bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-criteria decision making towards selection of industrial robot
Authors: Sen Dilip Kumar , Datta Saurav , Patel Saroj Kumar , Mahapatra Siba Sankar
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Robot selection is one of the critical decision-making tasks frequently performed by various industries in order to choose the best suited robot for specific industrial purposes. In recent marketplace, the number of robot manufacturers has increased remarkably offering a wide range of models and specifications; thus, robot selection has become indeed confusing as well as complicated task. Selection of an appropriate robot is a sensitive process; it may result massive letdown, if not chosen properly. Therefore, for unravel the selection problem; the purpose of this paper is to explore the preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE) II method.

Design/methodology/approach

– Apart from a large variety of robotic systems, existence of various multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools and techniques may create confusion to the decision makers’ in regards of application feasibility as well as superiority in performance to work under different decision-making situations. In this context, the PROMETHEE II method has been found as an efficient decision-making tool which provides complete ranking order of all available alternatives prudently, thus avoiding errors in decision making.

Findings

– In this context, the present paper highlights application potential of aforesaid PROMETHEE II method in relation to robot selection problem subjected to a set of quantitative (objective) evaluation data collected from the available literature resources. Advantages and disadvantages of PROMETHEE II method have also been reported in comparison to other existing MCDM approaches.

Originality/value

– The study bears significant managerial implications. Proper evaluation and selection of appropriate candidate robot would be helpful for the industries in order to improve product quality as well as to increase productivity. Proper utilization of resources could be ensured. Functioning would be accurate with reduced timespan. As a consequence, company can increase its profit margin in long run.
Integration of AHP-QFD for selecting facility location
Authors: Chadawada Rajesh , Sarfaraz Ahmad , Jenab Kouroush , Pourmohammadi Hamid
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe and implements an analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-QFD model for selecting the best location from an organization point of view which picks the site with the best opportunity requirements. Integration of AHP-QFD process gives us a new approach to assist organizations through observing various factors and selecting the best location among different alternatives. This approach uses AHP method to match the preferences required by decision makers and these preferences are applied to the characteristics of QFD. The model fundamental requirement are perfect potential locales and the areas are contrasted and both quantitative and qualitative elements to permit directors to join managerial experience and judgment in the answer process. The AHP-QFD model is also applied on a case study to illustrate the solution process.

Design/methodology/approach

– The integration of AHP and QFD is used to analyze available options and select the best alternative. This can be done by ranking each criterion through a pairwise comparison. Given collected data, the QFD approach is used to find the capability of each criterion.

Findings

– Integration of AHP-QFD is used to select the best alternative in facility location. This integrated approach can be best used in dealing with facility location problems.

Originality/value

– The developed AHP-QFD model in facility location problems, facilitates the inclusion of market criteria and decision maker opinion into the traditional cost function, which has been mainly distance base in the literature.
Female entrepreneurship in the UAE: a multi-level integrative lens
Authors: Naguib Rabia , Jamali Dima
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to propose a multi-level integrative research framework anchored in an institutional theory that can successfully capture the multitude of factors affecting the expression of female entrepreneurship in context. Although female entrepreneurship is known to contribute to economic growth and vitality, and to enhance the diversity of employment in any economic system, there is very little research pertaining to female entrepreneurship in the Middle East. The authors use this framework to provide insights into multi-level factors enabling and constraining the experience of female entrepreneurship in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and advance knowledge of female entrepreneurship in a particular Middle Eastern context as well as cross-nationally.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analytical framework and qualitative research methodology consisting of focus group meetings and interviews with 15 female entrepreneurs and five male partners in the UAE.

Findings

– Our findings aptly highlight the salience of a complex set of entangled factors lying at multiple levels of analysis in shaping female entrepreneurship in the UAE. Our findings also accentuate the importance of the institutional and social contexts in shaping the situational opportunities and constraints that affect female entrepreneurship and its complex expressions in a particular society. Although our findings document a positive tide of change in favor of female entrepreneurship, they also reveal the persistence of various traces of stereotypes and patriarchy that continue to constrain the free expressions of female entrepreneurship in the UAE.

Research limitations/implications

– This study contributes empirically by conveying the lived experiences of a sample of women entrepreneurs in the UAE, but the results cannot be generalized given the limited size of the sample investigated. Conceptually, the analytical framework proposed in this paper represents a simplified heuristic tool rather than an explanatory model of the complex dynamics and interplays between different levels of analysis and institutional pressures when examining female entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

– The value added of this research is to present original insights into female entrepreneurship from a vibrant Middle Eastern context, namely, the UAE, a country that has attracted and witnessed increasing attention in recent years in the context of globalization. In view of the Western-centric nature of academic publication on the topic, there is a real need for fresh theoretical and empirical insights stemming from an Arab-Middle Eastern context to advance knowledge and scholarship in this area.
The values and visions of the professional department head: not so different from the past?
Authors: Møthe Svein , Ballangrud Brit Olaug Bolken , Stensaker Bjørn
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyze how appointed leaders in Norwegian higher education perceive their role and influence, and their discretion as academic leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper applies strategic, cultural and political perspectives on leadership to investigate the understanding and perceptions held by academic leaders regarding their own work. The study applied a qualitative strategy based on a cross-sectional design. The findings are based on semi-structured interviews with 18 purposefully selected academic leaders.

Findings

– The findings reveal that appointed academic leaders are struggling with traditions and cultures and current governing structures and funding mechanisms on the other. The paper argues that this dilemma limits the potential for academic leaders to instigate change and that leadership perhaps has been overemphasized as a factor driving transformation of higher education.

Originality/value

– The paper suggests the heated debates in Norway about whether academic leaders should be elected or appointed has limited relevance for understanding how academic leadership is performed in the actual daily work of leaders. The paper suggest that the current interest in selection of leaders perhaps should be downplayed in favor of a perspective focussing on the cultural factors framing current leadership practices.
Leading learning organizations through transformational change
Authors: Boone Joyce
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– There are two conditions that threaten to derail the American education system as we know it: the poor state of the US economy in America and the less than effective structure of the American education system. Researchers and practitioners are searching to identify tools and strategies that can help to restore confidence in the soundness of the US education system. One such strategy is blended learning delivery formats. The purpose of this paper is to examine implications of and recommend blended learning strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

– This writing presents a description of the problem, an abridged review of related literature, a discussion of the possibilities for blended learning in academic organizations, and the associated transformational change implications. It is presented as a decision-making tool for administrators to consider including blended learning formats in their strategies to address the effects of the questionable outlook of the US economy and the outdated structure of the US education system.

Findings

– The writing concludes with recommendations for leading the change to blended learning formats in learning organizations.

Originality/value

– The information in the paper is presented as a decision-making tool for educational administrators in considering blended learning strategies for their organizations.
Mentor teachers as leaders and followers in school-based contexts in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Clarke Marie , Killeavy Maureen , Ferris Ruth
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to exploratory small-scale study is to examine the intertwined leadership and followership aspects of the roles performed by school-based mentors in the Republic of Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to investigate mentor teachers’ perceptions of their role with reference to leadership and followership in their school contexts, a questionnaire was distributed to the full cohort of 56 mentor teachers who participated in the National Programme for Teacher Induction. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with four mentor teacher facilitators from different regions across Ireland who were also mentors in their respective schools.

Findings

– The findings from this exploratory small-scale study suggest that the hierarchical nature of the school context influenced mentor teachers’ perceptions of their leadership and followership roles. They regarded themselves as leaders in a general sense and considered that all members of staff had something to contribute to the leadership process in the school. However, the school context moderated their own perceptions about their individual approaches to leadership. Participants in this study were unclear about the term followership and were reluctant to use it. They considered themselves to be performing a supportive role in the hierarchical structure of the school context.

Research limitations/implications

– As this is an exploratory qualitative study with a small sample size in a country where the role of a mentor teacher in schools is a relatively new concept, the findings should be interpreted with caution. Future research would benefit from multi-method approaches to data collections that examine variations in followership perceptions from individuals prior to becoming mentors in order for comparisons to be made.

Practical implications

– The practical implications of this study from a management perspective suggest that followership needs to be considered very carefully in school contexts as a way of contributing to the co-construction of leadership which engages all members of staff. It is clear that there is a need to move away from hierarchical interpretations of middle management posts of responsibility. More emphasis should be placed on the ways in which teachers construct their roles within schools as this impacts upon leadership processes and organizational effectiveness. Equally important is an open acknowledgement of the tensions involved in developing such roles and responsibilities.

Originality/value

– Followership is not researched widely in schools, particularly with reference to the role of mentor teachers. This is an interesting group as the very nature of their work involves maintaining boundaries and managing multiple relationships. They are generally collaborative in their approach and are well placed to co-construct leadership with their colleagues and their principals with appropriate supports in the school context.
University choice: what do we know, what don’t we know and what do we still need to find out?
Authors: Hemsley-Brown Jane , Oplatka Izhar
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to systematically document, scrutinise and critically analyse the current research literature on higher education choice to: establish the scope of the studies; map the factors associated with choice; identify the key strengths and weaknesses in the research literature; critically analyse the extant research and make recommendations for further research in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted extensive searches of relevant and education and management databases. The search is limited to publications between 1992 and 2013 and is intended to cover national and international research. The review is based on 75 papers which focus on institutional choice, assembled on an Excel database (45 surveys, 13 secondary data studies, one experimental study, two longitudinal studies, 11 qualitative studies and three studies that use both qualitative and quantitative techniques).

Findings

– Results are presented under thematic headings which emerged from the analysis: first, demographics and academic factors; second, factors which relate to the institution: quality, outcomes and benefits, facilities, and characteristics of institutions. Finally factors which affect both the institution and the students: price and price sensitivity, information and information sources, and travel and geographical factors are considered.

Originality/value

– Comprehensive analysis of prior research in the field of institutional choice is long overdue. Theoretical models for future research are presented as a result of the findings.
Porter’s five competitive forces framework and other factors that influence the choice of response strategies adopted by public universities in Kenya
Authors: Mathooko Francis M. , Ogutu Martin
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to establish the extent to which Porter’s five competitive forces (PFCF) framework, among other factors drive the choice of response strategies adopted by public universities in Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study design was descriptive and utilized a cross-sectional survey of all the public universities in Kenya by administering a structured questionnaire to the top management team. Additional primary data were collected through observations and interviews. Secondary data were also collected in order to corroborate the data collected from the primary sources.

Findings

– PFCF framework influenced the choice of response strategies adopted by the public universities “to a great extent”, the most influence being the threat from new entrants. The influence of the choice of response strategies by PFCF framework was independent of the age and category of the universities. Pressure from stakeholders, changes in government policies and regulations, reforms in higher education, unethical response strategies by some universities and university location also influenced the choice of response strategies.

Research limitations/implications

– The study collected data from the top management team only; however, other stakeholders could have given additional information not reported here. Further, the research only considered public universities and not all higher education institutions (HEIs) in Kenya, and was cross-sectional, hence generalization and application of the results over a long time, respectively, may be limited.

Practical implications

– The value of this study lies in HEIs achieving a competitive advantage and shaping strategic policy direction in the face of changing environment and global commodification of higher education.

Originality/value

– Current public universities in Kenya have adopted a business-like approach in their operations in view of changing environment and have adopted coping strategies. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence the choice of response strategies is important for improvement of quality, efficiency and effectiveness as well as in policy formulation and serve as a guide to strategic management.
Involvement and productivity of research and development workers
Authors: Kumari Beena , Sahney Sangeeta , Madhukar Anuradha , Chattoraj Indranil , Sinni Shipra
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The effect of global integration of businesses and interchange of ideas and technology through internet has many facets. Increase in economic recessions and decrease in research funding has forced both private and public sector research organizations to introduce measures of self-sustainability. Enhancing research and development (R&D) productivity of researchers can be one of those measures. The purpose of this paper is to attempt toward identifying and analyzing those factors of productivity that may be related to the manpower in R&D.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based upon the theoretical background and the nature of data available, this empirical study has been carried out as a case study for a public sector research laboratory. The extent of involvement in research projects have been analyzed with respect to the R&D outputs generated by the researchers, which if found to be positively related, may be focussed upon, for increasing productivity of manpower in R&D. Several other determinants of R&D productivity were identified from the literature review and were analyzed in association with the “involvement.” “Robust Regression” technique was used for the statistical analysis.

Findings

– It was found that the R&D productivity of researchers has a positive correlation with their extent of involvement in the R&D projects.

Practical implications

– The result may help in creation of the policies for enhancing organizational self-sustainability.

Originality/value

– Several prior studies have been conducted with different determinants of R&D productivity but hardly any studies were found considering “extent of manpower involvement in research projects.” This study can be useful for public sector research organizations to relate the findings with their endeavors of enhancing R&D productivity.
The emergence of integrated private reporting
Authors: Atkins Jill Frances , Solomon Aris , Norton Simon , Joseph Nathan Lael
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide evidence to suggest that private social and environmental reporting (i.e. one-on-one meetings between institutional investors and investees on social and environmental issues) is beginning to merge with private financial reporting and that, as a result, integrated private reporting is emerging.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, 19 FTSE100 companies and 20 UK institutional investors were interviewed to discover trends in private integrated reporting and to gauge whether private reporting is genuinely becoming integrated. The emergence of integrated private reporting through the lens of institutional logics was interpreted. The emergence of integrated private reporting as a merging of two hitherto separate and possibly rival institutional logics was framed.

Findings

– It was found that specialist socially responsible investment managers are starting to attend private financial reporting meetings, while mainstream fund managers are starting to attend private meetings on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Further, senior company directors are becoming increasingly conversant with ESG issues.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings were interpreted as two possible scenarios: there is a genuine hybridisation occurring in the UK institutional investment such that integrated private reporting is emerging or the financial logic is absorbing and effectively neutralising the responsible investment logic.

Practical implications

– These findings provide evidence of emergent integrated private reporting which are useful to both the corporate and institutional investment communities as they plan their engagement meetings.

Originality/value

– No study has hitherto examined private social and environmental reporting through interview research from the perspective of emergent integrated private reporting. This is the first paper to discuss integrated reporting in the private reporting context.
Twenty-one years of publishing Meditari Accountancy Research: a coming of age
Authors: Murphy Lyn , Maguire William
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance and current position of the Meditari Accountancy Research Journal by building a profile of the articles published over the 21 years since its inception.

Design/methodology/approach

– A descriptive meta-analysis of 293 articles published in 30 issues was conducted and comparable South African and international studies to structure the research were drawn upon. Contributors, research fields, research methods, citations and jurisdictions were examined and emerging trends assessed.

Findings

– Meditari Accountancy Research Journal has a strong relationship with the South African accounting community. All dimensions of this article indicate that Meditari Accountancy Research has evolved over the 21 years since its inception and has made progress towards an international research journal.

Research limitations/implications

– Given that this study relates to one accounting research journal only, there is no specific benchmark against to which to assess its progress. However, the literature offers a basis for comparison.

Practical implications

– The challenge is to maintain the traditional South African links while meeting the needs of a changing international accounting research environment.

Originality/value

– The current study provides a comprehensive basis for an evaluation of the journal and its future potential by reviewing the full history of Meditari Accountancy Research Journal, which presents insights into the articles published within it, including the range and predominance of contributing authors, research methods, research fields, nature of research, citation rates and jurisdictions.
Developing a sustainability report in a small to medium enterprise: process and consequences
Authors: Massa Lorenzo , Farneti Federica , Scappini Beatrice
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to shed light on the mechanisms involved in, and consequences of, developing a sustainability report in a small to medium enterprise.

Design/methodology/approach

– Action research is used to provide insights into the initial stages of the development of the sustainability report and its consequences. “Mike” is an Italian small organisation with a sustainability orientation selling products and services about wellness and health. It decided to develop a sustainability report in 2013.

Findings

– The authors find that the organisation’s initial aim to report on its sustainability later extended beyond disclosure to using the information to enhance its sustainable development approach and awareness, consider long-term planning, support strategy-making based on the sustainable development concept and establish and enhance its reputation.

Research limitations/implications

– This research is limited to the analysis of only one small Italian organisation and as such cannot claim generalisability of its findings.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate that the sustainability initiative of this organisation, while originally focussed on reporting, evolved into strategy and planning. Managers in similar organisations may learn from this experience to focus on strategy-making and social and environmental value creation.

Originality/value

– The study examines sustainability reporting in the previously overlooked area of small and medium enterprises.
Do Chinese banks perform better after IPOs?
Authors: Yin Haiyan , Yang Jiawen , Mehran Jamshid
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– As part of the banking reform, major commercial banks in China went through initial public offerings (IPOs) in the past two decades. Has this change in the ownership structure led to improvement in their performance? With a comprehensive data set of Chinese banks over 1999-2010, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of IPOs on bank performance in China.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employ a stochastic frontier approach (SFA) to measure bank efficiency and assess the selection and dynamic effects of public listing.

Findings

– The authors find strong selection effects. That is, banks that choose to go public are significantly more efficient than those that do not. However, the analysis of the dynamic effects shows no evidence that bank efficiency improves after going public, either in the short run or in the long run. The authors further look into bank performance around IPO events with non-parametric analysis and find that banks significantly outperform their counterparts prior to IPOs, but this superior performance disappears immediately after IPOs. This evidence is consistent with the “window dressing” hypothesis that firms time new issues to take advantage of windows of opportunity.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that addresses the performance of IPO banks measured with SFA in China after 2005 when the major Chinese banks were listed.
Impact of the 2008-2009 recession on African-American owned US banks
Authors: Lepley William , Nagy Robert , Teclezion Mussie
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on minority-owned commercial banks in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors examine performance differences between African-American (AA) commercial banks and other minority (OM)-owned banks. Also, the authors compare AA bank performance with that of their peer-group banking institutions.

Findings

– Employing data both before and after the recessionary period of 2008-2009, the authors find significant performance differences between minority ownership categories. For example, prior to 2008, AA banks held a significant advantage over OM-owned banks in net interest income as a percentage of average assets. This competitive advantage was somewhat offset by relatively weak loan portfolios and failure to contain costs. The 2008 crisis served to exacerbate the negatives of African-American banks while their positive differences essentially disappeared.

Originality/value

– The focus is different than the previous studies on minority-owned banks. The authors are especially interested in how AA banks have fared – relative to banking industry peer institutions, but also, relative to OM-owned banks.
Coverage of academic citation databases compared with coverage of scientific social media
Authors: Hilbert Fee , Barth Julia , Gremm Julia , Gros Daniel , Haiter Jessica , Henkel Maria , Reinhardt Wilhelm , Stock Wolfgang G.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show how the coverage of publications is represented in information services. Academic citation databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar) and scientific social media (Mendeley, CiteULike, BibSonomy) were analyzed by applying a new method: the use of personal publication lists of scientists.

Design/methodology/approach

– Personal publication lists of scientists of the field of information science were analyzed. All data were taken in collaboration with the scientists in order to guarantee complete publication lists.

Findings

– The demonstrated calibration parameter shows the coverage of information services in the field of information science. None of the investigated databases reached a coverage of 100 percent. However Google Scholar covers a greater amount of publications than other academic citation databases and scientific social media.

Research limitations/implications

– Results were limited to the publications of scientists working at an information science department from 2003 to 2012 at German-speaking universities.

Practical implications

– Scientists of the field of information science are encouraged to review their publication strategy in case of quality and quantity.

Originality/value

– The paper confirms the usefulness of personal publication lists as a calibration parameter for measuring coverage of information services.
Evaluating citation visualization and exploration methods for supporting academic search tasks
Authors: Hoeber Orland , Khazaei Taraneh
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Conducting academic searches within online digital libraries can be a difficult task due to the complexity of the searcher’s information need. The interfaces for such digital libraries commonly use simple search features that provide limited support for the fundamental strategies that academic searchers employ. The authors have developed a novel visualisation interface called Bow Tie Academic Search to address some of these shortcomings, and present in this paper the findings from a user evaluation. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A controlled laboratory study was conducted to compare a traditional search interface to Bow Tie Academic Search. In total, 24 graduate students were recruited to perform academic searches using the two candidate interfaces, guided by specific sub-tasks that focus on citation and keyword analysis strategies.

Findings

– Although the use of the core visualisation and exploration features did not reveal differences in retrieval effectiveness or efficiency, the query refinement features were found to be effective. Strongly positive impressions of usefulness and ease of use of all aspects of the system were reported, along with a preference for using Bow Tie Academic Search for academic search tasks.

Originality/value

– This study provides insight into the potential value for providing visual and interactive interfaces for supporting academic search tasks and strategies. While the quantitative improvements over the traditional search interface were minimal, the qualitative measures illustrate the value of Bow Tie Academic Search.
Linking social networks to utilitarian benefits through counter-knowledge
Authors: Sánchez-Casado Noelia , Cegarra-Navarro Juan Gabriel , Tomaseti-Solano Eva
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Social networking sites (SNS) enable users to create their own public profiles within a web site. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people spreading misleading information or rumours (i.e. counter-knowledge) about friends and other people thanks to social media platforms. The purpose of this paper is to identify the role played by social networks in the process of creating counter-knowledge, focusing on the counter-knowledge that users develop in the context of SNS and its effect on utilitarian benefits.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study analyses these effects through an empirical investigation of 236 users of SNSs. The methodology involves the construction and analysis of a structural equation model from a review of relevant literature.

Findings

– The results confirm that, although the context of SNSs is a variable that will lead to positive effects on counter-knowledge, the relationship between counter-knowledge and utilitarian benefits becomes statistically insignificant. The results also showed that the content on social networks may lead to higher levels of utilitarian benefits. This either amplifies or helps to encourage cooperation among users and providers of rumours, beliefs and assumptions about what they think is the truth.

Originality/value

– From a user perspective, few, if any, studies of SNS have considered the relationship between the information collected and generated by SNS and counter-knowledge. Therefore, the results of this study lead the authors to advise managers of SNSs considering that most but not all the content on SNSs is associated with the spread of rumours, misinformation and unverified claims.
Managing hauled industrial wastewater in Jordan, a case study
Authors: Ammary Bashaar Y.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe a project intended for the implementation of a formal cradle to grave management program for hauled or trucked industrial wastewater in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

– Industries that do not have treatment onsite or that treat their industrial wastewater to a level not suitable for disposal into sewers or those that do not have access to sewer system have to haul their industrial wastewater to a treatment or disposal facility. At present most industries haul their industrial wastewater to a solid waste landfill site specially designated to receive industrial wastewater. In the program presented here, a manifest system for these industries have been introduced and implemented in a number of pilot projects.

Findings

– A manifest form has been devised and used in a number of pilot demonstrations that enabled the formulation of specific conclusions and recommendations. Before implementing this manifest a program that includes training, awareness, governmental enforcement and commitment, and upgrading of disposal sites and laboratories capabilities has to be implemented.

Originality/value

– Management of hauled industrial wastewater is very important in a water poor country like Jordan. The introduction of a manifest system and the identification of the problems associated with its implementation are key issues for sustainable development in Jordan.
Phylogenetic turnover patterns consistent with niche conservatism in montane plant species
Authors: Jin Lanna S. , Cadotte Marc W. , Fortin Marie‐Josée
Published: April 2015

A fundamental aim in community ecology is to elucidate the processes structuring communities. The key to understanding community patterns is to account for species differences and similarities in how they respond to large‐scale environmental gradients and partition local resources. Using phylogenetic relationships as a representation of species’ ecological differences, we use phylogenetic beta‐diversity (PBD) to examine how patterns of community relatedness change across space.

Specifically, we examine how PBD informs our understanding of the processes (spatial or environmental) directing species assembly along montane environmental gradients – in particular, whether patterns are consistent with niche conservatism. Also, we examine the depth of phylogenetic turnover to see where in evolutionary history shared environmental tolerances appear conserved.

For angiosperm communities situated to the east and west of the Continental Divide (CD) in the Rocky Mountain National Park in CO, USA, we compare nine beta‐diversity indices (taxonomic, TBD: Jaccard, Bray–Curtis and Gower; PBD: PhyloSor, UniFrac, Dnn, Dpw, Rao's D and Rao's H) to changes in space, environment and environment controlling for space with the partial PROTEST method.

We find that PBD differs from taxonomic beta‐diversity and some PBD metrics were redundant with one another (i.e. Rao's D & Dpw and UniFrac & PhyloSor). The indices’ different sensitivities to evolutionary depth affected their responses to environmental and spatial gradients: TBD consistently associated greater with all factors (space, environment and environment controlled for space) than PBD metrics; PBD metrics more sensitive to recent changes were more highly correlated with all factors than those metrics sensitive to turnover deeper in the phylogeny. Generally, beta‐diversity associated strongest with environment and least with space.

Synthesis. Taxonomic and phylogenetic beta‐diversity complements each other to provide an enhanced perspective of the process governing community structure. Together, they depict patterns expected under niche conservatism for the Rocky Mountain angiosperm communities, that is, species’ names change faster than their evolutionary relationships across space.
Oh, Canada: bridges and barriers to inclusion in Canadian schools
Authors: Sokal Laura , Katz Jennifer
Published: April 2015

Inclusion in Canadian schools, both academic and social, is explored through the historic legislative structures that have resulted in a diversity of approaches to meeting the educational needs of Canadians. Innovative programmes that have been developed which showcase Canadian commitment to inclusive academic and social practices are described. Finally, we explore some of the challenges that Canadians are facing in truly being inclusive in our educational practices, and we make three specific recommendations about how we can become more inclusive.
Inclusive education in India: past, present and future
Authors: Sharma Umesh , Das Ajay
Published: April 2015

In this article we report on various initiatives taken by the government since India's independence in 1947 to provide education to school‐aged children with disabilities. The majority of children with disabilities still remain out of school. We make an attempt to identify the challenges that the country continues to face in providing education to this population and possible ways in which the challenges could be addressed.
The Effect of Clothing on the Rate of Decomposition and Diptera Colonization on Sus scrofa Carcasses
Authors: Card Allison , Cross Peter , Moffatt Colin , Simmons Tal
Published: April 2015

Twenty Sus scrofa carcasses were used to study the effect the presence of clothing had on decomposition rate and colonization locations of Diptera species; 10 unclothed control carcasses were compared to 10 clothed experimental carcasses over 58 days. Data collection occurred at regular accumulated degree day intervals; the level of decomposition as Total Body Score (TBSsurf), pattern of decomposition, and Diptera present was documented. Results indicated a statistically significant difference in the rate of decomposition, (t427 = 2.59, p = 0.010), with unclothed carcasses decomposing faster than clothed carcasses. However, the overall decomposition rates from each carcass group are too similar to separate when applying a 95% CI, which means that, although statistically significant, from a practical forensic point of view they are not sufficiently dissimilar as to warrant the application of different formulae to estimate the postmortem interval. Further results demonstrated clothing provided blow flies with additional colonization locations.
Effects of Shape and Size of Agar Gels on Heating Uniformity During Pulsed Microwave Treatment
Authors: Soto‐Reyes Nohemí , Temis‐Pérez Ana L. , López‐Malo Aurelio , Rojas‐Laguna Roberto , Sosa‐Morales María Elena
Published: April 2015

Model gel systems with different shape (sphere, cylinder, and slab) and size (180 and 290 g) were prepared with agar (5%) and sucrose (5%). Dielectric constant (ε′), loss factor (ε″), thermophysical properties, and temperature distribution of the model system were measured. Each agar model system was immersed and suspended in water, and then, heated in a microwave oven with intermittent heating until the core temperature reached 50 °C. The ε′ and ε″ of agar gels decreased when frequency increased. The density and thermal conductivity values of the agar gels were 1033 kg/m3 and 0.55 W/m °C, respectively. The temperature distribution of sphere, cylinder, and slab was different when similar power doses were applied. The slab reached 50 °C in less time (10 min) and showed a more uniform heating than spheres and cylinders in both sizes. Agar model systems of 180 g heated faster than those of 290 g. The coldest point was the center of the model systems in all studied cases. Shape and size are critical food factors that affect the heating uniformity during microwave heating processes.
Assessing the performance of a semi‐automated acoustic monitoring system for primates
Authors: Heinicke Stefanie , Kalan Ammie K. , Wagner Oliver J.J. , Mundry Roger , Lukashevich Hanna , Kühl Hjalmar S.
Published: April 2015

Passive acoustic monitoring is frequently used for marine mammals, and more recently it has also become popular for terrestrial species. Key advantages are the monitoring of (1) elusive species, (2) different taxa simultaneously, (3) large temporal and spatial scales, (4) with reduced human presence and (5) with considerable time saving for data processing. However, terrestrial sound environments can be highly complex; they are very challenging when trying to automatically detect and classify vocalizations because of low signal‐to‐noise ratios. Therefore, most studies have used manual preselection of high‐quality sounds to achieve better classification rates. Consequently, most systems have never been validated under realistic field conditions.

In this study, we evaluated the performance of a passive acoustic monitoring system for four primate species in the highly noisy rain forest environment of the Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. We collected 12 851 h of recordings with 20 autonomous recording units and did not preselect high‐quality sounds manually. To automatically detect and classify the sounds of interest, we used an automated system built on speaker segmentation, support vector machines and Gaussian mixture models. One hundred and seventy‐nine hours of recordings were used for validating the system.

The system performed well in detecting the loud calls ofCercopithecus dianaandColobus polykomoswith a recall of 50% and 42%, respectively. Recall rates were lower forPan troglodytesandProcolobus badius. To determine the presence ofCercopithecus dianaandColobus polykomoswith a certainty ofP > 0·999, 2 and 7 h of recordings were needed, respectively. For these two species, our automated approach reflected the spatio‐temporal distribution of vocalization events well. Despite the seemingly low precision, time investment for the manual removal of false positives in the system's output was only 3·5% compared to a human collecting and processing the primate vocalization data.

The proposed monitoring system is already fully applicable forCercopithecus dianaandColobus polykomos, whereas it needs further improvement for the other species tested. In principle, it can be applied to any distinctive animal sound and can be implemented for the collection of acoustic data for behavioural, ecological and conservation studies.
Information transfer and firm‐level strategy
Authors: Schneible Richard A.
Published: April 2015

In this article, I examine a previously unexplored avenue for information transfer: similarities in firms’ strategies. This examination is based on the idea that information transfer is likely to be positively related to similarity in business activities. Drawing on the concept of generic strategies found in the strategy literature, I develop a measure of strategic distance between firms. Using this measure, I provide evidence that information transfer is positively related to the similarity of firms’ strategies. In addition, I find that this information transfer is strongest when the announcing firm is large or has persistent earnings.
Food quality in domestic markets of developing economies: a comparative study of two countries
Authors: Vandeplas Anneleen , Minten Bart
Published: April 2015

Food quality has become an important determinant of success in global food trade and growers for international markets have to continuously adjust to buyers’ requirements. It is, however, not clear to what extent there is a demand for food quality—and how much buyers are willing to pay for it—in domestic food markets of developing economies. Based on unique comparable price and trader data in a poor country in Africa (Madagascar) and an emerging economy in Asia (India), we compare food quality and quality's pricing. We find significantly better quality and higher quality premiums (using revealed as well as stated preference methods) in India than in Madagascar. These findings are consistent with a simple theoretical model, solely based on average income gaps between the two countries.
The importance of gender and affect in the socialization of adolescents' beliefs about benevolent authority: Evidence from Chinese indigenous psychology
Authors: Liu James Hou‐fu , Yeh Kuang‐Hui , Wu Chih‐Wen , Liu Li , Yang Yiyin
Published: April 2015

Belief in the benevolence and moral legitimacy of leaders in central government is theorized as a form of cultural capital consistent with the hierarchical relationalism of East Asian societies with Confucian roots. A reliable measure of benevolent authority beliefs (BAB) is introduced, and its convergent and discriminant validity relative to established measures of institutional trust are established. Its socialization as part of the political culture of Taiwan was examined among high school adolescents aged 13–16. Significant gender differences were found inconsistent with traditional patriarchy. Regression analyses showed that within the relationship with mothers but not fathers, adolescents associated higher reciprocal filial piety, authoritative parenting, and authentic (positive) affect with higher BAB. For daughters but not sons, reciprocal filial piety, authoritative parenting style, and authentic (positive) affect in the relationship with their father were positively associated with BAB. Affect‐based transfer from parent‐child relationships rather than authoritarian obligations based on rote learning was a key socializing factor in a contemporary Chinese society.
Radial head replacement or repair for the terrible triad of the elbow: which procedure is better?
Authors: Yan Mingming , Ni Jiangdong , Song Deye , Ding Muliang , Liu Tang , Huang Jun
Published: April 2015

Background

The terrible triad of the elbow comprises an ulnar coronoid process fracture, a radial head (RH) fracture and posterior dislocation of the elbow. It is considered severe by many clinicians because it is difficult to repair and has a poor prognosis; therefore, it deserves more attention.

Methods

Thirty‐nine patients with terrible triad of the elbow characterized by a Mason type‐III RH fracture were randomly divided into either an RH repair group (n = 19) or an RH replacement group (n = 20). The complication rates, radiological outcomes, Mayo Elbow Performance Score and range of motion of the elbow were analysed.

Results

Follow‐up demonstrated no subluxation or recurrent dislocation of the elbow. Differences in surgery duration between the groups were significant (P < 0.001). The outcomes in terms of Mayo Elbow Performance Score (P = 0.009), flexion–extension arc (P = 0.01) and pronation–supination arc (P = 0.04) were significantly better in the RH replacement group. In addition, patients in the RH replacement group displayed significantly fewer post‐surgery complications than those in the RH repair group (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Treating Mason type‐III RH fracture in a terrible triad of the elbow with a metal RH prosthesis resulted in better clinical outcomes and fewer post‐surgery complications than treating a terrible triad of the elbow by repairing it with screws or plates. RH replacement might be a more effective approach to better managing a terrible triad of the elbow.