Griffith University

About: Griffith University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13830 authors who have published 49318 publications receiving 1420865 citations.

Entertainment-seeking shopping centre patrons: the missing segments

Abstract: Entertainment is increasingly an integral part of the marketing strategy used by shopping centres to entice consumers. Further, entertainment can be a means of image differentiation for shopping centres, given that the image of a competitive retail institution is a critical determinant in consumer patronage decisions. However few studies have examined the contribution of entertainment to shopping centre image. Moreover, using entertainment as a means of identifying distinct market segments has not been explored. Hence, the purpose of this study was twofold. First, a model of attributes that represented the shopping centre image was identified. Three essential attributes that have been neglected in most shopping centre studies were revealed, namely entertainment, food and security. Second, six market segments of shopping centre patrons were identified and labelled the “serious” shopper, the “entertainment” shopper, the “demanding” shopper, the “convenience” shopper, the “apathetic” shopper and the “service” shopper. In particular, the “entertainment” shopper and the “service” shopper are identified as entertainment‐seeking segments. Managerial implications of the findings and future research directions are addressed.

How much does labour turnover cost? A case study of Australian four- and five-star hotels

Abstract: Purpose – Employee turnover is a significant challenge for human resource management (HRM) strategies and organisational performance. This study seeks to present findings drawn from an extensive survey of labour turnover in the Australian accommodation sector. A particular focus is placed on turnover rates and costs.Design/methodology/approach – Based on labour turnover literature and an industry panel, an online survey was designed and distributed to four‐ and five‐star hotels across Australia. Human resource managers from 64 hotels participated in the survey, providing a representative sample and a response rate of 29 percent.Findings – The research shows that the major costs are attributed to labour turnover. These are costs that both the industry and individual operators should examine closely, as they impact substantially on hotel operating costs and profitability. It also indicates that the levels of service, consumer experience and value may be impacted.Research limitations/implications – A limitat...

α-Tocopheryl succinate induces apoptosis by targeting ubiquinone-binding sites in mitochondrial respiratory complex II

Abstract: Alpha-tocopheryl succinate (alpha-TOS) is a selective inducer of apoptosis in cancer cells, which involves the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The molecular target of alpha-TOS has not been identified. Here, we show that alpha-TOS inhibits succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of complex II (CII) by interacting with the proximal and distal ubiquinone (UbQ)-binding site (Q(P) and Q(D), respectively). This is based on biochemical analyses and molecular modelling, revealing similar or stronger interaction energy of alpha-TOS compared to that of UbQ for the Q(P) and Q(D) sites, respectively. CybL-mutant cells with dysfunctional CII failed to accumulate ROS and underwent apoptosis in the presence of alpha-TOS. Similar resistance was observed when CybL was knocked down with siRNA. Reconstitution of functional CII rendered CybL-mutant cells susceptible to alpha-TOS. We propose that alpha-TOS displaces UbQ in CII causing electrons generated by SDH to recombine with molecular oxygen to yield ROS. Our data highlight CII, a known tumour suppressor, as a novel target for cancer therapy.