bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transpiration vapour pressures and activities in the molten salt systems ZnCl2 + NaCl and ZnCl2 + KCl
Authors: Bloom H , Spurling TH , Wong J
Published: September 2010

Vapour pressure
measurements were made by a transpiration method for molten zinc chloride and
molten mixtures of this salt with sodium and potassium chlorides, respectively.
Activities of zinc chloride in the mixtures were calculated and from these
values, those of the alkali chloride were calculated by Gibbs-Duhem integration. For this purpose a convenient computer
method has been devised. Although the large deviations of activity and activity
coefficients qualitatively support independent evidence that complex ions are
formed in these systems, the results cannot
quantitatively be explained using a calculation due to Braunstein
in terms of interactions in the melt to form complex ions of a unique type,
e.g. ZnCl3- or ZnCl42-
etc. This indicates that the departure from ideal behaviour needs to be
explained by a more detailed theory.
Synthesis of phenanthroindolizidines. II. The synthesis of (±)-tylocrebrine, (±)-tylophorine, (±)-antofine, and (±)-2,3-dimethoxyphenanthroindolizidine
Authors: Chauncy B , Gellert E
Published: September 2010

A new synthesis of the racemic forms of the phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids, tylocrebine, tylophorine, and antofine, together with the previously unknown 2,3-dimethoxyphenanthroindolizidine, is described. Some features of the n.m.r. spectra of the final products and certain of the synthetic intermediates are discussed.
Charge-transfer and intraligand electronic spectra of bipyridyl complexes of iron, ruthenium, and osmium. I. Bivalent complexes
Authors: Bryant GM , Fergusson JE , Powell HKJ
Published: September 2010

A series of spin-paired
bivalent bipyridyl complexes of iron, ruthenium, and osmium, of the type
[M(bipy)3]2+, [M(bipy)2X2]n+,
[M(bipy)2XY]n+, [M(bipy)X4]n+, [M(bipy)(X2)2]n+,
and [M(bipy)X2Y2]n+ (X and Y include a range
of monodentate ligands and X2 a range of bidentate ligands) have
been prepared. Their electronic spectra within the range 41000-7000 cm-1
have been recorded. All the complexes show two intraligand transitions which
are present in free bipyridyl. The iron and ruthenium complexes have two metal
oxidation charge-transfer bands, while the osmium complexes have a more complex
charge-transfer pattern. Trends in the positions of the bands have been related
to the bonding of the ligands X and Y to the metal ions. It is suggested that
the energy of the metal t2 type orbitals relative to the ligand
π and π* orbitals is the main factor in determining the intense
electronic spectra of these complexes.
Electron impact studies. LXI. Negative-ion mass spectrometry of functional groups: The nitrophenyl trifluoroacetamides
Authors: Bowie JH
Published: September 2010

The three nitrophenyltrifluoroacetamides are readily differentiated
by negative-ion mass spectrometry. Many unusual fragmentations are noted in
these spectra and certain of these have been substantiated by labelling and
defocusing studies.
Terpenoid chemistry. XVIII. Myodesmone and isomyodesmone, toxic furanoid ketones from myoporum deserti and m. acuminatum
Authors: Blackburne ID , Park RJ , Sutherland MD
Published: September 2010

Two furanoid sesquiterpene
ketones (designated myodesmone and isomyo- desmone) have been isolated from the essential oils of
certain varieties of Myoporum deserti A. Cunn. and M.
acuminatum R. Br. and have been shown to be toxic to mice, rats, and sheep. ��� (-)-Isomyodesmone, b.p.
107-109�/1 mm, m.p. 46.5-47�, [α]D -193�, is shown
to be 1S,5S-2-(β-furyl)-5-methylcyclopent-2-enyl
isobutyl ketone and is characterized as a dihydro derivative, m.p. 33-33.5�, and as a glycol, m.p.
173-173.5�. Brief treatment of isomyodesmone with base yields largely the
epimeric epiisomyodesmone while prolonged treatment forms an equilibrium
mixture of 1% (-)-isomyodesmone, 41% of (+)-epiisomyodesmone, and 58% of (-).myodesmone,
oil, b.p. 107-109�/1 mm, [α]D -108�, which is
5S-2-(β-furyl)-5-methylcyclopentenyl isobutyl
ketone. The proposed structures are supported by electronic, p.m.r., and mass spectral evidence and confirmed by the
degradation of isomyodesmone to (+)-dihydrocitronellic acid and myodesmone to
(+)-2- methylglutaric acid. ��� The toxicity to stock of the Jackson
variety of M. deserti known from Jackson, Dulacca, Tchanning Creek, and Myall Park
(and the Chinchilla variety of M. acuminatum) is attributed primarily to the
presence of myodesmone and isomyodesmone which are present in closely equal
amounts and together constitute 50-55% of the whole oil. Alternatively the
plant may contain a toxic ketol precursor which is dehydrated to the
myodesmones during steam distillation of the leaves.
P-Methoxybenzyl esters of amino acids-their preparation and use in peptide synthesis
Authors: Maclaren BJ
Published: September 2010

Various N-protected amino
acids have been alkylated with p- methoxybenzyl chloride to give the
corresponding esters. These were then converted into amino acid p-methoxybenzyl
esters by selective acidolysis of the N-o-nitrophenylsulphenyl and N-trityl
derivatives, or in poor yield by hydrazinolysis of the N-phthaloyl derivative.
S- Benzylcysteine p-methoxybenzyl ester is obtained without racemiza- tion.
These esters have been applied to the syntheses of several dipeptides, the
ester group being cleaved by cold trifluoroacetic acid.
Diterpenoids. XXIX. Ruzicka's hydrocarbon
Authors: Carman RM , Craig WJ
Published: September 2010

The hydrocarbon first
prepared by Ruzicka through the high-temperature acid-catalysed dehydration of
sclareol is shown to be 1,1,5,7- tetramethyl-6-(3?-methylpentyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene
(6).
Shielding of H7β in pyrrolizidine derivatives
Authors: Aasen AJ , Culvenor CCJ , Willing RI
Published: September 2010

The conformations of
3-oxopyrrolizidine derivatives are discussed on the basis of an analysis of the
nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of 3,5-dioxopyrrolizidine and partial data
for methyl 2,3- dioxopyrrolizidine-1-carboxylate and methyl 2β-hydroxy-3-
oxopyrrolizidine-1a-carboxylate. In each compound, H 7β is located forward
into the fold of the rings and is subject to a shielding influence which is
thought to be due to the C 8-C 1 single bond.
Tropical forests were the primary sources of new agricultural land in the 1980s and 1990s
Authors: Gibbs H. K. , Ruesch A. S. , Achard F. , Clayton M. K. , Holmgren P. , Ramankutty N. , Foley J. A.
Published: September 2010

Global demand for agricultural products such as food, feed, and fuel is now a major driver of cropland and pasture expansion across much of the developing world. Whether these new agricultural lands replace forests, degraded forests, or grasslands greatly influences the environmental consequences of expansion. Although the general pattern is known, there still is no definitive quantification of these land-cover changes. Here we analyze the rich, pan-tropical database of classified Landsat scenes created by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations to examine pathways of agricultural expansion across the major tropical forest regions in the 1980s and 1990s and use this information to highlight the future land conversions that probably will be needed to meet mounting demand for agricultural products. Across the tropics, we find that between 1980 and 2000 more than 55% of new agricultural land came at the expense of intact forests, and another 28% came from disturbed forests. This study underscores the potential consequences of unabated agricultural expansion for forest conservation and carbon emissions.
A regulatory toolbox of MiniPromoters to drive selective expression in the brain
Authors: Portales-Casamar Elodie , Swanson Douglas J. , Liu Li , Leeuw Charles N. de , Banks Kathleen G. , Ho Sui Shannan J. , Fulton Debra L. , Ali Johar , Amirabbasi Mahsa , Arenillas David J. , Babyak Nazar , Black Sonia F. , Bonaguro Russell J. , Brauer Erich , Candido Tara R. , Castellarin Mauro , Chen Jing , Chen Ying , Cheng Jason C. Y. , Chopra Vik , Docking T. Roderick , Dreolini Lisa , D'Souza Cletus A. , Flynn Erin K. , Glenn Randy , Hatakka Kristi , Hearty Taryn G. , Imanian Behzad , Jiang Steven , Khorasan-zadeh Shadi , Komljenovic Ivana , Laprise Stéphanie , Liao Nancy Y. , Lim Jonathan S. , Lithwick Stuart , Liu Flora , Liu Jun , Lu Meifen , McConechy Melissa , McLeod Andrea J. , Milisavljevic Marko , Mis Jacek , O'Connor Katie , Palma Betty , Palmquist Diana L. , Schmouth Jean-François , Swanson Magdalena I. , Tam Bonny , Ticoll Amy , Turner Jenna L. , Varhol Richard , Vermeulen Jenny , Watkins Russell F. , Wilson Gary , Wong Bibiana K. Y. , Wong Siaw H. , Wong Tony Y. T. , Yang George S. , Ypsilanti Athena R. , Jones Steven J. M. , Holt Robert A. , Goldowitz Daniel , Wasserman Wyeth W. , Simpson Elizabeth M.
Published: September 2010

The Pleiades Promoter Project integrates genomewide bioinformatics with large-scale knockin mouse production and histological examination of expression patterns to develop MiniPromoters and related tools designed to study and treat the brain by directed gene expression. Genes with brain expression patterns of interest are subjected to bioinformatic analysis to delineate candidate regulatory regions, which are then incorporated into a panel of compact human MiniPromoters to drive expression to brain regions and cell types of interest. Using single-copy, homologous-recombination “knockins” in embryonic stem cells, each MiniPromoter reporter is integrated immediately 5′ of the
Hprt
locus in the mouse genome. MiniPromoter expression profiles are characterized in differentiation assays of the transgenic cells or in mouse brains following transgenic mouse production. Histological examination of adult brains, eyes, and spinal cords for reporter gene activity is coupled to costaining with cell-type–specific markers to define expression. The publicly available Pleiades MiniPromoter Project is a key resource to facilitate research on brain development and therapies.
On the irreducible representations of the alternating group which remain irreducible in characteristic 𝑝
Authors: Fayers Matthew
Published: September 2010

We consider the problem of which ordinary irreducible representations of the alternating group

A

n

\mathfrak {A}_n

remain irreducible modulo a prime

p
p

. We solve this problem for

p
=
2

p=2

, and present a conjecture for odd

p
p

, which we prove in one direction.
Simple sequence-based kernels do not predict protein–protein interactions
Authors: Yu Jiantao , Guo Maozu , Needham Chris J. , Huang Yangchao , Cai Lu , Westhead David R.
Published: August 2010

Motivation: A number of methods have been reported that predict protein–protein interactions (PPIs) with high accuracy using only simple sequence-based features such as amino acid 3mer content. This is surprising, given that many protein interactions have high specificity that depends on detailed atomic recognition between physiochemically complementary surfaces. Are the reported high accuracies realistic?

Results: We find that the reported accuracies of the predictions are significantly over-estimated, and strongly dependent on the structure of the training and testing datasets used. The choice of which protein pairs are deemed as non-interactions in the training data has a variable impact on the accuracy estimates, and the accuracies can be artificially inflated by a bias towards dominant samples in the positive data which result from the presence of hub proteins in the protein interaction network. To address this bias, we propose a positive set-specific method to create a ‘balanced’ negative set maintaining the degree distribution for each protein, leading to the conclusion that simple sequence-based features contain insufficient information to be useful for predicting PPIs, but that protein domain-based features have some predictive value.

Availability: Our method, named ‘BRS-nonint’, is available at http://www.bioinformatics.leeds.ac.uk/BRS-nonint/. All the datasets used in this study are derived from publicly available data, and are available at http://www.bioinformatics.leeds.ac.uk/BRS-nonint/PPI_RandomBalance.html

Contact:  maozuguo@hit.edu.cn; d.r.westhead@leeds.ac.uk
miRNAkey: a software for microRNA deep sequencing analysis
Authors: Ronen Roy , Gan Ido , Modai Shira , Sukacheov Alona , Dror Gideon , Halperin Eran , Shomron Noam
Published: August 2010

Motivation: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short abundant non-coding RNAs critical for many cellular processes. Deep sequencing (next-generation sequencing) technologies are being readily used to receive a more accurate depiction of miRNA expression profiles in living cells. This type of analysis is a key step towards improving our understanding of the complexity and mode of miRNA regulation.

Results: miRNAkey is a software package designed to be used as a base-station for the analysis of miRNA deep sequencing data. The package implements common steps taken in the analysis of such data, as well as adds unique features, such as data statistics and multiple read determination, generating a novel platform for the analysis of miRNA expression. A user-friendly graphical interface is applied to determine the analysis steps. The tabular and graphical output contains general and detailed reports on the sequence reads and provides an accurate picture of the differentially expressed miRNAs in paired samples.

Availability and implementation: See http://ibis.tau.ac.il/miRNAkey

Contact:  nshomron@post.tau.ac.il

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Paraneoplastic Motor Neuron Disease Associated With Purkinje Cell Autoantibody Type 1
Authors: Distad B Jane , Weiss Michael D
Published: August 2010

Motor neuron disease has been reported as a rare result of systemic cancers, likely related to an autoimmune effecter mechanism. These patients have been described as having a more rapid onset of symptoms than typical motor neuron disease. Few of these reports demonstrate an association of a cancer-related autoantibody and with motor neuron disease. We present a 54-year-old woman with infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast who later developed lower motor neuron disease and was found to have Purkinje cell autoantibodies type 1. The association of lower motor neuron disease as a consequence of breast cancer with this autoantibody profile has not been described previously. This report emphasizes the importance of considering a paraneoplastic syndrome in a patient with an uncommon presentation of motor neuron disease.
Adult-Onset Acid Maltase Deficiency With Isolated Axial Muscle Involvement
Authors: Salem Bassel , Thaisetthawatkul Pariwat , Fernandes J Americo , McComb Rodney D
Published: August 2010

Introduction:

We report a patient with acid maltase deficiency who presented with subacute respiratory failure as the first symptom without significant extremity weakness.

Methods and Results:

Electromyography of extremities was normal but showed myopathic changes and myotonic discharges limited to axial muscles only. Muscle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

Conclusion:

It is essential to examine axial muscles during electromyography if a patient presents with respiratory failure of unclear etiology even if the clinical examination does not show significant weakness in the extremities and electromyographic findings in the extremities are unremarkable.
Tumebacillus ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field
Authors: Baek Sang-Hoon , Cui Yingshun , Kim Sun-Chang , Cui Chang-Hao , Yin Chengri , Lee Sung-Taik , Im Wan-Taek
Published: August 2010

A Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium, designated Gsoil 1105T, was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Pocheon Province in South Korea and characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate belongs to the order Bacillales, showing the highest level of sequence similarity with respect to Tumebacillus permanentifrigoris Eur1 9.5T (94.6 %). The phylogenetic distances from other described species with validly published names within the order Bacillales were greater than 9.0 %. Strain Gsoil 1105T had a genomic DNA G+C content of 55.6 mol% and menaquinone 7 (MK-7) as the major respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain Gsoil 1105T represents a novel species of the genus Tumebacillus, for which the name Tumebacillus ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gsoil 1105T ( = KCTC 13942T  = DSM 18389T).
Tel2 structure and function in the Hsp90-dependent maturation of mTOR and ATR complexes
Authors: Takai Hiroyuki , Xie Yihu , de Lange Titia , Pavletich Nikola P.
Published: August 2010

We reported previously that the stability of all mammalian phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related protein kinases (PIKKs) depends on their interaction with Tel2, the ortholog of yeast Tel2 and Caenorhabditis elegans Clk-2. Here we provide evidence that Tel2 acts with Hsp90 in the maturation of PIKK complexes. Quantitative immunoblotting showed that the abundance of Tel2 is low compared with the PIKKs, and Tel2 preferentially bound newly synthesized ATM, ATR, mTOR, and DNA-PKcs. Tel2 complexes contained, in addition to Tti1–Tti2, the Hsp90 chaperone, and inhibition of Hsp90 interfered with the interaction of Tel2 with the PIKKs. Analysis of in vivo labeled nascent protein complexes showed that Tel2 and Hsp90 mediate the formation of the mTOR TORC1 and TORC2 complexes and the association of ATR with ATRIP. The structure of yeast Tel2, reported here, shows that Tel2 consists of HEAT-like helical repeats that assemble into two separate α-solenoids. Through mutagenesis, we identify a surface patch of conserved residues involved in binding to the Tti1–Tti2 complex in vitro. In vivo, mutation of this conserved patch affects cell growth, levels of PIKKs, and ATM/ATR-mediated checkpoint signaling, highlighting the importance of Tti1–Tti2 binding to the function of Tel2. Taken together, our data suggest that the Tel2–Tti1–Tti2 complex is a PIKK-specific cochaperone for Hsp90.
tRNA biology charges to the front
Authors: Phizicky Eric M. , Hopper Anita K.
Published: September 2010

tRNA biology has come of age, revealing an unprecedented level of understanding and many unexpected discoveries along the way. This review highlights new findings on the diverse pathways of tRNA maturation, and on the formation and function of a number of modifications. Topics of special focus include the regulation of tRNA biosynthesis, quality control tRNA turnover mechanisms, widespread tRNA cleavage pathways activated in response to stress and other growth conditions, emerging evidence of signaling pathways involving tRNA and cleavage fragments, and the sophisticated intracellular tRNA trafficking that occurs during and after biosynthesis.
Molecular and Physiological Analysis of Drought Stress in Arabidopsis Reveals Early Responses Leading to Acclimation in Plant Growth
Authors: Harb Amal , Krishnan Arjun , Ambavaram Madana M.R. , Pereira Andy
Published: September 2010

Plant drought stress response and resistance are complex biological processes that need to be analyzed at a systems level using genomics and physiological approaches to dissect experimental models that address drought stresses encountered by crops in the field. Toward this goal, a controlled, sublethal, moderate drought (mDr) treatment system was developed in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) as a reproducible assay for the dissection of plant responses to drought. The drought assay was validated using Arabidopsis mutants in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and signaling displaying drought sensitivity and in jasmonate response mutants showing drought resistance, indicating the crucial role of ABA and jasmonate signaling in drought response and acclimation. A comparative transcriptome analysis of soil water deficit drought stress treatments revealed the similarity of early-stage mDr to progressive drought, identifying common and specific stress-responsive genes and their promoter cis-regulatory elements. The dissection of mDr stress responses using a time-course analysis of biochemical, physiological, and molecular processes revealed early accumulation of ABA and induction of associated signaling genes, coinciding with a decrease in stomatal conductance as an early avoidance response to drought stress. This is accompanied by a peak in the expression of expansin genes involved in cell wall expansion, as a preparatory step toward drought acclimation by the adjustment of the cell wall. The time-course analysis of mDr provides a model with three stages of plant responses: an early priming and preconditioning stage, followed by an intermediate stage preparatory for acclimation, and a late stage of new homeostasis with reduced growth.
How can employee engagement be improved at the RRG Group? Part 2
Authors: Evans Cheryl , Redfern David C.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

This is the second section of a two‐part study of employee engagement. The first part, in the previous issue (Vol. 42, No. 5, 2010), explored the literature that places this study in context. The key aim of the study is to assess the main factors encouraging or preventing employee engagement, focusing specifically on staff employed within nine Toyota branches of the RRG Group.

Design/methodology/approach

The main methods used to investigate employee engagement were: assessing the qualitative data through attitudinal surveys, analyzing complete customer satisfaction (CCS) scores and telephone interviews with previous employees who had voluntarily resigned between January and June 2009.

Findings

The business has been called the RRG Group Limited which operates within the UK Motor Retail Industry and was acquired by the Top Fortune 500 Japanese Corporation Marubeni in 2000. The Group employs approximately 650 and consists of 19 dealerships that are located in the North West of England, comprising Lexus, Peugeot, Mazda and Toyota franchises, in addition to two Accident Repair Centres. The Group is now one of the largest Toyota retail groups within Europe. The main conclusions are that engagement levels across the nine RRG Toyota franchises appear fairly high within the majority of the branches. However, there are key factors which appear to be preventing engagement at particular branches which need to be addressed in order to improve engagement such as communication, remuneration, the branch induction process and work/life balance.

Practical implications

The primary recommendations include leadership development for management in certain skills, a focus on fostering a two‐way conversation with employees and finally to continuously monitor and evaluate practices through annual attitudinal surveys and setting realistic action plans in order to make improvements.

Originality/value

The nature of the challenge for management in securing engagement and improving work performance is explored.
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Authors: Little Jennifer J. , Fallon Moira , Dauenhauer Jason , Balzano Betsy , Halquist Donald
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Many colleges and universities require both undergraduate and graduate students to plan and conduct research as a part of graduation requirements. However, a number of barriers exist for both instructors and students in understanding and conducting research. A small group of, The College at Brockport, instructors who had taught introductory research and research methodology gathered together with librarians as a faculty learning community (FLC) to share information about their instructional methods for teaching research skills. The paper aims to discuss this initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an initiative to foster career‐span faculty development, The College at Brockport made a three‐year commitment to implement a variety of topic‐based FLCs beginning in the fall 2008 semester.

Findings

Like librarians across the country Brockport librarians have been creating research guides, or “pathfinders,” for decades. The term “pathfinder” was coined in the early 1970s when MIT librarians developed lists of resources and references pertaining to subject disciplines. When LibGuides are marketed, it is not surprising that libraries are quick to adopt this platform to produce pathfinders. LibGuides are chosen because they provide a convenient and simple way to create and update research guides using a live interface, employ web 2.0 technologies in a user‐friendly format, and encourage collaboration.

Originality/value

Based on the evaluative and qualitative feedback the LibGuide has been refined further. It is a guide that will be under modification as more faculty and students use it.
Generation next: recruiting minority students to librarianship
Authors: Love Emily
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Considering the shortage of minority representation in the library profession, this paper aims to examine minority students' awareness of librarianship and investigates the impact of marketing academic librarianship to students at the campus' cultural centers as a recruitment method.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyses previous studies and provides results from a survey distributed to minority students at two of the cultural centers and at the Summer Research Opportunities Program, a program that prepares minority students for graduate studies.

Findings

Results indicate a connection between presentations to students about academic librarianship and their interest in pursuing the profession. Findings highlight students' lack of awareness of librarian job responsibilities and the findings also highlight students' preferred methods for continued mentorship and support.

Research limitations/implications

More qualitative research would prove valuable to gain in‐depth feedback from students about their understanding of the library profession and what factors are most and least likely to attract them to the profession. A second paper is planned to investigate the number of students who pursued a library degree that attended one of these sessions.

Practical implications

The paper highlights a simple, affordable and replicable alternative to time‐intensive and heavily subsidized recruitment programs.

Social implications

As the population becomes more diverse and patron needs change, the library profession, which is predominantly white, will need to diversify to reflect patrons' increasingly diverse needs.

Originality/value

Many large‐scale recruitment initiatives recruit minority students to academic librarianship. This paper describes a small‐scale and effective approach to minority student recruitment.
Principles of employment relations in Islam: a normative view
Authors: Syed Jawad , Ali Abbas J.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a normative perspective of employment relations in Islam.

Design/methodology/approach

The perspective on employment relations offered in this paper is based on a reading of the principal Islamic texts (the Qur'an and the hadith) and a review of the literature on Islamic economics.

Findings

Despite varied interpretations and practices of the economic system in Islam, it is possible to identify a common emphasis on ethical conduct of employers and employees and social justice in Islamic ideology.

Originality/value

Given the paucity of research on employment relations in Islam, the paper offers an original perspective on this topic.
Risk‐return trade‐offs to different educational paths: vocational, academic and mixed
Authors: Tuor Simone N. , Backes‐Gellner Uschi
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rates of return and the risks of different types of educational paths – all leading to a tertiary educational degree. The paper seeks to distinguish a purely academic educational path from a purely vocational path and a mixed path with loops through both systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper studies the labor market outcome to compare earnings and calculate net return rates as well as risk measures to investigate whether different educational paths are characterized by different risk‐return trade‐offs. Entrepreneurs are separated from employees in order to examine whether for the same combination of education the labour market outcomes differ between the two groups.

Findings

The empirical results are based on the Swiss Labor Force Survey (SLFS) and demonstrate that mixed educational paths are well rewarded in the labor market. However, for entrepreneurs a high return is also associated with a high income variance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide evidence for the existence of complementarities between vocational and academic education. Further research on mixed educational paths might provide more insight into this presumed relationship.

Practical implications

Since the results indicate that mixed educational paths are a worthwhile strategy, the permeability of a national education system is a very important educational policy issue.

Originality/value

The study is innovative in three ways: first, it focuses on complete educational paths and not just the highest educational degree. Second, an alternative measure, the Baldwin rate of return, is used to assess the profitability attached to different educational paths. Third, the income risk associated with each educational path is calculated.
Resources in vocational education and post‐schooling outcomes
Authors: Maliranta Mika , Nurmi Satu , Virtanen Hanna
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of labour market outcomes after the initial vocational basic education (ISCED 3).

Design/methodology/approach

A multinomial logit model is used for examining the effect of school resources and other factors on students' post‐schooling outcomes defined as employment, further studies, non‐employment and dropping out. Analysis has been done by using unique linked register data on students, their parents, teachers, educational organisations and business companies in Finland.

Findings

The results indicate that teaching expenditures do not matter but teachers' characteristics have a role to play. Teachers with a university degree increase the employment probability of the students, whereas the formal competence of the teachers does not have such positive effects. The students' characteristics and performance in comprehensive schools play an important role in determining the outcomes. Local business conditions affect the outcomes of boys but less those of girls. The official quality evaluations adopted in recent years seem to pay attention especially to such aspects of education production that are important for providing capabilities for further studies but less so for employability.

Originality/value

Employability seems to be a great challenge to the initial vocational basic education. The findings for local business conditions give support to the view that measures of education policy do not suffice but need to be complemented with those of regional or employment policy, for example, policies aiming to increase regional mobility of the labour force. Such complementary tools are particularly important for boys.
The facilities manager preparing for climate change related disaster
Authors: Warren Clive M.J.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

Climate change is predicted to have a significant effect on the frequency of extreme weather events and the occurrence of natural disasters. There is a need for facilities managers to mitigate against potential disruption and prepare for future events. Current practice, however, as illustrated by the literature shows that little risk assessment is currently undertaken with few organisations preparing integrated disaster management plans or business continuity plans to help them meet the challenge. This paper aims to describe the current climate change predictions and the likely consequences for building assets in the face of extreme weather events.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper was based on literature review of current climate change data and published research and guidance for facilities managers in preparing risk assessment and disaster plans.

Findings

The research reveals that there exists a divergence between current scientific data relating to potential effects of climate change on the built environment and the level of disaster planning and organisational resilience to extreme weather events.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides an overview of the recent changes in disaster occurrence and the potential for increasing climate‐related crisis and disasters which have potential to significantly compromise the ongoing use of an organisation's facilities. The paper concludes that facilities managers need to be proactive in their risk assessment and disaster planning.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the potential for increased climate change‐related natural disasters. Property assets are likely to be significantly impacted and as a consequence facilities disaster plans should address the issue of natural disaster preparedness. Current literature reveals a limited level of disaster planning is occurring.

Originality/value

The paper provides an important link between current climate change predictions, the increasing levels of natural disasters resulting from climate change and the potential for significant disruption to business facilities. The paper builds on earlier research highlighting the potential for climate‐related natural disaster.
Literature review on design terror mitigation for facility managers in public access buildings
Authors: Lavy Sarel , Dixit Manish K.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify key risks that are posed to the security of a site and building perimeters in the first and second lines of defense against terrorism, and are relevant to facility managers.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach to the literature review was applied. This involved an extensive literature search of existing peer‐reviewed research papers, as well as state and federal reports to mark crucial issues relating to the security of a facility. Strategies to deal with the critical issues pertaining to the security of a facility were reviewed, based on the literature.

Findings

The paper identifies major security risks suggested by the literature and lists strategies to address those risks. The paper also proposes recommendations made by the literature; their implementation may provide a higher level of security to key areas located in the first and second lines of building defense.

Practical implications

The site and building perimeter areas that offer great potential for avoiding and deterring terror attacks are often neglected in terms of security planning, which seriously hampers efforts to provide an enhanced level of security to the facility. The paper points out these areas and major security issues related to them, so they can be taken care of by design professionals as well as facility managers.

Originality/value

The paper provides a comprehensive and detailed review of various aspects tied to the security level of critical areas of the building and site perimeters that could be useful to facility managers of critical facilities.
Proactive orientation and its influence for technology acquisition
Authors: Haro‐Domínguez Carmen , Ortega‐Egea Teresa , Tamayo‐Torres Ignacio
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the influence of the manager's strategic orientation concerning technology acquisition and its repercussions for the firm's performance.

Design/methodology/approach

These relationships are studied using a sample of Spanish engineering consulting firms, most of them small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises.

Findings

The results obtained show that the proactive character adopted by managers will directly influence the decision‐making process concerning technology acquisitions. Managers with a proactive strategic orientation adopt both internal technological development and the external acquisition of technology, but a slight preference is observed for internal development, even though it achieves considerably less satisfactory results than those achieved with external technology acquisition.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is exploratory in character, and its goal is to show whether interrelations exist between the variables. The sample refers only to engineering consultancies. Another limitation is the cross‐sectional character of the analysis performed.

Practical implications

To obtain perfect adaptation of the firm to its environment, it is crucial that the manager be committed on both the tactical and the operating strategic levels. The paper shows the important role of the manager's strategic orientation in his or her decisions on technology acquisition. Success in this kind of decision is of vital importance to the firm. The high costs of internal development prevent immediate profits, and external acquisition brings high risks.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to stimulate new lines of research regarding these two variables (technology acquisition and manager's strategic orientation) and their repercussions for the firm.
A counterfeit network analyzer based on RFID and EPC
Authors: Kwok S.K. , Ting S.L. , Tsang Albert H.C. , Cheung C.F.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the design of a counterfeit network analyzer (CNA) for aggregating all the problematic product flows in order to discover any counterfeit distribution source, and to control the spread of counterfeit goods. The analyzer leverages radio frequency identification (RFID) information stored within the electronic product code (EPC) network.

Design/methodology/approach

The system architecture of the proposed CNA is first discussed. A case study of the system application in a Hong Kong pharmaceutical manufacturing company then presents the adoption process and the challenges encountered in such technologies.

Findings

Compared with traditional approaches, the results show that the proposed RFID solution is reliable and is capable of discovering counterfeit distributions, as well as reducing the detection costs by means of higher product movement visibility within the supply chain.

Practical implications

A prototype system has been constructed and trial implemented in a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. It proved to be of benefit to the manufacturer who is able to deter product counterfeiting effectively and visualize real‐time supply chain data automatically.

Originality/value

The proposed CNA is designed to overcome issues of information invisibility, which is considered a huge cost lost in the identification of counterfeit products, loss of sales and reputation associated with the counterfeiting, and ineffective product authentication in the manufacturing industry. This paper contributes to the RFID research in the counterfeiting area by studying the feasibility and practicality of shifting the focus of product identification from the traditional package redesign solutions to the visualization of the movement of the product (i.e. product supply chain) via the use of RFID and EPC. Furthermore, a pharmaceutical manufacturing site provided a case study for discussing the advantages, critical issues for implementation of the RFID system, and lessons learned.
Strategy development by small scale industries in India
Authors: Singh Rajesh K. , Garg Suresh K. , Deshmukh S.G.
Published: August 2010

Purpose

In the present scenario of e‐globalization, small scale industries (SSIs) are considered engine for economic growth all over the world. After markets globalization, SSIs are facing many pressures and constraints to sustain their competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to examine various issues in context of Indian SSIs such as nature of pressures and constraints, competitive priorities, competencies development, areas of investment, and their relationship with performance.

Design/methodology/approach

For collecting data, a questionnaire‐based survey was conducted. In total, 75 valid responses were received. Statistical analysis of data acquired from survey is done by reliability test, t‐test, and correlation analysis.

Findings

Cost reduction, quality improvement, and delivery in time have emerged as major challenges for SSIs. Market research, welfare of employees, and research and development are found as major areas for investment. Use of information technology, training of employees, and research and development has significant relationship with performance.

Research limitations/implications

Organizations should develop their strategies after analysing business environment and SSIs should utilize their resources judiciously. However, it is felt that this study can be further explored by considering other aspects of strategy development such as human resource, vendor development, organization culture, etc.

Originality/value

Findings and issues of the paper will be highly useful for SSIs in framing their strategies, and academia for further research in the context of changing market scenario.
Selection, implementation and use of ERP systems for supply chain performance management
Authors: Forslund Helena , Jonsson Patrik
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to explore how supply chain performance management (PM) is affected by the decisions made in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system lifecycle phases.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in a multiple case study of four manufacturing companies.

Findings

Four PM activities and three ERP system lifecycle phases were described and analyzed. Eight propositions were generated from theory and the case analyses. Detailed demand specifications could have improved target setting and reporting possibilities, PM education and training seem to be important in both the implementation and the use phase and supply chain PM is highly affected in the use phase.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is explorative. A required next step would be to test the generated propositions on a larger population.

Practical implications

Propositions of what supply chain PM issues manufacturing companies should consider in the ERP system selection, implementation and use phases are presented. The results indicate that a lot of supply chain PM improvements can be realized within the use phase of an existing ERP system.

Originality/value

No previous paper has focused upon how to consider supply chain PM when implementing ERP systems. This is needed because previous studies have identified ERP systems as obstacles for supply chain PM.
Sustaining effective business value chain: future challenges
Authors: Phusavat Kongkiti , Kess Pekka , Law Kris M.Y. , Kanchana Rapee
Published: August 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe key factors in sustaining effective business value chains for companies operating in the electronic industry and identify their potential future challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology includes the survey development, the hypothesis development, and the statistical analyses, especially the Pearson correlation. Altogether, a total of 129 firms participated in this study – 97 companies from Hong Kong/China and 32 firms from Thailand. Included in this methodology are a pre‐test of a survey, a development of the research hypotheses, and follow‐up discussions with participating executives on possible future challenges for their business value chains.

Findings

An effective business value chain essentially depends on a good internal operational system and constructive relationships with suppliers and customers. In other words, the collective efficacy depends on a manufacturer's internal operations (IO) and its supplier and customer partnership. Owing to the extensive information and communication technology (ICT) applications, the concern relating to schedule nervousness has been greatly reduced.

Practical implications

The key future challenges for an electronic manufacturer's business value chains are ICT standardization (i.e. data harmonization) for better sharing and transfer with both customers and suppliers and within a manufacturer's IO, and risk management.

Originality/value

The findings underline the importance of data harmonization and an adaptation of ICT standards such as control objectives for information and related technology and projects in controlled environment for managing design and deployment of ICT projects and their related risks.
Reduced numerical solution times for combined boundary‐initial value problems using parallel computing
Authors: Salimi Behnam , Hayhurst David R.
Published: August 2010

Purpose — The purpose of this paper is to seek improved solution techniques for combined boundary‐initial value problems (IVPs) associated with the time‐dependent creep deformation and rupture of engineering structures at high temperatures and hence to reconfigure a parallel iterative preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) solver and the DAMAGE XXX software, for 3‐D finite element creep continuum damage mechanics (CDM) analysis.Design/methodology/approach — The potential to speed up the computer numerical solution of the combined BV‐IVPs is addressed using parallel computers. Since the computational bottleneck is associated with the matrix solver, the parallelisation of a direct and an iterative solver has been studied. The creep deformation and rupture of a tension bar has been computed for a range of the number of degrees of freedom (ndf), and the performance of the two solvers is compared and assessed.Findings — The results show the superior scalability of the iterative solver compared to the direct solver, with larger speed‐ups gained by the PCG solver for higher degrees of freedom. Also, a new algorithm for the first trial solution of the PCG solver provides additional speed‐ups.Research limitations/implications — The results show that the ideal parallel speed‐up of the iterative solver of 16, relative to two processors, is achieved when using 32 processors for a mesh of ndf = 153,238. Originality/value — Techniques have been established in this paper for the parallelisation of CDM creep analysis software using an iterative equation solver. The significant computational speed‐ups achieved will enable the analysis of failures in weldments of industrial significance.