bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First impressions: US media portrayals of public relations in the 1920s
Authors: Penning Timothy 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe paper traces negative and limiting media depictions of public relations (PR) to their origins in the 1920s in order to determine whether modern media characterizations of “public relations” are new or a legacy of the past.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative content analysis was used in order to look more deeply at media characterizations of public relations. The New York Times and Time magazine were chosen to sample because of their dominance and unique reflection of the era, respectively.FindingsReporting about “public relations” was primarily fair. Early practitioners were often quoted defining the profession, including “great men” of PR history and more common practitioners. These practitioners of PR are as much to blame for confounding the terms “public relations” and “press agent” as are the media of the 1920s.Practical implicationsThis historical study sheds a light on and provides context for both the media and society's understanding of public relations today.Originality/valueWhile much research has looked at media portrayals and public perceptions of the public relations field, few if any have traced attitudes about the profession to the decade when the term “public relations” was first popularized. The paper remedies this deficit.
The influence of extra projects on overall investment feasibility
Authors: Carmichael David G. , Balatbat Maria C.A. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe paper looks at the influence of adding more projects on overall investment feasibility under conditions of uncertainty, and how far into the future the project cash flows should be relied upon, given that the project owner expects a reasonable level of feasibility attached to the investment.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a formulation for the feasibility of the multi‐project case under uncertainty. A second order moment analysis method is adopted. Existing theory is extended to take into account the presence of multiple projects with a requirement imposed on feasibility by the project owner. In tandem with the theoretical development, example case study numerical results are presented.FindingsWith a conventional deterministic discounted cash flow analysis, the feasibility calculations change little in going from one to many projects. However with uncertainty attached, the feasibility calculations need to be reworked and become more complex, the issue of feasibility becomes less transparent on going from one to many projects, distinct feasibility transition points disappear, and feasibility is found to vary over the projects' time horizons.Practical implicationsThe need for the analysis given in this paper resulted from an actual investment decision. The paper formulation provides interesting insight into feasibility calculations, and will be of use to practitioners engaged in front‐end project investment risk work.Originality/valueThe paper provides original commentary on the feasibility of multiple projects and the time‐variant nature of feasibility.
“Perfect storm” boding for the accounting and finance academic disciplines and professions
Authors: Pagani Marco , Turetsky Howard F. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the problems faced by Accounting and Finance (A&F) Departments concerning the hiring and retention of tenure/tenure‐track faculty members.Design/methodology/approachAnalytic research.FindingsDue to the rigorous Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business standards for “academically qualified” classification, increasing enrollment for A&F majors, and demographic trends of faculty members, it is becoming very challenging to hire and retain high‐quality academicians. This challenge is especially dire for public institutions of higher learning that are facing budget cuts and possible steep salary inversion. As an example, the average salary of US faculty members are compared to the salaries allowed under the California State University (CSU) collective bargaining agreement. The paper analytically argues that unless CSU A&F faculty members' salaries are allowed to reflect market conditions, severe negative externalities will impact the educational sector and A&F professionals.Originality/valueAlumni, the A&F professionals, university administrators and other stakeholders must be made aware of the “perfect storm” on the horizon and the severe consequences that loom in its wake. It will take the collective “wisdom” to provide the necessary strength to resolve these critical issues. Hopefully, the distress siren will not only be heard, but listened to and addressed in a timely manner, so that rather solemn consequences can be avoided. The needs of the college communities at large should not be thwarted by existing inappropriate funding mechanisms.
Stock market liberalization, structural breaks and dynamic changes in emerging market volatility
Authors: Khuong Nguyen Duc , Bellalah Mondher 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to empirically reexamine the dynamic changes in emerging market volatility around stock market liberalization.Design/methodology/approachFirst, a bivariate GARCH‐M model which counts for partial market integration is developed for modeling stock market volatility in emerging market countries. Second, the Bai and Perron stability test in a linear framework and a pooled time‐series cross‐section model were employed to examine the empirical relationship between stock market liberalization and volatility.FindingsStructural breaks detected in emerging market volatility series did not take place at the time of official liberalization dates, but they rather coincide with alternative events of liberalization process. The effects of official liberalization on return volatility are on average insignificant. The stock return volatility is however lowered when the participation of the US investors becomes effective and important on emerging markets, and when emerging markets increase in size.Research limitations/implicationsThe study assumes a static degree of market integration. Future research should extend our model by using a time‐varying measure of market integration.Practical implicationsPolicymakers in frontier markets should open up local stock markets to attract foreign investments and to allow local firms to benefit from international risk sharing. Also, the gradual embankment of market‐liberalization is necessary to gain investors' confidence and to prevent the harmful effects of foreign capital flows.Originality/valueThe consideration of alternative events of liberalization process and the use of a powerful stability test to examine the time‐series properties of conditional volatilities.
Organisational behaviour associated with emotional contagion among direct selling members
Authors: Hashim Junaidah , Wok Saodah , Ghazali Ruziah 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThis paper aims to examine organisational behaviour as a result of emotional contagion experienced by selected members in direct selling companies. Specifically, it seeks to investigate how members in a group are affected by the happiness of their high achievers, what factors influence the emotional contagion to occur, and what are the effects of emotional contagion on individual, group and organisation work outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe variables studied were emotional contagion, personal characteristics, group outcomes and organisational outcomes. Emotional contagion was measured by self‐report of impulsive acts; while personal characteristics were measured in terms of social desirability, extraversion, locus of control, live accomplishment, materialistic world, susceptibility to interpersonal influence, and self‐esteem. Organisational outcome variables were measured in terms of organisational commitment and organisational culture. Other variables studied were group behaviour, team player, demographic characteristics, and business organisational characteristics. A total of 276 respondents participated in this study.FindingsIt is found that emotional contagion is positively related with personal outcomes. Further findings reveal that emotional contagion has an impact on both the group and the team. The team, as a whole, is influenced not only by the emotional contagion but also by the personal characteristics of the respondents. Emotional contagion is also related to organisational outcomes. Both the group characteristics are positively related with organisational commitment. Emotional contagion is also positively related to organisational culture. Group characteristics are also positively related with organisational culture. It can be postulated that the following relationships exist between emotional contagion, personal outcomes, group outcomes, and organisational outcomes. It is also found that emotional contagion is a very important variable in the light of personal characteristics, group characteristics and organisational characteristics.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on a specific industry in Malaysia – direct selling – where no such study has been conducted in the past.
Desperately seeking serendipity
Authors: Gilinsky Armand , Santini Cristina , Lazzeretti Luciana , Eyler Robert 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate innovation practice of small family firms. Top management teams’ styles, their strategic orientations, and perceptions of external environment promote or deter innovation.Design/methodology/approachTen Tuscan and ten Californian family wineries are investigated via questionnaire and in‐person interviews to develop longitudinal case studies describing barriers or incentives to innovate.FindingsChanges in processes, products, or market orientations are subordinated to how top managers perceive internal and external pressure to implement innovation.Originality/valueThis exploratory research proposes a model depicting the extent to which location impacts the selected variables.
Consumer attitudes towards local wines in an emerging region: a segmentation approach
Authors: Kolyesnikova Natalia , Dodd Tim H. , Duhan Dale F. 
Published: November 2008

PurposeThe current study is an initial attempt to segment the wine market in an emerging region and examine local residents’ attitudes towards local wines.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted using data collected from US households through a telephone survey. Consumer attitudes towards local wines were operationalized through assessment of local wines; recommendation of local wines to others; and rating of quality of local wines. The K‐means clustering algorithm was applied to classify the respondents into clusters.FindingsThe developing wine market was segmented into four clusters: “local enthusiasts”, “local detractors”, “local advocates” and “local non‐advocates”. Socio‐demographic and wine consumption profiles for each segment are developed. Of particular interest was the difference in recommendation behavior between two of groups of consumers with similar relatively high‐quality ratings and assessments of the local wines. Despite the similarity in attitudes, local advocates are willing to recommend the regional wines to other people, whereas non‐advocates would not recommend them.Practical implicationsBy better understanding how information is transferred from one person to the next will assist marketers in their efforts to establish new products or introduce new brands or regional wines.Originality/valueThe market segmentation approach taken in this study is based on local residents’ attitudes towards local wines. The study sets the starting point in investigating new markets consumer characteristics and reasons for their behavior. Of particular interest for future research is consumer recommendation behavior.
Living organisational values: the bridges value inculcation model
Authors: Speculand Robin , Chaudhary Ruchira 
Published: November 2008

PurposeVision, Mission and Values are buzzwords that many leaders have grasped on to and attempted to adopt. Most, however, have failed to inculcate the values. What is missing is a model to translate values into actions and behviours.Design/methodology/approachThe Value Inculcation Model introduces a four step approach that links Values to Organizational Performance. It is based on ten years research and work by Bridges Business Consultancy Int.FindingsBy identifying core values, changing attitudes and encouraging new behaviours, the organisation will start to transform.Originality/valueIdentifying the values for an organisation is only step one of a four step process. To successfully become a value‐driven organisation, leaders must translate core values into what it means to staff member's attitude and behaviours and then consider the overall impact to Organisational performance.
Oxidative stress and its determinants in the airways of children with asthma
Authors: Dut R. , Dizdar E. A. , Birben E. , Sackesen C. , Soyer O. U. , Besler T. , Kalayci O. 
Published: November 2008

Background:  There is ample evidence for the existence of a systemic oxidative stress in childhood asthma but relatively little information on the oxidant stress in the airways.Objective:  To determine the extent of oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and describe its determinants in the airways of asthmatic children including asthma severity and the genotype of the antioxidant enzymes.Methods:  One hundred and ten children with mild asthma, 30 children with moderate asthma and 191 healthy controls were included in the study. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was collected from all children with EcoScreen®. Levels of malondialdehyde were measured as the indicator of oxidative stress, and of reduced glutathione as the indicator of antioxidant defense. Children were genotyped for the presence of null variants of glutathione S transferase (GST) T1 and GSTM1, and ile105val variant of GSTP1. Risk factors were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression.Results:  EBC contained significantly higher levels of malondialdehyde and lower levels of reduced glutathione in asthmatic children compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001 for each), whereas there was no difference between mild and moderate asthmatics. Multivariate logistic regression identified asthma as the only independent factor contributing to oxidative stress. Genotypes of the antioxidant enzymes had no effect on the oxidative burden.Conclusions:  Asthma is associated with an extremely powerful oxidative stress not only in the systemic circulation but also in the airways.
A Comparison of the Relative Efficacy of CAPD and Hernodialysis in the Control of Solute Concentration
Authors: Hiatt Mary P. , Pyle W. Keith , Moncrief Jack W. , Popovich Robert P. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACTMetabolite concentrations found in patients on both continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis are predicted by means of a theoretical transport model. Effects of variation in parameters such as generation rate, mass transfer coefficients and residual renal clearance are studied. The information obtained indicates that CAPD is as effective as hemodialysis in reducing the concentrations of low molecular weight metabolites occurring in the “average” ESRD patient. CAPD becomes increasingly more effective than hernodialysis as molecular weight increases.
Association of human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) polymorphism with development of acute lung injury
Authors: Reddy Anita J. , Christie Jason D. , Aplenc Richard , Fuchs Barry , Lanken Paul N. , Kleeberger Steven R. 
Published: November 2008

AbstractAcute lung injury (ALI) is a syndrome with significant morbidity and mortality, but its genetic susceptibility is not clearly understood. In the present study, we characterized functional promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the phase II antioxidant gene NQO1 (NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase1) to evaluate its role in susceptibility to ALI. Three previously uncharacterized SNPs in the NQO1 promoter were selected for investigation. Luciferase assays were performed using constructs of each promoter polymorphism to evaluate function. Functional SNPs were genotyped in a prospective cohort of major trauma patients (N= 264) and assessed for association with development of ALI. The A/C SNP at −1221 decreased in vitro transcription of NQO1 at baseline and after exposure to hyperoxia and other oxidant stressors. Patients heterozygous for the −1221 C allele were at significantly lesser risk of ALI after major trauma compared with patients with wild‐type alleles, even after adjustment for APACHE III score, and mechanism of trauma [OR, 0.46 (95% CI 0.23, 0.90); P= 0.024]. This study demonstrated that the AC genotype at position −1221 in the NQO1 gene caused decreased transcription and was associated with a lower incidence of ALI following major trauma. These novel findings may have important implications in diseases with oxidant stress aetiologies.
Quantifying Nonspecific TEM β-Lactamase (
bla
TEM
) Genes in a Wastewater Stream
Authors: Lachmayr Karen L. , Kerkhof Lee J. , DiRienzo A. Gregory , Cavanaugh Colleen M. , Ford Timothy E. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

To control the antibiotic resistance epidemic, it is necessary to understand the distribution of genetic material encoding antibiotic resistance in the environment and how anthropogenic inputs, such as wastewater, affect this distribution. Approximately two-thirds of antibiotics administered to humans are β-lactams, for which the predominant bacterial resistance mechanism is hydrolysis by β-lactamases. Of the β-lactamases, the TEM family is of overriding significance with regard to diversity, prevalence, and distribution. This paper describes the design of DNA probes universal for all known TEM β-lactamase genes and the application of a quantitative PCR assay (also known as Taqman) to quantify these genes in environmental samples. The primer set was used to study whether sewage, both treated and untreated, contributes to the spread of these genes in receiving waters. It was found that while modern sewage treatment technologies reduce the concentrations of these antibiotic resistance genes, the ratio of
bla
TEM
genes to 16S rRNA genes increases with treatment, suggesting that bacteria harboring
bla
TEM
are more likely to survive the treatment process. Thus, β-lactamase genes are being introduced into the environment in significantly higher concentrations than occur naturally, creating reservoirs of increased resistance potential.
Metagenome-Derived Clones Encoding Two Novel Lactonase Family Proteins Involved in Biofilm Inhibition in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Schipper C. , Hornung C. , Bijtenhoorn P. , Quitschau M. , Grond S. , Streit W. R. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Here we report the isolation and characterization of three metagenome-derived clones that interfere with bacterial quorum sensing and degrade
N
-(3-oxooctanoyl)-
l
-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C
8
-HSL). By using a
traI-lacZ
gene fusion, the metagenome-derived clones were identified from a soil DNA library and analyzed. The open reading frames linked to the 3-oxo-C
8
-HSL-degrading activities were designated bpiB01, bpiB04, and bpiB07. While the BpiB07 protein was similar to a known lactonase, no significant similarities were observed for the BpiB01 and BpiB04 proteins or the deduced amino acid sequences. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses confirmed that the identified genes encode novel lactone-hydrolyzing enzymes. The original metagenome-derived clones were expressed in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and employed in motility and biofilm assays. All clones were able to reproducibly inhibit motility in
P
.
aeruginosa
. Furthermore, these genes clearly inhibited biofilm formation in
P
.
aeruginosa
when expressed in
P
.
aeruginosa
PAO1. Thus, this is the first study in which metagenome-derived proteins have been expressed in
P
.
aeruginosa
to successfully inhibit biofilm formation.
Production of Verotoxin and Distribution of O Islands 122 and 43/48 among Verotoxin-Producing
Escherichia coli
O103:H2 Isolates from Cattle and Humans
Authors: Karama Musafiri , Johnson Roger P. , Holtslander Robert , Gyles Carlton L. 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

This study investigated variations in the occurrence of markers of O islands 122 and 43/48 and in verotoxin 1 production in 91 verotoxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(VTEC) O103:H2 strains of bovine and human origins. None of the genes that were investigated appear to be virulence indicators for human O103:H2 VTEC.
Impact of Inactivated Extracellular Proteases on the Modified Flagellin Type III Secretion Pathway of
Bacillus halodurans
Authors: Berger Eldie , du Plessis Erika , Gerber Isak , Crampton Michael , Nxumalo Nolwandle , Louw Maureen 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

The flagellin type III secretion pathway of
Bacillus halodurans
BhFC01 (Δ
hag
) was modified by the inactivation of
fliD
. An in-frame flagellin gene fusion polypeptide construct was expressed, and the heterologous peptides were secreted as flagellin fusion monomers. The stability of the secreted monomers was significantly enhanced through gene-targeted inactivation of extracellular proteases.
The Peptidoglycan Sacculus of
Myxococcus xanthus
Has Unusual Structural Features and Is Degraded during Glycerol-Induced Myxospore Development
Authors: Bui Nhat Khai , Gray Joe , Schwarz Heinz , Schumann Peter , Blanot Didier , Vollmer Waldemar 
Published: November 2008

ABSTRACT

Upon nutrient limitation cells of the swarming soil bacterium
Myxococcus xanthus
form a multicellular fruiting body in which a fraction of the cells develop into myxospores. Spore development includes the transition from a rod-shaped vegetative cell to a spherical myxospore and so is expected to be accompanied by changes in the bacterial cell envelope. Peptidoglycan is the shape-determining structure in the cell envelope of most bacteria, including myxobacteria. We analyzed the composition of peptidoglycan isolated from
M. xanthus
. While the basic structural elements of peptidoglycan in myxobacteria were identical to those in other gram-negative bacteria, the peptidoglycan of
M. xanthus
had unique structural features.
meso
- or
ll
-diaminopimelic acid was present in the stem peptides, and a new modification of
N
-acetylmuramic acid was detected in a fraction of the muropeptides. Peptidoglycan formed a continuous, bag-shaped sacculus in vegetative cells. The sacculus was degraded during the transition from vegetative cells to glycerol-induced myxospores. The spherical, bag-shaped coats isolated from glycerol-induced spores contained no detectable muropeptides, but they contained small amounts of
N
-acetylmuramic acid and
meso
-diaminopimelic acid.