bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical Methodological Issues in Handling of Fatty Acid Data: Percentage or Concentration, Imputation and Indices
Authors: Mocking Roel J. T. , Assies Johanna , Lok Anja , Ruhé Henricus G. , Koeter Maarten W. J. , Visser Ieke , Bockting Claudi L. H. , Schene Aart H.
Published: March 2012

Basic aspects in the handling of fatty acid‐data have remained largely underexposed. Of these, we aimed to address three statistical methodological issues, by quantitatively exemplifying their imminent confounding impact on analytical outcomes: (1) presenting results as relative percentages or absolute concentrations, (2) handling of missing/non‐detectable values, and (3) using structural indices for data‐reduction. Therefore, we reanalyzed an example dataset containing erythrocyte fatty acid‐concentrations of 137 recurrently depressed patients and 73 controls. First, correlations between data presented as percentages and concentrations varied for different fatty acids, depending on their correlation with the total fatty acid‐concentration. Second, multiple imputation of non‐detects resulted in differences in significance compared to zero‐substitution or omission of non‐detects. Third, patients' chain length‐, unsaturation‐, and peroxidation‐indices were significantly lower compared to controls, which corresponded with patterns interpreted from individual fatty acid tests. In conclusion, results from our example dataset show that statistical methodological choices can have a significant influence on outcomes of fatty acid analysis, which emphasizes the relevance of: (1) hypothesis‐based fatty acid‐presentation (percentages or concentrations), (2) multiple imputation, preventing bias introduced by non‐detects; and (3) the possibility of using (structural) indices, to delineate fatty acid‐patterns thereby preventing multiple testing.
Feasibility of training Zambian nurse–midwives to perform postplacental and postpartum insertions of intrauterine devices
Authors: Prager Sarah , Gupta Pratima , Chilambwe Jully , Vwalika Bellington , Neukom Josselyn , Siamwanza Nomsa , Eber Maxine , Blumenthal Paul D.
Published: March 2012

Objective

To explore the feasibility of competency‐based training of Zambian nurse–midwives in postplacental and postpartum intrauterine device (PPIUD) insertion and to estimate learning curves for this procedure.

Methods

A pilot service‐delivery project was conducted, involving 9 nurse–midwives who participated in a 10‐day PPIUD insertion training course at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. US and Zambian clinicians taught the didactic and practical curriculum. Checklists were used for standardization and a pelvic model was developed to achieve PPIUD insertion competency in the classroom before moving to clinical practice. Patients were recruited during prenatal visits, in early labor, and postpartum. Informed, voluntary consent was obtained. All clinical PPIUD insertions were supervised or performed by experienced trainers.

Results

All 9 nurse–midwives achieved competency on the pelvic model after 3 attempts. During the training period, 38 PPIUDs were inserted in postpartum women; no complications occurred. By the end of training, 4 of the nurse–midwives were deemed competent to independently insert PPIUDs. On average, 4 PPIUD insertions were needed to achieve clinical competency.

Conclusions

Concentrated, competency‐based training in PPIUD insertion is feasible in an African setting. Replication of such training could increase the popularity and prevalence of PPIUD use among African women.
Kazakhstan: Oil endowment and oil empowerment
Authors: Palazuelos Enrique , Fernández Rafael
Published: March 2012

Kazakhstan became a petro-state in the 1990s, after signing important oil production agreements with several transnational companies. In recent years, Kazakhstan’s government has imposed the revision of former agreements on these corporations. This article contends that said revision has allowed the national players, government and the state oil company, to extend rent-seeking, but that the changes have not been deep enough to attain national oil empowerment. This means that national players do not control the oil cycle – from upstream to export trade – and are unable to secure continued expansion in the oil sector. Both key issues remain in the hands of the foreign companies, although their prominence has diversified following the entry of large Chinese and Russian companies.
Global well-posedness of a stochastic coupled Kuramoto–Sivashinsky and Ginzburg–Landau-type model for the Marangoni convection
Authors: Wu Wei , Cui Shangbin , Duan Jinqiao
Published: March 2012

The stochastic version of a coupled Kuramoto–Sivashinsky and Ginzburg–Landau-type model for the Marangoni convection is investigated in this paper. By making careful analysis, it is proved that the initial periodic boundary value problem of this system of equations with additive noises is globally well-posed under the assumption that the “Marangoni coefficient” satisfies the condition 0 < α < 2.
Creating and studying ion acoustic waves in ultracold neutral plasmas
Authors: Killian T. C. , McQuillen P. , O’Neil T. M. , Castro J.
Published: March 2012

We excite ion acoustic waves in ultracold neutral plasmas by imprinting density modulations during plasma creation. Laser-induced fluorescence is used to observe the density and velocity perturbations created by the waves. The effect of expansion of the plasma on the evolution of the wave amplitude is described by treating the wave action as an adiabatic invariant. After accounting for this effect, we determine that the waves are weakly damped, but the damping is significantly faster than expected for Landau damping.
Micro-Raman spectroscopy and analysis of near-surface stresses in silicon around through-silicon vias for three-dimensional interconnects
Authors: Ryu Suk-Kyu , Zhao Qiu , Hecker Michael , Son Ho-Young , Byun Kwang-Yoo , Im Jay , Ho Paul S. , Huang Rui
Published: March 2012

Three-dimensional integration with through-silicon vias (TSVs) has emerged as an effective solution to overcome the wiring limit imposed on device density and performance. However, thermal stresses induced in TSV structures raise serious thermomechanical reliability concerns. In this paper, we analyze the near-surface stress distribution in a TSV structure based on a semi-analytic approach and finite element method, in comparison with micro-Raman measurements. In particular, the depth dependence of the stress distribution and the effect of elastic anisotropy of Si are illustrated to properly interpret the Raman data. The effects of the surface oxide layer and metal plasticity of the via material on the stress and Raman measurements are discussed. The near-surface stress characteristics revealed by the modeling and Raman measurements are important for design of TSV structures and device integration.
Preliminary Assessment of Dietary Mannanoligosaccharides on Growth Performance and Health Status of Gilthead Seabream Sparus auratus
Authors: Gültepe Nejdet , Hisar Olcay , Salnur Semih , Hoşsu Belgin , Tanrikul T. Tansel , Aydın Seyit
Published: March 2012

A feeding trial was performed to assess the potential beneficial effect of two levels of mannanoligosaccarides (MOS) on the growth performance, feed utilization, hematological parameters, and liver histopathology of gilthead seabream Sparus auratus (also known as gilthead bream). Mannanoligosaccarides were added at the rates of 2 and 4 g/kg to a fish-meal-based control diet, and each diet was given (twice daily [midmorning and midafternoon] to apparent satiation) to triplicate groups of gilthead seabream growers (mean weight = approximately 170 g) in sea cages. The trial lasted 12 weeks, and the average ambient water temperature ranged from 19.6°C to 24.7°C during the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, fish attained market size (350–450 g) and their health status was evaluated by blood analysis and liver histology. There were no differences in survival rates among fish fed experimental diets. However, there were significant improvements in both growth and feed utilization among fish fed diets supplemented with MOS. Hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) levels and erythrocyte, leukocyte, and thrombocyte (Thr) counts were unaffected by any dietary MOS. The levels of Hb (g/dL; mean ± SD) and Ht (%; mean ± SD) were 11.0 ± 2.5 and 45.6 ± 6.7 for the control group, 11.1 ± 1.7 and 39.3 ± 8.0 for the 2-g/kg group, and 11.2 ± 1.9 and 40.2 ± 8.4 for the 4-g/kg group. The mean Thr count ranged from 47.6 to 53.8 × 103/mm3. Despite the apparently higher Thr counts for fish fed diets supplemented with MOS, these differences were not significant. Moreover, no histopathological differences were observed in liver tissue cross sections between control and treatment groups. These results suggest that supplementation of diets with MOS had no significant effects on general fish health.

Received February 20, 2011; accepted September 12, 2011
Approximation and Idealization: Why the Difference Matters
Authors: Norton John D.
Published: March 2012

It is proposed that we use the term “approximation” for inexact description of a target system and “idealization” for another system whose properties also provide an inexact description of the target system. Since systems generated by a limiting process can often have quite unexpected—even inconsistent—properties, familiar limit processes used in statistical physics can fail to provide idealizations but merely provide approximations.
Microbacterium neimengense sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of maize
Authors: Gao Miao , Wang Min , Zhang Yan-chun , Zou Xiao-ling , Xie Lin-qi , Hu Hai-yan , Xu Jing , Gao Jun-lian , Sun Jian-guang
Published: March 2012

A Gram-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, strain 7087T, was isolated from rhizosphere of maize in China. The strain grew at 4–50 °C and at pH 4–10, with optima of 37 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain 7087T was a member of the genus

Microbacterium

. High levels of 16S rRNA gene similarities were found between strain 7087T and

Microbacterium binotii

DSM 19164T (99.8 %). However, the DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain 7087T and

Microbacterium binotii

DSM 19164T was 24.2 %. The DNA G+C content of strain 7087T was 69.9 mol%. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0 (36.45 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (36.08 %) and iso-C16 : 0 (16.11 %). The predominant menaquinones were MK-10 (28.1 %), MK-11 (54.8 %) and MK-12 (17.1 %). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ornithine. The major polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, unknown phospholipids, an unknown glycolipid and unknown amino lipids. On the basis of these results, strain 7087T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Microbacterium

, for which the name Microbacterium neimengense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7087T ( = ACCC 03008T = DSM 24985T).
Survey of 150 strains belonging to the

Mycobacterium terrae

complex and description of Mycobacterium engbaekii sp. nov., Mycobacterium heraklionense sp. nov. and Mycobacterium longobardum sp. nov.
Authors: Tortoli Enrico , Gitti Zoe , Klenk Hans-Peter , Lauria Stefania , Mannino Roberta , Mantegani Paola , Mariottini Alessandro , Neonakis Ioannis
Published: March 2012

A thorough phenotypic and genotypic analysis of 150 strains belonging to the

Mycobacterium terrae

complex resulted in the identification of a number of previously unreported sequevars (sqvs) within the species known to belong to the complex. For the species

Mycobacterium arupense

, three sqvs were detected in the 16S rRNA gene, six sqvs in the hsp65 gene and 15 sqvs in the rpoB gene; in

Mycobacterium senuense

two sqvs were present in each of the three genetic regions; in

Mycobacterium kumamotonense

four, two and nine sqvs were found, respectively, and in

M. terrae

three, four and six sqvs were found, respectively. The inappropriate inclusion of

Mycobacterium triviale

within the

M. terrae

complex was confirmed. The limited utility of biochemical tests and of mycolic acid analyses for the differentiation of the members of

M. terrae

complex was also confirmed. The survey allowed the recognition of three previously undescribed species that were characterized by unique sequences in the 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB genes. Mycobacterium engbaekii sp. nov. (proposed previously 40 years ago but never validly published) was characterized by pink photochromogenic pigmentation and rapid growth; phylogenetically it was related to

Mycobacterium hiberniae

. The type strain of this species, of which eight strains were investigated, is ATCC 27353T ( = DSM 45694T). A cluster of 24 strains was the basis for the description of Mycobacterium heraklionense sp. nov., which has an intermediate growth rate and is unpigmented; nitrate reductase activity is typically strong. Closely related to

M. arupense

with respect to the 16S rRNA gene, M. heraklionense sp. nov. could be clearly differentiated from the latter species in the other genetic regions investigated. The type strain is NCTC 13432T ( = LMG 24735T = CECT 7509T). Mycobacterium longobardum sp. nov., represented in the study by seven strains, was characterized by a unique phylogenetic location within the

M. terrae

complex, clearly divergent from any other species. The type strain is DSM 45394T ( = CCUG 58460T).
Correlation of antioxidant activity and phytochemical profile in native plants
Authors: Srivastava Jyoti , Kumar Sarvesh , Vankar Padma S.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the structure‐activity correlation of four medicinal plants – Ocimum basilicum L., Piper betle L., Grewia asiatica L., Lantana camara L. in crude methanolic extract. These plants have been used in Ayurvedic preparation as alternative medicine. The contents of phenolic compounds (flavonoids, anthocyanin) and antioxidant capacities were evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

Folin‐Ciocalteu method was used for the analysis of the phenolic compounds. Total flavonoids were also evaluated. DPPH, ABTS+, FRAP and H2O2 assays were used to evaluate antioxidant activity. Most of the assays were determined spectrometrically.

Findings

O. basilicum L. had the highest of total phenolics content (305.11 mg GAE/g), highest content of anthocyanins (15.427 mg/Kg) and total flavonoids (9.692 QE mg/g). The DPPH, ABTS+, FRAP and H2O2 assay indicated that these plants possessed considerable antioxidant activities.

Originality/value

The results also showed that O. basilicum and L. camara from red colored cultivars possessed high contents of phenolic compounds. FRAP assay showed AOA in the following sequence – Lantana camara>Ocimum basilicum>Piper betle>Grewia asiatica. Since L. camara showed highest antioxidant capacity thus it can be a potential resource for commercial antioxidant.
An agency theory perspective on supply chain quality management
Authors: Zu Xingxing , Kaynak Hale
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is two‐fold: to examine two approaches buying firms can utilize to manage supplier quality; and to investigate the ways in which factors inherent in supply chain relationships affect the use of these approaches in supply chain quality management.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on agency theory, this paper proposes a conceptual framework that relates the underlying factors of a supply chain relationship to the use of quality management approaches. Two types of approaches, outcome‐based and behavior‐based, are discussed in terms of their focuses, purposes, and methods. Propositions are developed about the effects of these factors on the decisions buying firms make about supply chain quality management.

Findings

This study suggests that rather than relying on one generic supply chain quality management approach for all suppliers, firms need to choose different management mechanisms for different suppliers based on the salient attributes of individual suppliers and their relationships with the buyers. Five types of agency‐based factors are discussed. These factors – information asymmetry, goal conflict, risk aversion of suppliers, length of relationship, and task characteristics – can be expected to influence how firms design and manage their quality management systems for supply chains.

Practical implications

A better understanding of the distinction between outcome‐based and behavior‐based approaches helps managers evaluate which approach is best suited to managing the quality of their suppliers. The propositions pertaining to the key factors provide managers with some guidelines about the critical conditions they should consider when building their firm's supply chain quality management system.

Originality/value

Having an effective quality management system of a supply chain is essential for maintaining a smooth supply of high quality products and services to customers. However, little is known about how a firm should design this supply chain quality management system. The paper addresses this gap by applying agency theory to examine the two essential approaches to managing supplier quality and to explore the critical factors that should be taken into account when considering the appropriate approaches for different suppliers.
Local binary patterns versus signal processing texture analysis: a study from a performance evaluation perspective
Authors: Ghita Ovidiu , Ilea Dana , Fernandez Antonio , Whelan Paul
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and provide a detailed performance evaluation of a number of texture descriptors that analyse texture at micro‐level such as local binary patterns (LBP) and a number of standard filtering techniques that sample the texture information using either a bank of isotropic filters or Gabor filters.

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental tests were conducted on standard databases where the classification results are obtained for single and multiple texture orientations. The authors also analysed the performance of standard filtering texture analysis techniques (such as those based of LM and MR8 filter banks) when applied to the classification of texture images contained in standard Outex and Brodatz databases.

Findings

The most important finding resulting from this study is that although the LBP/C and the multi‐channel Gabor filtering techniques approach texture analysis from a different theoretical perspective, in this paper the authors have experimentally demonstrated that they share some common properties in regard to the way they sample the macro and micro properties of the texture.

Practical implications

Texture is a fundamental property of digital images and the development of robust image descriptors plays a crucial role in the process of image segmentation and scene understanding.

Originality/value

This paper contrast, from a practical and theoretical standpoint, the LBP and representative multi‐channel texture analysis approaches and a substantial number of experimental results were provided to evaluate their performance when applied to standard texture databases.
In search for the added value of FM: what we know and what we need to learn
Authors: Anker Jensen Per , van der Voordt Theo , Coenen Christian , von Felten Daniel , Lindholm Anna‐Liisa , Balslev Nielsen Susanne , Riratanaphong Chaiwat , Pfenninger Mirjam
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article aims to present and compare research perspectives and theoretical reflections from a variety of academic fields on the concept of added value of facilities management.

Design/methodology/approach

The starting point is the so‐called FM Value Map, which was presented in a recent article in Facilities by Per Anker Jensen in 2010. The article is a first result of the work in the EuroFM research collaboration group and is based on literature reviews of the most influential journals within the academic fields of facilities management (FM), corporate real estate management and business‐to‐business marketing.

Findings

Good relationship management and building on trust is shown to be equally important as delivering the agreed services.

Originality/value

Usually the concept of added value is discussed from a monodisciplinary point‐of‐view. The different backgrounds of the authors add value to an increased understanding of the added value of FM by comparing and testing different ways of conceptualising this issue. This is of great importance to FM research and evidence‐based FM as a sound basis for the long‐term recognition of FM.
Co‐creating corporate brands in start‐ups
Authors: Juntunen Mari
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is twofold: first, to examine how managers and employees in start‐ups understand and define a corporate brand; and second, to reveal how corporate brand co‐creation with different stakeholders is executed in companies in their start‐up phase.

Design/methodology/approach

The data are gathered via a multiple case study from the managers and employees of three start‐ups that operate in the software business.

Findings

Corporate brand has both internal and external aspects. Corporate brand co‐creation is a process that begins with the stakeholders inventing the corporate name before the company is established, and continues at the start‐up phase by developing the new corporate name, updating the logo and communications material, and developing the product and business. The events and stakeholders in each of the above mentioned sub‐processes are also revealed.

Research limitations/implications

The small number of interviews from a specific context limits the statistical generalisability of the results. Only a corporate viewpoint is taken, which may not offer a profound understanding of the process.

Practical implications

Managers need to recognise the stakeholders that could help the company, and how they could possibly help, both before and after establishing the company. The stakeholders may offer ideas and viewpoints that the entrepreneur could not invent alone, and which could, as their best, improve the whole business.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the author this is one of the rare studies that examines corporate branding in start‐ups and perhaps the first study to examine them from a corporate brand co‐creation viewpoint.
Numerical implementation of a damage‐coupled material law for semicrystalline polyethylene
Authors: Alvarado‐Contreras J.A. , Polak M.A. , Penlidis A.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a computational procedure for a novel damage‐coupled material law for semicrystalline polyethylene. Using a damage mechanics approach, the model seeks to gain insight into the mechanical behaviour of polyethylene considering the microstructure and degradation processes occurring under uniaxial tension.

Design/methodology/approach

The material morphology is modelled as a collection of inclusions. Each inclusion consists of crystalline material lying in a thin lamella attached to an amorphous layer. The interface region interconnecting the two phases is the plane through which loads are carried and transferred by the tie molecules. It is assumed that the constitutive model contains complete information about the mechanical behaviour and degradation processes of each constituent. After modelling the two phases independently, the inclusion behaviour is found by applying some compatibility and equilibrium restrictions along the interface plane.

Findings

The model provides a rational representation of the damage process of the intermolecular bonds holding crystals and of the tie‐molecules connecting neighbouring crystallites. The model is also used to analyze the degree of relationship between some of the material properties and the mechanical responses.

Practical implications

In practice, the numerical model clearly helps to understand the influence of the different microstructure properties on the tensile mechanical behaviour of semicrystalline polyethylene – an issue of particular interest in improving material processability and product performance.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, a phenomenon such as microstructural degradation of polyethylene has not received much attention in the literature. The proposed model successfully captures aspects of the material behaviour considering crystal fragmentation and tie‐molecule rupture.
Experimental study on sound radiation time‐frequency characteristics of double cylindrical shell based on EMD
Authors: Ji Fang , Yao Xiongliang , Zhang Aman , Ye Xi
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Laying the acoustic decoupling material on the surface of underwater structures is an effective noise reduction technology. The underwater sound radiation experiment of finite stiffened double cylindrical shell with separate‐sound and decoupled tile is carried out with the aim of finding out the most effective laying condition.

Design/methodology/approach

The segmentation power function interpolation method and vertex extreme value envelope continuation method are introduced into basic theory of empirical mode decomposition (EMD). The original measured sound pressure signals are decomposed to intrinsic mode function (IMF) group through EMD, and the high‐frequency components are filtered out. Because the mechanical noise of submarine is mainly at low frequency, the IMFs in low frequency are researched through power spectrum analysis. The noise reduction effects of different separate‐sound and decoupled tile laying conditions are compared.

Findings

The sound pressure signal components' amplitudes, periods and phases are obtained through EMD. The test data show that the double cylindrical shell entirely covered with separate‐sound and decoupled tile is the most effective laying condition in noise reduction.

Originality/value

With reference to the case study, this is believed to be the first application of the EMD in sound radiation time‐frequency characteristics of double cylindrical shell. The evaluation of separate‐sound and decoupled tile laying conditions is of great importance in engineering applications.
Corporate Facebook pages: when “fans” attack
Authors: Champoux Valerie , Durgee Julia , McGlynn Lauren
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Facebook continues to play an increasingly necessary role in the corporate portfolio of stakeholder relations. Unlike traditional channels of corporate communication, Facebook allows for uncensored, unpredictable, two‐way conversations. This paper aims to engage thought and enact immediate action in the prevention and rehabilitation of a company's online reputation in the event of a Facebook wall attack.

Design/methodology/approach

By conducting online research for an online subject and studying the historical perspectives of public outrage and a “fan's” dissatisfaction, the authors examine different approaches to corporate attacks. The case study of Nestlé's improper handling of a crisis on Facebook contrasted with examples of properly handled responses serve as guidelines that any company can utilize. The authors have provided seven steps that any business can incorporate into its crisis prevention plan.

Findings

Harm, fear of harm and threatened values are the three basic sources of public outrage. The popularity of social media, particularly Facebook, provides a new venue for unhappy customers to publicly communicate their disdain. By relating to customers on a personal level and planning in advance, companies can recover from Facebook attacks quickly and with minimal damage.

Originality/value

The psychological underpinnings and science of outrage can be applied to the human behavior of social networking. Understanding why people complain and forecasting the inevitable outbreak of negativity provides valuable insight into avoiding potentially detrimental social media attacks. Real world examples shed insight into the proper handling of future situations. The seven steps for success provide a must‐have guide for any company competing in the digital realm.
Greek manufacturing firms: low skills, low wages and low profitability
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Skills are increasingly identified by policy makers throughout the world as a central means to address social and economic challenges. The present study aims to look specifically at the Greek economy and evaluate through an extensive literature review the effectiveness of skill development strategies adopted by small manufacturing firms as a result of their chosen business strategy. The study seeks to explore whether the existing skill development strategies can ensure the future viability of small firms or not.

Design/methodology/approach

Various types of secondary data were used in this study (e.g. journal articles, books, government publications including industry statistics and reports) to outline the importance of a high‐skills strategy if living standards in advancing economies like Greece are to be improved and critically evaluate the existing skill development strategies of small industrial firms.

Findings

The study argues that the low‐skills strategy favored by most Greek small industrial firms can no longer ensure their survival. Therefore, a number of policy measures should be put forward to encourage small firm owners to move towards a high‐skills business model.

Practical implications

The study helps policy makers to take the required action in order to create a business environment in Greece that encourages the adoption of a high‐skills, high‐quality product strategy by small firm owners.

Originality/value

The study brings new insights around the effectiveness of cost‐cutting strategies in the context of an advancing country.
Rural library services
Authors: Islam Shariful , Zabed Ahmed S.M.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the library services available to rural dwellers and a summary of focus groups discussions (FGD) conducted in northern districts of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is divided into two sections. The first section describes rural library services in Bangladesh. The second section discusses the results of FGDs carried out separately in ten rural communities in northern areas of Bangladesh.

Findings

The results of FGDs highlight the general information needs of rural communities, their reading, listening and viewing habits and awareness of rural library activities. The findings suggest that the rural libraries largely meet the informational needs of the local community and play a crucial role in the educational advancement of local people.

Originality/value

This is the first time an effort has been made to assess the impact of rural library activities using FGDs in Bangladesh. This paper shows that FGDs could be an effective way to assess the impact of rural library activities.
Digital natives, searching behavior and the library
Authors: Zimerman Martin
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that digital natives are different from older age groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The first survey asks questions about general computer searching behaviors. The second survey asks the students to find two items to see if they can find them.

Findings

Digital natives are different in their search behavior, preferring to use web‐based search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing.

Research limitations/implications

There are 120 respondents to the first survey and 27 in the second.

Practical implications

More focus needs to be placed on the digital natives' search habits to find out how best to serve this population.

Social implications

Unless digital natives are taught how to search academic databases, they will be done a great disservice.

Originality/value

The two surveys are unique in data content.
Types of linkages between service characteristics and customer consequences
Authors: Golik Klanac Nataša
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the nature of linkages between characteristics of a service and customer consequences and elicit the types of such linkages.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds on current research on linkages and customer consequences within the means‐end approach and on a qualitative case study in the context of website use in business‐to‐business relationships.

Findings

The paper introduces six types of linkages between characteristics of a service and customer consequences: common and unique, conflicting and non‐conflicting, and homogenous and heterogeneous linkages.

Practical implications

The paper portrays four cases of implications of the linkages for simplicity and homogeneity of the design of services and of their marketing strategies.

Originality/value

The ways in which characteristics of a service are linked with customer consequences of an engagement with the service are of crucial importance in marketing. Despite the importance, research on linkages is scarce. By considering currently neglected aspects such as different units of analysis, different relationships between characteristics and customer consequences, and diversity in characteristics and consequences, the paper introduces new types of linkages. It also depicts the relevance of the knowledge of the linkages for portraying customer value fully.
Creating customer loyalty through service customization
Authors: Coelho Pedro S. , Henseler Jörg
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Although practitioners and scholars alike embrace service customization as a possibly powerful management instrument, its impact on customer relationships as well as contingencies for its effective application are not well understood. Drawing from relationship marketing and exchange theory, this paper aims to develop a model of customer relationship outcomes of service customization and the efficacy of service customization.

Design/methodology/approach

Two large‐scale, representative, cross‐sectional studies in different service industries based on the European Customer Satisfaction Index framework are conducted, and PLS path modeling is applied to test the model.

Findings

Customization increases perceived service quality, customer satisfaction, customer trust, and ultimately customer loyalty toward a service provider. Customization has both direct and mediated effects on customer loyalty and interacts with the effects of customer satisfaction and customer trust on loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

Service customization is a viable instrument for relationship marketing. Its efficacy depends on customer satisfaction and customer trust. While this study solely focuses on the impact of service customization, future research could assess the relative importance of service customization in the presence of other relationship marketing instruments.

Practical implications

Service providers can use service customization as an effective instrument for achieving not only higher customer satisfaction, but also higher customer loyalty. Service customization is most effective for companies that have deficits in satisfying their customers, while at the same time their customer relationships are characterized by a high level of trust. These results help managers to decide upon resource allocation to enhance customer satisfaction, trust and loyalty.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the simultaneous effects of service customization on customer loyalty and other relationships variables and offers new insights relatively to the nature and size of customization effects. It fills an important gap in the knowledge of customization outcomes, and clarifies under which circumstances service customization is most effective. The paper is of great value for service providers that face the decision whether to customize their offering or not.
Information processing in choice‐based conjoint experiments
Authors: Denstadli Jon Martin , Lines Rune , de Dios Ortúzar Juan
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper investigates how respondents to conjoint experiments process information and choose among product profiles, and how this varies with their knowledge about the product. Models for estimating conjoint attribute weights are almost exclusively based on principles of compensatory decision making. The paper aims to explore to what extent and in what way these basic principles of conjoint modelling are violated.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from a verbal protocol study where 18 undergraduate students each performed a total of 28 stated choice tasks while “thinking aloud”.

Findings

Results show that cognitive operations consistent with compensatory decision rules constitute a majority of the total number of operations performed across tasks and respondents. However, few respondents exhibited a consistent use of compensatory‐type processes throughout their choice sets. Results suggest that individual preferences interact with characteristics of the choice sets to instigate changes in information processing. It also appears that complete strategies are seldom used. Finally, respondents' knowledge about the product influences the cognitive operations that respondents use in solving conjoint tasks.

Research limitations/implications

Results are based on responses from 18 undergraduate students, which makes generalizations hard.

Practical implications

One implication of this work is that one should apply a more flexible model framework to allow detecting the existence of non‐compensatory strategies.

Originality/value

This paper is one of few which aim to implement findings in behavvioral decision research within the context of conjoint analysis.
Applying organizational commitment and human capital theories to emigration research
Authors: Verkhohlyad Olga , McLean Gary N.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This study aims to bring some additional insight into the issue of emigration by establishing a relationship between emigration and psychic return of citizens to their human capital investment in the country.

Design/methodology/approach

The article adopts a quantitative research strategy. It applies organizational commitment and human capital theories to the study of emigration.

Findings

The article provides evidence for the fact that psychic return to human capital investment in the country has significant relationship with emigration level from this country. At the same time, of all variables that comprise this type of return to HC investment, only two variables were found to be statistically significant: national GDP and access to education in the country.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide some evidence for the fact that emigration from a country cannot be reduced unless people in the country have the ability to lead an economically comfortable life and have access to education. Those countries that experience significant emigration need to turn their attention to developing and implementing sound economic and educational reforms. Emigration will be reduced as a result. A significant limitation of this research is the fact that not all the world countries were included in the analysis. Although the authors did their best to get data for as many countries as possible, the absence of data for some countries allowed for the research using fewer countries than desired.

Originality/value

This article utilizes organizational commitment and human capital theories. The combination of these two theories of social research allows a unique look at emigration.
Managing knowledge in internationalizing universities through foreign assignments
Authors: Boyle Brendan , McDonnell Anthony , Mitchell Rebecca , Nicholas Stephen
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This article discusses the opportunities presented by the globalization of education and the role of knowledge management in successful global expansion. It seeks to explain why the tacit dimensions of the knowledge transferred during international education provision makes it difficult to provide educational services in offshore campuses, absent the transfer of people.

Design/methodology/approach

The article draws on literature in the discipline of international business to explain why internationalizing universities need to consider the role of knowledge transfer as a strategic imperative. As this is a conceptual article, arguments are built on insights from extant theoretical and empirical work.

Findings

Based on the analysis of a diverse body of academic literature in the areas of international business, knowledge management and education theory, this article demonstrates the role of foreign assignments in the transfer of tacit knowledge in universities with offshore campuses.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of the proposition raised in this article are presented with a focus on how they affirm the need for foreign assignments for effective knowledge management in internationalizing universities. Those implications include the need to use assignments to deliver courses offshore and to create face‐to‐face interactions with academics at partner universities.

Originality/value

Drawing on a diverse body of academic literature, this article provides theoretical and practical insights into how assignments can be utilized in international educational management, international educational delivery, and the creation of an environment in which knowledge resources can be utilized on an international basis.
Using the balanced scorecard to manage performance in public sector organizations
Authors: Northcott Deryl , Ma'amora Taulapapa Tuivaiti
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the use of the balanced scorecard (BSC) as a performance management tool in the public sector. Drawing on a New Zealand study of local government organzations (LGOs), it seeks to identify issues and challenges in implementing the BSC in public sector contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

A postal questionnaire was used to solicit public sector managers' views on the usefulness of the BSC and the factors that support or impede its implementation in practice. Follow‐up interviews with selected respondents allowed for more in‐depth exploration of managers' experiences of BSC use and outcomes.

Findings

The findings reveal low rates of BSC adoption amongst the studied LGOs. Further, perceived BSC utility is dominated by performance measurement and reporting, while the performance management role of the BSC remains relatively under‐exploited. This study identifies users' perceptions of the key challenges impeding BSC implementation in the public sector, and highlights their significance for both practice and theory.

Research limitations/implications

This paper highlights the need for improved theorisation on several issues that present particular challenges in public sector BSC practice: modifying the BSC dimensions, designing measures that capture important qualitative outcomes, identifying the “customer” and/or achieving a genuine multi‐stakeholder approach, and mapping BSC causality relationships.

Practical implications

Improved awareness of the factors perceived to lead to successful and unsuccessful BSC implementation may enhance the uptake and utility of the BSC for measuring and managing performance in public sector organisations.

Originality/value

This study examines BSC use in local government, where it has been relatively under‐researched. It adds to prior studies by specifically examining the factors that support and impede the effective implementation of the BSC in public sector contexts.
“Fleshing out” an engagement with a social accounting technology
Authors: Fraser Michael
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical account of a social accounting technology applied within a New Zealand Local Body Authority and reflect on “assemblages” that enable change for sustainability thinking at the organisational level.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case using semi‐structured interviews to track six sustainability assessment model (SAM) applications over a two‐year period. The diversity of applications ranged from large infrastructure projects such as transport through to libraries and meant the SAM was operational under a variety of organisational settings.

Findings

Evidence found suggests that the SAM influenced mental models of participants, fostered more reflective and inclusive accounts, changed organisational decisions, and resulted in tangible change. However, managers vulnerable to voting influences later changed their criteria on which the SAM was evaluated and in turn rendered it “technically inadequate”. Further findings indicate the role of accountants and legislation were salient enabling “assemblages”. Such findings support the assertion of in‐depth case studies and multiple applications of a social accounting technology being required to make visible important factors in enabling sustainability thinking.

Originality/value

The paper explores the process of change implicated with SEA technology engagements beyond a “success” or “failure” label by examining empirically the enabling features implicated in sustainability thinking. In doing so the paper responds to a lack of in‐depth engagements of social accounting technologies in the organisational environments they were designed for and provides a basis for theorising SEA technologies.
Understanding functions: an organizational culture perspective
Authors: Foscarini Fiorella
Published: March 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the disconnection between the recognized centrality of the functional approach to records management and archives and the actual understanding of functions that scholars, practitioners, and records creators seem to have. It suggests that records professionals should consider functions not in the abstract but in the specific socio‐cultural contexts in which they are enacted.

Design/methodology/approach

After analyzing the main theoretical and methodological issues concerning the concept of function and the application of the functional approach, the paper reports some findings of an empirical study of function‐based records classification systems conducted by the author in four different organizations in Europe and North America.

Findings

The multiple‐case study research confirmed that the meaning of both function and classification are subject to various interpretations, that a number of non‐functional factors are involved in the creation of function‐based tools, and that records professionals find available explanations of functional methods confusing. The findings also indicate that there is a relationship between organizational cultures and the ways in which business and records processes are perceived and translated into practice.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a number of suggestions that may be used to improve the analysis of functions and business processes for any records management purposes. In particular, it discusses some of the non‐functional and cultural factors that influence the design and implementation of function‐based records classification systems. However, more empirical research is needed in order to broaden our understanding of functions in real‐world organizations.

Originality/value

Based on a broad selection of professional literature on the functional approach, this paper presents the original findings of an empirical study that uses qualitative methods to analyze and interpret the data collected. It is hoped that it will inspire more exploratory research of this kind in the records management area.