bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication and characterization of NBR/MWCNT composites by latex technology
Authors: Jiang Hongxia , Ni Qingqing , Wang Hongfu , Liu Jihong
Published: August 2012

To develop a rubber composite with excellent electrical properties, a sort of synthetic rubber, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with CN dipoles as matrix, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as filler, was synthesized. NBR composites reinforced with 0.5, 1.5, 3, 10, and 20 phr MWCNT contents were fabricated by latex technology. The electrical conductivity, dielectric characteristics, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness at room temperature of NBR/MWCNT composites were investigated. MWCNTs were found well dispersed into NBR matrix even for 20 phr content by FESEM observation. The electrical conductivity increased with an increment of MWCNT content. The dielectric constant was over 104 at 103 Hz frequency for 10 and 20 phr MWCNTs‐reinforced NBR composites. It was attributed to the increased electrons and interface polarization. The improved conductivity and dielectric permittivity resulted in an enhanced EMI shielding effectiveness. The EMI shielding effectiveness reached 26 dB at 16.7 GHz frequency for NBR/20 phr MWCNT composite with 1.0 mm thickness. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Study on the preparation and properties of aligned carbon nanotubes/polylactide composite fibers
Authors: Kong Yuxia , Yuan Jie , Wang Zongming , Qiu Jun
Published: August 2012

The oriented carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite fibers was prepared by the modified electrospinning technology, and characterized by Raman, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and thermogravimetric (TG)/differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analyses, respectively. Results showed that functionalized MWNTs have obvious orientation along the fiber axial in the interior of the electrospun PLA fibers, and improved the crystallization degree of PLA in the composite fibers due to the heterogeneous nucleation effect. The influences of polycaprolactone‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs‐PCL) on the performances of PLA fibers were studied. The crystallization region inside the MWNTs–PCL/PLA composite fibers was enlarged by increasing the MWNTs‐PCL content. As a result, enhanced crystallization temperature was obtained. Moreover, a small amount of MWNTs‐PCL (0.5%) improved the thermal stability of PLA matrix, while excess MWNTs‐PCL (3.0%) induced the decrease of the thermal stability of PLA resin due to the agglomeration of MWNTs‐PCL. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers
Improved data visualization techniques for analyzing macromolecule structural changes
Authors: Kim Jae Hyun , Iyer Vidyashankara , Joshi Sangeeta B. , Volkin David B. , Middaugh C. Russell
Published: August 2012

The empirical phase diagram (EPD) is a colored representation of overall structural integrity and conformational stability of macromolecules in response to various environmental perturbations. Numerous proteins and macromolecular complexes have been analyzed by EPDs to summarize results from large data sets from multiple biophysical techniques. The current EPD method suffers from a number of deficiencies including lack of a meaningful relationship between color and actual molecular features, difficulties in identifying contributions from individual techniques, and a limited ability to be interpreted by color‐blind individuals. In this work, three improved data visualization approaches are proposed as techniques complementary to the EPD. The secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structural changes of multiple proteins as a function of environmental stress were first measured using circular dichroism, intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy, and static light scattering, respectively. Data sets were then visualized as (1) RGB colors using three‐index EPDs, (2) equiangular polygons using radar charts, and (3) human facial features using Chernoff face diagrams. Data as a function of temperature and pH for bovine serum albumin, aldolase, and chymotrypsin as well as candidate protein vaccine antigens including a serine threonine kinase protein (SP1732) and surface antigen A (SP1650) from S. pneumoniae and hemagglutinin from an H1N1 influenza virus are used to illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of each type of data visualization technique.
Assessing the resilience of small socio‐ecological systems based on the dominant polarity of their feedback structure
Authors: Bueno Newton Paulo
Published: August 2012

Despite being an important concept to assess vulnerability of ecological systems, the literature is still unclear on how to measure resilience in different systems and therefore on how well the concept of resilience translates into the practice of analyzing the vulnerability of social systems. This paper presents a practical procedure to assess the degree of resilience of socio‐ecological systems which builds on system dynamics analysis, in particular on loop polarity analysis. It shows that socio‐ecological systems lose resilience when they exceed certain thresholds in which dominant polarity of their feedback structures shifts sign. Copyright © 2012 System Dynamics Society.
Bivariate random change point models for longitudinal outcomes
Authors: Yang Lili , Gao Sujuan
Published: August 2012

Epidemiologic and clinical studies routinely collect longitudinal measures of multiple outcomes, including biomarker measures, cognitive functions, and clinical symptoms. These longitudinal outcomes can be used to establish the temporal order of relevant biological processes and their association with the onset of clinical symptoms. Univariate change point models have been used to model various clinical endpoints, such as CD4 count in studying the progression of HIV infection and cognitive function in the elderly. We propose to use bivariate change point models for two longitudinal outcomes with a focus on the correlation between the two change points. We consider three types of change point models in the bivariate model setting: the broken‐stick model, the Bacon–Watts model, and the smooth polynomial model. We adopt a Bayesian approach using a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling method for parameter estimation and inference. We assess the proposed methods in simulation studies and demonstrate the methodology using data from a longitudinal study of dementia. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oyun: A New, Free Program for Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma Tournaments in the Classroom
Authors: Pence Charles H. , Buchak Lara
Published: August 2012

Evolutionary applications of game theory present one of the most pedagogically accessible varieties of genuine, contemporary theoretical biology. We present here Oyun (oy-oon, http://charlespence.net/oyun), a program designed to run iterated prisoner's dilemma tournaments, competitions between prisoner's dilemma strategies developed by the students themselves. Using this software, students are able to readily design and tweak their own strategies, and to see how they fare both in round-robin tournaments and in “evolutionary” tournaments, where the scores in a given “generation” directly determine contribution to the population in the next generation. Oyun is freely available, runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and the process of creating new prisoner's dilemma strategies is both easy to teach and easy for students to grasp. We illustrate with two interesting examples taken from actual use of Oyun in the classroom.
Cervical cancer prevention: New opportunities for primary and secondary prevention in the 21st century
Authors: Denny Lynette
Published: August 2012

Cervical cancer is a relatively rare disease in countries that have instituted and maintained national screening programs, with call and recall of women at various intervals and built‐in quality control with appropriate monitoring and evaluation. Unfortunately, this process has failed in most areas of the world where over 80% of new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed. Cervical cancer affects women in the prime of their lives and causes premature and needless suffering and death in a critically important segment of the world's population—despite being the only cancer that can be prevented with simple testing. In the past 15 years, innovative approaches to both primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer have been subjected to a number of large‐scale scientifically valid and applicable studies that have opened the way for new approaches. This article reviews these new approaches.
Russia’s openness to the world: The unpredicted consequences of the country’s liberalization
Authors: Shlapentokh Vladimir
Published: August 2012

The author challenges the dogma that complete openness of the country to the external world has only a positive impact on its current state of affairs and its future. He uses post-Soviet Russia to show that in several respects openness, in particularly systematic emigrations of active people from the country, creates a lot of the problems which, however, can be partially solved if society has true democratic institutions.
Climate and local controls of long-term vegetation dynamics in northern Patagonia (Lat 41°S)
Authors: Iglesias Virginia , Whitlock Cathy , Bianchi María Martha , Villarosa Gustavo , Outes Valeria
Published: August 2012

Patagonian vegetation has dramatically changed in composition and distribution over the last 16,000 yr. Although patterns of vegetation change are relatively clear, our understanding of the processes that produce them is limited. High-resolution pollen and charcoal records from two lakes located at lat 41°S provide new information on the postglacial history of vegetation and fire activity at the forest–steppe ecotone, and help clarify the relative importance of local and regional drivers of late-Holocene ecological change. Our results suggest that late-glacial parkland was colonized by shrubs at ca. 11,200 cal yr BP and this vegetation persisted until 4900 cal yr BP, when increased humidity allowed for the establishment of Nothofagus forest. The late Holocene is characterized by oscillations in forest dominance largely driven by changes in humidity, possibly associated with the onset or strengthening of ENSO. In the last 4900 yr, humid periods (4900–3800 and 2850–1350 cal yr BP) have promoted Nothofagus forest, whereas drier times (3800–2850 and 1350–450 cal yr BP) have favored Austrocedrus expansion. At intermediate moisture levels, however, the lower forest supported both taxa, and fire became an important control of community composition, with severe, infrequent fires facilitating Nothofagus regeneration and high fire frequency and intensity supporting Austrocedrus.
THE ROLES OF PHONOLOGICAL SHORT-TERM MEMORY AND WORKING MEMORY IN L2 GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY LEARNING
Authors: Martin Katherine I. , Ellis Nick C.
Published: August 2012

This study analyzed phonological short-term memory (PSTM) and working memory (WM) and their relationship with vocabulary and grammar learning in an artificial foreign language. Nonword repetition, nonword recognition, and listening span were used as memory measures. Participants learned the singular forms of vocabulary for an artificial foreign language before being exposed to plural forms in sentence contexts. Participants were tested on their ability to induce the grammatical forms and to generalize the forms to novel utterances. Individual differences in final abilities in vocabulary and grammar correlated between 0.44 and 0.76, depending on the measure. Despite these strong associations, the results demonstrated significant independent effects of PSTM and WM on L2 vocabulary learning and on L2 grammar learning, some of which were mediated by vocabulary and some of which were direct effects.
A unified treatment of syntax with binders
Authors: POUILLARD NICOLAS , POTTIER FRANÇOIS
Published: August 2012

Atoms and de Bruijn indices are two well-known representation techniques for data structures that involve names and binders. However, using either technique, it is all too easy to make a programming error that causes one name to be used where another was intended. We propose an abstract interface to names and binders that rules out many of these errors. This interface is implemented as a library inAgda. It allows defining and manipulating term representations in nominal style and in de Bruijn style. The programmer is not forced to choose between these styles: on the contrary, the library allows using both styles in the same program, if desired. Whereas indexing the types of names and terms with a natural number is a well-known technique to better control the use of de Bruijn indices, we index types with worlds. Worlds are at the same time more precise and more abstract than natural numbers. Via logical relations and parametricity, we are able to demonstrate in what sense our library is safe, and to obtain theorems for free about world-polymorphic functions. For instance, we prove that a world-polymorphic term transformation function must commute with any renaming of the free variables. The proof is entirely carried out inAgda.
Zum Zusammenhang von Sensation Seeking und unfallbedingten Verletzungsausprägungen beim Kitesurfen
Authors: Wegner Manfred , Wegener Florian
Published: August 2012

Zusammenfassung: Untersucht werden Zusammenhänge von Sensation Seeking und unfallbedingten Verletzungsausprägungen in der Risikosportart Kitesurfen. Die 335 online befragten Kitesurfer/innen weisen eine erhöhte Sensation Seeking-Ausprägung (Gesamt und TAS) auf. Die ermittelte Verletzungsrate von 12 Verletzungen pro 1.000h Kitesurfen zeigt einen deutlichen Anstieg der Verletzungsanzahl gegenüber früheren Untersuchungsergebnissen nach Nickel et al. (2004) und Petersen et al. (2002) Kitesurfanfänger erleiden quantitativ mehr, Kitesurfer mit höherer Könnensstufe demgegenüber qualitativ schwerere Verletzungen. Die inferenzstatistischen Hypothesenprüfungen zeigen signifikante Unterschiede sowohl für die Verletzungsanzahl als auch für die Verletzungsschwere bezüglich der Sensation Seeking-Ausprägung. Kitesurfer mit Verletzungen besitzen eine höhere Ausprägung im Sensation Seeking als Kitesurfer ohne Verletzung (p < .01). Auch höher-gradig verletzte Kitesurfer weisen eine signifikant höhere Sensation Seeking-Ausprägung als leicht verletzte Kitesurfer auf (p < .03). Das Wissen um die erhöhte Wahrscheinlichkeit durch das Kitesurfen Verletzungen zu erleiden, sollte von Kitesurfern mit erhöhter Sensation Seeking-Ausprägung genutzt werden, um ihr eigenes Handeln auf dem Wasser kritisch zu reflektieren und ggf. zu verändern.
Exploration of ion temperature profile measurements at JET using the upgraded neutron profile monitor
Authors: Marocco D. , Esposito B. , Riva M. ,   JET-EFDA Contributors
Published: August 2012

The neutron profile monitor (NPM), routinely used at the Joint European Torus for neutron emissivity profile measurements, consists of two fan-shaped arrays of collimators and each line of sight (LOS) is equipped with a NE213 liquid organic scintillator for simultaneous measurements of the 2.5 MeV and 14 MeV neutrons. A digital system developed in ENEA has replaced the analog acquisition electronics and now enables the NPM to perform spatially resolved neutron spectrometry by providing neutron pulse height spectra (PHS) for each LOS. However, the NPM was not originally designed as a spectrometer and, therefore, lacks several key features, such as detailed measurements of the detector response functions and the presence of detector stability monitors. We present a proof of principle of ion temperature profile measurements derived from the NPM PHS in high plasma current discharges using simulated detector response functions.
Method of electrochemical etching of tungsten tips with controllable profiles
Authors: Chang Wei-Tse , Hwang Ing-Shouh , Chang Mu-Tung , Lin Chung-Yueh , Hsu Wei-Hao , Hou Jin-Long
Published: August 2012

We demonstrate a new and simple process to fabricate tungsten tips with good control of the tip profile. In this process, we use a commercial function generator without any electronic cutoff circuit or complex mechanical setup. The tip length can be varied from 160 μm to 10 mm, corresponding to an aspect ratio of 1.6–100. The radius of curvature of the tip apex can be controlled to a size <10 nm. Surface roughness and the taper angle can be controlled independently. Through control of the etching parameters, the tip length, the radius of curvature, surface roughness, and the taper angle can be controlled to suit different requirements of various applications. The possible etching mechanisms are also discussed.
Using gene expression information obtained by quantitative real-time PCR to evaluate Angus bulls divergently selected for feed efficiency
Authors: Chen Y. , Arthur P. F. , Barchia I. M. , Quinn K. , Parnell P. F. , Herd R. M.
Published: August 2012

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency in beef cattle. Young Angus bulls from lines of cattle divergently selected for RFI were used in a gene expression profiling study of the liver. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was used to quantify the differentially expressed genes and the information was used to examine the relationships between the genes and RFI and to classify the bulls into their respective RFI group. Gene expression of 21 genes in liver biopsies from 22 low RFI and 22 high RFI bulls were measured by qPCR. Gene expressions of 14 of the 21 genes were significantly correlated with RFI. The expression of the genes was used in a principal component analysis from which five components were extracted. The five principal components explained 70% of the variation in the dependency structure. The first component was highly correlated (correlation coefficient of 0.69) with RFI. The genes of the glutathione S-transferase Mu family (GSTM1, GSTM2, GSTM4), protocadherin 19 (PCDH19), ATP-binding cassette transporter C4 (ABCC4) and superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) are in the xenobiotic pathway and were the key factors in the first principal component. This highlights the important relationship between this pathway and variation in RFI. The second and third principal components were also correlated with RFI, with correlation coefficients of –0.28 and –0.20, respectively. Two of the four important genes of the second principal component work coordinately in the signalling pathways that inhibit the insulin-stimulated insulin receptor and regulate energy metabolism. This is consistent with the observation that a positive genetic correlation exists between RFI and fatness. The important genes in the third principal component are related to the extracellular matrix activity, with low RFI bulls showing high extracellular matrix activity.
Synthesis and SAR of a Library of Cell-Permeable Biotin-R8ERY* Peptidomimetics Inhibiting α4β7 Integrin Mediated Adhesion of TK-1 Cells to MAdCAM-1-Fc
Authors: Papst Stefanie , Noisier Anaïs F. M. , Brimble Margaret A. , Yang Yi , Chan Yih-Chih , Krissansen Geoffrey W.
Published: August 2012

The α4β7 integrin is a well‐known target for the development of drugs against various inflammatory disease states including inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. The β7 subunit contains the cell adhesion regulatory domain (CARD) motif YDRREY within its cytoplasmic domain, which is an effective peptide agent for inhibiting T-cell adhesion. The synthesis of a library of cell-permeable β7 integrin inhibitors based on the shortened biotin-R8ERY (R8 = (l-arginine)8) motif is reported, wherein the tyrosine residue has been modified. The synthesised peptidomimetics were evaluated in a cell adhesion assay and shown to inhibit Mn2+-activated adhesion of mouse TK-1 T-cells to mouse MAdCAM-1. Several analogues exhibited improved activity to that of the tyrosine-containing lead compound 1 (biotin-R8ERY). Specifically, analogues 4, 10, and 22 bearing a 4-chloro, a 4-nitro, and a 3,3-diphenyl substituent showed an increase in activity of approximately two-fold compared with that of the initial lead compound. The six most active compounds of the tested series had IC50’s between 25 and 50 μM.
Supplying nitrate before bud break induces pronounced changes in nitrogen nutrition and growth of young poplars
Authors: Thitithanakul Suraphon , Pétel Gilles , Chalot Michel , Beaujard François
Published: August 2012

Tree nutrient research concentrated on endogenous C and N remobilisation in spring has neglected to acknowledge the possibilities of significant effects of N uptake before bud break, especially on the quality of regrowth and N reserve remobilisation. To investigate this subject, experimental studies were performed on young poplars (Populus tremula × Populus alba, clone INRA 717–1B4) grown with a controlled nutrient supply: (i) without N, ‘control’; (ii) N supplied throughout the course of the experiment, ‘N-supply’; and (iii) N supplied only before bud break, ‘N-pulse’. Results confirm the hypothesis that poplar scions can significantly take up nitrate before bud break, amounting to ~34% of the total N stored the previous year. After bud break, emerging leaves restart the sap flow, which increased nitrate uptake to support the regrowth. N-pulse and N-supply treatments were found to have significant effects shortly after a growth period, i.e. by increasing N content of all tissues (e.g. 37 and 81% in new shoots respectively), leaf area (18 and 29%) and specific leaf area (20 and 35%). Therefore, results confirm the hypothesis that early N supply plays a significant role in the N status and N remobilisation involved in the spring regrowth of young trees.
Measuring organic carbon in Calcarosols: understanding the pitfalls and complications
Authors: Schmidt Aaron , Smernik Ronald J. , McBeath Therese M.
Published: August 2012

The measurement of soil organic carbon (OC) is important for assessing soil condition and improving land management systems, as OC has an important role in the physical, chemical, and biological fertility of soil. The OC contents of Calcarosols often appear high compared with other Australian soil types with similar fertility. This may indicate either systematic overestimation of OC in Calcarosols or the existence of a mechanism of OC stabilisation specific to carbonate-rich soils. This study compares three dry combustion techniques (dry combustion with correction for carbonate-C determined separately, dry combustion following sulfurous acid treatment, and dry combustion following treatment with hydrofluoric acid) and two wet oxidation techniques (Walkley–Black and Heanes) for the measurement of soil OC content, to determine which method is best for Calcarosols. Nine calcareous and nine non-calcareous soils were analysed. Of the methods, dry combustion with carbonate-C correction and dry combustion following sulfurous acid pre-treatment were found to be unsuitable for highly calcareous soils. Dry combustion with carbonate-C correction was unsuccessful primarily due to incomplete conversion of carbonate to CO2 under the combustion conditions used. However, even if this problem could be overcome, the method would still not be suitable for highly calcareous soils since it would involve the measurement of a relatively small value (OC) as the difference of two much larger values (total C and carbonate-C). Sulfurous acid pre-treatment was unsuitable because it did not remove 100% of carbonate present. Although the remaining dry combustion technique (i.e. following hydrofluoric acid treatment) did not have such problems, it did give very different (and much lower) OC estimations than the two wet oxidation techniques for the highly calcareous soils. These results are consistent with carbonate minerals interacting with and stabilising a substantial quantity of soluble OC. This has implications for the way OC levels should be measured and interpreted in Calcarosols, in terms of both fertility and C stabilisation and sequestration.
Food and fitness: associations between crop yields and life-history traits in a longitudinally monitored pre-industrial human population
Authors: Hayward Adam D. , Holopainen Jari , Pettay Jenni E. , Lummaa Virpi
Published: August 2012

Severe food shortage is associated with increased mortality and reduced reproductive success in contemporary and historical human populations. Studies of wild animal populations have shown that subtle variation in environmental conditions can influence patterns of mortality, fecundity and natural selection, but the fitness implications of such subtle variation on human populations are unclear. Here, we use longitudinal data on local grain production, births, marriages and mortality so as to assess the impact of crop yield variation on individual age-specific mortality and fecundity in two pre-industrial Finnish populations. Although crop yields and fitness traits showed profound year-to-year variation across the 70-year study period, associations between crop yields and mortality or fecundity were generally weak. However, post-reproductive individuals of both sexes, and individuals of lower socio-economic status experienced higher mortality when crop yields were low. This is the first longitudinal, individual-based study of the associations between environmental variation and fitness traits in pre-industrial humans, which emphasizes the importance of a portfolio of mechanisms for coping with low food availability in such populations. The results are consistent with evolutionary ecological predictions that natural selection for resilience to food shortage is likely to weaken with age and be most severe on those with the fewest resources.
Distinct evolutionary patterns of morphometric sperm traits in passerine birds
Authors: Immler Simone , Gonzalez-Voyer Alejandro , Birkhead Tim R.
Published: August 2012

The striking diversity of sperm shape across the animal kingdom is still poorly understood. Postcopulatory sexual selection is an important factor driving the evolution of sperm size and shape. Interestingly, morphometric sperm traits, such as the length of the head, midpiece and flagellum, exhibit a strong positive phenotypic correlation across species. Here we used recently developed comparative methods to investigate how such phenotypic correlations between morphometric sperm traits may evolve. We compare allometric relationships and evolutionary trajectories of three morphometric sperm traits (length of head, midpiece and flagellum) in passerine birds. We show that these traits exhibit strong phenotypic correlations but that allometry varies across families. In addition, the evolutionary trajectories of the midpiece and flagellum are similar while the trajectory for head length differs. We discuss our findings in the light of three scenarios accounting for correlated trait evolution: (i) genetic correlation; (ii) concerted response to selection acting simultaneously on different traits; and (iii) phenotypic correlation between traits driven by mechanistic constraints owing to selection on sperm performance. Our results suggest that concerted response to selection is the most likely explanation for the phenotypic correlation between morphometric sperm traits.
Pinning down a novel: characteristics of literary works as perceived by readers
Authors: Šauperl Alenka
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The subject description of novels in library catalogues is traditionally limited to the classification number with no description of the story. On the other hand, enthusiastic readers describe novels by tags or reviews in Web services. The purpose of this paper is to analyse readers' descriptions of novels and suggest an enhancement of the catalogue record which would be useful to the readers.

Design/methodology/approach

The original research involved a content analysis of tags and reviews written by users in the online bookstore Amazon.com, the online reader advisory service LibraryThing, and the reading promotion project Primorci beremo. The results were compared to previously published results.

Findings

The characteristics that most frequently elicit comments by readers are: the names of the creators and literary characters, geographic names and the titles of works, the time frame in which the story takes place, and the literary genre. Their evaluation of a novel was expressed with an opinion, an analysis, or a professional review. Awards were mentioned, and readers often also expressed their personal experience with the novel. They connected the novel with a sequel or series, with otherwise related novels, movies, etc. Often, pictures of the cover and other factual data were included.

Research limitations/implications

Research was limited to readers' experiences and descriptions of literary works written in prose.

Practical implications

It is suggested that the time frame, genre and awards received should be included in the functional requirements models.

Originality/value

Original research was conducted over a longer period of time. The results were re‐evaluated and compared to previously published results from studies by different researchers.
Interviewing women in Latin America: some reflections on feminist research practice
Authors: Undurraga Rosario
Published: August 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to offer an account of the research process and reflects on feminist research practice. It discusses methodological issues based on the author's experience as a PhD student in sociology carrying out fieldwork with women in Latin America. The paper makes the research process transparent and shows how feminist epistemologies inform the research strategies the author used in the field.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a reflexive piece about the methodology and method used and the dilemmas encountered in the author's empirical work as a feminist doctoral researcher. It considers biographical issues and personal interests in relation to the research.

Findings

The article discusses methodological assumptions and feminist epistemologies. It examines the interview as a research method as well as interviewing skills. It reflects on research practice, considering power issues, feminist challenges in the field, and the topic of reflexivity and otherness.

Originality/value

The article provides an account of feminist research practice, and considers the roles and skills of the researcher when interviewing. It contributes to knowledge by providing real examples of feminist research in Latin America.
Postcolonial feminist research: challenges and complexities
Authors: Ozkazanc‐Pan Banu
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the challenges and complexities in conducting research faced by scholars utilizing postcolonial feminist frameworks. The paper discusses postcolonial feminist key concepts, namely representation, subalternity, and reflexivity and the challenges scholars face when deploying these concepts in fieldwork settings. The paper then outlines the implications of these concepts for feminist praxis related to international management theory, research, and writing as well as entrepreneurship programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the experiences of the author in conducting fieldwork on Turkish high‐technology entrepreneurs in the USA and Turkey by focusing explicitly on the challenges and complexities postcolonial feminist frameworks bring to ethnography and auto‐ethnography.

Findings

The paper suggests that conducting fieldwork guided by postcolonial feminist frameworks faces challenges related to representation inclusive of the author and the participants in the study. It offers subalternity as a relational understanding of subjects in contrast to comparative approaches to the study of business people. The paper also discusses how positionality impacts reflexivity through gender, ethnicity, and class relations.

Originality/value

This paper offers a critical perspective on conducting research related to non‐Western subjects by addressing issues arising from feminist and postcolonial intersections. It is a valuable contribution to those researchers who are interested in conducting feminist research particularly with non‐Western people and cultures.
Effectiveness of management development in Pakistani corporate sector
Authors: Dastgeer Ghulam , ur Rehman Atiq
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess effectiveness of management development (MD) programs in the Pakistani corporate sector and investigate relationship among various factors that affect MD practices in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed a blend of qualitative and quantitative methodologies. D'Netto's model of “MD effectiveness” provided a framework for measuring MD effectiveness. The sample consisted of managers from 55 corporate branches of 20 banks and three telecom organizations using a “self‐reported rating” survey questionnaire and interviews, which resulted in 102 completed responses and ten in‐depth interviews.

Findings

Although Pakistani managers have a positive attitude towards MD, yet little attention has been paid to create a strong link between corporate strategy and MD. Properly planned MD programs and relevant course contents are necessary for the effectiveness of MD. D'Netto's model of “management development effectiveness” has a good fit and is applicable to the corporate sector in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

As a qualitative study, there are limitations on account of generalization of findings. Further research is recommended.

Practical implications

Top management should assign higher priority to MD. MD programs should be properly planned, executed, monitored and evaluated. Utilization of newly learned skills, risk taking and new ideas should be encouraged. The reward system needs revising and a continuous learning environment ought to be established for effective MD in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This study, for the first time, assessed the current state of MD in Pakistan and contributes to the present stock of knowledge and understanding of the subject by contextualising the concept of “management development effectiveness” in the Pakistani corporate sector.
Back to the future: revisiting Kotter's 1996 change model
Authors: Appelbaum Steven H. , Habashy Sally , Malo Jean‐Luc , Shafiq Hisham
Published: August 2012

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to gather current (2011) arguments and counterarguments in support of the classic change management model proposed by John P. Kotter in his 1996 book Leading Change. His work was based on his personal business and research experience, and did not reference any outside sources that has questioned its value. A current perspective on a limited tested model aims to be a focus of this paper. Design/methodology/approach – The literature on change management was reviewed for each of the eight steps defined in Kotter's model, to review how much support each of these steps had, individually and collectively, in 15 years of literature. Findings – The review found support for most of the steps, although no formal studies were found covering the entire spectrum and structure of the model. Kotter's change management model appears to derive its popularity more from its direct and usable format than from any scientific consensus on the results. However the model has several limitations, that are identified, impacting upon its universal acceptance and popularity. Research limitations/implications – Further studies should examine the validity of Kotter's model as a whole. More importantly, change management research should form a greater link with stakeholders in order to translate current research into a format usable by practitioners. Practical implications – No evidence was found against Kotter's change management model and it remains a recommendable reference. This paper attempts to “test” the “how‐to‐do‐change management” with empirical and practitioner literature that was not evident in the original text. The model would be most useful as an implementation planning tool, but complementary tools should also be used during the implementation process to adapt to contextual factors or obstacles. Originality/value – Based upon a thorough review, this is the first formal review of Kotter's change management model, 15 years after its introduction.
Predicting MBA graduates’ donation behaviour to their alma mater
Authors: Baruch Yehuda , Sang Katherine J.C.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to examine factors influencing the inclination of MBA graduates to donate to their alma mater.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a large data‐base of 3,677 MBA graduates to evaluate individual factors, and external evaluation of organizational level factors. The authors constructed and tested the model, finding strong support for its validity.

Findings

Satisfaction with the MBA, university prestige and salary were significant predictors of donating behavior. Engagement (operationalised volunteering) was a significant mediating factor between these factors and donating behaviour.

Originality/value

The paper adds to both theoretical implication for understanding long‐term relationships between graduates and their alma mater and to managerial implication for future financing of universities and business schools in particular.
Knowledge creation in universities and some related factors
Authors: Siadat Sayed Ali , Hoveida Reza , Abbaszadeh Mohammad , Moghtadaie Leila
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical picture of the concept of knowledge creation and then investigate the effects on it of such variables as social capital and organizational culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this study includes faculty members of the University of Isfahan (Iran) in 2008 (476 cases). From among these cases, 142 cases were selected based on the Cochran formula. Survey was used as the research method and a questionnaire was used for data collection. Pearson correlation “r” and multi‐variable regression were employed, and in the next stage, through drawing the model of structural equations, the direct effects, indirect effects and total effects of independent variables on the dependent variable were investigated, based on path analysis model. SPSS and LISREL were employed for statistical analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that social capital and organizational culture had meaningful effect on knowledge creation. The analysis showed that the independent variables mentioned above could determine 36 percent of the effects of the dependent variable.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based, in the main, on an extensive, single university study; therefore it is necessary to be cautious about generalizing the result of this study to other universities in Iran.

Originality/value

The paper can contribute to organizations through providing a holistic picture of the role of knowledge creation in organizations (especially universities).
Seeking resources: predicting retirees' return to their workplace
Authors: Armstrong‐Stassen Marjorie , Schlosser Francine , Zinni Deborah
Published: August 2012

Purpose

This study aims to employ a resource‐oriented theoretical perspective to examine retirees' desire to return to their former organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a cross‐sectional field study design, data were collected from 243 retirees under 65 years of age who had been retired from a career job less than ten years.

Findings

Regression results indicate that retirees who had experienced financial and pervasive role loss as well as retirees who perceived a higher fit with their former organization and the availability of desired job role options expressed significantly greater interest in returning. Retirees who experienced gains in leaving work as well as gains in their life satisfaction following retirement reported significantly less interest in returning to their former organization.

Research limitations/implications

The cross‐sectional design and self‐report data create a potential for bias. Even though the findings are based on respondents' “interest” in returning to their former organization, it is not known if they actually did return.

Practical implications

Programs should focus on creating an environment that values older workers, and provides them with opportunities such as mentoring other workers.

Social implications

Policy changes are needed to ensure that returning to work following retirement results in resource gains and not resource losses.

Originality/value

This study uses resource theory with a diverse sample of retirees and considers their desire to return to their original employers, thus adding value to human resources and management who wish to retain or re‐engage their own knowledgeable retirees.
Relative importance of managerial skills for predicting effectiveness
Authors: Tonidandel Scott , Braddy Phillip W. , Fleenor John W.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relative importance of four managerial skill dimensions (technical skill, administrative skill, human skill, and citizenship behavior) for predicting managerial effectiveness. In addition, it aims to explore whether the relative importance of these skill dimensions varies as a function of gender or organizational level.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were 733 managers enrolled in a nationally recognized leadership development program. Ratings of managerial skill were obtained from peers using a well‐validated 360‐degree assessment instrument, while manager effectiveness ratings were provided by supervisors. Moderated multiple regression and relative weight analysis were used to test the study's hypotheses.

Findings

Using ratings provided by multiple sources, these results show that all four of the managerial skill dimensions were significantly important predictors of manager effectiveness. Human skills were significantly more important than technical skill and citizenship behavior, while administrative skills were most important overall. Gender was not a significant moderator of the skill‐effectiveness relationship, but organizational level was.

Practical implications

Individuals tasked with selecting, developing, or placing managers should take all four skill dimensions into account. Moreover, special consideration should be given to administrative skill, and this emphasis should increase for managers higher up in the organizational hierarchy.

Originality/value

Although prior research has speculated about the importance of different managerial skills, this study is the first to provide empirical support for this skill typology in predicting actual managerial effectiveness using appropriate statistical analyses for examining the relative importance of these skill dimensions.
What prevents senior executives from commenting upon miscommunication in top management team meetings?
Authors: Bang Henning
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore why executives participating in a top management team meeting avoid speaking up when they experience the goal as unclear or the discussion as wandering off track.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 21 executives (CEOs and level 2 managers) from seven top management teams were interviewed, and the interviews analyzed according to the principles of Grounded Theory.

Findings

The executives’ silence was primarily governed by a core belief that to speak up about miscommunication is a negative act, which will probably elicit undesirable consequences. This assumption was reinforced by how the executives perceived themselves, other persons and relationships in the group, group norms, and the issue discussed in the meeting. In addition, three other basic beliefs prevented the level 2 managers from speaking up: “We have no tradition for speaking up in this group”, “It's futile to speak up”, and “It's not part of my role to speak up in this group”.

Research limitations/implications

The data were collected from executives representing only seven top management teams from the public sector in Norway, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Future research should increase the number and types of top management teams from which informants are drawn.

Practical implications

Executives should be aware of how their beliefs and perceptions prevent them from voicing their concerns when experiencing miscommunication during the TMT meeting, and how remaining silent in these matters represents an important barrier to team effectiveness in the meetings.

Originality/value

The study shows that even among executives at the top of the organizational hierarchy, people refrain from speaking up when experiencing miscommunication, and that there are more reasons for not voicing concerns than fear of consequences and feelings of futility.
Review study of developing an integrated TQM with LM framework model in Malaysian automotive industry
Authors: Azlina Mohd. Salleh Noor , Kasolang Salmiah , Ahmed Jaafar Hj
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the origin and evolution of total quality management (TQM) and lean manufacturing (LM) in the automotive industry globally and specifically in Malaysia; and selective studies on effective performance measurement for future integration of TQM and LM. The paper examines critical success and failure factors of the implementation stage based on established quality criteria, such as in the Deming Prize Award, Malaysian Prime Minister Award, ISO/TS16949, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, SAEJ4001 and Toyota Production System.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a review of the literature on TQM and LM, utilizing journal articles, reports, books and theses.

Findings

Based on reviewed papers, it was noted that TQM and LM originate from Japan. TQM started from a Company Wide Quality Control Program initiated by Deming, while LM originated from the Toyota Production System. Both terms were coined by the west for global acceptance in 1985. It was also gathered that the evolution of LM started much earlier than that of TQM. Since then, voluminous studies have been conducted on TQM and LM but mostly independently. It was found that an integrated approach combining both TQM and LM has not been fully explored. This is especially evident in the context of the automotive industry in Malaysia. It is then believed that the need to examine this integrated initiative in the Malaysian scenario is imminent. This review paper is a preliminary work for future study to establish the standing of the automotive industry in Malaysia with respect to implementing integrated TQM and LM practices.

Practical implications

Suitable for implementation by practitioners, especially in the Malaysian or Asian automotive industry.

Originality/value

The paper is the first to study the Malaysian automotive industry, which integrates ISO/TS16949 with four TQM awards and two LM systems.