bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate social responsibility
Authors: Ahamad Nalband Nisar , Al‐Amri Mohammed S.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The world is becoming global, digital, health conscious and spiritual. In this new and evolving international environment with a large private sector and global integration of world capital markets, Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become the prominent topic of institutional reform. This issue of CSR is of great importance as the Saudi economy is opening up and the government is trying to diversify its investments and reduce its reliance on the petroleum sector. The proposed research study is aimed at identifying perceptions of managers, company practices and performance of companies concerning CSR practices of 21 listed companies in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

From each company, ten managers were chosen randomly totaling two hundred and ten respondents. Primary and secondary data was collected for the study. Primary data were collected by conducting interviews and discussions with management respondents through questionnaires structured for the purpose.

Findings

The empirical findings in the KSA study support the applicability of Carroll's Pyramid of CSR constructs and Lawrence et al.'s charity and stewardship principles.

Research limitations/implications

There is excellent scope for future research on the current topic and in improving the instruments, measures and constituent concepts of CSR constructs in order to provide better guidance to policy makers and managers, as well as academic interest.

Originality/value

Saudi Arabia is known for its charity and stewardship principles, but not much empirical work based on CSR constructs has been done. Hence, this study attempts to measure perception and construct validity.
Unspeakable stories: when counter narratives are deemed unacceptable
Authors: Gair Susan , Moloney Sharon
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Qualitative researchers embrace insider narratives and affirm an environment where stories of lived experiences are acceptable and welcomed. Equally, subjective narratives often are presented for publication with an assumption that they will reach a readership, after a rigorous but empathic review process. Such assumptions and expectations underpin Indigenous, postmodern, feminist, critical and narrative research and writing approaches, all of which seek to foreground non‐dominant stories, and expose untold lived experiences through publications. However, this paper aims to challenge the somewhat implicit narrative that “lived experiences would always be welcomed”.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors discuss qualitative researchers and narratives, including excluded stories, and then reveal their own experiences of trying to publish less common, confronting, adoption narratives.

Findings

The authors find that stories that do not meet the authorized or conventional version of a social transcript, or those beyond current comprehension, may remain silenced. They speculate that the adoption stories they presented for publication were rejected because they were too confronting.

Originality/value

The authors contend that some stories challenge convention to such an extent that they become unacceptable. They tell different but interwoven stories of rejected, adoption‐related manuscripts, before reflecting on implications for the presentation of qualitative narratives.
Narrative inquiry and nursing research
Authors: Green Brenda
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Traditional academic discourse in qualitative studies is devoid of the subjective individual, and lacks the particulars of experience and the lifelikeness that evokes meaning when researchers address real‐life problems. This paper aims to explore the value and application of utilizing narrative inquiry in nursing research. As a result, this review seeks to argue that understanding the lived experience allows nurse researchers an “insider view” and a deeper understanding of health and social issues that arises from the relationship between the participant and researcher. Additionally this paper aims to highlight some of the challenges and tensions in narrative work including the researcher's self‐reflection within the research process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes the form of a literature review.

Findings

This paper highlights some of the challenges and tensions in narrative work including the researcher's self‐reflection within the research process. It argues that understanding the lived experience allows nurse researchers an “insider view” and a deeper understanding of health and social issues that arises from the relationship between the participant and researcher.

Originality/value

This original article presents an argument that suggests narrative inquiry in nursing research offers a particular way of caring about how knowledge is produced and the importance of the relationship between the researcher and the co‐researcher.
Information sharing through inter‐organisational systems in local government
Authors: Ziaee Bigdeli Alinaghi , Kamal Muhammad , de Cesare Sergio
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The dilemma of implementing and adopting inter‐organisational systems (IOS) that enable information sharing in an electronic fashion has been regarded as an inevitable issue for the public sector. The majority of previous studies have mainly focused on Central or Federal level organisations, and more importantly applied so‐called old fashion theoretical lenses, hence failed to capture the extensive picture of information sharing in an inter‐organisational and inter‐departmental settings. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers and enablers of information sharing in local level in order to clarify why sharing information in local level differs from the central/federal level, and why innovation adoption theories are not sufficient enough to explore an inter‐organisational phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review on technology adoption in public sector is carried out in order to select a suitable theoretical lens. Hence, based on previous research on information sharing in public/private sector, inter‐organisational systems adoption, and inter‐departmental collaboration, the factors and participation phases that are relevant to the context of local government have been summarised and discussed.

Findings

This paper proposes a novel conceptual framework that can be used as a tool for decision‐making while sharing information electronically. The framework consists of four main levels: investigation and presentation of factors influencing EIS in LGAs based on external environment, organisational capacity, technology environment, EIS characteristics, and inter‐departmental environment; investigation and presentation of the processes that an LGA department should carry out to decide whether to share information with another department; mapping of the influential factors on the participation phases; and prioritisation of the factors influencing EIS in LGAs in different decision‐making phases.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed framework should be tests and validated through empirical cases, focusing on inter‐departmental collaboration in local level.

Originality/value

From theoretical perspective, almost none of the previous research have investigated the effectiveness of DOI or TOE in studying the adoption of inter‐organisational innovation. Also, they have failed to examine and prioritise the importance of the factor influencing EIS on the participation phases.
Social capital, networks, trust and immigrant entrepreneurship: a cross‐country analysis
Authors: Turkina Ekaterina , Thi Thanh Thai Mai
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This study is devoted to the empirical assessment of the macro‐level impact of social capital on immigrant entrepreneurship (the general levels of immigrant entrepreneurship, as well as high‐value added immigrant entrepreneurship).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies multiple regression analysis to the data on immigrant entrepreneurship and high‐value added immigrant entrepreneurship provided by OECD. The measures of the independent variables (the components of social capital) are based on World Value Survey.

Findings

The results reveal that social capital does play a significant role in high‐value added immigrant entrepreneurship in particular and immigrant entrepreneurship in general. With strong statistical significance, three social capital factors – networking, interpersonal trust, and institutional trust – provide an explanation for variations in immigrant entrepreneurship across countries.

Originality/value

Although the literature has long pointed out the importance of social capital as a determinant of economic activity, entrepreneurship researchers have focused much attention on the impact of personal, economic, and politico‐administrative factors while leaving social capital factors largely unexamined. Thus, study offers a systematic analysis of the effects of social capital on immigrant entrepreneurship and high‐value added immigrant entrepreneurship at a macro level and discusses policy‐making implications.
Entrepreneurship among British Africans: moving forward by looking backward
Authors: Nwankwo Sonny
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how the complex interrelationship between historical factors and socio‐economic contexts contributed in shaping the contemporary representation of African entrepreneurship in Britain. Using this prism, it highlights some of the critical developmental challenges and future prospects.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to track the connection between historical/immigration experiences and conditions of entrepreneurial development among Africans in Britain, the paper follows in the tradition of socio‐historical method. It leans on syntheses drawn from a broader underpinning literature.

Findings

The way in which the historiography of African entrepreneurship is generally presented reveals hybrid and ambivalent positions; guiding as well as constraining the representation of entrepreneurial choices of contemporaneous British Africans. Historical antecedents have strong explanatory powers in the construction or reconstruction of entrepreneurial identities of British Africans.

Practical implications

Against the backcloth of the problems generally encountered in attempts to stimulate and support entrepreneurship in black and African communities in Britain, policy designers very often ignore the fact the solutions will have to be sought from within the paradigms that created the problems. The positioning of this paper is intended to begin to plug this gap.

Originality/value

The concept of discourse is critical to understanding entrepreneurial processes of British Africans and bears careful explanation to their entrepreneurial transitions. This angle of inquiry is novel, with possibilities for opening new sites of knowledge.
Dynamic interdependence between US and Asian markets: an empirical study
Authors: Dhanaraj Sowmya , Gopalaswamy Arun Kumar , Babu M Suresh
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the short‐term stock market interactions between US and six major Asian markets – China, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. These six economies along with Japan and Australia have the largest stock exchanges in the Asia‐Pacific region. The importance of the US market to the Asian economies is the prime motivation for a quantitative assessment of its role in this region. The objective of this study is to measure the dynamic stock market interdependence of US and Asian newly industrialized economies (NIEs) (Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan) and emerging market economies (EMEs) (China and India) post Asian crisis of 1997 and also to capture the market interactions during the sub‐prime crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The study has employed Granger causality tests and generalized forecast error variance decomposition (FEVD) analysis to analyze the fluctuations in and the extent of short‐term interdependence between the US and Asian economies. VAR model was estimated to run the simulations for FEVD analysis.

Findings

The empirical results from FEVD analysis revealed the dominance of US stock market on Asian markets; the USA being a large economy of the world, an important trading partner and major supplier of capital to Asian region. Stock markets of Asia are not immune to the shocks originating in the USA although the effects of shocks vary considerably across markets. Further, an important implication is that major crisis events can influence the relationship among stock markets.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers in the Asian context examining the interdependence with the US markets. Hence, even though most of the Asian economies went through liberalization, the macroeconomic and financial circumstances were very different before, after and during the process. This motivated the examination of the interactions between US and other Asian markets.
Shopping soundtracks: evaluating the musicscape using introspective data
Authors: Oakes Steve , Patterson Anthony , Oakes Helen
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Despite the relatively low cultural status of department store music, it is proposed that music – the shopping soundtrack – is capable of transforming perceptions of the environment in which it is heard, and eliciting immediate emotional and behavioural responses, thus underlining the influence of music, regardless of whether it is passively heard as a background element or actively listened to as a live performance in a dedicated venue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study addresses a gap in the marketing literature for introspective research evaluating the experience of music in service environments. It draws upon auto‐ethnographic data through which participants ponder their own consumption experience and provide detailed, subjective accounts of events and memories.

Findings

When considering the effects of music upon emotional, cognitive and behavioural responses, it highlights the importance of musicscape response moderators.

Practical implications

The service environment appears more exciting and attractive and may encourage increased spending when background music is congruous with other servicescape elements. Music with positive autobiographical resonance elicits pleasurably nostalgic emotions, positive evaluations and longer stay. However, the aural incongruity of unexpected silence in music‐free zones produces feelings of discomfort leading to negative store evaluation and departure.

Originality/value

Qualitative data are deliberately represented using typically positivist discourse to encourage resolution of the inherent tension between interpretivist and positivist perspectives and stimulate increased methodological integration (e.g. through future studies of music combining quantitative and qualitative data).
Networking enablers, constraints and dynamics: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Kim Sowon
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how individuals network and develop instrumental relationships, focusing in particular on what enables and what constrains individuals' networking attempts.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative methodology. A total of 30 semi‐structured interviews with managers were conducted and analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Findings

Access opportunities, positive perceptions, and compatible interests enable networking, whereas the absence or cessation of common interests constrains it. Furthermore, this paper sheds light on the iterative aspect of networking.

Research limitations/implications

Individuals' ability to recall networking experiences and social desirability bias might have influenced the single‐sourced data.

Practical implications

Networking is a complex career strategy that develops in conjunction with potential sponsors for which there is a need to focus on others and iteratively network from the start of one's career.

Originality/value

This qualitative study contributes to the growing body of research on networking and is the first to have identified what facilitates and what hinders networking attempts. It also integrates a dynamic perspective on developing relationships with potential sponsors.
Do‐it‐yourself
Authors: Ouweneel Else , Le Blanc Pascale M. , Schaufeli Wilmar B.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of an individual oriented positive psychology intervention on positive emotions, self‐efficacy, and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The online self‐enhancement intervention program consists of three types of online assignments: happiness assignments, goal setting assignments, and resource building assignments. The authors expected the self‐enhancement intervention group to show a significantly stronger increase in the outcome variables compared to a self‐monitoring control group.

Findings

The results revealed that the self‐enhancement group showed a stronger increase in positive emotions and self‐efficacy compared to the control group, but not on engagement. Additional analyses showed that the positive effects of the self‐enhancement intervention are present for employees who are initially low in engagement, but not for those medium or high in engagement.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted via a semi‐public web site. The participants were all working in different organizations throughout the country and did not have the advantage of having the support of their supervisors and colleagues who were participating in a similar intervention.

Practical implications

Positive psychology interventions should target employees who are low in engagement, because they have the most unused potential and therefore have more to gain.

Originality/value

Traditionally speaking, individual interventions are carried out when something is wrong or malfunctioning, and with the sole objective of fixing it. The intervention presented in this paper includes the entire workforce, because it is based on the belief that improving employee well‐being is relevant for all.
Our bodies, our minds, our men: working South Asian women
Authors: Pio Edwina , Syed Jawad
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper is a guest editorial piece in the Special Issue of theGender in Managementjournal on “Gender equality at work in South Asia”. In this paper, the authors aim not only to introduce the papers selected for the Special Issue but also to offer an overview of the current state of female employment, economic activity and gender equality at work in countries in South Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers a review of extant literature and macro‐economic data on gender equality in employment and management in South Asia.

Findings

Four stories emerge: firstly the pervasive existence of structural and institutional barriers such as patriarchal ideologies reinforced by gender inegalitarian interpretations of holy texts; secondly women's limited access to education and skill development; thirdly lack of non‐agricultural employment and economic resources resulting in economic dependence on men and sex‐based division of labour; and fourthly the development and joy of agency where there is facilitation and nurturance of women.

Originality/value

This Special Issue is probably the first ever collection of journal articles focused on gender equality at work in the South Asia region.
A blind spot in organization studies: gender with ethnicity, nationality and religion
Authors: Riza Arifeen Shehla , Gatrell Caroline
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make a case for empirical research for British Pakistani managerial and professional women, a group who have remained invisible in organization studies; to give voice to their experiences, to highlight the issues and challenges they are facing as women who have careers, their perceptions of what they are and how they have reached where they are and where do they think they would be going while taking an all‐inclusive view of the historical/social/culture/religious context.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper undertakes a comprehensive re‐examination of the intersectional approach. An approach of gender with ethnicity and with religion and nationality or diaspora is suggested, in order to capture identities and focuses on relationship between gender and other categories of difference, in particular gender.

Findings

A review of race/ethnicity in organization studies in the UK reveals the homogenizing of ethnicities and a gap, as there is a lack of focused research on a large ethnic group in the United Kingdom. The paper then argues for intersectionality as being the most valid method as a means of analysis of a complex phenomenon, as it bridges partly the theoretical gap between critical theory and liberalism or deconstructionist tradition.

Originality/value

Empirical research on this marginalized group of women will highlight the structures and systems that are created and maintained. These may be self‐created and self‐perpetuated, but unless and until voice has been given to their experiences they will remain unknown.
Supply chain drivers that foster the development of green initiatives in an emerging economy
Authors: Hsu Chin‐Chun , Choon Tan Keah , Hanim Mohamad Zailani Suhaiza , Jayaraman Vaidyanathan
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Sustainability and environmental issues are among the most pressing concerns for modern humanity, governments and environmentally conscious business organizations. Green supply chain management has been acknowledged as a key factor to promote organizational sustainability. Green supply chain management is evolving into an important approach for organizations in emerging economies to manage their environmental responsibility. Yet, despite their importance for easing environmental degradation and providing economic benefits, study of the drivers that influence green supply chain initiatives in an emerging economy is still an under‐researched area. Using survey data collected from ISO 14001 certified organizations from Malaysia, the purpose of this paper is to propose that the drivers that motivate firms to adopt green supply chain management can be measured by a second‐order construct related to the implementation of the firm's green supply chain initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation model was used to analyze a set of survey data to validate the research hypotheses.

Findings

The research reveals four crucial drivers of green supply chain adoption that collectively affect a firm's green purchasing, design‐for‐environment and reverse logistics initiatives. This study uncovers several crucial relationships between green supply chain drivers and initiatives among Malaysian manufacturers.

Originality/value

The role of the drivers is crucial in motivating these firms to adopt green supply chain initiatives and facilitate their adoption. Firms in emerging countries need to realize that green supply chain initiatives can result in significant benefits to their firms, environment, and the society at large which gives them additional incentives to adopt these initiatives.
An exploration of trust and shared values in UK defence supply networks
Authors: Tatham Peter
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a “line of sight” between improved military capability through supply network effectiveness to trust and shared values, and test the proposition that the effectiveness of the UK's military supply network (SN) will reflect the extent of the shared values within that network.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a three unit case study, the extent of the shared values is tested using a computer aided text analysis technique and an amended version of the Kuhn and McPartland Twenty Statements Test.

Findings

The research was unable to demonstrate alignment between higher levels of shared values and SN effectiveness. This may reflect the marked differences between commercial SNs which incorporate an assumption of near total elasticity of supply and aim at “on time in full” delivery, and their military counterparts which, not least for budgetary constraint reasons, do not have the same drivers of performance.

Research limitations/implications

Further investigation should be undertaken to examine the generalisability of the research findings both within the UK and internationally.

Practical implications

The research underlines the caution that should be exercised when attempting to migrate commercial SN management thinking to a military environment.

Originality/value

Notwithstanding the vast sums expended on the provision of defence logistics, there is only very limited consideration of how best to achieve the appropriate balance between efficiency (low cost – especially in peacetime) and effectiveness (life saving – especially in war). This research offers some early insights using two novel techniques that represent valuable alternative means of understanding the impact of issues such as trust and shared values within SNs.
Operational defense sourcing: organizing military logistics in Afghanistan
Authors: Davids Christiaan , Beeres Robert , van Fenema Paul C.
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to present a study on the organization of military logistics under “hot” conditions in an expeditionary crisis response operation. The authors' main research question is: in what way is armed forces logistics sourcing organized in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan?

Design/methodology/approach

To answer their research question, the authors conducted a case study including field research at military sites in Afghanistan. The case study is focused on military organizations that operate in a hostile and ambiguous environment. The authors compare sourcing of three categories of support services, i.e. facilities management, maintenance & logistics and security.

Findings

The authors' results include a systematic overview of the organization of command, logistic and accounting (sourcing) in the ISAF mission, involving multinational military partners and contractors. Second, the authors show how Canada, NATO, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA sourced the three categories of services mentioned in terms of sourcing profiles. Focusing on contracting, the authors outline which strategies NATO and the countries mentioned used in practice. And finally, differences and similarities are highlighted in the area of funding and accounting.

Research limitations/implications

While the authors' study provides insight in the use of sourcing profiles identified in this paper, more research is necessary to identify criteria for explaining sourcing decisions of armed forces.

Practical implications

The paper provides a systematic overview for practitioners and scholars and enhances manageability and policy development relevant for those who prepare, execute, monitor and evaluate missions.

Originality/value

The authors' paper is one of the first to provide a systematic overview in operational defense sourcing relying on first‐hand field data. This area of study is fragmented and remains mostly closed for non‐military researchers.
How to supply a frigate
Authors: Listou Tore
Published: May 2013

Purpose

When deploying a frigate to the Gulf of Aden as a part of the Operation Atalanta, the Norwegian Defence outsourced logistics to a TPL provider. The purpose of this paper is to explore the cooperation between the Defence and the TPL provider during the operation.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative design was chosen. Semi‐structured interviews were combined with relevant secondary sources. A theoretical framework formed the basis for the interviews.

Findings

No long‐term history existed between the parties before the cooperation, and no psychological contracts between individuals at tactical levels were made beforehand. Yet the cooperation was a success. It seems that this to a large degree depended on the individuals assigned to the project.

Research limitations/implications

The research highlights the need to address not only how to design physical supply structures but also how to ensure adequate levels of collaborative competence within civil‐military project groups. Further research is needed to investigate how to embed key suppliers in Defence logistics structures and how supply chains for short‐term, limited deployments impact on logistics arrangements for the permanent structure of the Defence.

Practical implications

This research gives the Norwegian Defence valuable knowledge about how to collaborate with commercial logistics providers.

Originality/value

This research highlights challenges when embedding suppliers into military supply chains. This is of importance not just when supplying deployed forces but also when considering supplier integration, e.g. through PPP and PBL.
Capturing strategic competences: cloud security as a case study
Authors: Shi Mingtao
Published: May 2013

Purpose

This paper intends to propose a concept for capturing the strategically important competences of a firm.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study accompanies the development of the concept advanced in this paper. The case study relies on project findings within the context of cloud security in the health, banking and telecommunications industries.

Findings

The strategic competences of a firm can be recognised effectively when managers follow the sequential steps “elicit‐solve‐categorise‐formulate‐map‐prioritise‐conduct” as an analysis instrument. Different patterns of action are required for treating the competences identified, according to their strategic significance.

Research limitations/implications

Scholars are invited to improve the proposed concept and enrich it with more empirical cases or data.

Practical implications

The concept suggested in this paper may serve as a basis for managers to pursue durable advantages by recognising and embarking on strategic competences.

Originality/value

Competences are commonly acknowledged as sources to achieve sustained competitive advantage for firms. Many authors have commented on the properties that competences must possess in order to be strategic. Few, however, have discussed the potential of a more general concept for capturing and treating strategically important competences. A structured framework is therefore suggested in this study.
What do people study when they study Twitter? Classifying Twitter related academic papers
Authors: Williams Shirley A. , Terras Melissa M. , Warwick Claire
Published: May 2013

Purpose

Since its introduction in 2006, messages posted to the microblogging system Twitter have provided a rich dataset for researchers, leading to the publication of over a thousand academic papers. This paper aims to identify this published work and to classify it in order to understand Twitter based research.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly the papers on Twitter were identified. Secondly, following a review of the literature, a classification of the dimensions of microblogging research was established. Thirdly, papers were qualitatively classified using open coded content analysis, based on the paper's title and abstract, in order to analyze method, subject, and approach.

Findings

The majority of published work relating to Twitter concentrates on aspects of the messages sent and details of the users. A variety of methodological approaches is used across a range of identified domains.

Research limitations/implications

This work reviewed the abstracts of all papers available via database search on the term “Twitter” and this has two major implications: the full papers are not considered and so works may be misclassified if their abstract is not clear; publications not indexed by the databases, such as book chapters, are not included. The study is focussed on microblogging, the applicability of the approach to other media is not considered.

Originality/value

To date there has not been an overarching study to look at the methods and purpose of those using Twitter as a research subject. The paper's major contribution is to scope out papers published on Twitter until the close of 2011. The classification derived here will provide a framework within which researchers studying Twitter related topics will be able to position and ground their work.
“Even in an age of wonders”: radio as an information resource in 1920s America
Authors: Crawford‐Franklin Christopher , Robinson Lyn
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The paper aims to analyse the development of broadcast radio in the USA during the 1920 s, focusing on the legislative and regulatory background, considering the broadcasting spectrum, programme content, and nature of radio as an information resource at that time.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of primary materials, and of recent secondary materials, is carried out.

Findings

The legislative and regulatory framework failed to take note of the unique attributes of information resources, and attempted to treat them in the same manner as more traditional resources. Records of the early days of USA radio are very limited. More positively, radio information resources played a major part in developing several aspects of society, including education, agriculture, and jazz culture.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows lessons for development of current information society. The research is limited to one communication medium, in one country, in one decade. It is not a full historical analysis of the development of radio broadcasting, rather it is limited to information resource aspects, largely of public sector broadcasting.

Originality/value

The paper is the first study of the early development of radio broadcasting from an information perspective. It shows the value of the “information‐as‐resource” model for analysing developments in the communication of information.
Fallout and miss in journal peer review
Authors: Egghe L. , Bornmann Lutz
Published: May 2013

Purpose

The authors exploit the analogy between journal peer review and information retrieval in order to quantify some imperfections of journal peer review.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors define fallout rate and missing rate in order to describe quantitatively the weak papers that were accepted and the strong papers that were missed, respectively. To assess the quality of manuscripts the authors use bibliometric measures.

Findings

Fallout rate and missing rate are put in relation with the hitting rate and success rate. Conclusions are drawn on what fraction of weak papers will be accepted in order to have a certain fraction of strong accepted papers.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that these curves are new in peer review research when interpreted in the information retrieval terminology.
Essential and non‐essential interactions in interactome networks: the Escherichia coli division proteins FtsQ–FtsN interaction
Authors: Grenga L. , Rizzo A. , Paolozzi L. , Ghelardini P.
Published: May 2013

The Escherichia coli division protein FtsQ, which plays a central role in the septosome assembly, interacts with several protein partners of the division machinery. Its interaction with FtsB and FtsL allows the formation of the trimeric complex connecting the early cytoplasmic cell division proteins with the late, essentially periplasmic, ones. Little is known about the interactions that FtsQ contracts with other divisome components, besides the fact that all are localized in its periplasmic domain. In this domain, two independent subdomains, both involved in FtsQ, FtsI and FtsN interactions, were also identified. The study of FtsQ interaction‐defective mutants constituted a basis to investigate the biological significance of its interactions. However, in the case of interactions where two independent sites are involved, mutation(s) in one domain can be suppressed by the presence of the still‐functional second interaction region. To ascertain the biological role of these interactions, it is therefore necessary to select double mutants, where both sites are impaired. This paper describes the behaviour of FtsQ double mutants that have lost the ability to interact with FtsN, which is the last component in the hierarchy of divisome assembly, and is necessary to guarantee its stability and function.
Party Politicisation and the Formative Phase of Environmental Policy-Making in Multi-level Systems: Electoral Discourse in UK Meso-elections 1998–2011
Authors: Chaney Paul
Published: May 2013

Despite sustained public demand for parties to act, the environment has been subject to limited issue salience in UK state-wide elections. This article uses qualitative and quantitative methods to explore party politicisation of the environment in regional elections 1998–2011. Contrary to earlier suggestions, the present findings indicate that multi-level systems may facilitate increasing environmental issue salience at the meso level. In part this is a function of nationalist parties' prioritisation of the environment. Overall, electoral discourse is shown to have a key formative role in driving policy divergence owing to inter-polity and inter/intra-party contrasts in salience and framing. From a normative perspective this suggests that the pluralising effect of (quasi-)federalism has the potential to foster greater responsiveness in party programmes through enhanced choice for the environmental issue public. This is an outcome of the expansion of electoral politics following state decentralisation and associated party competition to advance distinctive proposals over rivals.
Tales of the Apolitical
Authors: Dean Jonathan
Published: May 2013

This article offers a critical analysis of how narratives of a generalised withdrawal from radical politics and activism circulate within contemporary political theory. In so doing, I use the term ‘narrations of apoliticality’ to highlight how such narratives have a fictive and performative dimension: they have, I argue, congealed into a widely held common sense (often buttressed by affects of pessimism, gloom and despair) and become curiously resistant to sustained empirical or theoretical scrutiny. Against this backdrop, the article has four specific aims. First, it maps the general contours of narrations of apoliticality; second, it highlights why narrations of apoliticality are potentially problematic; third – drawing on Lacanian notions of fantasy and Sara Ahmed's account of affect – it explores how the affectivity of such claims renders them sticky and intransigent; and finally, it offers some thoughts on how we might decentre narrations of apoliticality in our analyses of political activism.
Toward Myanmar's New Stage of Development: Transition from Military Rule to the Market
Authors: Mieno Fumiharu
Published: May 2013

The economic reforms implemented by the Thein Sein government face several challenges, some of which continue from the past military regime and some of which are new. The government is starting to overhaul institutions in order to obtain market‐based macroeconomic policy tools, which will possibly eliminate a long‐lasting fundamental cause of economic instability. One essential challenge is to design policies to encourage private capital, and to promote the agricultural and manufacturing sectors, which have already shown a high potential. At the same time, a regulatory framework and a well‐functioning financial system, which are essential to encourage private capital with market discipline, must be developed. A recent rise in natural resources exports created both a fiscal cushion and balance‐of‐payments surplus, which seems to have promoted reforms. However, the government should be aware that the recent favorable conditions may not last for a long future.
Regional Cooperation and Integration in the Mekong Region
Authors: Verbiest Jean‐Pierre A.
Published: May 2013

Over the past two decades, several regional cooperation programs were initiated by multilateral and bilateral donors to address concerns about the development gap in the Mekong subregion. Programs such as the Greater Mekong Subregion program of the Asian Development Bank and the Mekong–Japan Cooperation program focused first on improving physical connectivity through transport corridors, regional power development and grid connection, and telecommunications linkages, and were successful. However, as transport and trade facilitation became a priority, the weak institutional capacity of Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, and Vietnam resulted in a slow progress and is a major challenge to regional cooperation. Other challenges are the pressure on the use of Mekong water resources and the planned construction of mainstream dams, which could threaten the Mekong River Commission's role, the regional rivalry for energy sources, and the lack of attention to unskilled labor issues. The relations between Mekong regional cooperation programs and China are also a main issue to address if cooperation programs are not to become instruments of geopolitical rivalry.
Deconstructing the control of the spotted alfalfa aphid Therioaphis maculata
Authors: Gutierrez Andrew Paul , Ponti Luigi
Published: May 2013

The control of insect pests and other taxa may be a result of many factors that are difficult to separate and quantify. Introduced parasitoids, host plant resistance, pathogens and native predators led to the successful control of the spotted alfalfa aphid (SAA; Therioaphis maculata Monell) in California and elsewhere, although the relative contribution of each factor remained largely unknown.

The relative contribution of each control factor was estimated using a weather‐driven physiologically‐based demographic system model consisting of alfalfa, SAA, its three exotic parasitoids [Aphelinus semiflavus Howard, Praon palitans Muesebeck and Trioxys complanatus (Quilis)], a native coccinellid beetle [Hippodamia convergens (Guérin‐Menéville)], a fungal pathogen [Erynia neoaphidis Remaudière & Hennebert (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales)] and host plant resistance (HPR). Daily weather data for the period 1995–2006 from 142 locations in Arizona and California were used to drive the model.

The factors were introduced to the model singly or in combination to assess their effects in suppressing simulated SAA populations using SAA‐days m−2 year−1 (i.e. density) as the metric of control.

Data from selected runs were mapped using the geographic information system grass (http://grass.osgeo.org). The simulation data across all factor combinations, years and locations were summarized using linear multiple regression, with the dependent variable being log10 SAA‐days m−2 year−1 and the independent variables being the presence–absence (0, 1) of the various factors and their interactions. Marginal analysis of the regression model (∂y/∂xi) enabled separation of the average effects of the different factors (xi) given the average effects of the other factors.

Alone, each factor failed to control SAA, as did combinations of the parasitoids and coccinellid predation. Control was predicted across all ecological zones only when all mortality factors were included. The marginal analysis suggests that the order of importance of the mortality factors is HPR > coccinellid beetles > T. complanatus > P. palitans > A. semiflavus > the fungal pathogen. The variability of control by coccinellid beetles and the fungal pathogen was high and hence unreliable.
The prevalence and risk factors for psychological distress in older men and women affected by the Wenchuan, China earthquake
Authors: Cao Xiaoyi , Jiang Xiaolian , Pang Samantha , Li Sijian , Cheng Yijuan , Tian Lang
Published: May 2013

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychological distress in survivors aged 60 years old and older by sex and analyse risk factors for psychological distress in male and female older survivors 2 years after the Wenchuan earthquake.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study. Two hundred and fifty‐seven older people were involved and a multistage random sampling method was utilised. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors for psychological distress among older men and women.

Results

A higher prevalence of psychological distress was observed in older women than in older men. Loss of family members and displacement from pre‐earthquake residence were significant risk factors for psychological distress in older men. Significant risk factors for psychological distress in older women were low educational level, chronic diseases, loss of family members, and displacement from original residence.

Conclusions

Health‐care providers should develop gender‐based strategies to improve mental health among older survivors in a long‐term post‐disaster recovery programme.
Progressive mandibular midline deviation after difficult tracheal intubation
Authors: Mareque Bueno J. , Fernández‐Barriales M. , Morey‐Mas M. A. , Hernández‐Alfaro F.
Published: May 2013

We report condylar resorption of the temporomandibular joint after difficult intubation, leading to progressive midline mandibular deviation, subsequently treated by prosthetic joint replacement.
Sub‐threshold autism traits: The role of trait emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility
Authors: Gökçen Elif , Petrides Konstantinos V. , Hudry Kristelle , Frederickson Norah , Smillie Luke D.
Published: May 2013

Theory and research suggests that features of autism are not restricted to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and that autism‐like traits vary throughout the general population at lower severities. The present research first investigated the relationship of autism traits with trait emotional intelligence and empathy in a sample of 163 adults aged between 18 and 51 years (44% male). It then examined performance on a set of tasks assessing social cognition and cognitive flexibility in 69 participants with either high or low scores on ASD traits. Results confirm that there is pronounced variation within the general population relating to ASD traits, which reflect similar (though less severe) social‐cognitive and emotional features to those observed in ASDs.
Genetic polymorphisms in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MPs (TIMPs), and bladder cancer susceptibility
Authors: Wieczorek Edyta , Reszka Edyta , Jablonowski Zbigniew , Jablonska Ewa , Beata Krol Magdalena , Grzegorczyk Adam , Gromadzinska Jolanta , Sosnowski Marek , Wasowicz Wojciech
Published: May 2013

Objectives

To elucidate genetic polymorphisms of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP1 (rs1799750), MMP2 (rs243865), MMP9 (rs3918242), MMP12 (rs2276109) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) TIMP1 (rs2070584) and TIMP3 (rs9619311) genes that may be involved in susceptibility to bladder cancer (BC).

Patients and Methods

We enrolled 241 patients with BC and 199 controls.

Genomic DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood and polymorphisms were analysed by high‐resolution melting analysis and by real‐time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan fluorescent probes.

Results

Of the six evaluated polymorphisms of MMPs and TIMPs, only one was found to be associated with BC risk.

There was a significant difference for MMP1 (rs1799750) 2G/1G+1G/1G genotype (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39–0.98; P = 0.042). Additionally, there was a joint effect of this genotype on BC risk among ‘ever smokers’ (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28–0.89; P = 0.019), but not in ‘never smokers’.

The combined genotype MMP2 –1306C/T (rs243865) allele T with MMP9 –1562C/T (rs3918242) allele T was found to increase BC risk (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.10–3.62; P = 0.022).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that genetic variations in five polymorphisms of MMPs and TIMPs are not associated with a high risk of BC.

Only MMP1 polymorphism may be related to the risk of BC, notably in ‘ever smokers’.

Our study suggests that the effects of polymorphisms of MMPs and TIMPs on BC risk deserve further investigation.