bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gravitational and dynamic components of muscle torque underlie tonic and phasic muscle activity during goal-directed reaching
Authors: Olesh Erienne , Pollard Bradley , Gritsenko Valeriya
Published: May 2017

Human reaching movements require complex muscle activations to produce the forces necessary to move the limb in a controlled manner. How gravity and the complex kinetic properties of the limb contribute to the generation of the muscle activation pattern by the central nervous system (CNS) is a long-standing question in neuroscience. To address this question, muscle activity is often subdivided into static and phasic components. The former is thought to be related to posture maintenance and transitions between postures. The latter represents the remainder of muscle activity and is thought to be related to active movement production and the compensation for the kinetic properties of the limb. In the present study, we directly addressed how this subdivision of muscle activity into static and phasic components is related to the corresponding components of active muscle torques. Eight healthy subjects pointed in virtual reality to visual targets arranged to create a standard center-out reaching task in three dimensions. Muscle activity and motion capture data were synchronously collected during the movements. The motion capture data were used to calculate gravitational and dynamic components of active muscle torques using a dynamic model of the arm with 5 degrees of freedom. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was then applied to muscle activity and the torque components, separately, to reduce the dimensionality of the data. Muscle activity was also reconstructed from gravitational and dynamic torque components. Results show that the gravitational and dynamic components of muscle torque represent a significant amount of variance in muscle activity. This method could be used to identify static and phasic components of muscle activity using muscle torques. The contribution of both components to the overall muscle activity was largely equal, unlike their relative contribution to active muscle torques, which may reflect a neural control strategy.
Identifying the niche controlling melanocyte differentiation
Authors: Zocco Manuel , Blanpain Cédric
Published: May 2017

Melanocytes present in hair follicles are responsible for their pigmentation. Melanocyte differentiation and hair pigmentation depend on the stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit signaling pathway, but the niche that regulates melanocyte differentiation is not well characterized. In this issue of Genes & Development, Liao and colleagues (pp. 744–756) identify Krox20+-derived cells of the hair shaft as the niche and the essential source of SCF required for melanocyte maturation. This study delineates the niche factors regulating melanocyte differentiation and hair pigmentation and opens up new avenues to further characterize the cross-talk between the hair follicle and melanocytes that controls melanocyte maintenance and differentiation.
Medial prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial striatum are necessary for the trial-unique, delayed nonmatching-to-location (TUNL) task in rats: role of NMDA receptors
Authors: Davies Don A. , Hurtubise Jessica L. , Greba Quentin , Howland John G.
Published: May 2017

The trial-unique, delayed nonmatching-to-location (TUNL) task is a recently developed behavioral task that measures spatial working memory and a form of pattern separation in touchscreen-equipped operant conditioning chambers. Limited information exists regarding the neurotransmitters and neural substrates involved in the task. The present experiments tested the effects of systemic and intracranial injections of NMDA receptor antagonists on the TUNL task. After training, male Long Evans rats systemically injected with the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist CPP (10 mg/kg) had impaired accuracy regardless of the degree of stimuli separation or length of delay between the sample and test phases. Injections of Ro 25-6981 (6 or 10 mg/kg), an antagonist selective for GluN2B subunit-containing NMDA receptors, did not affect accuracy on the task. Direct infusion of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist AP5 into mPFC or dmSTR reduced overall accuracy on the TUNL task. These results demonstrate that TUNL task performance depends on NMDA receptors within the mPFC and dmSTR.
Reconstruction of the near-field distribution in an X-ray waveguide array
Authors: Zhong Qi , Melchior Lars , Peng Jichang , Huang Qiushi , Wang Zhanshan , Salditt Tim
Published: May 2017

Iterative phase retrieval has been used to reconstruct the near-field distribution behind tailored X-ray waveguide arrays, by inversion of the measured far-field pattern recorded under fully coherent conditions. It is thereby shown that multi-waveguide interference can be exploited to control the near-field distribution behind the waveguide exit. This can, for example, serve to create a secondary quasi-focal spot outside the waveguide structure. For this proof of concept, an array of seven planar Ni/C waveguides are used, with precisely varied guiding layer thickness and cladding layer thickness, as fabricated by high-precision magnetron sputtering systems. The controlled thickness variations in the range of 0.2 nm results in a desired phase shift of the different waveguide beams. Two kinds of samples, a one-dimensional waveguide array and periodic waveguide multilayers, were fabricated, each consisting of seven C layers as guiding layers and eight Ni layers as cladding layers. These are shown to yield distinctly different near-field patterns.
DxTools: processing large data files recorded with the Bruker D8 diffractometer
Authors: Boulle A.
Published: May 2017

Data processing is the daily reality for crystallographers, who often seek to automate this repetitive task. With modern commercial diffractometers allowing for more elaborate experiments to be performed, the use of commercial software is almost unavoidable for processing data, because these are often provided in a manufacturer-specific format. This is especially the case when the intensity is recorded as a function of more than one single scanning motor and/or when recording data with a one-dimensional detector. A simple, free and open-source alternative is here presented to process the type of diffraction data recorded with the Bruker D8 diffractometer. It allows handling of data files (in uxd and brml format) corresponding to reciprocal space maps (in the Qx

Qz
and Qx

Qy
planes), temperature-dependent scans, spatial scans, sin2ψ measurements and pole figures. The program is easy to use and can be extended to any file format. It can be downloaded from https://aboulle.github.io/DxTools/.
Crystal structure of dilead(II) oxochromate(VI) oxotellurate(IV)
Authors: Weil Matthias
Published: May 2017

Reaction of chromium(III) precursors with TeO2 in PbF2/PbO melts in air led to oxidation of chromium(III) to chromium(VI), whereas tellurium remained its oxidation state of IV. In the resulting title compound, Pb2(CrO4)(TeO3), the two types of anions are isolated from each other, hence a double salt is formed. The two independent Pb2+ cations exhibit coordination number nine under formation of very distorted coordination polyhedra [bond-length range = 2.363 (6)–3.276 (7) Å]. The oxochromate(VI) and oxotellurate(IV) anions have tetrahedral and trigonal–pyramidal configurations, respectively. In the crystal structure, (001) layers of metal cations alternate with layers of TeO3
2− and CrO4
2− anions along [001], forming a three-dimensional framework structure. Pb2(CrO4)(TeO3) is isotypic with its sulfate analogue Pb2(SO4)(TeO3) and is comparatively discussed.
Crystal structure of 3-aminopyridinium 1′-carboxyferrocene-1-carboxylate
Authors: Medved'ko Aleksei V. , Churakov Andrei V. , Yu Haojie , Li Wang , Vatsadze Sergey Z.
Published: May 2017

The structure of the title salt, (C5H7N2)[Fe(C6H4O2)(C6H5O2)], consists of 3-aminopyridinium cations and 1′-carboxyferrocene-1-carboxylate monoanions. The ferrocenyl moiety of the anion adopts a typical sandwich structure, with Fe—C distances in the range 2.0270 (15)–2.0568 (17) Å. The anion possesses an eclipsed conformation, with the torsion angle φ (Csubst—Cpcent—Cpcent— Csubst) equal to 66.0°. The conformations of other 1′-carboxyferrocene-1-carboxylate monoanions are compared and analyzed on the basis of literature data.
Theme factors that drive the tourist customer experience
Authors: Åstrøm Jonas Karlsen
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors that drive the tourist customer experience around theming. Theming is considered vital to creating a memorable customer impression.

Design/methodology/approach

The cruise industry was chosen as the empirical setting. A total of 328 cruise travelers returned valid questionnaires during a cruise in March 2010. The questionnaire was developed based on a conceptual model of components (name, employee interaction, lighting, design and music) hypothesized to contribute to a themed cruise environment.

Findings

Name, employee interaction and lighting were found to be the most important drivers for the customer experience. Theming was less reliant on design and music.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited to one narrow context. Further research on other ships, itineraries and cruise lines should clarify whether factors affecting theme perception are the same across the cruise industry.

Practical implications

Cruise industry decision makers should consider the naming of spaces, lighting and employee interaction when designing themed experiences.

Originality/value

Theming has received little attention in the research literature. This study is a unique contribution to our understanding of this particular field.
Capital buffers in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) banks: is market discipline important?
Authors: Ghosh Saibal
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The role of market discipline in influencing capital buffers has been debated in literature. Limited evidence on this score is available for Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. In this context, using data for 2001-2012, the paper aims to examine the role and relevance of market discipline in affecting capital buffer for MENA banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the longitudinal nature of the data, the paper employs dynamic panel data techniques that take on board the potential endogeneity between the dependent and independent variables.

Findings

The analysis indicates that the disciplining effect of depositors in MENA banks on capital buffer occurs primarily through the quantity channel, although this behaviour differs for banks with high versus those with low buffers. In particular, bigger banks which typically have thin capital cushion are much less subject to market discipline, presumably owing to their too-big-to-fail status.

Originality/value

The analysis differs from the extant literature in three distinct ways. First, the paper examines the differential response of Islamic banks on capital buffers via market discipline. Second, several of these countries are primarily commodity exporters. Accordingly, the paper examines the behaviour of these countries with regard to market discipline. Third, how far did the global financial crisis impact bank capital buffer had not been explored in prior empirical research, an aspect that is addressed in this study.
Tax havens, offshore financial centres and the current sanctions regimes
Authors: Mugarura Norman
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to articulate the complexities posed by tax havens and offshore financial centres (OFCs) in the global fight against financial crimes such as tax avoidance and money laundering. It suggests possible measures to mitigate the effect of tax avoidance on economic development of countries, especially less developed poor countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were evaluated using examples and case studies drawn from tax havens and OFCs in newspaper reports to demonstrate how illicit proceeds of crime are spirited out of countries for safe custody in tax haven jurisdictions around the globe. The author also carried out a scoping review of the literature to delineate the correlation between tax havens, OFCs and the growth in financial crimes such as tax avoidance and money laundering.

Findings

There is a close correlation that bank secrecy laws in OFCs fuel the growth of financial crimes such as tax avoidance and money laundering around the globe. The findings also suggest that while imposition of sanctions on countries which transgress international financial regulatory regimes is an essential component in the international efforts against financial crimes, they need to be enforced on all states so that they are not seen as politicized and subsequently undermined.

Research limitations/implications

It is important that states work in tandem to initiate desired regimes to address financial crimes but enunciating regimes alone cannot generate a far reaching impact unless they are enforced against all transgressing states.

Practical implications

The paper has practical implications for states, people, governments, oversight institutions, markets and other stakeholders because it unravels varied issues relating to tax avoidance, money laundering and policies that need to be adopted to address these challenges.

Social implications

The paper draws attention to the impact of asymmetric information and data generation capacity in some countries on tax avoidance and other financial crimes and the need for international harmonization of tax and AML regimes.

Originality/value

The issues explored in this paper help to highlight the challenges posed by tax havens and OFCs for economic development of countries. While the paper was undertaken by the review of primary and secondary data, it offers important contributions that could potentially enhance the fight against tax avoidance.
“Coke on Tick”: exploring the cocaine market in the UK through the lens of financial management
Authors: Hall Alexandra , Antonopoulos Georgios A.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to offer detailed preliminary data and analysis that focuses specifically on the structures and financial aspects of the UK cocaine market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on in-depth interviews with – among others – four active criminal entrepreneurs involved in powder cocaine supply in the UK. Furthermore, along with a review of relevant literature and open sources, in-depth interviews were undertaken with a range of experts with knowledge of the cocaine market. These experts include law enforcement agents and independent academics/researchers who have researched the cocaine market in the UK and internationally.

Findings

The cocaine market is a fragmented business dependent on networks of individual entrepreneurs and groups. At the core of collaborations often lie family, ethnic or kinship relationships and relationships forged within legal businesses and in prison. Capital investment practices in this market are flexible, “messy” and mutating, and money comes from a range of different sources. Credit is an integral feature of the cocaine business in the UK. The financial management of the cocaine trade is a result of (and reflects) a number of factors, such as the fragmented and decentralised nature of the trade.

Originality/value

Empirical research into financial aspects of organised crime manifestations is important for the assumptions that are part of public debate to be tested. In addition, understanding the broader range of financial aspects of organised crime is an important component of the process of crimes for gain and can contribute to both better investigation and better prevention.
Measuring the productivity of facilities management
Authors: Bröchner Jan
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify methods appropriate for measuring the direct productivity of facilities management (FM) with respect to the providers, on both the industry level and the firm level.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a literature survey and conceptual analysis.

Findings

Prior studies are dominated by subjective assessments of how the office environment affects individual labour productivity. While the available EU data on productivity growth for the FM industry indicate a negative trend, they might be misleading. More recent research on the productivity of business services providers could be applied to the measurement of the productivity of FM firms. Co-production and effects of client satisfaction are important issues for measurement.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is concentrated on the direct productivity of FM providers. There is a need to develop objective measures of provider productivity, and there is a particular challenge in measuring how FM clients contribute to the productivity of FM providers.

Practical implications

Providers of FM services should be able to assess the efficiency of their resource use more clearly and to balance user satisfaction against resource use more efficiently.

Social implications

The effects of co-production with clients need to be recognised, considering productivity effects on both providers and clients jointly. Sustainability is an argument for an increased focus on resource use in FM.

Originality/value

This is the first overview of issues raised when measuring the direct productivity of FM itself rather than indirect FM effects on office worker labour productivity.
Facilities management and corporate real estate management: FM/CREM or FREM?
Authors: van der Voordt Theo
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore similarities and dissimilarities between facilities management (FM) and corporate real estate management (CREM) regarding its history and key issues, and whether the similarities may result in a further integration of FM and CREM.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of FM and CREM literature, seven interviews with experienced academics and consultants and the long experience of the author as a researcher and teacher in accommodating people and activities.

Findings

Both FM and CREM aim to support primary business processes by aligning the physical resources of organisations to the organisational strategies in order to contribute to organisational performance and to add value to the organisation. Efficiently and effectively supporting the primary activities and business purposes are key issues. Dissimilarities consider the focus on facilities and services (FM) versus that on buildings and real-estate portfolios (CREM), as well as a shorter time frame and high flexibility of facilities (FM) versus a long life cycle and rather static buildings (CREM). In spite of the differences, it is expected that both disciplines will be more integrated in the future.

Research limitations/implications

The selection of key topics and key publications may be biased by the personal knowledge and European perspective of the author and the input from seven expert interviews.

Practical implications

The common body of knowledge of FM and CREM may be used to improve both professions and disciplines and may result in a more integrated approach of facilities and real estate management (FREM).

Originality/value

This paper combines insights from two related disciplines with different histories and focus points, and explores what they have in common and can learn from each other.
In-house or outsourcing FM services in the public sector
Authors: Haugen Tore Brandstveit , Klungseth Nora Johanne
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of knowledge about facilities management (FM), in particular, the management of FM services in practice, education and research. The paper questions whether we know more about optimal models for in-house or outsourcing FM after 25 years of applied research and development of best practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on literature reviews, case studies and personal experiences from practice for over 25 years, concentrating on the public sector. The paper maintains an international focus on the FM development, with particular focus on the development in Norway and the Nordic countries. The knowledge development triangle, and its integration of education, research and practice, is used as an underlying theoretical framework.

Findings

The knowledge regarding management of FM services in both the public and private sector has been developed over the past two decades. The changes in both sectors is reflected in all the three aspects of the knowledge triangle. While the use of outsourcing increased significantly in popularity during the past 25 years, the Norwegian profile continues to have limited use of outsourcing.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a qualified selection of doctoral theses, research reports and scientific articles published in the period 1990-2015. The explorations include limited quantitative data.

Practical implications

The choice for FM in practice, whether fully or partly to produce services with internal resources or to make arrangements with external suppliers, is an important strategic decision regarding the choice of a procurement strategy for the company or the organisation. This decision is not necessarily about outsourcing or in-house but rather the strategic sourcing and management of the needed services.

Originality value

A total of 25 years of research have shown that a simple solution and answer to the questions about in-house or outsourcing FM services is lacking. To find a good solution, it is necessary to understand the content of FM services with respect to quality and efficiency, and to understand the interaction between FM, the core activities and the users.
Influence of individual factors on concern for information privacy (CFIP), a perspective from Malaysian higher educational students
Authors: Tanantaputra Julius , Chong Chin Wei , Rahman Muhammad Sabbir
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of individual factors, that is demographic factors, self-efficacy, computer anxiety and internet literacy, on concern for information privacy (CFIP), especially in social networking and e-commerce in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 164 students in Multimedia University Cyberjaya and analyzed using statistical analyses.

Findings

The results of this paper indicate that most of the individual factors have significant relationships with CFIP, except age as one of the demographic factors, and internet literacy. One of the outcomes, which is continuance intention in social networking, has a strong correlation with CFIP.

Research limitations/implications

Regarding demographic profile, the statistics of age, income and especially nationality profile shows the imbalance distribution among the group categories. This might become an issue for generalization purpose.

Practical implications

The empirical findings can be used as a guideline for firms to undergo a self-check in social networking sites and data over transactions in e-commerce activities. By focusing on those significant factors, firms may develop relevant strategies to enhance the social networking or e-commerce activities.

Originality/value

This paper is perhaps the limited study about CFIP in Malaysia, but it focuses more on social networking and e-commerce as the outcomes of CFIP.
Librarians’ involvement in cross-disciplinary research and its implication for sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Authors: Igbinovia Magnus Osahon
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate librarians’ involvement in cross-disciplinary research and its implication in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) with the aid of five research questions. This is in a bid to integrate librarians into cross-disciplinary research, and a stride toward embedded librarianship.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey research design was used to gather data from an online group of library personnel with the aid of the questionnaire link posted on the platform. Palinkas et al. (2013) justified the use of purposeful sampling technique, while Yamane (1967) justified the use of 66 copies of questionnaire retrieved from the 1,562 population of action and inactive online members of the platform, which was subjected to descriptive statistics.

Findings

Librarians have high level of knowledge in possible aspects of cross-disciplinary research, which they have been previously involved in. Cross-disciplinary research is a means to achieving SDGs because it provides a basis for the understanding of SDGs and its actualization. Therefore, librarians being equipped to engage in cross-disciplinary research will contribute more to the global development agenda.

Research limitations/implications

The study seems to exhibit a weak power of generalization due to the purposeful sampling technique adopted for the study, been an online survey and the ±10 per cent precision level in determining the sample size. This should be taken into consideration for further study.

Practical implications

The study has implication for librarians in Nigeria in achieving sustainable development through cross-disciplinary research. While librarians engaged in research within the ambit of library and information science, this study proposes the need for them to extend their research knowledge and skills into other disciplines for greater impact in line with achieving the global development agenda.

Originality/value

This study is a stride toward embedded librarianship which reflects the need for librarians to participate in cross-disciplinary research, learning new skills and taking up new roles in research process.
Library/information education programs in Pakistan: a comparison with IFLA Guidelines
Authors: Malik Amara , Ameen Kanwal
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This multi-method study is aimed at assessing the quality and alignment of 11 Pakistani library and information science (LIS) master’s programs’ orientation, curricula and course contents, by comparing them with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Guidelines for Professional Library/Information Programs (2012).

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a documentary analysis and telephonic interviews with master’s programs’ coordinators of all LIS departments. The data were collected on the 11 master’s programs from three sources: programs’ web pages, prospectuses and curricula with detailed course contents. The principal researcher also conducted 11 structured telephonic and face-to-face interviews with master’s programs’ coordinators.

Findings

Findings of the study show that while there is some compliance with IFLA core elements, the courses are largely inclined toward the management and less toward the information communication technologies (ICTs) components. Generally, the courses are traditional in nature, indicating a problem of widespread reliance on outdated and some irrelevant contents that do not reflect the current needs of the changing environment.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the need of increased efforts for seeking alignment with international standards by redesigning and reorienting LIS curricula. Mission and vision statement, planning and evaluation are the areas that need to be focused on to ensure the future survival of academic programs.

Originality/value

This is the first study of its nature in Pakistan that will be beneficial for Pakistan and other developing countries in their curriculum review and development process and future programs orientation.
Internal quality assurance systems: “tailor made” or “one size fits all” implementation?
Authors: Cardoso Sónia , Rosa Maria J. , Videira Pedro , Amaral Alberto
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to look at the characteristics of internal quality assurance (IQA) systems of higher education institutions to understand whether these systems tend to reproduce a given model, externally defined and suggested to institutions, or rather to be shaped by institutions’ features and interests.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is supported in the analysis of the content of self-assessment reports of 12 internal QA systems certified, in Portugal, between 2012 and 2015. An analysis grid was used based on three categories: IQA systems’ historical framework, structural/managerial component and monitoring, assessment and continuous improvement.

Findings

Institutions tended to follow a “one size fits all” approach, meaning that external (European and national) quality assurance (QA) references were used in an identical way, giving origin to rather similar IQA systems. Institutional characteristics do not seem to have played a relevant role, eventually due to institutions’ will to obtain their systems’ certification and, thus, achieve a light-touch external QA.

Research limitations/implications

The study was based on the analysis of only certified IQA systems and relies on document analysis. It would be interesting to also include non-certified systems, in a comparative perspective, complemented with data deriving from interviews and/or questionnaires with some of the actors involved in the certification process.

Practical implications

The study provides an understanding of how IQA systems are being implemented in Portugal. Thus, it can be of interest to other institutions as well as to QA agencies.

Originality/value

The study addresses a topic still relatively absent from research on QA in higher education, being of interest for researchers in the field.
Implementing a standardised annual programme review process in a third-level institution
Authors: Wickham Sheelagh , Brady Malcolm , Ingle Sarah , McMullan Caroline , Nic Giolla Mhichíl Mairéad , Walshe Ray
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Ideally, quality should be, and is, an integral element of education, yet capturing and articulating quality is not simple. Programme quality reviews in third-level education can demonstrate quality and identify areas for improvement, offering many potential benefits. However, details on the process of quality programme review are limited in the literature. This study aims to report on the introduction of a standardised programme review process in one university.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a standardised template, the annual programme review (APR) process captured student voice, external examiner reports, statistical data and action/s since the previous review. Following completion of programme reviews across the university, the APR process was itself evaluated using questionnaires and focus groups.

Findings

Findings showed that the programme chairs understood the rationale for the review, welcomed the standardised format and felt the information could inform future programme planning. However, in the focus group, issues arose about the timing, ownership and possible alternate use of the data collected in the course of the review.

Research limitations/implications

This case study demonstrates the experience of APR in a single third-level institution, therefore, limiting generalisability.

Practical implications

APR offers a comprehensive record of the programme that can be carried out with efficacy and efficiency. The study illustrates one institution’s experience, and this may assist others in using similar quality evaluation tools. Using APR allows quality to be measured, articulated and improved.

Social implications

Using APR allows quality, or its lack to be to be measured, articulated and improved in the delivery of education at a third-level institution.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the experience of the introduction of an APR process in one higher education institute. Programme review is an important and essential part of academia in the 21st century. At third level, quality assurance is, or should be, a central part of academic programmes and delivery. The review of the first implementation has provided valuable information that will inform future programme review processes. Academic programmes grow, evolve and need to be reviewed regularly. It is hoped that the information reported here will aid others developing academic review procedures.
Quality of Malaysian teachers based on education and training
Authors: Ismail Ramlee , Awang Marinah
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the quality of teachers based on education and training provided under new reform policies in Malaysia affects their earnings outcomes. The study conducted a benefit and returns analysis guided by human capital theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used survey research methods to investigate human capital formation in the teaching profession using teachers’ qualifications, benefits and private rate of returns as key variables in the estimation.

Findings

Earnings and experience levels were highly correlated with teachers’ education levels, as suggested by human capital theory. The private rate of returns in earnings for each additional year of schooling of teachers was found to lie between 3 and 4 per cent per year. Discrepancies were apparent in teachers’ qualifications and licensure levels regionally and at academic levels, as expected. These correlated with earning levels.

Practical implications

Improvements in teachers’ salary and employment opportunities will attract higher quality graduates to the teaching profession. Teachers’ annual earnings in Malaysia are comparable to other public sector and private professional jobs in the nation but lag far behind those of the world’s top education systems. Increasing teachers’ earnings will attract better qualified teachers. Policymakers could address these issues.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the utility of economic analyses in terms of earnings returns, to evaluate the Malaysian policy of upgrading teachers’ qualifications as a mechanism to improve the overall quality of schooling. Such studies are rare but needed to understand the benefits and returns of policy-driven teacher education and training investments. This study provides new evidence of schooling returns using a recent, national data set.
The innovation and internationalisation processes of family businesses
Authors: Braga Vitor , Correia Aldina , Braga Alexandra , Lemos Sofia
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The success of the family firms cannot be detached from the current paradigm where, within the present economic conditions, economic agents struggle to exploit the existing opportunities and need to take into account the risks associated to the international arena and the innovation processes. The internationalisation and innovation processes may trigger resistance within family business due to their relatively higher difficulty to take risks and to invest in industries outside the scope of their original core business. Innovation and internationalisation processes become relevant strategies for the family firms’ continuity and success. In line with such fact, the aim of this paper is to contribute with insights regarding the processes of innovation and internationalisation within family businesses. In particular, this paper aims to assess the propensity of such firms to apply such strategies, to identify the particular business behaviour and to assess the extent to which the particulars of family firms may constraint or lead to the implementation of innovation policies, and thus its internationalisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through questionnaires within family business aiming to understand the scope and characteristics of internationalisation and innovation processes within these firms. The 154 replies from such data collection were analysed using different multivariate statistic procedures, although this paper is based on factorial and correlation analysis.

Findings

The analysis of the results shows that there is an association between the processes of innovation and internationalisation within family business. In addition, the results also suggest a typology of firms regarding their innovation and internationalisation strategies and motivations.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this paper are, to some extent, limited because they did not allow comparing the findings with data from non-family business. However, the authors’ aim was not to distinguish family firms, but rather to characterise them.

Practical implications

This paper expects to contribute with lessons for the management of family business and to raise awareness of the constraints faced by family business. It is important to highlight that family business performance may be affected by a lower propensity to risk-taking attitudes, by the lack of non-family management and to the necessity of separating the family and the business in the business dimensions that the family limits the business growth.

Originality/value

Although there is a significant amount of the literature devoted to explore family business, innovation and internationalisation studies, very few draw on the relationship between internationalisation and innovation processes within family business. This paper explores such a relationship within a particular business context – the family dynamics that strongly affect management and business development.
Boundary-spanning and boundary-buffering in global markets
Authors: Lehrer Mark , Celo Sokol
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a novel way of thinking about firm internationalization. We offer a stylized view of family firms as internationalizers who choose to engage in “boundary-spanning” across global product markets while engaging in “boundary-buffering” to insulate themselves from global financial markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The case of Germany, with its large stock of internationalized family firms, shows how boundary-bufferingvis-à-visglobal capital markets can be compatible with successful and sustained internationalization and boundary-spanning in global product markets. Statistics are supplied.

Findings

To compensate for the lack of resources stemming from their abstinence from global financial markets, German family firms draw on country-specific conditions favorable to the proliferation of large internationalized family firms. Insights from the German case serve to derive propositions.

Originality/value

The developed concept of an internationalization pathway for family firms contrasts with the much more established concept of an internationalization process for family firms. The contrast between a “pathway” and a “process” amounts to the distinction between ends and means: the internationalization pathway (as defined here) has largely to do with strategic choice, whereas the internationalization process (as defined in the literature) focuses more on barriers to internationalization and means for overcoming them.
Internationalization of Mexican family firms: the cases of Xignux and Grupo Alfa
Authors: Velez-Ocampo Juan , Govindan Karthik , Gonzalez-Perez Maria Alejandra
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This theory testing paper compares and analyzes the internationalization process of two Mexican family-owned firms: Xignux and Grupo Alfa. This paper is intended to offer a theoretical understanding using existing frameworks such as OLI (ownership, location and internationalization), LLL (linkage, leverage and learning) and the Uppsala model. Furthermore, it tests whether the theoretical framework of organizational capabilities and international ventures fits the internationalization of these companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on case study methodology using the companies’ publically available data. Both within-case and cross-case analysis were carried out to identify specific traits in the internationalization pattern of both firms; cases were also compared with literature to identify conflicts and similarities that enable a better understanding of the phenomenon.

Findings

It was found that not a single theory fully and satisfactorily explains the internationalization of both Xignux and Alfa, instead, issues like internationalization into low psychic distance countries, establishment of strategic alliances and the exploitation of locational-specific advantages contributed in the international expansion of the studied companies.

Originality/value

There is an increasing amount of available literature regarding internationalization strategies and internationalization theories applied to developing and emerging country firms. However, most of the studies analyze companies from Asia, and there are limited studies on multilatinas (i.e. Latin American multinationals). Furthermore, scholars in the field of international business are still debating whether the existing theories, or an adaptation of them, explain the internationalization of multilatinas.
Evaluating the impact of mega-sporting events on hotel pricing strategies: the case of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Authors: Barreda Albert A. , Zubieta Sandra , Chen Han , Cassilha Marina , Kageyama Yoshimasa
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of a mega-sporting event “2014 FIFA World Cup” on hotel pricing strategies and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The present project examines the host regions’ response to the 2014 FIFA World Cup which was established by the variance in the main hotel key performance indexes: occupancy, average daily rate, revenue per available room (RevPAR) and supply. Using data gathered from STR, this research distinctly shows how the Brazilian host regions reacted to the World Cup.

Findings

Results suggest that the key performance indicators of Brazil’s lodging sector reacted differently to the World Cup. Although all hosting cities experienced significant RevPAR growth because of the increase in hotel room rates during the event, the supply and occupancy performed differed from each city.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to the case of hotel performance at the country level for mega-events. The study focused on the reaction of revenue managers in the Latin America context. Other contexts may generate different results.

Practical implications

The study helps revenue managers to examine how the FIFA World Cup travel demand affected pricing strategies and revenue management practices in the Brazilian hotel sector in areas undergoing seasonal growths in overnight tourism. This study serves to inform hoteliers and practitioners about revenue management pricing strategies to improve hotel performance during mega-sporting events.

Social implications

This study reveals that the benefits brought by a mega-event are not always translated into strong hotel revenue performance. This study highlights an important but understudied research area of revenue management pricing strategies and the effect of mega-sporting events in the hotel sector. This study contributes to the literature as one of the few investigations to benefit hotel pricing strategies and overall revenue performance.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few studies about exploring the reaction of revenue managers during the execution of a mega-sporting event. The value of the present study lies in the fact that the authors extend previous studies examining the impact of the most important sporting event in the hotel industry at the country-level perspective. This study serves to inform hoteliers and practitioners about revenue management pricing strategies to improve hotel performance during mega-sporting events.
Edu-tourist’s perceived service quality and perception – the mediating role of satisfaction from foreign students’ perspectives
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Sabbir , Hassan Hasliza , Osman-Gani Aahad , Abdel Fattah Fadi Abdel Muniem , Anwar Md. Aftab
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a conceptual model that takes into account both edu-tourists’ perception and perceived service quality in explaining purchase intention of academic degrees from the foreign universities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on an empirical examination with applying multivariate data analysis. The data were collected through survey questionnaires and analysed by using structural equation modelling procedure.

Findings

The survey result discovered that the relationship between perceived service quality and edu-tourist’s satisfaction was significant and positive. The relationship between edu-tourist’s satisfaction and intention to purchase was also significant and positive. Meanwhile, edu-tourist’s satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between their perceived service quality and intention to purchase. Nevertheless, this research also explored that the edu-tourist’s satisfaction plays a significant mediating effect in between the relationship of perception and intention to purchase.

Research limitations/implications

This empirical study will contribute in understanding the behaviour of international students to construct the theoretical knowledge on the edu-tourism industry, which has been neglected in tourism research.

Originality/value

The paper will be of use to the management and policymakers in the higher education sector in understanding the customer’s expectation for the edu-tourism destination. This study contributes to the growing literature on education travel destination, where the researchers investigated the role of tourist’s satisfaction by using perception and perceived service quality towards their intention to visit a destination for education tourism. In addition, understanding the role satisfaction on the relationship between perception and perceived service quality towards the purchase intention will make both scientific and practical contributions for the decision-makers.
Safety Aspects of Immunoadsorption in IgG Removal Using a Single‐Use, Multiple‐pass Protein A Immunoadsorber (LIGASORB): Clinical Investigation in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Süfke Sven , Lehnert Hendrik , Uhlenbusch‐Körwer Ingrid , Gebauer Frank
Published: May 2017

Therapeutic apheresis and immunoadsorption are used to deplete efficiently pathogenic autoantibodies in crises in several acute autoimmune driven diseases. This prospective, non‐comparative cohort study was conducted at a single study center under standardized conditions in 10 healthy volunteers. Efficient immunoglobulin G (IgG) removal (−86% versus baseline) was achieved after 3 apheresis treatments on 3 consecutive days. The treatments were well tolerated. Safety laboratory parameters did not show unexpected or pathological changes. The effects were transient, with most parameters exhibiting complete recovery between treatments. Minimal complement activation and moderate transient fibrinogen depletion were observed. Immunoadsorption with LIGASORB® provides a safe and effective treatment alternative to TPE in acute episodes of peripheral neurological diseases mediated by pathogenic IgG autoantibodies.