bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Criteria of Punishment: Some Neglected Considerations
Authors: Kasachkoff Tziporah
Published: November 2014

Discussion concerning the meaning and analysis of “punishment” has centered, in large measure, on claims for a logical connection between “punishment” and “guilt.” However, more and more in the literature focus has shifted from guilt as the defining feature of “punishment” to guilt as only one of many constitutive conditions satisfaction of which is necessary for standard cases with allowance made for other correct, though secondary, uses of the term.
Facts and Empirical Truth
Authors: Suppe Frederick
Published: November 2014

Recently a number of philosophers (e.g. Feyerabend and Kuhn) have maintained that the meanings of terms in a scientific language are “theory-laden” or determined by the theory in which they occur, and thus that if the same term (e.g.; ‘mass’) occurs in different theories, it will take on different meanings in the different theories; so the theories are incommensurable. An often-stated corollary to this doctrine is the claim that possessors of different theories cannot express or possess the same facts since they attach different meanings to the terms used to give expression to the facts. Various attacks against this extreme doctrine on the relativity of facts have been mounted. Some of them consist in showing defective the argument advanced in support of this doctrine; but such criticisms at best show that the defenses offered for the doctrine are defective, not that the doctrine itself is defective.
Power and Causal Possibility
Authors: Walton Douglas
Published: November 2014

In ‘Can and Might’ (this Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, September, 1971, pp. 87–92), Professor K. W. Rankin has presented three arguments that purport to refute the equivalence (E), ‘A (an action) is causally possible for P (a person) if and only if A is within P's power’. The first two arguments are attributed to Richard Taylor (Action and Purpose, Prentice-Hall, 1966, pp. 53–59), and the third is Professor Rankin's own. I will argue that none of these three arguments effectively refutes the above equivalence. My arguments are not to be construed as simply a rebuttal of Professor Rankin's paper since (a) he also appears to have some doubts about Taylor's arguments and (b) I refrain from comment on other aspects of his paper except these three arguments. I conclude with some general remarks on (E).
Would Survival Have to be Survival of an Astral Body? A Reply to Professor Flew
Authors: Smook Roger
Published: November 2014

One of the conclusions reached by Antony Flew in his interesting paper “Is There a Case for Disembodied Survival?” is that “if there is to be a case for individual and personal survival, what survives must be some sort of astral body.” In the present paper I shall investigate whether he is really justified, on the basis of the arguments he presents, in drawing this conclusion.
Tractatus 2.0201-2.0212
Authors: Gustason William
Published: November 2014

It is generally agreed that these passages are among the most important to be found in the Tractatus; they give the gist of Wittgenstein 's argument for his atomistic ontology as well as the crucial notion of propositional analysis. It is surprising therefore that most discussions of these entries are cursory and fail to set out the argument in detail.
Probabilistic Semantics, Identity and Belief
Authors: Seager William
Published: November 2014

The goal of standard semantics is to provide truth conditions for the sentences of a given language. Probabilistic Semantics does not share this aim; it might be said instead, if rather cryptically, that Probabilistic Semantics aims to provide belief conditions.

The central and guiding idea of Probabilistic Semantics is that each rational individual has ‘within’ him or her a personal subjective probability function. The output of the function when given a certain sentence as input represents the degree of likelihood which the individual would assign to that sentence. One can characterize these functions via a set of axioms, and in the terms of this defined structure develop probabilistic analogues of all important semantical notions (e.g. validity, entailment). Then, dealing with ‘being given probability 1’ instead of ‘truth,’ one can proceed to give a completely adequate semantics for the particular language under consideration. The axioms delimiting the class of probability functions are, in fact, chosen with this goal and language in mind.
Comments on Professor Card's Critique
Authors: Brandt R.B.
Published: November 2014

Professor Card is not disposed to object to the main argument of my paper, which was intended to reply to Professor Lyons’ suggestion that a utilitarian cannot explain how legal rights have moral force, and at the same time to urge that the particular form of utilitarianism espoused by Professor Hare in his recent work does seem to be open to the difficulty Professor Lyons alleges. Professor Card says she is ‘not dissatisfied’ with this reasoning. I suspect that Card views my criticism of Professors Lyons and Hare as part of an in-house squabble among philosophers all of whom have utilitarian leanings of one sort or another; and she is not disposed to intervene in this. She does, however, have serious reservations about utilitarian views of rights in general, and about mine in particular; her paper consists almost entirely of her statement of these reservations. I find her remarks very welcome, since they express some objections which may be widely felt, and a response to which may therefore contribute to philosophers’ thinking about these issues.
Sorting Out Sorites
Authors: March Peter
Published: November 2014

Let Hn stand for an assembly of n grains of salt. Then the paradox of Sorites may be presented this way:

H10,000 is a heap. p

If H10,000 is a heap then H10,000-1 is a heap. p

H9,999 is a heap. MP

H9,999 is a heap then H9,999-1 is a heap. P

19998. If H2 is a heap then H2-1 is a heap. P

19999. H1 is a heap. MP

20000. H1 is not a heap. P

20001. H1 is and is not a heap. Con

A more significant example of the argument results where Ht stands for a human being (h.b.) at time t (in seconds) where t=O is the present and the human being is one year old.
Violence and nationalist mobilization: the onset of the Kurdish insurgency in Turkey
Authors: Tezcür Güneş Murat
Published: November 2014

According to theories of nonviolent resistance, violence is counterproductive and undermines the ability of a movement to achieve mass support. At the same time, studies of ethnic insurgencies suggest that violence is the only available method of mobilization in political systems characterized by entrenched ethnic hierarchies. Engaging with these arguments, this article addresses a historical puzzle: What factors explain the timing and ability of the PKK's (Partiye Karkerên Kurdistan) rise as the hegemonic Kurdish nationalist organization in Turkey between the late 1970s and 1990? The article argues that studies that identify Kurdish nationalism as a reaction to repressive policies of the Turkish state without paying attention to prevailing social conditions and oppositional strategies fail to provide a satisfactory response. It argues that the rise of the PKK was primarily a function of its ability to gain support among the peasantry in deeply unequal rural areas through its strategic employment of violence. It also identifies four causal mechanisms of PKK recruitment based on rich archival and field research: credibility, revenge, social mobility, and gender emancipation.
Common cues to emotion in the dynamic facial expressions of speech and song
Authors: Livingstone Steven R. , Thompson William F. , Wanderley Marcelo M. , Palmer Caroline
Published: November 2014

Speech and song are universal forms of vocalization that may share aspects of emotional expression. Research has focused on parallels in acoustic features, overlooking facial cues to emotion. In three experiments, we compared moving facial expressions in speech and song. In Experiment 1, vocalists spoke and sang statements each with five emotions. Vocalists exhibited emotion-dependent movements of the eyebrows and lip corners that transcended speech–song differences. Vocalists’ jaw movements were coupled to their acoustic intensity, exhibiting differences across emotion and speech–song. Vocalists’ emotional movements extended beyond vocal sound to include large sustained expressions, suggesting a communicative function. In Experiment 2, viewers judged silent videos of vocalists’ facial expressions prior to, during, and following vocalization. Emotional intentions were identified accurately for movements during and after vocalization, suggesting that these movements support the acoustic message. Experiment 3 compared emotional identification in voice-only, face-only, and face-and-voice recordings. Emotion judgements for voice-only singing were poorly identified, yet were accurate for all other conditions, confirming that facial expressions conveyed emotion more accurately than the voice in song, yet were equivalent in speech. Collectively, these findings highlight broad commonalities in the facial cues to emotion in speech and song, yet highlight differences in perception and acoustic-motor production.
Falsirhodobacter deserti sp. nov., isolated from sandy soil
Authors: Wang Lin , Zhou Zhengfu , Wu Gang , Chen Ming , Lin Min , Zhang Wei , Chen Wuling
Published: November 2014

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, heterotrophic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain W402T, was isolated from an enrichment culture of a Tamarix ramosissima rhizosphere soil sample from the Xinjiang desert in the PR China. Analysis of the almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate was phylogenetically related to a species of the genus

Falsirhodobacter

, having a close relationship to

Falsirhodobacter halotolerans

JA744T (97 % similarity). However, DNA–DNA relatedness between W402T and

F. halotolerans

JA744T was 43.2±1.2 %. Strain W402T grew in 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl. The temperature and pH ranges for growth were 10–40 °C and pH 5.5–10.0, respectively. Optimal growth occurred at 1–3 % (w/v) NaCl, 30 °C and pH 7.0. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c, 61.4 %), C18 : 0 (9.8 %) and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c (8.2 %). The major quinone of strain W402T was Q-10. Phosphatidylethanolamine was predominant in the polar lipid profile. The DNA G+C content of strain W402T was 67.3 mol%. Taken together, these results confirm that W402T represents a novel species of the genus

Falsirhodobacter

, for which the name Falsirhodobacter deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W402T ( = ACCC 05851T = KCTC 32408T).
Scanning of two-dimensional space groups
Authors: Litvin Daniel B.
Published: November 2014

Tables of the scanning of two-dimensional space groups are presented to determine the frieze-group symmetry of lines that transect two-dimensional crystals. It is shown how these tables can be used to predict the (001) projection symmetries of migration-related segments of coincidence site lattice tilt boundaries with [001] tilt axis.
Impact of financial capability on firms’ competitiveness and sustainability
Authors: Fonseka M.M. , Tian Gao-liang , Li Liu-chuang
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of different sources of external financing and internal financial capabilities on competitiveness and sustainability. This paper also studies the nature of their relationships related to regulations on external financing in Chinese capital market.

Design/methodology/approach

– Resource- and industry-based views provide a theoretical background. Based on balanced panel of 4,530 firm-year observations, hierarchical regressions were used to examine the research model.

Findings

– Results support the idea that the strict Chinese regulatory regime allows some firms to access capital and debt markets for financing more than others. It was found that firms’ internal financing abilities do not offer a significant advantage compared to external financing abilities; firms’ abilities to raise capital from existing shareholders, the public and easy access to bank financing are related positively for an advantage on firm’s competitiveness within a industry. Firms with the ability to offer shares to existing shareholders, issue non-convertible and convertible bonds and access to bank financing are sustainable in long-run.

Research limitations/implications

– This study focuses on sources of financial capability of Chinese listed firm impact on competitiveness and sustainability. It is context specific to a regulated market. Hence, it is necessary to replicate this study in other contexts.

Practical implications

– Implications include the need to mobilize external financial resources for small and privately-owned firms and to further reform security regulations to ensure fair competition and sustainability.

Originality/value

– The authors originally investigate the effect of sources of financial capability impact on firms’ competitiveness and sustainability in a regulated market. The paper explains the relationships, and enhances the understanding of regulated capital market and existing literature.
National Palace Museum and service innovations
Authors: Tsaih Rua-Huan , Lin James Quo-Ping , Chang Yu-Chien
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Service innovation, ICT-enabled services, museum, cultural and creative industries.

Study level/applicability

Graduate-level courses of “Innovation Management,” “Service Innovation,” or “Cultural and Creative Industries”.

Case overview

In 2006, the National Palace Museum (NPM) in Taipei, Taiwan, announced its new vision “Reviving the Charm of an Ancient Collection and Creating New values for Generations to Come”. In recent years, the NPM has been shifting its operational focus from being object-oriented to being public-centered, and the museum has held not only the physical forms of artifacts and documents but also their digital images and metadata. These changes would inject new life into historical artifacts. In addition, archives as its collections would be given a refreshingly new image to the public and become connected with people's daily lives. Among these endeavors for displaying historical artifacts online and prevailing Chinese culture in the modern age, the key issues are related to digital technology applications and service innovations. The service innovations would be further divided into information and communication technologies (ICT)-enabled ones and non-ICT-enabled ones. These shifts clearly claim that adopting digital technologies and innovative services can bring positive impacts to the museum. The NPM administrative team wants to keep infusing life into ancient artifacts and texts, sustaining curiosities of the public for Chinese culture and history, and invoking their interests to visit the NPM in person. However, to develop for the future while reviewing the past, the NPM administrative team has to meditate on the next steps in terms of implementation of service innovations.

Expected learning outcomes

Students will learn motivations of digital establishment and service innovations from the organization perspective and the necessities of technological implementation. Students will understand the difference in innovations between ICT-enabled services and non-ICT-enabled services. Students would be able to understand the process of developing a new service. Students will be aware of challenges the organization would face in developing a new service.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Flipkart: journey of an Indian e-commerce start-up
Authors: Dutta Nirankush , Bhat Anil K.
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Principles of management, Marketing, Finance, Strategy, Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship.

Study level/applicability

Master's Degree level courses, after students have been taught most of the basics related to management, marketing, finance, strategy, supply chain management and entrepreneurship.

Case overview

Founded in 2007 with an initial investment of less than USA $10,000, Flipkart has come a long way to become the largest E-commerce player in India with a registered user base of 9.6 million and valued at USA $1.6 billion. Efficient use of various marketing strategies has catapulted the company to its success. Till now, they have overcome most of the hurdles successfully. However, a lot needs to be discussed to find out ways to meet the challenges thrown by its competitors, to maintain its supremacy over other online e-retailers and continue its exponential growth to meet USA $1 billion sales by 2015.

Expected learning outcomes

After discussion of the case study, the student should be able to appreciate general business processes and develop basic analytical skills to resolve challenges faced by a fast-growing online start-up company in an emerging country like India. At the end, the students should be able to prepare a marketing plan for their own business within a stipulated budget.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Achieving E-commerce benefits in a garment manufacturing firm
Authors: Boateng Richard
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Enterprise, Strategy

Study level/applicability

This case study documents the history of e-commerce adoption and usage in a fabric and garment manufacturing firm operating in an African country. Lessons drawn from the case could be applied to understanding the achievement of e-commerce benefits through the complex interrelationships between firm-level, national and global resources.

Case overview

The case study presents a summary of e-commerce capabilities in the firm, the key resources developed and actions taken to deploy e-commerce capabilities and the notable benefits obtained through these e-commerce capabilities. The study shows that, first, the ability to access information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure matters in developing countries, but managerial capabilities matter more. Managerial capabilities enable firms to find external resources (both in-country and globally) to substitute for internal resource deficiencies. Second, intangible social resources – trust, reputation and credibility – play a critical role in determining whether the e-commerce strategies of firms are successful or not.

Expected learning outcomes

An understanding of how managerial capabilities influence the creation of e-commerce capabilities and the achievement of e-commerce benefits, especially in an African or Ghanaian context. Learners can also draw lessons that could be applicable to understanding how a firm's strategic orientation, resource portfolio and the nature of its target market differentiate the extent of integration or adoption and usage of e-commerce in the firm.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Nuru International: empowering farmers to fight extreme poverty
Authors: Dzharova Hristina Kostadinova , Gupta Sudheer
Published: November 2014

Subject area

Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Study level/applicability

The case is suitable for graduate (MSc, MBA) and advanced undergraduate (BSc, BAs) students and applicable for course material focusing on social entrepreneurship, social ventures, strategic management, sustainable development and emerging markets.

Case overview

This case explores Nuru International, a non-profit enterprise established in 2008 with the mission to “end extreme poverty throughout the world”. Jake Harriman, the founder and CEO of NURU, together with his team are on the onset of diversifying crop offerings among Kenyan farmers in an attempt to alleviate challenges stemming from severe climatic changes and low-crop quality. As 2014 is the first year for Kenyan farmers to grow alternative crops, the Nuru team faces the challenging task of convincing farmers to embrace diversification. Additionally, as part of its proof of concept philosophy, Nuru is establishing operations in Ethiopia. There, Nuru has to identify best marketable crops and promote these among Ethiopian farmers while empowering and engaging local leaders in the process. Finally, the team is looking for financing opportunities for Nuru's entrepreneurial mission. Their funding opportunities come from the private markets, the philanthropic market and the impact investing space. They are carefully analyzing these options and looking for alternatives in capital markets. Pondering on Nuru's rewarding experience with KIVA, a Web-based lending platform, the team wonders if crowdfunding may be a viable option to finance Nuru's operations in Ethiopia. They are interested in equity crowdfunding but are not sure what might be the associated opportunities and risks. They, therefore, need to assess the merits of the practice and decide on how compelling it is for Nuru's expansion plans to Ethiopia.

Expected learning outcomes

The case aims to help students comprehend the role of hybrid organizational designs in meeting broad societal issues such as extreme poverty; evaluate collective impact initiatives in addressing strategic and behavioral changes for organizations operating in contexts of extreme poverty where partnerships are the key for success; assess diverse capital steams for social entrepreneurs and understand how these relate to the stages of evolution of a social venture; and elaborate on crowdfunding as a nascent source of capital for social enterprises.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Body image and body work among older women: a review
Authors: E. Marshall Catherine , O. Lengyel Christina , H. Menec Verena
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on body image and aging among older women. Using existing qualitative research, this paper explores how aging affects body image and how women respond to body image issues as they age.

Design/methodology/approach

– Multiple databases were used to locate original and review articles on the topics of body image and aging, with a target population of women ages 60 years and older. The findings of the literature search were compiled, summarized and sorted to create themes.

Findings

– Women struggle with body image issues throughout their lives. Women tend to perceive age-related changes in appearance negatively, as a threat to their identity and social value. This is due, in part, to the sociocultural environment, which pressures women to “fight” aging and maintain an ideal (young and thin) image at all costs. Some women do come to terms with their aging body and report increased self-acceptance with age. However, others turn to various forms of body work (e.g. dieting, hair dye, makeup) in order to maintain their value in an appearance-based society.

Practical implications

– Poor body image can affect older women's emotional, psychological and physical health and overall well-being. Health care professionals, community workers and policy makers need to be made aware of these issues so that they can respond appropriately.

Originality/value

– There has been limited research exploring body image among older women. This paper identifies gaps in the literature and suggests avenues for future research in this area.
Freeing the slaves from our supply chains
Authors: Pollitt Michael
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to ask how much forced labor and trafficking have changed since the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and whether businesses and governments are taking adequate measures to remove slavery from international supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

– It looks at three of the most high-profile slavery cases in the past four years and asks whether modern manifestations of slavery are any different from the traditional forms we associate with the colonial governments of the eighteenth century. It sets out the latest theories behind the unexpected increase in forced labor. It also addresses the scope, successes and shortfalls of three anti-slavery enactments proposed in the past four years, to ask how much is being done to fully update international labor laws and why certain efforts could prove insufficient.

Practical implications

– It points out that the government of California and the International Labor Organization have successfully implemented rigorous and savvy anti-slavery laws, but the UK has yet to produce a draft Bill that would put British anti-slavery efforts in the appropriate international context.

Social implications

– It argues that international corporations must acknowledge that many of the countries in which they operate lack the institutional capacity to enforce the rule of law, so the responsibility to uphold modern-day standards often rests with the businesses themselves.

Originality/value

– It argues that existing international anti-slavery conventions have failed to suppress the slave-trade boom because they do not reflect the shift in economic control from governments to the private sector and its trans-national network of supply chains.
Toyota falls foul of caste system
Authors: Pollitt David
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The paper aims to analyze the cross-cultural reasons underlying the extreme industrial unrest experienced during the first seven years of Toyota’s operations in India.

Design/methodology/approach

– It draws on information obtained from 30 personal interviews, field notes, observations and Internet media sources.

Findings

– It reports how Toyotism shares three common features with Brahminism – renunciation, performance and perfection – and how antipathy toward the manner in which these features were implemented in India caused significant resistance among the production workforce.

Practical implications

– It suggests that management seeking to implement lean manufacturing in India should concentrate on minimizing the antipathy by production workers.

Social implications

– It helps to show how employee relations, unrest and antagonism toward lean-manufacturing practices are closely related to cross-cultural issues prevalent in host countries.

Originality/value

– It considers that the concept of Brahmanism in Indian employee relations is under-researched in comparison with other aspects of Indian culture, and antipathy toward the concept as a source of resistance to the implementation of lean systems needs to be better understood.
Micron trust is like strawberry pie
Authors: Pollitt David
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The paper aims to investigate the relationship between employees’ trust toward a company and their commitment to it. It questions if certain levels of trust presented in each department at Micron Technology, Italy, are interrelated with the levels of commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– It reveals that a survey at Micron Technology Italy was conducted. Of the 1,580 employees who received the questionnaire, 892 responses were collected, resulting in a 56.46 per cent response rate.

Findings

– It shows that for departments where trust values are below 6.8, the commitment level follows the trust value: there is a positive relation between these two factors. However, departments where employee trust reaches values higher than 6.8 are not reciprocated by a proportional commitment level that tends to reach a’satisfaction point’.

Practical implications

– Advances the view that, since commitment does not seem to continuously increase, after a certain point, it is not cost-effective for a company to implement communication strategies aimed at increasing employee trust in a non-targeted way. The need for customized communication strategies emerges as does the importance of understanding internal communication as integrated with other human-resource management levers.

Social implications

– It argues that managers must communicate with their employees as honestly and directly as possible, particularly during uncertain times, and should encourage the employees’ participation in the decision-making process.

Originality/value

– It offers an original contribution to the ongoing discussion concerning employee engagement. Employees’ trust does not always lead to employee commitment behaviors inside the organization.
Websters wins gold for its people practices
Authors: Pollitt David
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to chart the journey to Investors in People gold of Cambridge-based tax, legal and accountancy company, Websters.

Design/methodology/approach

– It examines the firm’s policies and approaches, in particular, in the areas of training, teamwork, empowerment and flexible working.

Findings

– It emphasizes the importance of openness, mutual respect and shared values at the company.

Practical implications

– It reveals that employees set their own development programs, which need not be directly related to their role in the company, although they must benefit the business.

Social implications

– It explains how flexible working has been built into the structure of the company from the start.

Originality/value

– It describes how a successful business develops, supports and motivates its team.
The art and science of job satisfaction
Authors: Bandura Randall P , Lyons Paul R
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to review current information and research concerning job satisfaction in the workplace. It also provides a brief overview of what is generally and currently known about job satisfaction, personality and job satisfaction and workplace influences on job satisfaction and offers suggestions for practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

– It examines a large sample of research and opinion from the past several years.

Findings

– It reveals that there is much empirical research about individual job satisfaction, a considerable amount of which is situation-specific. Generalizations concerning research findings are difficult. There is, however, much reported data and statistics that give indications of why employees find satisfaction with work, colleagues and the organization. This information may provide some practical guidance for practitioners.

Practical implications

– It gives a broad overview and summary of recent research and opinion on job satisfaction that is not readily available in other sources.

Social implications

– It advises that, other things being equal, organizations should aim to recruit employees who are somewhat extraverted, conscientious, expressive of a belief in their skills and who demonstrate a positive disposition.

Originality/value

– It provides current information that may guide practice and policy development.
Polyphonous leadership and middle managers
Authors: Petri Stenvall Jari , Nyholm Inga , Rannisto Pasi-Heikki
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The middle manager's role in an organization is important. The purpose of this paper is to determine how middle managers understand their roles in managing changes from the perspective of polyphonous leadership. Polyphonous leadership can be described as something that inspires decisions by listening to multiple voices within the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– The empirical data were collected from focus groups in the City of Tampere. Participants were middle managers (n=5) at an organization providing services for young narcotic/alcoholic families and pregnant mothers. The interviewees were selected due to their assumed ability to discuss management issues and their awareness concerning the factors affecting their workers’ capacities. The second focus group was organized for May 2010 (n=5) and the third later on in May 2010 (n=7).

Findings

– In the Finnish context, middle managers understand polyphonous leadership as a process with a beginning and an end. The authors call this process the dominant narrative of polyphonous leadership, because there is a strong consensus amongst middle managers regarding it. In the first step, middle managers have to work as leaders of interaction. Second, they work as utilizers of diversity. In the third step, they act as decision makers and interpreters of polyphony. The final step gives them a role as conciliators of operating plans and personnel operations.

Originality/value

– There is not much discussion in the extant literature of how middle managers try to act as linking persons in public services infrastructures. The model of the dominant narrative on polyphonous leadership is new in the literature.
Capital requirements or pricing constraints?
Authors: Schlütter Sebastian
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the interaction between capital requirements and pricing constraints as measures for insurance regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

– In a theoretical model framework, the author derives the insurer’s shareholder-value-maximizing response to capital regulation, price regulation and the unregulated strategy as a benchmark; all three strategies are presented in an analytical form.

Findings

– The paper demonstrates that risk-based capital requirements exhibit an efficiency advantage over price regulation and allow for lower premiums. Moreover, the analysis identifies situations in which price floors make insurance more expensive, but have no positive impact on the safety level.

Practical implications

– The comparison between capital regulation and price floors provides policymakers with a methodology to evaluate which regulatory tool is more appropriate. Also, the article discusses that maximum discount rates for European life insurers could be ineffective when the new regulatory framework Solvency II is in place.

Originality/value

– In all, the article obtains analytical and informative results with relevant implications for insurance regulation.
Cross-cultural, values and ethics differences and similarities between the US and Asian countries
Authors: Garcia Fredi , Mendez Diana , Ellis Chris , Gautney Casey
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This article aims to investigate the differences and similarities among cross-cultural, values and ethics between the USA and Asian countries. This article analyzes the degree of cultural distance between USA and Asian countries and the impact it has in companies. It examines the comparison between the USA and China’s value system. It also assesses how idealism and relativism impact individual ethical decision-making. In addition, this article examines the impact that globalization, foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade have in the Chinese culture and other countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data for this research paper were collected from the following models: Ethics Position Questionnaire of Forsyth, Rokeach Values Survey, Hofstede model, GLOBE model and Wilcoxon test. The main sources used for this research were the Journal of Technology Management in China and the EBSCO database.

Findings

– The research found that Western cultures tend to be more individualistic, while Asian countries tend to be very collective. This study also found that the type of value system that each culture holds depends on the type of government. This research also found that researchers have discovered that American managers are more loyal to their ethical beliefs, rather than to their superior’s or company’s ethical beliefs. While eastern Asian cultures focus more on the importance of acting in the best interests of the company’s superior. The study also found that it is extremely important for foreigners to build a relationship with Chinese business professionals before they do business negotiations. In addition, the study found that globalization, FDI and trade do make a significant cultural difference in some cultural dimensions.

Originality/value

– It contributes to the literature by analyzing the different measurements in value, ethics and cultural differentiation. This research wants to demonstrate the importance of cultural differences, ethics and values across different countries and cultures. It also provides factual evidence that it’s important to understand these differences to be a successful global manager. In addition, it contributes to this literature by analyzing the effect that globalization, FDI and trade have in national cultures.
Emerging technology sustainability
Authors: E. Carraher Jr. Charles
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine sustainability with an emphasis on China.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper examines previous research on sustainability and polymer chemistry to provide a better understanding of the importance of sustainability and technology in China.

Findings

– There are many different perspectives when it comes to sustainability and that multiple stakeholders need to be considered when examining sustainability.

Originality/value

– As the longest serving member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) accreditation committee and a Fellow of the ACS, the perspective on which this paper is based comes from over 1,000 publications and over 45 years of active research in the sciences and technology.
Health care infrastructure amenities – an empirical examination of Indian perspective
Authors: Gupta Atul , Satpathy Ipseeta , Chandra Mohan Patnaik B. , Patel Niharika
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Health is an important issue in our life. A person with good health will have peace of mind and will be able to contribute to nation-building. We cannot expect performance from an ill person with a low morale. In the present paper, the authors tried to understand the ground realities of health-care facilities provided in India and more specifically in Odisha, India.

Design/methodology/approach

– This empirical paper used a non-experimental design to test a proposed model based on a review of relevant literature. In this paper, an initial pilot study was conducted by taking 44 various variables; however, after the study and taking the expert opinion, the variables were restricted to only 30. For the purpose of study, only state-sponsored hospitals were considered on a random sampling method.

Findings

– The analysis of data is conducted on a simple percentage method with closed-end options. It is found that even after 67 years of independence, people do not have access to basic medical care facilities in the rural areas and to some extent in semi-urban areas also. The major stumbling block is inadequate infrastructure in these hospitals.

Research limitations/implications

– While this study offers some insight into the status of healthcare infrastructure in rural India, the sample was limited to respondents in state-sponsored hospitals, which may not represent the views about private hospitals.

Practical implications

– It seems that in some interior areas of Odisha, people rely more on their fate than then these health-care services.

Social implications

– Various governments claim that they are spending millions of rupees on health-care service, but the benefits are not being felt by the masses. We are sure that our attempt to highlight the scenario of health-care services in the state of Odisha will be an eye opener and will compel the various stake holders to introspect their involvement in the health-care services provided in these areas.

Originality/value

– A considerable amount of research has been done evaluating the status of healthcare in India, but this is the first empirical research study to date based on respondents from the rural parts of the state of Odisha in India. Some of these areas are not reachable to researchers due to the poor infrastructure. This contribution is also of special importance amid the recent criticism of the healthcare infrastructure in India by prominent management scholars.
International evidence on R&D services outsourcing practices by technological firms
Authors: Martínez-Noya Andrea , García-Canal Esteban
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to, through the disintegration of the innovation process in this paper, attempt to shed light on what are some of the distinctive features of this phenomenon, such as: Who is outsourcing R&D? What types of R&D services are being outsourced across the R&D value chain and to whom? Where are firms outsourcing these services? and Why do firms decide to outsource them? Outsourcing practices of some stages of the R&D process to specialized providers have been gaining momentum during the past years even by firms operating in high-tech sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data used in this paper stem from an original international survey on R&D services outsourcing. This survey includes a sample of 182 US and European Union firms competing in technology-intensive industries.

Findings

– This study provides evidence of the existence of a global outsourcing market that covers practically all the R&D stages and is widely used by technological firms. However, it highlights the importance of multinationality to be able to use R&D outsourcing as a tool for value creation.

Originality/value

– Despite the relevance of this phenomenon, previous studies tend to analyze the R&D function as a whole. However, through the disintegration of the innovation process, this paper provides original international data which helps to analyze the real magnitude and scope of this R&D offshore outsourcing process at the transactional level.
The relationship between sustainable development and resource use from a geographic perspective
Authors: Aikins Eric K.W.
Published: November 2014

Geography provides the basic building blocks for the study of resource use and sustainable development, inasmuch as it categorizes the human environment. Within the environment are resources that are needed for the survival of society. As resources are largely limited and finite, humans as agents of change must employ techniques that allow an efficient and lasting use of the available resources in their environment. This paper discusses the nexus between geography, resource exploitation, use, and sustainable development. It also discusses the characteristics, types, and classification of resources, development and sustainable development as well as the challenges and strategies for attaining sustainable development, particularly in developing countries.
The Mispricing of Cash Flows and Accruals at Different Life‐Cycle Stages
Authors: Hribar Paul , Yehuda Nir
Published: November 2014

This paper employs the firm life‐cycle concept to extend our understanding of the mispricing of accrual and cash flow information by the stock market. We find that accruals and free cash flows are strongly (negatively) correlated in the maturity and decline stages of a firm's life cycle but not in the growth stage, suggesting that they capture unique information in the growth stage of the firm's life cycle but more correlated information in the later stages. Consistent with this finding, we show that the cash flows anomaly subsumes the accruals anomaly in maturity and decline stages, but not in the growth stage. Our findings contribute to the debate regarding the overlap between the two anomalies.
Lifespan‐extending caloric restriction or mTOR inhibition impair adaptive immunity of old mice by distinct mechanisms
Authors: Goldberg Emily L. , Romero‐Aleshire Melissa J. , Renkema Kristin R. , Ventevogel Melissa S. , Chew Wade M. , Uhrlaub Jennifer L. , Smithey Megan J. , Limesand Kirsten H. , Sempowski Gregory D. , Brooks Heddwen L. , Nikolich‐Žugich Janko
Published: November 2014

Aging of the world population and a concomitant increase in age‐related diseases and disabilities mandates the search for strategies to increase healthspan, the length of time an individual lives healthy and productively. Due to the age‐related decline of the immune system, infectious diseases remain among the top 5–10 causes of mortality and morbidity in the elderly, and improving immune function during aging remains an important aspect of healthspan extension. Calorie restriction (CR) and more recently rapamycin (rapa) feeding have both been used to extend lifespan in mice. Preciously few studies have actually investigated the impact of each of these interventions upon in vivo immune defense against relevant microbial challenge in old organisms. We tested how rapa and CR each impacted the immune system in adult and old mice. We report that each intervention differentially altered T‐cell development in the thymus, peripheral T‐cell maintenance, T‐cell function and host survival after West Nile virus infection, inducing distinct but deleterious consequences to the aging immune system. We conclude that neither rapa feeding nor CR, in the current form/administration regimen, may be optimal strategies for extending healthy immune function and, with it, lifespan.
Heart Rate Variability Indexes as a Marker of Chronic Adaptation in Athletes: A Systematic Review
Authors: da Silva Vanessa Pereira , de Oliveira Natacha Alves , Silveira Heitor , Mello Roger Gomes Tavares , Deslandes Andrea Camaz
Published: November 2014

Background

Regular exercise promotes functional and structural changes in the central and peripheral mechanisms of the cardiovascular system. Heart rate variability (HRV) measurement provides a sensitive indicator of the autonomic balance. However, because of the diversity of methods and variables used, the results are difficult to compare in the sports sciences. Since the protocol (supine, sitting, or standing position) and measure (time or frequency domain) are not well defined, the aim of this study is to investigate the HRV measures that better indicates the chronic adaptations of physical exercise in athletes.

Method

PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library), and Scopus databases were consulted. Original complete articles in English with short‐term signals evaluating young and adult athletes, between 17 and 40 years old, with a control group, published up to 2013 were included.

Results

Selected 19 of 1369 studies, for a total sample pool of 333 male and female athletes who practice different sports. The main protocols observed were the supine or standing positions in free or controlled breathing conditions. The main statistical results found in this study were the higher mean RR, standard deviation of RR intervals, and high frequency in athletes group. In addition, the analyses of Cohen's effect size showed that factors as modality of sport, protocol used and unit of measure selected could influence this expected results.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that time domain measures are more consistent than frequency domain to describe the chronic cardiovascular autonomic adaptations in athletes.