bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water relations of selected wallum species in dry sclerophyll woodland on the lower north coast of New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Rutherford Susan , Griffith Stephen J. , Warwick Nigel W. M.
Published: April 2013

The present study examined the water relations of wallum dry sclerophyll woodland on the lower north coast of New South Wales (NSW). Wallum is the regionally distinct vegetation of Quaternary dunefields and beach ridge plains along the eastern coast of Australia. Wallum sand masses contain large aquifers, and previous studies have suggested that many of the plant species may be groundwater dependent. However, the extent of this dependency is largely unknown, despite an increasing reliance on the aquifers for groundwater extraction. Fifteen species from five growth-form categories and seven plant families were investigated. The pre-dawn and midday xylem water potential (ψx) of all species was monitored over a 20-month period from December 2007 to July 2009. Pressure–volume curve traits were determined for each species in late autumn 2008, including the osmotic potential at full (π100) and zero (π0) turgor, and bulk modulus of elasticity (ε). Carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) were determined in mid-autumn 2008 to measure water use efficiency (WUE). Comparative differences in water relations could be loosely related to growth forms. A tree (Eucalyptus racemosa subsp. racemosa) and most large shrubs had low midday ψx, π100 and π0, and high ε and WUE; whereas the majority of small and medium shrubs had high midday ψx, π100 and π0, and low ε and WUE. However, some species of similar growth form displayed contrasting behaviour in their water relations (e.g. the herbs Caustis recurvata var. recurvata and Hypolaena fastigiata), and such differences require further investigation. The results suggest that E. racemosa subsp. racemosa is likely to be groundwater dependent, and large shrubs such as Banksia aemula may also utilise groundwater. Both species are widespread in wallum, and therefore have the potential to play a key role in monitoring ecosystem health where aquifers are subject to groundwater extraction.
Characterization of pathogenic human monoclonal autoantibodies against GM-CSF
Authors: Wang Yanni , Thomson Christy A. , Allan Lenka L. , Jackson Linda M. , Olson Melanie , Hercus Timothy R. , Nero Tracy L. , Turner Amanda , Parker Michael W. , Lopez Angel L. , Waddell Thomas K. , Anderson Gary P. , Hamilton John A. , Schrader John W.
Published: April 2013

The origin of pathogenic autoantibodies remains unknown. Idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is caused by autoantibodies against granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We generated 19 monoclonal autoantibodies against GM-CSF from six patients with idiopathic pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. The autoantibodies used multiple V genes, excluding preferred V-gene use as an etiology, and targeted at least four nonoverlapping epitopes on GM-CSF, suggesting that GM-CSF is driving the autoantibodies and not a B-cell epitope on a pathogen cross-reacting with GM-CSF. The number of somatic mutations in the autoantibodies suggests that the memory B cells have been helped by T cells and re-entered germinal centers. All autoantibodies neutralized GM-CSF bioactivity, with general correlations to affinity and off-rate. The binding of certain autoantibodies was changed by point mutations in GM-CSF that reduced binding to the GM-CSF receptor. Those monoclonal autoantibodies that potently neutralize GM-CSF may be useful in treating inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, cancer, and pain.
Viscosity of
α
-pinene secondary organic material and implications for particle growth and reactivity
Authors: Renbaum-Wolff Lindsay , Grayson James W. , Bateman Adam P. , Kuwata Mikinori , Sellier Mathieu , Murray Benjamin J. , Shilling John E. , Martin Scot T. , Bertram Allan K.
Published: April 2013

Particles composed of secondary organic material (SOM) are abundant in the lower troposphere. The viscosity of these particles is a fundamental property that is presently poorly quantified yet required for accurate modeling of their formation, growth, evaporation, and environmental impacts. Using two unique techniques, namely a “bead-mobility” technique and a “poke-flow” technique, in conjunction with simulations of fluid flow, the viscosity of the water-soluble component of SOM produced by
α
-pinene ozonolysis is quantified for 20- to 50-μm particles at 293–295 K. The viscosity is comparable to that of honey at 90% relative humidity (RH), similar to that of peanut butter at 70% RH, and at least as viscous as bitumen at ≤30% RH, implying that the studied SOM ranges from liquid to semisolid or solid across the range of atmospheric RH. These data combined with simple calculations or previous modeling studies are used to show the following: (
i
) the growth of SOM by the exchange of organic molecules between gas and particle may be confined to the surface region of the particles for RH ≤ 30%; (
ii
) at ≤30% RH, the particle-mass concentrations of semivolatile and low-volatility organic compounds may be overpredicted by an order of magnitude if instantaneous equilibrium partitioning is assumed in the bulk of SOM particles; and (
iii
) the diffusivity of semireactive atmospheric oxidants such as ozone may decrease by two to five orders of magnitude for a drop in RH from 90% to 30%. These findings have possible consequences for predictions of air quality, visibility, and climate.
Modulation of the endoplasmic reticulum–mitochondria interface in Alzheimer’s disease and related models
Authors: Hedskog Louise , Pinho Catarina Moreira , Filadi Riccardo , Rönnbäck Annica , Hertwig Laura , Wiehager Birgitta , Larssen Pia , Gellhaar Sandra , Sandebring Anna , Westerlund Marie , Graff Caroline , Winblad Bengt , Galter Dagmar , Behbahani Homira , Pizzo Paola , Glaser Elzbieta , Ankarcrona Maria
Published: April 2013

It is well-established that subcompartments of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are in physical contact with the mitochondria. These lipid raft-like regions of ER are referred to as mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs), and they play an important role in, for example, lipid synthesis, calcium homeostasis, and apoptotic signaling. Perturbation of MAM function has previously been suggested in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as shown in fibroblasts from AD patients and a neuroblastoma cell line containing familial presenilin-2 AD mutation. The effect of AD pathogenesis on the ER–mitochondria interplay in the brain has so far remained unknown. Here, we studied ER–mitochondria contacts in human AD brain and related AD mouse and neuronal cell models. We found uniform distribution of MAM in neurons. Phosphofurin acidic cluster sorting protein-2 and σ1 receptor, two MAM-associated proteins, were shown to be essential for neuronal survival, because siRNA knockdown resulted in degeneration. Up-regulated MAM-associated proteins were found in the AD brain and amyloid precursor protein (APP)
Swe
/Lon
mouse model, in which up-regulation was observed before the appearance of plaques. By studying an ER–mitochondria bridging complex, inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor–voltage-dependent anion channel, we revealed that nanomolar concentrations of amyloid β-peptide increased inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate receptor and voltage-dependent anion channel protein expression and elevated the number of ER–mitochondria contact points and mitochondrial calcium concentrations. Our data suggest an important role of ER–mitochondria contacts and cross-talk in AD pathology.
Predicting the functional consequences of cancer-associated amino acid substitutions
Authors: Shihab Hashem A. , Gough Julian , Cooper David N. , Day Ian N. M. , Gaunt Tom R.
Published: April 2013

Motivation: The number of missense mutations being identified in cancer genomes has greatly increased as a consequence of technological advances and the reduced cost of whole-genome/whole-exome sequencing methods. However, a high proportion of the amino acid substitutions detected in cancer genomes have little or no effect on tumour progression (passenger mutations). Therefore, accurate automated methods capable of discriminating between driver (cancer-promoting) and passenger mutations are becoming increasingly important. In our previous work, we developed the Functional Analysis through Hidden Markov Models (FATHMM) software and, using a model weighted for inherited disease mutations, observed improved performances over alternative computational prediction algorithms. Here, we describe an adaptation of our original algorithm that incorporates a cancer-specific model to potentiate the functional analysis of driver mutations.

Results: The performance of our algorithm was evaluated using two separate benchmarks. In our analysis, we observed improved performances when distinguishing between driver mutations and other germ line variants (both disease-causing and putatively neutral mutations). In addition, when discriminating between somatic driver and passenger mutations, we observed performances comparable with the leading computational prediction algorithms: SPF-Cancer and TransFIC.

Availability and implementation: A web-based implementation of our cancer-specific model, including a downloadable stand-alone package, is available at http://fathmm.biocompute.org.uk.

Contact:  fathmm@biocompute.org.uk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Shimmer: detection of genetic alterations in tumors using next-generation sequence data
Authors: Hansen Nancy F. , Gartner Jared J. , Mei Lan , Samuels Yardena , Mullikin James C.
Published: April 2013

Motivation: Extensive DNA sequencing of tumor and matched normal samples using exome and whole-genome sequencing technologies has enabled the discovery of recurrent genetic alterations in cancer cells, but variability in stromal contamination and subclonal heterogeneity still present a severe challenge to available detection algorithms.

Results: Here, we describe publicly available software, Shimmer, which accurately detects somatic single-nucleotide variants using statistical hypothesis testing with multiple testing correction. This program produces somatic single-nucleotide variant predictions with significantly higher sensitivity and accuracy than other available software when run on highly contaminated or heterogeneous samples, and it gives comparable sensitivity and accuracy when run on samples of high purity.

Availability:  http://www.github.com/nhansen/Shimmer

Contact:  nhansen@mail.nih.gov

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Structural RNA alignment by multi-objective optimization
Authors: Schnattinger Thomas , Schöning Uwe , Kestler Hans A.
Published: April 2013

Motivation: The calculation of reliable alignments for structured RNA is still considered as an open problem. One approach is the incorporation of secondary structure information into the optimization criteria by using a weighted sum of sequence and structure components as an objective function. As it is not clear how to choose the weighting parameters, we use multi-objective optimization to calculate a set of Pareto-optimal RNA sequence-structure alignments. The solutions in this set then represent all possible trade-offs between the different objectives, independent of any previous weighting.

Results: We present a practical multi-objective dynamic programming algorithm, which is a new method for the calculation of the set of Pareto-optimal solutions to the pairwise RNA sequence-structure alignment problem. In selected examples, we show the usefulness of this approach, and its advantages over state-of-the-art single-objective algorithms.

Availability and implementation: The source code of our software (ISO C++11) is freely available at http://sysbio.uni-ulm.de/?Software and is licensed under the GNU GPLv3.

Contact:  hans.kestler@uni-ulm.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect or not? Detecting the main foreground effect of most galaxy clusters
Authors: Xiao Weike , Chen Chen , Zhang Bin , Wu Yongfeng , Dai Mi
Published: April 2013

Galaxy clusters are the most massive objects in the Universe and comprise a high-temperature intracluster medium of about 107 K, believed to offer a main foreground effect for cosmic microwave background (CMB) data in the form of the thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (SZ) effect. This assumption has been confirmed by SZ signal detection in hundreds of clusters but, in comparison with the huge numbers of clusters within optically selected samples from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data, this only accounts for a few per cent of clusters. Here we introduce a model-independent new method to confirm the assumption that most galaxy clusters can offer the thermal SZ signal as their main foreground effect. For the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) seven-year data (and a given galaxy cluster sample), we introduced a parameter d1 as the nearest-neighbour cluster angular distance of each pixel, then we classified data pixels as ‘to be’ (d1 → 0 case) or ‘not to be’ (d1 large enough) affected by the sample clusters. By comparing the statistical results of these two kinds of pixels, we can see how the sample clusters affect the CMB data directly. We find that the Planck Early Sunyaev–Zel’dovich (ESZ) sample and X-ray samples (∼102 clusters) can lead to obvious temperature depression in the WMAP seven-year data, which confirms the SZ effect prediction. However, each optically selected sample (>104 clusters) shows an opposite result: the mean temperature rises to about 10 μK. This unexpected qualitative scenario implies that the main foreground effect of most clusters is not always the expected SZ effect. This may be the reason why the SZ signal detection result is lower than expected from the model.
MERS-coronavirus replication induces severe in vitro cytopathology and is strongly inhibited by cyclosporin A or interferon-α treatment
Authors: de Wilde Adriaan H. , Raj V. Stalin , Oudshoorn Diede , Bestebroer Theo M. , van Nieuwkoop Stefan , Limpens Ronald W. A. L. , Posthuma Clara C. , van der Meer Yvonne , Bárcena Montserrat , Haagmans Bart L. , Snijder Eric J. , van den Hoogen Bernadette G.
Published: April 2013

Coronavirus (CoV) infections are commonly associated with respiratory and enteric disease in humans and animals. The 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) highlighted the potentially lethal consequences of CoV-induced disease in humans. In 2012, a novel CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus; MERS-CoV) emerged, causing 49 human cases thus far, of which 23 had a fatal outcome. In this study, we characterized MERS-CoV replication and cytotoxicity in human and monkey cell lines. Electron microscopy of infected Vero cells revealed extensive membrane rearrangements, including the formation of double-membrane vesicles and convoluted membranes, which have been implicated previously in the RNA synthesis of SARS-CoV and other CoVs. Following infection, we observed rapidly increasing viral RNA synthesis and release of high titres of infectious progeny, followed by a pronounced cytopathology. These characteristics were used to develop an assay for antiviral compound screening in 96-well format, which was used to identify cyclosporin A as an inhibitor of MERS-CoV replication in cell culture. Furthermore, MERS-CoV was found to be 50–100 times more sensitive to alpha interferon (IFN-α) treatment than SARS-CoV, an observation that may have important implications for the treatment of MERS-CoV-infected patients. MERS-CoV infection did not prevent the IFN-induced nuclear translocation of phosphorylated STAT1, in contrast to infection with SARS-CoV where this block inhibits the expression of antiviral genes. These findings highlight relevant differences between these distantly related zoonotic CoVs in terms of their interaction with and evasion of the cellular innate immune response.
Soft leadership: a new direction to leadership
Authors: Rao M.S.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore a new leadership style – “soft leadership” – which is needed in a interconnected, global, and technocratic world.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a combination of research into a new leadership style with a question and answer session during an International Leadership Association (ILA) webinar.

Findings

The paper discovers how the soft leaders adopt tools such as influence, persuasion, negotiation, appreciation, motivation, and collaboration for the collective good. It explains how soft leadership is different from other leadership styles. It describes the significance of soft leadership and differentiates between soft and hard leadership through examples. It substantiates with Dave Ulrich's Leadership Code. It provides the questions posed by participants during the webinar organized by International Leadership Association (ILA) with answers. It calls upon readers to consider how leadership insights acquired from this manuscript may be applied individually and organizationally to make a difference in the lives of others.

Originality/value

The 11 C's that collectively constitute soft leadership is a unique concept. Globally renowned management guru, Dave Ulrich mapped 11 C's into a leadership code on the author's request which added value to this new concept. Participation of international leadership experts and their questions during the ILA webinar with the author's spontaneous answers further enriched this concept.
How definitions of talent suppress talent management
Authors: Ross Suzanne
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the limitations of popular approaches to defining talent, where definitions are focused on determining specific attributes that differentiate someone as talent. It is suggested that rather than focus solely on definitions of talent, considering talent and success as distinct and separate enables a more holistic approach to engaging talent and enabling its potential.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a definition of talent which remains a core premise by which organizations seek to define their talent and considers the inherent flaws in this premise. It draws on literature, early doctoral research and practitioner experience in international talent management to debate the merits for talent management practitioners of focusing on talent differentiation based on complex and ambiguous definitions of talent.

Findings

As definitions of talent are complex, ambiguous and incomplete, there can never be a “one size fits all”. Understanding this ambiguity enables organizations to identify possible flaws in their approach to defining talent. Considering the distinct and separate notions of talent and success empowers organizations to ask more relevant questions around how employees are encouraged to leverage the talents they do have into success.

Originality/value

Most talent management processes are driven by the need to define and identify characteristics which indicate greater ability when compared to others. This is still the focus of much talent management literature. This paper encourages organizations to instead focus on how individuals can use the talents they have to be successful personally and in a way that is aligned to the organization.
The emergence of (post) academic courses in occupational safety and health: the example of Portugal
Authors: Arezes Pedro M. , Swuste Paul
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to present the results of a survey of post‐graduate and MSc courses on occupational safety and health and it is restricted to three Portuguese university courses of EQF level 7.

Design/methodology/approach

Course coordinators were interviewed, in half structured sessions, addressing four main topics: the course structure, certification, quality system and changes implemented, and finally research activities of the organizer group, and the possible dominance of a particular “safety science school”.

Findings

The analyzed courses are fed by research, educating students not only in easy to use tools, but also in underlying theories, models and metaphors of relevant disciplines, as can be expected from an academic training.

Practical implications

Although the profile of the health and safety professional is defined and is the aim of several initiatives, the study of the health and safety education and its characteristics at the universities is still a scarce topic. By considering this case study of some Portuguese courses, these data will allow the definition of a benchmark of some courses' characteristics.

Originality/value

As consensually accepted, there is a current need for developing a new professional qualification and training framework based on the existing occupational health and safety professional reality and that includes the need to understand the reality and the education approaches used by the already existing courses, as those reported in this case study.
Taking diversity and inclusion initiatives global
Authors: Goodman Neal R.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of rolling out diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives globally and to provide leaders with guidance for successful global implementation of their D&I initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Possible methods examined include highly tailored global diversity curricula and numerous interviews with global D&I leaders from around the world. The recommendation and analysis of these methods is based on 25 years of Global Dynamics' experience consulting multinational companies on global diversity matters.

Findings

The author's research has found that global implementation of a Western‐centric approach to diversity and inclusion is a guarantee of failure. Leaders must be aware of the potential risk areas involved in implementing global D&I initiatives; appreciation of the ways the dimensions of diversity vary in scope and importance across cultures is key.

Originality/value

This paper is based on more than 25 years of experience working with the world's leading international organizations to enhance their global performance.
Behind the glasses and beneath the bun: portrayals of librarians in popular cinema and a guide for developing a collection
Authors: Shaffer Christopher , Casey Olga
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the portrayals of librarians in world cinema. In so doing, librarian stereotypes within film may be examined, but also those wishing to develop a collection of films featuring librarians and libraries will have a resource to which they may refer.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors approached this study as an annotated bibliography of the films studied. A synopsis of each film is provided as well as analysis of libraries and librarian roles within the context of each film.

Findings

Films from around the world tend to have many similar stereotypes concerning librarians. Whether those stereotypes are necessarily good or bad may lie in the eye of the beholder.

Originality/value

Although there have been numerous articles written on librarian stereotypes and librarians within literature, there has been relatively little written about librarians within the context of cinema.
Critical interpretive synthesis for informing collection decisions
Authors: Bales Stephen , Gee Charlie
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the use of the critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) method as a potential tool for aiding library selection decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

CIS was used to model research trends in the intersection of journalism and popular culture using presentation titles collected from five years of Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference programs (2007‐2011).

Findings

CIS was determined to be effective for focusing a subject selector's current awareness activities.

Research limitations/implications

Considering the limited information provided in the PCA/ACA programs, the researchers were required to analyze the intent of many of the presentations from their titles and the titles of the sessions where they were given.

Originality/value

CIS is a flexible means of systematically producing explanatory theories directly from the data that, while new to library and information science, is useful for modeling cutting‐edge research for current awareness activities.
Islamic economics: still in search of an identity
Authors: Cassim Mahomedy Abdulkader
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critique the philosophical underpinnings of the growing field of Islamic economics.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical and comparative review of Islamic economics texts written by key proponents during the last eight decades is undertaken. The origins of this nascent science are traced and factors that gave impetus to its development examined. The different characterisations of the discipline as it has developed within the broader socio‐political context are contrasted.

Findings

The proponents of Islamic economics have had little success in shaping a distinctive paradigm for their discipline, beyond arguing that it is underpinned by a strong moral ethic. By and large, its epistemological roots have remained firmly within the framework of rationalism/empiricism and methodological individualism. Consequently, Islamic economics has not been able to shed its neoclassical moorings, the very paradigm it originally set out to replace. Several of the contradictions apparent in the discipline are discussed. Islamic economists, recognising that their mission has remained unfulfilled, have variously suggested different approaches to regenerate the process and chart the way forward. These propositions are examined and evaluated.

Research limitations/implications

If Islamic economics is to fulfil its raison d'être, that is, articulate a coherent theoretical paradigm and demonstrate its relevance to the real economy, its proponents must resolve its theoretical and practical difficulties by clarifying its Weltanschauung and developing an appropriate content and form.

Originality/value

This study evaluates how the discipline has developed and exposes its inherent contradictions. These inconsistencies are identified and explained at the foundational level, highlighting where and why they have occurred.
Big Brother or big bother? E‐monitoring the salesforce
Authors: DelVecchio Susan K. , Deeter‐Schmelz Dawn R. , Anselmi Kenneth
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of salespersons' attributions about managerial e‐monitoring on salespersons' customer orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

Hierarchical linear modeling was used to test the six study hypotheses. A main effects model was used to test the first two hypotheses, with a comparison of regression models used to identify pure modifiers.

Findings

The results of this study found informing attributions enhance customer orientation. This effect, however, can be weakened under highly bureaucratic organizational cultures. Similarly, the ability of controlling attributions to hamper customer orientation is less pronounced in cultures described as more bureaucratic.

Research limitations/implications

Building on self‐determination theory (SDT), the authors' study provides an explicit test of e‐monitoring and examines the nature and effects of information and controlling attributions. Given a low variance extracted value attained for bureaucratic culture, future research investigating the underlying dimensions of bureaucratic cultures is warranted. Likewise, more tests of the cognitive mechanisms behind salespersons' attributions are needed to further extend SDT.

Practical implications

Managers seeking to improve customer orientation through the use of e‐monitoring might be best served by encouraging a salesperson's informing attributions. This might be accomplished by clearly communicating the purposes of the e‐monitoring to members of the salesforce.

Originality/value

By investigating the positive and negative effects of e‐monitoring on salesperson customer orientation, this study offers concrete implications for researchers and practitioners on a topic that previously has been examined in the literature only via speculative post hoc analysis.
Marketing practices in wine clusters: insights from Chile
Authors: Felzensztein Christian , Deans Kenneth R.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This research aims to investigate cooperative strategies within the Chilean wine cluster, in particular the factors that influence the development of inter‐firm marketing cooperation.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2011 census of the Chilean wine cluster was undertaken. A 30 per cent response rate was obtained and the results are presented.

Findings

The results highlight that location benefits of collaboration and access to information and technologies are important to success. Previous research has tended to focus on the issue ofterroir.Results also provide evidence of cooperation between firms located close to the focal firm, in particular those directly involved in its value chain. There is also evidence of firms cooperating in marketing activities designed to attract new customers and to strengthen the resulting B2B relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The findings shed light on strategies for the enhancement of formal and informal business networks as a facilitator of effective inter‐firm cooperation in marketing, particularly within SMEs. This study will also be of interest to local authorities and industry bodies seeking to enhance cooperation between local clustered firms.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding and definition of traditional and marketing externalities that cluster “members” accrue as a result of co‐location.
Patients
'
preference on selecting a medical institution
Authors: Kobayashi Makoto , Mano Toshiki , Yamauchi Kazunobu
Published: April 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relative importance of attributes for patient selection of a medical institution and to quantitatively evaluate the impact of different types of organizational forms upon the patient
'
s selection of a medical institution.

Design/methodology/approach

– By using a conjoint analysis, evaluation criteria in patient selection of a medical institution were examined. The paper assumed the selection of a medical institution under the situation of “being given a diagnosis of suspected diabetes with a physical examination and then visiting a medical institution”. The attributes included in the questionnaire were: quality of the medical institution, distance to the hospital, amount paid at the initial visit, amount paid at hospitalization for examinations, and organizational form of the hospital. Relative importance of the attributes and relative importance of organizational form were assessed. A total of 140 people were requested to respond to the questionnaire by way of researchers who have a connection with the authors. Completed responses were obtained from 111 subjects (79 per cent).

Findings

– The results of the conjoint analysis revealed that the most important attribute was quality of the medical institution. Organizational form was the attribute with the lowest importance. The utility value of being a public hospital was the highest within the organizational form attribute for all respondents and being a private hospital was the lowest. The quality of the medical institution was considered the most important factor in selecting a medical institution and the type of organizational form was considered least important. Regarding organizational form, being a public hospital was most preferred and being a hospital managed by a company and a private hospital were least preferred respectively among healthcare professionals and other occupations.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a relative evaluation of the factors thought to be important for patients in Japan when selecting a medical institution.
The Distress Thermometer: a rapid and effective tool for the oncology social worker
Authors: O'Donnell Eileen , D'Alton Paul , O'Malley Conor , Gill Finola , Canny Áine
Published: April 2013

Purpose

– The psycho-oncology and social work services recognised that a cancer diagnosis and treatment can result in considerable emotional consequences for patients, yet the referral rate to both services was extremely low. Only very visibly distressed patients were being referred to the service. The “Distress Thermometer” (DT), a distress screening tool, was introduced as a pilot project with day care and inpatient oncology patients of St Vincent
'
s University Hospital, Dublin, in an effort to improve the identification, management and treatment of psychological distress in oncology patients. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of this new intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Psycho-oncology service in conjunction with the Medical Social Work Department and Nursing Management at St Vincent
'
s University Hospital, Dublin, initiated a Distress Education Management and Training Programme (DEMP). The initiative involved providing a training programme for oncology nursing staff and the introduction of a distress-screening tool for patients. In 1998, the DT was developed and validated for evaluation of distress (and depression) in cancer. It was adopted into recommendations made by the US National Comprehensive Cancer Network. The DT is a simple, self-report, pencil and paper measure consisting of a line with a 0-10 scale anchored at the zero point with “No distress” and at scale point ten with “Extreme distress”. Patients are given the instruction, “How distressed have you been during the past week on a scale of 0-10”? Patients indicated their level of distress with a mark on the scale. Patients scoring 4 or above were regarded as requiring intervention. The DT includes a problem checklist. The patient is asked to identify those problems from the checklist which are contributing to their score. The use of the DT was evaluated through interviews with patients and professionals.

Findings

– Patients who scored four or above (38 per cent of patients), were seen by the Oncology Social Worker for psychosocial assessment and mental health triage. Patients who scored above a certain level (usually above 12/20) in the clinical range on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (3 per cent) were referred to Psycho-oncology. That 38 per cent of oncology patients required intervention from a specialist service accurately reflects international findings on the rate of distress among cancer patients.

Practical implications

– Assessment of cancer patients
'
distress levels in a structured and planned manner with a Distress Thermometer, as recommended by best international practice, works very effectively and should be considered for all cancer out-patients This will have implications in terms of staff that will be required to manage such a service.

Originality/value

– This was the first time that this internationally recognised tool was used to such an extent and to positive effect in an Irish context.
The architecture of school improvement
Authors: Murphy Joseph
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive framework for capturing the complex concept the authors call school improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The author begins by anchoring that framework on an historical understanding of school improvement. The framework itself is then presented. Five dimensions are described: the essential equation, building material (content), guiding principles, supports, and integrative dynamic.

Findings

The construct of school improvement has varied over time. The paper articulates the seedbed from which current efforts at school improvement grow – and why those efforts look the way they do. It then reviews what the author has uncovered about how to build productive schools in the post‐industrial world by exposing and populating the key dimensions of the school improvement framework.

Originality/value

The paper draws on the author's research legacy to develop a framework for analyzing school improvement efforts.
The evolution of educational reform in Thailand: the Thai educational paradox
Authors: Fry Gerald W. , Bi Hui
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze critically the evolution of educational reform in Thailand. Three major phases are identified. The special focus of the paper is an assessment of the third reform which began with the passage of the Office of the National Education Commission (ONEC) (2002).

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology for the study is mixed methods including document analysis, direct participant observation, and compilation of major statistical performance indicators from diverse sources.

Findings

The success of the most recent reform has been clearly mixed. Major structural and legal changes have occurred but overall system performance remains disappointingly low, despite large Thai educational expenditures as a percent of national budget and the presence of much impressive educational leadership talent. The paper identifies what is called the “Thai educational paradox”. The essence of the paradox is Thailand’s failure to achieve its educational potential. The paper identifies key factors explaining the paradox.

Originality/value

The paper has significant theoretical, policy, and practical implications. From a theoretical perspective, the study confirms the persistence of strong regional disparities and a lack of fiscal neutrality associated with a neoliberal model of capitalistic development. From a practical policy perspective, it is imperative for Thailand to improve the overall quality of its educational system and to reduce regional disparities. There have been numerous studies of each of Thailand’s three phases of reform, but this paper’s original contribution is its presentation of a historical, interdisciplinary, and integrated perspective on the evolution of educational reform and the many obstacles associated with its implementation.
A comprehensive review of survey‐based research in MIS
Authors: Karanja Erastus , Zaveri Jigish
Published: April 2013

Purpose

MIS researchers have consistently adopted survey‐based research method while investigating MIS and related phenomenon, making survey‐based research method one of the widely used research method in MIS research. This study seeks to revisit some of the inherent characteristics of survey‐based research method with the aim of improving the quality, replication, and validation of results in MIS survey‐based studies. Additionally, this study provides information on the most prevalent analytical and statistical tools used in MIS survey research studies.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the authors adopt the content analysis technique. The choice of content analysis is premised on the desire to investigate the sources of survey data, units of analysis, research methods, and statistical tools used in MIS research with the aim of improving empirical research in the MIS discipline.

Findings

The results show the prevalent sources of data, the dominant units of analysis, the most commonly used analytical research methods, and the statistical tools adopted by many MIS researchers. The results indicate that many MIS researchers get their data from US sources, although researchers are increasingly acquiring data from other countries. Also, the results reveal that most MIS survey researchers are using SEM, LISREL, and PLS statistical methods and tools.

Practical implications

The paper concludes with recommendations and implications on how to inform and retool upcoming and existing researchers on the current and future MIS research tools and methods. Editors should ensure that MIS researchers provide as much information as possible about the sources of data, the dominant units of analysis, the analytical research methods used, and the statistical tools adopted; these will demonstrate the rigor of the research process and enable replication, validation, and extension of the research works.

Originality/value

The paper presents the results of a content analysis of 749 survey‐based research articles published between 1990 and 2010 in nine mainstream MIS Journals. Prior studies have broadly addressed aspects of MIS research methodologies like investigating MIS research methods, ranking them, and generated a taxonomy of MIS research methodology. The results of this study make a case for the reporting of, both, the analytical method(s) and statistical tools used by MIS researchers to aid in replicating, validating, and extending the resultant findings of their survey‐based research.
Do loans fair value affect market value? Evidence from European banks
Authors: Drago Danilo , Mazzuca Maria , Trinca Colonel Renata
Published: April 2013

Purpose

With reference to IAS/IFRS, the purpose of this paper is to examine the value relevance of the two amortised cost/fair value measurement methods applied to loans, and test whether loan fair values are an incremental explanatory factor for a bank's stock price, beyond that provided by loan book values.

Design/methodology/approach

The value relevance of 83 European banks from 2005‐2008 is analyzed. The authors employ a regression model in which the stock price (dependent variable) is related to accounting variables typically affecting the firms' market value (book value and earnings).

Findings

Book values and earnings affect banks' market values. Investors appreciate the difference between loan book and fair values, and attribute to this difference an expected negative value. Furthermore, the control variable for banks headquartered in countries most affected by the financial crisis proves to be strongly significant as the crisis dummy variable itself.

Research limitations/implications

The results have important implications for bank managers, who should consider the importance that financial markets attribute to loan fair values. There are also implications for regulators and standard setters, though these are less obvious.

Originality/value

This is the first study on the explanatory power of loan fair values in Europe. It addresses loan fair values, and the European market, while previous literature has mainly concerned the US market. In addition, the authors use an original dataset containing information on the loan fair values of European banks during a timeframe which covers both pre‐crisis and crisis periods.
Meta‐regulation of OTC derivatives contracts post reform
Authors: Listokin‐Smith Siona
Published: April 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the probable structure of bilateral derivatives contracts following international regulatory reforms.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical context of the paper is private and meta‐regulation, which the author applies to a case study and current industry analysis.

Findings

While regulations are still being written, it is likely that elements of oversight for the bilateral derivatives market will involve enforced self‐regulation. When combined with more specific outcome‐oriented regulatory requirements, the industry is well‐suited to this type of coordinated regulatory regime.

Practical implications

In light of the uncertainty of derivatives regulation and the future size of the bilateral, over‐the‐counter (OTC) derivatives market, practitioners should consider a likely broader range of regulation structures.

Originality/value

The paper fills a gap in the literature about non‐traditional governance structures for the derivatives markets following the financial crisis. Rather than considering regulation on a light/heavy axis, the paper examines whether this segment of the market can sustain a process‐oriented regulatory arrangement.
Entrepreneurial tweaking
Authors: Hunt Richard A.
Published: April 2013

Purpose

Existing theories of innovation posit a split between incremental innovations produced by large incumbents and radical innovations produced by entrepreneurial start‐ups. The purpose of this paper is to present empirical evidence challenging this foundational assumption by demonstrating that entrepreneurs play a leading role, not a subordinate role, in sourcing incremental innovations through secondary inventions and design modifications.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying the methods of historical econometrics, this study draws parallels between two dramatically different contexts: the mechanized reaper (1803‐1884) and cloud computing services (1961‐2011). Data for the reaper were drawn from 517 historical sources involving 348 modifications. Data for cloud computing services were drawn from 3,882 US patent filings and firm‐level data drawn from the Dun & Bradstreet database.

Findings

Entrepreneurial tweaking plays a central role in commercializing dominant designs. Among the highest‐ranked incremental innovations leading to the commercialization of the reaper and cloud computing, nearly 90 percent were attributable to entrepreneurs. And yet, an entrepreneur had only a one in fourteen chance of garnering returns from a reaper innovation and a one in nine chance of gains from a cloud computing improvement.

Practical implications

Incremental innovations by entrepreneurs are indispensable to the widespread commercial acceptance of new technologies. Yet, entrepreneurial tweakers rarely benefit from the significant value they have created.

Originality/value

This paper constitutes the first significant attempt to empirically address the central role of entrepreneurs in producing incremental innovations that result in the commercialization of radical breakthroughs.
Data inspiring action – getting to the heart of women's career progression
Authors: Wichert Ines , Steele Peta
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This article aims to introduce a three‐level, 11‐factor framework for women's career progression. The framework summarizes the factors that genuinely do make a difference when it comes to women's career progression.

Design/methodology/approach

The article combines the introduction of a theoretical framework based on a review of academic literature with a real life client case study to illustrate the power for using a structured, research based and data driven approach to identifying career barriers for women's career progression.

Findings

The article shares high‐level findings from the organizational audit and highlights the main lessons learnt during this process.

Practical implications

The article sets out the key areas for consideration when trying to boost the number of senior women in an organization and outlines the reasons for failure of many programs. Furthermore, it points to best practice in designing interventions to increase the number of women in senior roles.

Originality/value

The article introduces a new, research‐driven framework for women's career advancement and provides a client case study that illustrates how a rigorous, research and data‐driven approach to identifying career barriers for women helps to provide and defend recommendations for increasing the number of women in senior roles.
Leveraging a women's network to attract, develop and retain high potential female talent
Authors: Joseph Carole
Published: April 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the benefits of delivering a strategically driven women's network that encourages a pipeline of female talent.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study illustrates a strategy for employee engagement with talent development and retention.

Findings

The paper presents practical case study evidence that links a strategic company affinity network and its commitment to developing high potential women.

Originality/value

The paper outlines in practical terms how a diverse talent strategy can be developed that is fundamentally based deep in the business strategy. It demonstrates several practical approaches that companies can take to align the objectives of their women's networks with their HR talent strategy.