bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An application of hybrid data envelopment analytical hierarchy process approach for supplier selection
Authors: Yadav Vinod , Sharma Milind Kumar 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The problem of supplier selection gets complicated when a company looks for various criteria to evaluate different suppliers. The decision criteria used for supplier selection process can be different for different organizations due to a large number of factors. Hence, it can be said that supplier selection is basically, a multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid data envelopment analytical hierarchy process (DEAHP) approach to solve the supplier selection problem for an automobile company.

Design/methodology/approach
– In this study, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach is embedded into analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology. Literature review suggested that majority of researches found it appropriate using DEA and AHP methodologies for supplier selection process; hence it is felt that a hybrid DEAHP would be a useful methodology to offer a MCDM model for supplier selection problem.

Findings
– First, the key criteria of the supplier selection problem for the company are identified. Then a model is developed and implemented for supplier selection using DEAHP approach. This study concluded that quality, cost and service are the most crucial criteria for an automobile company operational in a developing country like India. Sensitivity analysis further helped to evaluate suppliers based on each criterion.

Research limitations/implications
– As this analysis and findings are based on only one case study of an Indian automobile company, and this necessitates caution in interpreting the results. The limited number of interviewed managers in a company restricts the generalizability of the results. Though the company selected for this study is typical of developing country businesses, the findings of the paper may not be readily extensible to other companies. Second, this study used retrospective settings, based on the interviewed feedback after the events had occurred. This method naturally poses limitations due to respondent recall and the accuracy of information provided. Third, the problem chosen for this study is based in a single country context and further additional research will be required to examine if the findings could be extended to other automobile companies in other developing nations. Also in some cases technique used in the study may pose some extra computational efforts.

Practical implications
– This study points out the importance of the supplier selection problem. It provides key criteria for supplier selection in Indian context also proposes a framework to deal with multiple criteria. proposed model deals with two crucial criteria long term relationships and flexibility which were relatively less discussed and considered in the literature in past.

Originality/value
– The proposed MCDM model can provide the guidelines and directions for the decision makers to effectively choose suppliers in the current competitive environment.
A reference model for business intelligence to predict bankruptcy
Authors: Aruldoss Martin , Travis Miranda Lakshmi , Venkatesan V. Prasanna 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– Bankruptcy is a financial failure of a business or an organization. Different kinds of bankruptcy prediction techniques are proposed to predict it. But, they are restricted as techniques in predicting the bankruptcy and not addressing the associated activities like acquiring the suitable data and delivering the results to the user after processing it. This situation demands to look for a comprehensive solution for predicting bankruptcy with intelligence. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– To model Business Intelligence (BI) solution for BP the concept of reference model is used. A Reference Model for Business Intelligence to Predict Bankruptcy (RMBIPB) is designed by applying unit operations as hierarchical structure with abstract components. The layers of RMBIPB are constructed from the hierarchical structure of the model and the components, which are part of the reference model. In this model, each layer is designed based on the functional requirements of the Business Intelligence System (BIS).

Findings
– This reference model exhibits the non functional software qualities intended for the appropriate unit operations. It has flexible design in which techniques are selected with minimal effort to conduct the bankruptcy prediction. The same reference model for another domain can be implemented with different kinds of techniques for bankruptcy prediction.

Research limitations/implications
– This model is designed using unit operations and the software qualities exhibited by RMBIPB are limited by unit operations. The data set which is applied in RMBIPB is limited to Indian banks.

Originality/value
– A comprehensive bankruptcy prediction model using BI with customized reporting.
User perceptions towards an ERP system
Authors: Abdinnour Sue , Saeed Khawaja 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore how key users’ perceptions (capability, value, timing, and acceptance) toward an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system change from the pre-implementation to the post-implementation phase. The paper also examines how this change differs with varying levels of user involvement in the implementation process and users’ positions in the company.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors survey the employees of a major aircraft manufacturing company in the Midwest and analyze the data using repeated measures ANOVA. The authors use time as a within-subject independent variable, and involvement/position at the company as between-subject independent variables.

Findings
– The results reveal a significant drop in users’ perceptions regarding the capability, value, and implementation timing of the ERP system. However, the perception of acceptance did not change significantly. Furthermore, there were more significant interactions of users’ perceptions with employee position than employee involvement in the implementation process.

Research limitations/implications
– The study offers a better theoretical understanding of how users’ perceptions regarding an ERP system evolve over time. The use of one company is a limitation of the study, so future research can focus on extending the study in different sectors.

Practical implications
– Management can design interventions to minimize users’ negative perceptions about the ERP system and increase usage in the post-implementation phase. For example, management can design training customized toward users’ positions in the company.

Originality/value
– Post-implementation research in the ERP field is rare. Conducting a survey of users’ perceptions allows the authors to take an in-depth look at attitudes toward an ERP system.
New act, new opportunity for integration in Scotland
Authors: Taylor Alison 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– In this paper, the Scottish Government's approach to improving outcomes for patients and service users by integrating health and social care planning and provision is described. The Scottish Parliament passed primary legislation in February 2014, which places requirements on Health Boards and Local Authorities to work together more closely than ever before. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper sets out the Scottish Government's legislative approach to integrating health and social care, based on previous experience of encouraging better partnership between health and social care working without legislative compulsion.

Findings
– The Scottish Government has concluded that legislation is required to create the integrated environment necessary for health and social care provision to meet the changing needs of Scotland's ageing population.

Research limitations/implications
– The paper is confined to experience in Scotland.

Practical implications
– Legislation is now complete, and implementation of the new arrangements is starting. Evaluation of their impact will be ongoing.

Social implications
– The new integrated arrangements in Scotland are intended to achieve a significant shift in the balance of care in favour of community-based support rather than institutional care in hospitals and care homes. Its social implications will be to support greater wellbeing, particularly for people with multimorbidities within communities.

Originality/value
– Scotland is taking a unique approach to integrating health and social care, focusing on legislative duties on Health Boards and Local Authorities to work together, rather than focusing on structural change alone. The scale of planned integration is also significant, with planning for, at least, all of adult social care and primary health care, and a proportion of acute hospital care, included in the new integrated arrangements.
General decision making style: evidence from India
Authors: Verma Neha , Rangnekar Santosh 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine applicability of the general decision-making style (GDMS) inventory in India, using a sample of managers. In addition the authors identify various decision-making styles (DMS) of Indian managers and explore their association with respondents’ gender, age, education, experience level, annual income, sector, industry and organizational output.Design/methodology/approach– The sample consisted responses of 500 Indian managers from public (13 percent) and private (87 percent) sector organizations. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, independent samplet-tests and ANOVA.Findings– All decision-making sub scales (rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant and spontaneous) had satisfactory reliabilities and internal consistencies. Results obtained factor structure that confirmed the original five-factor structure of GDMS. There were also mutual correlations among the styles. Moreover, there were significant differences in the DMS across respondents’ profile variables.Research limitations/implications– This research is based upon survey method and voluntary participation. Hence one can question generalization of findings to larger samples.Practical implications– Results provide insights into DMS of the Indian managers. Organizations may use GDMS as a selection tool, respondents may hone their DMS.Originality/value– A majority of researchers use survey without evaluating validity of the instruments in the selected context and sample. This research contributed to the literature and practice by testing validation of the GDMS inventory in India.
Self, follower, organization and the context – a cross cultural view of authentic leadership
Authors: Khilji Shaista E. , Keilson Brian , Shakir Farah Yasmine , Shrestha Binod Krishna 
Published: February 2015

Purpose– Scholars have argued that it is important to investigate how authentic leadership is manifested in different cultures (Avolioet al., 2005; Gardiner, 2011; Shamir and Eilam, 2005). Hence the purpose of this paper is to capture a cross-cultural view of authentic leadership, using a sample of South Asian leaders.Design/methodology/approach– Because of a dearth of qualitative empirical evidence, the authors adopted a “life story” approach to collect data. A total of 14 leaders from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were interviewed to share their leadership experiences.Findings– Findings indicate that the concept of authentic leadership is culturally relevant. It emerged as a multi-dimensional construct constituting self-concept, follower development, organizational outcomes and culture (Meacham, 2007), and contextual knowledge. The authors propose a cross-cultural model of authentic leadership.Research limitations/implications– Research limitations include researchers’ possible biases in design of data and an assumption that leaders interviewed were authentic. Despite these limitations, the study provides valuable insights about authentic leadership to strengthen its theoretical foundation.Social implications– Organizational and social problems in South Asian are often attributed to a leadership deficit (Khan, 2014; Khilji, 2013; National Post, 2014; Sardesai, 2013). This study provides evidence of transformative authentic leaders in South Asia who are engaged with their and followers’ authentic growth, and are building authentic cultures for positive organizational outcomes.Originality/value– The value of the present research is in providing qualitative empirical evidence from South Asia, and proposing a cross-cultural model of authentic leadership.
Silence: the golden strategy?
Authors: Thomas Mark 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to present how Mark Zuckerberg, a chief executive officer and the founder of the world’s largest social media website, Facebook, understands that he is not always a great communicator. He often chooses to send his more media savvy, Number 2, Sheryl Sandberg to meet journalists. Other business leaders should take note that intelligence is about when one should and should not communicate.

Design/methodology/approach
– Draws on the author’s vast experience to provide a viewpoint article on the importance of cautious communication strategy.

Findings
– Business leaders should demonstrate caution in their media communication strategies. Failure to do this can have a devastation effect on performance of the firm.

Originality/value
– Outlines the pitfalls businesses may encounter in a world where social media is increasingly prevalent and constant communication has become the norm.
What do we mean when we talk about dementia? Exploring cultural representations of “dementia”
Authors: Zeilig Hannah 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to debates about the category “dementia”. Dementia is discussed, as it is a social, political and cultural issue, rather than a solely medical phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach
– The methodology synthesises perspectives from humanities with the social sciences. Thus a number of cultural texts are analysed critically and set alongside data from two original research projects exploring the use of the arts for people living with a dementia. Central to the research is a close and critical examination of news reports, films, plays and documentaries that represent “dementia”. The extent to which metaphorical language frames ways of talking about dementia formed a key part of this analysis.

Findings
– Until recently, “dementia” has been primarily defined in biomedical terms. This paper demonstrates that understandings of dementia should be extended to encompass social and cultural contexts.

Research limitations/implications
– The research concentrates on the UK context, but there are lessons that can be extrapolated from to other contexts.

Social implications
– This paper explores why it is important to understand “dementia” in terms of cultural context, the reasons we should challenge the language often used to describe people living with a dementia, the ways in which prevailing representations of people living with a dementia can affect perceptions and contribute to stigma.

Originality/value
– This paper presents an alternative perspective, that is not biomedical and draws on original research from both the humanities and social sciences investigating the stories that we tell about this complex condition.
Stories of creative ageing
Authors: Reynolds Jackie 
Published: February 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the benefits and issues relating to arts participation in later life.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper draws on literature relating to older people's arts participation, and also includes discussion of the author's doctoral research into arts and ageing. The research was a qualitative study, influenced by narrative approaches and life-course perspectives. It involved interviews with 24 participants who have connections with a case-study town in the English Midlands.

Findings
– The paper focuses on the findings from six participants belonging to a male voice choir. The themes that are discussed include the importance of continuity; issues of identity; mutual support; impact of ill health and the sustainability of group activities.

Research limitations/implications
– This is a small-scale study, based in one case study town. Care should therefore be taken in generalising to different populations and areas. Potential for future research includes: other geographical locations, including larger urban areas. Specific focus on choir participation, or other art form. Involving people from a wider range of ethnic backgrounds.

Social implications
– This study adds to a growing body of evidence about the value of arts and culture to society.

Originality/value
– This study is original in adopting life-course perspectives to understand later life arts participation. It also offers original insights into the nature of arts-generated social capital and how this may be viewed within a wider context of resourceful ageing.
Identification and Functional Characterization of the Novel Edwardsiella tarda Effector EseJ
Authors: Xie Hai-Xia , Lu Jin-Fang , Zhou Ying , Yi Jia , Yu Xiu-Jun , Leung Ka Yin , Nie Pin 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Edwardsiella tarda
is a Gram-negative enteric pathogen that causes hemorrhagic septicemia in fish and gastro- and extraintestinal infections in humans. The type III secretion system (T3SS) of
E. tarda
has been identified as a key virulence factor that contributes to pathogenesis in fish. However, little is known about the associated effectors translocated by this T3SS. In this study, by comparing the profile of secreted proteins of the wild-type PPD130/91 and its T3SS ATPase Δ
esaN
mutant, we identified a new effector by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This effector consists of 1,359 amino acids, sharing high sequence similarity with Orf29/30 of
E. tarda
strain EIB202, and is renamed EseJ. The secretion and translocation of EseJ depend on the T3SS. A Δ
eseJ
mutant strain adheres to epithelioma papillosum of carp (EPC) cells 3 to 5 times more extensively than the wild-type strain does. EseJ inhibits bacterial adhesion to EPC cells from within bacterial cells. Importantly, the Δ
eseJ
mutant strain does not replicate efficiently in EPC cells and fails to replicate in J774A.1 macrophages. In infected J774A.1 macrophages, the Δ
eseJ
mutant elicits higher production of reactive oxygen species than wild-type
E. tarda
. The replication defect is consistent with the attenuation of the Δ
eseJ
mutant in the blue gourami fish model: the 50% lethal dose (LD
50
) of the Δ
eseJ
mutant is 2.34 times greater than that of the wild type, and the Δ
eseJ
mutant is less competitive than the wild type in mixed infection. Thus, EseJ represents a novel effector that contributes to virulence by reducing bacterial adhesion to EPC cells and facilitating intracellular bacterial replication.
Antibodies against Hemolysin and Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor Type 1 (CNF1) Reduce Bladder Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Urinary Tract Infection with Toxigenic Uropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Smith Mark A. , Weingarten Rebecca A. , Russo Lisa M. , Ventura Christy L. , O'Brien Alison D. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Uropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(UPEC) is the leading cause of cystitis. Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) and hemolysin (Hly) are toxins made by approximately 50% of UPEC isolates. CNF1 and Hly contribute to the robust inflammatory response in the bladders of mice challenged with UPEC strain CP9. We hypothesized that antibodies against CNF1 and/or Hly would reduce cystitis caused by CP9. To test this theory, we immunized female C3H/HeOuJ mice subcutaneously with a genetically derived Hly toxoid or genetically derived CNF1 toxoid plus sublethal doses of CNF1. We collected serum and observed increasing titers of specific and neutralizing antibodies against Hly or CNF1 over time. We challenged the mice intraurethrally with CP9 and euthanized them 24 h later. We observed 10-fold lower bacterial titers in the urine of Hly-immunized mice than in that of sham-immunized mice but no difference in kidney bacterial titers. Immunized mice also exhibited significantly less cystitis than sham-immunized mice. In CNF1-vaccinated mice, we detected neither a difference in urine or kidney bacterial titers nor a reduction in the severity of cystitis versus that of sham-immunized mice. We then passively administered an anti-CNF1 monoclonal antibody intraperitoneally to female C3H/HeOuJ mice prior to intraurethral challenge with CP9. Upon challenge, we noted no difference in colonization of the urine or kidney; however, cystitis was reduced significantly in mice treated with the anti-CNF1 antibody versus that in the bladders of mice given an isotype control antibody. Taken together, our data demonstrate that antibodies against CNF1 or Hly reduce the bladder pathology caused by UPEC.
Rapid Effects of a Protective O-Polysaccharide-Specific Monoclonal IgA on Vibrio cholerae Agglutination, Motility, and Surface Morphology
Authors: Levinson Kara J. , De Jesus Magdia , Mantis Nicholas J. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

2D6 is a dimeric monoclonal immunoglobulin A (IgA) specific for the nonreducing terminal residue of Ogawa O-polysaccharide (OPS) of
Vibrio cholerae
. It was previously demonstrated that 2D6 IgA is sufficient to passively protect suckling mice from oral challenge with virulent
V. cholerae
O395. In this study, we sought to define the mechanism by which 2D6 IgA antibody protects the intestinal epithelium from
V. cholerae
infection. In a mouse ligated-ileal-loop assay, 2D6 IgA promoted
V. cholerae
agglutination in the intestinal lumen and limited the ability of the bacteria to associate with the epithelium, particularly within the crypt regions.
In vitro
fluorescence digital video microscopy analysis of antibody-treated
V. cholerae
in liquid medium revealed that 2D6 IgA not only induced the rapid (5- to 10-min) onset of agglutination but was an equally potent inhibitor of bacterial motility. Scanning electron microscopy showed that 2D6 IgA promoted flagellum-flagellum cross-linking, as well as flagellar entanglement with bacterial bodies, suggesting that motility arrest may be a consequence of flagellar tethering. However, monovalent 2D6 Fab fragments also inhibited
V. cholerae
motility, demonstrating that antibody-mediated agglutination and motility arrest are separate phenomena. While 2D6 IgA is neither bactericidal nor bacteriostatic, exposure of
V. cholerae
to 2D6 IgA (or Fab fragments) resulted in a 5-fold increase in surface-associated blebs, as well an onset of a wrinkled surface morphotype. We propose that the protective immunity conferred by 2D6 IgA is the result of multifactorial effects on
V. cholerae
, including agglutination, motility arrest, and possibly outer membrane stress.