bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How work context and age shape political skill
Authors: Oerder Katharina , Blickle Gerhard , K. Summers James
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to seek to predict increases in political skill, and more specifically networking ability, based on hierarchical position, time involvement, and the moderating effects of job incumbents’ age.

Design/methodology/approach

– These hypotheses were tested in a panel design with hierarchical regression analyses over two years with 150 works councillors from Germany. Self-reported political skill, time involvement, and position were measured at time 1, and political skill was measured again two years later.

Findings

– Works council members increase their political skill when they hold a higher position and have more time involvement. Further, councillors’ age was found to moderate these relationships. That is, older councillors develop political skill (specifically networking ability) at a higher rate than middle aged employees.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research should test the hypotheses in different populations and also include other ratings of political skill.

Practical implications

– It might not always be necessary to have available relevant social skills for a new job already, as these skills can develop over time.

Social implications

– Political skill is a resource at the workplace with the potential to promote fairness, health, and well-being.

Originality/value

– The present findings add a new perspective to interpersonal skill development: certain job demands moderated by age can change a job incumbent's social skills, particularly networking ability, over time and make her or him more capable of doing well. Thus, it is not always necessary to have available relevant social skills for a new job, as these relevant skills can developed within the context of the new job.
Principals with and without performance measures means no change?
Authors: Lindberg Erik
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper seeks to explore how principals use their time when the requirement exceeds the activities are desirable. In the scholarly debate it has been pointed out the heads think that too much time is devoted for the financial and administrative issues, or to solve acute problems. This means that there is not enough time to work with educational issues. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how principals use the time they have devoted for the educational area and what activities they prioritize. It will also increase the knowledge of reasons behind their prioritizing and reflect on some of the consequences. Results relate to the question if introduction of performance measures has increased a short-term perspective on student performance or if it works as a suitable tool for the principals to achieve the schools goals and to create more effective schools in the long run. The question if stakeholders can get required insight by the performance measures as they are designed today and if the principals got the right incentives is raised.

Design/methodology/approach

– A quantitative approach is used and a mail questionnaire was distributed to the principals in all upper secondary schools in Sweden and a comparative cross-sectional study was conducted.

Findings

– Principals’ perceptions suggest that, their prioritization when working with educational issues is influenced by a more short-term perspective and that they prioritize teaching, which have a much faster impact on student outcome, over long-term school development which facilitate the conditions for the former. These findings increase the insight into the need, for as well stakeholders as principals, to develop performance measures to stimulate change when needed.

Practical implications

– These findings have implications on the direction of the development of performance measures. The result points out the lack of transparence for stakeholders and uncovers the need to know when change and long-term development is ongoing or not. The study show how principals need incentives for prioritizing these activities and that this can be done by the stakeholder by designing required measurements for as well teaching as long-term school development when change is needed or to maintain a successful process.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfills an identified need to study how the performance measures of today can be complemented with measures for stakeholders for increased insight in ongoing activities with development and required change for long-term school success.
Why the leadership of change is especially difficult for Chinese principals
Authors: Chen Shuangye , Ke Zheng
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– There is research evidence emerging to show that Chinese principal leadership appears to have a limited effect on the large-scale and deep school changes, but reasons for this have not been well explored. The purpose of this paper is to offer a conceptually framed explanation. By using China as an illustrative case, the authors propose using a macro-institutional framework to examine how principal leadership is mediated institutionally and why the leadership of change is especially difficult for Chinese principals.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to facilitate a contextualized understanding, the three institutional pillars developed by Scott's (2001) were used as a macro-institutional framework to explain difficulties confronting principal leadership in China when making deep and sustainable school changes from regulative, normative and cognitive perspectives.

Findings

– The appeared change inertia and school changes on surface can partially be attributed to the cultural and institutional contexts of Chinese principal leadership. For principals, professional incentives and their change initiatives are institutionally and culturally constrained. Consequently, Chinese principals are left with very limited professional space to focus on making visible and endurable student-centered school changes.

Originality/value

– This is a first macro-institutional application to address principal leadership of change from the context of China. The regulative, normative and cognitive aspects are analytically useful to differentiate and manifest the institutional complexity and intricacy which are mediating principal leadership impact on school changes. This also illuminates the exploration of context sensitive leadership research to capture context features and understand context-embedded logics.
Consumers’ preference fit and ability to express preferences in the use of online mass customization
Authors: Moon Heekang , Lee Hyun-Hwa
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to investigate consumers’ intention to use mass customization by incorporating preference fit and their ability to express preferences into the theory of planned behaviour and to examine how consumers perceive behavioural control over the process of online mass customization (OMC). Preference fit, which refers to fit between consumer preference and product attributes, and ability to express preferences were integrated into theory of planned behaviour as two belief variables related to OMC.

Design/methodology/approach

– In total, 346 potential respondents were invited via e-mail to participate in the present study acquired from an independent marketing company. We conducted a self-administrated online survey using a video clip with voice instructions to demonstrate the OMC process as a stimulus.

Findings

– The results suggest that consumers’ attitudes and perceived behavioural control predicted their OMC use intentions. Preference fit positively affected consumers’ attitudes towards OMC as a behavioural belief, and the ability to express preferences positively influenced preference fit but did not predict perceived behavioural control as a control belief. Clothing involvement was a positive predictor of preference fit and the ability to express preferences.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the OMC literature by suggesting a theoretical framework by extending the theory of planned behaviour and identifying consumers’ belief variables as antecedents of attitudes and perceived behavioural control in the OMC context. In addition, the study examines the role of clothing involvement in facilitating consumers’ OMC beliefs, suggesting the crucial role of clothing involvement as one of individual factors extending theory of planned behaviour framework, in the OMC process.
Emotional antecedents and outcomes of service recovery
Authors: Riscinto Kozub Kristen , Anthony O’Neill Martin , A. Palmer Adrian
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study was to investigate the service recovery experience in the luxury hotel industry by introducing emotions as a predictor of future behavioural intention and to compare traditional cognitive measures of satisfaction following a recovery process with measures based on affect.

Design/methodology/approach

– A mixed-methods approach was adopted comprising a main quantitative study, preceded by an exploratory qualitative study.

Findings

– The study provides further support for the use of emotions in understanding consumer behaviour following a service failure.

Research limitations/implications

– As an abstract concept, we have only limited physical, measurable manifestation of emotions, and the construct is difficult to operationalise in social sciences research. Furthermore, this research has required retrospective self-reporting of emotions.

Practical implications

– The use of emotions can provide a better diagnostic tool for understanding attitudes that customers go away with following a service failure, rather than concentrating on cognitive measures of performance.

Originality/value

– The study has provided further support for the use of emotions in understanding consumer behaviour following a service failure.
The Albert Einstein archives digitization project: opening hidden treasures
Authors: Mendelsson Dalia , Falk Edith , L. Oliver Amalya
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the organizational and technological processes and strategic choices that led to the successful digitization project of the Albert Einstein Archives.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a case study of the major challenges that were associated with the project. These include: the integration of the archives in the academic environment; the management of a project of such magnitude within the university organization and between different stakeholders and the technological aspects of the project and user experience.

Findings

– A digitization project requires not only the archival staff expertise but also information specialists, IT staff, analysts and usually the digitization staff for processing the archival material. Finding the common language between all the professionals involved as well as building a good strategic plan are the keys to a successful project.

Research limitations/implications

– The planning and implementation of such a project requires a significant budget, manpower project management, hardware, software and intra- and inter-organizational cooperation and coordination.

Originality/value

– The phenomenon of digitizing unique and exclusive archival data by universities is becoming an innovative contribution of hidden goods to the public at large. This paper offers strategic insights for the planning of similar digitizing projects, particularly in an academic environment.
Third sector organizations and the co-production of health innovations
Authors: Windrum Paul
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the roles played by third sector organizations in forming and managing health innovation networks, and their contribution to the co-production of new health services.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using data collected in four case studies, the findings highlight the central role of third sector organizations in forming and organizing public-private health networks.

Findings

– They are trusted organizations, commonly patient advocates, with perceived neutrality. Members of these organizations take leading roles in innovations networks, using their excellent network connections and their prominent positions within their organizations to leverage competences and funding. A key asset of key third sector individuals is their prior experience of public and private sector organizations and, hence, the ability to move across public-private boundaries.

Practical implications

– The research findings have important implications for practitioners. The author identifies a set of key drivers and barriers for the successful organization of innovation networks and the innovative services they develop. Prior knowledge and experience of partners, often linked to personal ties, in initial partner selection but are also important for trust and the effective organization of complementary competences during innovation projects. The absence of direct competitors – whether public, private or third sector organizations – is also highlighted. Non-rivalry and different partners’ interests in the outcomes of the innovation reduces moral hazard and the associated costs of setting up and monitoring formal contracts. Heterogeneity requires flexibility by actors; to understand partners’ different values, cultures, and organizational drivers. Finally, the research findings identify policy and practitioner enrolment as critical for the successful roll out and diffusion of service innovations.

Originality/value

– The paper examines an important, but under researched issue – the role of third-sector organizations in collaborative innovation projects.
User liaisons’ perspective on behavior and outcome control in IT projects
Authors: Liu Shan , Wang Lin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which user liaison behavior and outcome control influence the process performance of information technology (IT) projects and how the IT experience, behavior observability, and outcome measurability of user liaisons affect behavior and outcome control.

Design/methodology/approach

– A research model that integrates the IT experience, behavior observability, outcome measurability, behavior and outcome control, and performance from the perspective of user liaisons is developed. Quantitative data are obtained from 63 completed IT projects. Partial least squares technique is used to evaluate the measurement model. Hypotheses are tested through hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

– User liaisons with high IT experience exhibit decreased behavior control but increased outcome control. The outcome control of user liaisons is effective in the process performance of IT projects, whereas their behavior control insignificantly affects performance. However, the behavior observability and outcome measurability of user liaisons strengthen the effectiveness of behavior and outcome control. The behavior and outcome control of user liaisons also vary across different industries and project types.

Originality/value

– The results of this study highlight the joint effects of the IT experience, abilities, and control decisions of user liaisons. Although the outcome control of user liaisons is an appropriate control mechanism in IT projects in consideration of the strengths of these liaisons in business knowledge and their control expenditures, the behavior control of user liaisons may also be effective in process performance if these liaisons possess high levels of behavior observability and outcome measurability.
A synergy measurement model to support the pre-deal decision making in mergers and acquisitions
Authors: Garzella Stefano , Fiorentino Raffaele
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective synergy measurement model to support the decision-making process in mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Design/methodology/approach

– Relevant literature is reviewed and critically assessed. An interpretive methodology is used to analyse empirical data from a questionnaire survey and interviews of M&A experts. A framework is provided with the objective to support the process of synergy measurement and the success of pre-deal planning.

Findings

– The authors find several mismatches in synergy measurement practices. The strategic factors, which are considered very relevant to generating reliable forecasts, are surprisingly not adequately quantified. On the contrary, a synergy measurement model may integrate the assessment of these factors: the type of synergy, the size of synergy, the timing of synergy and the likelihood of achievement.

Practical implications

– The paper offers interesting implications for firms, advisors and consultants, pointing out that synergy measurement issues are related to the analysis of strategic factors affecting synergy. These findings suggest that the pre-planning process should integrate people and tools from different backgrounds, from strategy to accounting, to effectively measure the synergy value. The authors also suggest the development of new tools in response to the needs of practitioners for best practices in M&A.

Originality/value

– This paper highlights that the effective use of synergy measurement models are critical to improve the success of M&A due diligence.
Extreme IPO underpricing
Authors: Tian Lihui , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to model the Chinese unique regulation changes with the supply-and-demand analytical framework and structure the relationship between initial public offerings (IPO) underpricing and institutional changes with the comparative static method. A well-functioning stock market is crucial to the transition into a market economy, but the Chinese stock market is somehow twisted with frequent government interventions, particularly the IPO market. Can the underpricing issue be mitigated in the changing institutional settings? Can the market-orientated incremental reform of regulations succeed in the Chinese stock market?

Design/methodology/approach

– The theoretical analysis confirms that IPO underpricing becomes relatively better with dynamic changes of relaxation of the approval and pricing systems. Collecting and examining the data of newly listed firms from 1993 to 2010, the influence of institutional changes on IPO underpricing with regressions, such as ordinary least square (OLS), bootstrap and two stage least square (2SLS) estimation methods was further empirically examined.

Findings

– The magnitude of the Chinese IPO underpricing during the past two decades is as high as 181.6 per cent on the average. The sizes of IPO underpricing significantly reduce with an increase in the issuing sizes and the ratios of price-earnings ratios. The dummy variables of government-approved regulations are negatively associated with IPO underpricing. The dummy variables of pricing regulations are positively related to IPO underpricing and the coefficients become smaller with newer regulations. Generally, the magnitude of the Chinese IPO underpricing decreases over time.

Originality/value

– This paper enriches the IPO literature by dynamically examining the effect of institutional changes on IPO underpricing in Chinese primary markets. We argue that institutional changes characterized by incremental marketization can help to alleviate extreme IPO underpricing and to promote financial development. The Chinese transition from the planning system to the market system in the IPO market will be a long and strenuous process, but it works.
Supervisor-subordinate guanxi and managers’ feedback-seeking behavior
Authors: Xie Jun , Peng Caodie , Wang Lin , Chu Xiaoping
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of supervisor-subordinate guanxi (SSG) on managers’ feedback-seeking behavior in the context of Chinese organizations, especially the mediating role of psychological expectations and the moderating role of political skill.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study sample comprised matched surveys from 252 supervisor-subordinate dyad in the People’s Republic of China. The subordinate managers completed measures of SSG, performance enhancement expectations, impression management expectations and political skill. The supervisors were asked to rate managers’ feedback-seeking behavior.

Findings

– Result show that SSG was positively related to managers’ feedback-seeking behavior. Performance enhancement expectations and impression management expectations partially mediated supervisor-subordinate guanxi’s influence on managers’ feedback-seeking behavior. Political skill positively moderated the relationships between SSG and managers’ feedback-seeking behavior in such a way that the relationships were stronger for managers higher in political skill than lower.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper not only helps for deeper understanding of managers’ feedback-seeking behavior but also provides a new perspective for exploring effective governance of Chinese local managers.

Originality/value

– This study provides preliminary evidence of the mediation effect of psychological expectations and the moderating effect of political skill in the relationship between SSG and managers’ feedback-seeking behavior. Additionally, the findings highlight the necessity of study on managers’ feedback-seeking behavior in the context of China to help advance the theoretical understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the effect of SSG on managers’ feedback-seeking behavior.
Social influence in group recommender systems
Authors: Alina Christensen Ingrid , Schiaffino Silvia
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose an approach to generate recommendations for groups on the basis of social factors extracted from a social network. Group recommendation techniques traditionally assumed users were independent individuals, ignoring the effects of social interaction and relationships among users. In this work the authors analyse the social factors available in social networks in the light of sociological theories which endorse individuals’ susceptibility to influence within a group.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach proposed is based on the creation of a group model in two stages: identifying the items that are representative of the majority's preferences, and analysing members’ similarity; and extracting potential influence from members’ interactions in a social network to predict a group's opinion on each item.

Findings

– The promising results obtained when evaluating the approach in the movie domain suggest that individual opinions tend to be accommodated to group satisfaction, as demonstrated by the incidence of the aforementioned factors in collective behaviour, as endorsed by sociological research. Moreover the findings suggest that these factors have dissimilar impacts on group satisfaction.

Originality/value

– The results obtained provide clues about how social influence exerted within groups could alter individuals’ opinions when a group has a common goal. There is limited research in this area exploring social influence in group recommendations; thus the originality of this perspective lies in the use of sociological theory to explain social influence in groups of users, and the flexibility of the approach to be applied in any domain. The findings could be helpful for group recommender systems developers both at research and commercial levels.
Can you measure IT? The UK experience of TechQual+
Authors: Hall Ian , Stephens Jessica , Kennedy Sarah
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The University of York Library, part of its Information Directorate, has successfully run an annual user survey using LibQUAL+ since 2008. The tool has proven invaluable in understanding user needs and measuring improvements. The ability to benchmark performance has been well received by university senior managers. Following this positive experience, the Directorate piloted the TechQual+ survey to assess its technology services. TechQual+ is a total market-survey tool developed on the same principles as LibQUAL+. York was the first university in the UK to do this. The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the experience and its relevance to information services.

Design/methodology/approach

– A team was established to co-ordinate the distribution of the survey, which was e-mailed to all university members. The survey was conducted over a period of three weeks in December 2011 using their web-based tool. The team worked with the survey providers to make amendments in order to comply with UK Data Protection legislation.

Findings

– The TechQual+ tool provided a rich set of data on the IT needs of University of York students and staff, including a wealth of comments. As the first use of the tool in the UK, a number of outcomes arose from the pilot: methods for running the survey in order to meet UK data protection requirements; feedback on the tool itself, with some questions not understood from a UK context; a rich set of results data, with some similarities (and several differences) to those available through LibQUAL+.

Originality/value

– The paper presents the first application of the TechQual+ survey in UK and discusses the issues faced when implementing it in a UK context. The case study will be of interest to libraries or converged services interested in assessing their IT provision.
Correlation between mechanical and surface properties of SLS parts
Authors: de Oliveira Setti Grazielle , Fernandes de Oliveira Marcelo , Alves Maia Izaque , Vicente Lopes da Silva Jorge , Savu Raluca , Joanni Ednan
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare the results from mechanical testing with measurements of surface-dependent properties performed on polyamide parts made by selective laser sintering (SLS) to assess a possible correlation between them.

Design/methodology/approach

– Fabrication of Nylon 12 (Duraform PA®) samples using different laser power levels and their characterization by tensile testing, roughness and Raman scattering measurements.

Findings

– Among the surface methods investigated, the results from Raman spectroscopy are the best ones, but methods dependent on surface analysis are not really suitable as indicators of the mechanical properties. The correlation coefficients for linear fitting obtained when the normalized results of mechanical properties are plotted against the surface properties are too low. Furthermore, the ambiguity between surface and mechanical data makes it impossible to use these surface properties for prediction purposes in the industrial environment.

Originality/value

– Quantitative evaluation and correlation between mechanical properties and surface properties of SLS-made samples.
Animaris Geneticus Parvus
Authors: Jansen Bo , L. Doubrovski Eugeni , C. Verlinden Jouke
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper investigates how designers exploit the full potential of additive manufacturing (AM). AM yields a broad range of advantageous properties including the possibility to fabricate mechanical multi-body structures.

Design/methodology/approach

– This case study explores the possibilities and limitations in designing mechanical multi-body structures for AM, focused on the development of a selective laser sintering (SLS) version of Theo Jansen’s “Strandbeest” walking mechanism, dubbed Animaris Geneticus Parvus (AGP). We discuss the design process and considerations involved and attempt to distill design guidelines.

Findings

– Novel structural solutions were developed to enable SLS fabrication of the AGP, specifically cross-shaped pivot pins, increased clearance between bodies, spacing studs, restricting axial play with pins, partial disassemblies and increased clearance around extremities. The result is a functioning walking mechanism of 74 components can be fabricated at once without human intervention.

Research limitations/implications

– This article represents a case study; although it does mention adapted design rules for SLS, its greatest contribution is the holistic approach – to integrate a number of engineering challenges in one prototypical manifestation.

Practical implications

– Part consolidation by AM could bring great benefits in future product design applications. The findings show that complex multi-body mechanical structures with more than 70 elements are feasible by AM without assembly. This presents new business opportunities for AM service bureaus and novel product opportunities for designers.

Originality/value

– As a case study, this article provides inspiration of the mechanical complexity beyond regular products – from original idea to end result. For researchers, key contribution is the approach in obtaining design optimization strategies which provides engineering designers with a new language to consider SLS.
Teaching metaliteracy: a new paradigm in action
Authors: Witek Donna , Grettano Teresa
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer a model of information literacy instruction that utilizes social media to teach metaliteracy as the foundation for information literacy today and articulate the effects of social media on students’ information-seeking behaviors and processes and complete the goals articulated in part one of this study (Witek and Grettano, 2012).

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was conducted in conjunction with the course rhetoric and social media, co-designed and co-taught by the authors. Data sources consisted of student work and methodologies including textual and rhetorical analysis and observation. Findings are analyzed and presented through the lens of the Association of College and Research Libraries Standards (2000) and Mackey and Jacobson’s (2011) metaliteracy framework.

Findings

– The study identified four effects of social media use on students’ information literacy practices and behaviors: information now comes to users; information recall and attribution are now social; evaluation is now social; and information is now open. Data illustrate metaliteracy in practice and tie examples of this to the authors’ pedagogical decisions.

Research limitations/implications

– Article offers a model for teaching information literacy in the context of participatory information environments which can be adapted by other practitioners. Authors concede that the small sample size, limited by course enrollment, limits the generalizability of the study findings to student populations as a whole.

Originality/value

– Valuable to information literacy instructors and researchers because it offers the first formal application of concepts theorized in Mackey and Jacobson’s (2011) metaliteracy framework to information literacy instruction.
Framing sustainability performance of supply chains with multidimensional indicators
Authors: Varsei Mohsen , Soosay Claudine , Fahimnia Behnam , Sarkis Joseph
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide a framework which can assist focal companies in the development of sustainable supply chains. Sustainable development from an industrial perspective has extended beyond organisational boundaries to incorporate a supply chain approach.

Design/methodology/approach

– The literature related to sustainable supply chain management is reviewed by incorporating concepts from four organisational theories, including the resource-based, institutional, stakeholder and social network perspectives, to illustrate key drivers and enablers of sustainability initiatives in the supply chain. A conceptual multidimensional framework is then developed that can be used for the initial assessment of supply chain sustainability.

Findings

– Development and assessment of sustainability in supply chains are being increasingly incorporated as part of supply chain management today. This paper presents a multidimensional framework which can serve as a tool for research scholars and supply chain practitioners in identifying and assessing various economic, environmental and social performance indicators.

Research limitations/implications

– The framework and approach presented are conceptual, and require additional and broader validation. Additional theories, at differing levels, such as individual behaviour theory, should be utilised to further enhance and evaluate the framework. Developing and integrating analytical models for prescriptive and practical supply chain solutions can enhance the applicability of the framework.

Practical implications

– The framework adopts a multidimensional approach to assessing and designing sustainable supply chains, as it not only incorporates economic and environmental dimensions but also provides a practical approach to quantifying and embedding the social dimension into decision-making. The framework helps industry practitioners in initial exploration of trade-offs among economic, environmental and social performance of supply chains, which, in turn, could assist them in creating a business case for sustainability.

Originality/value

– The paper is one of few studies that incorporates some of the key aspects of all three dimensions of sustainability in a single overarching framework for supply chains and offers significant theoretical contribution and implications for sustainable supply chain management.
Motivations of social entrepreneurs
Authors: Aileen Boluk Karla , Mottiar Ziene
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to empirically investigate the additional motives, aside from the social interests that motivate social entrepreneurs. This paper does so by using an inductive approach and specifically carrying out a re-examination of two pieces of research examining social entrepreneurship that were carried out independently by the two researchers in South Africa and Ireland.

Design/methodology/approach

– The method used for the paper is content analysis. Research using qualitative content analysis focuses on the characteristics of language, talk and conversation (Sarantakos, 2005) with attention paid to the content or contextual meaning of the text. Thus, a qualitative content analysis is concerned with an examination of the uses of language. According to Downe-Wambolt (1992, p. 314), the aim of content analysis is “to provide knowledge and understanding of the phenomenon under study”.

Findings

– The findings indicate that the informants do have additional motivations with respect to their business ventures including lifestyle motives, receiving acknowledgement and generating profit.

Originality/value

– Few published papers investigate the motives of social entrepreneurs and explore if there are indeed any additional motivations aside from community interests. The results in this study identify that indeed social entrepreneurs are motivated by an array of motivations. The motivations we discovered in our research illustrate an individual who is mutually concerned with their communities, the environments in which they live in, lifestyle interests, acknowledgement and profit which may suggest that such community contributions could be sustained over time.
Design optimization of a high-sensitive absolute micro-pressure sensor
Authors: Yu Zhongliang , Zhao Yulong , Li Lili , Li Cun , Meng Xiawei , Tian Bian
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to develop a piezoresistive absolute micro-pressure sensor for altimetry. For this application, both high sensitivity and high overload resistance are required. To develop a piezoresistive absolute micro-pressure sensor for altimetry, both high sensitivity and high-overload resistance are required. The structure design and optimization are critical for achieving the purpose. Besides, the study of dynamic performances is important for providing a solution to improve the accuracy under vibration environments.

Design/methodology/approach

– An improved structure is studied through incorporating sensitive beams into the twin-island-diaphragm structure. Equations about surface stress and deflection of the sensor are established by multivariate fittings based on the ANSYS simulation results. Structure dimensions are determined by MATLAB optimization. The silicon bulk micromachining technology is utilized to fabricate the sensor prototype. The performances under both static and dynamic conditions are tested.

Findings

– Compared with flat diaphragm and twin-island-diaphragm structures, the sensor features a relatively high sensitivity with the capacity of suffering atmosphere due to the introduction of sensitive beams and the optimization method used.

Originality/value

– An improved sensor prototype is raised and optimized for achieving the high sensitivity and the capacity of suffering atmosphere simultaneously. A general optimization method is proposed based on the multivariate fitting results. To simplify the calculation, a method to linearize the nonlinear fitting and optimization problems is presented. Moreover, a differential readout scheme attempting to decrease the dynamic interference is designed.
A method for the tin pest presence testing in SnCu solder alloys
Authors: Skwarek Agata , Kulawik Jan , Czerwinski Andrzej , Pluska Mariusz , Witek Krzysztof
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to develop a testing method for tin pest in tin – copper (SnCu) alloys. Tin pest is the allotropic transformation of white β-tin (body-centered tetragonal structure) into gray α-tin (diamond cubic structure) at temperatures < 13.2°C.

Design/methodology/approach

– Bulk samples of Sn99Cu1 weight per cent (purity, 99.9 weight per cent) were cast in the form of roller-shaped ingots with a diameter of 1.0 cm and a height of 0.7 cm. The samples were then divided into four groups. The first group included samples artificially inoculated with α-tin powder. The second group was inoculated in the same way as the samples from the first group but additionally subjected to mechanical pressing. The third group of ingots was only subjected to mechanical pressing. The fourth group of samples consisted of as-received roller-shaped ingots.All samples were divided into two groups and kept either at −18°C or at −30°C for the low-temperature storage test. For tin pest identification, a visual inspection was made, using a Hirox digital microscope over 156 days at intervals not longer than 14 days. The plot of the transformation rate, presented as the average increase in the area of α-tin warts in time, was also determined. To demonstrate the differences between regions of β- and α-tin, scanning ion microscopy observations using the focused ion beam technique was performed.

Findings

– The first symptoms of tin pest were observed for the inoculated, mechanically pressed samples stored at −18°C, as well as those at −30°C, after less than 14 days. In the first stage of transformation, the rate was higher at −30°C for some time but, after about 75 days of storage at sub-zero temperatures, the rate at −30°C became lower compared to the rate at −18°C. Inoculation via the application of substances which are structurally similar to α-tin was efficient for the proposed new approach of rapid testing only when applied with simultaneous mechanical pressing. Infection from pressed-in seeds, leading to conventional seeded growth, was more rapid than infection in contact with seeds (without mechanical pressing), where the transition mechanism was induced by the epitaxial growth of metastable ice.

Originality/value

– The new rapid method for the diagnostic testing of the susceptibility of different SnCu alloys to tin pest in a period much shorter than 14 days (within single days for storage at −30°C) is proposed and described. The test procedure described in this paper produced results several times quicker than conventional procedures, which may take years. In effect, the behavior of tin alloys in the face of tin pest may be predicted much more easily and much earlier. The same procedure can be applied to other SnCu alloys used in electronics (and in other areas), if the test samples are prepared in a similar manner.
Anxiety in youth in Flemish care: a multi-informant study
Authors: Soenen Bram , D’Oosterlinck Franky , Broekaert Eric
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of anxiety in youngsters with emotional and behavioral disorders, and its relation to other problems, using different informants.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected in a Flemish treatment center. Educators completed a Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) for each child, teachers completed a Teacher Report Form (TRF), and youth themselves completed a Youth Self Report (YSR) and a Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED).

Findings

– Analyses indicated an explicit presence of anxiety. A clear relation was found between anxiety symptoms and internalizing problem behavior on the YSR, whereas only a slight relationship was found with the CBCL, and practically no relationship was found with the TRF. Only few correlations between anxiety and externalizing problems were found. Finally, youth themselves indicated strong correlations between anxiety and thought problems, whereas educators indicated strong correlations between youths’ anxiety and social problems.

Originality/value

– Several studies describe professionals’ difficulties to get a comprehensive perceptions of youths’ problems. This paper provides detailed insights in the nature of the informant discrepancies.
Vocational training and employment attainment among substance abuse recovering individuals within a communal living environment
Authors: Gomez Daisy , A. Jason Leonard , Contreras Richard , DiGangi Julia , R. Ferrari Joseph
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of length of stay in an Oxford House (a sober living environment) with the number of days attended school/vocational training and days worked in the past 90 days with 292 women and 604 men.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents quantitative data.

Findings

– Results indicated that number of days residing in these recovery homes was related to number of days attending school/vocational training and days worked.

Originality/value

– The present study suggested that in addition to staying abstinent from alcohol and drugs, Oxford House residents may improve gain useful life skills through vocational education, training, and employment. This is an area of further exploration for the substance abuse recovery community.
Thinking or acting: physical aggression in a therapeutic community: how best to manage it?
Authors: Ghazirad Marjan , Newrith Christopher
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a rare phenomenon of physical aggression in a Therapeutic Community (TC) and the clinical results of its management.

Design/methodology/approach

– The case vignette illustrates the psychodynamic and socio-therapy elements of the treatment model worked within the service prior to, during and after the incident. The information demonstrates how the TC model finds significant value in the living-learning experience that is possible in physical aggression and its management.

Findings

– The dynamic administration at the interface between TC with preparation groups has a potential pitfall which might increases the risk of aggression in TC.

Originality/value

– It is an original study focusing on the interface between new notion of preparation groups and TC following a case of Physical aggression. Physical aggression is a rare incident in TCs and there are very limited literature about it. The paper has a distinctive feature of being prepared in collaboration with TC service users.
Fetal death and preterm birth associated with maternal influenza vaccination: systematic review
Authors: Fell DB , Platt RW , Lanes A , Wilson K , Kaufman JS , Basso O , Buckeridge D
Published: July 2014

Background

Before 2012, few studies had addressed pregnancy outcomes following maternal influenza vaccination; however, the number of publications on this topic has increased recently.

Objectives

To review comparative studies evaluating fetal death or preterm birth associated with influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

Search strategy

We searched bibliographic databases from inception to April 2014.

Selection criteria

Experimental or observational studies assessing the relationship between influenza vaccination during pregnancy and fetal death or preterm birth.

Data collection and analysis

Two reviewers independently abstracted data from studies meeting the inclusion criteria.

Main results

We included one randomised clinical trial and 26 observational studies. Meta‐analyses were not considered appropriate because of high clinical and statistical heterogeneity. Three studies of fetal death at any gestational age reported adjusted effect estimates in the range 0.56–0.79, and four of five studies of fetal death at <20 weeks reported adjusted estimates between 0.89 and 1.23, all with confidence intervals including 1.0. Adjusted effect estimates for four of five studies of fetal death at ≥20 weeks ranged from 0.44 to 0.77 (two with confidence intervals not crossing 1.0), whereas a fifth reported a non‐significant effect in the opposite direction. Among 19 studies of preterm birth, there was no strong evidence suggesting any increased risk, and meta‐regression did not explain the moderate between‐study heterogeneity (I2 = 57%).

Authors' conclusions

Most studies reported no association between fetal death or preterm birth and influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Although several reported risk reductions, results may be biased by methodological shortcomings of observational studies of influenza vaccine effectiveness.
Comparison of acoustic and impedance methods with mask capnometry to assess respiration rate in obese patients recovering from general anaesthesia
Authors: Frasca D. , Geraud L. , Charriere J.‐M. , Debaene B. , Mimoz O.
Published: July 2014

Respiratory depression, a potentially serious complication after general anaesthesia, can be detected promptly by close monitoring of both oxygen saturation and respiratory rate. Obese patients have morphological changes that may impair the reliability of monitoring devices. In this study, respiration rate was simultaneously recorded every second for up to 60 min using a computer in 30 adult obese patients (body mass index ≥ 35 kg.m−2), by three methods: acoustic; thoracic impedance; and capnometry via a facemask (Capnomask®, reference method). Of the 99 771 data triplets collected, only 85 520 (86%) were included; 12 021 (84%) were not studied due to failure of capnometry and 2240 (16%) due to failure of the acoustic method. Compared with capnometry, bias was similar using both the acoustic method and impedance (−0.3 bpm vs −0.6 bpm, respectively, p = 0.09), but limits of agreement were narrower for the acoustic method (±3.5 bpm vs ±5.3 bpm, respectively, p = 0.0008). The proportion of respiration rate values obtained with the acoustic method and impedance that differed by at least 10% or 20% for more than 15 s were 11% vs 23% and 2% vs 6%, respectively (p = 0.0009 for both comparisons). The acoustic sensor was well tolerated, while the facemask was pulled off on several occasions by four (13%) agitated patients. In obese patients requiring close monitoring of respiration rate, the acoustic method may be more precise than thoracic impedance and better tolerated than capnometry with a facemask.