bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Single-layer behavior and slow carrier density dynamic of twisted graphene bilayer
Authors: Meng Lan , Zhang Yanfeng , Yan Wei , Feng Lei , He Lin , Dou Rui-Fen , Nie Jia-Cai
Published: March 2012

We report scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) of twisted graphene bilayer on SiC substrate. For twist angle ∼4.5°, the Dirac point ED is located about 0.40 eV below the Fermi level EF due to the electron doping at the graphene/SiC interface. We observed an unexpected result that the local Dirac point around a nanoscaled defect shifts towards the Fermi energy during the STS measurements (with a time scale about 100 s). This behavior was attributed to the decoupling between the twisted graphene and the substrate during the measurements, which lowers the carrier density of graphene simultaneously.
Half-metallic p-electron ferromagnetism in alkaline earth doped AlAs: A first-principles calculation
Authors: Zhao Yong-Hong , Li Yong-Feng , Liu Yong
Published: March 2012

We investigated the p-electron ferromagnetism in alkaline earth doped AlAs by using first-principles calculations. The modified Becke and Johnson potential is used to give a much more reasonable semiconductor gap. Our results demonstrate that ferromagnetic phase is always energetically favorable than the antiferromagnetic and nonmagnetic ones for all considered compounds. Magnetic moments are mainly attributed to the partly filled anionic p states. Especially, half-metallic ferromagnetism has been obtained for Ca- and Sr-doped AlAs, which may be promising for spintronic applications. The calculated results are also useful for understanding of the origin of ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors.
Openness, Absorptive Capacity, and Regional Innovation in China
Authors: Yang Chih-Hai , Lin Hui-Lin
Published: March 2012

This paper systematically investigates the impacts of openness on regional innovation in China, especially the role of absorptive capacity in mediating the spillover effect brought about by openness. Based on provincial-level data over the period 1997–2007 and adopting patents as indicator of innovation, the empirical results show that the estimated patents–R&D elasticity is lower than that for OECD countries, while there is a significant R&D spillover effect across regions in China. Technology import overall has no significant influence on fostering innovations, but it is significantly positive for coastal regions. Openness to trade, in terms of FDI and high-tech product exports, is witnessed to exhibit a significantly positive impact on promoting regional innovation. Crucially, the effects of technology imports and FDI on innovations vary significantly between coastal and non-coastal regions. Using human capital as a proxy for absorptive capacity, we find it helps in learning external sources of knowledge and then contributes to innovations. Moreover, absorptive capacity is expected to play an important role in mediating the spillover effect brought about by openness to trade.
Dumping on the Poor: The Ecological Distribution of Accra's Solid-Waste Burden
Authors: Baabereyir Anthony , Jewitt Sarah , O'Hara Sarah
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates the ‘ecological distribution’ and associated environmental injustices of Accra's growing domestic-waste burden and examines how inequalities in the spatial distribution of waste-collection services and waste-disposal sites reflect the uneven distribution of power and wealth within Ghanaian society. Particular emphasis is placed on inequalities in municipal service provision associated with Accra's integration within the global economy, which are illustrated by opposing socioeconomic and spatial flows in the funds allocated for Accra's waste-collection services and the spaces occupied by the waste itself as it travels (or not) to its final dumping ground. Examples of injustice between high-income and middle-income residents are highlighted, as well as broader inequalities in ecological distribution between rich and poor.
Feeling Unsafe in Urban Areas: Exploring Older Children's Geographies of Fear
Authors: Bromley Rosemary D F , Stacey Robert J
Published: March 2012

In contrast to the adult and aspatial focus of much research, this paper examines older children's feelings of fear/safety in two contrasting British urban residential areas, and in the nearby city centre. In their home areas, children in the deprived area feel less safe than those in the wealthier suburb. However, in the city centre, the poorer-area children feel safer than their wealthier-area counterparts, suggesting a home-area moderating effect. Regarding gendered-area differences in safety, boys and girls have similar perspectives on their home areas, but significant gender differences exist for the city centre. Area should be a key dimension in conceptual frameworks for understanding fear and safety, with due awareness of home and nonhome areas, and gendered-area differences. Explanations for children's anxieties indicate the importance of fear of groups of teenagers and the relevance of social disorganization. Tackling the perceived problem of teenage groups should be one policy priority in urban areas in which social disorder is pronounced.
Physical Threats to Older People's Social Worlds: Findings from a Pilot Study in Wuhan, China
Authors: Gilroy Rose
Published: March 2012

Western research reveals the significance of place in later life. In China the socialist welfare system of the work unit and the extended family have created even greater bonds between people and neighbourhood. The dismantling of this system and the weakening of family support have led to older people relying on other place-based structures which are now threatened by clearance. Older people who resided in Wuhan neighbourhoods due to be demolished talk of their everyday lives. The paper asserts the need to recognise the role of place and community as a locale for the well-being of older people that may be of increasing importance as other support structures are stretched to breaking point.
Gold nanoparticles as a platform for creating a multivalent poly-SUMO chain inhibitor that also augments ionizing radiation
Authors: Li Yi-Jia , Perkins Angela L. , Su Yang , Ma Yuelong , Colson Loren , Horne David A. , Chen Yuan
Published: March 2012

Protein-protein interactions mediated by ubiquitin-like (Ubl) modifications occur as mono-Ubl or poly-Ubl chains. Proteins that regulate poly-SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) chain conjugates play important roles in cellular response to DNA damage, such as those caused by cancer radiation therapy. Additionally, high atomic number metals, such as gold, preferentially absorb much more X-ray energy than soft tissues, and thus augment the effect of ionizing radiation when delivered to cells. In this study, we demonstrate that conjugation of a weak SUMO-2/3 ligand to gold nanoparticles facilitated selective multivalent interactions with poly-SUMO-2/3 chains leading to efficient inhibition of poly-SUMO-chain-mediated protein-protein interactions. The ligand-gold particle conjugate significantly sensitized cancer cells to radiation but was not toxic to normal cells. This study demonstrates a viable approach for selective targeting of poly-Ubl chains through multivalent interactions created by nanoparticles that can be chosen based on their properties, such as abilities to augment radiation effects.
The EU health claim regulation in international comparison: review of the possible impact on food marketing and consumer protection.
Authors: Aschemann-Witzel J.
Published: March 2012

Nutrition and health claims are voluntary claims on food indicating favourable nutritional content or health benefits of the food. Nutrition and health claims on food are increasingly regulated in the world market. This process is accompanied by intensive stakeholder discussions on the possible impact on consumer protection and food marketing effectiveness. This article reviews literature on regulations in the major food markets in comparison with the EU regulation. The focus is on identifying characteristics of regulations that are expected to have an impact on consumer protection and food marketing. The EU regulation is regarded as focusing relatively strongly on precaution and consumer understanding. The extent to which this hampers food innovations is in dispute. It is suggested that using marketing measures in favour of scientifically approved claims as well as stakeholder cooperation could help resolve this trade-off. Not only the EU regulation but also other frameworks have been criticized for vagueness and lack of transparency. Despite country-specific differences in regulation and enforcement, there is a high degree of similarity of the regulations for the fully approved claims. There are attempts to further harmonize the frameworks.
Macroalgae and their potential for biofuel.
Authors: John R. P. , Anisha G. S.
Published: March 2012

Green technologies are in demand worldwide to meet the fuel needs of the increasing population together with combating global warming. Although biofuels from conventional energy crops and lignocellulosic biomass can substitute for fossil fuels, there is much controversy over questions raised regarding impacts on food supply and security and their cost effectiveness. A high photosynthetic efficiency and production rate confer algae with attractive credentials for third-generation biofuels. Algae (both microalgae and macroalgae) represent an economical and environmentally sustainable renewable source of biomass for the production of biofuels. Algal biofuels are attractive in that they do not compromise food supplies and arable land. Microalgae have hitherto received more attention than macroalgae. Nevertheless, the latter can also serve as a viable option for biofuel generation. Carbohydrates obtained from macroalgal biomass can be used for fermentative production of bioethanol. Macroalgal biomass can store large amounts of oil which can be exploited for the production of biodiesel. Methane and hydrogen can readily be produced from macroalgal biomass through biologically mediated degradation. The biorefinery approach, integrating bioprocessing and low-environmental-impact chemical technologies, would be more pertinent in effecting maximum and efficient utilization of macroalgal biomass through the generation of diverse products from a single biomass feedstock. This review encompasses the potential and prospects of macroalgae as sources for biofuels and the role of biorefinery approach in invigorating macroalgal fuel economy.
The Implicated Witness: Towards a Relational Aesthetic in Dramatherapy
Authors: Sajnani Nisha
Published: March 2012

Dramatherapists often draw on biographical performance to facilitate individual and social change, often within the public sphere. This paper considers the cultural politics of biographical performance through the ideas of Michel Foucault, Antonio Gramsci, and the practices of Bertolt Brecht, Antonin Artaud, Augusto Boal, Susan Bennett, and Julie Salverson amongst other applied theatre and dramatherapy practitioners. The author discusses the concept of witnessing and proposes a relational aesthetic in dramatherapy to explore how dramatherapists may create socially effective and affective performances that bring audiences into greater proximity to each other, to the issues staged, and to those performing.
Accuracy-enhancement of discontinuous Galerkin solutions for convection-diffusion equations in multiple-dimensions
Authors: Ji Liangyue , Xu Yan , Ryan Jennifer
Published: March 2012

Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods exhibit “hidden accuracy” that makes superconvergence of this method an increasing popular topic to address. Previous investigations have focused on the superconvergent properties of ordinary differential equations and linear hyperbolic equations. Additionally, superconvergence of order

k
+

3
2

k+\frac {3}{2}

for the convection-diffusion equation that focuses on a special projection using the upwind flux was presented by Cheng and Shu. In this paper we demonstrate that it is possible to extend the smoothness-increasing accuracy-conserving (SIAC) filter for use on the multi-dimensional linear convection-diffusion equation in order to obtain 2

k
k

+

m
m

order of accuracy, where

m
m

depends upon the flux and takes on the values

0
,

1
2

,

0,\, \frac {1}{2},

or

1.
1.

The technique that we use to extract this hidden accuracy was initially introduced by Cockburn, Luskin, Shu, and Süli for linear hyperbolic equations and extended by Ryan et al. as a smoothness-increasing accuracy-conserving filter. We solve this convection-diffusion equation using the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) method and show theoretically that it is possible to obtain

O

(

h

2
k
+
m

)

\mathcal {O}(h^{2k+m})

in the negative-order norm. By post-processing the LDG solution to a linear convection equation using a specially designed kernel such as the one by Cockburn et al., we can compute this same order accuracy in the

L
2

L^2

-norm. Additionally, we present numerical studies that confirm that we can improve the LDG solution from

O

(

h

k
+
1

)

\mathcal {O}(h^{k+1})

to

O

(

h

2
k
+
1

)

\mathcal {O}(h^{2k+1})

using alternating fluxes and that we actually obtain

O

(

h

2
k
+
2

)

\mathcal {O}(h^{2k+2})

for diffusion-dominated problems.
Prevention of Rotavirus‐induced Diarrhea by Preferential Secretion of IgA in Breast Milk via Maternal Administration of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055
Authors: Kadooka Yukio , Tominari Kazue , Sakai Fumihiko , Yasui Hisako
Published: March 2012

Objectives:

Rotavirus (RV)‐induced diarrhea poses a major health problem, particularly to infants. An effective measure to prevent RV infection is to consume breast milk with higher levels of protective IgA. We therefore examined whether Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055) could augment immumoglobulin (Ig) A levels and reduce the incidence of diarrhea in a mouse model of RV infection.

Methods:

Female BALB/c mouse dams were fed a diet containing 0.1% heat‐treated LG2055 or a control, beginning 4 weeks before mating with male mice and continuing until the experiment ended. One week after mating, female dams were immunized orally with simian RV SA‐11. Five days after birth, mouse pups were infected orally with RV and the incidence of diarrhea was determined 4 days later. RV‐specific and total IgA were quantified by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

LG2055‐fed dams immunized with RV (LG2055/RV) secreted breast milk that significantly lowered the incidence of RV‐induced diarrhea in their pups as compared with dams immunized with RV alone (C/RV). The LG2055/RV dams also produced a significantly greater amount of RV‐specific IgA in breast milk obtained from the pups' stomach, but not in feces or Peyer's patch cell cultures. In addition, LG2055 stimulated total IgA production in splenocyte cultures from Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐4‐knockout mice, but not those from TLR‐2‐knockouts.

Conclusions:

LG2055‐fed dams reduced RV infection in their pups and elevated RV‐specific IgA levels in breast milk of stomach origin, the possible mechanism of which may be TLR‐2 stimulation by LG2055.
Regularity of rotational travelling water waves
Authors: Escher Joachim
Published: March 2012

Several recent results on the regularity of streamlines beneath a rotational travelling wave, along with the wave profile itself, will be discussed. The survey includes the classical water wave problem in both finite and infinite depth, capillary waves and solitary waves as well. A common assumption in all models to be discussed is the absence of stagnation points.
Loss of Cellulose Synthase-Like F6 Function Affects Mixed-Linkage Glucan Deposition, Cell Wall Mechanical Properties, and Defense Responses in Vegetative Tissues of Rice
Authors: Vega-Sánchez Miguel E. , Verhertbruggen Yves , Christensen Ulla , Chen Xuewei , Sharma Vaishali , Varanasi Patanjali , Jobling Stephen A. , Talbot Mark , White Rosemary G. , Joo Michael , Singh Seema , Auer Manfred , Scheller Henrik V. , Ronald Pamela C.
Published: March 2012

Mixed-linkage glucan (MLG) is a cell wall polysaccharide containing a backbone of unbranched (1,3)- and (1,4)-linked β-glucosyl residues. Based on its occurrence in plants and chemical characteristics, MLG has primarily been associated with the regulation of cell wall expansion due to its high and transient accumulation in young, expanding tissues. The Cellulose synthase-like F (CslF) subfamily of glycosyltransferases has previously been implicated in mediating the biosynthesis of this polymer. We confirmed that the rice (Oryza sativa) CslF6 gene mediates the biosynthesis of MLG by overexpressing it in Nicotiana benthamiana. Rice cslf6 knockout mutants show a slight decrease in height and stem diameter but otherwise grew normally during vegetative development. However, cslf6 mutants display a drastic decrease in MLG content (97% reduction in coleoptiles and virtually undetectable in other tissues). Immunodetection with an anti-MLG monoclonal antibody revealed that the coleoptiles and leaves retain trace amounts of MLG only in specific cell types such as sclerenchyma fibers. These results correlate with the absence of endogenous MLG synthase activity in mutant seedlings and 4-week-old sheaths. Mutant cell walls are weaker in mature stems but not seedlings, and more brittle in both stems and seedlings, compared to wild type. Mutants also display lesion mimic phenotypes in leaves, which correlates with enhanced defense-related gene expression and enhanced disease resistance. Taken together, our results underline a weaker role of MLG in cell expansion than previously thought, and highlight a structural role for MLG in nonexpanding, mature stem tissues in rice.
A screw axis identification method for serial robot calibration based on the POE model
Authors: Wang Haixia , Shen Shuhan , Lu Xiao
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a screw axis identification (SAI) method based on the product of exponentials (POE) model, which is concerned with calibrating a serial robot with m joints equipped with a stereo‐camera vision system.

Design/methodology/approach

Different from conventional approaches, like the circle point analysis (CPA) or the system theoretic method which must collect a great deal of data, the identification of the joint parameters for the proposed method only needs to measure m+1 times for n (n≥3) target points mounted on the manipulator end‐effector.

Findings

In this approach, the joint parameter, called a screw or twist, together with the actual value of joint angle can be obtained by linearly solving a closed‐form expression. Further, this method avoids calibrating the hand‐eye relationship and the exterior parameter of the robot.

Originality/value

Finally, the stability and accuracy of the SAI method are evaluated by simulation experiments, and it is also verified well in practical experiments.
UBot: a new reconfigurable modular robotic system with multimode locomotion ability
Authors: Zhao Jie , Cui Xindan , Zhu Yanhe , Tang Shufeng
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the design and the multi‐mode locomotion function of the new reconfigurable modular robotic system – UBot system – which combines the advantages from the chain‐based and lattice‐based self‐reconfigurable robots.

Design/methodology/approach

The UBot modules the authors have designed are based on the universal joint and of cubic shape with two rotational joints and reliable automatic connecting mechanism. The modules are compact and flexible enough for locomotion and reconfiguration. The system can move in different modes to satisfy different terrains, through changing the modules' local connections and rotation of modules' joints.

Findings

The UBot system can flexibly move in the modes of cross, loop, quadruped, snake‐type and other type of locomotion modes. All the locomotion has been implemented in the physical experiments.

Originality/value

The UBot module is the new reconfigurable module which has two joints in one unit of regular cubic space and four reliable automatic connecting surfaces. A group of the modules is able to change its connective configuration by changing their local connections and has functionality of the corresponding traditional robotic system. Since it can travel through terrains that may not be fully characterized ahead of time, the system can be used in a large variety of tasks, such as transportation, assembly, inspection and exploration.
Ovine automation: robotic brisket cutting
Authors: Singh J. , Potgieter J. , Xu W.L.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide details on implementation of inexpensive and accurate automation solution for performing brisket cutting while the sheep/lamb is hanging by forelegs.

Design/methodology/approach

The system developed uses 6 Degree of freedom (DOF) industrial manipulator, custom build tool, sterilizer, and other off the shelf products to create a machine, all the parameters in the system are designed to ensure that the highest levels of safety and hygiene standards are met. The primary system has been developed for sheep/lamb.

Findings

It is shown that the system developed enhanced both the productivity and quality of the process, while adhering to the hygiene standard in the meat processing plants.

Research limitations/implications

The process of precise brisket can be very challenging; the system designed uses customised tools to provide a good model for the trajectory planning.

Originality/value

The system developed uses statistical tools to calculate the correct trajectories.
The performance evaluation and comparison based on enterprises passed or not passed with ISO accreditation
Authors: Wu Shwu‐Ing , Chen Jui‐Ho
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine whether passing ISO accreditation can effectively enhance business performance, and further to explore the major contributions of ISO accreditation for companies. Although there are some current debates on the effectiveness of ISO9000, for many companies having ISO9000 accreditation is mainly for marketing purposes. However, no company really knows the detailed performance effects of ISO accreditation. In this study, both the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and Activity Based Costing (ABC) methods are used to compare the direction and strength of each performance indicator for companies that have passed, or not passed, ISO accreditation.

Design/methodology/approach

Companies in the manufacturing industry and service industry, with stocks listed in Taiwan's regular stock market and over‐the‐counter stock market, are selected as the research targets. A total of 212 valid questionnaires from the manufacturing industry and 120 from service industries are collected for further analysis of business performance using the BSC method. In addition, ABC measures are used to compare the performance difference through objective financial data.

Findings

Through qualitative and quantitative methods, this study develops key measurement indicators along four performance constructs based on the Balanced Scorecard. These include 38 indicators for the manufacturing industry and 32 indicators for the service industry. Through evaluation and comparison, the study shows that the pass of ISO accreditation by an enterprise can enhance its business performance and financial benefits. Higher effects are especially apparent in the manufacturing industry.

Originality/value

This study uses the concept of the BSC to construct performance measurement indicators and to evaluate the business performance of enterprises. In addition, the differences in business performance attributed to the pass or fail of ISO accreditation have been compared through BSC and ABC methods. From the performance analysis, it can clearly analyze the difference displayed by enterprises that have passed or not passed ISO accreditation. These results can be referenced by different industries when performing performance evaluation and strategy making.
Probabilistic priority numbers for failure modes and effects analysis
Authors: Parracho Sant'Anna Annibal
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a method, derived from numerical evaluations on the criteria of security, frequency and detectability, of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), a probabilistic priority measure for potential failures; and to evaluate the use of this method when combined with subjective evaluations to decide on improvement actions.

Design/methodology/approach

The method proposed is based on treating the numerical initial measurements as estimates of location parameters of probability distributions. This allows for objectively taking into account the uncertainty inherent in such measurements and to compute probabilities of each potential failure being the most important according to each criterion. These probabilities are then combined into a global quality measure, which can be interpreted as a joint probability of choice of the potential failure.

Findings

The results obtained in the cases studied show the suitability of the changes proposed. Thresholds levels proposed for the discretization of the probabilistic scores are also shown to be able to allow for an efficient combination with experts' evaluations.

Research limitations/implications

The approach here developed allows for the introduction of statistical parameters in the first stage of FMEA modeling. Employing a more complete model leads to greater reliability of the methodology.

Practical implications

The more precise modeling asks for a certain degree of practical knowledge of the factors effectively introducing variability in the measurements. This need may be surpassed by the choice of distributions such as those here employed.

Originality/value

The evaluation of the potential failures by the probability of being the most important, according to each criterion, is new in FMEA.
Intuitive psychology, natural experiments, and the Greenspan‐Bernanke conceptual framework for responding to financial crises
Authors: Leathers Charles G. , Patrick Raines J.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

During the Greenspan‐Bernanke era, the responses of Federal Reserve officials to financial crises resulted in an extraordinary involvement of the US central bank in the non‐banking financial sector. The purpose of this paper is to examine the informal and evolving conceptual framework that allows Federal Reserve officials to pursue a strategy of “constrained discretion” in responding to financial disturbances.

Design/methodology/approach

Behavioural economics relies on designed psychological and economic experiments to predict behavioural biases at the group level. As an analogue applicable to understanding biases in the intuitive judgments of individual policymakers, a naïve behavioural economics approach relies on intuitive or naive psychology and the interpretation of historical events as natural experiments to explain why intuitive judgments of Federal Reserve officials will contain biases.

Findings

Under the Greenspan‐Bernanke conceptual framework, Federal Reserve officials exercise “constrained discretion” in responding to disturbances arising from macro structural changes in the financial sector. The two key concepts are the Greenspan‐Bernanke doctrine on how the Federal Reserve officials respond to financial asset price bubbles and their collapses, and Bernanke's financial accelerator. Several examples are cited in which policy errors made by Alan Greenspan were attributable to identifiable biases in his intuitive judgment. In addition, Bernanke's response to the financial crisis of 2007‐2009 was based on his interpretation of the Great Depression as a natural experiment. But that interpretation was heavily biased by the influence of Milton Friedman on Bernanke's intuitive judgment. While Federal Reserve officials will need to exercise discretionary judgment in responding to financial crises, the potential for errors due to biases in that judgment can be reduced through regulatory reforms that lessen the potential for financial crises to occur.

Originality/value

While quantitative analyses of the effects of the Federal Reserve's actions on non‐bank financial institutions and the financial markets are ongoing, little attention has been given to the psychological aspects of the intuitive judgment that influences the discretionary decisions of the policymakers.
Invisible institutional repositories
Authors: Arlitsch Kenning , O'Brien Patrick S.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Google Scholar has difficulty indexing the contents of institutional repositories, and the authors hypothesize the reason is that most repositories use Dublin Core, which cannot express bibliographic citation information adequately for academic papers. Google Scholar makes specific recommendations for repositories, including the use of publishing industry metadata schemas over Dublin Core. This paper aims to test a theory that transforming metadata schemas in institutional repositories will lead to increased indexing by Google Scholar.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted two surveys of institutional and disciplinary repositories across the USA, using different methodologies. They also conducted three pilot projects that transformed the metadata of a subset of papers from USpace, the University of Utah's institutional repository, and examined the results of Google Scholar's explicit harvests.

Findings

Repositories that use GS recommended metadata schemas and express them in HTML meta tags experienced significantly higher indexing ratios. The ease with which search engine crawlers can navigate a repository also seems to affect indexing ratio. The second and third metadata transformation pilot projects at Utah were successful, ultimately achieving an indexing ratio of greater than 90 percent.

Research limitations/implications

The second survey is limited to 40 titles from each of seven repositories, for a total of 280 titles. A larger survey that covers more repositories may be useful.

Practical implications

Institutional repositories are achieving significant mass, and the rate of author citations from those repositories may affect university rankings. Lack of visibility in Google Scholar, however, will limit the ability of IRs to play a more significant role in those citation rates.

Social implications

Transforming metadata can be a difficult and tedious process. The Institute of Museum and Library Services has recently awarded a National Leadership Grant to the University of Utah to continue SEO research with its partner, OCLC Inc., and to develop a toolkit that will include automated transformation mechanisms.

Originality/value

Little or no research has been published about improving the indexing ratio of institutional repositories in Google Scholar. The authors believe that they are the first to address the possibility of transforming IR metadata to improve indexing ratios in Google Scholar.
Invisible communication: a challenge to established marketing communication
Authors: Finne Åke , Strandvik Tore
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of invisible communication and its implications in marketing communication. It defines invisible communication and proposes an analytic framework enabling an expanded view of marketing communication.

Design/methodology/approach

By explicitly adopting a customer‐oriented perspective, combined with insights from service marketing and relationship communication, the paper extends current models of marketing communication.

Findings

The paper identifies different types of invisible communication and presents new perspectives on marketing communication. The authors outline a framework for understanding how the company can/cannot control different forms of marketing communication and discuss the implications of this.

Research limitations/implications

The paper concentrates on a conceptual analysis, offering a number of practical illustrations. The conceptual development creates new research issues that should lead to a deeper understanding of customers' meaning creation, actions and reactions.

Practical implications

Invisible communication constitutes a managerial challenge as it is often unrecognized by the management. The paper points to the need to develop methods to reveal the existence and effects of invisible communication as well as to create guidelines for managerial response.

Originality/value

The customer‐based perspective and the focus on invisible communication provide a new approach to analysing and understanding marketing communication. The paper contributes to service marketing and marketing communication research by introducing conceptualisations of invisible communication that have an interest for both academic research and practitioners.
The status of working capital and its relationship with sales
Authors: Panda Aruna
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the status of gross and net working capital and their association with sales of Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd, with reference to the Indian paper industry over a decade, from 1999 to 2008.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is mainly based on secondary financial data obtained from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). It focused on the size, character, and annual growth rates of gross and net working capital of the company. In addition, it analyzed the growth trends of gross and net working capital of the company in relation to sales. With the help of the Karl Pearson's correlation model, the inter‐relationship between sales and working capital has been identified. Then the strength and significance of such a relationship has been tested with the use of other statistical tools such as coefficient of determination and Student's t‐test.

Findings

The major findings of the research showed that while there was an increase in sales positively, strongly, and significantly associated with an increase in gross working capital for both the company and the industry, its association with net working capital was negative, poorly related, weak, and insignificant for the company under study.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of studies in the world literature that discuss the relationship that exists between sales and working capital in India's paper industry, in general and Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd in particular, and therefore this research is expected to add significant value to exploring the said linkage.
Colorimetric properties and stability of 3D prints
Authors: Stanic Maja , Lozo Branka , Gregor Svetec Diana
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and discuss colour properties, stability and lightfastness after accelerated exposure in xenon‐arc light apparatus, of 3D ink jet prints produced by using 3D colour printing process.

Design/methodology/approach

3D colour prints were produced using ZCorporation 3D printing method. The samples were divided into groups according to the finishing process applied (untreated, finished with different infiltrants). Colorimetric properties were measured using spectrophotometer. Samples were placed into xenon‐arc based weathering apparatus (Xenotest), using the preset glass filtered sunlight, standard indoor conditions. Colour stability was evaluated as change in colour after repeating the spectrophotometer measurements and comparing spectral and specific colorimetric values of initial and exposed samples.

Findings

Based on methodology used, the analysis has shown the changes in colour appearance of differently finished 3D prints, which were mostly attributed to chroma and lightness variations. The colour stability of samples studied noticeably varied and is dependent on colour, percentage of ink coverage and finishing method. Issues of colour and stability of 3D ink jet prints could become important as 3D printing emerges into new application areas, in which the object properties will need to be maintained for a certain amount of time.

Research limitations/implications

The research is comparative and is limited to the specific materials and procedures used.

Originality/value

The paper describes aspects of colour 3D printing for which the published research and literature data are still, for the most part, lacking. Colour measurements methodology and evaluation of stability described could be of value for further research and for users of the technology.
Rational expectations?
Authors: Fuerst Franz , Grandy Anna‐Maija
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Expectations of future market conditions are acknowledged to be crucial for the development decision and hence for shaping the built environment. The purpose of this paper is to study the central London office market from 1987 to 2009 and test for evidence of rational, adaptive and naive expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

Two parallel approaches are applied to test for either rational or adaptive/naive expectations: vector auto‐regressive (VAR) approach with Granger causality tests and recursive OLS regression with one‐step forecasts.

Findings

Applying VAR models and a recursive OLS regression with one‐step forecasts, the authors do not find evidence of adaptive and naïve expectations of developers. Although the magnitude of the errors and the length of time lags between market signal and construction starts vary over time and development cycles, the results confirm that developer decisions are explained, to a large extent, by contemporaneous and historic conditions in both the City and the West End, but this is more likely to stem from the lengthy design, financing and planning permission processes rather than adaptive or naive expectations.

Research limitations/implications

More generally, the results of this study suggest that real estate cycles are largely generated endogenously rather than being the result of large demand shocks and/or irrational behaviour.

Practical implications

Developers may be able to generate excess profits by exploiting market inefficiencies but this may be hindered in practice by the long periods necessary for planning and construction of the asset.

Originality/value

This paper focuses the scholarly debate of real estate cycles on the role of expectations. It is also one of very few spatially disaggregate studies of the subject matter.
Regional economic integration and international strategic alliances: evidence from the EU
Authors: Alhorr Hadi S. , Boal Kimberly , Cowden Birton J.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Regional economic integration has been a major area of research in the field of international economics and international trade, with little attention being paid to the impact of these economic collaborations on the organizational strategies of firms within the economically integrated regions. By building on the organization‐environment relationship paradigm, this paper aims to address the impact of environmental changes associated with economic integration, market commonality and currency commonality, on the patterns and structures of strategic alliances within members of the economic community.

Design/methodology/approach

Using mixed linear models, the study looks at changes associated with the integration of the European Union and their effects on international alliances within the integrated area and among the various member countries.

Findings

The findings suggest that the emergence and the adoption of economic integration policies at the country level do impact the patterns and structures of strategic alliances practiced between member countries. Specifically, the adoption of common market policies among members of an economic community has implications on the pattern and structure of strategic collaborative relationships of firms within these member countries.

Originality/value

While regional economic integrations have accelerated, theoretical and empirical research addressing their impact on multinational strategies has yet to catch up.
Measuring downstream supply chain performance
Authors: Cirtita Horatiu , Glaser‐Segura Daniel A.
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Downstream supply chain (DSC) performance metrics provide a standard framework to assess internal performance. DSC performance metrics can also help balance performance tradeoffs among firms. The purpose of this paper is to develop a survey instrument to determine whether observed performance metrics correspond to the literature and to determine if performance metric systems are used to improve inter‐firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey instrument used in this study was based on SCOR performance attributes consisting of: delivery reliability, responsiveness, flexibility, costs, and asset management efficiency. The survey was completed by 73 members of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) consisting of high‐level managers representing US companies.

Findings

One factor explained the underlying one‐dimensional structure of the surveyed Supply‐chain operations reference (SCOR) model as an internal metrics system but the authors did not find convincing support for the notion that external performance metrics are used to coordinate external, DSC inter‐firm activities.

Research limitations/implications

A larger sample size would have allowed more insight into the inter‐relationships of the performance attribute variables. Moreover, the sampling plan limited generalization beyond US firms.

Practical implications

Firms used a standardized performance metric system and did not “pick” among metrics. In addition, firms used metrics independently of the decision to coordinate DSC activities. Perhaps they first learn to coordinate the internal performance and later extend to DSC members.

Originality/value

The paper describes one of the few empirical studies of the SCOR model in US industry.
The politics of destination marketing
Authors: Atorough Peter , Martin Andrew
Published: March 2012

Purpose

Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) are very much a part of the Scottish tourism landscape in 2011. Some regional tourism stakeholders have created DMOs to manage their respective regional attractions, but until now, this has not been the case with north‐east Scotland. As a prelude to the potential creation of a regional DMO, the purpose of this paper is to empirically evaluate tourism business leaders' attitudes and likely acceptance of the DMO's structure and functions.

Design/methodology/approach

The Thomas‐Kilmann Conflict Mode (TKCM) was utilised to provide an evaluative framework, with discussion of the assertiveness versus cooperativeness needs of tourism business stakeholders in the region. The TKCM's measurement instrument was utilised along with a purpose‐built questionnaire to gather information about tourism leaders' interaction orientations and their level of support for the formation of a DMO, its structure and functions.

Findings

Tourism leaders in north‐east Scotland are collaboration‐oriented. Initial findings indicate that on balance, tourism businesses (as expressed by their managers/owners) are persuaded by the attractiveness of collaboration at an integrated regional level, but would nevertheless prefer a certain degree of competition. In addition, organisational size and membership of existing destination management networks appear to moderate the interaction choice preference.

Research limitations/implications

First, the scale and questionnaire instrument developed to test attitudes toward a DMO formation have not been exhaustively evaluated, nor have the potential moderating factors been comprehensively assessed. A more robust and validated scale should be developed and moderators clearly modelled. Second, current sample size is limited and may not provide an adequate basis for generalisation. In future, a larger sample should be employed. Finally, this research is exploratory in scope, and future research, designed along an evaluative and analytical basis, is encouraged.

Practical implications

Collaboration within a new DMO in marketing to new markets and the support for this is not challenged, but some competition among tourism providers will continue. It is likely that the disparity between tourism performance in the city and rural areas will continue in the near future. The role of the DMO will therefore involve enlarging the customer base and raising the tourism profiles of both city and rural locations, in order to create a level playing field.

Originality/value

This research is the first to utilise the TKCM and Instrument to assess tourism business leaders' assertiveness versus cooperativeness orientations, prior to the initiation of an alliance in a region. The paper shows that this approach holds viability for future research in this direction, especially the potential of TKCM as a predictive framework for interorganisational interaction and collaboration.
Measuring women's beliefs about glass ceilings: development of the Career Pathways Survey
Authors: Smith Paul , Crittenden Nadia , Caputi Peter
Published: March 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new measure called the Career Pathways Survey (CPS) which allows quantitative comparisons of women's beliefs about glass ceilings.

Design/methodology/approach

A 34‐item version of the CPS was completed by 243 women from all levels of management, mostly in Australia. An expanded 38‐item CPS was administered to another sample of women (n=307).

Findings

Analyses of data from both studies yielded a four factor model of attitudes to glass ceilings: resilience, acceptance, resignation and denial. The factors demonstrated good internal consistency.

Practical implications

The CPS allows a comparison of positive attitudes towards seeking promotions via resilience and denial scores, and provides feedback on negative attitudes towards seeking promotions via resignation and acceptance scores.

Social implications

This new measure can be recommended for studies of women's and men's attitudes towards gender inequality in organizational leadership. Also, it could play a role in identifying sexist cultures in organizations.

Originality/value

Because of the scarcity of measures of glass ceiling beliefs, this study makes a major contribution to the literature on women's beliefs about barriers to career advancement.