidentified class of tricyclic diterpene carbon skeletons with an unusual tricyclic spiro-hydrindane structure. Protein targeting and administration of stable isotope precursors indicate that rhizathalenes are biosynthesized in root leucoplasts. TPS08 expression is largely localized to the root stele, suggesting a centric and gradual release of its diterpene products into the peripheral root cell layers. We demonstrate that roots of Arabidopsis tps08 mutant plants, grown aeroponically and in potting substrate, are more susceptible to herbivory by the opportunistic root herbivore fungus gnat (Bradysia spp) and suffer substantial removal of peripheral tissue at larval feeding sites. Our work provides evidence for the in vivo role of semivolatile diterpene metabolites as local antifeedants in belowground direct defense against root-feeding insects.
Mapping the Signal Peptide Binding and Oligomer Contact Sites of the Core Subunit of the Pea Twin Arginine Protein Translocase
Authors: Ma Xianyue , Cline Kenneth
Published: March 2013

Twin arginine translocation (Tat) systems of thylakoid and bacterial membranes transport folded proteins using the proton gradient as the sole energy source. Tat substrates have hydrophobic signal peptides with an essential twin arginine (RR) recognition motif. The multispanning cpTatC plays a central role in Tat operation: It binds the signal peptide, directs translocase assembly, and may facilitate translocation. An in vitro assay with pea (Pisum sativum) chloroplasts was developed to conduct mutagenesis and analysis of cpTatC functions. Ala scanning mutagenesis identified mutants defective in substrate binding and receptor complex assembly. Mutations in the N terminus (S1) and first stromal loop (S2) caused specific defects in signal peptide recognition. Cys matching between substrate and imported cpTatC confirmed that S1 and S2 directly and specifically bind the RR proximal region of the signal peptide. Mutations in four lumen-proximal regions of cpTatC were defective in receptor complex assembly. Copurification and Cys matching analyses suggest that several of the lumen proximal regions may be important for cpTatC–cpTatC interactions. Surprisingly, RR binding domains of adjacent cpTatCs directed strong cpTatC-cpTatC cross-linking. This suggests clustering of binding sites on the multivalent receptor complex and explains the ability of Tat to transport cross-linked multimers. Transport of substrate proteins cross-linked to the signal peptide binding site tentatively identified mutants impaired in the translocation step.
The Arabidopsis YELLOW STRIPE LIKE4 and 6 Transporters Control Iron Release from the Chloroplast
Authors: Divol Fanchon , Couch Daniel , Conéjéro Geneviève , Roschzttardtz Hannetz , Mari Stéphane , Curie Catherine
Published: March 2013

In most plant cell types, the chloroplast represents the largest sink for iron, which is both essential for chloroplast metabolism and prone to cause oxidative damage. Here, we show that to buffer the potentially harmful effects of iron, besides ferritins for storage, the chloroplast is equipped with specific iron transporters that respond to iron toxicity by removing iron from the chloroplast. We describe two transporters of the YELLOW STRIPE1-LIKE family from Arabidopsis thaliana, YSL4 and YSL6, which are likely to fulfill this function. Knocking out both YSL4 and YSL6 greatly reduces the plant's ability to cope with excess iron. Biochemical and immunolocalization analyses showed that YSL6 resides in the chloroplast envelope. Elemental analysis and histochemical staining indicate that iron is trapped in the chloroplasts of the ysl4 ysl6 double mutants, which also accumulate ferritins. Also, vacuolar iron remobilization and NRAMP3/4 expression are inhibited. Furthermore, ubiquitous expression of YSL4 or YSL6 dramatically reduces plant tolerance to iron deficiency and decreases chloroplastic iron content. These data demonstrate a fundamental role for YSL4 and YSL6 in managing chloroplastic iron. YSL4 and YSL6 expression patterns support their physiological role in detoxifying iron during plastid dedifferentiation occurring in embryogenesis and senescence.
Interface characterization of B4C-based multilayers by X-ray grazing-incidence reflectivity and diffuse scattering
Authors: Jiang Hui , Wang Zhanshan , Zhu Jingtao
Published: March 2013

B4C-based multilayers have important applications for soft to hard X-rays. In this paper, X-ray grazing-incidence reflectivity and diffuse scattering, combining various analysis methods, were used to characterize the structure of B4C-based multilayers including layer thickness, density, interfacial roughness, interdiffusion, correlation length,etc.Quantitative results for W/B4C, Mo/B4C and La/B4C multilayers were compared. W/B4C multilayers show the sharpest interfaces and most stable structures. The roughness replications of La/B4C and Mo/B4C multilayers are not strong, and oxidations and structure expansions are found in the aging process. This work provides guidance for future fabrication and characterization of B4C-based multilayers.
Modelling and optimization of fully flexible assembly systems (F‐FAS)
Authors: Rosati Giulio , Faccio Maurizio , Finetto Christian , Carli Andrea
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The paper aims to address the modelling and optimization of fully flexible assembly systems (F‐FAS), a new concept in flexible automation recently introduced by the authors.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a mathematical model of the F‐FAS, which makes it possible to predict its efficiency, throughput and unit direct production costs, correlating such values with system and production variables. The mathematical model proposed in the paper was derived from experimental and simulation data, which were analysed for a wide range of different productions and system settings.

Findings

Correlation analysis revealed that there are three main determinants of the efficiency of the F‐FAS: the number of components (types of parts) used to assemble the models (production variable); the average complexity of the models to be assembled (production variable); the ratio of the average perimeter of components (production variable) over a significant dimension of the working plane (system variable). Such parameters makes it possible to estimate the maximum attainable efficiency of the F‐FAS, and to calculate the optimal setting of the feeder which makes it possible to obtain such efficiency during the execution of the whole production order.

Originality/value

The model presented in the paper makes it possible to quantify in advance the real potential of the F‐FAS, according to the characteristics of the production mix and type of components to be assembled. By using the methodologies presented in the paper, one can first evaluate the convenience of the F‐FAS approach with respect to traditional FAS technology and manual assembly, then identify the optimal design and settings of the F‐FAS, according to the needs of a specific application. As a result, not only can the investment on the automated assembly system be accurately evaluated in advance, but also the return on investment can be maximized.
Heritage protection in England: the New Labour legacy
Authors: Mansfield John R.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the New Labour governments’ approach to amending the regime for the protection of heritage assets in England.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper critically reviews New Labour policy documents alongside contemporary research‐based literature.

Findings

The terms heritage, conservation and sustainability are increasingly regarded as synonyms. While providing initiatives for the built heritage, New Labour urban policy was set in the context of domestic economic and political restructuring and increased international environmental awareness. This has made managing the heritage environment at both national and local levels more challenging, an aspect that has been exacerbated by the New Labour government's introduction of performance targets and new operational languages.

Originality/value

The paper offers an applied consideration of three specific aspects of recent heritage protection direction.
Facilities management service and customer satisfaction in shopping mall sector
Authors: Hui Eddie C.M. , Zhang Pei‐hua , Zheng Xian
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze crucial facilities management (FM) service dimensions that affect customer satisfaction with regards to the shopping mall sector, and provide useful implications for FM companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a five‐year longitudinal customer satisfaction survey conducted in five selected shopping malls in Hong Kong. The authors first use stepwise multiple regression method to estimate the relationship between overall customer satisfaction level and nine specific dimensions of FM service for each year, and then compare regression results of five years to identify crucial dimensions.

Findings

The research reveals that: management and maintenance of communal facilities is the most crucial dimension with regard to the overall customer satisfaction; the condition of a washroom is another important dimension for customer satisfaction; communication efficiency and efficacious promotion events are also important for maintaining customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

This paper presents a longitudinal quantitative survey regarding shopping mall FM service satisfaction and identifies several critical dimensions affecting customer satisfaction, which deliver useful information for FM managers who intend to fulfil customer expectations.
Social enterprise applications in an urban facilities management setting
Authors: Uzairiah Mohd Tobi Siti , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Mohd Noor Nazali
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The paper seeks to build a theoretical argument on social enterprise applications in an urban facilities management (urban FM) setting, by exploring the concepts of urban FM and its underlying philosophy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an extensive literature review within and around the concept of urban FM and its relationship with social enterprise principles, forming a basis for further research in this area.

Findings

Urban FM could be used as a mechanism to develop the sustainable design and management of community facilities operations by taking social enterprise as an approach to seek a new service delivery model.

Research limitations/implications

There is limited literature relating to urban FM, and it is one of the new critical alignments in FM that is waiting to be explored further. However, within this new exploration of urban FM knowledge, the paper considers a sustainable way of managing community facilities, raising important social implications for the FM industry,

Originality/value

The paper argues that the concept of urban FM and social enterprise principles can be applied in their relationship towards managing community facilities in a sustainable way.
Towards a project alliance value for money framework
Authors: MacDonald Charles , Walker Derek H.T. , Moussa Neveen
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to present and describe a value for money framework that can be used on alliance projects to improve the consideration of, and reporting of, value for money.

Design/methodology/approach

Development of the framework used a combination of interviews with domain experts, reflection on practice and a Delphi panel to develop and refine a value for money/best value outcome framework for alliance projects.

Findings

The results indicate that a robust framework for demonstrating value for money in an alliance project is feasible, and a framework was developed and tested through the Delphi panel.

Research limitations/implications

The paper briefly describes the research approach but focuses on the outcome rather than the process.

Practical implications

The research aim of this paper is to expand the conceptual view and to illustrate how a practical assessment of value for money in project alliancing can be achieved. It presents the framework and describes it in sufficient detail for readers to be able to adopt and adapt it.

Social implications

Value for money in infrastructure projects has profound implications for society; this extends and enhances techniques used to assure value for money.

Originality/value

The paper provides a value for money framework across the whole project design to delivery cycle.
The dual promise of green jobs
Authors: Scully-Russ Ellen
Published: March 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to review the policy literature on green jobs and green jobs training in the USA and to present findings of a qualitative study on the start-up of two Energy Training Partnerships (ETP) funded by the US Department of Labour to train workers for green jobs.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper includes a review of the policy literature, document reviews, and interviews with administrators, employers, educators, workforce officials. The literature presumes green jobs training will help create jobs and that these jobs will provide opportunities for the poor. This study examined these propositions within the context of the ETPs.

Findings

– Stakeholders faced challenges related to a misaligned infrastructure, lack of synchronization in the labour market, and workforce gaps. They responded by coordinating available resources in innovative ways. Though many policy propositions were confirmed, the premise that green jobs are a pathway of poverty was not. Entry requirements were high and programmes lacked funds for long-term education.

Research limitations/implications

– Because the sample was small and little was known about the nature of emerging jobs, more research is needed on green jobs and their skill requirements.

Practical implications

– The study found that coordination on the policy and programme levels helped stakeholders respond to challenges. Also, new opportunities for the poor may be realized by embedding short-term training in a broad continuum of education and strategically linking both to economic development activities.

Originality/value

– Little is known about how training aligns with emerging industries. This study helped fill this gap by examining how stakeholders responded to the demands of the green sector.
Transfer of training: does it truly happen?
Authors: Awais Bhatti Muhammad , Mohamed Battour Mohamed , Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram Veera , Aini Othman Akmal
Published: March 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of selected environmental, situational and individual factors in the training transfer process.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study proposes and tests a framework via structural equation modelling by including supervisor and peer support, instrumentality and learner readiness on 503 Malaysian bank employees. It proposes a modified and improved scale for learner readiness previously developed by Holton et al..

Findings

– As hypothesized, supervisor and peer support increase the motivation level of the trainee to transfer the learned skills. The findings of this study will help researchers to resolve the conflict among past researchers about the role of peer and supervisor support in training transfer process. In addition, an improved scale of learner readiness is used and the result indicates a significant relationship between learner readiness and transfer motivation. Furthermore, this study explains the importance of intrinsic rewards and finds that intrinsic rewards make trainees retain more skills and learned skills are transferred to the work place.

Practical implications

– The findings of this research would be helpful for human resource development professionals to develop effective strategies in order to maximize the training transfer and effectively manage the training program. The findings of this research explained the role of stakeholders – trainers, trainees, supervisors, peers and top management – which will maximize the training transfer at the work place.

Originality/value

– This paper examines new relationships among different factors which resist transfer motivation and training transfer at the workplace.
Open learning within growing businesses
Authors: Klofsten Magnus , Jones-Evans Dylan
Published: March 2013

Purpose

– Understanding the factors behind successful enterprise policy interventions are critical in ensuring effective programme development. The aim of this paper is to analyse an academic-industry initiative in Sweden developed to support knowledge-intensive businesses in expanding their operations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper describes a case study of a specific policy intervention to facilitate further business growth and development. Since 1986, 490 individuals from 194 companies have attended the Business Development Programme (BDP) organised by Linköping University. Through analysing interviews with participants on the programme, the paper examines the origins and motivations behind its creation, management and development.

Findings

– This study finds that future policy interventions in enterprise development must cultivate an open style of learning, similar to the principles of open innovation, which engages directly with the participants, is based on a process of informality and flexibility, reflects the needs of the business and includes engaged programme leadership based on a successful entrepreneurial track record.

Practical implications

– The programme has succeeded through an informal, flexible and needs-orientated approach that essentially reflects the needs of the participating businesses.

Originality/value

– Interventions that are targeted towards supporting established businesses could help to create wealth and employment. However, understanding the factors behind such interventions is critical in ensuring that policymakers design the most relevant programmes to assist support businesses that have the potential to grow.
Ratify, reject or revise: balanced scorecard and universities
Authors: Sayed Naqi
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) in universities. Initially directed toward profit‐oriented businesses, the BSC has since been adopted by many non‐profit organisations with seemingly diverse objectives. A number of primarily publicly‐funded universities and institutions, which are part of these universities, also embarked upon this strategic management approach. They soon discovered that the classical BSC approach and, for that matter, a modified approach suited for non‐profit organisations had to be further modified to suit their unique circumstances. As universities struggle to adapt the BSC approach to fit their needs, questions have been raised whether BSC is an appropriate strategic management tool for universities.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a critical review of the discourse surrounding this issue and BSC of 30 universities around the globe, this article examines the use of BSC in universities.

Findings

It was found that concerns regarding suitability of this approach for universities are not only serious but most universities, by nature or circumstances, are ill positioned to mobilise substantial resources, lay the necessary groundwork and develop systems in order to benefit from this initiative. It was found that universities, which did adopt BSC, have diverse expectations, understanding and implementation strategies. Lack of understanding, an unclear success rate, slower new adoptions and subsequent abandonment of this approach by some of the universities suggest that the BSC approach may have failed to meet expectations.

Originality/value

To date little has been written on the use and suitability of the balanced scorecard in universities.
Language, academic, socio‐cultural and financial adjustments of mainland Chinese students studying in Hong Kong
Authors: Cheung Alan C.K.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine language, academic, social‐cultural and financial adjustments facing mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods and included over 300 mainland Chinese students from seven major universities in Hong Kong. In addition to a survey questionnaire, in‐depth interviews were also conducted. Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit participants.

Findings

The findings indicate that though mainland Chinese students were satisfied with the quality of Hong Kong's higher education, many expressed that they were having language, academic, social and cultural, and financial challenges during their stay in Hong Kong. The results are consistent with the current literature to a large extent with some variations. Few differences were found by gender and between undergraduate and graduate students.

Research limitations/implications

Two thirds of the sample was undergraduate students and only one third graduate students. Future research may want to include an equal number of participants from both groups to get a more balanced view. In addition, since the sample of our sub‐degree students was very small, generalization to this group will be inappropriate. Future studies are needed to explore the unique challenges facing these mainland Chinese students who are pursuing their sub‐degree in Hong Kong.

Originality/value

Most of the current research is limited to mainland Chinese students studying in Western countries, such as the USA, the UK and Australia. Few studies to date examine adjustment problems of mainland Chinese students studying in Hong Kong. There is a need, therefore, to deepen our understanding of the major adjustment issues experienced by these mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong.
Effects of identity processing styles on academic achievement of first year university students
Authors: Seabi Joseph , Payne Jarrod
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Academic achievement of first year university students in the international arena, as well as in South Africa, has been a point of concern for all stakeholders because of high failure and dropout rates. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of identity processing styles on academic achievement in first year university students. This study also explored the composition of students according to their identity processing styles, to determine the predominant identity style.

Design/methodology/approach

A non‐experimental ex post facto research design was employed. A non‐probability purposive sampling was used to select 430 first‐year university students with an average age of 18.94.

Findings

The findings generally revealed a non‐significant relationship between identity processing styles (normative, diffuse‐avoidant, informational) and academic achievement. However, the informational‐oriented students performed significantly better than diffuse‐avoidant group on academic achievement. Although comparable, most of the participants were located within the lower level of identity development (i.e. diffuse‐avoidant processing style), while those with mature sophisticated identity development (i.e. informational) were underrepresented.

Originality/value

This study makes novel contributions to the literature, especially related to the South African context, in view of the fact that most studies conducted in this area have been implemented in developed countries. It also provides insights regarding usage of the Identity Style Inventory in relation to the cultural orientation of South Africa.
Electrodeposition of lead‐free solder alloys
Authors: Goh Yingxin , Haseeb A.S.M.A. , Faizul Mohd Sabri Mohd
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding on the electrodeposition of various lead (Pb)‐free solder alloys, so that new studies can be carried out to solve processing issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the available reports on the electrodeposition of tin (Sn)‐based solder systems and identifies the challenges in this area.

Findings

Compositional control remains a major challenge in this area, where the achievement of desired composition for binary and ternary alloys is subjected to uncertainties. The use of chelating agents in the bath and optimization of parameters can assist the achievement of near‐desired alloy composition. Acidic plating baths are preferred due to their compatibility with photoresists but oxidation of stannous ions causes poor bath stability. Antioxidants, reducing agents and low oxygen overpotential anodes can suppress the oxidation rate and increase the lifespan of plating baths. Apart from chelating agents and antioxidants, various categories of additives can be added to improve quality of deposits. Surfactants, grain refiners and brighteners are routinely used to obtain smooth, fine‐grained and bright deposits with good thermo‐mechanical properties.

Originality/value

The paper provides information on the key issues in electrodeposition of Pb‐free solder alloys. Possible measures to alleviate the issues are suggested so that the electrodeposition technique can be established for mass production of a wider range of solder alloys.