bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of vapour phase soldering process zone with pressure measurements
Authors: Géczy Attila , Illés Balázs , Péter Zsolt , Illyefalvi‐Vitéz Zsolt
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach on the process zone characterization for direct feedback regarding the state of vapour, in order to assure a better monitoring, control and understanding of the process.

Design/methodology/approach

Different pressure sensors were applied in an experimental vapour phase soldering (VPS) station, where the hardware setup was dedicated to the current experiments. Static and dynamic pressure values were analyzed and correlated with additional thermal measurements.

Findings

The results reveal the dynamics of the vapour blanket generation. The correlated measurements show different stages of the process initialization, highlighting better accuracy than sole temperature measurements of saturated vapour identification. It is possible to trace the height of the available saturated vapour blanket with static pressure measurements.

Practical implications

The VPS process may benefit from the more precise saturation detection, giving better control on the heat transfer, enabling more efficient production with the reduction of idle time, and resulting in better soldering quality.

Social implications

Reducing the idle time of the VPS stations may result in better efficiency and smaller power consumption, reducing the environmental impact of the method.

Originality/value

The presented methods provide a completely novel approach from the aspect of process zone state variables and parameters characterization, focusing on pressure measurements.
Researching the lived experience of corporate governance
Authors: Ahrens Thomas , Khalifa Rihab
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This literature review seeks to engage with the discussion of the limitations of studying corporate governance processes as a “black box” by developing a theoretical framework for qualitative corporate governance research that can support the design of future hermeneutic research into corporate governance practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is to develop a qualitative research framework based on the methodological discussions in the business and sociology literatures, and compare it with existing alternative research frameworks in the corporate governance literature and three qualitative field studies in corporate governance.

Findings

This paper identifies methodological gaps that have made it difficult for extant qualitative studies of corporate governance to capture the complexity of the practices they have studied. This paper suggests three main implications for future qualitative corporate governance research: it should seek to articulate the multiple meanings of corporate governance rules, techniques, and processes as they arise in practice in order to facilitate a better discussion of the complexity of corporate governance practices; it should reflect on the role of the researcher in the field and his/her interactions with the subjects because through those interactions the multiple meanings of practice can be detected by the researcher; it should seek to articulate how the authors of research papers choose the contexts in which they place their observations from the field and how they variously zoom in and out of their fields of study to foreground either local detail or the wider contexts.

Originality/value

Through a close reading of alternative corporate governance research frameworks and qualitative studies this paper explains how future scholarly and practical corporate governance research can produce insights into the lived experience of corporate governance.
Developing the Flesch reading ease formula for the contemporary accounting communications landscape
Authors: Stone Gerard , Parker Lee D.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

This paper aims to examine and critique the accounting literature's dominant readability formula, the Flesch formula. Furthermore, the paper sets out to propose refinement and augmentation to the formula with a view to expanding its applicability and relevance to researchers' attempts at better understanding and critiquing the effectiveness of accounting communications. This aim extends to setting a more robust foundation for informing policymakers' and practitioners' interest in implementing more effective communications with their target stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers an historically informed methodological critique of the current articulation and application of the Flesch formula, both generally and in accounting research. This critique forms the basis for developing proposed revisions and supplementary measures to augment Flesch's coverage. These are presented with sample empirics.

Findings

Illustrative examples suggest that it is feasible and desirable to apply a revised formula that reduces Flesch's misplaced emphasis on word length by respecifying its sentence length variable, a probable cause of low readability. A reader attribute score further enhances the formula by integrating the considerable impact of readers' attributes on readability and accounting communication effectiveness. Supplementary measures, comprising non‐narrative communications dimensions, are introduced as a foundation for further research.

Originality/value

The paper provides not only critique but also refinement and augmentation of the much used Flesch readability formula for accounting communications research. It offers a first stage approach to encompassing potentially important communication elements such as readers' attributes, tables, graphs and headings, to date critiqued as potentially important but left unattended by accounting researchers. This offers the prospect of extending Flesch's application to contemporary accounting communications issues and questions.
Life cycle cost analysis on the operation of power generation
Authors: Sinisuka Ngapuli I. , Nugraha Herry
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the life cycle cost (LCC) on the operation of power generation. LCC is the total cost of ownership including the cost of the project or asset acquisition, operation and maintenance, and disposal. LCC includes both deterministic costs (such as acquisition costs, improvement costs and disposal costs) and probabilistic (such as the costs of failure, repairs, spare parts, downtime, lost gross margin). Most of the probabilistic costs are associated directly with the reliability and maintenance characteristics of the system.

Design/methodology/approach

To be able to analyze failure data using appropriate cost profile in order to represent the fact that each failure has different prices, in different time periods at an economical cycle the new methodology of LCCA Diagram is proposed. Developing criticality ranking of sub‐system, calculating values of Weibull Shape Factor β and Weibull Characteristic Life η for each sub‐system, calculating the time to failure of sub‐system, calculating the mean time to failure of sub‐system using Monte Carlo simulation, determining several alternatives, failure mode and effects analysis and root cause failure analysis are parts of the methodology.

Findings

To give a sample of case study, the LCC on the operation of coal fired power plant (CFPP) 330 MW is analyzed. Five alternatives calculation of LCC will be simulated. Graph of cash flow, break‐even graph, and graph of cost/benefit versus risk made for a period of 30 years can be used to asses an effective management program and costs of power plant with a low risk.

Originality/value

The paper suggests that LCC can be used to asses an effective management program and costs of power plant with a low risk.
Building knowledge: developing a knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities typology
Authors: Denford James S.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize existing knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities research into a single typology for managerial and academic use.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the resource‐based and knowledge‐based views, this study conducts a theoretically grounded typology development exercise based on an extensive review of the existing dynamic capabilities literature.

Findings

The paper identifies seven frameworks presented in the literature that showed some consistency in underlying concepts but conflict in nomenclature and application. Identifying over 80 uses of knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities in the literature review, three complementary dimensions that are common amongst the frameworks are identified and integrated into a consistent typology of eight knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities to encompass the extant literature.

Originality/value

Addressing fragmentation in the knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities discourse, the paper advances the concept of knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities by organizing the existing literature and frameworks into a comprehensive and consistent typology. Moreover, this integrative typology allows managers and researchers to identify those capabilities in use and the commonalities between them. Finally, the paper identifies a new knowledge‐based dynamic capability that has not yet been identified in any existing framework.
Communities of practice foster collaboration across public health
Authors: Jennings Mabery Mamie , Gibbs‐Scharf Lynn , Bara Debra
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The complexity and responsibilities of public health make collaboration across multiple levels of government critical. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) effectively uses communities of practice (CoPs) to bring its staff together with partners to share, learn, and address public health problems. This paper aims to focus on CoPs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper assesses the value of CoPs to individual members, their organizations, and their public health domains; assesses whether the CoP Program has improved CDC's relationship with participants in various CoPs; and identifies barriers to participation or success factors that could be applied to the development of new CoPs. Responses from a random sample of active CoP members were analyzed using qualitative data analysis software to identify themes and answer research questions.

Findings

The results reveal clear benefits to individual members, their organizations, and public health disciplines including daily work efficiencies, expanded infrastructure, and enhanced relationships between CDC and its public health partners.

Research limitations/implications

This qualitative research analyzed a small number of communities of practice spanning their launch through year 2; further study of a larger sample of public health CoPs, including sustainability factors, would build on this case study's implications.

Practical implications

Public health practitioners seeking a collaborative approach to problem solving will find in this study some useful lessons learned from CDC; readers will be introduced to CDC's CoP Resource Kit and a public health collaboration portal, phConnect.

Originality/value

Well‐facilitated, member‐driven, and highly participative CoPs are valuable tools for fostering collaboration essential to improving the public health system, and should be used more broadly across public health.
Beyond reduction: climate change adaptation planning for universities and colleges
Authors: Owen Rochelle , Fisher Erica , McKenzie Kyle
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline a unique six‐step process for the inclusion of climate change adaption goals and strategies in a University Climate Change Plan.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed‐method approach was used to gather data on campus climate change vulnerabilities and adaption strategies. A literature review highlighted common themes in adaption research. Meetings, surveys, and a specialized workshop with climate scenarios were created to elicit campus and community input.

Findings

The majority of the peer‐reviewed and grey literature surrounding climate change adaptation planning is aimed at larger levels of organization than a University campus (e.g. nations, populations, regions, and cities). An original planning process was created to identify vulnerabilities, risks and strategies. Key vulnerabilities fell into three main areas of concern: energy, transportation, and built environment. Adaptation goals, objectives and strategies were outlined for the Dalhousie University Climate Change Plan, based on risk levels associated with vulnerabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The adaption survey and workshop was created for this research. Small improvements were suggested for future use. The six weather scenarios presented at the workshop emphasized extreme events. Some participants felt that scenarios should be developed that feature smaller climate changes over a longer period of time. The prioritization activity used to establish risk needed to clarify the definition of risk being used. Future scenarios could include more consideration of socio‐economic factors.

Originality/value

Specific planning frameworks to create campus‐level climate adaptation strategies are sparse. A unique planning framework and workshop was developed to identify key climate change adaption strategies for universities.
Interlocking directorships against community closure: a trade‐off for development in tourist destinations
Authors: Beritelli Pietro , Strobl Andreas , Peters Mike
Published: March 2013

Purpose

In remote rural areas such as the Alps, communities present a set of specific laws, norms and rules. According to social capital theory, these idiosyncrasies are founded on the closure of the actors in the community. On the contrary, as tourist destinations develop, enterprises and organizations gradually acquire non‐local directors in the boards, slowly affecting the identity of the local community. The aim of the paper is to analyze whether interlocking directorships with board members, residing outside of the destination, really increases openness in the boards of the organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

For a set of salient organizations in six tourism destinations in Austria and in Switzerland, the authors analyzed the networks of interlocks between local and non‐local (outside of the region, outside of the country) board directors.

Findings

Chi‐square tests for group differences in tie densities show that, with the exception of the control destination Zürich, intragroup linkages (i.e. locals and non‐locals among their peers) are stronger than intergroup linkages.

Research limitations/implications

Further research must address the operationalization of social capital with a set of variables that could be checked against increasing interlocks with non‐local directors, and the validation of the results of the six case studies with additional tourist destinations and regions and in the context of other industries, where inherently the identity and the underlying social capital may be less developed.

Practical implications

The benefits of interlocking directorships with non‐local board members (i.e. acquisition of knowledge, increase of reputation for the destination) may fail to appear, when these actors do not effectively join with local board directors. In contrast, rather close networks of local board directors may increase the probability of collective action, effective sanctioning, and, generally speaking, the development of social capital.

Social implications

A tourist destination or generally a community must ponder the benefits of either one of the aspects. That is, a closed community guarantees the preservation of reciprocal trust and the development of locally grown and accepted governance. In contrast, by increasing the organizational connections with external directors in the boards, the enterprises may gain additional knowledge, new financial resources, etc. but they may undermine historically grown rules and norms as well as routines that are founded on reciprocal trust and a common identity.

Originality/value

The functionalities of destination communities are of growing interest for tourism researchers. However, tourism research has never focused on networks of interlocking directorships. By analyzing interlocking directorships in the context of tourist destination communities, this research opens a new stream of discussion for both community research, and the usefulness of research on interlocking directorships.
Using wireless proximity data to infer the behaviour of mobile people
Authors: Awais Azam Muhammad , Loo Jonathan
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The aim of the research work presented in this paper is to investigate a mechanism that can recognise high level activities (for example, going for a walk, travelling on the bus, doing evening activity, etc.) and behaviour of low entropy people (people with regular daily life routines, e.g. elderly people with dementia, patients with regular routines) in order to help them improve their health related daily life activities by using wireless proximity data (e.g. Bluetooth, Wi‐Fi).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a tiered approach to recognise activities and behaviour. Higher level activities are divided into sub‐activities and tasks. Separating the tasks from the raw wireless proximity data is achieved by designing task separator (TASE) algorithm. TASE takes wireless proximity data as an input and separates it into different tasks. These detected tasks and the high level daily activity plans that are made in a planning language Asbru, are then fed into the activity recogniser that compares the detected tasks with the plans and recognises the high level activities that the user is performing.

Findings

The paper provides an insight to how only wireless proximity data can be utilised to recognise high level activities and behaviour of individuals. A number of scenarios and experiments are designed to prove the validity of the proposed methodology.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focussed on relatively low entropy individuals with regular routines and behavioural patterns which can be improved by increasing the level of entropies in behavioural routines.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for the utilisation in health care environments for elderly people and physically impaired individuals.

Originality/value

This paper provides a detailed and original study of algorithms and techniques that can be used to recognise high level activities and behaviour of individuals by using only wireless proximity data.
Situation‐awareness and reasoning using uncertain context in mobile peer‐to‐peer environments
Authors: Wibisono Waskitho , Zaslavsky Arkady , Ling Sea
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The recent advances of mobile computing and sensing technologies have enabled mobile devices to individually sense environment context and develop situation awareness capability. To gain a better understanding of the environment, mobile devices that are co‐located can establish a mobile peer‐to‐peer (MP2P) environment to share their individual context information. The purpose of this paper is to propose a theoretical model for representing and reasoning about situations using uncertain context information captured by multiple devices in an MP2P environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes a generic model for reasoning about situations using uncertain context information captured by multiple devices in a MP2P environment. A data fusion technique is then integrated into the proposed model. To deal with uncertainty of context information captured by multiple independent devices, several models to estimate reliability of context information captured in the environment is proposed and developed.

Findings

The proposed model has been implemented as a middleware and evaluated using data from real experiments in various scenarios and environment settings. The results of the experiments show the robust performances of the proposed model as the basis for situation reasoning in the environment.

Originality/value

A novel model to represent situations and context information captured by multiple devices and to estimate reliability context information used for situation reasoning is proposed. The proposed model is then implemented as a middleware and validated using context data taken captured by multiple independent devices in a MP2P environment.
Relevance of corporate governance practices in charitable organisations
Authors: Reddy Krishna , Locke Stuart , Fauzi Fitriya
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the registered charities in New Zealand have adopted the principle‐based corporate governance practices similar to those adopted by the publicly‐listed companies and the effect corporate governance practices have on their financial performance measured by technical efficiency, allocative efficiency and quick ratio. The paper addresses four important questions: how registered charities in New Zealand are managed and controlled; whether the funds donated to registered charities are utilised effectively; the nature of the corporate governance practiced by registered charities in New Zealand; and the nature of compliance to the Charities Act 2005.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data for the registered charities over the period 2008‐2010 are analysed using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and Tobit model regression. Technical efficiency, allocative efficiency and quick ratio are used as the dependent variables.

Findings

The findings indicate that there is no reporting requirement for the registered charities under the Charities Act 2005 to report detailed information regarding the board make‐up, board committees, board meetings, etc. and therefore, registered charities have not reported such information. The results show also that board gender diversity is an important corporate governance mechanism to mitigate agency problem in charitable organisations in New Zealand. However, large board size and large donors have potential to increase agency costs in charitable organisations in New Zealand.

Research limitations/implications

Caution should be exercised when interpreting and generalising the paper's results, as this study is a case study of registered charities in New Zealand and data comprised only large charities that have revenue over NZ$20 m. It should also be noted that there was a small sample size, which may have had a bearing on the results.

Practical implications

This study offers insights for policy makers and practitioners interested in adopting similar corporate governance practices within their country.

Social implications

Within New Zealand, issues relating to management and control of charitable organisations are better understood and as a consequence, development of sector‐wise standards could be initiated.

Originality/value

This research is novel as it investigates the nature of corporate governance practices relating to the registered charities in New Zealand. The availability of data provided by Charities Commission made this research possible.
Contagion among major world markets: a wavelet approach
Authors: Ranta Mikko
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine contagion among the major world markets during the last 25 years and propose a new way to analyze contagion with wavelet methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis uses a novel way to study contagion using wavelet methods. The comparison is made between co‐movements at different time scales. Co‐movement methods of the discrete wavelet transform and the continuous wavelet transform are applied.

Findings

Clear signs of contagion among the major markets are found. Short time scale co‐movements increase during the major crisis while long time scale co‐movements remain approximately at the same level. In addition, gradually increasing interdependence between markets is found.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen method, the approach is limited to large data sets.

Practical implications

The research has practical implications to portfolio managers etc. who wish to have better view of the dynamics of the international equity markets.

Originality/value

The research uses novel wavelet methods to analyze world equity markets. These methods allow the markets to be analyzed in the whole state space.
Profitability determinants among micro firms: evidence from Swedish data
Authors: Yazdanfar Darush
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the variables affecting firm profitability, applying the seemingly unrelated regression method to a large sample of approximately 87,000 observations covering 12,530 non‐financial micro firms operating in four industry sectors, from 2006 to 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

The study considers profitability determinants at the firm as well as industry affiliation levels in examining hypotheses developed from resource‐based approaches. Seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) was used to detect the combination of variables that best estimated the impact of the explanatory variables on the dependent variable.

Findings

The findings indicate that while firm size, lagged profitability, growth, and productivity positively influence profitability, firm age and industry affiliation negatively influence it. The empirical results suggest that productivity is the most significant determinant of profitability. These results are fairly robust across the various industry sectors covered in the study and are largely consistent with the hypotheses developed from the resource‐based approach.

Research limitations/implications

The current study addresses an issue that is relevant to various stakeholders, including managers, investors, and debtholders, and may facilitate further research in similar areas of small business studies.

Practical implications

The question of what factors determine profitability should accordingly be one of high priority for both researchers and practitioners, including managers, investors, debt holders, and policy makers.

Originality/value

Most of previous studies of profitability determinants were actually performed in the industrial organization discipline. This study examines the impact of internal determinants including firm size, age, and sector on firm profitability from a managerial perspective. Unlike the other approaches, this approach suggests that firm performance is mainly determined by internal rather than external variables.
Returns and volatility spillover between stock prices and exchange rates
Authors: Kumar Manish
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the nature of returns and volatility spillovers between exchange rates and stock price in the IBSA nations (India, Brazil, South Africa).

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses VAR framework and the recently proposed Spillover measure of Diebold and Yilmaz to examine the returns and volatility spillover between exchange rates and stock prices of IBSA nations. In addition, multivariate GARCH with time varying variance‐covariance BEKK model is used as a benchmark against the spillover methodology proposed by Diebold and Yilmaz.

Findings

The results of multivariate GARCH model suggests the integration between stock and foreign exchange markets and indicates the existence of bi‐directional volatility spillover between stock and foreign exchange markets in the IBSA countries. Spillover results using the Diebold Yilmaz model suggest the bi‐directional contribution between stock and foreign exchange market, in terms of both returns and volatility spillovers. Overall, results confirm the presence of returns and volatility spillovers within the IBSA nations and, in particular, the stock markets play a relatively more important role than foreign exchange markets in the first and second moment interactions and spillovers.

Practical implications

The market participants may consider the relationship between the exchange rate and stock index to predict the future movement of each other effectively. Multinational companies interested in exchange rate forecasting may consider the stock market as an important attribute. There is an interesting implication for portfolio managers too because of the spillover stock and foreign exchange markets. This knowledge would help to create a fund which performs well. Moreover, the paper can help regulators and policy makers in IBSA nations to understand the structure of the market in a better way and then design their policies.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by extending the existing studies on the spillover between stock price and exchange rate by investigating the issue for three emerging economies, India, Brazil and South Africa. Unlike most studies in the literature which focus on multivariate GARCH model, this is the first study which explores the issue of returns and volatility spillover between the stock prices and the exchange rates using spillover measure of Diebold and Yilmaz and much longer and recent daily data. Moreover, multivariate GARCH with time varying variance‐covariance BEKK model is used as a benchmark against the spillover methodology proposed by Diebold and Yilmaz.
Cultural intelligence (CQ) in MBA curricula
Authors: Ahn Mark J. , Ettner Larry
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of cultural intelligence in MBA curricula. Shaping global corporate culture that manifests itself in powerful‐shared values, group behavior, and persists despite changes in‐group membership is decisive to organizational performance. In turn, cultural intelligence (CQ), defined, as an individual's capability to function and manage effectively in culturally diverse settings, has recently emerged as a likely indicator of management ability and leadership potential.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors utilized the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) – metacognitive, cognitive, motivational, and behavioral – to capture data from MBA students attending three universities in the USA.

Findings

These results, coupled with the open‐ended survey responses, suggest that in general the students have a firm understanding on why CQ is essential in an increasingly globalized business world, as well as a strong desire to interact with other cultures. However, although students appear highly motivated to study about other cultures, the results indicate that many of the MBA students lack an in‐depth knowledge of the values, beliefs, and practices of other cultures. Further, the data suggest that the most important attributes that increase an individual's CQ are international work experience, learning an additional language other than English, and/or obtaining an undergraduate degree from a foreign country.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study to examine the role of cultural intelligence in MBA curricula.
Understanding the effectiveness of word‐of‐mouth: an elasticity perspective
Authors: Chen Yimiao , Liu Fangyi , Fang Cheng‐Hsi , Lin Tom M.Y.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

With the increasing usage of social networking sites, there has been considerable interest in Word‐of‐Mouth (WOM) research. The purpose of this paper is to propose that economic elasticity theory can be applied to evaluate WOM effects and serve as the basis for cross‐product comparison. The practicality of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through a case study. It is hoped that the result of this study solves the argument of WOM effects as shown in past research.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to remove restrictions of measuring WOM objectively, the research asked consumers to form their positive evaluation of WOM about a product or service. In the event that consumers can assess feelings accurately, the WOM consumption function can be constructed and the marginal effect of WOM estimated. The study uses a self‐reported questionnaire to estimate WOM elasticity for 13 products. In total, 465 valid questionnaires were collected.

Findings

Empirical results demonstrate that: first, for all 13 product categories, a significant percentage of respondents are very sensitive to the WOM of product they want to buy; and second, the WOM elasticity of the 13 product categories is between 0.24 and 1.31; the average elasticity was 0.84 for service product and 0.43 for physical goods.

Originality/value

This study may lead to a better understanding of the effectiveness of WOM. WOM elasticity provides an alternative view to examine WOM effects across different products; moreover, it offers an opportunity to re‐evaluate the results of past research.
The impact of knowledge governance on knowledge sharing
Authors: Cao Yong , Xiang Yang
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Knowledge governance is an organizational mechanism that formally and informally defines how the firm manages the activities related knowledge, thus it plays a significant influence on knowledge sharing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, on knowledge sharing. Then the paper examines the mediating role of the guanxi effect on knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon this research, the authors chose to use the logical deductive approach for their hypotheses and analytical frameworks. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from 339 employees in 39 Chinese strategic emerging firms. Finally, regression analysis and structure equation models (SPSS and AMOS) were used for data analysis and hypotheses testing.

Findings

This study points to the impact that knowledge governance has on knowledge sharing based on the mediation of the guanxi effect in China. The results first show that knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, plays a key role in knowledge sharing; second, that the guanxi effect partly mediates between informal knowledge governance and knowledge sharing; third, the guanxi effect plays a significant mediating role between formal knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.

Research limitations/implications

This study presents a framework for Chinese strategic emerging industries to better understand the impact of knowledge governance upon knowledge sharing and thus enhance their firm's guanxi networks to maximize economic and social benefits. The managerial implications are that firms should strengthen knowledge governance to promote employee knowledge sharing and infuse a more harmonious atmosphere to strengthen the positive effects of guanxi among employees. Ultimately, Chinese firms must consider and encourage the benefits of the guanxi effect. This study only investigated 339 employees in 39 organizations located in the central China. It is limited by employees' cognition. In further research, the authors will identify more samples and develop a large‐scale questionnaire to explore these impacts in more detail and thus enhance their current research.

Originality/value

It is the first attempt in China to systematically investigate the impact of knowledge governance on knowledge sharing based on the mediation of the guanxi effect. The results provide a theoretical and methodological contribution to the study of knowledge governance and can thus improve managerial practice in an era of knowledge‐based economies.
Some findings on career counselling in higher education
Authors: Merkač Skok Marjana , Dolinšek Tatjana
Published: March 2013

Purpose

In the time of social and technological challenges and in the perspective of recent global crisis, the ability of students to perform on the labour market to get their first job and to make significant, fulfilling career, is very important. The aim of this paper is to examine some aspects of counselling students in higher education to develop their competencies as future employees. This article discusses similarities and differences in organised counselling forms for students in some neighbouring European countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey was conducted as comparative study desk research on the basis of internet data – higher education institutions (HEI) web pages. Authors defined a set of 28 items by which they evaluated each individual HEI, and developed a dislcloser index Career Centre – DICC. For 246 HEI entities involved in the research the authors developed and tested research hypothesis. The authors applied descriptive statistics and bivariant statistics – non‐parametric Kruskal‐Wallis test and the Chi‐Square Test.

Findings

The results show that there is a statistically significant difference between the countries regarding DICC. Correlation between the existence of the Careers Centre at HEI and the country is confirmed. There is no correlation between range of Career Centre users and the State.

Originality/value

For the purpose of examining the problem of Career centres at HEI, an dislcloser index Career Centre – DICC was developed. Significant difference between countries regarding DICC index was confirmed. The future research will include and will explore students points of view regarding their expectations and satisfaction with the existing career counselling offer at HEI.
Complementing a positivist approach to investment analysis with critical realism
Authors: O'Donnell Loretta , Kramar Robin , Dyball Maria
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges in adding a critical realist epistemological perspective to a positivist approach in research on listed companies by equity researchers and other financial services professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

A purposive sample of publicly available equity research reports was examined to assess the dominant epistemological approach to investment analysis.

Findings

It was found that there is an absence of a critical realist epistemological approach to investment analysis, confirming the dominance of a positivist approach to obtaining and analysing investment information.

Research limitations/implications

This research drew on a small, purposive sample, and could be followed by more wide‐scale research. Taking a critical realist approach may create a clash of “institutional logics” which will need to be considered by a range of stakeholders.

Originality/value

Equity research reports are examined through the lens of critical realism. This exploration allows for an additional epistemological perspective on analysis of firm value.
An investigation of the role of technical analysis in Kuwait
Authors: Almujamed Hesham I. , Fifield Suzanne , Power David
Published: March 2013

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the technical methods that investors in the Kuwait Stock Exchange use to evaluate ordinary shares. The research examines the extent of investors' use of technical analysis, and the technical indicators and the sources of technical information employed by investors. Further, it compares the valuation methods and the sources of information employed by Kuwaiti investors with those used by investors in other developed and emerging stock markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A semi‐structured questionnaire guided the interviews with institutional investors, technical analysts and investment analysts in Kuwait.

Findings

Technical analysis is commonly used among research participants, particularly when timing their entry and exit points. The participants use a mixture of trend and pattern seeking; the Moving Average Rule was heavily used in the market but the Filter Rule Approach was not. Interviewees believed that investors did not have complete information about Kuwaiti quoted companies. Investors in Kuwait behave like their counterparts in other developed and emerging stock markets; fundamental analysis is considered the main valuation method among research participants, while technical and risk analyses were ranked second and third, respectively.

Practical implications

Interviewees in Kuwait paid more attention to technical analysis than did investors in developed countries; technical analysts looked at a company's fundamentals before they consulted graphs when deciding to purchase ordinary shares. Further, chartists followed trades of large investors to make profits. This topic needs to be investigated in emerging markets because these markets may be inefficient; trends and patterns may characterise the data from these markets and practitioners may use these techniques to exploit such patterns in returns. Further, the findings in this study may aid the regulators of these markets in their development of a framework that could improve efficiency by increasing the level of disclosure and transparency among listed firms.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies in Kuwait to report the views of technical analysts and institutional investors about technical approaches to equity investment that are used in the market. Most studies on this topic have been conducted in developed stock markets. The current study considers the case for an emerging stock market, which is important in the Gulf and Middle East region. Further, access to technical analysts has been limited in prior research but this was not an issue in the current investigation.
Focusing a Gender Lens on Emergency Medicine Research: 2012 Update
Authors: McGregor Alyson J. , Greenberg Marna , Safdar Basmah , Seigel Todd , Hendrickson Robert , Poznanski Stacey , Davenport Moira , Miner James , Choo Esther K.
Published: March 2013

The influence of sex and gender on patient care is just being recognized in emergency medicine (EM). Providers are realizing the need to improve outcomes for both men and women by incorporating sex‐ and gender‐specific science into clinical practice, while EM researchers are now beginning to study novel sex‐ and gender‐specific perspectives in the areas of acute care research. This article serves as an update on the sex differences in a variety of acute clinical care topics within the field of EM and showcases opportunities for improving patient care outcomes and expanding research to advance the science of gender‐specific emergency care.
Prospective Pilot Derivation of a Decision Tool for Children at Low Risk for Testicular Torsion
Authors: Shah Manish I. , Chantal Caviness A. , Mendez Donna R.
Published: March 2013

Objective

The purpose of this study was to derive a pilot clinical decision tool with 100% negative predictive value for testicular torsion based on prospectively collected data in children with acute scrotal pain.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of a convenience sample of newborn to 21‐year‐old males evaluated for acute (72 hours or less) scrotal pain at an urban children's hospital emergency department (ED). A pediatric emergency medicine fellow or attending physician documented history and examination findings on a standardized data collection form. The study investigators used ultrasound (US), operative reports, or clinical follow‐up to identify patients who had testicular torsion. Pearson's chi‐square test and odds ratios (OR) were used to identify factors associated with the diagnosis of testicular torsion. The authors also used a recursive partitioning model to create a low‐risk decision tool for testicular torsion.

Results

Of the 450 eligible patients, 228 (51%) were enrolled, with a mean (±SD) age of 9.9 (±4.1) years, including 21 (9.2%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.8% to 13.7%) with testicular torsion. The derived clinical decision tool consisted of three variables: horizontal or inguinal testicular lie (OR = 18.17, 95% CI = 6.2 to 53.2), nausea or vomiting (OR = 5.63, 95% CI = 2.08 to 15.22), and age 11 to 21 years (OR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.27 to 11.97). These variables had a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI = 98% to 100%) and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI = 98% to 100%) for the diagnosis of testicular torsion.

Conclusions

Based on a decision tool derived with recursive partitioning, study patients with all of the following characteristics had no risk of testicular torsion: normal testicular lie, lack of nausea or vomiting, and age 0 to 10 years. Future research should focus on externally validating this tool to optimize emergent evaluation when testicular torsion is likely, while minimizing routine sonographic evaluation when patients are unlikely to have a serious condition requiring immediate management.
Isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria from hospital waters in Turkey
Authors: Genc Gonca Erkose , Richter Elvira , Erturan Zayre
Published: March 2013

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous in hot and cold water distribution systems. With molecular typing methods it was shown that water can be the source of colonization and infection with NTM. The aim of our study was the investigation of NTM in hot and cold water samples taken from various departments of two hospitals in Istanbul, Turkey. Totally, 160 water samples were examined. The temperature, pH, and free chlorine levels of water samples were measured between 10–41 °C, 6.78–7.98 and <0.3–0.5 mg/L, respectively. NTM were detected in 33 (20.6%) samples. Totally 20 (60.6%), 10 (30.3%) and 3 (9.1%) isolates were identified as Mycobacterium lentiflavum, Mycobacterium gordonae, and Mycobacterium peregrinum, respectively. M. lentiflavum, which was the most frequently isolated NTM, is characterized by multiple resistance to antimycobacterial drugs. Although no infections with this mycobacterium were reported from our country so far, preventive measures may be considered in patients under immunosuppression. Because no significant correlations were found among the presence of NTM or species distribution and water temperature, pH or free chlorine levels, other factors need to be investigated.
Vaccines against stimulants: cocaine and MA
Authors: Kosten Thomas , Domingo Coreen , Orson Frank , Kinsey Berma
Published: March 2013

While the worldwide prevalence of cocaine use remains significant, medications, or small molecule approaches, to treat drug addictions have met with limited success. Anti‐addiction vaccines, on the other hand, have demonstrated great potential for treating drug abuse using a distinctly different mechanism of eliciting an antibody response that blocks the pharmacological effects of drugs. We provide a review of vaccine‐based approaches to treating stimulant addictions; specifically and cocaine addictions. This selective review article focuses on the one cocaine vaccine that has been into clinical trials and presents new data related to pre‐clinical development of a methamphetamine (MA) vaccine. We also review the mechanism of action for vaccine induced antibodies to abused drugs, which involves kinetic slowing of brain entry as well as simple blocking properties. We present pre‐clinical innovations for MA vaccines including hapten design, linkage to carrier proteins and new adjuvants beyond alum. We provide some new information on hapten structures and linkers and variations in protein carriers. We consider a carrier, outer membrance polysaccharide coat protein (OMPC), that provides some self‐adjuvant through lipopolysaccharide components and provide new results with a monophosopholipid adjuvant for the more standard carrier proteins with cocaine and MA. The review then covers the clinical trials with the cocaine vaccine TA‐CD. The clinical prospects for advances in this field over the next few years include a multi‐site cocaine vaccine clinical trial to be reported in 2013 and phase 1 clinical trials of a MA vaccine in 2014.