bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of public sector information in the European market for online content: a never‐ending story or a new beginning?
Authors: Janssen Katleen
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to address the recent trends and developments relating to the re‐use of public sector information (PSI) and open government data.

Design/methodology/approach

It starts from the European Commission's Digital Agenda, which stressed the importance of opening up access to content to promote the single market. While the 2003 PSI directive has contributed to this, barriers to the re‐use of PSI still remain, often based on a lack of awareness with public sector data holders and users. Some of these barriers are currently being challenged by the open government data (OGD) movement. While this movement has comparable objectives to the PSI directive, it is based on different arguments. This raises the question of how the two approaches relate.

Findings

The paper argues that the proponents of the re‐use of PSI and OGD should join forces to promote the availability of public sector data.

Originality/value

In this way, the public sector can be encouraged to rethink its information policy and move to a more coherent view on how data can be used to increase the benefits for the information society and the market for digital content.
Social media and cookies: challenges for online privacy
Authors: Pierson Jo , Heyman Rob
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The advent of Web 2.0 or so‐called social media have enabled a new kind of communication, called mass self‐communication. These tools and the new form of communication are believed to empower users in everyday life. The authors of this paper observe a paradox: if this positive potential is possible, the negative downside is also possible. There is often a denial of this downside and it is especially visible in social media at the level of privacy and dataveillance. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate this point through an analysis of cookies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper illustrates how mass self‐communication in social media enables a new form of vulnerability for privacy. This is best shown by redefining privacy as flows of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) that are regulated by informational norms of Nissenbaum's concept of contextual integrity. Instead of analysing these contexts on a general level, the paper operationalises them on the user level to illustrate the lack of user awareness regarding cookies. The results of the research were gathered through desk research and expert interviews.

Findings

The positive aspects of cookies, unobtrusiveness and ease of use, are also the main challenges for user privacy. This technology can be disempowering because users are often hardly aware of its existence. In that way cookies can obfuscate the perceived context of personal data exposure.

Originality/value

The research shows how user disempowerment in social media is often overlooked by overstressing their beneficial potential.
Privacy by Design: an alternative to existing practice in safeguarding privacy
Authors: van Lieshout Marc , Kool Linda , van Schoonhoven Bas , de Jonge Marjan
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop/elaborate the concept Privacy by Design (PbD) and to explore the validity of the PbD framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Attention for alternative concepts, such as PbD, which might offer surplus value in safeguarding privacy, is growing. Using PbD to design for privacy in ICT systems is still rather underexplored and requires substantial conceptual and empirical work to be done. The methodology includes conceptual analysis, empirical validation (focus groups and interviews) and technological testing (a technical demonstrator was build).

Findings

A holistic PbD approach can offer surplus value in better safeguarding of privacy without losing functional requirements. However, the implementation is not easily realised and confronted with several difficulties such as: potential lack of economic incentives, legacy systems, lack of adoption of trust of end‐users and consumers in PbD.

Originality/value

The article brings together/incorporates several contemporary insights on privacy protection and privacy by design and develops/presents a holistic framework for Privacy by Design framework consisting of five building blocks.
The effect of business environment on trade in Gulf Cooperation Council countries
Authors: Gani Azmat
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect of business environment indicators (time required to start a business, time required to register a property, time required to enforce a contract, and time to resolve insolvency) on trade in a sample of four Gulf Co‐operation Council (GCC) countries: Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology included in this paper is based on a regression analysis of annual data on trade and business environment indicators for the 2003‐2009 period. The data are pooled across the four countries. The empirical analysis uses the fixed effects estimation procedure as this is considered to be the most appropriate given the nature of the available data and sample countries.

Findings

The results obtained through fixed effects estimation provide strong evidence that the time required to start a business and time required to resolve insolvencies is negatively and statistically significantly correlated with imports. The findings also reveal that the time required registering a property, the time required to enforce a contract, and the time required to resolve insolvencies are negatively and statistically significantly correlated with exports. Other standard determinants of imports and exports are also confirmed.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation is the absence of measures of business environment indicators for two of the six GCC countries (Bahrain and Qatar) where consistent measures were not available and these countries are eliminated from the empirical analysis.

Originality/value

These results lead to the conclusion that domestic business environment matters for trade in the GCC countries. There is a need for GCC countries to continuously reform their business environment so as to be integrated and stay competitive in this globalizing world.
European/Southern African Development Community (SADC) states' bilateral investment agreements (BITs) for the promotion and protection of foreign investments vs post‐apartheid SADC economic and social reconstruction policy
Authors: Chigara Ben
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This article aims to examine the sustainability of European and SADC states' practice of agreeing bilateral investment agreements (BITs) for the promotion and protection of foreign investments in light of the latter's recent inauguration of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as a basic norm of regional customary international law and strategy for countering the social and economic legacy of apartheid rule on their territories for over half a century.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken is textual analysis and deconstruction of emergent SADC BEE legislation, substantive BIT legislation provisions, dispute settlement mechanisms and emergent jurisprudence on the tensions between BEE policy and BIT obligations.

Findings

The strong elements of exclusivity between European/SADC BIT dispute settlement mechanisms on the one hand, and the “ouster clauses” of SADC BEE legislation and regulations on the other, are mutually incompatible. This incompatibility threatens the sustainability of the EU/SADC states' BIT dynamic for the promotion and protection of foreign direct investments (FDIs).

Originality/value

Demonstration of BEE as SADC's emergent basic norm of social reconstruction for countering the social and economic legacy of apartheid rule in affected states and implications of that for EU/SADC policy on the promotion and protection of FDIs.
Rebalancing the balance
Authors: Martin Mervyn , Shademan Pajouh Maryam
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the lack of fairness in the international trading system, including the HR policies in the WTO which have wider implications on the participation of developing countries in the multilateral trading system.

Design/methodology/approach

The main research methodology undertaken for this paper is based on the quantitative approach, predominantly from sources such as books, articles and WTO reports.

Findings

There is a correlation between the HR policies employed by the WTO and the usage by developing countries of the WTO DSU.

Practical implications

The implications of the research/paper indicate that discrimination against developing countries in the international system goes beyond their inherent weakness as poorer members of the international order. Such discrimination is deep rooted within the institutional governance of the system.

Social implications

The need to re‐evaluate policies practices by international institutions in the light of the developments of the twenty‐first century.

Originality/value

There has been no work undertaken in relation to the use of language as a criterion for job selection and its implications on the participatory value of developing countries in the WTO DSU.
GMOs, safety concerns and international trade: developing countries' perspective
Authors: Laxman Lekha , Haseeb Ansari Abdul
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to provide an in‐depth discussion on the impact of agricultural biotechnology in developing and least developed countries (LDCs) as well as the concomitant biosafety concerns that might have an impact on trade and the environment whilst highlighting the importance of choosing development pathways that are conducive to the specific needs of these nations without endangering the biodiversity and affecting people's health.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a socio‐legal approach by undertaking a content analysis of decided cases, relevant treaties and existing studies conducted in areas related to agricultural biotechnology within the framework of sustainable development imperatives.

Findings

The paper suggests that developing countries venturing into agricultural biotechnology need to enrich the technology according to their needs and capabilities in order to be able to weigh the benefits against the risks in the production and import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) specifically via the implementation of the “precautionary principle” and viable “risk assessment” techniques which conform to their existing international law obligations in view of the findings that most of these nations have not formulated adequate legal and institutional frameworks supported with the necessary expertise to regulate, monitor, and ensure safety of agricultural GMOs produced and/or imported by them.

Practical implications

The issues and suggestions in this paper will enable the development process of developing and least developed economies to conform to the tenets of sustainable development and minimize the loss of Earth's biodiversity.

Originality/value

The paper is of practical use to stakeholders and policymakers alike venturing into agricultural biotechnology. It pools the findings of a cross‐section of studies to look at the implications therein and the arising biosafety and trade issues with special reference to developing and LDCs.
Problem solving for managers: a mathematical investigation of Toyota's 8‐step process
Authors: Marksberry Phillip , Bustle Joshua , Clevinger Jeff
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Toyota's success in the automotive industry has been attributed to many factors, one of which is their systematic company‐wide problem‐solving approach. While Toyota's structured framework for thinking through problems may offer some interesting insight, it is speculated that how they develop and train their managers to share this thinking with their employees is the key to implementation. The purpose of this paper is to share these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This work utilizes a new and novel technique to examine how Toyota trains and develops their managers to support problem solving. A form of data mining will be used in this research combined with Singular Value Decomposition to mathematically analyze organizational documents from Toyota.

Findings

The findings of this research show that the role of management is essential to the successful application of problem solving at Toyota. Results indicate that managers are trained to provide more intense coaching early on the front end of problem solving, specifically in step 2 problem breakdown, so that decision making and involvement of employees can occur more naturally in developing countermeasures.

Practical implications

This research method is solely based on mathematical and statistically analysis of organizational documents to reveal important and latent criteria critical for effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper provides new insights and understanding of Toyota's 8‐step problem‐solving process. The role of management has been identified as an essential element in coaching and developing employees in the implementation of a company‐wide, systematic problem‐solving methodology.
Integration of economic production quantity in optimization design of control chart based on loss function and random process shift
Authors: Pan Er‐shun , Jin Yao , Wang Ying
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an extensive economic production quantity (EPQ) model on the basis of previous research. Considering an imperfect three‐state production process, this paper makes contributions to an integrated model combining conceptions of quality loss and design of control chart based on EPQ model. The objective is to minimize the total production cost with the determination of EPQ and design parameters of control chart subjected to quality loss and other process costs.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, imperfect process is defined as a three‐state process, and the quality cost corresponding to each state contributes to the eventual total expected cost formulation. Control chart is used to monitor the shift from the target value within whole process and its control limits are set to be related to the quality cost.

Findings

The proposed integrated model conforms more closely to the real situation of production process considering the process shift as a random variable.

Practical implications

Numerical computation and sensitivity analysis through a case study are presented to demonstrate the applications of the model.

Originality/value

Few research efforts investigate an integrated model considering EPQ, control chart and quality loss simultaneously. In particular, compared with the former researches, the process shift, due to which the quality cost incurs, is considered as a random variable in this paper.
Strategic decisions as drivers of innovation: the case of MicroLink
Authors: Kask Triin
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out how strategic decisions have resulted in innovation in the context of the organizational environment. The author studies connections between strategic decision making and innovation to find out what kinds of factors of the organizational environment influence strategic decisions that lead an organization to innovate.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical and empirical part proceeds from dividing strategic decisions into proactive and reactive; the environment into internal and external, including primary and secondary environment, and dynamic capabilities; and innovation into product, process, marketing and organizational innovation. The study uses qualitative research and case study methodologies to analyse the case of an Estonian IT company, MicroLink.

Findings

The results show that even if innovation is not strategically managed in a company, it can still be innovative. However, the potential for different types of innovation at the organizational and local and global market level is very often determined by the company's general strategic vision and its proactive nature, which should be supported by its dynamic capabilities.

Practical implications

Based on the results, some conclusions are also presented for other Estonian IT companies in terms of what aspects they should keep in mind when making strategic decisions and implementing innovation.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the understanding of how innovation evolves and it is presumed that innovation is not always a purposeful, but rather an episodic manifestation that could be a result of strategic decisions. Besides, product and process innovation, this study also helps to highlight the role of marketing and organizational innovation, which have gained much less attention in the literature.
Virtual work usage and challenges in different service sector branches
Authors: Mihhailova Gerda , Õun Kandela , Türk Kulno
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Virtual work presents new challenges for managers compared to using ordinary, face‐to‐face work practices. The purpose of this paper is to show how different virtual work types are related to different challenges that require different managerial and co‐operation approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were gathered during a period of two years using a questionnaire (3,156 respondents from 323 companies representing different Estonian service sector branches) and interviewing.

Findings

The paper concludes that a higher level of work virtuality leads to a lower level of work satisfaction, mainly due to inappropriate management techniques and problems related to information and communication technology‐mediated communication.

Research limitations/implications

The sample consists of only service sector organizations, limiting generalization of the results to the practice of manufacturing companies.

Practical implications

The results will help managers of service organizations to prepare and choose appropriate management techniques for working with virtual workforce.

Originality/value

The paper shows that service sector organizations operate with different degrees of virtuality that lead to different challenges and consequently require different management techniques.
Performance measurement patterns in service companies
Authors: Lääts Kertu , Haldma Toomas , Moeller Klaus
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamics of the usage of performance measurement (PM) methods and indicators, and this usage's influencing factors in service companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the contingency theory framework and focuses on PM patterns. The sector, company size, and market environment dynamics, which are these patterns' primary determinants, are analysed. The study uses empirical survey data gathered from the 61 largest companies in Estonia. The study has a dynamic focus, explaining the changes in PM practices as in 2004 and 2007.

Findings

The research shows the increasing use of more balanced PM tools combining financial and non‐financial, market‐related and internal process dimensions. Nevertheless, the findings demonstrate that the companies predominantly used traditional cost accounting and reporting methods, as well as financial indicators for their PM. The findings highlight the similarities and differences between the PM patterns in service companies and manufacturing companies.

Research limitations/implications

The general limitations of survey‐based research have to be considered. The findings on the PM indicators and methods explain the usage's intensity, but not the effects of this usage on the performance. The study also analyses only a limited number of drivers that influence PM practices.

Originality/value

The research findings have two main implications. First, the paper contributes to the scarce knowledge about PM practices in service companies. Second, the paper considers the changes in PM patterns, concentrating on the dynamics of PM practices.
Innovation in destination marketing
Authors: Kuusik Andres , Tiru Margus , Ahas Rein , Varblane Urmas
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how technological innovation serves as an enabling factor to innovation in tourism management. The motivation of this paper is related to the question of how to innovate destination marketing as a tool to manage long‐term customer relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use mobile positioning‐based research methods to measure visitors' behaviour. This provides new data for the detection and measurement of destination loyalty that could be used as valuable input to improve destination marketing strategy and develop new services.

Findings

The use of mobile positioning helps to improve the quality of data about tourism flows in Estonia. The authors were able to observe and measure the duration, timing, density, seasonality and dynamics of visitations. Further, it allowed also to distinguish repeat visitors. The rich dataset provided by passive mobile positioning (PMP) allowed the implementation of the proposed, more detailed, classification of segments of repeat visitors and the identification of not loyal, somewhat loyal, loyal, very loyal, functionally loyal and forced to be loyal visitors. This analysis made it possible to reveal transit, long‐term, one‐day and other specific visitors among repeat visitors.

Originality/value

The theoretical novelty of the paper consists in the creation of the innovation model of the destination marketing of the country and providing the new approach of segmentation of repeat visitors. Empirical novelty is the use of PMP in studying repeat visitations for destination marketing. The paper offers new ways for governments to shape service policies and allows tourism industry firms to offer new services.
Challenges and barriers to services for immigrant seniors in Canada: “you are among others but you feel alone”
Authors: Stewart Miriam , Shizha Edward , Makwarimba Edward , Spitzer Denise , Khalema Ernest N. , Nsaliwa Christina D.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore varied interrelated challenges and barriers experienced by immigrant seniors.

Design/methodology/approach

Senior immigrants representing diverse ethnicities (Chinese, Afro Caribbean, Former Yugoslavian, Spanish) described their challenges, support needs, and barriers to service access. Service providers and policy makers from organizations serving immigrant seniors were interviewed to elicit their views on barriers to access and appropriateness of services for immigrant seniors. Qualitative methods were employed to enhance understanding of meanings, perceptions, beliefs, values, and behaviors of immigrant seniors, and investigate sensitive issues experienced by vulnerable groups. The qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis.

Findings

Seniors reported financial and language difficulties, health problems, discrimination, family conflicts, and social isolation. Although most immigrant seniors appreciated the standard of living in Canada and the services provided to seniors, most believed that support received was inadequate. Seniors encountered systemic (e.g. government policies), institutional (e.g. culturally inappropriate programs), and personal (e.g. transportation, language problems) barriers to accessing social and health services. Service providers and policy makers faced high costs of programs, inadequate financial and human resources, inadequate information about needs of immigrant seniors, inadequate geographical coverage, and lack of inter‐sectoral collaboration.

Practical implications

The challenges experienced by immigrant seniors have implications for programs and policies and can inform the development of culturally sensitive and appropriate services.

Social implications

The barriers encountered by service providers in assisting immigrant seniors point to the importance of inter‐sectoral coordination, cultural sensitivity training, and expansion of service providers' mandates.

Originality/value

This study revealed numerous unmet needs for successful acculturation of immigrant and refugee seniors in Canada. It also reveals that the most cogent and sustainable approach to close this chasm of support deficits, unattended challenges, and complex stressors is to implement a model that simultaneously addresses the three levels and use a multisectoral approach.
Emission trading applications in the European Union and the case of Turkey as an emerging market
Authors: Yüksel Mermod Aslı , Dömbekci Berna
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze emission trading applications in the European Union (EU) and to benefit from its experiences; also to discuss different types of energy financing mechanisms for Turkey, an emerging market which faces a fast growth of energy demand.

Design/methodology/approach

The Kyoto Protocol and its market‐based flexible mechanisms to reduce emissions worldwide are explained. The logic and development phases of an emission trading scheme (ETS) started in 2005 in the EU are given in response to this protocol's targets. With lessons learned from the ETS, the position of Turkey in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and its strategy to find solutions for a low carbon economy are underlined, as it can be assumed to be a reference point for other emerging markets.

Findings

This ETS became the main vehicle for EU member states to enforce themselves, to be in line with their Kyoto's emission reduction targets via some mechanisms and it has the potential to be leader in the formation of a global emission trading program. It made possible the transfer of technology and experience to emerging countries. Turkey should be aware and well prepared, for the post‐Kyoto period, to benefit from similar mechanisms to finance its energy investments.

Practical implications

The paper is a useful source of information for ETS.

Social implications

This paper gives information on emission reduction mechanisms used worldwide by countries which aim to be a low carbon economy.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils a resource need for the structure of ETS and the position of Turkey as an emerging market with Kyoto's Protocol.
A framework for equitable apportionment of emission reduction commitments to mitigate global warming
Authors: Vazhayil Joy P. , Sharma Vinod K. , Balasubramanian R.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

In the context of the negotiations for apportionment of emission reduction post‐Kyoto regime, issues of equity and fairness have emerged. The purpose of this paper is to generate a model for equitable emission reduction apportionment.

Design/methodology/approach

The mathematical model has been designed utilizing mitigation capacity (based on gross domestic product (GDP)) and cumulative excess emissions as the criteria for apportionment. Quantitative results have been arrived at, using cumulative γ and parabolic mitigation emission reduction trajectories to demonstrate the impact on stakeholders.

Findings

The apportionment outcomes are independent of the specific trajectory fine‐tuned in the feasibility region. Since the apportionment takes into account entitlements and the mitigation capacity, Africa and India have negligible reduction targets in tune with the development goals in these economies. Substantial reduction commitments would fall on the USA and the EU countries. China gets a moderate target due to higher emissions and GDP.

Research limitations/implications

The approach is in consonance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibility enunciated in the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. The method can easily incorporate emissions trading. The issue of population as a driving factor of emissions has been partially accounted for by considering the entire national GDP as an emission reduction responsibility factor, without considering population based GDP entitlements.

Originality/value

The generalized framework can be extended to situations involving responsibility apportionment in public policies dealing with externalities. The framework is original and will be useful to policymakers and other stakeholders dealing with climate change, as well as researchers looking at externalities of a global or national dimension.
Environmental/economic dispatch considering emission benefit factor in the emission trading environment
Authors: Wen Buying , Bai Zhongbin , Wen Fushuan
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The efficiency of the emission trading system (ETS) may help to control the total emission amount. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the generating cost issue in environmental/economic power dispatch, under the premise that the ETS has already been established.

Design/methodology/approach

The emission benefit and price level factors are introduced for transforming the bi‐objective optimization problem with the fuel cost and emission cost minimization into a single objective. In the developed mathematical model, both the total emission amount from all units and the permitted emission amount from each generating unit are taken into account. The successive linear programming method is employed to solve the optimization problem.

Findings

Simulation results of the IEEE 30‐bus test system show that a proper trading mechanism of emission permits is very important for generation companies to control the total emission amount and to reduce the overall generation cost.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to find out the impact on the generating cost caused by trading price fluctuation and the coping strategies.

Originality/value

The results can help to meet the requirements of current generating optimal dispatch.
The threshold effect of high‐level human capital investment on China's urban‐rural income gap
Authors: Jiang Yitao , Shi Xiaojun , Zhang Shunming , Ji Jingjing
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the effect of high‐level human capital investment, using tertiary education as the proxy, on the urban‐rural income gap in China.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a panel dataset covering 28 provinces of China over the period from 1988 to 2007, this paper employs Hansen's method and two‐step GMM‐SYS estimator to estimate the threshold regression model and the dynamic fixed‐effect panel model, respectively.

Findings

The urban‐rural income gap is found to be related to high‐level human capital investment in an inverted U‐shaped pattern with respect to economic development level. The estimated threshold turning point is around 20,000 RMB GDP per capita. This estimate is sufficiently robust to model specifications and variants of the dependent variable.

Social implications

The authors forecast that high‐level human capital investment could play a role in bridging the urban‐rural income gap at the national level by 2014, when China's GDP per capita assumes an annual growth rate of 7.5 percent.

Originality/value

This, it is believed, is the first research to find an inverted U‐shaped pattern for high‐level human capital investment and urban‐rural income gap nexus in China.
Technical efficiency of food processing in China: the case of flour and rice processing
Authors: Fu Wen‐Ge , Sun Sizhong , Zhou Zhang‐Yue
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the technical efficiency of wheat and paddy rice processing in China. Understanding the level of technical efficiency of food processing helps to decide whether efforts are warranted to improve this efficiency. Studies on China's technical efficiency of flour and rice processing are scarce. This paper fills this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

With a unique set of firm‐level survey data collected by China's State Statistical Bureau, this study adopts a stochastic frontier model to investigate the technical efficiency of flour and rice processing.

Findings

The technical efficiency for both flour and rice processing is low in China, being only about 50 per cent. On average, rice processing firms have slightly higher technical efficiency than flour processing firms. It is also found that a significant proportion of firms experienced negative growth of technical efficiency during the time period of investigation.

Originality/value

Each year, some 300 million tonnes of wheat and paddy rice are processed in China. Any small improvement in technical efficiency is translated into huge economic gains. Further, a tiny improvement in flour or rice output rate is equivalent to an enormous increase in food supply, contributing to China's food security. The paper confirms the need and potential to raise technical efficiency in China for wheat and paddy rice processing.
Urban‐rural interaction in China: historic scenario and assessment
Authors: Li Yuheng
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Urban‐rural interaction in China has evolved over time and presented features in different periods since 1949. The aim of this paper is to measure urban‐rural interaction in China in a 50‐year period from 1958 to 2007, and to see if it bears resemblance to the historical evolution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper historically reviews urban‐rural interaction in four periods after 1949. Then, it uses principal component analysis (PCA) and assesses this interaction in the study period.

Findings

The quantification of urban‐rural interaction bears resemblances to its historical evolution. Reform and opening‐up as well as the rural‐favored policies contribute a lot to the increase of urban‐rural interaction.

Originality/value

The paper systematically reviews the evolution of urban‐rural interaction in China, and analyzes the features of this interaction in different periods since 1949. It introduces PCA and measures urban‐rural interaction.
The dynamic relationship between agricultural futures and agriculture index in China
Authors: Wang Yu‐Shan , Lin Chung‐Gee , Shih Shih‐Chieh
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the long‐term and short‐term asymmetric effects of the price transmission relationships between agricultural futures and the agriculture index in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a threshold autoregressive (TAR) model and momentum‐TAR (M‐TAR) model that test the prices of futures and spots in the special trading system.

Findings

The paper indicates that during different stages of the economic cycle, agricultural futures and the agriculture index exhibit different correlations. During the initial stages of economic upturns and downturns, the addition of futures of agricultural products helps to diversify risk. In contrast, during the late stages of economic upturns and downturns, such additions do not really help to diversify risk. Soybean meal futures and the agriculture index are more strongly correlated with each other. If investors use soybean meal futures to predict the trends in the agriculture index, they will obtain more accurate conclusions.

Practical implications

The soybean futures have leading effects in a single range and a lower correlation with the agriculture index. This paper provides a point of reference for investors devising investment strategies and for the Chinese Government in its execution of macro‐control policies. It provides a clear review about the estimation methods. It also provides information about China's soybean, soy meal industry.

Originality/value

The paper contains updated information about China's soybean and soybean meal trading. It uses new estimation methods (TAR, M‐TAR) to examine the co‐integration between soybean, soybean meal and the agricultural index.
Analysis of meat price volatility in China
Authors: Luo WanChun , Liu Rui
Published: September 2011

Purpose

In recent years, frequent volatility is deeply influencing meat industry, household lives and macroeconomics. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the volatility of Chinese meat price, and provide suggestions on stabilizing the meat market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses (G) ARCH, (G) ARCH‐M, TARCH and EGARCH models to analyze volatility and its asymmetry of Chinese meat price.

Findings

Estimation result of (G) ARCH model shows volatility clustering of meat price. Estimation result of (G) ARCH‐M model shows high risk and low return in beef market. ARCH and EGARCH models estimation results show non‐symmetry of volatility of beef, mutton and chicken price, and volatility caused by falling price is smaller than that caused by rising price.

Originality/value

This paper shows that volatility of meat price can be predicted and Chinese meat market is not perfect, and special attention to the factors causing rise in meat price is necessary.
The quantification of fatigue crack initiators in aluminium alloy 7050‐T7451 using quantitative fractography
Authors: Barter Simon A.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to present some aspects associated with the life prediction of structures with fatigue cracks growing from small natural discontinuities in aluminium alloy (AA)7050‐T7451 for a surface condition that is present in F/A‐18 A/B aircraft critical structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Fatigue results are presented for thick section AA7050 plate coupons loaded with a representative fighter aircraft wing root bending moment loading spectrum. Detailed quantitative fractography (QF) was used to gain a deeper understanding of issues relevant to an improved fatigue life predictive capacity for this material by using the QF results to investigate the “effectiveness” of the fatigue initiating discontinuities.

Findings

Estimates of the “effectiveness” of the fatigue initiating discontinuities as quasi pre‐existing fatigue cracks (“equivalent pre‐crack size” (EPS) here) were made with the aid of a simple crack growth model. This model, based on experience, was found to be valid for the applied spectrum and stress levels used. These stress levels were chosen to represent those that may be found in highly stressed locations of fighter aircraft; and as such would usually lead to the limiting fatigue life of such a structure.

Research limitations/implications

The method has been extended to other crack growth situations and is being used to build a database large enough to determine the best probability distribution of the “effectiveness” of the fatigue initiating discontinuities for not only the surface condition reported here but several other surface conditions typical of aircraft metallic structure.

Practical implications

The EPS of the discontinuities from which the cracks grew were used to investigate distributions that may be used in a risk‐based assessment using deterministic crack growth measurements from such discontinuities. Some of the problems that remain to be resolved in such an analysis, prior to its use in a risk‐based assessment are discussed.

Originality/value

This work improves the understanding of the interaction of small fatigue cracks generated by representative loading spectra with the small discontinuities from which they grow and shows that the fatigue process is remarkably consistent down to very small sizes.
Transient thermo‐elastic disturbances in a visco‐elastic semi‐space due to moving internal heat source
Authors: Lotfy Kh.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the transient disturbances created by an internal line heat source that suddenly starts moving uniformly inside a visco‐elastic half‐space.

Design/methodology/approach

Generalised theory of thermo‐elasticity with relaxation time proposed by Lord‐Shulman is applied. The material of the semi‐infinite medium is an isotropic visco‐elastic solid of Kelvin‐Voight type. Fourier and Laplace transform techniques are used.

Findings

Applying the Fourier and Laplace transform techniques, expressions for displacement components in the transformed domain are found. These expressions prove the existence of three waves – a modified thermal wave, a visco‐elastic wave of defused nature and a transverse visco‐elastic wave.

Research limitations/implications

Surface displacement components were evaluated on the boundary for only a short time.

Originality/value

The paper provides numerical results that are illustrated graphically to highlight the variations of surface displacement components with distance for different values of time, source depth and velocity of the source.
Improvement of fatigue limit by shot peening for high‐strength steel containing a crack‐like surface defect
Authors: Takahashi Koji , Amano Toshihiko , Ando Kotoji , Takahashi Fumio
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The paper's aim is to investigate the effects of shot peening (SP) on the bending fatigue limit of high‐strength steel containing an artificial semi‐circular slit.

Design/methodology/approach

SP and stress SP (SSP) were conducted on the specimens containing an artificial semi‐circular slit with a depth of a=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mm. Then, bending fatigue tests were conducted on the specimens.

Findings

The fatigue limit was improved by SP and SSP. In the case of SP and SSP specimens, the specimens with a semi‐circular slit under a=0.2 mm fractured outside the slit, and they had considerably high fatigue limits. Therefore, a semi‐circular slit with a depth of under a=0.2 mm could be rendered harmless by SP or SSP. It was found that the fatigue limit of specimens with a semi‐circular slit that received SP or SSP was determined by the threshold condition for non‐propagation of fatigue cracks that emanated from outside the slit. Whether the semi‐circular slit is rendered harmless or not is decided by the relationship between the stress intensity factor range of semi‐circular cracks and the threshold stress intensity factor range.

Practical implications

The proposed method can be applied to mechanical parts used in vehicles, aircraft and trains.

Originality/value

There are very few examples of evaluations of fatigue limits after SP in materials containing crack‐like surface defects. This study calcifies the effect of SP on the fatigue limit having crack‐like surface defects.
Automated overlays for laser peening
Authors: Gaydos Peter A. , Dulaney Jeff L.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Sacrificial opaque overlays used in laser peening provide optimal processing and protect the surface of the part being processed from thermal damage from the laser pulses. Traditional solid film overlays for laser peening often require several applications and the running of multiple partial laser peening sequences in order to completely process the desired surface. This paper aims to discuss an automated overlay system that eliminates these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

LSP Technologies' (LSPT') patented RapidCoater™ automated overlay system provides optimal laser processing and surface protection by providing a conformal opaque layer that is automatically refreshed between each laser pulses. PLC control provides precise timing of the application of the process overlays in synchronization with the laser pulse.

Findings

Use of the RapidCoater system has been shown to reduce processing time by up to five times when compared to using tape overlays. Cost reductions of about 40 percent are also achieved.

Originality/value

LSPT, Inc. invented and developed this proprietary technology to provide its laser peening customers with higher productivity and improved process affordability.
Use of an orthogonal array based on the Kriging model to maximize the fatigue life of a turbine blade
Authors: Lee Kwang‐Ki , Lee Kwon‐Hee , Han Seung‐Ho
Published: September 2011

Purpose

Approximation techniques were used instead of expensive computing analysis in a traditional parametric design optimization of a complex system. A Kriging meta‐model was utilized, which enabled the fit of approximated design characteristics for a complex system such as turbine blades that incorporate a large number of design variables and non‐linear behaviors. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors constructed a Kriging meta‐model with a multi‐level orthogonal array for the design of experiments, which were used to optimize the fatigue life of turbine blades under cyclic rotational loads such as centrifugal force. By combining a seven‐level orthogonal array with the Kriging model, the non‐linear design space of fatigue life was explored and optimized.

Findings

A computer‐generated multi‐level orthogonal array provided a good representation of the non‐linear design space information. The results show that not only was the fatigue life of the leading edge of the blade root significantly improved, but also that the computing analysis was effective.

Originality/value

To maximize the fatigue life of the turbine blade, the three‐design variables with seven factor levels were optimized via a Kriging meta‐model. As with the optimization technique, a desirability function approach was adopted, which converted multiple responses into a single response problem by maximizing the total desirability.
Laser cladding as a potential repair technology for damaged aircraft components
Authors: Liu Qianchu , Janardhana Madabhushi , Hinton Bruce , Brandt Milan , Sharp Khan
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the preliminary work on using laser cladding technology for the restoration of structural integrity.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary methodology used in this research is to develop a laser cladding‐based metal deposition technique to articulate restoration of structural geometry affected by corrosion damages. Following from this method, it is planned to undertake further work to use the laser cladding process to restore geometry and the associated static/fatigue strength.

Findings

This work has found that it is possible to use laser cladding as a repair technology to improve structural integrity in aluminium alloy aircraft structures in terms of corrosion reduction and geometrical restoration. Initial results have indicated a reduction of static and fatigue resistance with respect to substrate. But more recent works (yet to be published) have revealed improved fatigue strength as measured in comparison to the substrate structural properties.

Originality/value

The research is based on an acceptable materials processing technique.
Science and technology development and the depoliticization of the public space
Authors: Macdonald Linda R. , Varey Richard J. , Barker James R.
Published: September 2011

Purpose

The authors aim to review a five‐year multi‐study research programme on the role of public dialogue in the social and cultural sustainability of biotechnology developments in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a critical review of all the published research products from a five‐year government‐funded study of the cultural and social aspects of sustainable biotechnology in New Zealand.

Findings

The review research highlights how New Zealand Government policies on biotechnology, which motivated the research programme, were fore‐grounded on economic progress and competitive positioning. Thus, debate on sustainable biotechnology issues became cast in economic and technical terms, while public dialogue became seen as diversionary and unsubstantiated. The analysis concludes that the programme was ineffective in influencing government policy and fell victim to the very problem of science governance that its purpose was designed to address.

Research limitations/implications

The research develops implications regarding the ability of government‐funded sustainability research to influence policy.

Originality/value

The review focuses on the purpose, content, outcomes, and context of the research programme and identifies a number of key themes that arose from the programme that are useful for other sustainability policy researchers. The reviewers conclude that this case demonstrates that the marketization of the public sphere depoliticises the social and cultural construction of the nation's future.