bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Crystal Structures ofPhyscomitrella patensAOC1 and AOC2: Insights into the Enzyme Mechanism and Differences in Substrate Specificity
Authors: Neumann Piotr , Brodhun Florian , Sauer Kristin , Herrfurth Cornelia , Hamberg Mats , Brinkmann Jens , Scholz Julia , Dickmanns Achim , Feussner Ivo , Ficner Ralf 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIn plants, oxylipins regulate developmental processes and defense responses. The first specific step in the biosynthesis of the cyclopentanone class of oxylipins is catalyzed by allene oxide cyclase (AOC) that forms cis(+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid. The moss Physcomitrella patens has two AOCs (PpAOC1 and PpAOC2) with different substrate specificities for C18- and C20-derived substrates, respectively. To better understand AOC’s catalytic mechanism and to elucidate the structural properties that explain the differences in substrate specificity, we solved and analyzed the crystal structures of 36 monomers of both apo and ligand complexes of PpAOC1 and PpAOC2. From these data, we propose the following intermediates in AOC catalysis: (1) a resting state of the apo enzyme with a closed conformation, (2) a first shallow binding mode, followed by (3) a tight binding of the substrate accompanied by conformational changes in the binding pocket, and (4) initiation of the catalytic cycle by opening of the epoxide ring. As expected, the substrate dihydro analog cis-12,13S-epoxy-9Z,15Z-octadecadienoic acid did not cyclize in the presence of PpAOC1; however, when bound to the enzyme, it underwent isomerization into the corresponding trans-epoxide. By comparing complex structures of the C18 substrate analog with in silico modeling of the C20 substrate analog bound to the enzyme allowed us to identify three major molecular determinants responsible for the different substrate specificities (i.e. larger active site diameter, an elongated cavity of PpAOC2, and two nonidentical residues at the entrance of the active site).
Evaluation of the convective heat transfer coefficient for minimum quantity lubrication (MQL)
Authors: Kurgin Sheri , Dasch Jean M. , Simon Daniel L. , Barber Gary C. , Zou Qian 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the cooling ability of minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) cutting fluid.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental system is devised to find the heat transfer coefficient of MQL under simulated reaming conditions. Cooling rate of the specimen is measured with an infrared camera. The effect of air pressure and oil volume on cooling rate is tested. Metal cutting tests are performed to evaluate the effect of heat transfer coefficient on workpiece temperature.FindingsConvective heat transfer coefficient for MQL increases with increasing air pressure. Oil volume has an indeterminate effect on the heat transfer coefficient; however, it is a dominant factor for controlling temperature during reaming.Practical implicationsThe results of the study can provide guidance to optimize the temperature controlling ability of MQL for production.Originality/valueThere is limited information available in literature regarding the heat transfer coefficient of metal working fluids, particularly for MQL. In particular, experiments designed to investigate the effect of air pressure and oil volume on the heat transfer coefficient of the mist have not been previously documented. This information may be used to improve the overall cooling ability of MQL mist, thus increasing its effectiveness at controlling tool wear and maintaining part quality. The other major contribution of this work is to separate the role of the cooling and lubrication for controlling temperature while reaming aluminum. Prior to this study, there has been relatively little research performed for the reaming metal cutting operation, and still less for reaming with MQL. The nature of how metal working fluids control temperature is not fully understood, and this work provides insight as to whether cooling or lubrication plays the dominant role for reaming.
Coaching: an effective practice for business competitiveness
Authors: Dolores Vidal‐Salazar María , Ferrón‐Vílchez Vera , Cordón‐Pozo Eulogio 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the effectiveness of one of the more widespread techniques for personnel development and training: coaching. This technique in the business context entails boosting of a manager's capabilities so as to improve business results through a combination of experience, knowledge, support and the motivation provided by advisers who specialize in business management.Design/methodology/approachTo analyze the effectiveness of this innovative technique, the authors examined a sample of 40 small companies located in Ceuta (an autonomous Spanish city in North Africa) using a Wilcoxon‐Mann‐Whitney test. Participants were divided into two groups; in one group, an individualized audit process was conducted to obtain an actual picture of managerial practices (focusing on needs and corrective measures). In the other group, an advising process also complemented a coaching phase that was implemented to facilitate employee adoption of the proposed measures. Ultimately, differences between these two groups were found.FindingsResults indicate that coaching substantially increases the level to which processes of improvement are established within organizations, consequently increasing the competitive capability.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the potential benefits of the use of coaching in the business context. Coaching facilitates the implementation of a set of improvement measures designed to increase business competitiveness, suggesting that this type of advising stands to be very beneficial for companies.Originality/valuePractices that lead to the development of human capital in organizations are basic tools for managers that are becoming increasingly essential for achieving business efficiency and strategic change. The paper analyzes the implementation of coaching in the business arena, specifically in the case of managers, which is a novelty given the dearth of empirical research on coaching. Thus, the results of the paper provide the wider academic community with empirical evidence on how coaching is a profitable practice for improving human resource management.
Views of HR specialists on formal mentoring: current situation and prospects for the future
Authors: Laiho Maarit , Brandt Tiina 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe article aims to report the findings of quantitative and qualitative analysis of the benefits, drawbacks and future prospects of formal mentoring in medium‐sized and large organisations.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical data for the study were collected via an online survey, and consist of responses from 152 human resource specialists from companies and public sector organisations in Finland.FindingsThe results reflect the organisations' current situation, and the issues that are important to the HR function. Mentoring is primarily used to transfer tacit knowledge from those near retirement to younger colleagues, foster the personnel development and create well‐being at work. Career advancement and work performance are not as important as might have been thought. The results suggest that mentoring will be more widely used in the future. Among the future potential deliverables of mentoring are strengthening competence management, creating well‐being and enhancing an organisation's image. Young people, in particular, may demand the use of social media alongside mentoring. This could also facilitate mentoring in multicultural organisations.Practical implicationsHR functions intending to make greater use of mentoring in future will require more focus and resources to do so. For example, almost one in five of the respondents saw a lack of information as a barrier to establishing mentoring.Originality/valueThis paper focuses on how organisations view mentoring, which has not been extensively examined previously.
Investigation and prosecution of money laundering cases in Malaysia
Authors: Muhammaddun Mohamed Zakiah , Ahmad Khalijah 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine money laundering cases investigated by the Central Bank of Malaysia under the Anti‐Money Laundering and Anti‐Terrorism Financing Act 2001.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes the contents of public releases by the enforcement division of the Central Bank for period 2007 to 2011. Analysis of data is carried out based on three categories: the predicate offence, the perpetrators and current status of the cases.FindingsFindings reveal that most cases investigated by the Central Bank relate to sec 4(1) of AMLATFA 2001 and the main predicate offence related to the money laundering charges are on illegal deposit taking. Further it is found that directors of companies are the leading group of people charged under the Act for money laundering. In addition, findings also show that only half of the cases investigated have been charged in court.Research limitations/implicationsData from this research only come from enforcement releases from the Central Bank of Malaysia. Since AMLATFA2001 is administered by multiple agencies, the research may not provide a comprehensive view of all the cases investigated. Future research should look at other agencies and in particular the Royal Police of Malaysia.Practical implicationsFindings from the study suggest that prosecuting money laundering cases by Bank Negara Malaysia are limited to cases with predicate offence of illegal deposit taking. The agency should explore other predicate offences and the concept of “irresistible inference” to increase its effort in prosecuting money laundering activities in the country.Originality/valueThe paper documents and analyzes the actual cases being investigated for money laundering offences. It provides basis for the standard setters to evaluate their effort to curb money laundering activities in Malaysia.
The Portuguese online wine buying consumer
Authors: Freitas Santos José , Cadima Ribeiro José 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis purpose of this paper is to investigate the main characteristics, buying habits, motivations, influences, and overall satisfaction of Portuguese online consumers of wine, as well as to assess whether this market segment can be considered a niche.Design/methodology/approachA survey was conducted in a Portuguese online wine shop during the last three months of 2009. The questionnaire included questions about the consumers’ socio‐demographic characteristics, motivations, buying habits and factors influencing online buying behaviour. The questionnaires were delivered by e‐mail to regular and new customers when a transaction was processed online. Of the 82 questionnaires received, 74 were sufficiently complete to be used in the study.FindingsThe online wine market can be considered a niche in Portugal. As the authors’ empirical work shows, this segment is mainly composed of young, male, well‐educated, high‐income consumers who buy wine online from home often less than once a month. They are motivated by convenience, a wider selection of wines, availability, and price. As decision factors, they value the origin/brand of the wine, the price, the recommendation of the online shop, and their own experience. A comparative analysis with international online wine consumers found differences based on profile and consumer buying behaviour (patterns and influences).Research limitations/implicationsThe non‐probabilistic sample contained only data from a Portuguese online wine store. Thus, future studies should examine other online wine stores to determine the level of generalisation of the findings to the entire community of online wine consumers.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research conducted in Portugal to identify the main characteristics, buying habits, motivations, influences, and overall satisfaction of the Portuguese online consumers of wine. The paper provides useful insights into the topic, as well as a basis for future studies.
Corporate governance mechanisms, accounting results and stock valuation in Canada
Authors: Berthelot Sylvie , Francoeur Claude , Labelle Réal 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between corporate governance practices or mechanisms and firm value, as measured by accounting and market data.Design/methodology/approachPartial least square analyses were performed on a sample of 355 observations from 199 Canadian listed companies. The greater variability allowed under the Canadian principles‐based institutional setting than under the rules‐based USA SOX environment is well‐suited for these tests.FindingsResults suggest that some governance practices, namely the percentage of independent directors on the board, the use of stock options and the frequency of board meetings are significantly and negatively related to the firm's net book value or income. However, most individual governance practices appear to have no significant impact on the firms’ market value.Research limitations/implicationsThe potential interrelationships between corporate governance practices and contextual variables are not specifically taken into account, except for the firms’ industrial sector. It is also possible that certain governance mechanisms jointly impact firm value.Practical implicationsThis study does not support the current emphasis by regulators on governance practices which mainly concern the monitoring function of the board as opposed to its strategic one.Originality/valueThe paper uses Canada as a laboratory where companies are “invited” rather than “required” to follow corporate governance best practices. This greater corporate discretion in the choice of governance practices provides the variability necessary to test the effect of governance on firm value. Furthermore, in the interest of triangulation, a model seldom seen in the governance literature is used to examine the impact of governance mechanisms on firm value and performance, as measured by accounting and market data.
Adjudication in Australia
Authors: Brand Michael C. , Davenport Philip 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is threefold; first, to give a background to the security of payment problem in the New South Wales construction industry and the problem giving rise to the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment Act 2010 (NSW) (“2010 Amendment Act”); second, to provide an analysis of the operation of the 2010 Amendment Act; and finally, to address the main implications of the amendments for the three parties involved, namely the claimant, the respondent and the “Principal contractor”.Design/methodology/approachA review of the relevant literature was undertaken on the security of payment problem in the NSW construction industry and the problem giving rise to the 2010 Amendment Act. A “black‐letter” approach is adopted to analyse and explain the provisions contained in the 2010 Amendment Act. At the time of writing, no case law relevant to the amendments had been published.FindingsThe amendments brought about by the 2010 Amendment Act add appreciably to the scope of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW). The effect of the procedure under the 2010 Amendment Act is similar to that under the Contractors Debts Act 1997 (NSW). The 2010 Amendment Act enables a claimant to “freeze” money in the hands of the Principal contractor pending an adjudication, thereby increasing the chance of recovery of the adjudicated amount by the claimant. If, under this new procedure, the Principal contractor fails to “freeze” the monies, the Principal contractor will be liable (along with the respondent) for the amount owed to the claimant. There is a potential for the amendments to be used unfairly by claimants to coerce settlement of unmeritorious payment claims.Originality/valueThe analysis of the 2010 Amendment Act presented in this paper may be of interest in international jurisdictions where statutory adjudication for the construction industry has been introduced or is being contemplated.
The violent gang and the construction of masculinity amongst socially excluded young men
Authors: Baird Adam 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to help in understanding the relationship between the construction of the male identity and how social violence may be “reproduced” (using the concept ofhabitusafter Pierre Bourdieu), in poor and socially excluded contexts. The paper aims to inform debate and policy making.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on empirical data collected in 2008, in the form of life‐history interviews with male youths – including members and non‐members of gangs – from two poor and very violent neighbourhoods in Medellín, Colombia's second largest city.FindingsMasculinities alone do not account for urban violence, but they play an integral role why violence is reproduced. In socio‐economically excluded contexts the gang becomes an attractive vehicle for “doing masculinity” for boys and young men. Youths who did not join gangs tended to have family support to develop a “moral rejection” of gangs, crime and violence during childhood, which contributed to them finding non‐gang pathways to manhood. Youths who joined gangs were less likely to develop this “moral rejection” during childhood, often due to family problems; and were more likely to admire older gang members, and perceive the gang as an attractive pathway to manhood.Research limitations/implicationsAs the sole researcher a limited number of 32 individuals were interviewed.Originality/valueThere is a lack of research on masculinities and gang affiliation in the UK and across the globe. This paper provides new conceptual ideas for understanding why young men make up the vast majority of violent gang members, whilst providing an original data set from a very violent urban setting.
Understanding the dominance of Western accounting and neglect of Islamic accounting in Islamic countries
Authors: Altarawneh Ghada , Lucas Mike 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis paper seeks to explore the reasons for the dominance of Western accounting and neglect of Islamic accounting in Islamic countries, using Jordan as a case study.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports the results of a series of interviews, using a semi‐structured questionnaire, with senior members of the accounting regulatory regime in Jordan. The interview data are supplemented by relevant secondary (documentary) data.FindingsThe paper concludes that economic dependency on developed Western nations and their international agencies is the major factor determining accounting policy and practice in Jordan.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of this study are the uncertainty concerning the extent to which the respondents' views are representative of accounting policy makers in Jordan, and the inevitable degree of subjectivity involved in evaluating the relative impact of economic dependency and other factors on accounting policy in Jordan.Originality/valueThe paper enhances understanding of the neglect of Islamic accounting in Islamic countries and provides insights into the prospects for and barriers to wider adoption of Islamic accounting in future.
Democracy and Islam: promises and perils for the Arab Spring protests
Authors: Cook Bradley J. , Stathis Michael 
Published: September 2012

PurposeDemocracy and Islam are both capable of multiple interpretations and applications. Islam possesses ideological resources that provide justification for a wide spectrum of political models. However, the compatibility of Islam and democracy relies on the critical questions of: “whose Islam” and “what Islam,” and “whose democracy” and “what democracy.” The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibilities and challenges of the recent democratic transitions in the Muslim world.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a discursive essay.FindingsIslamic history has demonstrated that there is no monolithic construal of Islam and politics, and in fact history actually provides hope that a more representative and democratic government might result from the uprisings, with healthier, progressive elements of Islam emerging in ways that were not before possible.Originality/valueWhile other observers have explored the compatibility question of Islam and democracy, very little has been written on the recent political upheavals situating the question within this context.
Examining the nature of the comorbidity between pediatric attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Biederman J. , Petty C. R. , Spencer T. J. , Woodworth K. Y. , Bhide P. , Zhu J. , Faraone S. V. 
Published: September 2012

Biederman J, Petty CR, Spencer TJ, Woodworth KY, Bhide P, Zhu J, Faraone SV. Examining the nature of the comorbidity between pediatric attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post‐traumatic stress disorder.Objective: This study sought to address the link between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in youth by providing a comprehensive comparison of clinical correlates of ADHD subjects with and without PTSD across multiple non‐overlapping domains of functioning and familial patterns of transmission.Method: Participants were 271 youths with ADHD and 230 controls without ADHD of both sexes along with their siblings. Participants completed a large battery of measures designed to assess psychiatric comorbidity, psychosocial, educational, and cognitive parameters.Results: Post‐traumatic stress disorder was significantly higher in ADHD probands vs. controls (5.2% vs. 1.7%, χ2(1) = 4.36, P = 0.04). Irrespective of the comorbidity with PTSD, ADHD subjects had similar ages at onset of ADHD, similar type and mean number of ADHD symptoms, and similar ADHD‐associated impairments. PTSD in ADHD probands was significantly associated with a higher risk of psychiatric hospitalization, school impairment, poorer social functioning and higher prevalences of mood, conduct disorder, and anxiety disorders. The mean onset of PTSD (12.6 years) was significantly later than that of ADHD and comorbid disorders (all P < 0.05). Siblings of ADHD and ADHD + PTSD probands had higher prevalences of ADHD vs. siblings of controls (35% vs. 18%, z = 4.00, P < 0.001 and 67% vs. 18%, z = 4.02, P < 0.001 respectively) and siblings of ADHD+PTSD probands had a significantly higher prevalence of PTSD compared with the siblings of ADHD and control probands (20% vs. 3% and 3%, z = 2.99, P = 0.003 and z = 2.07, P = 0.04 respectively).Conclusion: Findings indicate that the comorbidity with PTSD in ADHD leads to greater clinical severity as regards psychiatric comorbidity and psychosocial dysfunction. ADHD is equally familial in the presence of PTSD in the proband indicating that their co‐occurrence is not owing to diagnostic error.