bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Does the Surgeon's Experience of Abdominal Operations Influence the Learning Curves for Robot-Assisted Vascular Anastomosis?
Authors: Soga Shingo , Watanabe Go , Ishikawa Norihiko , Kimura Keiichi , Oda Makoto
Published: December 2013

Objective

Endoscopic vascular anastomosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms is rarely performed and requires standardization. Here, we examined the impact of the surgeon's experience of abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery on the learning curve for robot-assisted endoscopic vascular anastomosis.

Methods

Three vascular surgeons with more than 10 years’ experience (group A), three vascular surgeons with less than 10 years’ experience (group B), and three medical students with no experience (group C) of performing vascular surgery used the da Vinci surgical system to anastomose 8-mm–diameter vascular prostheses in an end-to-end manner with continuous 5–0 Prolene sutures. The procedure was performed five times by each participant. Outcomes were anastomosis time, number of actions, visual score, and pressure test. Snapping of the prolene thread was recorded as a procedural failure.

Results

Procedural failure occurred only in group C (3/15 trials, 20%; P < 0.0001). Learning curves were apparent in all three groups for anastomosis time and in groups A and C for the number of actions. Between trials 1 and 5, learning curves were apparent in all three groups for anastomosis time and in groups A and C for the number of actions but were not apparent for leakage or visual score in any group. Visual score and leakage were not significantly different among the three groups in each trial ( P = 0.10 and P = 0.45, respectively).

Conclusions

By using the da Vinci surgical system, experienced vascular surgeons and surgically naive students showed marked improvements in vascular anastomosis techniques with a short period of training.
Neuron–glia crosstalk in health and disease: fractalkine and CX3CR1 take centre stage
Authors: Sheridan Graham K. , Murphy Keith J.
Published: December 2013

An essential aspect of normal brain function is the bidirectional interaction and communication between neurons and neighbouring glial cells. To this end, the brain has evolved ligand–receptor partnerships that facilitate crosstalk between different cell types. The chemokine, fractalkine (FKN), is expressed on neuronal cells, and its receptor, CX3CR1, is predominantly expressed on microglia. This review focuses on several important functional roles for FKN/CX3CR1 in both health and disease of the central nervous system. It has been posited that FKN is involved in microglial infiltration of the brain during development. Microglia, in turn, are implicated in the developmental synaptic pruning that occurs during brain maturation. The abundance of FKN on mature hippocampal neurons suggests a homeostatic non-inflammatory role in mechanisms of learning and memory. There is substantial evidence describing a role for FKN in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. FKN, on the one hand, appears to prevent excess microglial activation in the absence of injury while promoting activation of microglia and astrocytes during inflammatory episodes. Thus, FKN appears to be neuroprotective in some settings, whereas it contributes to neuronal damage in others. Many progressive neuroinflammatory disorders that are associated with increased microglial activation, such as Alzheimer's disease, show disruption of the FKN/CX3CR1 communication system. Thus, targeting CX3CR1 receptor hyperactivation with specific antagonists in such neuroinflammatory conditions may eventually lead to novel neurotherapeutics.
Reclassification of Sphingobacterium antarcticum Shivaji et al. 1992 as Pedobacter antarcticus comb. nov. and Pedobacter piscium (Takeuchi and Yokota 1993) Steyn et al. 1998 as a later heterotypic synonym of Pedobacter antarcticus
Authors: Farfán Maribel , Montes María Jesús , Marqués Ana M.
Published: December 2013

The taxonomic position of

Sphingobacterium antarcticum

has been revised by means of 16S rRNA gene sequences, DNA–DNA hybridization, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. All data previously reported, as well as the results of the present phylogenetic analysis, support that

Sphingobacterium antarcticum

is clearly a member of the genus

Pedobacter

, also affiliated with the family

Sphingobacteriaceae

. We propose that

Sphingobacterium antarcticum

(corrig. Shivaji et al. 1992) should be reclassified as Pedobacter antarcticus comb. nov.
Pontibacter yuliensis sp. nov., isolated from soil
Authors: Cao Hanjun , Nie Yao , Zeng Xian-Chun , Xu Linghua , He Zancan , Luo Xuesong , Wu Rina
Published: December 2013

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped and pink bacterium was isolated from the soil of a Populus euphratica forest in the Taklamakan desert, Xinjiang, China. It was designated strain H9XT. A 16S rRNA gene sequence homology search indicated that the isolate was most closely related to the family

Cytophagaceae

. The 16S rRNA gene of strain H9XT displayed 94.2–96.3 % sequence identities to those of type strains of other species of the genus

Pontibacter

. It only possessed menaquinone-7. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c summed feature 3 (containing C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and summed feature 4 (comprising anteiso-C17 : 1 B and/or iso-C17 : 1 I). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown aminophospholipid, one unknown glycophospholipid and several unknown phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of this bacterium was 55.2 mol%. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic data presented, it can be concluded that this isolate represents a novel species of the genus

Pontibacter

, for which the name Pontibacter yuliensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H9XT ( = CCTCC AB 2013047T = KCTC 32396T).
Polaribacter huanghezhanensis sp. nov., isolated from Arctic fjord sediment, and emended description of the genus Polaribacter
Authors: Li Hai , Zhang Xi-Ying , Liu Chang , Lin Chao-Yi , Xu Zhong , Chen Xiu-Lan , Zhou Bai-Cheng , Shi Mei , Zhang Yu-Zhong
Published: December 2013

A Gram-negative, orange-colony-forming, aerobic and non-flagellated bacterium, designated strain SM1202T, was isolated from marine sediment of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1202T was phylogenetically closely related to the genus

Polaribacter

. It shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of

Polaribacter dokdonensis

(94.2 %) and 92.7–93.9 % sequence similarity with type strains of other known species of the genus

Polaribacter

. The strain grew at 4–35 °C and with 1.0–5.0 % (w/v) NaCl. It contained iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, iso-C13 : 0, C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and C15 : 1ω6c as predominant cellular fatty acids and menaquinone-6 (MK-6) as the major respiratory quinone. The polar lipids of strain SM1202T were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified lipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SM1202T was 36.4 mol%. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain SM1202T represents a novel species in the genus

Polaribacter

of the family

Flavobacteriaceae

, for which the name Polaribacter huanghezhanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Polaribacter huanghezhanensis is SM1202T ( = CCTCC AB 2013148T = KCTC 32516T). An emended description of the genus

Polaribacter

is also presented.
Ferriphaselus amnicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a neutrophilic, stalk-forming, iron-oxidizing bacterium isolated from an iron-rich groundwater seep
Authors: Kato Shingo , Krepski Sean , Chan Clara , Itoh Takashi , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: December 2013

A neutrophilic, stalk-forming, iron-oxidizing bacterium, strain OYT1T, which was isolated from a groundwater seep in Ohyato Park, Tokyo, Japan, was subjected to taxonomic analysis. OYT1Twas a motile, bean-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium that was able to grow at 8–30 °C (optimally at 25–30 °C) and at pH 5.6–7.3 (optimally at pH 6.1–6.5). The strain grew microaerobically and autotrophically. Major cellular fatty acids detected were C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6cand C16 : 0. The total DNA G+C content was 57.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain OYT1Twas affiliated with the classBetaproteobacteriaand clustered with iron-oxidizing bacteria isolated from groundwater seeps and wetlands and with uncultured clones detected in freshwater iron-rich environments. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics of strain OYT1T, we propose that the strain represents a novel species in a new genus, for which the nameFerriphaselus amnicolagen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain ofFerriphaselus amnicolais OYT1T( = JCM 18545T = DSM 26810T).
Memory destabilization is critical for the success of the reactivation–extinction procedure
Authors: Piñeyro Marcelo E. , Ferrer Monti Roque I. , Alfei Joaquín M. , Bueno Adrián M. , Urcelay Gonzalo P.
Published: December 2013

It has been suggested that, unlike pure extinction which typically results in the return of the fear response under a variety of circumstances, memory reactivation followed by extinction can attenuate the reemergence of conditioned fear. The reactivation–extinction procedure has attracted the attention of basic and clinical researchers due to its potential clinical value for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and drug abuse disorders. However, mixed results have been achieved so far in replicating and understanding this paradigm. It has been proposed that memory destabilization could be critical in this sense. Using contextual fear conditioning in rats and midazolam as an amnesic agent, we first determined what reactivation conditions are necessary to destabilize the mnemonic trace. After establishing the conditions for memory destabilization, a series of experiments was conducted to determine if destabilization is critical for the success of the reactivation–extinction procedure. Data confirmed the importance of memory destabilization prior to extinction inside the reconsolidation window to attenuate spontaneous recovery and retard reacquisition of conditioned fear. The present report offers a candidate explanation of the discrepancy in results obtained with the reactivation–extinction procedure by different laboratories.
MicroRNA156: A Potential Graft-Transmissible MicroRNA That Modulates Plant Architecture and Tuberization in Solanum tuberosum ssp. andigena
Authors: Bhogale Sneha , Mahajan Ameya S. , Natarajan Bhavani , Rajabhoj Mohit , Thulasiram Hirekodathakallu V. , Banerjee Anjan K.
Published: December 2013

MicroRNA156 (miR156) functions in maintaining the juvenile phase in plants. However, the mobility of this microRNA has not been demonstrated. So far, only three microRNAs, miR399, miR395, and miR172, have been shown to be mobile. We demonstrate here that miR156 is a potential graft-transmissible signal that affects plant architecture and tuberization in potato (Solanum tuberosum). Under tuber-noninductive (long-day) conditions, miR156 shows higher abundance in leaves and stems, whereas an increase in abundance of miR156 has been observed in stolons under tuber-inductive (short-day) conditions, indicative of a photoperiodic control. Detection of miR156 in phloem cells of wild-type plants and mobility assays in heterografts suggest that miR156 is a graft-transmissible signal. This movement was correlated with changes in leaf morphology and longer trichomes in leaves. Overexpression of miR156 in potato caused a drastic phenotype resulting in altered plant architecture and reduced tuber yield. miR156 overexpression plants also exhibited altered levels of cytokinin and strigolactone along with increased levels of LONELY GUY1 and StCyclin D3.1 transcripts as compared with wild-type plants. RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends analysis validated SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING-LIKE3 (StSPL3), StSPL6, StSPL9, StSPL13, and StLIGULELESS1 as targets of miR156. Gel-shift assays indicate the regulation of miR172 by miR156 through StSPL9. miR156-resistant SPL9 overexpression lines exhibited increased miR172 levels under a short-day photoperiod, supporting miR172 regulation via the miR156-SPL9 module. Overall, our results strongly suggest that miR156 is a phloem-mobile signal regulating potato development.
Sharī‘ah risk and corporate governance of Islamic banks
Authors: Ginena Karim
Published: December 2013

Purpose

–The purpose of this paper is to help directors, senior management, and stakeholders of Islamic banks understand sharī‘ah risk, a crucial consideration in the corporate governance of Islamic banks, and its impact on these banks.

Design/methodology/approach

–This conceptual paper links dispersed insights drawn from the emerging body of sharī‘ah governance literature, and the guidance issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS), the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), and the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) with new insights to clarify the sharī‘ah risk that Islamic banks face.

Findings

–Sharī‘ah risk, an operational risk, poses a credible hazard to Islamic banks and their stakeholders. Possible consequences of sharī‘ah non-compliance include higher costs, financial losses, liquidity problems, bank runs, bank failure, industry smearing and financial instability. This study defines shariah risk, identifies credit, legal, compliance, market, and reputational risk that it may evoke, and categorizes its causes and events.

Research limitations/implications

–Future research could empirically test the ideas posited. In this paper claims were substantiated by logic and examples.

Practical implications

–The study devises an instrument for assessing sharī‘ah risk, and suggests measures for directors, senior management, and regulators to mitigate this risk.

Originality/value

–This is the first study to focus on the implications of sharī‘ah risk, delineate examples of events and incorporate them within the BCBS operational risk causes, and develop a tool for measuring sharī‘ah risk.
What are the antecedents of coopetition?
Authors: Geraudel Mickael , Salvetat David
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– Who is able to cooperate with his or her competitors? The coopetition is a relatively recent concept that is almost always studied at the inter-organizational level. To study coopetition at the individual and inter-individual levels, the authors will analyze the disposition of managers to compete and to cooperate as a function of their centrality to their network and also their personality traits. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a sample of 110 trainee future managers (quantitative method), the paper shows that the network position and personality traits have different effects on propensity to compete and propensity to cooperate.

Findings

– The paper concludes that the network position has a strong effect on the propensity to compete and also on the propensity to cooperate, in contrast with that, personality traits are more relevant in the explanation of the propensity to cooperate.

Originality/value

– It seems there are individual and inter-individual causes which might explain the propensity of actors to coopetite. This body of research suggests that it is important to study the characteristics of managers who are able to create cooperation between competitors.
A novel Laplace decomposition method for non-linear stretching sheet problem in the presence of MHD and slip condition
Authors: Khan Yasir
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This paper aims to suggest a novel modified Laplace decomposition method (MLDM) for MHD flow over a non-linear stretching sheet with slip condition by suitable choice of an initial solution.

Design/methodology/approach

– The governing partial differential equations are converted into dimensionless non-linear ordinary differential equation by similarity transformation, which is solved by MLDM. The method is based on the application of Laplace transform to boundary layers in fluid mechanics. The non-linear term can be easily handled by the use of He's polynomials.

Findings

– The series solution of the MHD flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a non-linear stretching sheet subject to slip condition is obtained. An excellent agreement between the MLDM and HPM is achieved. Convergence of the obtained series solution is properly checked by using the ratio test.

Practical implications

– Stretching surface is an important type of flow occurring in a number of engineering processes such as heat-treated materials travelling between a feed roll and a wind up roll, aerodynamic extrusion of plastic sheets, glass fiber and paper production, cooling of an infinite metallic plate in a cooling path, manufacturing of polymeric sheets are few examples of flow due to stretching surfaces. This work provides a very useful source of information for researchers on this subject.

Originality/value

– Such flow analysis is even not available yet for the hydrodynamic fluid. The series solution for MHD boundary layer problem with slip condition by means of MLDM is yet not available in the literature.
Consumers' perspectives on service staff with disabilities in the hospitality industry
Authors: Kuo Pei-Jou , Kalargyrou Valentini
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This exploratory study aims to investigate consumers' perceptions, attitudes, and purchase intention for restaurants that employ a significant amount of service staff with disabilities. The influences of consumers' characteristics and dining occasions on purchase intention were also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employed a single-factor (dining occasion) experimental design. A convenient sample was used and a total of 192 consumers participated in this study.

Findings

– Consumers demonstrated a moderately positive purchase intention for a restaurant that employs a significant amount of service staff with disabilities; however, the purchase intention varied by dining occasions. The likelihood of choosing this type of restaurant was higher in a family/friends occasion than in business or romantic occasions.

Research limitations/implications

– This study employed a convenient sample and the findings might be limited to the casual dining restaurant context. Future research should examine the relationship between purchase intention and perceived social responsibility, restaurant image, or specific disabilities.

Practical implications

– This study suggests that hiring a significant amount of service staff with disabilities might be a better strategy for restaurants that target family/friends gatherings. Meanwhile, managers need to be more strategic when they assign employees with disabilities to serve guests who are in a business or romantic dining situation.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that empirically investigates consumers' perspectives on restaurant service staff with disabilities in the USA.
Measuring food and beverage service quality in spa hotels
Authors: Giritlioglu Ibrahim , Jones Eleri , Avcikurt Cevdet
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this study was three-fold: first, to develop an instrument to evaluate food and beverage service quality in spa hotels; second, to identify aspects of food and beverage service quality of which customers had the highest expectations, i.e. the key dimensions of food and beverage service quality in spa hotels; third, to measure customer perceptions of the spa hotels in this study and to identify those dimensions with the largest gap between customer expectations and perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A self-administrated questionnaire was distributed to 331 customers at four different spa hotels in Balikesir, Turkey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to identify service quality dimensions. Cronbach Alpha indicated the reliability of the factors identified. Customer expectations, perceptions and gaps between expectations and perceptions for each dimension were measured.

Findings

– Factor analysis revealed six quality dimensions: “assurance and employee knowledge”; “healthy and attractive food”; “empathy”; “tangibles”; “responsiveness of service delivery”; “reliability”. Customer expectations were highest for “tangibles” and “assurance and employee knowledge”. The largest gaps between perceptions and expectations were for “healthy and attractive food” and “tangibles”.

Practical implications

– Key dimensions for food and beverage service quality in spa hotels were identified and a reliable instrument for measuring provision was developed. This should be applied by managers on an ongoing basis to evaluate their performance and give them a better understanding of food and beverage service quality in spa hotels. The study provides specific information on the performance of Turkish spa hotels in relation to food and beverage service quality.

Originality/value

– This research addresses the paucity of research on customer perspectives of food and beverage provision in spa hotels and contributes to enhanced understanding of spa tourists and their expectations and perceptions of the service quality of food and beverage service quality.
Travelers' behavioral intention toward hotel self-service kiosks usage
Authors: Kim Miyoung , Qu Hailin
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to propose a refined technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine the relationship between factors that affect travelers' use of hotel self-service kiosks.

Design/methodology/approach

– The target population of the study is domestic travelers whose e-mail addresses are in a publicly available database. The measures in this study were developed based on a thorough review of the previous literature. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and distributed through online, and a structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was conducted by LISREL 8.0 to test the proposed extended technology acceptance model (TAM).

Findings

– Results suggested that all external variables (i.e. perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, compatibility, and perceived risks) have significant direct effects on travelers' attitude toward using hotel self-service kiosks. However, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use did not have significant effects on travelers' satisfaction. Specifically, compatibility was the most important factor that influences travelers' attitude toward using hotel self-service kiosks, followed by perceived ease of use. Further, perceived risks have a significant influence on travelers' satisfaction, followed by compatibility.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper provides guidance which will be useful to hotel managers and marketers seeking to improve travelers' acceptance of hotel self-service kiosks when utilizing these in their service delivery as well as to manage travelers' satisfaction of their experience with hotel self-service kiosks.

Originality/value

– The new refined model of factors affecting travelers' use of hotel self-service kiosks comprises three new factors, including compatibility, perceived risks, and satisfaction.
Experiences of university students regarding transformation in South Africa
Authors: Seabi Joseph , Seedat Jaishika , Khoza-Shangase Katijah , Sullivan Lakeasha
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate students’ perceptions of the challenges that they face and the factors that facilitate and impede teaching and learning within the context of transformation at the University of the Witwatersrand. The paper also explores students’ perceptions of transformation directly and their ideas related to facilitating this process. The authors reflect briefly on colonialism and apartheid in South Africa and the state of higher education after 18 years of democracy.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative, explorative, descriptive survey research design was employed to gain a deeper understanding of how students experience living, learning and teaching in higher education. A sample of 194 students with a mean age of 22.40 participated in the study.

Findings

– The results revealed positive facilitative factors such as quality of teaching, social support, material resources and practical/clinical training; as well as negative hindering factors that included high workload, English as a medium of instruction and limited access to “other” resources which impacted the learning processes. There was a general feeling of dissatisfaction with the current status of the school regarding transformation.

Originality/value

– This study makes novel contributions to the literature, especially related to the South African context. For instance, white students in professional degree programs reported that their inability to speak indigenous African languages hindered their provision of services to clients. This finding contrasts with previous literature that suggests that students who speak English as a first language have greater advantages than multilingual students whose mother tongue is not English.
Exploring new ways to ensure interoperability under the Digital Agenda
Authors: Graef Inge , Valcke Peggy
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– This article seeks to analyze the initiative of the European Commission that studied the feasibility of measures that would lead significant market players to license their interoperability information under the Digital Agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

– The significance of the abuse of dominance regime and the electronic communications framework in ensuring access to interoperability information in the ICT sector is studied by way of analyzing legislation and case law. Against the background of these two existing regulatory regimes, the proposals that the Commission made in its recently published Staff Working Document are evaluated.

Findings

– The Microsoft case illustrates that the abuse of dominance regime under European competition law is not very effective to remedy interoperability issues in a structural way. An ex ante regime will enable the ICT industry to reap the full benefits of interoperability on a broader scale. Since the Commission's initiative seems to target interoperability among software products, the electronic communications regime is not applicable. A new regulatory regime should therefore be established. As the desirability of a mandatory regime can be questioned, the adoption of soft law measures seems to be the preferred option.

Originality/value

– By putting the initiative of the Commission to examine measures that promote access to interoperability information under the Digital Agenda into its broader regulatory context, the article contributes to the discussion on the possible ways to ensure interoperability in the ICT sector.
Using a digitization index to measure the economic and social impact of digital agendas
Authors: Katz Raul , Koutroumpis Pantelis , Martin Callorda Fernando
Published: December 2013

Purpose

–The purpose of this paper is to measure the cumulative, holistic impact of discrete information and communication technologies. It also provides a glimpse of applications and service adoption, which complements more traditional perspectives such as technology penetration. This approach is utilized to measure achievements in implementing a policy such as Europe's Digital Agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

–Measuring digitization should cover the transition to digitally intensive societies across multiple sets of metrics, capturing not only technology penetration, but also its use in order to understand the full impact of digitization. For this purpose, a composite index was developed based on six overarching components: affordability, infrastructure investment, network access, capacity, usage, and human capital.

Findings

–These concepts were utilized to assess Europe's performance in terms of its digitization. Significant gaps were highlighted both in terms of its uneven development, but also in terms of lags in the areas of infrastructure investment and digital technology usage. The economic payback to be generated by pro-actively addressing these gaps promises to be significant.

Practical implications

–From a policy standpoint, the paper raises an interesting hypothesis to be explored in the European context: while the implementation of the Digital Agenda could be tackled in an overarching continental manner, particularities in each member country digitalization might raise the need for a more differentiated approach. In particular, European countries at the transitional stage should emphasize the creation of necessary incentives to accelerate investment in telecommunications networks. Additionally, demand promotion strategies focused on digital literacy and content development appear to be a critical lever to enhancing digitization. On the other hand, the policy challenges for the advanced countries appear to cluster around investment in infrastructure and the development of human capital.

Originality/value

–Previous attempts to measure the impact of ICT have focused primarily on measuring and assessing the economic effects of widespread access to either wireless or broadband technology. This approach puts additional emphasis on two dimensions: cumulative impact of information and communication technologies and usage.
Build it! … but what if they don't come?
Authors: Scott Marcus J. , Elixmann Dieter
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to address the issue of demand for broadband access and the specific role that bandwidth plays in this context. The aim is to assess available empirical evidence regarding the dynamics of bandwidth consumption in different countries and to discuss implications for public policy regarding the deployment of ultra-fast broadband infrastructures, in particular vis-à-vis the Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE).

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach adopted uses publicly available empirical data in order to derive patterns of the development of broadband demand in previous years as well as regarding current demand in specific countries. The authors contrast these findings with information on the deployment of broadband infrastructures in these countries.

Findings

– The relationship between availability of fast broadband and the use of bandwidth by consumers appears to be richer and more complex than many have assumed. Availability of fast broadband does not alone appear to determine the level of use. This suggests that a more balanced approach between supply side and demand side measures is likely to be warranted.

Originality/value

– The paper provides new evidence on the relationship between the speed of fast broadband infrastructure and its use by consumers.
Is the South African effort toward reducing money laundering optimal?
Authors: Schlenther Bernd
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– A measure of how much money is laundered is required to determine the effectiveness of any anti-money laundering regime and the reduction of money laundering in targeted areas. In the absence of useful estimates, authorities need to look at the best quality data available to arrive at a meaningful estimate and a consequent target for reduction of money laundering. Since tax crimes are viewed as one of the top three sources of laundered money, an understanding of the underlying predicate offence – tax evasion – may be indicative of the values or volumes involved in order to facilitate a target setting process. It is suggested that a “whole of government approach”, as is advanced by the OECD, is applied between the tax administration and the financial intelligence centre in South Africa. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– By reviewing tax gap and money laundering estimation models and results from South Africa's first tax amnesty, it is proposed that micro analysis methodologies are applied to arrive at an estimate of the size and impact of money laundering which results from tax evasion practices.

Findings

– By making basic inferences from the results of the 2003 voluntary disclosure programme, it is estimated that a potential revenue gap of between ZAR4 billion and ZAR12 billion exists for personal income tax alone and that the value of personal assets acquired from the proceeds of crime can, at any time, be as high as ZAR1.4 trillion.

Originality/value

– In the absence of empirical and statistical data, it is necessary for authorities in developing countries to identify and make use of the most relevant and detailed data to assess its effectiveness in identifying, quantifying and reducing money laundering.
The civil law: a potent crime-fighting device
Authors: Ali Shazeeda
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to increase the awareness of attorneys-at-law about the potential risks that they may encounter as a result of the developments in “intermeddler liability”. The article is also aimed at informing attorneys about the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) civil recovery machinery.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article is divided into two parts. The first part involves an analysis of the provisions in the POCA of Jamaica that invoke a civil machinery to recover criminally obtained wealth. In addition to a review of the main provisions of POCA, an examination of recent cases in Jamaica and in the UK, which has a similar legislative regime, has been undertaken. The legislative framework for providing a remedy to a victim of crime has also been examined. The second part of the article explores developments in the law of restitution and the law relating to constructive trusts which may impact lawyers and financial intermediaries who become engaged in transactions dealing with illicit funds.

Findings

– The first aspect of the article focuses on the ability of the Asset Recovery Agency to follow and recover illicitly obtained property in the absence of a criminal conviction. In the second part of the article, the evolution of the law relating to “intermeddler liability”, that is, knowing receipt and dishonest assistance, has been explored. It is observed that these developments are significant in providing a victim of financial crime with a remedy where the illicit activity involves a breach of trust or other fiduciary relationship.

Originality/value

– Much of the focus on anti-money laundering initiatives in Jamaica is on the money laundering offence and post-conviction orders under POCA. This article seeks to highlight the power of the civil law in countering serious crime.
Psychometric assessment of workaholism measures
Authors: Schou Andreassen Cecilie , Hetland Jørn , Pallesen Ståle
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– Although the concept of workaholism has existed in the academic literature for decades, exploration of its measurements seems to lag behind. The purpose of this study is to present an investigation of the three most commonly used workaholism measures; the Workaholism Battery (WorkBAT), the Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) and the Dutch Work Addiction Scale (DUWAS) in terms of their cross-validation, their temporal stability and their factor structure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The three measures were administered to 661 cross-occupational Norwegian workers. A total of 368 of these completed the same measures 24-30 months later.

Findings

– The cross-validation showed that the correlations between the scores of the different instruments were too low to conclude that they measure the same construct. The 24-30 month test-retest reliability coefficients for the measures revealed that the scores were quite stable over time. None of the previously suggested factor solutions for the three measures had a good fit with the data. Explorative factor analyses supported a four-factor solution for the WorkBAT and for the WART. A two-factor solution for the DUWAS was found.

Research limitations/implications

– All the data are based on self-report, which might bias the results.

Practical implications

– Different workaholism measures cannot be used interchangeably.

Originality/value

– This is the first study that cross-validates the three most used workaholism measures and which investigates the reliability of these instruments over a long-term period (24-30 months).
On passion and heavy work investment: personal and organizational outcomes
Authors: Houlfort Nathalie , L. Philippe Frédérick , J. Vallerand Robert , Ménard Julie
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The present research aimed to conceptually position passion for work as a predictor of HWI, as well as to assess the short and long-term influence of passion for work on workers' satisfaction, depression and turnover intentions. In addition, the paper tests whether the effects of passion for work were independent from those of work motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

– Hypotheses were tested in two field studies in work settings. The first study (n=2,393) was cross-sectional while the second study (n=335) used a prospective design.

Findings

– Harmonious passion was positively related to positive individual outcomes – higher work satisfaction, lower depression – and organizational outcomes – lower turnover intentions. Negative consequences – depression and turnover intentions – were positively related to obsessive passion. Furthermore, passion for work was found to be a distinct concept from work motivation as the above findings held even when controlling for work motivation.

Research limitations/implications

– Applications are limited to teachers. Only self-reported measures were used.

Originality/value

– The present research contributes significantly to the organizational and passion literature by showing that HWI may lead to either positive or negative outcomes depending on HWI's underlying motivational force, namely harmonious or obsessive passion. In addition, the present findings yield the first empirical evidence that passion and motivation are distinct but related concepts. In sum, findings from both studies provide valuable insights into the dynamics of passionate workers who are heavily invested in their work.
Coverage, field specialisation and the impact of scientific publishers indexed in the Book Citation Index
Authors: Torres-Salinas Daniel , Robinson-Garcia Nicolas , Miguel Campanario Juan , Delgado López-Cózar Emilio
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to analyse the disciplinary coverage of Thomson Reuters' Book Citation Index database focusing on publisher presence, impact and specialisation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors conducted a descriptive study in which they examined coverage by discipline, publisher distribution by field and country of publication, and publisher impact. For this purpose the Thomson Reuters' subject categories were aggregated into 15 disciplines.

Findings

– Humanities and social sciences comprise 30 per cent of the total share of this database. Most of the disciplines are covered by very few publishers mainly from the UK and USA (75.05 per cent of the books), in fact 33 publishers hold 90 per cent of the whole share. Regarding publisher impact, 80.5 per cent of the books and chapters remained uncited. Two serious errors were found in this database: the Book Citation Index does not retrieve all citations for books and chapters; and book citations do not include citations to their chapters.

Originality/value

– There are currently no studies analysing in depth the coverage of this novel database which covers monographs.
Are web mentions accurate substitutes for inlinks for Spanish universities?
Authors: Luis Ortega José , Orduña-Malea Enrique , F. Aguillo Isidro
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– Title and URL mentions have recently been proposed as web visibility indicators instead of inlink counts. The objective of this study is to determine the accuracy of these alternative web mention indicators in the Spanish academic system, taking into account their complexity (multi-domains) and diversity (different official languages).

Design/methodology/approach

– Inlinks, title and URL mentions from 76 Spanish universities were manually extracted from the main search engines (Google, Google Scholar, Yahoo!, Bing and Exalead). Several statistical methods, such as correlation, difference tests and regression models, were used.

Findings

– Web mentions, despite some limitations, can be used as substitutes for inlinks in the Spanish academic system, although these indicators are more likely to be influenced by the environment (language, web domain policy, etc.) than inlinks.

Research limitations/implications

– Title mentions provide unstable results caused by the multiple name variants which an institution can present (such as acronyms and other language versions). URL mentions are more stable, but they may present atypical points due to some shortcomings, the effect of which is that URL mentions do not have the same meaning as inlinks.

Practical implications

– Web mentions should be used with caution and after a cleaning-up process. Moreover, these counts do not necessarily signify connectivity, so their use in global web analysis should be limited.

Originality/value

– Web mentions have previously been used in some specific academic systems (US, UK and China), but this study analyses, in depth and for the first time, an entire non-English speaking European country (Spain), with complex academic web behaviour, which helps to better explain previous web mention results.
Semantic information retrieval research based on co-occurrence analysis
Authors: Lou Wen , Qiu Junping
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The paper aims to develop a new method for potential relations retrieval. It aims to find common aspects between co-occurrence analysis and ontology to build a model of semantic information retrieval based on co-occurrence analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper used a literature review, co-occurrence analysis, ontology build and other methods to design a model and process of semantic information retrieval based on co-occurrence analysis. Archaeological data from Wuhan University Library's bibliographic retrieval systems was used for experimental analysis.

Findings

– The literature review found that semantic information retrieval research mainly concentrates on ontology-based query techniques, semantic annotation and semantic relation retrieval. Moreover most recent systems can only achieve obvious relations retrieval. Ontology and co-occurrence analysis have strong similarities in theoretical ideas, data types, expressions, and applications.

Research limitations/implications

– The experiment data came from a Chinese university which perhaps limits its usefulness elsewhere.

Practical implications

– This paper constructed a model to understand potential relations retrieval. An experiment proved the feasibility of co-occurrence analysis used in semantic information retrieval. Compared with traditional retrieval, semantic information retrieval based on co-occurrence analysis is more user-friendly.

Originality/value

– This study is one of the first to combine co-occurrence analysis with semantic information retrieval to find detailed relationships.
Scrutinising the role of the Police and Crime Panel in the new era of police governance in England and Wales
Authors: Lister Stuart
Published: December 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of Police and Crime Panels (PCPs) within the new constitutional arrangements for governing police forces in England and Wales.

Design/methodology/approach

– Desktop research of the web pages of PCPs, combined with documentary analysis of reports of panel meetings and a literature review of relevant academic materials.

Findings

– During the first year of their operation the role of the PCP in the new constitutional arrangements for governing police forces in England and Wales has been widely criticised. This paper explores reasons that may impinge on the effectiveness of these local bodies to scrutinise how Police and Crime Commissioners discharge their statutory functions. In particular, it draws attention to the limited powers of the panel, the contradictions of the “critical/friend” model of scrutiny, the extent of political alignment between “the scrutinisers” and “the scrutinee”, and the ability of the latter to constrain the scrutiny function of the former.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first to explore the scrutiny role of PCPs in the context of the research evidence regarding the development and use of scrutiny within the local government context.
Body size‐mediated starvation resistance in an insect predator
Authors: Gergs André , Jager Tjalling
Published: December 2013

Individual organisms have to endure transient periods of low‐food supply with consequences for growth, reproduction and survival. To resist starvation, animals usually store resources in their bodies: the larger the animals are, the more resources they can carry, but the more energy they need to allocate for maintaining bodily functions. It is unclear how survival relates to body size when food is scarce or absent, and how to characterize individual differences in survival within a population.

We use a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model to describe food acquisition, subsequent reserve dynamics and allocation of reserve to body maintenance, growth and maturation of an aquatic insect predator, Notonecta maculata. In a DEB context, we can assume that starvation‐induced death strikes when the reserve of an organism is depleted to a certain extent. The way reserve dynamics change upon starvation might thereby influence the ability to survive in the absence of food. Moreover, individuals in a starved population do not die at the same time, even though they might be of the same body size with similar life histories.

To describe individual differences in starvation resistance, we link the reserve dynamics derived from the DEB model to the general unified threshold model of survival (GUTS). We tested two different special cases within GUTS, individual tolerance (IT) and stochastic death (SD), and three different starvation options for their suitability in representing experimental data on body size‐related starvation resistance.

The DEB model reproduced laboratory data on the development of juvenile N. maculata under different food conditions well and closely predicted the weight loss of individuals during prolonged starvation. Both the combined IT‐model and the combined SD‐model closely fit survival for different food conditions including starvation. However, the two models make different predictions for survival under repeated transient starvation periods. Our results suggest that larger N. maculata specimens are able to resist starvation to a greater extent than smaller conspecifics.

The DEB model provides a mechanistic explanation for the positive relationship between body size and starvation resistance, and offers testable hypotheses for possible deviations from this general trend.