bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Logography and layering
Authors: Tranter Nicolas
Published: March 2013

This paper proposes a way in which the semantographic/ phonographic dichotomy recognised as fundamental in logographic (or morphosyllabic) writing systems in East Asia, the ancient Middle East, and Mesoamerica can be systematised to transcend the very different scholarly traditions in each region in order to allow valid and more meaningful cross-linguistic comparisons. A totally functional analysis with a focus on synchronic words as they occur in texts, rather than a focus on the form of signs or their etymology, ignores such formal units as the frame or even the grapheme and recognises three main compositional levels — logogram, component, and element — and the strict application of the analysis reveals cases of a fourth level, superlogogram. The application of this approach allows characterisations of writing systems that reflect the meaningful combination of signs in context and reveals greater complexity in how words are written, such as in semantic+semantic combinations, than previous analyses have recognised. It is concluded, however, that a statistical application of the analysis is prevented, not because of differences in the writing systems, but primarily because of the fundamental typological differences of the represented languages themselves.
Emergent writing of young children in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Tibi Sana , Joshi R. Malatesha , McLeod Lorraine
Published: March 2013

We report results of writing samples of six Emirati children aged four to four and a half years collected at monthly intervals over an eight month period (the kindergarten academic year). Three teachers and six parents were interviewed to triangulate the data that were collected in the classrooms. The grounded theory method was used to code and categorize the data, which were then compared with the literature on emergent writing. Findings of this longitudinal study revealed that few opportunities are provided at home and in kindergarten for the development of young children’s emergent writing in Arabic and revealed other issues related to bilingualism and diglossia. Recommendations are provided for policy makers, teachers, and parents that would accelerate the development of young children’s Arabic literacy, particularly emergent writing skills, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The internet and value co-creation: the case of the popular music industry
Authors: Choi Hwanho , Burnes Bernard
Published: March 2013

The paper explores the importance of internet-facilitated value co-creation, especially in cultural industries. Through an extensive review of the literature, it shows that in many industries, a transformational shift is taking place from value creation to value co-creation, which is fundamentally changing the relationship between consumers and producers. In particular, the paper examines value creation and co-creation in the popular music industry. This reveals that though much of the research on music and the internet has revolved around the issue of music piracy, evidence is now emerging that the internet is enabling some record labels, musicians and fans to work together to co-create value for mutual benefit. The paper concludes by arguing that value co-creation is an important development that can transform the relationship between consumers and producers, and that in the popular music industry value co-creation can promote new, more positive, relationships among record labels, artists and fans.
Arl8/ARL-8 functions in apoptotic cell removal by mediating phagolysosome formation inCaenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Sasaki Ayaka , Nakae Isei , Nagasawa Maya , Hashimoto Keisuke , Abe Fumiko , Saito Kota , Fukuyama Masamitsu , Gengyo-Ando Keiko , Mitani Shohei , Katada Toshiaki , Kontani Kenji
Published: March 2013

Efficient clearance of apoptotic cells by phagocytes is important for development, tissue homeostasis, and the prevention of autoimmune responses. Phagosomes containing apoptotic cells undergo acidification and mature from Rab5-positive early to Rab7-positive late stages. Phagosomes finally fuse with lysosomes to form phagolysosomes, which degrade apoptotic cells; however, the molecular mechanism underlying phagosome–lysosome fusion is not fully understood. Here we show that the Caenorhabditis elegans Arf-like small GTPase Arl8 (ARL-8) is involved in phagolysosome formation and is required for the efficient removal of apoptotic cells. Loss of function of arl-8 results in the accumulation of apoptotic germ cells. Both the engulfment of the apoptotic cells by surrounding somatic sheath cells and the phagosomal maturation from RAB-5- to RAB-7-positive stages occur in arl-8 mutants. However, the phagosomes fail to fuse with lysosomes in the arl-8 mutants, leading to the accumulation of RAB-7-positive phagosomes and the delayed degradation of apoptotic cells. ARL-8 localizes primarily to lysosomes and physically interacts with the homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex component VPS-41. Collectively our findings reveal that ARL-8 facilitates apoptotic cell removal in vivo by mediating phagosome–lysosome fusion during phagocytosis.
Interaction of the Microtubule-Associated Host Protein HIP2 with Viral Helper Component Proteinase Is Important in Infection with Potato virus A
Authors: Haikonen Tuuli , Rajamäki Minna-Liisa , Valkonen Jari P. T.
Published: March 2013

Microtubules (MT) outline and maintain the overall shape of cells and can reorganize cellular membranes to serve as sites of RNA virus replication. Here, we provide data on involvement of an MT-associated protein in infection of plants with a potyvirus, Potato virus A (PVA), representing the largest family of plant-infecting RNA viruses. Our results showed that helper-component proteinase (HCpro)-interacting protein 2 (HIP2) of potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an MT-associated protein similar to Arabidopsis SPR2. Virus-induced silencing of HIP2 in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in a spiral-like growth phenotype, similar to the Arabidopsis spr2 mutant, and the spr2 phenotype in Arabidopsis was complemented with potato HIP2. HCpro of PVA interacted with HIP2 of potato and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). The interaction was detected by bimolecular fluorescence complementation in PVA-infected leaves on MT and MT intersections at the cell cortex. HIP2-HCpro interaction was determined by the C-proximal α-helix-rich domain of HIP2, whereas the N-proximal putative TOG domain and the central coiled-coil domain of HIP2 controlled HIP2 dimerization and binding to MT. Accumulation of PVA was significantly reduced in the HIP2-silenced leaves of N. benthamiana, which indicates that HIP2-HCpro interactions are important for virus infection.
Identification of sequences required for AL2-mediated activation of the tomato golden mosaic virus-yellow vein BR1 promoter
Authors: Berger Mary R. , Sunter Garry
Published: March 2013

A 108 bp sequence has been identified in the tomato golden mosaic virus-yellow vein (yvTGMV) B component that is necessary and sufficient for AL2-mediated activation of the BR1 promoter. The sequence appears to have a bipartite arrangement, with elements located between −144 to −77 and −59 to −36 from the transcription start site, with both being required for activation by AL2. These sequences are located upstream of a TATA box and bind nuclear proteins from spinach, tomato and Arabidopsis. These sequences are also capable of binding Arabidopsis PPD2, which has been shown previously to interact with the yvTGMV coat protein (CP) promoter. We have identified two putative transcription factor-binding sites (CCAAT and GTGANTG10) that are conserved in sequences necessary for activation of the yvTGMV BR1, as well as the yvTGMV and cabbage leaf curl virus (CabLCV) CP promoters, which are all activated by AL2. The yvTGMV BR1 promoter exhibits AL2-independent expression in vascular tissue, similar to the yvTGMV, CabLCV and spinach curly top virus CP promoters. Together, this further confirms a common regulatory mechanism for AL2-mediated activation of bipartite begomovirus promoters.
TRIM5 genotypes in cynomolgus monkeys primarily influence inter-individual diversity in susceptibility to monkey-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Authors: Saito Akatsuki , Nomaguchi Masako , Kono Ken , Iwatani Yasumasa , Yokoyama Masaru , Yasutomi Yasuhiro , Sato Hironori , Shioda Tatsuo , Sugiura Wataru , Matano Tetsuro , Adachi Akio , Nakayama Emi E. , Akari Hirofumi
Published: March 2013

TRIM5α restricts human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in cynomolgus monkey (CM) cells. We previously reported that a TRIMCyp allele expressing TRIM5–cyclophilin A fusion protein was frequently found in CMs. Here, we examined the influence of TRIM5 gene variation on the susceptibility of CMs to a monkey-tropic HIV-1 derivative (HIV-1mt) and found that TRIMCyp homozygotes were highly susceptible to HIV-1mt not only in vitro but also in vivo. These results provide important insights into the inter-individual differences in susceptibility of macaques to HIV-1mt.
Arabidopsis Copper Transport Protein COPT2 Participates in the Cross Talk between Iron Deficiency Responses and Low-Phosphate Signaling
Authors: Perea-García Ana , Garcia-Molina Antoni , Andrés-Colás Nuria , Vera-Sirera Francisco , Pérez-Amador Miguel A. , Puig Sergi , Peñarrubia Lola
Published: March 2013

Copper and iron are essential micronutrients for most living organisms because they participate as cofactors in biological processes, including respiration, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress protection. In many eukaryotic organisms, including yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammals, copper and iron homeostases are highly interconnected; yet, such interdependence is not well established in higher plants. Here, we propose that COPT2, a high-affinity copper transport protein, functions under copper and iron deficiencies in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). COPT2 is a plasma membrane protein that functions in copper acquisition and distribution. Characterization of the COPT2 expression pattern indicates a synergic response to copper and iron limitation in roots. We characterized a knockout of COPT2, copt2-1, that leads to increased resistance to simultaneous copper and iron deficiencies, measured as reduced leaf chlorosis and improved maintenance of the photosynthetic apparatus. We propose that COPT2 could play a dual role under iron deficiency. First, COPT2 participates in the attenuation of copper deficiency responses driven by iron limitation, possibly to minimize further iron consumption. Second, global expression analyses of copt2-1 versus wild-type Arabidopsis plants indicate that low-phosphate responses increase in the mutant. These results open up new biotechnological approaches to fight iron deficiency in crops.
Personal blogs as online presences on the internet
Authors: Bronstein Jenny
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the creation of a virtual presence in personal blogs through self‐presentation and self‐disclosure. Five elements of self‐presentation and self‐disclosure were examined: the way bloggers present themselves in their blogs; the degree and frequency of disclosure of personal information in the blogs; the feelings or reactions bloggers have when posting or receiving a comment; the significance blogs have in the bloggers' lives; and the subjects bloggers write about in their blogs.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was designed for the study and 90 bloggers from six Latin American countries who maintain a personal blog participated in the study. In the first phase a statistical analysis yielded quantifiable demographic data about the participants, the personal information they disclose in their blogs, and statistical data on feelings involved in blogging. In the second phase a content analysis examined the bloggers' textual answers using open coding.

Findings

Findings show that bloggers created a virtual presence in their blogs perceived as a “protected space”. Bloggers reported feeling satisfied and drained when posting a new comment in their blog. Bloggers in this study described their blogs as being a part of their selves, a communication tool, a writing tool and their favourite hobby.

Originality/value

This study is relevant to the field of information behaviour because it provides an example of the fulfillment of different information needs through the creation of a virtual presence on a blog and examines the dichotomy present in blogging between the private and the public spheres.
The export competitiveness of the tuna industry in Thailand
Authors: Supongpan Kuldilok Kulapa , Dawson P.J. , Lingard John
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Thailand dominates world exports of canned tuna with a market share of around 40 percent which is at least four times higher than any other exporter. The aim of this paper is to examine the export competitiveness of the canned tuna export industry in Thailand for 1996‐2006.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a revealed comparative advantage (RCA) approach and calculates RCA indices for both major exporters in the world market and competitors in individual export markets.

Findings

Thailand has comparative advantages in all major export markets; these have remained stable in the USA, the Middle East, Japan and Canada but have fallen substantially in Australia.

Practical implications

First, Thailand urgently needs to consider tuna farming. Second, smaller processing and fishing companies should merge to increase profit margins and market share. Third, Thailand should engage in effective trade negotiations with importers. Fourth, stock management and conservation could be used to support the industry. It is unlikely that current levels of comparative advantage can be maintained because of import tariffs, rules of origin, labour shortages and increasing unskilled labour costs.

Social implications

Tuna management and conservation in Thailand could be used to support the sustainability of the industry.

Originality/value

By contrast to Kijboonchoo and Kalayanakupt who find that Thailand's market share declined between 1987‐1998 and revealed comparative advantage fell, these results show that this declining trend has since been arrested.
The prospective impact of a multi‐period pricing strategy on consumer perceptions for perishable foods
Authors: Chung Jaekwon , Li Dong
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the impact of multi‐period pricing, as an example of more dynamic pricing and discounting strategy with that of a present less dynamic alternative on customer satisfaction and consumers' willingness to make trade‐offs between price and remaining shelf‐life.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted interviews with three food retail managers in South Korea to gather practical information about the management of perishable foods, which informed the design of a survey in which consumers in South Korea were questioned about their perceptions of the two strategies, with respect to nine perishable food products in three categories. The data collected were analysed by one‐way ANOVA and the t‐test.

Findings

The findings of this research present an improved understanding of the impact of a multi‐period pricing strategy on consumer satisfaction and customer behaviour for perishable foods. The conclusions have the potential to significantly assist food retailers to understand the consumers' perspective on the benefits of a more dynamic pricing strategy.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that food retailers can enhance customer satisfaction by offering an earlier but lower discount, and increasing it as perishable food items approach their expiry date, rather than a higher discount when the expiry date is imminent.

Originality/value

The findings in this study are significant since they serve as the first step in measuring the value of dynamic pricing approaches that provide better trade‐off options between price and remaining shelf‐life from consumers' perspectives.
Designing an all‐apple‐pomace‐based functional dessert formulation
Authors: Haghighi Maryam , Rezaei Karamatollah
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of the paper is to present a preliminary study for the design of a new functional food by the incorporation of a collection of ingredients which are all based on an inexpensive by‐product of the food industries: apple pomace. The new product design was considered as a novel gelled dessert formulation which is functional, and totally nature‐based. In fact, the article reviews various raw materials obtainable from the source of apple pomace and gradually supports the hypothesis of such product design.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study was designed on the structural basis of paying attention to apple pomace as a byproduct and idea generation for product design, reviewing several ingredients based on apple pomace (available data from the literature) and discussing the suitability of such ingredients for a new functional product. Exclusive attention was made for the development of an apple‐pomace‐based gelled dessert targeting consumers on restricted diets such as diabetics and obese individuals. In these kinds of diets consumption of caloric sweeteners should be abandoned or decreased while increasing the amounts of dietary fibers and polyphenolic compounds can be health‐beneficial.

Findings

As an appropriate preliminary formula, amidated low methylester pectins were selected as gelling agents. High methylester pectins, phloridzin and quercetin were used as functional ingredients. Arabinose and fructose were considered as sweetening agents. Also, POPj (phloridzin oxidation product), which is a recently developed natural pigment, was offered as a colouring agent and citric acid for adjusting the pH. Apple specific flavours were also suggested to improve the consumer acceptance of the product. In each case, the evidences of functionalities considered for the target consumers (diabetics and obese individuals) were also discussed.

Originality/value

This fresh formula is novel and can attract both food industry and the consumers because of its natural and functional properties.
Mechanisms for assessing food safety risk
Authors: Manning L. , Soon J.M.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the methods for assessing food safety risk within a food safety plan.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved analysis of both qualitative and quantitative methods of risk assessment.

Findings

Risk assessment is a key element of the HACCP approach to food safety. It requires food business operators and those on HACCP teams to determine both the acceptable level of contamination and the risk for the food business, and ultimately the consumer. The choice of food safety risk assessment model is crucial to an organisation. The mechanisms to determine what is acceptable can be a combination of scientific based and value based criteria and utilise qualitative or semi‐quantitative approaches. Whilst fuzzy logic has a place in making risk assessment more quantitative; specific software tools are required to enable quantitative risk assessment especially where what is acceptable at one point could, subject to other factors later in the supply chain, change to an unacceptable level of risk to the consumer. Quantitative mechanisms are required to make these decisions at organisational, or indeed at policy level, fully transparent.

Originality/value

This research is of academic value and of value to policy makers and practitioners in the food supply chain.
Attributions and requirements of Islamic leadership
Authors: Sari Marbun Dahlena
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look into the relationship between attribution and requirements of Islamic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes concepts of attribution and requirements of leadership and links them to related Islamic concepts.

Findings

A correlation is found to exist between attribution and requirements of “conventional” and Islamic leadership.

Research limitations/implications

Being a practical endeavor, attribution and requirements of “conventional” leadership converge with Islamic leadership.

Practical implications

It is hoped that leaders and managers would not hesitate to apply Islamic leadership style.

Originality/value

This paper will add to the literature on Islamic leadership, especially for Indonesia.
An evaluation of corporate governance practices of Islamic banks versus Islamic bank windows of conventional banks
Authors: Shahzad Bukhari Khuram , Awan Hayat M. , Ahmed Faareha
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceived importance of management about various corporate governance dimensions being practiced in the Pakistani Islamic banking context.

Design/methodology/approach

AHP is applied to analyze the corporate governance indexes and its dimension of five Islamic banks and 12 conventional banks which are providing Islamic banking facilities (Islamic bank window) throughout Pakistan. These dimensions included board of directors (BOD), Shari'ah supervisory board (SSB), audit, investment account holders (IAH), and information disclosure & transparency.

Findings

The study reveals that the most significant dimensions which affect the corporate governance in Islamic banks are BOD and SSB, while the significant factors for Islamic banking windows are almost all dimensions of corporate governance. The correlation, regression, and ANOVA tests are applied to check the contributions of various factors of corporate governance mechanisms. These results indicate that there is a significant difference between Islamic banks and Islamic banking windows regarding the BOD and SSB. On the other hand, no significant difference is seen for the rest of the factors. The dissatisfaction level of customers reduces with the increase in the audit and BOD governance and all other factors have no impact in the case of Islamic banking windows; whereas in Islamic banks, in addition to audit and the SSB, information disclosure also significantly reduces the dissatisfaction level of customers. The concern of customers decreases significantly with the increasing level of IAH in the case of Islamic banking windows whereas in the case of Islamic banks a significant impact is seen for BOD, information disclosure, audit and IAH, but improvement in the governance of these rather increases the concern of customers toward compliance of Shari'ah and SSB has no contribution towards the concern of customers.

Originality/value

This study has practical significance for conventional and Islamic banking policy makers for understanding the requirements of their stakeholders and aligning them with the fundamentals of Shari'ah compliance according to the guidelines provided by the code of corporate governance so as to get better insight into the relationship between customers' motives behind using Islamic banking products.
Audio sensing and modeling of arc dynamic characteristic during pulsed Al alloy GTAW process
Authors: Lv Na , Xu Yanling , Zhang Zhifen , Wang Jifeng , Chen Bo , Chen Shanben
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between arc sound signal and arc height through arc sound features of GTAW welding, which is aimed at laying foundation work for monitoring the welding penetration and quality by using the arc sound signal in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The experiment system is based on GTAW welding with acoustic sensor and signal conditioner on it. The arc sound signal was first processed by wavelet analysis and wavelet packet analysis designed in this research. Then the features of arc sound signal were extracted in time domain, frequency domain, for example, short‐term energy, AMDF, mean strength, log energy, dynamic variation intensity, short‐term zero rate and the frequency features of DCT coefficient, also the wavelet packet coefficient. Finally, a ANN (artificial neural networks) prediction model was built up to recognize different arc height through arc sound signal.

Findings

The statistic features and DCT coefficient can be absolutely used in arc sound signal processing; and these features of arc sound signal can accurately react the modification of arc height during the GTAW welding process.

Originality/value

This paper tries to make a foundation work to achieve monitoring arc length through arc sound signal. A new way to remove high frequency noise of arc sound signal is produced. It proposes some effective statistic features and a new way of frequency analysis to build the prediction model.
78th IFLA General Conference and Assembly (IFLA‐2012)
Authors: Alemu Getaneh
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of the proceedings of IFLA's 78th General Conference and Assembly, held in Helsinki, Finland from August 11‐17, 2012. It highlights the major themes addressed at the conference, taking note of the growing prestige of the meeting as internationally acknowledged fora, not only for librarians and information science specialists but also for publishers, journalists and media professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

The author had the good fortune of attending IFLA‐2012 and took advantage of the opportunity to purposefully take down extensive notes, collect copies of the presentations and papers rendered and gather information from colleagues on issues dealt with at simultaneously held sessions which he could not attend, with a view to grasping the overall theme of the specific presentations. The conference website has also been consulted to obtain factual information in support of this article.

Findings

This year's IFLA General Conference and Assembly, as usual, attracted thousands of library and information science professionals, an irrefutable proof that IFLA has proved itself as a prestigious international institution dedicated to the promotion and development of the discipline. In addition, the conference also served as a venue for professionals and businesses in publishing, journalism, the film industry and public media to participate in and showcase their novel products and services.

Practical implications

Emerging themes in librarianship and information services, including open access, Linked Data, inclusiveness, the future of library design, outreaching to local communities, and contemporary library challenges in view of changing times were raised and extensively deliberated upon. It is expected that delegates would apply the lessons thus learnt and apply best practices in their day‐to‐day activities in their specific areas of expertise. It is also hoped that the networking of professionals at such an international event would foster viable future collaborations.

Originality/value

The theme chosen for IFLA‐2012 “libraries: inspiring, surprising and empowering” reflects the importance, for library and information professionals, of envisioning a more dynamic, interactive, attuned and even enjoyable role for libraries of the twenty‐first century and beyond.
Public‐private partnership: Coca‐Cola and the University of Belgrade
Authors: Stankovic Emilija
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Analyzing the memorandum of cooperation conducted between Coca‐Cola HBC Serbia AD Zemun and the Faculty of Organizational Sciences (FOS), University of Belgrade, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate which multinational companies invest in education. The importance of cooperation is emphasized, since cooperation has indirect effects on corporate social responsibility and the external positioning of the Faculty of Organizational Sciences and Coca‐Cola, promoting direct cooperation between institutions and education.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses are based primarily on analysis of a memorandum of cooperation signed between Coca‐Cola Hellenic and the FOS in the presence of Serbian government representatives. Other Serbian legislative acts are discussed that allow the operation of multinational companies in Serbia, providing cooperation process transparency related to higher education.

Findings

This article points out which forms of cooperation exist between Coca‐Cola and educational institutions in Serbia, the effects of such cooperation, and the benefits to local staff development, especially community development.

Originality/value

The article is based on a special memorandum on cooperation that enables familiarity development with concrete investments by multinational companies in education in Serbia. Positive outcomes of such an investment are discussed.
Sri Lanka textile industry's public private partnership project: a case study
Authors: Bruce Raymond R.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this organization research project was to focus on finding effective methods for the stakeholder group of private firms in the apparel and textile industry in Sri Lanka to work together as partners with government and academic institution stakeholder groups to raise the level of human resource development in education, training and technology innovation resources in the apparel and textile industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Organization development, action research and training methods were used to help the various groups examine their needs and issues, and the consultant's gap analysis was used to identify any dysfunctional barriers along three levels of realm, scale, and transform that formed a wicked problem situation that kept the stakeholder groups from organizing themselves to work together on the common cause.

Findings

The three stakeholder groups were able to make use of a variation of the public private partnership model in developing a virtual college of apparel and textiles.

Practical implications

The three stakeholder groups were able to use formal and creative informal forms of a partnership of partnerships approach by cross sharing of board members. Sri Lanka's apparel and textile industry was able to successfully upgrade its human resource development efforts to retain its strong position in the following years of global market change.

Originality/value

Using organization development's wicked problem resolution methods can be useful in any country that needs to bring large diverse groups of public and private organizations together to work on common interests while assuring that their differing missions can be pursued effectively.
Reducing imaging waiting times: enhanced roles and service‐redesign
Authors: Greaves Claire , Gilmore Judy , Bernhardt Lizelle , Ross Lisa
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explain how University Hospitals of Leicester's Nuclear Medicine service managers needed to reduce waiting times to comply with internal clinical requirements and with external local primary care trust (PCT) and national Department of Health targets.

Design/methodology/approach

The team undertook a comprehensive service review to identify problem areas and potential improvements, including: process mapping; data gathering (activity and demand, equipment and staff availability/utilisation); external practice reviews, searching evidence bases; and financial implications. This case study describes how an inter‐disciplinary team redesigned the service and used new working methods to reduce waiting times. Their aim was to discuss a service's practical elements and show how innovation leading to sustainable change can be implemented effectively.

Findings

The review highlighted service delivery bottlenecks for myocardial perfusion imaging, which were linked to medical staff shortages, staff use and equipment between hospital sites, and a silo approach to referrals rather than a coordinated organisation‐wide approach.

Practical implications

Introducing enhanced roles allowed nurses, radiographers and technologists to undertake work previously performed by medical staff thus removing a key service bottleneck. Modifications to service delivery and a cultural change in nuclear medicine resulted in a service that was more efficient, flexible and able to cope with increased demand.

Originality/value

These changes meant that minimum waiting‐time targets were achieved, in particular waiting for myocardial perfusion imaging (reduced from 42 weeks in 2005 to two weeks by 2009). Changes allowed service managers to maintain short waiting times in the current, challenging healthcare climate.
Healthcare service quality: towards a broad definition
Authors: Mohammad Mosadeghrad Ali
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to define healthcare quality to encompass healthcare stakeholder needs and expectations because healthcare quality has varying definitions for clients, professionals, managers, policy makers and payers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study represents an exploratory effort to understand healthcare quality in an Iranian context. In‐depth individual and focus group interviews were conducted with key healthcare stakeholders.

Findings

Quality healthcare is defined as “consistently delighting the patient by providing efficacious, effective and efficient healthcare services according to the latest clinical guidelines and standards, which meet the patient's needs and satisfies providers”. Healthcare quality definitions common to all stakeholders involve offering effective care that contributes to the patient well‐being and satisfaction.

Practical implications

This study helps us to understand quality healthcare, highlighting its complex nature, which has direct implications for healthcare providers who are encouraged to regularly monitor healthcare quality using the attributes identified in this study. Accordingly, they can initiate continuous quality improvement programmes to maintain high patient‐satisfaction levels.

Originality/value

This is the first time a comprehensive healthcare quality definition has been developed using various healthcare stakeholder perceptions and expectations.
Measuring healthcare quality: the challenges
Authors: van den Heuvel Jaap , Niemeijer Gerard C. , Does Ronald J.M.M.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Current health care quality performance indicators appear to be inadequate to inform the public to make the right choices. The aim of this paper is to define a framework and an organizational setting in which valid and reliable healthcare information can be produced to inform the general public about healthcare quality.

Design/methodology/approach

To improve health care quality information, the paper explores the analogy between financial accounting, which aims to produce valid and reliable information to support companies informing their shareholders and stakeholders, and healthcare aiming to inform future patients about healthcare quality. Based on this analogy, the authors suggest a measurement framework and an organizational setting to produce healthcare information.

Findings

The authors suggest a five‐quality element framework to structure quality reporting. The authors also indicate the best way to report each type of quality, comparing performance indicators with certification/accreditation. Health gain is the most relevant quality indicator to inform the public, but this information is the most difficult to obtain. Finally, the organizational setting, comparable to financial accounting, required to provide valid, reliable and objective information on healthcare quality is described.

Practical implications

Framework elements should be tested in quantitative studies or case studies, such as a performance indicator's relative value compared to accreditation/ certification. There are, however, elements that can be implemented right away such as third party validation of healthcare information produced by healthcare institutions.

Originality/value

Given the money spent on healthcare worldwide, valid and reliable healthcare quality information's value can never be overestimated. It can justify delivering “expensive” healthcare, but also points the way to savings by stopping useless healthcare. Valid and reliable information puts the patient in the driver's seat and enables him or her to make the right decision when choosing their healthcare provider.
Investigation into thermal performance of nanosized phase change material (PCM) in microchannel flow
Authors: Alquaity Awad B.S. , Al‐Dini Salem A. , Yilbas Bekir S.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Heat capacity enhancement is important for variety of applications, including microchannel cooling and solar thermal energy conversion. A promising method to enhance heat capacity of a fluid is by introducing phase change particles in a flow system. The purpose of this paper is to investigate heat capacity enhancement in a microchannel flow with the presence of phase change material (PCM) particles.

Design/methodology/approach

Discrete phase model (DPM) and homogeneous model have been compared in this study. Water is used as the carrier fluid and lauric acid as the PCM particles with different volume concentrations, ranging from 0 to 10%. Both the models neglect the particle‐particle interaction effects of PCM particles.

Findings

The DPM indicates that presence of 10% volume concentration of PCM particles does not cause an increase in the pressure drop along the channel length. However, prediction from the homogeneous model shows an increase in the pressure drop due to the addition of nanoparticles in such a way that 10% volume concentration of particles causes 34.4% increase in pressure drop.

Research limitations/implications

The study covers only 10% volume concentration of PCM particles; however, the model may be modified to include higher volume concentrations. The laminar flow is considered; it may be extended to study the turbulence effects.

Practical implications

This work provides a starting framework for the practical use of different PCM particles, carrier fluid properties, and different particle volume concentrations in electronic cooling applications.

Originality/value

The work presented is original and the findings will be very useful for researchers and engineers working in microchannel flow in cooling and thermal storage applications.
Combined gas radiation and laminar forced convection flow adjacent to a forward facing step in a duct
Authors: Ansari A.B. , Gandjalikhan Nassab S.A.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on thermal characteristics behavior of forced convection flow in a duct over forward facing step (FFS), in which all of the heat transfer mechanisms, including convection, conduction and radiation, take place simultaneously in the fluid flow.

Design/methodology/approach

The fluid is treated as a gray, absorbing, emitting and scattering medium. The Navier‐Stokes and energy equations are solved numerically by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques to obtain the velocity and temperature fields. Discretized forms of these equations are obtained by the finite volume method and solved using the SIMPLE algorithm. Since the gas is considered as a radiating medium, all of the convection, conduction and radiation heat transfer take place simultaneously in the gas flow. For computation of the radiative term in the gas energy equation, the radiative transfer equation (RTE) is solved numerically by the discrete ordinate method (DOM) to find the radiative heat flux distribution inside the radiating medium. By this numerical approach, the velocity, pressure and temperature fields are calculated.

Findings

The effect of wall emissivity, optical thickness, albedo coefficient and the radiation‐conduction parameter on heat transfer behavior of the system are also investigated. The numerical results for two cases of convection‐conduction and conduction‐radiation problems are compared with the available data published in open literature and good agreement was obtained.

Originality/value

This is the first time in which flow over FFS in a duct, considering all heat transfer mechanisms including conduction, convection and radiation, is solved numerically.
Solutions for MHD viscous flow due to a shrinking sheet by Hankel‐Padé method
Authors: Abbasbandy S. , Roohani Ghehsareh H.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

In this paper, an analysis is performed to find the solution of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation that appears in a model for MHD viscous flow caused by a shrinking sheet.

Design/methodology/approach

The cases of two dimensional and axisymmetric shrinking have been discussed. When the sheet is shrinking in the x‐direction, the analytical solutions are obtained by the Hankel‐Padé method. Comparison to exact solutions reveals reliability and high accuracy of the procedure, even in the case of multiple solutions. The case of sheet shrinking in the y‐direction is also considered, with success.

Findings

When the sheet shrinks in the x‐direction, the analytical solutions are obtained by Hankel‐Padé method. Also, when the sheet shrinks in the y‐direction, the obtained results with Hankel‐Padé method are presented.

Practical implications

Comparison to exact solutions reveals reliability and high accuracy of the procedure and convincingly could be used to obtain multiple solutions for certain parameter domains of this case of the governing nonlinear problem.

Originality/value

The numerical solutions are given for both two‐dimensional and axisymmetric shrinking sheets by using Hankel‐Padé method. It is clear that the Hankel‐Padé method is, by far, more simple, straightforward and gives reasonable results for large Hartman numbers and suction parameters.
Analyzing competitiveness of clothing export sector of India and Bangladesh
Authors: Mohan Kathuria Lalit
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The textiles and clothing sector is one of India's most important economic sectors, next to the agriculture sector in terms of industrial output and employment, providing employment to more than 30 million people. Many studies predict that India will get a significant share of the world textiles and clothing trade due to the advantage of cheap labor and other factor resources but India's slower growth rate, as compared to other low‐cost competitors, indicates otherwise. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the comparative advantage of India and Bangladesh for the clothing sector in the world export trade with the help of Balassa's index of Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA). The study highlights the shift in comparative advantage for India and Bangladesh between two periods. The study also points out constraints restricting the growth of export share of India in world market and offers suggestions to policy makers for enhancing India's export share in the world clothing trade.

Design/methodology/approach

RCA indices have been calculated for various clothing product categories (under Harmonized System) up to four digit classification with the help of Balassa's relative measure for India and Bangladesh. Tables have been prepared for India and Bangladesh, highlighting products having comparatively higher revealed comparative advantage. For calculation of RCA indices, the export data have been taken from “UN Comtrade”, an electronic database of the United Nations and from the database of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Further, Spearman rank correlation coefficient has been calculated for analyzing the changes over the period 1995‐2003 for India and Bangladesh.

Findings

Findings reveal that the number of products for which India enjoyed the comparative advantage increased from 23 products to 25 products between 1995 and 2003 and for Bangladesh, this number increased from 21 products to 29 products between 1995 and 2003. Clothing exports of India and Bangladesh are classified on the basis of comparative advantage at the HS 4‐digit level for the years 1995 and 2003 and the comparative position is given on the basis of a measure of structural change in exports of India and Bangladesh. The products in which India and Bangladesh have comparative advantage in garment exports are highlighted.

Originality/value

This paper has calculated and compared revealed comparative advantage indices over a period of time up to four digits classification of HS product categories. Also, this paper highlights constraints, and offer suggestions which would be helpful to exporters and policy makers.
Students’ dependence on smart phones
Authors: Mohd Suki Norazah
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether social needs, social influences and convenience of smart phones affects students’ dependence on them. This research also examines whether students’ dependence on smart phones influences their purchase behaviour. This investigation is conducted among the students in a public university in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a multiple regression analysis in an attempt to achieve the objective. The construct validity was assessed by computing the principal axis factor with varimax rotations. In total, 200 completed and usable questionnaires were received from the respondents who comprised students from a public university in the Federal Territory of Labuan, Malaysia. A simple random sampling method was utilised where every unit in the population had an equal chance to be selected.

Findings

Results via multiple regression analysis revealed that social needs and social influences significantly affect students’ dependence on smart phones. The first was found to have the strongest effect. A strong relationship also existed between dependence on smart phones and students’ purchase behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes significantly in confirming findings from similar research that could furnish statistical evidence in research findings to the smart phone provider in meeting customer needs to better create up‐to‐date smart phones with recent features through strategic, holistic marketing management and planning.

Practical implications

This research should contribute significantly to academics and educational developers in encouraging the students’ use of personal technologies such as smart phones and tablet PCs to enhance their learning process. On the smart phone provider side, the research findings could motivate them to continuously increase the smart phone functionality to be more relevant to students. The fact that dependence on smart phones contributes significantly in the students’ purchase behaviour may lead to better insights that they depend on the smart phone, which causes them to feel insecure when it is not with them. Their positive experience with smart phones outweighs their negative experience, as their usage of smart phones is high.

Originality/value

The research provides a unique perspective of students’ dependence on smart phones, which is not much covered in the literature in the Malaysia context. The measurement produced can be used as a research tool for more exploratory and explanatory research regarding students’ use of personal technologies such as smart phones and tablet PCs.