bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Near-infrared absorption and semimetal-semiconductor transition in 2nm ErAs nanoparticles embedded in GaAs and AlAs
Authors: Scarpulla Michael A. , Zide Joshua M. O. , LeBeau James M. , Van de Walle Chris G. , Gossard Arthur C. , Delaney Kris T.
Published: May 2008

We report strong near-infrared absorption peaks in epitaxial films of GaAs and AlAs containing approximately 0.5–5% of the semimetal ErAs. The energy of the resonant absorption peak can be changed from 0.62to1.0eV (2.2–1.4μm) by variation of the ErAs volume fraction and the substrate temperature. We interpret the infrared absorption in terms of transitions across an energy gap caused by a confinement-induced semimetal-semiconductor transition. An effective mass model relates the changes in nanoparticle diameter observed in transmission electron microscopy to the energy gap.
Full optimization of Jastrow–Slater wave functions with application to the first-row atoms and homonuclear diatomic molecules
Authors: Toulouse Julien , Umrigar C. J.
Published: May 2008

We pursue the development and application of the recently introduced linear optimization method for determining the optimal linear and nonlinear parameters of Jastrow–Slater wave functions in a variational Monte Carlo framework. In this approach, the optimal parameters are found iteratively by diagonalizing the Hamiltonian matrix in the space spanned by the wave function and its first-order derivatives, making use of a strong zero-variance principle. We extend the method to optimize the exponents of the basis functions, simultaneously with all the other parameters, namely, the Jastrow, configuration state function, and orbital parameters. We show that the linear optimization method can be thought of as a so-called augmented Hessian approach, which helps explain the robustness of the method and permits us to extend it to minimize a linear combination of the energy and the energy variance. We apply the linear optimization method to obtain the complete ground-state potential energy curve of the C2 molecule up to the dissociation limit and discuss size consistency and broken spin-symmetry issues in quantum Monte Carlo calculations. We perform calculations for the first-row atoms and homonuclear diatomic molecules with fully optimized Jastrow–Slater wave functions, and we demonstrate that molecular well depths can be obtained with near chemical accuracy quite systematically at the diffusion Monte Carlo level for these systems.
Does Kutta lift exist on a vortex ring in a uniform cross flow?
Authors: Lim T. T. , Lua K. B. , Thet K.
Published: May 2008

Past works [Y. K. Chang and A. D. Vakili, Phys. Fluids 7, 1583 (1995); R. Sau and K. Mahesh, AIAA Paper No. 2007-1316] show that a vortex ring ejected normal to a cross flow tilts and deforms as it propagates downstream, and they attribute this phenomenon to the Kutta lift or Magnus effect. Here, we show through a controlled experiment that there is no physical evidence of the existence of a Kutta lift when a fully developed vortex ring is exposed to a uniform cross flow. The observed phenomenon could be attributed to the modification of vorticity distribution of the vortex core due to the combined effect of the cross flow itself and the entrainment of boundary layer material during the formation of vortex ring.
Lotka–Volterra systems integrable in quadratures
Authors: Bogoyavlenskij Oleg , Itoh Yoshiaki , Yukawa Tetsuyuki
Published: May 2008

Hamiltonian n-dimensional Lotka–Volterra systems are introduced that have n−1 conserved quantities. The explicit integrability in quadratures is demonstrated.
Bridging coarse-grained models by jump-in-sample simulations
Authors: Zhou Xin , Jiang Yi , Rasmussen Steen , Ziock Hans
Published: May 2008

We present an efficient method to construct coarse-grained (CG) models from models of finer resolution. The method estimates the free energies in a generated sample of the CG conformational space and then fits the entire effective potential surface in the high-dimensional CG conformational space. A jump-in-sample algorithm that uses a random jumping walk in the CG sample is used to iteratively estimate the free energies. We test the method in a tetrahedral molecular fluid where we construct the intermolecular effective potential and evaluate the CG molecular model. Our algorithm for calculating the free energy involves an improved Wang–Landau (WL) algorithm, which not only works more efficiently than the standard WL algorithm, but also can work in high-dimensional spaces.
Representation theory of C-algebras for a higher-order class of spheres and tori
Authors: Arnlind Joakim
Published: May 2008

We construct C-algebras for a class of surfaces that are inverse images of certain polynomials of arbitrary degree. By using the directed graph associated with a matrix, the representation theory can be understood in terms of “loop” and “string” representations, which are closely related to the dynamics of an iterated map in the plane. As a particular class of algebras, we introduce the “Hénon algebras,” for which the dynamical map is a generalized Hénon map, and give an example where irreducible representations of all dimensions exist.
Effect of external electric field on liquid film confined within nanogap
Authors: Xie G. X. , Luo J. B. , Liu S. H. , Zhang C. H. , Lu X. C. , Guo D.
Published: May 2008

A strong and reproducible effect of an external electric field (EEF) on liquid films confined within a nanogap between a highly polished steel ball and a smooth glass disk is described. Induced by the EEF, microbubbles were observed at the edge of the contact region. This phenomenon is more obvious in polar liquid films than that in nonpolar ones. A stronger EEF causes a decrease in the film thickness in the contact region initially, and then the variation becomes much smaller. When the ball is applied with a positive EEF, the emergence of microbubbles is stable over time, while it becomes much less as time progresses. Different mechanisms of these experimental phenomena have been discussed.
Hydrogen diffusion in silicon from plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited silicon nitride film at high temperature
Authors: Sheoran Manav , Kim Dong Seop , Rohatgi Ajeet , Dekkers H. F. W. , Beaucarne G. , Young Matthew , Asher Sally
Published: May 2008

The stable hydrogen isotope deuterium (D), which is released during the annealing of deuterated silicon nitride films, diffuses through the crystalline silicon and is captured by a thin, amorphous layer of silicon sputtered on the rear surface. We report on the measurement of the concentration of “penetrated” D by secondary ion mass spectrometry to monitor the flux of D diffusing through single-crystalline silicon wafers. The penetrated D content in the trapping layer increases with the annealing time. However, the flux of D injected into the silicon from the silicon nitride layer decreases as annealing time increases.
Optical coherence tomography picorheology of biopolymer solutions
Authors: Sharma Ramesh C. , Papagiannopoulos Aristeidis , Waigh Thomas A.
Published: May 2008

We describe an interferometric optical fiber based dynamic light scattering technique to study the linear viscoelasticity of complex fluids. This digital correlator based method enables viscoelasticity to be probed at high frequencies (10−2–105Hz) over picoliter regions of an aqueous sample. We demonstrate the technique using solutions of the self-assembled biological polymers aggrecan and fibrin. The technique is demonstrated in an optical coherence tomography type mode of action with picorheology measurements at 40μm transverse sections (490pl volumes) over a 1cm sample length. The method allowed the viscoelasticity of aggrecan to be probed and provided a direct measurement of the persistence length of the fibrin fibers (Lp=32±2cm).
Shadow modulated two-dimensional heterostructures using vertical pillars
Authors: Işık N. , Bichler M. , Roth S. F. , Fontcuberta i Morral A. , Göktaş O. , Grayson M.
Published: May 2008

A vertical pillar shadow epitaxy technique is introduced for fabricating coplanar striped or cross-hatched GaAs∕AlAs two-dimensional heterostructures, where the pattern area of each individual layer can be varied in situ. An array of vertical pillars is mounted adjacent to the substrate wafer to block epitaxial molecular flux, with shadow position determined by the azimuthal substrate angle, and feature resolution set by source diameter. Complex planar heterostructures can be achieved in a single epitaxial growth, such as the checkerboard of superlattices with varying period number demonstrated here. Superlattice layers are characterized via scanning electron microscope, and thicknesses closely match an umbra/penumbra model.
Free space measurement of the cross-polarized transmission band of a bianisotropic left-handed metamaterial
Authors: Cheng Xiangxiang , Chen Hongsheng , Jiang Tao , Ran Lixin , Kong Jin Au
Published: May 2008

A left-handed metamaterial based on a bianisotropic S-ring resonator is fabricated. By shorting some of the horizontal arms of the paired S-rings, net electric (magnetic) dipoles accumulate under certain magnetic (electric) field induction, which results in a magnetoelectric coupling effect. Free space experimental measurements are carried out and the experimental results demonstrate the cross polarization effect around the left-handed pass band of the metamaterial. The simple planar configuration of the structure also indicates the superiority of this inclusion in the realization of bianisotropic left-handed metamaterials.
Hypusine modification for growth is the major function of spermidine in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
polyamine auxotrophs grown in limiting spermidine
Authors: Chattopadhyay Manas K. , Park Myung Hee , Tabor Herbert
Published: May 2008

Spermidine and its derivative, hypusinated eIF5A, are essential for the growth of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Very low concentrations of spermidine (10
−8
M) are sufficient for the growth of
S. cerevisiae
polyamine auxotrophs (
spe1
Δ,
spe
2Δ, and
spe3
Δ
)
. Under these conditions, even though the growth rate is near normal, the internal concentration of spermidine is <0.2% of the spermidine concentration present in wild-type cells. When
spe2
Δ cells are grown with low concentrations of spermidine, there is a large decrease in the amount of hypusinated eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) (1/20 of normal), even though there is no change in the amount of total (modified plus unmodified) eIF5A. It is striking that, as intracellular spermidine becomes limiting, an increasing portion of it (up to 54%) is used for the hypusine modification of eIF5A. These data indicate that hypusine modification of eIF5A is a most important function for spermidine in supporting the growth of
S. cerevisiae
polyamine auxotrophs.
Is There Evidence for Symptoms of Cannabis Withdrawal in the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions?
Authors: Agrawal Arpana , Pergadia Michele L. , Lynskey Michael T.
Published: May 2008

We examined the prevalence of 20 individual symptoms of cannabis withdrawal in the U.S. general population. More than 29% of past 12‐month cannabis users reported experiencing at least two cannabis withdrawal symptoms, with 8% reporting impairment from at least two symptoms or withdrawal relief. The most common withdrawal symptom was eating more than usual/gaining weight. Co‐occurring tobacco use modestly increased the likelihood of reporting certain symptoms, as did other illicit drug use, though to a lesser degree. Even after controlling for intensity of cannabis use, a history of parental alcohol/drug problems was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing cannabis withdrawal. Evidence from this and prior studies demonstrating withdrawal strongly suggest that future editions of DSM need to reconsider the exclusion of withdrawal from criteria for cannabis dependence.
Hostility Among Methamphetamine Users Experiencing Psychotic Symptoms
Authors: McKetin Rebecca , McLaren Jennifer , Lubman Dan I. , Hides Leanne
Published: May 2008

The aim of the study was to provide empirical data on the severity of hostility among methamphetamine users experiencing psychotic symptoms. Participants were 71 methamphetamine users from the general community who had experienced positive psychotic symptoms in the past year. Psychotic symptoms were defined as a score of 4 or greater on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) subscales of suspiciousness, unusual thought content, or hallucinations. The BPRS hostility subscale was used to measure hostility during the most severe symptom episode during the preceding year. Pathological hostility (BPRS score of 4+) was reported by 27% of participants during their most severe episode of psychotic symptoms. Hostility was significantly more common among participants experiencing severe psychotic symptoms (BPRS score 6–7, 42% vs. 15%) or where the psychotic symptoms continued for at least two days (43% vs. 20%). Daily heroin use and low levels of schooling were also correlated with hostility. Clinically significant hostility co‐occurs with psychotic symptoms in around one‐quarter of methamphetamine users who experience psychosis, and it is more common with severe psychotic symptoms that persist for longer than two days.
Smoking Prevalence and Awareness Among Undergraduate and Health Care Students
Authors: Morrell Holly E. R. , Cohen Lee M. , Dempsey Jared P.
Published: May 2008

Approximately 10,000 undergraduates from 12 Texas colleges and universities and 350 health care students completed a Web‐based survey assessing the prevalence and awareness of cigarette smoking. There were few differences between health care and undergraduate students on trying smoking or quitting smoking. Health care students reported lower rates of current smoking than undergraduate students, even though both groups demonstrated similar knowledge of tobacco‐related health risks. Gender differences are discussed. Findings suggest that tobacco awareness programs should continue to target young adults as an at‐risk population, and that health care training programs should place a greater emphasis on tobacco cessation.
David, Goliath and Saul: repercussions on Israel of the 2006 war
Authors: Bishara Azmi
Published: May 2008

The story of David and Goliath epitomizes the supremacy of intelligence, acumen, pragmatism and faith in God, over strength, power, military might and numbers. It is easy, of course, to illustrate the confrontation of David with Goliath in Bint Jbeil as an embodiment of this equation, but in a reversal of roles; the Arabs, represented by Hezbollah, were David this time, the weaker opponent armed with faith and intelligence, against power and formidable strength. However, there is another aspect of the myth, not addressed yet; Saul’s jealousy of David could as easily have illustrated one of the parties to the war on Lebanon. David’s king, Saul, who had failed so far to defeat Goliath, envied David his success and saw him as a threat. He harboured malicious intent towards him and resolved to pursue him until he was able to kill him (1 Samuel 17).
Reducing the divide between the West and the East
Authors: Corm Georges
Published: May 2008

This article deconstructs the West–East divide and relates it to the rise of ‘mega identities’ in the West and the rise of contradictory Islamic fundamentalisms. The trauma in the West relates to Israel, to the past history of conflicts and invasions, to terrorism and immigration. The article also analyses the complexities of Jewish trauma, the problem of diverging values between East and West, and considers addressing the issue of double standards as a way towards reducing the divide.
The Populist Appeal of Deregulation: Independent Truckers and the Politics of Free Enterprise, 1935–1980
Authors: Hamilton Shane
Published: May 2008

After spending a decade as an independent trucker hauling milk, watermelons, and paper across the United States, Mike Parkhurst sold his tractor-trailer in 1961 and used the proceeds to establishOverdrivemagazine—the “Voice of the American Trucker.” Believing “truckers were ready for a magazine that would pull no punches,” Parkhurst launched a decades-long editorial assault on transportation regulations that he believed bound American enterprise in the chains of corporate control, government malfeasance, and brutish boss unionism. By the mid-1970s, Parkhurst became one of the nation's most outspoken advocates of transportation deregulation. As he told a reporter forTimein 1975, he hoped “to wake the truckers up to the fact that they're slaves to a monopoly”—a monopoly on freight transportation maintained by corporate trucking firms, abetted by the Teamsters Union, and sanctioned by corrupt government officials. In the summer of 1979, Parkhurst helped to orchestrate a nationwide strike by tens of thousands of independent truckers, in which drivers demanded, according to William Scheffer of theOverdrive-sponsored Independent Truckers Association, “the dismantling of a giant Federal bureaucracy that has grown to govern the trucking industry since the mid-1930's.”
DXZ4 chromatin adopts an opposing conformation to that of the surrounding chromosome and acquires a novel inactive X-specific role involving CTCF and antisense transcripts
Authors: Chadwick Brian P.
Published: May 2008

Macrosatellite DNA is composed of large repeat units, arranged in tandem over hundreds of kilobases. The macrosatellite repeat DXZ4, localized at Xq23-24, consists of 50–100 copies of a CpG-rich 3-kb monomer. Here I report that on the active X chromosome (Xa), DXZ4 is organized into constitutive heterochromatin characterized by a highly organized pattern of H3K9me3. DXZ4 is expressed from both strands and generates an antisense transcript that is processed into small RNAs that directly correlate with H3K9me3 nucleosomes. In contrast, on the inactive X chromosome (Xi) a proportion of DXZ4 is packaged into euchromatin characterized by H3K4me2 and H3K9Ac. The Xi copy of DXZ4 is bound by the chromatin insulator, CTCF, within a sequence that unidirectionally blocks enhancer–promoter communication. Immediately adjacent to the CTCF-binding site is a bidirectional promoter that, like the sequence flanking the CTCF-binding region, is completely devoid of CpG methylation on the Xi. As on the Xa, both strands are expressed, but longer antisense transcripts can be detected in addition to the processed small RNAs. The euchromatic organization of DXZ4 on the otherwise heterochromatic Xi, its binding of CTCF, and its function as a unidirectional insulator suggest that this macrosatellite has acquired a novel function unique to the process of X chromosome inactivation.
The AGROVOC Concept Server: rationale, goals and usage
Authors: Sini Margherita , Lauser Boris , Salokhe Gauri , Keizer Johannes , Katz Stephen
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The main objective of the AGROVOC Concept Server (CS) is to create a collaborative reference platform and a “one‐stop” shop for a pool of commonly used concepts related to agriculture, containing terms, definitions and relationships between terms in multiple languages derived from various sources. This paper aims to address the issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The CS offers a centralised facility where the agricultural information management community can build and share agricultural knowledge in a collaborative environment.

Findings

The advantages of the CS are its extensibility and modularity that provide the possibility to extend the type of information that can be stored in this system based on user/community needs.

Research limitations/implications

Further investigation still needs to be done on the modularisation of the CS (i.e. the creation of separated ontologies that can still be connected, in order to have domain‐related ontologies and to allow for better performance of the CS).

Practical implications

The CS serves as starting point for the development of specific domain ontologies where multilinguality and the localised representation of knowledge are essential issues. Furthermore, it will offer additional services in order to expose the knowledge to be consumed by other applications.

Originality/value

The CS Workbench provides the AGROVOC partners with the possibility to directly and collaboratively edit the AGROVOC CS. It thus provides the opportunity for direct and open “many‐to‐many” communication links between communities, avoiding decentralised communication between partners and duplication of effort. For the international community, it may allow users to manage, re‐use or extend agriculture‐related knowledge for better interoperability and for improved services.
It is not all free on the web: advocacy for library funding in the digital age
Authors: Joint Nicholas
Published: May 2008

Purpose

To examine the impact on library funding of budget holders' idiosyncratic understanding of three important principles of technological innovation: the more you use a technology, the less staff you need, the better the service becomes and the lower the cost of the service.

Design/methodology/approach

An overview of issues and opinions which inform discussions between librarians and administrators engaged in decisions about budget‐setting.

Findings

There are common misunderstandings outside the library community about both the service‐enhancing impacts and the costs of “free” digital library technologies and similar innovations.

Research limitations/implications

The issues discussed are primarily practical ones of library advocacy. But their implications have a fundamental impact on the development of library services, which creates a research topic worthy of deeper consideration.

Practical implications

This paper attempts to give practice‐oriented insights to librarians engaged in discussions of financial requirements with senior administrators. The assumption is that such administrators may well lack specialist knowledge of libraries, and digital library innovations in particular.

Originality/value

This paper points out that the LIS community's enthusiasm for innovations such as open access may have unintended negative financial consequences for their services. The open access debate should be conducted in such a way as to avoid this outcome.
Conjoining prescriptive and descriptive approaches
Authors: Panagiotou George
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Despite the level of knowledge that has been accumulated over the years on the intricacies of decision making and strategy development there have been no attempts in the literature of strategic management to consolidate the diverse perspectives in the field in order to develop a more reflective theory that imparts better understanding on the process of decision making. This paper attempts to integrate two key viewpoints in order to take full advantage of their combined strengths to overcome their individual weaknesses and so develop a framework for decision making that portrays a more accurate and dynamic methodology in its process and it is more complete in its contents.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a critical examination of the relevant literature and includes the author's view on the subject.

Findings

The paper makes explicit the technical and cognitive aspects of the process of decision making and provides a holistic framework for strategy development.

Practical implications

Educators and companies that accentuate single‐perspective approaches to decision making create an environment that hinders individual performance and effective management practice.

Originality/value

The work brings together timeless academic thought and reflection in order to develop an integrative framework for decision making to elevate understanding and management practice.
Analysis of social information as a measure of the ethical behavior of Spanish firms
Authors: Gallego‐Alvarez Isabel
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to verify empirically how some Spanish firms present their social information with regard to labor practices, human rights, society, and product responsibility and how by means of this social information the firms reveal their ethical behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The study of the social information reflected in the sustainability report was carried out by the content analysis method. This analysis technique is based on detecting the presence or absence of information, covering a number of different subjects areas. To accomplish the study, certain companies belonging to different sectors of activity were chosen and all the companies belong to the IBEX‐35, which comprises the main Spanish companies on the Stock Market.

Findings

In light of the results obtained it can be considered that the firms analyzed through the social information they present do manifest and make known their ethical behavior, behavior considered as the good, correct and just actions of firms that seek to improve the quality of life of their workers, as well as their social conditions, in areas that are important for the workers such as employment, health and safety, training and education, non‐discrimination, disciplinary practices, freedom of association, society, etc.

Research limitations/implications

This work should also be extended to more companies, both nationally and internationally and not just be limited to the largest companies. There is still much to be done to cover the possible gaps in social reporting.

Originality/value

This paper examines the social information of companies belonging to different sectors of activity and how by means of this social information the firms reveal their ethical behavior.
Enhancing the labour market prospects of ICT students in a developing country
Authors: Rabayah Khalid S. , Sartawi Badie
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the evaluation results of a training initiative, undertaken in Palestine, that targeted fresh graduates in information and communication technology (ICT) disciplines. It describes the implementation and results of a practical training model where industry and academia cooperate jointly to develop, upgrade and enhance students' qualifications prior to their entrance into the labour market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the short‐term results, one to two years from completion, of a newly implemented technology training program which targeted more than 450 students throughout West‐Bank and Gaza Strip. The researchers traced the trainees' endeavours and behaviours through their pursuit of jobs utilizing focus group meetings, individual interviews with stakeholders, and semi‐structured interviews, as well as questionnaires, surveys, observations of on‐going activities and interviewing staff, graduates and students.

Findings

The training program attempted to promote practical training and develop entrepreneurial capabilities. The vast majority of the surveyed trainees felt that they gained valuable knowledge and experience in their field of specialization, and believed that the training was critical to their successful job search. They clearly agreed that the practical training they received via the training program was a necessary supplement to their theoretical technical education in university ICT programs.

Practical implication

The initiative involves the establishment of ICT Centers of Excellence in close proximity to Palestinian universities, which annually graduate large numbers of ICT students. The program serves multiple purposes in that it enables the ICT training centres, the Centers of Excellence, to generate revenues while also providing a needed service within the community, to equip fresh graduates with state‐of‐the‐art technical skills, thus increasing the chance of fresh graduates being hired into positions related to their university degrees, and shortening their job search.

Originality/value

The model and program, presented in this paper describes a modern training framework, where students receive practical training through a third party institute that works in cooperation with universities and industry. The model, when adopted, relieves universities from the pressure of constantly modifying their curricula to comply with the ever‐changing needs of the technology market, allowing them to pursue their stated goal of providing their students with a theoretical technical education. The training program also helps the market to differentiate the large number of ICT students and graduates from one another, based not only on area of study but also on concrete skill sets.
CUT CARBON™. Prepare. Assess. Implement. Notify
Authors: Tang Kenny
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The objective of this paper is to present a four‐cycle framework for developing a corporate climate risk strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces a four‐cycle framework based on nine key steps.

Findings

The paper suggests that the framework presented is of major strategic benefit if applied methodically and suitably supported by appropriate resources from within and outside the company.

Originality/value

The paper presents a four‐cycle framework suitable for developing a corporate climate risk strategy.
Benefits of a supportive development climate for older workers
Authors: Armstrong‐Stassen Marjorie , Schlosser Francine
Published: May 2008

Purpose

This study aims to test a model of the relationships among older workers' propensity to engage in development activities (development orientation), their perceptions of the development opportunities associated with their job (job development climate), their commitment to their organization, and their intention to remain with their organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Separate questionnaires were completed by 395 individuals aged 50 to 70, who were in their career job and 195 individuals aged 50 to 70 who were employed in a bridge job. Both questionnaires included measures of development orientation, job development climate, affective commitment and intention to remain as well as individual characteristics and organizational characteristics.

Findings

The findings supported the proposed model in that development orientation was positively related to job development climate which, in turn, was positively related to affective commitment and affective commitment was positively related to intention to remain with the organization. There were both similarities and differences in the patterns of relationships for career‐job and bridge‐job respondents.

Research limitations/implications

The question of causality cannot be determined because of the cross‐sectional research design.

Practical implications

To create a supportive development climate and retain older workers, employers need to foster older workers' development orientation and ensure that their work assignments provide opportunities to learn new knowledge and skills.

Orginality/value

There is little empirical research addressing issues related to the development and retention of older workers. No previous studies have investigated both development orientation and job development climate in the context of older workers.
Resonant frequency of a rectangular patch antenna using asymptotic basis functions
Authors: Boufrioua Amel , Benghalia Abdelmadjid , Bouttout Farid
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate three types of basis functions and their asymptotic forms defined over the patch to model the unknown currents.

Design/methodology/approach

A rigorous calculation of a microstrip structure that contains isotropic and anisotropic substrates via Galerkin's method is presented. The dyadic Green's functions of the problem are efficiently determined by the (TM, TE) representation.

Findings

The resonant frequency of a rectangular microstrip patch antenna using these different asymptotic basis functions is investigated. The effect of uniaxial anisotropy in the resonant frequency is presented for these asymptotic currents.

Originality/value

Comparisons are made, and show that the utilization of the asymptotic basis function provides a significant improvement in the computation time over the exact form in the evaluation of the resonant frequency of a microstrip patch antenna. Convergent solutions are in good agreement with the exact sinusoid basis function without edge condition and with those obtained from literature.
The inconsistency of countable infinite sets
Authors: Zhu Wujia , Lin Yi , Du Guoping , Gong Ningsheng
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The paper aims to show countable infinite sets are self‐contradictory non‐sets.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a conceptual discussion.

Findings

Since, long ago, it has been commonly believed that the establishment and development of modern axiomatic set theory have provided a method to explain Russell's paradox. On the other hand, even though it has not been proven theoretically that there will not appear new paradoxes in modern axiomatic set theory, it has been indeed a century that no one has found a new paradox in modern axiomatic set theory. However, when we revisit some well‐known results and problems under the thinking logic of allowing two kinds of infinities, we discover that various countable infinite sets, widely studied and employed in modern axiomatic set theory, are all specious non‐sets.

Originality/value

A well‐known concept is shown to be not as correct as what has been believed.
Creating passion to engage versus enrage consumer co‐creators with agency co‐conspirators: unleashing creativity
Authors: Sasser Sheila L.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a perspective on how new interactive media trends affect the creative process in agencies and engage consumers as co‐creators, based on recently published research and observation.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews, participant observation, and secondary analysis of recently published qualitative and quantitative research (1996‐2008) by the author and leading scholars in the field is used in this offering. A review of emerging trends and conceptual thinking in this area prompts the suggested perspective along with an empirical longitudinal global study on what drives creativity in advertising ADCRISP©.

Findings

This contribution illustrates examples of how a passionate approach drives creativity and change for an iconic brand. Ethnographic methods are suggested for reconnecting with changing consumers and environments. This viewpoint recognizes the potential of engaging the consumer and unleashing creativity while pointing out potential pitfalls of misplaced marketing and misdirected creativity.

Originality/value

This paper offers a creative viewpoint and a practical direction on how agencies might be more appropriate in engaging the target consumer. The consumer participates as co‐creator and impacts the agency‐client‐consumer creative development process.
To Beta Test, or Not to Beta Test: Is That the Question?
Authors: Fifarek Aimee
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help library technology staff understand the process of beta testing software, determine if it is appropriate for them to engage in the process, and provide suggestions on how to the time invested in the process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains what beta testing is, why it should be used and how to become a beta tester.

Findings

The paper reveals that beta testing is not convenient for everyone, but those taking place in these activities should be thorough, positive and generous in order to maximize the return on investment in this kind of testing.

Practical Implications

While beta testing new software features can take a significant amount of time, the resulting benefits of early access to new features and improved vendor‐staff relations can make it a worthwhile investment.

Originality/value

The paper provides useful information on beta testing software.
Commitment and vulnerability in B2B relationship selling in the Hong Kong institutional insurance service industry
Authors: Wong Y.H. , Chan Ricky Y.K. , Leung T.K.P. , Pae Jae H.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of the antecedents of the exchange domain (use of coercive influence, ideational favor exchange, calculative resource‐dependence, and decision uncertainty) on relationship building. The paper examines the link between the two mediating dynamics of embedded trust and relationship‐specific customization and loyalty by developing a model of vulnerability‐based commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

The links between the model elements are tested using data from a survey of clients in the Hong Kong insurance service. Structural equation analysis is used to test research hypotheses and to examine the extent to which vulnerability‐based commitment leads to the development of loyalty.

Findings

The degree of embedded trust between parties is enhanced by the use of coercive influence, favor, and resource‐dependence. Embedded trust has a negative relationship with decision uncertainty. The antecedents of coercive influence, favor, and resource‐dependence have positive impacts on relationship‐specific customization. Vulnerability‐based commitment is positively affected both by trust and customization whilst commitment has a positive impact on loyalty.

Practical implications

A vulnerability‐based commitment model is developed as an analytical and managerial tool for understanding the benefits and hidden vulnerabilities of client loyalty and for implementing effective service strategies.

Originality/value

By understanding the implications of the benefits/costs in commitment vulnerabilities, the findings can help in the design of a loyalty quality system. A new measurement tool is provided to enable researchers to perform more vigorous scale development of commitment.
LIFENET hospitals (India): developing new services' case study
Authors: Rahman Zillur , Qureshi M.N.
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Indian healthcare is in the process of offering a plethora of services to customers hailing largely from India and from neighboring countries. The Indian hospital sector consists of private “nursing homes” and government and charitable missionary hospitals. Government and missionary hospitals determine their charges according to patients' income levels and treat poor patients freely. Nursing homes charged higher, market‐determined rates. They offer services in just a few medical specialties, owned and operated by physicians who worked with them. Nursing homes cannot afford the latest medical technology, but they provide more intimate settings than government hospitals. This case study aims to demonstrate the various strategic options available to a for‐profit hospital, in an emerging economy with a burgeoning middle‐class population and how it can choose which services that it can best offer to its target population.

Design/methodology/approach

Diagnosing and treating complex ailments in nursing homes could be a time‐consuming and expensive proposition as visits to several nursing homes with different specialties may be necessary. This paper demonstrates how an hospital can develop new customer‐oriented services and eliminate the hassle for patients needing to run around different healthcare outlets even for minor ailments.

Findings

The paper finds that large government hospitals generally have better facilities than nursing homes, but they were widely believed to provide poor‐quality care. They failed to keep up with advanced equipment, train their technicians adequately and did not publicize their capabilities to doctors who might refer patients. Many missionary and charitable hospitals were undercapitalized and did not offer all services. These conditions left an unsatisfied demand for high‐quality medical care. In 1983, LIFENET opened in Madras, becoming the first comprehensive, for‐profit hospital in India. LIFENET, invested in a cardiology laboratory and clinics with capacity to diagnose heart and lung ailments, which grew through referrals it received from other doctors.

Originality/value

Out of promoters' shared vision and the persistence to overcome financial and regulatory hurdles, LIFENET turned into a super specialty hospital. In early 2004, LIFENET promoters considered several options for expansion. In addition to building more hospitals, they considered licensing the brand name and establishing India's first health maintenance organization.
Business process re‐engineering – saviour or just another fad?
Authors: Patwardhan Anjali , Patwardhan Dhruv
Published: May 2008

Purpose

Pressure to change is politically driven owing to escalating healthcare costs and an emphasis on efficiency gains, value for money and improved performance proof in terms of productivity and recently to some extent by demands from less satisfied patients and stakeholders. In a background of newly immerging expensive techniques and drugs, there is an increasing consumer expectation, i.e. quality services. At the same time, health system managers and practitioners are finding it difficult to cope with demand and quality expectations. Clinicians are frustrated because they are not recognised for their contribution. Managers are frustrated because meaningful dialogue with clinicians is lacking, which has intensified the need for change to a more efficient system that satisfies all arguments about cost effectiveness and sustainable quality services. Various strategies, originally developed by management quality “gurus” for engineering industries, have been applied to health industries with variable success, which largely depends on the type of health care system to which they are applied.

Design/methodology/approach

Business process re‐engineering is examined as a quality management tool using past and recent publications.

Findings

The paper finds that applying business process re‐engineering in the right circumstances and selected settings for quality improvement is critical for its success. It is certainly “not for everybody”.

Originality/value

The paper provides a critical appraisal of business process re‐engineering experiences in UK healthcare. Lessons learned regarding selecting organisations and agreeing realistic expectations are addressed. Business process re‐engineering has been evaluated and reviewed since 1987 in US managed health care, with no clear lessons learned possibly because unit selection and simultaneous comparison between two units virtually performing at opposite ends has never been done before. Two UK pilot studies, however, add useful insights.
The sensory research on the style of women's overcoats
Authors: Wang Ying , Chen Yan , Chen Zhi‐ge
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The research in this paper aims to investigate the perception created by clothing style and semantic space to describe this perception. The results of study could be applied to establish relation between customers' feelings and design elements.

Design/methodology/approach

Women's overcoats were chosen as research objects. The technique of sensory engineering was applied to investigate the customers' feelings and demands related to product images. Card system, shape analytical method, and regression analysis were applied in this research.

Findings

Six word‐pair were selected to establish the semantic space. The product elements space with seven items and 25 categories was established. The relation between two spaces could be quantified according to the principle of sensory engineering.

Research limitations/implications

The findings can be applied to women's overcoat and similar clothing for customer‐orientated design.

Originality/value

The theory of sensory engineering was applied for practical application purposes. Some useful parameters were obtained to explain the reliability of the research results and influences of design elements on perception judgment.
Understanding the influence of organizational culture and group dynamics on organizational change and learning
Authors: Lucas Colleen , Kline Theresa
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between organizational culture, group dynamics, and organizational learning in the context of organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was used to examine cultural and group level factors that potentially influence groups' learning in the context of organizational change.

Findings

Major themes that emerged as influencing organizational change and learning were a culture of mistrust, changing psychological contracts, differing occupational cultures, power differential between groups, and leadership.

Practical implications

When initiating change efforts, an organization needs to assess and understand what aspects of the culture can be facilitators or hindrances and what aspects of the group structures the organization can use to facilitate learning.

Originality/value

This study extends research in the area of group and organizational learning by identifying group and cultural phenomena that, when manifested, had significant influence on group members' response to organizational change and their capacity to learn. In particular, this study highlights the need to be aware of the characteristics unique to the organization and its culture.
Parent‐subsidiary links under procedural justice in the emerging market
Authors: Chiang Chwan‐Yi , Chang Su‐Chao , Hsu Yu‐Wei , Wang Yaw‐Bin
Published: May 2008

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize that procedural justice has a contribution to parent‐subsidiary links within multinational enterprises (MNEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A mailed survey is adopted in this study. A total of 152 valid and complete questionnaires were returned from the respondents. Structural equation modeling and Chow test are used in this research paper.

Findings

Based on structural equation modeling, three significant dimensions of the parent‐subsidiary links are found to contribute to the financial performance of the subsidiaries (resource commitment, information flow, and control flexibility). Based on Chow test, these dimensions can lead to better financial performance under greater procedural justice in the decision‐making processes of MNEs.

Research limitations/implications

This study only collected information from Taiwanese multinational firms in East Asia and the Pacific countries, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Generally, these regions are the emerging market, with structurally volatile but fast‐growing economies. In addition, further studies can extend the research to other countries. Environmental interferences, such as culture and legal rules, were not considered in this study.

Practical implications

In reality, although the due process is sometimes neglected because of time limitations or lack of patience, superior managers still should pay more attention to the processes of strategic decision making to keep the procedure fair and transparent.

Originality/value

This paper underlines the importance and value of the procedural justice in MNE management. The exercise of the procedural justice motivated subsidiary managers to aim for better financial performance with voluntary effort and their best ability.