bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing personal complexipacity
Authors: Maynard Richard G.
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to motivate individuals to use social networking and information tools to address complex personal issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a discussion paper based on the author's research.

Findings

Social networking combined with information tools can greatly enhance an individual's research success and facilitate personal decision making.

Originality/value

The social, economic, and technological challenges of our time occur when the maturity of computing, the internet, and social networking provide new options for research and problem solving. This is a time of opportunity for individuals and the organizations that provide social networking services.
Fast adders: complexity and computer consequences
Authors: Abeles Tom
Published: January 2010

Purpose

Biological evolution in humans, as in other living things on earth, is slow. Human intellectual capacity to transform the earth and its inhabitants can move readily. The purpose of this paper is to ask whether such advances may actually change humans themselves or human/computer hybrids, and what this implies as humans inevitably advance the capabilities of their digital “off‐spring”, ranging from autonomous digital devices to human/computer hybrids. Is “consciousness” an accidental consequence of ratiocination or must such capabilities by intentionally addressed?

Design/methodology/approach

Outlines the mixed relationship between humans and computers or “artificial intelligence” and how it may become necessary for the two to interact more closely.

Findings

The paper finds that humans will need to work closely with computerized intelligence to enhance their complexipacty and to address the growing complexity of decision‐making environments.

Social implications

Following the thoughts of Wallach and Allen in their book, Moral Machines (reviewed elsewhere in this issue), the need for heuristics will require the addition of an ethical judgment component – often considered subjective – to computer decision algorithms. The possibility that this would involve endowing computers with “consciousness” opens potentials for both utopian and dystopian manifestations.

Originality/value

Provides a possible insight into the reliance that may be placed upon computerized intelligence in the future.
The optimizing of design delivery services for facility owners
Authors: Sullivan Kenneth , Kashiwagi Jacob , Kashiwagi Dean
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The quality and efficiency of design and design services is declining. The authors propose that the problem is a systems delivery problem and not a technical competence issue. The purpose of this paper is to use a recently developed best value delivery methodology originally created for contractors to deliver design services. The authors have tested the process resulting in increased performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A deductive approach is used. Well documented, published and logical industry structure and the best value delivery model concepts are discussed. The methodology is to identify the deductive logic, and confirm it with test results. The methodology is to take a well‐proven delivery system that worked on construction, modify the existing design delivery model to match the construction model, and test the new model. Owing to the deductive nature of the methodology, the normal reliance on literature of existing practices and inductive exploratory research are not required.

Findings

Results confirm that design inefficiencies may be a systems problem. More research and testing is required to further substantiate the findings presented in this paper.

Originality/value

A system solution that creates a win‐win result will have a tremendous potential in the designer industry.
Quantitative validation of budgeting methods and suggestion of a new calculation method for the determination of maintenance costs
Authors: Bahr Carolin , Lennerts Kunnibert
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a critical analysis of today's most common calculation methods for maintenance budgets in Europe. The methods are quantitatively validated using the real lifecycle data of 17 exemplary buildings. As a result, a new approach for the budgeting of maintenance measures is suggested which helps to define the real budgeting costs more accurately.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper starts with a theoretical definition and critical discussion of the different budgeting methods. All methods are quantitatively validated using real data analysis. Analysed is the lifecycle data of 17 school or office buildings. The maintenance costs previously calculated using the existing calculation methods can thus be contrasted with the real maintenance costs and validated. The development of a new calculation method aims at the elimination of the shortcomings of the existing methods.

Findings

The paper finds that the calculation methods used today are only partially suitable for the prediction of the financial requirements of building maintenance. Real‐life building maintenance costs follow certain cycles and change considerably over time. Recently, calculation methods particularly underestimate the first big maintenance peak which is reached approximately 30 years after a building's construction. It also became clear that it is essential to include certain influencing factors into the calculation, as the analytical methods do. The findings lead to the development of a new calculation method called practical adaptive budgeting of maintenance measures. This method is the first to differentiate between annual and one‐off maintenance measures and includes empirically determined correcting factors to take into account specific building characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

This paper's findings refer to the examination of 17 sample buildings. In order to be able to generalise the results, more research needs to be done using a higher number of sample buildings.

Practical implications

This paper contributes to the improvement of the prospective calculation of maintenance budgets. The new calculation method is the first to enable maintenance experts to determine their maintenance budgets in a transparent and scientific way so that the required financial means to carry out necessary maintenance measures can be made available at the right time.

Originality/value

Based on real maintenance data, it becomes possible for the first time to verify and validate theoretic calculation approaches from literature. The results are new findings that are useful in science as well as in real life.
Two condition indicators for building components based on reactive‐maintenance data
Authors: Hegazy Tarek , Singh Ahluwalia Shipra , Attalla Mohamed
Published: January 2010

Purpose

Sustaining the safety and operability of the civil infrastructure assets, including buildings, is a complex undertaking that requires a perpetual cycle involving inspection, and further decisions for renewal fund allocation. Inspection, which is the basis for all subsequent decisions, however, is subjective, costly, and time‐consuming. To circumvent inspection problems, this paper aims to develop indicators of the condition of building components, without inspection, using reactive‐maintenance data.

Design/methodology/approach

For that purpose, sample reactive‐maintenance data of 88 schools are obtained from the Toronto District School Board in Canada. The data are then analysed to identify two condition indicators for building components: the number of reactive‐maintenance work orders per year; and the cost of reactive‐maintenance work orders per year. The analysis then identifies threshold values that differentiate the good, fair, poor, and critical conditions of components. Accordingly, a condition prediction system has been developed and discussed in this paper.

Findings

The system has great potential benefits in saving the time and cost associated with indiscriminate inspections, and in providing accurate and timely data for asset renewal decisions.

Originality/value

The paper introduces an essential component of a comprehensive framework for building asset management: condition prediction and inspection planning.
Development of facilities management in Malaysia
Authors: Nizam Kamaruzzaman Syahrul , Marinie Ahmad Zawawi Emma
Published: January 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to provide better understanding of the practices and experiences of facilities management (FM) in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses contemporary roles, issues and future challenges facing FM in Malaysia. It also reviews other western countries where FM is better and more effectively managed. In addition, the paper generates ideas on the future plans and strategies for the development of FM in Malaysia.

Findings

The paper finds that Malaysia still lacks a maintenance and facilities culture. Many things need to be established in order to satisfy both the public and private sectors. Out‐sourcing is identified as one of the best options for FM in Malaysia, which may involve more companies, with more contracts being tendered out.

Originality/value

This literature review offers insight into FM in Malaysia. It is suggests that more technical expertise in this field should be encouraged in order to improve the status of FM in the country.
The practice of socialization and the socialization of practice
Authors: Antonacopoulou Elena P. , Pesqueux Yvon
Published: January 2010

Purpose

At the core of how societies operate, lies social interaction. Organizations as significant social bodies rely on social interaction both to get things done in order to remain sustainable and to also impart a contribution to the wider society. Understanding the dynamics of social interactions in the way social agents and social action take place through the lens of social practice theory could yield powerful insights both about practices of socialization as well as the socialization of practices. The purpose of this paper is to fundamentally reveal the tensions that such interactions expose and the dynamics in negotiating individual and collective priorities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a conceptual approach on the links to be established between practice and socialization.

Findings

This paper focuses on how a practice perspective provides valuable insights about how social agents get things done in organizations.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is linked with other papers in this issue where the dynamics in negotiating individual and collective priorities reveal the tensions that such interactions expose (“transaction”). This paper provides a useful foundation for examining why organization practices tend to have an institutional character. This issue reveals new possibilities for appreciating the emergent nature of socialization both as a practice and a process striving towards institutionalization.

Originality/value

This paper explores socialization as a practice that can provide new insights into the dynamics of social interaction.
Staff induction practices and organizational socialization
Authors: Antonacopoulou Elena P. , Güttel Wolfgang H.
Published: January 2010

Purpose

Socialization is one of the fundamental processes that define how collectivities emerge. Socialization underpins the social structures that shape not only how social actors interact in community but also the boundaries of action and the rules of engagement. In the context of organizations, socialization is a process that significantly shapes organization in the way core practices shape how things are done and why they are done in particular ways. This emphasis on consistency within and between practices is seen to be greatly facilitated by specific practices like staff induction. The purpose of this paper is to review the current conceptual and empirical research on staff induction as a process of organizational socialization and outlines some of the areas for future research particularly if a social practice perspective is adopted.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a systematic review of the relevant literature on organizational socialization and staff induction and outlines themes to which the debate can usefully be extended.

Findings

This paper focuses on how staff induction practices provide valuable insights about how social agents (especially newcomers) get socialized in organizations.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides a foundation for the various staff induction practices that other papers in this issue will be presenting. By outlining the current debate and insights from previous empirical research on staff induction, the objective is to extend the debate by outlining some new avenues for research that papers in the special issue both respond to and further explicate.

Originality/value

This paper explores staff induction and organizational socialization as a practice that can provide new insights into the dynamics of social interaction within organizations.
Becoming DragonBankers
Authors: Bjørkeng Kjersti , Clegg Stewart
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore organizational induction as socially situated learning processes. It presents an empirical study of inductees going through an induction program in a medium sized bank and discusses their induction as a dual process of becoming a practitioner and constructing practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The research performed is qualitative: ethnographic methods including participant observation and interviews are used, and analysed through an interpretative methodology.

Findings

The paper suggests that the divide between the teaching curricula in the induction course and the learning curricula in real life banking contribute to the inductees' ability and desire to engage in the construction of customer service officer practice; the divide itself legitimizes differences in particularities of the practice, and enhances the inductees' ability to enact, accomplish, and construct practice actively.

Research limitations/implications

The paper suggests induction should be viewed as opportunities for organizational learning as much as the training of newcomers to adhere to organizational standards.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel empirical case exploring socially situated learning. Looking at the confluence of authoring and performative acts allows us to expose the agentic dimension of practices; thus emphasising the construction involved in any practising.
Induction as an institutionalized and institutionalizing practice
Authors: Méric Jérôme , Jardat Rémi
Published: January 2010

Purpose

Induction and institutions may have followed the same tracks for a long period of time, but their interaction is scarcely analyzed. On the one hand, induction prepares newcomers to work in an organization that is completely new to them. On the other hand, institutions apparently need induction processes to maintain themselves in the same time they renew their members. The purpose of the present paper is to analyze induction as a practice, and to show how this practice turns itself into an institution, in spite of the embeddedness of action scripts into rational schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper introduces the case of a retail bank and a consulting company in France. Both have formalized induction systems, but they show enough differences to be considered as offering two complementary approaches of a same practice. The same method is applied to both fields. It consists of analyzing induction as an aggregate of ostensive (action scripts), performative (actions themselves) elements, and artefacts (material productions).

Findings

The successive steps of selections and integration of induction process appear as ways of testing the compatibility of newcomers with the immunity system of the organization. Moreover, throughout both case studies, the ostensive aspect of induction has remained stable for years, although markets and business models have changed a lot. Induction seems to be frozen as far as practicing (i.e. the implementation of action scripts) is concerned. The study of practising (i.e. the dialectic interaction of ostensive, performative elements, and artefacts) shows that constant and individually lead adaptive moves preserve the institutionalized practice without any shape of rigidity.

Originality/value

Stability vs change, uniformity vs diversity depends on the lens by which the paper it looks at practices. If it takes into consideration the ocean of actions that are performed day after day inside the firm, diversity and change appear. However, if it adopts a longer range look at what happens and correlate it to appropriate institutional factors, stability, and uniformity emerge from permanent change. That disqualifies both technocratic attempts to standardize performance from abstract patterns and naive designs of spontaneous emergence of “not embedded” behaviors.
Where is induction? Profession, peer group and organization in contention
Authors: Gherardi Silvia , Perrotta Manuela
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an interpretative framework of induction as a social practice in order to examine the ecology of the human and non‐human actors involved in the production of induction as a social effect.

Design/methodology/approach

Three case studies are conducted in different types of organizations (private, public, and network) in order to analyse the relation between the induction process and the actors that influence it.

Findings

Three different models of induction are described: in a professional bureaucracy, socialization precedes selections and the key actor is the profession; in a small private organization, induction is almost exclusively managed by the peer group in the form of seduction by the profession; in a large network of organizations, induction is explicitly managed by the organization and becomes a means to transmit the organizational culture.

Research limitations/implications

In the description of the empirical data, it is shown how an individual undergoes induction into the organization when he/she undergoes seduction (by the profession). Nevertheless, the models could be improved by the study of a larger sample of organizations.

Originality/value

This paper shows that induction is not the effect of solely the encounter between individual and organization, because two other agents are involved in the process, namely the profession and the peer group.
Corporate tax shield or fraud? Insight from Nigeria
Authors: Ebeh Ezeoha Abel , Ogamba Ebele
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish whether inefficiency in a tax system and the likely difficulty in resolving tax matters can reduce the appeal for tax shield as incentive for debt financing, and by so doing exacerbate the cases of tax fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

A review approach/theoretical approach is adopted in the paper, where, in addition to reviewing literature on the relationship between tax incentives and corporate financing, the paper examines the structure of the Nigerian tax system, the gaps, and some pending tax cases involving foreign firms in Nigeria. Based on some theoretical judgments, efforts were made to link the rising cases of tax frauds to the dwindling appeal for tax shield as an incentive for the use of debt.

Findings

The study reveals that, as in the case of Nigeria, an environment of multiple tax system reduces incentives to pay tax or for voluntary compliance; that the exclusion of crucial non‐debt tax shelters such as depreciation, heightens pressure on the use of debt‐based tax shelters; and that controversies on deductibility make it difficult to distinguish between criminal and civil proceedings in tax cases.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is only theoretical. The number of cases captured is very limited. However, the issue of tax frauds among corporate entities in the country remains very popular.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to examine the likelihood of an inefficient tax environment to reduce the appeal of tax shield as an incentive to debt financing.
Insurance law: fit for purpose in the twenty‐first century?
Authors: Swaby Gerald
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical examination of the current law and the proposed changes made by the Law Commission, after consultation, in relation to non‐fraudulent pre‐contractual duties in insurance law.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is addressed using case law, statutes, current academic and law commission publications in the UK and Australia.

Findings

First, the paper finds that the current state of the law is unfair in relation to consumers and small businesses and much reform is needed to rebalance the nature of insurance contracts to reflect modern day practice.

Research limitations/implications

This work does not address detailed issues in relation to fraudulent misrepresentations.

Practical implications

The law will be brought into line with current practice by the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Originality/value

This paper will be of interest to legal practitioners and academics and those in the insurance industry.
Labor legislations for improving quality of work life in Nepal
Authors: Raj Adhikari Dev , Gautam Dhruba Kumar
Published: January 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to review how far Nepalese firms are complying quality of work life (QWL) provisions of the Labor laws and to assess expectations of union leaders on different dimensions of QWL.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is mainly based on a literature survey. To answer the research, three different labor laws are reviewed. In order to understand expectation of union leaders, a questionnaire survey is administered.

Findings

In Nepalese workplaces, the QWL situation is deteriorating and thus commitment of the part of government, employers, and union leaders is required to work on QWL initiatives and to create a sound and harmonious industrial relations environment.

Research limitations/implications

There are various dimensions affecting QWL initiatives. However, in this study only labor legislation is taken as a measure to examine QWL initiatives. Similarly, to understand expectations towards different dimensions of QWL only views of union leaders are collected. No other views than those of union leaders are considered.

Practical implications

The clear deviation in the implementation of labor laws and widening expectation gap of union leaders can be referred as a poor QWL situation in Nepalese firms. This paper clearly makes an open debate on different QWL issues and provides clues for researchers in making future studies of the QWL situation in Nepal.

Originality/value

A paper of this kind focusing on QWL and labor legislation together with inputs from literature has never been written and published before. This is the original contribution of the authors to familiarize readers with the situation of QWL in Nepalese organizations.
Hamada's equation, the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 and the UK Companies Act of 2006
Authors: Paulo S.
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that Hamada's equation, which is used operationally to evaluate changes in capital structure as a result of changes in financial leverage, is subject to a number of non‐trivial deficiencies. Each of these deficiencies is of sufficient importance to nullify the fundamental purpose of this equation, render its function impossible, and epistemologically contradict its functioning. Moreover, to the extent that it is dependent on the empirically invalid capital asset pricing model (CAPM), Hamada's equation defies basic requirements of sound research methodology. Since it cannot do what it purports to do and is an operational fiction, it cannot assist directors with capital structure valuations in terms of Section 172 of the UK Companies Act of 2006. Further, if used operationally, is likely to contravene Section 807 §1348 of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002.

Design/methodology/approach

A secondary survey of Hamada's equation, recent UK and US legislation and the literature of corporate financial management is undertaken in order to examine whether the fundamental purpose, function and functioning of this equation could validly and reliably achieve what it purports to achieve.

Findings

The derivation of Hamada's equation assumes perfect competition, yet to achieve its fundamental purpose and its function it is dependent on financial markets being inefficient and imperfectly competitive. Thus, its functioning requires a state that its mathematical derivation negates. Epistemologically, this equation is unsound, and since it is also dependent on an empirically invalid approach to the calculation of the cost of capital, the CAPM, Hamada's equation is an invalid valuation equation.

Originality/value

This paper shows that Hamada's equation defies basic requirements of sound research methodology, cannot assist directors with their duties in terms of Section 172 of the UK Companies Act of 2006 with regard to capital structure and financial leverage management, and is in conflict with Section 807 § 1348 of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002.
A causality analysis of the FDI‐wages‐productivity nexus in China
Authors: Ramasamy Bala , Yeung Matthew
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between foreign direct investment (FDI), wages and productivity in China. The direction of causality among these variables is also to be emphasized.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a system of equations and test the relationships based on a vector autoregressive regression (VAR) model and two‐step generalized method of moments (GMM)‐type estimation approach. They use a panel data set of China's provinces for a 20‐year time period, 1988‐2007, and also distinguish between the coastal and inland provinces.

Findings

The result confirms the cheap labor argument for China, although this particularly true for inland provinces. In the coastal provinces, FDI inflow influences the wage rates upwards. FDI also has a positive effect on productivity, particularly in the coastal provinces, but does not act as a significant determinant of FDI.

Research limitations/implications

Factors other than wage rates and labor productivity are also important determinants of FDI. This paper focuses on the interplay of these three variables, while assuming other factors constant.

Practical implications

Cheap labor as an attraction of FDI is a short term policy. Improvements in productivity should be the focus both in the coastal and the inland provinces. A conducive business environment, a suitable education policy and incentives for greater R&D contribute toward improving labor productivity, which in turn attracts greater FDI inflow.

Originality/value

The paper provides empirical evidence on the direction of causality between FDI inflow, wages rates and labor productivity in one system of equations.
The impact of political behaviours on internationalisation
Authors: Menzies Jane L. , Orr Stuart
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a model of cooperation between internationalising businesses and local and host country governments in the context of Australian companies internationalising to China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a model for the political dimensions of internationalising based on corporate political theory and the cooperative view of management. Data were collected from personal interviews with representatives from 40 Australian organisations with businesses or operations in China. The data were analysed using NVivo.

Findings

Assistance provided by the Australian government was often sought and was perceived to be beneficial. Most participants experienced policies and regulations which affected their entry modes. In ten cases they acted as barriers and significantly influenced entry mode choice. The majority of participants viewed the development of relationships with the Chinese government as important and employed a variety of relationship behaviours. Over half of the participants identified the need to understand and deal with the psychically distant government structures of the Chinese government, namely government intervention in business.

Practical implications

The model links the organisational objectives of businesses internationalising to China, understanding the political/regulatory environment, selecting an entry mode and developing/maintaining a successful business. To achieve these objectives corporate political behaviour must reflect the sovereign powers in place at the time.

Originality/value

The paper presents a model which develops the literature for the political dimensions of internationalisation. It also presents empirical data on the political dimensions of internationalising into China. These findings will assist businesses in understanding political factors when internationalising to China.
Are the forces that cause China's trade surplus with the USA good?
Authors: Leightner Jonathan E.
Published: January 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptually argue that China's trade surplus with the USA is not good.

Design/methodology/approach

Net exporters (like China) give up current consumption in order to gain claims against future production. This paper argues that the reasons why China is trading current consumption for claims on future production are not good.

Findings

There are strong reasons to believe that China's trade surplus with the USA is not healthy for either China or the USA.

Originality/value

Other scholars have discussed the trading of the present for the future that is involved in trade surpluses, but no one (to the author's knowledge) has discussed when such a trade is good or bad.
Export capacity impact factors on Chinese SMEs
Authors: Su Liping , Adams John
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the main impact factors on the export capacity of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Fujian Province, China.

Design/methodology/approach

A model containing internal and external impact factors on the export capacity of SMEs was developed. Data were collected by e‐mail questionnaire surveys from random samples of SMEs in Fujian Province and 47 usable responses were statistically analyzed by SPSS14.0 using frequencies, t‐tests, correlation and linear regression.

Findings

The analysis shows that the government and home and export markets constitute the external impact factors while resource availability has an important internal impact on the export capacity of SMEs in Fujian. Firm scale, cultural differences and business networks do not influence the export capacity of SMEs; however, management, products, experience and geographical location have an indirect effect.

Practical implications

The findings of this study suggest that SMEs in Fujian need to seek more support from government and explore more international markets. It is suggested that an SME export support system should be established by local government in order to better promote the acquisition of resources, product innovation and business network development.

Originality/value

This study offers a first insight into the understanding of Fujian SMEs' export context and explores the relationships between (theorized) impact factors on SME export capacity at the micro level.
Nominal level and actual strength of China's intellectual property protection under TRIPS agreement
Authors: Shen Guobing
Published: January 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the measurement of nominal level and actual strength of China's intellectual property protection (IPP), and examine whether the increase of actual protection strength (APS) is positive or negative impact on China's provincial economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified approach, based on Ginarte‐Park's (GP's) and HL's approaches, is used to measure nominal level and APS of China's intellectual property rights (IPR) from 1995 to 2007. The pooled EGLS method (cross‐section fixed effect) is used to estimate the effect of China's IPP and other variables on provincial economic growth.

Findings

The paper proves that China's APS appears an increase with a phase. China's IPP level by GP approach is on the high side, whereas China's IPP level by HL approach is slightly on the low side. Nominal level of China's IPP is largely influenced by the legislation level, whereas APS mostly embodies the effect of implementing law level. The increase of China's APS has significant positive impact on provincial economic growth. However, at the outset of building an independent innovation country, too strong IPP is bad for the development of innovation capability, and bad for provincial economic growth.

Research limitations/implications

Because the APS is unknown, it is impossible to use APS as the dependent variable to estimate the weights of the main influencing factors. The method that the paper assumes three main factors the same weights is second best choice. Thus, several different weights are supplemented to measure the distribution values of China's APS.

Practical implications

China's APS quantified by a modified approach and strong evidences can be used to estimate the effect on economic growth. Policy effectiveness could be maximized at seeking the endogenous benefit balance between strengthening IPP and promoting economic development.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a modified approach to measure the APS of China's IPR, and proves that the reinforcement of China's APS is beneficial to promoting provincial economic growth. However, at the outset, too strong IPP is harmful.
Pharmacological approaches to methamphetamine dependence: a focused review
Authors: Karila Laurent , Weinstein Aviv , Aubin Henri‐Jean , Benyamina Amine , Reynaud Michel , Batki Steven L.
Published: February 2010

Methamphetamine dependence is a serious worldwide public health problem with major medical, psychiatric, socioeconomic and legal consequences. Various neuronal mechanisms implicated in methamphetamine dependence have suggested several pharmacological approaches. A literature search from a range of electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, the NIDA research monograph index and the reference list of clinicaltrials.gov) was conducted for the period from January 1985 to October 2009. There were no restrictions on the identification or inclusion of studies in terms of publication status, language and design type. A variety of medications have failed to show efficacy in clinical trials, including a dopamine partial agonist (aripiprazole), GABAergic agents (gabapentin) and serotonergic agents (SSRI, ondansetron, mirtazapine). Three double‐blind placebo‐controlled trials using modafinil, bupropion and naltrexone have shown positive results in reducing amphetamine or methamphetamine use. Two studies employing agonist replacement medications, one with d‐amphetamine and the other with methylphenidate, have also shown promise. Despite the lack of success in most studies to date, increasing efforts are being made to develop medications for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence and several promising agents are targets of further research.
Identification and characterization of E. coli CRISPR‐cas promoters and their silencing by H‐NS
Authors: Pul Ümit , Wurm Reinhild , Arslan Zihni , Geißen René , Hofmann Nina , Wagner Rolf
Published: February 2010

Inheritable bacterial defence systems against phage infection and foreign DNA, termed CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), consist of cas protein genes and repeat arrays interspaced with sequences originating from invaders. The Cas proteins together with processed small spacer‐repeat transcripts (crRNAs) cause degradation of penetrated foreign DNA by unknown mechanisms. Here, we have characterized previously unidentified promoters of the Escherichia coli CRISPR arrays and cas protein genes. Transcription of precursor crRNA is directed by a promoter located within the CRISPR leader. A second promoter, directing cas gene transcription, is located upstream of the genes encoding proteins of the Cascade complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the DNA‐binding protein H‐NS is involved in silencing the CRISPR‐cas promoters, resulting in cryptic Cas protein expression. Our results demonstrate an active involvement of H‐NS in the induction of the CRISPR‐cas system and suggest a potential link between two prokaryotic defence systems against foreign DNA.
Hermeneutics and observation – a discussion
Authors: Nåden Dagfinn
Published: February 2010

NÅDEN D. Nursing Inquiry 2010: 17: 75–81 Hermeneutics and observation – a discussion

This study deals with hermeneutics and observation. The purpose is to discuss some central concerns of hermeneutics in relation to observation as a research method. Attention is centred on the hermeneutic process, preunderstanding, understanding, sensitivity, the fore‐conception of completeness and language. Examples from an observation study are presented. The study ends with a discussion of the importance of proceeding without haste and of silence in observational hermeneutic research. The researcher must allow oneself to be influenced by these qualities if the observations are to be undertaken in a hermeneutic spirit. Physical time must be of lesser importance than inner time. The possibility then exists for the researcher to wander the hermeneutic spiral to the greatest depth possible.
Predictors of antidepressant adherence: Results of a Japanese Internet‐based survey
Authors: Shigemura Jun , Ogawa Tetsuo , Yoshino Aihide , Sato Yutaka , Nomura Soichiro
Published: February 2010

Aim:  The purpose of the present study was to identify the psychosocial/pharmacological predictors of antidepressant (AD) adherence.

Methods:  An Internet‐based survey was conducted among 1151 Japanese individuals with major depressive disorder. Subjects were asked to report their degree of non‐adherence for each AD taken using a 5‐point Likert scale: 0, never forget; 1, rarely forget; 2, occasionally forget; 3, sometimes forget; and 4, often forget. The highest number reported among each subject was assigned as their low adherence index (LAI). Individuals with an LAI ≥ 3 were defined as members of the low adherence (LA) group. Predictors of LA was analyzed using bivariate and multivariate models, both among the total number of subjects and single AD subgroup (n = 657).

Results:  Nearly one‐third of subjects (n = 381, 33.1%) reported LA. On bivariate analysis, LA was associated with lower age, worker or student status (vs unemployed or housewife), higher daily dosing frequency (DDF), low drug satisfaction, and a neutral/negative doctor–patient relationship (DPR; P < 0.001). In a multivariate model, LA was predicted by age (≤34 years: odds ratio [OR], 1.64), worker or student status (OR, 1.87), higher DDF (≥twice daily: OR, 1.61), and neutral/negative DPR (OR, 1.54; P < 0.01). Among the single‐AD subgroup, adherence was similar between those on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin‐noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors and tricyclics. Use of neither medication was associated with adherence in a multivariate model.

Conclusion:  LA was predicted by lower age, worker or student status, higher DDF, and neutral/negative DPR. Adherence was not significantly different between subjects on newer agents and tricyclics.
From Monterrey to Doha: Taxation and Financing for Development
Authors: Lesage Dries , McNair David , Vermeiren Mattias
Published: February 2010

Ill‐conceived tax policies cost developing countries vast sums of public revenue, but this issue has received relatively little attention within the Financing for Development (FfD) process of the United Nations. The outcome documents of the FfD conferences in Monterrey (2002) and Doha (2008) largely neglect globalisation‐related tax issues such as under‐taxation of multinationals and capital flight to tax havens. This article analyses how this topic has been marginalised by powerful interests, ideas and institutional factors, but it also shows how a growing coalition of governments, international organisations and NGOs has recently succeeded in raising the issue much higher up the international agenda.
Changing Institutions to Protect Regional Heritage: A Case for Geographical Indications in the Indian Agrifood Sector
Authors: Jena Pradyot R. , Grote Ulrike
Published: February 2010

Geographical Indications have evolved in recent years to protect indigenous knowledge in the agrifood sector without hampering the ethos of free trade. Supporters regard them as useful tools for protecting national property rights and offering new export opportunities, while opponents consider them as barriers to trade. This article provides theoretical justifications for them, based on insights from the New Institutional Economics, and cites Darjeeling tea and Basmati rice as Indian examples highlighting some of their dynamic institutional aspects. The new legal framework for GIs is mainly based on the international level.
The Portability of Pension Rights: General Principles and the Caribbean Case
Authors: Forteza Alvaro
Published: February 2010

The portability of pension rights is an increasingly important issue in the Caribbean. The large and increasing flows of migrant workers, including both permanent and temporary migrants, the small size of the domestic economies and the process of regional integration and economic openness call for effective means to make pensions portable. This article presents a select survey of the literature on pension portability, and reviews the progress made by the Caribbean countries as well as some remaining challenges in the light of the international experience.
RECLAIMING THE PATIENT'S VOICE AND SPIRIT IN DYING: AN INSIGHT FROM ISRAEL
Authors: SHALEV CARMEL
Published: February 2010

In the latter half of the 20th century, Western medicine moved death from the home to the hospital. As a result, the process of dying seems to have lost its spiritual dimension, and become a matter of prolonging material life by means of medical technology. The novel quandaries that arose led in turn to medico‐legal regulation. This paper describes the recent regulation of dying in Israel under its Dying Patient Law, 2005. The Law recognizes advance directives in principle, but limits their effect and form through complex medico‐legal artifices. It reflects a culture that places high value on both scientific medicine and the sanctity of life as such, and illustrates a medical culture that pitches battle against death. At the same time, the Law constructs the will of the individual in a medico‐legal language that is alien to the lay person. The paper suggests an alternative approach to advance care planning that is patient‐centred and addresses the psycho‐social needs of the individual in terms of her relational autonomy. From this perspective, advance care planning becomes an opportunity to extract the patient from the medical context and allow her to speak about her approaching death with close ones in her own terms of reference. To this end, there is a need for facilitation of an intimate encounter where patients can speak about their concerns with their loved ones. The paper also presents a methodological approach of attentive listening, which can be applied across diverse cultures and circumstances.
END‐OF‐LIFE CARE IN THE 21st CENTURY: ADVANCE DIRECTIVES IN UNIVERSAL RIGHTS DISCOURSE
Authors: BEŠIREVIĆ VIOLETA
Published: February 2010

This article explores universal normative bases that could help to shape a workable legal construct that would facilitate a global use of advance directives. Although I believe that advance directives are of universal character, my primary aim in approaching this issue is to remain realistic. I will make three claims. First, I will argue that the principles of autonomy, dignity and informed consent, embodied in the Oviedo Convention and the UNESCO Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, could arguably be regarded as universal bases for the global use of advance directives. Second, I will demonstrate that, despite the apparent consensus of ethical authorities in support of their global use, it is unlikely, for the time being, that such consensus could lead to unqualified legal recognition of advance directives, because of different understandings of the nature of the international rules, meanings of autonomy and dignity which are context‐specific and culture‐specific, and existing imperfections that make advance directives either unworkable or hardly applicable in practice. The third claim suggests that the fact that the concept of the advance directive is not universally shared does not mean that it should not become so, but never as the only option in managing incompetent patients. A way to proceed is to prioritize work on developing higher standards in managing incompetent patients and on progressing towards the realization of universal human rights in the sphere of bioethics, by advocating a universal, legally binding international convention that would outlaw human rights violations in end‐of‐life decision‐making.
‘Who I work with is important’: dyslexic students' narratives about the benefits of grouping for instruction in Caribbean classrooms
Authors: BLACKMAN STACEY
Published: February 2010

This article utilises a multiple case study strategy to explore the narratives of Caribbean students with dyslexia on grouping for instruction. It presents a model on learner engagement which highlights students' cognitions about the social and cognitive aspects of learning and the processes that contribute to building knowledge and understanding. The qualitative research design combines multiple methods of data collection, mainly focus groups, in‐depth interviews, documentary evidence along with narrative observations to capture the experiences of students. This research also demonstrates that students are the most powerful resource available to teachers, and that engaging them in dialogue can facilitate the development of effective pedagogies for teaching.
Cochlear implants in the inclusive classroom: a case study
Authors: JACHOVA ZORA , KOVACEVIC JASMINA
Published: February 2010

This article presents a case study of a child aged 12 years with a cochlear implant who is attending a mainstream educational setting in Skopje, FYR Macedonia. The study, which uses both qualitative and quantitative data, took place over a period of 12 months. It illustrates the importance of professional development and training of teachers and a need to emphasise a range of intervention strategies. It also highlights the challenges facing children and young people with cochlear implants in schools and suggests a range of systemic approaches to addressing the issues raised.
Quoting ethnicity: Constructing dialogue in Aotearoa/New Zealand1
Authors: D'Arcy Alexandra
Published: February 2010

Within the system of direct quotation, speakers have a number of resources at their disposal from which they can select to construct dialogue. This article presents an investigation of the ways in which Maori and Pakeha English speakers deploy these resources. The analysis reveals extensive differences in the construction of dialogue between Maori and Pakeha which include, but are not limited to, quantitative differences in the use of individual verbs of quotation. Distinct effects of tense/temporal reference and mimetic re‐enactment permeate the systems, and patterns of use surrounding the zero quotative emerge as central to many points of differentiation. It is argued that these patterns form distinct strategies in the deployment of quotative resources and in this sense are indexical of ethnic identity in Aotearoa/New Zealand.