bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impedance and extraesophageal manifestations of reflux in pediatrics
Authors: Greifer Melanie , Ng Kenneth , Levine Jeremiah
Published: March 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) include such signs and symptoms as cough, asthma, respiratory symptoms, hoarseness, and laryngoscopic findings. We reviewed the role of MII‐pH monitoring in the evaluation of these findings in children to determine whether there is an association with pathological acid or nonacid reflux.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed charts from patients who underwent MII‐pH. Inclusion criteria were ages 0 to 21 years with extraesophageal signs or symptom. Data were analyzed using dedicated software and manually reviewed. Reflux composite score was calculated based on DeMeester criteria. Impedance scores were calculated based on adult criteria. Symptom indexes were calculated.

Results:

A total of 119 MII‐pH studies were performed. Of those, 63 studies met inclusion criteria. There were 39 males and 24 females with mean age 7.32 ± 4.1 years. The most common indication was cough. Six children had pathological GER based on DeMeester score. Using impedance criteria, only 10 of 63 patients had an abnormal evaluation (mean reflux episodes 107). Seven patients (15.2%) were found to have an association between symptom and reflux event.

Conclusions:

No association was demonstrated between the extraesophageal signs and symptoms and pathological GER based on DeMeester score or the number of reflux events based on impedance testing.
DAM CONSTRUCTION AND LOSS OF GEODIVERSITY IN THE ARAGUARI RIVER BASIN, BRAZIL
Authors: Rodrigues S. C. , Silva T. I.
Published: March 2012

The Araguari River is located in the central uplands of Brazil. Over the past 40 years, the region has undergone considerable change in its economy because of the green revolution and urban development that followed the construction of Brasilia in the 1960s, the new capital of Brazil. The main changes in the landscape were the construction of two hydroelectric power plants across the main valley, resulting in ~95 per cent loss in the natural features of the lower 200 km of the Araguari course. The inundation of the river valley has dramatically modified the landscape, with submersion of many locations, especially gorges, islands as well as tributary valleys and historic sites. The concept of geodiversity implies that abiotic elements of nature have unique qualities that are not uniformly distributed and include geomorphic, geologic and pedologic qualities within the context of their location. The concept of geodiversity is used to understand and assess losses from the Araguari River Valley landscapes. In this research, we present the total quantity of geosite types occurring for our Araguari River Valley study site. Twelve complex sites were identified, with six transformed to simple geosites because of inundation associated with formation of two reservoirs. The major changes caused by river impoundment resulted in a reduction in the richness of geosites and a reduction in their complexity by 50 per cent. The study results find that 14.3 per cent of the original geodiversity was lost after valley inundation. Quantification of changes in geodiversity is essential to comprehensively characterize the environmental impact of dams. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heavy vector-like top partners at the LHC and flavour constraints
Authors: Cacciapaglia Giacomo , Deandrea Aldo , Panizzi Luca , Gaur Naveen , Harada Daisuke , Okada Yasuhiro
Published: March 2012

Abstract

We consider the phenomenology at the Large Hadron Collider of new heavy vector-like quarks which couple mainly to the third generation quarks via Yukawa interactions, with special emphasis on non-standard doublet representations which are less constrained from present data. We also discuss in detail the flavour limits at tree level and loop level and implications of a generalised CKM mixing matrix to these cases.
The relativistic fluid dual to vacuum Einstein gravity
Authors: Compère Geoffrey , McFadden Paul , Skenderis Kostas , Taylor Marika
Published: March 2012

Abstract

We present a construction of a (d + 2)-dimensional Ricci-flat metric corresponding to a (d + 1)-dimensional relativistic fluid, representing holographically the hydrodynamic regime of a (putative) dual theory. We show how to obtain the metric to arbitrarily high order using a relativistic gradient expansion, and explicitly carry out the computation to second order. The fluid has zero energy density in equilibrium, which implies incompressibility at first order in gradients, and its stress tensor (both at and away from equilibrium) satisfies a quadratic constraint, which determines its energy density away from equilibrium. The entire dynamics to second order is encoded in one first order and six second order transport coefficients, which we compute. We classify entropy currents with non-negative divergence at second order in relativistic gradients. We then verify that the entropy current obtained by pulling back to the fluid surface the area form at the null horizon indeed has a non-negative divergence. We show that there are distinct near-horizon scaling limits that are equivalent either to the relativistic gradient expansion we discuss here, or to the non-relativistic expansion associated with the Navier-Stokes equations discussed in previous works. The latter expansion may be recovered from the present relativistic expansion upon taking a specific non-relativistic limit.
Novel interactions at the essential N‐terminus of poly(A) polymerase that could regulate poly(A) addition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ezeokonkwo Chukwudi , Ghazy Mohamed A. , Zhelkovsky Alexander , Yeh Pei-Chun , Moore Claire
Published: March 2012

PTA1
binds to
PAP1
by pull down (View interaction)
Investigation of long-range temporal correlation in electron cyclotron resonance produced linear magnetized plasma of the MaPLE device
Authors: Biswas Subir , Iyengar A. N. S. , Pal Rabindranath
Published: March 2012

Long range temporal correlation of the low frequency fluctuations is investigated in a linear electron cyclotron resonance produced magnetized plasma at different radial positions and filling gas pressures. These fluctuations turn from chaotic to coherent and again chaotic as one moves radially outwards from the center towards the edge region. The power spectrum of these fluctuations shows three distinct frequency regions characterized by their power exponents. Long range temporal correlation of these fluctuations is investigated by estimating the self similarity parameter (Hurst exponents) using rescaled range (R/S) statistics as well as from power spectrum analysis. Dependence of this long range temporal correlation on filling gas pressure has also been investigated.
Particle simulation of the nonlinear oscillation of electrons induced by a nanosecond pulse in rf capacitive hydrogen discharges
Authors: Sun Jizhong , Li Lele , Stirner Thomas , Bai Jing , Wang Dezhen
Published: March 2012

A particle-in-cell simulation was employed to investigate the nature and physical cause of the nonlinear oscillation of electrons induced by a nanosecond pulse in rf capacitive hydrogen discharges. It was found that the applied nanosecond pulse converted the plasma quickly from the bi-Maxwellian equilibrium formed in the rf capacitive discharge into another temporal bi-Maxwellian equilibrium. When the applied electric field collapses within a few nanoseconds, the electric field arising from the space charge serves as a restoring force to generate a swift oscillation of the electrons. The energy stored in the plasma is converted gradually into the chemical energy during the electron periodic movement. It is also found that the rise-, plateau-, and fall-times of the applied pulse affect the evolution of the electron energy distribution. The collective electron oscillation has a repetition frequency approximately equal to the electron plasma frequency, independent of pulse rise-, plateau-, and fall-times. This oscillation of electrons induced by a nanosecond pulse can be used to generate highly excited vibrational states of hydrogen molecules, which are a necessary precursor for negative hydrogen ions.
Surface transfer doping of hydrogen-terminated diamond by C60F48: Energy level scheme and doping efficiency
Authors: Edmonds M. T. , Wanke M. , Tadich A. , Vulling H. M. , Rietwyk K. J. , Sharp P. L. , Stark C. B. , Smets Y. , Schenk A. , Wu Q.-H. , Ley L. , Pakes C. I.
Published: March 2012

Surface sensitive C1s core level photoelectron spectroscopy was used to examine the electronic properties of C60F48 molecules on the C(100):H surface. An upward band bending of 0.74 eV in response to surface transfer doping by fluorofullerene molecules is measured. Two distinct molecular charge states of C60F48 are identified and their relative concentration determined as a function of coverage. One corresponds to ionized molecules that participate in surface charge transfer and the other to neutral molecules that do not. The position of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of neutral C60F48 which is the relevant acceptor level for transfer doping lies initially 0.6 eV below the valence band maximum and shifts upwards in the course of transfer doping by up to 0.43 eV due to a doping induced surface dipole. This upward shift in conjunction with the band bending determines the occupation of the acceptor level and limits the ultimately achievable hole concentration with C60F48 as a surface acceptor to values close to 1013 cm−2 as reported in the literature.
Shear viscosity of inhomogeneous fluids
Authors: Hoang Hai , Galliero Guillaume
Published: March 2012

Using molecular dynamics simulations on inhomogeneous fluids, we have studied the effects of strong density inhomogeneities of varying wavelengths on the shear viscosity computed locally. For dense fluids, the local average density model combined with an adequate weight function yields a good description of the viscosity profiles obtained by simulations. However, for low density inhomogeneous fluids, the local average density model is unable to describe correctly the viscosity profiles obtained by simulations. It is shown that this weakness can be overcome by taking into account the density inhomogeneity in the local translational contribution to the viscosity using a density gradient like approach.
Statistical mechanics of coarse graining: Estimating dynamical speedups from excess entropies
Authors: Armstrong J. A. , Chakravarty C. , Ballone P.
Published: March 2012

The excess entropy of fluids has been shown to play a decisive role in the determination of dynamical properties [Y. Rosenfeld, Phys. Rev. A 15, 2545 (1977)10.1103/PhysRevA.15.2545]. We argue that it could play an equally important role in connecting dynamical properties of atomistic and coarse-grained models of molecular fluid systems. Molecular dynamics simulations for an atomistic and a coarse-grained model of water confirm the validity of this conjecture, showing that the sizable enhancement of the diffusion rate upon coarse-graining is a simple function of the difference in the excess entropy of the two models. This empirical observation could ease the way to a first-principles prediction of the relation of dynamical properties estimated from models at different resolution.
Ionized zinc vacancy mediated ferromagnetism in copper doped ZnO thin films
Authors: Zhuo Shi-Yi , Liu Xue-Chao , Xiong Ze , Yang Jian-Hua , Shi Er-Wei
Published: March 2012

This paper reports the origin of ferromagnetism in Cu-doped ZnO thin films. Room-temperature ferromagnetism is obtained in all the thin films when deposited at different oxygen partial pressure. An obviously enhanced peak corresponding to zinc vacancy is observed in the photoluminescence spectra, while the electrical spin resonance measurement implies the zinc vacancy is negative charged. After excluding the possibility of direct exchange mechanisms (via free carriers), we tentatively propose a quasi-indirect exchange model (via ionized zinc vacancy) for Cu-doped ZnO system.
Interaction between microRNAs and actin-associated protein Arpc5 regulates translational suppression during male germ cell differentiation
Authors: Chang Yao-Fu , Lee-Chang Jennifer S. , Imam J. Saadi , Buddavarapu Kalyan Chakravarthy , Subaran Sarah S. , Sinha-Hikim Amiya P. , Gorospe Myriam , Rao Manjeet K.
Published: March 2012

Decoupling of transcription and translation during postmeiotic germ cell differentiation is critical for successful spermatogenesis. Here we establish that the interaction between microRNAs and actin-associated protein Arpc5 sets the stage for an elaborate translational control mechanism by facilitating the sequestration of germ cell mRNAs into translationally inert ribonucleoprotein particles until they are later translated. Our studies reveal that loss of microRNA-dependent regulation of Arpc5, which controls the distribution of germ cell mRNAs between translationally active and inactive pools, results in abnormal round spermatid differentiation and impaired fertility. Interestingly, Arpc5 functions as a broadly acting translational suppressor, as it inhibits translation initiation by blocking 80S formation and facilitates the transport of mRNAs to chromatoid/P bodies. These findings identify a unique role for actin-associated proteins in translational regulation, and suggest that mRNA-specific and general translational control mechanisms work in tandem to regulate critical germ cell differentiation events and diverse somatic cell functions.
Unexpected and rapid recovery of left ventricular function in patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy: impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Mouquet Frederic , Mostefa Kara Meriem , Lamblin Nicolas , Coulon Capucine , Langlois Stephane , Marquie Christelle , de Groote Pascal
Published: March 2012

Aim

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of dilated cardiomyopathy responsible for heart failure toward the end of pregnancy, which can lead to chronic heart failure in 50% of cases. In this short report, we assessed the benefit of cardiac resynchronization in patients with PPCM and chronic systolic dysfunction despite optimal medical treatment.

Methods and results

For the last 10 years, we managed eight patients diagnosed with PPCM. Two of them presented severe systolic dysfunction, and medical treatment resulted in limited improvement from 10% to 25% and from 25% to 28% despite optimal treatment for 9 and 6 years, respectively. These two patients were porposed to receive an implantatable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Six months after ICD‐CRT treatment, we observed a significant improvement in systolic function from 25% to 45% and 28% to 50%, respectively, and positive remodelling with reduction of left ventricular end‐diastolic volume from 216 to 144 mL and from 354 to 105 mL, which represent a 34% and a 70% reduction, respectively.

Conclusions

Physicians in charge of patients with PPCM should offer the opportunity of CRT for patients whose cardiac function has not significantly improved under standard medical treatment.
Peritoneal dialysis relieves clinical symptoms and is well tolerated in patients with refractory heart failure and chronic kidney disease
Authors: Koch Michael , Haastert Burkhard , Kohnle Matthias , Rump Lars Christian , Kelm Malte , Trapp Rudolf , Aker Sendogan
Published: March 2012

Aims

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and clinical outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment in patients with severe refractory heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods and results

The PD treatment was performed in 118 patients [49.2% New York Heart Association (NYHA) III and 50.8% NYHA IV] with a mean age of 73.2 ± 11.4 years as an in‐centre‐based and intermittent automated PD at least three times per week for 12 h per session and followed up for 1.11 ± 1.17 years. The functional status of those surviving for 6 months improved (P < 0.0001): 18 (32.1%) of all 60 patients with NYHA IV at baseline died within 6 months, 3 (5.4%) converted to NYHA III, 33 (58.9%) to NYHA II, and 2 (3.6%) to NYHA I. In all 58 patients with NYHA III at baseline, 14 (25.0%) died within 6 months, 27 (48.2%) converted to NYHA II, 12 (21.4%) to NYHA I, and 3 (5.4%) showed no improvement. In those surviving for 6 months, fluid overload was significantly reduced as body weight decreased, from 78.7 [95% confidence interval (CI) 75.8–81.7] to 74.7 (71.5–77.9) after 6 months after multiple imputation (P < 0.001). The overall survival rates after 3, 6, and 12 months were 77% (95% CI 70–85), 71% (95% CI 62–79), and 55% (95% CI 45–64). In the multivariate analyses, age, diabetes mellitus, serum urea, and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly associated with mortality. The incidence of peritonitis and catheter dysfunction was 0.053 (95% CI 0.014–0.093) and 0.084 (95% CI 0.034–0.133), respectively.

Conclusion

The data suggest that PD is a safe, efficient, and well tolerated therapeutic tool for patients with refractory chronic HF and CKD.
Collaborative knowledge management practices
Authors: Li Yulong , Tarafdar Monideepa , Subba Rao S.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework analyzing the relationship of collaborative knowledge management practices (CKMP) with supply chain integration and supply chain knowledge quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the study is based on a survey of 411 firms from eight manufacturing industries that are actively involved in inter‐firm knowledge management practices with supply chain partners. First a measurement instrument for CKMP was statistically validated with confirmatory factor analysis. Then the structural equation modeling (SEM) path analysis was used to assess the structural relationship of CKMP with supply chain knowledge quality and supply chain integration.

Findings

The study found that engagement in CKMP can lead to better integration between supply chain partners and increased organizational knowledge quality.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted at the firm level for activities involving inter‐firm knowledge sharing. Some measurement inaccuracy might be generated with a single respondent from each organization answering questions about both supply chain management issues and knowledge management‐related issues.

Practical implications

By identifying collaborative knowledge generation, storage, access, dissemination and application as the major components of CKMP, this study advises organizations on how to collaborate with partner firms on sharing supply chain knowledge. CKMP's positive relationship with knowledge quality and supply chain integration provides organizations with practice‐related motivation for engaging in collaborative knowledge management and alerts them to the possibility of other potential benefits from it.

Originality/value

As one of the first large‐scale empirical efforts to systematically investigate collaborative knowledge management processes in a supply chain management context, this paper can be used as basis for enhanced homological understanding of this domain, by exploring antecedents and consequences of collaborative knowledge management.
Application of fuzzy logic and electrodynamic sensors as flow pattern identifier
Authors: Rahmat M.F. , Kamaruddin N.S.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The use of pneumatic conveying of solid bulk over long distance has become a popular technique due to low operational cost, low maintenance requirement, layout flexibility and ease of automation. The purpose of this paper is to identifity the flow regime in a pneumatic conveyor system by electrodynamic sensor placed around the pipe using fuzzy logic tools.

Design/methodology/approach

Electrical charge tomography is used to detect the existence of inherent charge on the moving particles through the pipe. Linear back projection algorithm and filtered back projection algorithm are employed to produce tomography image. Baffles of different shapes are inserted to create various flow regimes, such as full flow, three quarter flow, half flow and quarter flow. Fuzzy logic tools are used to identify different flow regimes and produce filtered back concentration profiles for each flow regime.

Findings

The results show significant improvement in the pipe flow image resolution and measurement.

Originality/value

This paper presents a flow identifier method using electrical charge tomography and fuzzy logic to monitor solid particles flow in pipeline.
Preparing for the 21st century
Authors: Nutefall Jennifer E. , Chadwell Faye A.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to communicate how an academic library can establish and implement a realignment process to prepare itself to serve users in the 21st century.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a case study approach to present the challenges of realigning an academic library. They describe the collaborative and interactive process that OSU Libraries undertook to envision what a 21st century academy library might demand and to realign its units to support this vision. They summarize the positive outcomes of this process and provide an overview of what next steps might be.

Findings

A combination of visioning exercises and collaborative study of the appropriate LIS literature were key to establishing the direction that the libraries' realignment would take and the eventual organizational structure the libraries implemented. The realignment activities not only emphasized collaboration among unit heads, but also emphasized the importance of clear communication, ongoing assessment, and connection to the university's overall strategic goals and realignment in order to guarantee eventual success.

Originality/value

This article describes a process that most academic libraries could emulate to shift the focus of legacy operations and departments to those that successfully meet the challenges of the twenty‐first century academic library.
Examining the antecedents of positive employee brand‐related attitudes and behaviours
Authors: King Ceridwyn , Grace Debra
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to examine the antecedents of employee brand commitment (BC) and brand citizenship behaviours (BCB). In doing so, it also aims to propose a model which includes organisational socialisation, relationship orientation and employee receptiveness to explain the relationships between these three antecedents and BC and BCB.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research methodology was adopted which resulted in the development of a self‐administered online survey instrument. As the population of interest was employees working in a service industry, a purposive sampling technique was adopted. Using a national database of service employees, a random sample of 2,000 e‐mail addresses was generated and respondents were invited to participate in the online survey. This resulted in the completion of 371 online surveys, representing a response rate of 19 per cent.

Findings

The findings revealed a significant positive effect between organisational socialisation and BCB, but not with BC. On the other hand, relationship orientation was found to have a significant positive effect on BC, but not BCB. Employee receptiveness was the only antecedent to have a strong positive effect on both BC and BCB.

Research limitations/implications

Given the findings, it appears that individual employee factors are extremely important in understanding how employees feel about and behave in relation to their employer's brand. Just as the external market literature reports numerous links between individual factors (i.e. personality, values, motivation, etc.) of consumers and consumption‐related behaviour, the internal market literature will significantly benefit by adopting a similar line of enquiry in relation to employees. The acquisition of such knowledge will not only assist organisations in selecting “brand‐oriented” employees, but will also help them identify, develop and nurture future brand champions.

Practical implications

This study provides insight to managers that covet organisational success through the adoption of internal brand management practices. In particular, it empirically validates the significance of the receptivity of employees in enhancing not only their commitment to the brand but the exhibition of “pro” brand behaviours as well. Without employees that are first receptive to organisational dialogue, the intentions of internal brand management initiatives are unlikely to be realised.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence of the antecedents of employee brand commitment and subsequent brand behaviour. In doing so, it highlights the need to understand the pre‐existing individual factors that employees bring to the employment exchange table, given that they significantly influence the way in which employees feel about and behave in relation to their employer's brand.
The role of the sales employee in securing customer satisfaction
Authors: Evanschitzky Heiner , Sharma Arun , Prykop Catja
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Previous research has emphasized the pivotal role that salespeople play in customer satisfaction. In this regard, the relationship between salespeople's attitudes, skills, and characteristics, and customer satisfaction remains an area of interest. The paper aims to make three contributions: first, it seeks to examine the impact of salespeople's satisfaction, adaptive selling, and dominance on customer satisfaction. Second, this research aims to use dyadic data, which is a better test of the relationships between constructs since it avoids common method variance. Finally, in contrast to previous research, it aims to test all of the customers of salespeople rather than customers selected by salespeople.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs multilevel analysis to examine the relationship between salespeople's satisfaction with the firm on customer satisfaction, using a dyadic, matched business‐to‐business sample of a large European financial service provider that comprises 188 customers and 18 employees.

Findings

The paper finds that customers' evaluation of service quality, product quality, and value influence customer satisfaction. The analysis at the selling firm's employee level shows that adaptive selling and employee satisfaction positively impact customer satisfaction, while dominance is negatively related to customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

Research shows that customer‐focus is a key driver in the success of service companies. Customer satisfaction is regarded as a prerequisite for establishing long‐term, profitable relations between company and customer, and customer contact employees are key to nurturing this relationship. The role of salespeople's attitudes, skills, and characteristics in the customer satisfaction process are highlighted in this paper.

Originality/value

The use of dyadic, multilevel studies to assess the nature of the relationship between employees and customers is, to date, surprisingly limited. The paper examines the link between employee attitudes, skills, and characteristics, and customer satisfaction in a business‐to‐business setting in the financial service sector, differentiating between customer‐ and employee‐level drivers of business customer satisfaction.
Human capital development: comparative analysis of BRICs
Authors: Ardichvili Alexandre , Zavyalova Elena , Minina Vera
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The goal of this article is to conduct macro‐level analysis of human capital (HC) development strategies, pursued by four countries commonly referred to as BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China).

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis is based on comparisons of macro indices of human capital and innovativeness of the economy and a review of related academic literature and government publications.

Findings

The study results suggest that in terms of present human capital capacity Russia and Brazil are ahead of China and India. However, during the last decade the governments of the latter two countries have initiated impressive national programs of HC development, which include significant investment and targeted government regulation in such areas as primary and secondary education, vocational education and training, and higher education, especially in science and technology fields. Russia and Brazil have targeted programs in some of the above areas, but lack comprehensive long‐term strategies, covering all the above areas and coordinating effort of various agencies and constituencies.

Research limitations/implications

It is recommended to expand the scope of analysis to include other fast growing developing economies (e.g. Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey).

Originality/value

The article provides, for the first time, a comparison of human capital development indices and strategies of the four largest developing economies. The original feature of the article is a combination of the analysis of macro‐level indices with an in‐depth analysis of policy documents and academic literature.
A review of international HRD: incorporating a global HRD construct
Authors: Garavan Thomas N. , Carbery Ronan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to review published conceptual and research papers within the field of international, comparative and cross‐cultural HRD.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is a targeted literature review focusing on papers within the mainstream HRD journals, as well as a small number of non HRD journals.

Findings

The literature review revealed that international, comparative and cross‐cultural HRD is an emerging subfield of study. In general the authors were able to categorise the literatures into the three trajectories specified. However, they noted contradictions and confusions within the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is solely theoretical in nature; however, it does identify gaps for further research. The authors highlight specific research questions within each trajectory as well as proposing a global HRD construct.

Originality/value

The paper is particularly valuable to scholars interested in theorising and researching international, comparative and cross‐cultural HRD. It sets the scene for the special issue on the three trajectories, and identifies possible avenues for future theorising and research.
Leveraging higher education consortia for institutional advancement
Authors: Burley Diana , Gnam Cathy , Newman Robin , Straker Howard , Babies Tanika
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore conceptually the role of higher education consortia in facilitating the operational advancement of member institutions, and in enabling their development as learning organizations in a changing and competitive higher education environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This article synthesizes the literature on higher education consortia and organizational learning and develops propositions to support future inquiry.

Findings

While some institutions of higher education do indeed learn, the power that consortia hold to extend, expand, and exploit this learning may represent a vast, untapped resource. Through a better understanding of the role that consortium participation may play in organizational learning, a roadmap may be generated for higher education institutions to achieve the cultural and strategic shifts necessary to develop new directions for the delivery of educational content. This enhanced understanding also may help sustain the culture of, and innovative practices used by, learning organizations.

Research limitations/implications

Consortia have the potential to offer a wide variety of benefits to institutions of higher education through innovative structure, operations, and delivery methods, generating tremendous potential for institutions of higher education to become more effective learning organizations.

Originality/value

As institutions of higher learning continue to form collaborative partnerships through higher education consortia, interesting questions arise about the potential unexplored value of these institutional networks. This article suggests that the interplay of diverse practices and sharing of related organizational knowledge across institutions may provide an opportunity for learning and adaptation within them.
Proposed scholarly research agenda for transforming Malaysia into a model developing nation
Authors: Antony Xavier John , Ahmad Zafar U.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the dynamics of Malaysia's new economic model (NEM) formulated to achieve Malaysia's aspiration to become a high‐income nation by 2020. Based on that analysis, the paper seeks to identify areas of research that could profitably be pursued to further the aims and implementation of the NEM. Such identification of research areas would ensure that research and development efforts are aligned to the accomplishment of national growth objectives in tune with the nation's Vision 2020 as well as spearhead development in other developing countries that wish to emulate Malaysia's model.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a combination of descriptive and analytical methods. Interviews with selected high‐level officials directly involved in the formulation and implementation of the NEM and secondary data and information inform this study.

Findings

Although Malaysia has done well in socio‐economic development, it is now striving hard to get out of the middle‐income trap to become a high‐income nation by 2020. The paper identifies a scholarly research agenda that will find solutions to the many challenges that Malaysia and other developing countries confront in breaking out of the middle‐income trap.

Practical implications

Practitioners will obtain a better appreciation of the strategies that they have to undertake to accelerate economic growth.

Research implications

The issues identified in the paper and the research agenda proposed should aid policy makers, practitioners and academics in carrying out research and development efforts that could aid developing countries formulate strategies to accelerate the development process.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the limited knowledge on the research that has to be conducted in effectively implementing the Malaysian NEM and accelerating the growth path of the emerging economies.
From “less landfilling” to “wasting less”
Authors: Corvellec Hervé , Hultman Johan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that organizational change depends on societal narratives – narratives about the character, history, or envisioned future of societies.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of a Swedish municipal waste management company serves as an illustration.

Findings

Swedish waste governance is powered by two main narratives: “less landfilling” and “wasting less”. Less landfilling has been the dominant narrative for several decades, but wasting less is gaining momentum, and a new narrative order is establishing itself. This new narrative order significantly redefines the socio‐material status of waste and imposes major changes on waste management organizations.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the case of waste governance in Sweden, the authors conclude that organizations should be aware that societal narrative affects the legitimacy and nature of their operations; therefore, they must integrate a watch for narrative change in their strategic reflections.

Originality/value

This paper establishes the relevance of the notion of societal narrative to understand organizational change.
The rhetoric and narratives in management research
Authors: Magala Slawek , Flory Marja
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce this special issue on the subject of the rhetoric and narratives in management research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews selected contributions to the 4th Conference on Rhetoric and Narratives in Management Research held on March 24‐26, 2011 at the ESADE campus in Barcelona.

Findings

The paper reveals various views of rhetoric and narratives in management research including plagiarism, individual (personal) narratives , material and spiritual narratives and deception in storytelling.

Originality/value

The paper provides a useful introduction to the various papers on rhetoric and narratives in management research.
A comparative case study on metadata schemes at Swedish governmental agencies
Authors: Troselius Nils , Sundqvist Anneli
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to study the development and implementation of metadata schemes in Swedish governmental agencies, in order to gain a better understanding of recordkeeping practices in contemporary organisations and of the use of metadata and practical implementation of metadata schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on two case studies. The data have been collected through qualitative interviews, e‐mail correspondence and analysis of documentary sources, and analysed with help of the records continuum model and the conceptual framework presented in the international standard for metadata, ISO/TS 23081.

Findings

The results from this study show that the agencies had similar reasons to develop metadata schemes, namely to established a unitary and consistent description of records, to enhance retrieval and exchange of information, and to provide external users access to records in compliance with the 24/7‐agency vision. The agencies have, however, chosen different approaches to metadata and based their schemes on different models. This has affected the possibility of capturing contextual relations and transactionality, and thus of guaranteeing the evidential properties of records. The agencies are to various extents covering the different aspects of recordkeeping. None of the agencies are, however, acting in all dimensions of the records continuum model.

Originality/value

The paper shows how the records continuum model can be used as an analytical tool in the study of recordkeeping practices. It further contributes with empirical findings to a field where still little research is done. The paper can also be of value to practitioners seeking to develop and implement metadata schemes for records.
Enterprise content management (ECM) implementation in South Africa
Authors: Katuu Shadrack
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article aims to assess how enterprise content management (ECM) has been implemented in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a five‐part analysis of the concept of ECM. The first part outlines a perspective to ECM based on predecessor and related terms such as EDMS and ERMS. The second part reviews literature generated in South Africa on electronic records and document management over the last decade as well as a discussion on value added resellers in the country. The third part provides the results of the survey of ten South African institutions. This section includes an outline on the research methodology used as well as analysis of the data and a brief discussion of the research implications. The fourth part provides concluding remarks and the fifth part is a list of references.

Findings

A literature review conducted by the author reveals that there have been few published sources on institutional experiences related to implementing electronic document and records management in South Africa. However, the survey published in this article reveals that South African institutions have as much as eight years of ECM implementation experience, a majority using ECM applications from one company and the most common ECM applications modules installed within the organizations being records management, document management and imaging. These survey results suggest additional research is needed to assess proprietary vs non‐proprietary applications as well as the impact of value‐added resellers to ECM implementation.

Originality/value

As the literature review has shown, ECM implementation in South Africa has received minimal attention beyond graduate level research. This article provides an analysis of empirical data on ECM implementation in South Africa and serves as a baseline for more comprehensive studies in the future.
Numerical solutions of time‐fractional Burgers equations
Authors: Alam Khan Najeeb , Ara Asmat , Mahmood Amir
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the generalized differential transform method (GDTM) and homotopy perturbation method (HPM) for solving time‐fractional Burgers and coupled Burgers equations. The fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense.

Design/methodology/approach

In these schemes, the solutions takes the form of a convergent series. In GDTM, the differential equation and related initial conditions are transformed into a recurrence relation that finally leads to the solution of a system of algebraic equations as coefficients of a power series solution. HPM requires a homotopy with an embedding parameter which is considered as a small parameter.

Findings

The paper extends the application and numerical comparison of the GDTM and HPM to obtain analytic and approximate solutions to the time‐fractional Burgers and coupled Burgers equations.

Research limitations/implications

Burgers and coupled Burgers equations with time‐fractional derivative used.

Practical implications

The implications include traffic flow, acoustic transmission, shocks, boundary layer, the steepening of the waves and fluids, thermal radiation, chemical reaction, gas dynamics and many other phenomena.

Originality/value

The numerical results demonstrate the significant features, efficiency and reliability of the two approaches. The results show that HPM is more promising, convenient, and computationally attractive than GDTM.
Theoretical study of solar combisystems based on bikini tanks and tank‐in‐tank stores
Authors: Yazdanshenas Eshagh , Furbo Simon
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Low flow bikini solar combisystems and high flow tank‐in‐tank solar combisystems have been studied theoretically. The aim of this paper is to study which of these two solar combisystem designs is suitable for different houses. The thermal performance of solar combisystems based on the two different heat storage types is compared.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal performance of Low flow bikini solar combisystems and high flow tank‐in‐tank solar combisystems is calculated with the simulation program TRNSYS. Two different TRNSYS models based on measurements were developed and used.

Findings

Based on the calculations it is concluded that low flow solar combisystems based on bikini tanks are promising for low energy buildings, while solar combisystems based on tank‐in‐tank stores are attractive for the houses with medium heating demand and old houses with high heating demand.

Originality/value

Many different Solar Combisystem designs have been commercialized over the years. In the IEA‐SHC Task 26, twenty one solar combisystems have been described and analyzed. Maybe the mantle tank approach also for solar combisystems can be used with advantage? This might be possible if the solar heating system is based on a so‐called bikini tank. Therefore, the new developed solar combisystems based on bikini tanks is compared to the tank‐in‐tank solar combisystems to elucidate which one is suitable for three different houses with low energy heating demand, medium and high heating demand.
Exploring the adoption of a virtual reality simulation
Authors: Fagan Mary , Kilmon Carol , Pandey Vivek
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to explore students' perceptions of a virtual reality simulation that enable nursing students to learn how to use a medical emergency crash cart.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was designed to explore how students' perceptions of ease of use and perceived usefulness from the technology acceptance model and the students' personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology explained their intentions to use the simulation. Six hypotheses were tested with a survey administered to 158 undergraduate nursing students at a midsized Southwestern university in the USA.

Findings

Data analysis based upon a structural equation modeling technique found support for all three research hypotheses based upon the technology acceptance model. Data analysis also found support for all three hypotheses drawn from the literature on personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology. Overall, the study's research model explained about 65 percent of the variance in intention to use the virtual reality simulation (R2=0.65).

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that future research should take into account the impact of an individual characteristic, personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology, in order to better predict users' intention to adopt an information technology innovation.

Originality/value

This study extends the knowledge of technology acceptance of a virtual reality simulation by incorporating the concept of personal innovativeness in the domain of information technology into the technology acceptance model.
Perception of puffery in advertising: investigating the China‐US differences
Authors: Gao Zhihong , Li Na , Scorpio Elaine A.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between consumer psychology and puffery law in China and the USA, by reporting two empirical studies that investigated whether puff claims had different effects on Chinese and US college students in their perception of advertising truthfulness, brand attitude, and purchase intent.

Design/methodology/approach

The first study tested the six levels of puffery, identified by Preston, with two products, cane sugar and bottled spring water. The second study employed four products to test the interaction effects of product type and the “best” puff claim.

Findings

It was found that puffery had very limited effects on the participants' brand attitude and purchase intent, and the Chinese consistently reported higher purchase intent than the Americans.

Research limitations/implications

The studies had two primary limitations. First, all the participants were college students. Future studies may want to sample the general population and further examine how factors such as age, education, social class, and product experience influence the perception of puffery. Second, to strive for cross‐cultural equivalence, the ad stimuli used consisted of very simple designs and focused solely on puff claims without much context. The findings outline a possible roadmap to regulatory harmonization based on consumer psychology, which bridges the sharp divide between the two models of puffery regulation represented by China and the USA.

Originality/value

Previous empirical studies on the effects of puffery were all confined to the US context. The paper is the first effort to investigate the effects of puffery in a cross‐cultural context.