bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of managerial efficiency in insurance sector in the UAE: an emerging economy
Authors: Rao Ananth , Kashani Hossein , Marie Attiea
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This study sets out to analyze the efficiency and productivity issues of the insurance sector from both the policymakers' and investors' points of view to insulate the business and financial risks of UAE corporate houses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses two inputs of “administrative and general expenses”, and “equity and change in legal reserves”, versus two outputs of rate of “return on investments” and “liquid asset to total liabilities ratio” to assess the allocative efficiency of the companies using DEA. Using the the Malmquist productivity index the efficiency is broken down into technical and scale efficiency to evaluate the performance of the insurers.

Findings

While the scale of operation of insurers is, by and large, acceptable, there is a considerable degree of managerial inefficiency among the insurers, with the least efficiency in 2000, and higher efficiency in 2004. Further, the insurers on average achieved a mere 0.8 percent annual gain in total factor productivity over the period in question.

Research limitations/implications

The data set is narrow with 19 insurers in the region, which is the limitation.

Practical implications

The results have policy implications for the regulators and managerial implications for the existing insurers to face the growing competition in the region.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the productivity changes of insurance sector operations in a developing economy: the UAE in the Middle‐East region. The study findings help the insurers to take appropriate managerial steps to improve the efficiency of their operations.
The concept of the balanced company and its implications for corporate governance
Authors: Talaulicar Till
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The concept of the balanced company refers to a company that is in good relations with its internal and external constituencies. Establishing such a balanced company largely depends on the corporate governance of the firm. The paper, therefore, aims to develop new insights into the appropriate design of corporate governance that fits with the notion of the balanced company.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual and integrates various perspectives from stakeholder as well as norm theories to substantiate the appropriate governance system of a balanced company.

Findings

The proposed system of corporate governance rules that the interests of multiple stakeholders have to be considered and adequately balanced when corporate decisions are made. In this system, the interest of the enterprise provides the ultimate criterion to evaluate corporate decisions rather than the interest of one single group of constituencies. Corporate decisions have accordingly to serve the interest of the enterprise and to ensure its sustainable creation of value. This requires a principle based balancing of competing interests when the stakes of diverse constituencies collide.

Originality/value

The paper explicates the notion of the interest of the enterprise, explores the corresponding responsibilities of the board, and explains how competing interests of various constituencies have to be balanced.
Balancing trust and control in organizations: towards a process perspective
Authors: Jagd Søren
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show that conceptualizing trust and control as interactively related processes, as opposed to more static conceptualizations of the two concepts and the relations between them, adds importantly towards understanding the challenges involved in balancing of trust and control in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines recent literature on the conceptualization of the relation between trust and control in and between organizations.

Findings

The literature review shows that trust and control has been conceptualized as either substituting or complementing each other. Further, it is found that the complementary/substitution debate calls for an explicit conceptualization of the relation between trust and control as an interactive process, in contrast to earlier conceptualizations of trust and control as two relatively static and isolated concepts.

Practical implications

While the static perspective on trust and control made the problem of finding a balance between trust and control a once and for all decision the process perspective introduced here implies that balancing trust and control is an ongoing process of balancing and rebalancing. The implication for management is that the problem of balancing trust and control becomes an issue that deserve ongoing attention.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the discussion on the relation between trust and control by showing that the process perspective reframes the problem of balancing trust and control. More generally, by demonstrating the importance of the process perspective on the trust and control interrelation, the paper calls for the wider use of a process perspective for researching the trust‐control nexus.
An ethical justification of profit maximization
Authors: Koch Carsten
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether profit maximizing behaviour can be defended from an ethical point of view, and what possible restrictions should be made on following this interest.

Design/methodology/approach

The main structure of the paper is as follows. First, it states the problem. Second, it considers which ethical theory is relevant for evaluating the situation at hand, and argues that rule‐consequentialism is the most appropriate one, but that some constraints in the form of, e.g. protecting human rights must be used as a supplement. Third, it analyses the consequences of profit seeking and profit maximization, and argue that these have a number of beneficial effects. The methodology and approach is one of critical argumentation.

Findings

Profit maximization as a firm goal has traditionally been meet with suspicion in the literature on business ethics, being seen as either immoral or amoral. It is argued herein that this practice should be evaluated according to rule‐consequentialist ethics, but supplemented with elements that are more of a deontological ethical character. When seen from this point of view, profit maximization may be seen as ethical. This requires, however, that a number of institutional and other requirements are fulfilled.

Research limitations/implications

In stead of arguing, or taking as a premise, that profit maximization is inherently unethical, researchers should argue which ethical point of view should be used to evaluate such a goal, and then argue whether business practices are ethical or not. In addition, business ethics literature should incorporate basic insights from economic theory.

Originality/value

The paper provides new insights in the ethical nature of profit maximization as the main corporate value. More generally, we argued that, given it is in the owner's perceived interest(s), it is ethically justifiable for executives to take profit maximization as their ultimate goal in running their businesses, as long as they do not violate law, norms or social customs.
Balancing values and economic efficiency in the public sector!
Authors: Storm Pedersen John , Dahl Rendtorff Jacob
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper discusses the balance between values and economic efficiency in the public sector in comparison with the private sector. The argument is that the public sector, hence the public welfare service institutions, can learn much from the private service sector, hence the private service firms with regard to the relation to values, ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and efficiency in order to improve the balance between values and efficiency in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the concept of balance in relation to the development of the management of private service companies as a useful alternative to new public management (NPM). It discusses this with regard to three issues: the evolution of the management of private companies; what can the public sector, hence the public welfare institutions, learn from the evolution of management of private companies? How would it be possible for governments to work for an alternative to NPM, on the basis of the experiences of management of private companies, improving the balance between values and economic efficiency in the public sector?

Findings

It is argued that a deadlock in the development of efficiency management in the public sector, hence in the public welfare service institutions, is created. It is argued, furthermore, that this deadlock to a great extent, paradoxically, is created because of the focusing on NPM for almost two decades as the most important tool to develop efficiency management in the public sector. Finally, it is argued that the experiences in private companies regarding how to find a proper balance between values, ethics, CSR and economic efficiency can be very helpful in developing a strategy within the public sector to unlock the deadlock regarding the development of efficiency management. That is why the experiences of management of the private services companies can become a constructive alternative to the experiences of NPM in the public sector at the level of welfare institutions.

Research limitations/implications

There would be potential for more research on CSR, business ethics and values‐driven management in relation to the public sector.

Originality/value

The paper offers new insight into the relation between values, CSR and management models in the private and in the public sector.
Mine over matter? Health, wealth and forests in a mining area of Orissa
Authors: Pattanayak Subhrendu , Saha Shubhayu , Sahu Pravash , Sills Erin , Singha Ashok , Yang JuiChen
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether mining can serve as a pathway for economic development despite the environmental externalities. The extensive literature on the “resource curse” phenomenon at the national level generally finds that economic dependence on mineral resources is associated with lower levels of economic growth. This paper shows that further insight can be obtained by studying micro‐level resource curse because of heterogeneity in institutions, natural resources and economic behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper empirically tests the resource curse hypothesis with data from a stratified random sample of 600 households in 20 villages in the mining district of Keonjhar, Orissa. Household surveys were used to collect data on demography, forest dependence, health and household economics. Using geographical information system (GIS), the household data were integrated with secondary spatial data on land cover and location of mines to construct multiple measures of exposure to iron ore mines.

Findings

Microeconometric models demonstrate the multi‐faceted nature of the relationships between mine exposure, forest resources and human welfare. Households closer to mines experience higher incidences of many illnesses, rank lower on indicators of human development and own fewer production assets. They also derive fewer forest benefits because forests are more degraded and less accessible in villages closer to mines.

Originality/value

This analysis remains timely because of on‐going violent conflicts and concern over negative impacts on the welfare of rural populations in the mining areas of India, which is consistent with the notion of a resource curse. The paper's findings on the magnitude of negative impacts can inform the policy discourse (e.g. benefits sharing schemes) related to mining‐led growth.
Some lessons for economists from the financial crisis
Authors: Willett Thomas
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss implications of the global crisis for economic and financial research and policy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews many recent studies on the crisis and offers the author's views on some of the most important lessons to be drawn from the crisis

Findings

The review counters views that the crisis reflected a basic failure of economics, but agrees that it undercuts some particular theories and approaches to economics. More attention needs to be given to imperfections in the operation of both markets and governments, drawing on insights from behavioral and neuro economics and finance and political economy analysis and recognizing the importance of limited information and uncertainty about correct models. The creation of perverse incentive structures explain a large part of the financial excesses that led to the crisis. Financial considerations need to be integrated much more closely with macroeconomic analysis and financial risk analysis needs to pay more attention to economic considerations. Useful insights can be drawn from many different theories and approaches and we should not expect any one theory to have all the answers. The excesses observed in the advanced economies do not imply that there are not enormous benefits to be gained from further financial liberalization in emerging market economies, but they do show that great care must be taken in establishing strong supervision of such liberalizations and highlight many of the dangers to look out for.

Originality/value

The paper offers a guide to the literature for those interested in learning more about the causes and effects of the crisis and policy responses and offers a number of suggestions for fruitful research topics and policy strategies.
Public services satisfaction and single‐family house prices in the USA
Authors: Larsen James E. , Blair John P.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test whether residents' satisfaction with seven general purpose public services are capitalized in single‐family house prices. The public services investigated are: fire protection, paramedic services, police protection, trash removal, snow removal, street maintenance, and neighborhood parks.

Design/methodology/approach

The seven service satisfaction measures, derived from a public opinion survey, are grouped into three variables based on the city department responsible for providing the service and included in a hedonic regression of single‐family house transactions that occurred in Dayton, Ohio.

Findings

All three satisfaction variables are positively related to house price, providing evidence that intra‐jurisdictional differences in the nature of public services are capitalized through market processes.

Social implications

The strength of the satisfaction measures in the regression model suggests that efforts to improve citizen satisfaction may be an important component of local efforts to stabilize urban neighborhoods and improve property values.

Originality/value

The present study is the first to use transaction prices rather than assessed values to analysis multiple general public services simultaneously. Because almost all previous studies investigate multiple jurisdictions the present study is also fairly unique as it focuses on different locations within a single jurisdiction. The use of survey responses regarding resident satisfaction with public services represents an advance on previous measures of public service provision because it potentially reflects underlying motivations of buyers and sellers very directly.
Factors affecting affordable housing cost in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Assaf Sadi A. , Bubshaitr Abdulaziz A. , Al‐Muwasheer Fawaz
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the main factors that affect the construction cost of affordable housing in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 14 consultants, 16 contractors and five real estate investors was performed. The survey included 34 different factors affecting the construction cost of affordable houses and their degree of importance. The severity of those factors was measured by the level of importance and ranked according to the severity index for consultants, contractors and real estate investors and a combination of all respondents.

Findings

There is an agreement (correlation) by each group and the overall ranking by all participants. It was concluded that inadequate labor availability, material standards, design quality and design changes are the most severe factors with relatively high overall scoring.

Originality/value

The paper provides a holistic approach that considers all factors affecting affordable housing in Saudi Arabia and the interplay between them. It will serve as a guide to the focus areas to be considered in policy development aiming at improving conditions in the construction industry for affordable housing programs.
Structural and temporal changes in the housing market and hedonic housing price indices
Authors: Shimizu Chihiro , Takatsuji Hideoki , Ono Hiroya , Nishimura Kiyohiko G.
Published: October 2010

Purpose

An economic indicator faces two requirements. It should be reported in a timely manner and should not be significantly altered afterward to avoid erroneous messages. At the same time, it should reflect changing market conditions constantly and appropriately. These requirements are particularly challenging for housing price indices, since housing markets are subject to large temporal/seasonal changes and occasional structural changes. The purpose of this paper is to estimate a hedonic price index of condominiums of Tokyo, taking account of seasonal sample selection biases and structural changes in a way it enables us to report the index in a manner which is timely and not subject to change after reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes an overlapping‐period hedonic model (OPHM), in which a hedonic price index is calculated every month based on data in the “window” of a year ending this month (this month and previous 11 months). It also estimates standard hedonic housing price indexes under alternative assumptions: no structural change (“structurally restricted”: restricted hedonic model) and different structure for every month (“structurally unrestricted”: unrestricted hedonic model).

Findings

Results suggest that the structure of the housing market, including seasonality, changes over time, and these changes occur continuously over time. It is also demonstrated that structurally restricted indices that do not account for structural changes involve a large time lag compared with indices that do account for structural changes during periods with significant price fluctuations.

Social implications

Following the financial crisis triggered by the US housing market, housing price index guidelines are currently being developed, with the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development leading the way. These guidelines recommend that indices be estimated based on the hedonic method. We believe that the hedonic method proposed here will serve as a reference for countries that develop hedonic method‐based housing price indices in future.

Originality/value

In the many studies involving conventional housing price indices, whether those using the repeat‐sales method or hedonic method, there are few that have analyzed the problem of market structural changes. This paper is the first to construct a large database and systematically estimate the effect that changes in market structure have on housing price indices.
House price diffusions across three urban areas in Malaysia
Authors: Hui Hon‐Chung
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Various empirical studies have demonstrated that house prices in different geographic regions have a tendency to co‐move. But these studies have focused on developed economies in the west. The purpose of this paper is to test this hypothesis in the case of three major urban areas in the rapidly developing economy of Malaysia, namely Klang Valley, Penang and Johor.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Pesaran et al.'s bounds testing approach to cointegration and Granger non‐causality analysis, the short‐run and long‐run dynamics of regional house prices are analysed.

Findings

First, house prices in all three regions appear to be cointegrated. Second, there is evidence of short‐run bi‐directional causality between house prices in all regions. Third, long‐run house price movements in Johor are not Granger‐caused by house prices in Klang Valley and Penang. This observation could be rationalised in the light of the argument that Johor house values may be more closely aligned with activities in the Singaporean economy, given the region's geographic proximity to Singapore.

Practical implications

The findings have several practical implications for housing investors who intend to optimise investment decisions on housing purchases. The understanding of the nature of regional house dynamics could also enrich the government's knowledge of how the local housing markets work and enable the design and implementation of relevant housing policies.

Originality/value

This is the first known study that establishes stylised facts of lead‐lag relationships for regional house prices, while also providing short‐run and long‐run estimates of regional house price interactions for Malaysia.
Culture distance and foreign equity ownership in international joint ventures
Authors: Chen Qiangbing , Liu Yali , Jiang Lu
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper aims to study the impact of cultural differences on the ownership structure of international joint ventures in China. It is reasoned that foreign investors, when faced with larger culture‐related investment uncertainties, may have the incentive to acquire more control rights to contain the risks by acquiring more equity shares in the joint ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

Data on international joint ventures in China were used to test the theory. The data contain 941 observations from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tianjing, covering a 13‐year time span. Pooled ordinary least square is used in the model estimation.

Findings

Cultural distance between China and foreign countries was found to increase the foreign equity share in the joint ventures, a finding contrary to traditional view. In addition, it was found that cultural distance in different dimensions does not play an equal role in affecting foreign equity shares. Last, there is significant evidence that the allocation of ownership between foreign and domestic investors in the joint ventures is influenced by the investor's relative importance in supplying different types of resources.

Originality/value

The paper introduces a new perspective into the study of culture and international joint venture. Foreign investors may be able to reduce investment risk by increasing equity shares, which gives them more internal control, in international joint ventures. In contrast, the traditional view is that larger cultural distance tends to discourage foreign equity ownership.
Important export skills comparison in different export stage
Authors: Ting Zhou , Guijun Ling , Bojun Leng
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a theoretical framework that identifies the important skills for successful export from different business areas and make an empirical ranking of their importance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey containing 88 practical export skills, selected from the existing literature, was sent to 800 Chinese exporting companies in major Eastern regions of China. With the factor analysis, eight skill categories were identified and 56 skills were found more important.

Findings

The results of the study show that in the higher export stage, skills in international marketing and international trade logistics were viewed as being more important. However, a firm in an early export stage showed more concerns on international trade policy and regulations, international finance and international trade research. Firms with rich export experience viewed strategic management in international trade as being more important than those with less export experience. International payment terms were considered to be very important by firms across all export stages. However, only these firms which were exploring the availability of export business viewed international trade practice as being somewhat important.

Research limitations/implications

First, the export skills pool should be extended and examined according to the firms' characteristics. Second, the study is cross‐sectional and there should be specific analysis of different exporting firms. Third, supplement of the study with more samples from other regions should provide more generalizable implications. Finally, another future work should be to examine how export skills affect financial performance of those Chinese exporting firms.

Practical implications

This paper can serve as useful information for the exporting firms to improve their existing skill training programs. The skills importance rankings can also be used to guide the resource allocations.

Originality/value

This study builds a theoretical framework that identifies the important skills for successful export from different business areas and makes an empirical ranking of their importance based on the data of Chinese exporting firms.
Exchange rate movements' effect on Sri Lanka‐China trade
Authors: Senanayake Amarasingha Appuhamilage Kanchana , Abdulhusain Ali Alhayky Ahmed
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically the effects of exchange rate movements on trade performance with reference to the Sri Lanka‐China trade relationship over the quarterly period from 1993 to 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tests this condition for the trade between Sri Lanka and China in two steps. First, it investigates the exchange rate movements on Sri Lanka's aggregate exports and imports between China using selected variables such as the real bilateral exchange rate change, the change in income and the exchange rate volatility. Second, this study constructs a panel regression model using Sri Lanka's sectoral exports and imports between China and tests whether exchange rate movements have detrimental effects on sectoral trade.

Findings

The main finding is that bilateral exchange rate changes and exchange rate volatility do play an active role on trade, while income growth changes have less influence in determining the total exports and imports between two countries. The analysis of data shows that changes in real bilateral exchange rate, income and exchange rate volatility are playing a major role in determining sectoral exports and imports between Sri Lanka and China. Therefore, the findings suggest that the movements of exchange rate between these two countries do have significant effects on total trade as well as sectoral trade between Sri Lanka and China.
Low‐carbon disruptive innovation in China
Authors: Tyfield David , Jin Jun
Published: October 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore arguments for the importance of disruptive innovation to China's low‐carbon transition, while such innovation is generally overlooked and/or belittled.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper builds on the multi‐level perspective (MLP) of systems transitions being developed by interdisciplinary scholars regarding low‐carbon innovation to explore the multiple opportunities regarding disruptive innovation in the case of China.

Findings

This exploration details that at the levels of business strategy, national economic development and governance of a transition to ecological sustainability, there is a strongprima faciecase that disruptive innovation offers singular opportunities in China regarding low‐carbon innovation, while a focus on hi‐tech innovation alone is unlikely to effect the radical systems transition needed.

Practical implications

Acknowledging and incorporating such opportunities is thus to be encouraged, both in China and elsewhere, including in the formulation of low‐carbon innovation policy. A concerted research programme for ongoing and iterative “second‐order” learning about concrete examples of disruptive low‐carbon innovation is advocated.

Social implications

The increased opportunities for dispersed social involvement in a low‐carbon transition through disruptive innovation are discussed.

Originality/value

The paper offers a novel synthesis of diverse literatures to advocate a significantly different approach to low‐carbon innovation than is evidenced in current policy and policy discourse.
Gender differences in entrepreneurial networking and participation
Authors: Klyver Kim , Grant Sharon
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between an individual's personal acquaintance with an entrepreneur and his/her participation in entrepreneurial activity at three distinct new venture stages: discovery (intending to start a business), start‐up (actively in the process of starting a business), and young (running a business for less than three months).

Design/methodology/approach

Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data from 35 countries (n=311,720) pooled across three years (2002‐2004) and multinomial logistic regression, the paper examines the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and entrepreneurial participation across gender. Gender differences in entrepreneurial networking are also examined.

Findings

The findings indicate that individuals who personally know an entrepreneur are more likely to participate in entrepreneurial activity at any venture stage but that female entrepreneurs, compared with their male counterparts, are less likely to be acquainted with an entrepreneur. Taken together, these findings suggest that one of the reasons why women are less likely to become entrepreneurs is that they lack entrepreneurial resource providers or role models in their social networks.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is subject to two limitations. First, the paper includes a single item measure of social network composition. Second, although the paper includes data from 2000 to 2004, the dataset is cross‐sectional and is thus based on different cohorts of participants. The paper offers a number of implications for theory, practice, and future research. One of the most important implications is that female entrepreneurship participation could be enhanced by policy directed at promoting female entrepreneur role models and connecting women with entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The paper utilizes a representative sample of 311,720 individuals in 35 countries. Entrepreneurs are classified as operating at three distinct phases of the entrepreneurial process: discovery, start‐up, and young and the relationship between entrepreneurial networking and entrepreneurship participation is examined within each of these phases.
Copreneurship in rural tourism: exploring women's experiences
Authors: Bensemann Jo , Hall C. Michael
Published: October 2010

Purpose

The paper seeks to explore the experiences of owners of rural tourism accommodation businesses in New Zealand within the framework of copreneurship. It aims to examine roles within copreneurial rural tourism businesses and describes and evaluates women's experiences of entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of the research is a postal survey of rural tourism accommodation business owners complemented by in‐depth interviews with women in copreneurial business relationships. Triangulation of data sources and methods, combining qualitative and quantitative techniques enables a rich understanding of copreneurial expectations, roles and responsibilities and of women's experiences specifically.

Findings

The paper finds that the rural tourism accommodation sector in New Zealand is characterised by lifestylers and copreneurs running their businesses as a “hobby” and that non‐economic, lifestyle motivations are important stimuli to business formation. The paper also finds that any perception of copreneurship as a tool for enabling women to become freed from traditional gender roles may not equal the reality as a gendered ideology persists even through copreneurial relationships in rural tourism. Copreneurial couples appear to engage in running the accommodation business using traditional gender‐based roles mirroring those found in the private home.

Originality/value

The paper goes some way toward addressing the fact that there exists an underexplored and unarticulated feminine set of processes and behaviours in new venture production. In this research, women's voices were able to come through in both the survey and the interview research and their experiences are reported through their narratives. What is revealed is that a gendered ideology persists even through copreneurial relationships in rural tourism.
Training Women to Win
Authors: Dhaliwal Spinder
Published: October 2010

Purpose

Training Women to Win, a University of Surrey project set out to identify good practice in terms of available support and to produce and pilot recommendations that will improve current business support and training provision for women. In this context, this paper aims to consider some of the key challenges faced by women seeking to start a new business.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was posted online on a dedicated project web site, in collaboration with Everywoman Ltd Links were established from other sites. In total, about 1,000 women were targeted. A series of focus groups were also held.

Findings

The main findings of the project are that business support providers tend to be target driven and thus supply is not always geared to demand. One of the consequences of this target culture is a “one size fits all” strategy.

Practical implications

The paper shows that many respondents, although largely aware that agencies exist, are often unaware of the services that they provide and/or how to access appropriate support. Business support is acknowledged by some to be very good at the initial stages. However, further into the business cycle, there appears to be less support for the growth phrase.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the growing body of work on female entrepreneurship and on the support they need.
The invasion route for an insect pest species: the tobacco aphid in the New World
Authors: ZEPEDA‐PAULO F. A. , SIMON J.‐C. , RAMÍREZ C. C. , FUENTES‐CONTRERAS E. , MARGARITOPOULOS J. T. , WILSON A. C. C. , SORENSON C. E. , BRIONES L. M. , AZEVEDO R. , OHASHI D. V. , LACROIX C. , GLAIS L. , FIGUEROA C. C.
Published: October 2010

Biological invasions are rapid evolutionary events in which populations are usually subject to a founder event during introduction followed by rapid adaptation to the new environment. Molecular tools and Bayesian approaches have shown their utility in exploring different evolutionary scenarios regarding the invasion routes of introduced species. We examined the situation for the tobacco aphid, Myzus persicae nicotianae, a recently introduced aphid species in Chile. Using seven microsatellite loci and approximate Bayesian computation, we studied populations of the tobacco aphid sampled from several American and European countries, identifying the most likely source populations and tracking the route of introduction to Chile. Our population genetic data are consistent with available historical information, pointing to an introduction route of the tobacco aphid from Europe and/or from other putative populations (e.g. Asia) with subsequent introduction through North America to South America. Evidence of multiple introductions to North America from different genetic pools, with successive loss of genetic diversity from Europe towards North America and a strong bottleneck during the southward introduction to South America, was also found. Additionally, we examined the special case of a widespread multilocus genotype that was found in all American countries examined. This case provides further evidence for the existence of highly successful genotypes or ‘superclones’ in asexually reproducing organisms.
Pollen limitation of female reproductive success at fine spatial scale in a gynodioecious and wind‐pollinated species, Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima
Authors: DE CAUWER I. , ARNAUD J.‐F. , SCHMITT E. , DUFAY M.
Published: October 2010

In sexually polymorphic plants, the spatial distribution of sexes is usually not random. Local variation in phenotype frequencies is expected to affect individual fitness of the different phenotypes. For gynodioecious species, with co‐occurrence of hermaphrodites and females, if sexual phenotypes are structured in space and pollen flow is spatially restricted, local pollen availability should vary among patches. Female fitness may thus be low when hermaphrodites are locally rare. To test this hypothesis, we analysed how the reproductive output of females varied among patches within two natural study sites of the gynodioecious wind‐pollinated Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima. Plants growing in female‐biased areas and experiencing pollen limitation were found to have low fruit and seed sets but did not reallocate resources towards better offspring. Our results show that fine‐scale processes influence individual fitness and the evolution of sex ratio in sexually polymorphic plants.
The molecular basis of white pericarps in African domesticated rice: novel mutations at the Rc gene
Authors: GROSS B. L. , STEFFEN F. T. , OLSEN K. M.
Published: October 2010

Repeated phenotypic evolution can occur at both the inter‐ and intraspecific level and is especially prominent in domesticated plants, where artificial selection has favoured the same traits in many different species and varieties. The question of whether repeated evolution reflects changes at the same or different genes in each lineage can now be addressed using the domestication and improvement genes that have been identified in a variety of crops. Here, we document the genetic basis of nonpigmented (‘white’) pericarps in domesticated African rice (Oryza glaberrima) and compare it with the known genetic basis of the same trait in domesticated Asian rice (Oryza sativa). In some cases, white pericarps in African rice are apparently caused by unique mutations at the Rc gene, which also controls pericarp colour variation in Asian rice. In one case, white pericarps appear to reflect changes at a different gene or potentially a cis‐regulatory region.
Palivizumab: A debate about funding
Authors: Fitzgerald Dominic A , Isaacs David , Tobin Bernadette
Published: October 2010

A clinician and the chair of the hospital drug committee debate the merits of the use of palivizumab as prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus infection for a preterm baby with oxygen‐dependent, chronic lung disease and discuss the issue of public funding of palivizumab. An ethicist comments on ethical aspects of the debate about cost‐effectiveness.
Beware the lymphopenia: A case of severe combined immunodeficiency
Authors: Mehr Sam , Kakakios Alyson , Shaw Peter , Webster Richard , Kemp Andrew
Published: October 2010

We present a case of a 2‐month‐old boy with partially treated meningitis and suspected Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. A full blood count revealed profound lymphopenia. The child was diagnosed with adenosine deaminase deficiency, a rare cause of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). SCID is an immunological emergency and must be considered in any lymphopaenic infant with opportunistic infection. We discuss adenosine deaminase‐deficient SCID, which can involve multiple systems and in which other treatment options apart from bone marrow transplant are available.
IMPROVING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: A LONG‐RUN VIEW
Authors: Escosura Leandro Prados de la
Published: October 2010

Abstract The pessimistic flavour of the Human Development Reports appears to be in contradiction with their own numbers as developing countries fare comparatively better in human development than in per capita GDP terms. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by providing a new, ‘improved’ human development index (IHDI), informed by welfare economics. The IHDI is presented here alongside the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) HDI for the world and its main regions since the late 19th century. Social dimensions in the IHDI are derived, following Kakwani (Journal of Development Economics 41 (1993), pp. 307–336), with a convex achievement function, whereas a geometric average is employed to combine its dimensions (longevity, knowledge and income). Thus, the IHDI does not conceal the gap between rich and poor countries and casts a much less optimistic view than the conventional UNDP index, while it fits with the UNDP concern for international differences. The paper's findings highlight main weaknesses in human development dimensions of present‐day developing countries.
The Bern Convention: 30 Years of Nature Conservation in Europe
Authors: Díaz Carolina Lasén
Published: October 2010

The Council of Europe's Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats is a binding international treaty in the field of nature conservation aimed at the protection of the natural heritage in the European continent. The Bern Convention aims to conserve Europe's wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats. It was an innovative biodiversity convention at the time of its birth, over 30 years ago, through its approach to protect both species and habitats. The treaty also takes account of the impact that other policies may have on natural heritage and it recognizes the intrinsic value of wild flora and fauna, which needs to be preserved and passed to future generations. The convention has produced extensive guidance and standards, including species actions plans, strategies, and over 140 recommendations and resolutions to help countries improve their national policies on nature conservation. The Bern Convention has combined concrete and practical action on the conservation and management of key species and sites with more strategic and forward‐looking instruments on complex issues, long before they were subject to legislation, like invasive alien species or biodiversity adaptation to climate change. This work on current and relevant issues, developed in partnership and cooperation with other biodiversity conventions, the scientific community and non‐governmental organizations, is one of the convention's strengths that has continued to motivate European countries to join and support this multilateral environmental agreement.
Liability and Redress in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Authors: Jungcurt Stefan , Schabus Nicole
Published: October 2010

This article outlines and discusses the key elements of the draft Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, tabled for adoption at the fifth Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Biosafety Protocol to be held in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. The first section describes the role of liability and redress under the Biosafety Protocol, followed by an overview of the draft Supplementary Protocol's key elements. The subsequent section looks at outstanding issues and the final section gives an outlook on the Supplementary Protocol's adoption and ratification requirements and its potential impact and effectiveness.
Morbidity and Physical Functioning in Old Age: Differences According to Living Area
Authors: Sjölund Britt‐Marie , Nordberg Gunilla , Wimo Anders , von Strauss Eva
Published: October 2010

OBJECTIVES: To describe differences in morbidity and functional status according to living area.

DESIGN: Community‐based survey.

SETTING: A community‐based prospective cohort, the Kungsholmen‐Nordanstig Project.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 75 and older living in an urban area of central Stockholm (n=1,222) and in the rural community of Nordanstig in northern Sweden (n=919).

MEASUREMENTS: Physicians clinically examined all participants using the same standardized protocols in both living areas; trained nurses directly assessed disability.

RESULTS: Cardiovascular disease was the most common disorder in both living areas (39.9% in the urban area and 45.2% in the rural area). There were great area differences in the prevalence of stroke (7.4% and 14.0%), diabetes mellitus 6.3% and 16.1%), and Parkinson's disease (1.0% and 3.7%). It was more common to have two or more diseases than no diseases in the rural area than in the urban area (odds ratio=1.9, 95% confidence interval=1.4–2.4). Significant living area differences (urban vs rural) in population attributable risk (PAR) was found for disability due to stroke (5.6 vs 32.2), diabetes mellitus (1.2 vs 6.1), fractures (1.4 vs 10.7), and hearing impairment (8.7 vs 22.0).

CONCLUSION: Differences were found in disability, morbidity, and disease patterns according to living area. The rural elderly population was more disabled and had more diseases than the urban elderly population, despite being slightly younger than the urban cohort. There were significant area differences in the PAR of how specific chronic conditions influenced the risk of disability.
Willing to Work: Agency and Vulnerability in an Undocumented Immigrant Network
Authors: Gomberg‐Muñoz Ruth
Published: October 2010

ABSTRACT Restriction‐oriented immigration policies and polarizing political debates have intensified the vulnerability of undocumented people in the United States, promoting their “willingness” to do low‐wage, low‐status work. In this article, I draw on ethnographic research with undocumented immigrants in Chicago to examine the everyday strategies that undocumented workers develop to mediate constraints and enhance their well‐being. In particular, I explore how a cohort of undocumented Mexican immigrants cultivates a social identity as “hard workers” to promote their labor and bolster dignity and self‐esteem. Much of the existing literature on unauthorized labor migration has focused on the structural conditions that encumber immigrants and constrain their opportunities. By shifting the focus to workers’ agency, I seek to complement these analyses and show how undocumented immigrants actively navigate the terrain of work and society in the United States.
Electron Transport Under Magnetic Field in Insulating Hematite Composites with Spinel Ferrite
Authors: Masubuchi Yuji , Minoya Makoto , Takeda Takashi , Kikkawa Shinichi
Published: October 2010

The magnetoresistance (MR) of polycrystalline composites of ferromagnetic (FM) (M,Fe)3O4 (M=Mn, Co, Ni, and Zn) spinel ferrite and weak FM α‐Fe2O3 insulator with spin canting was investigated. Sample disks were prepared by conventional solid‐state sintering of α‐Fe2O3, with either Mn2O3, Co3O4, NiO, or ZnO in a mixing ratio of M/Fe=x/(3−x) at 1473 K for 10 h under Ar or air atmospheres. The largest MR ratios of 2.02% at room temperature and 11.7% at 77 K were observed under a magnetic field of 0.5 T for the (Mn,Fe)3O4/α‐Fe2O3 composite (x=0.25) sintered under air. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity showed a ln(ρ)∝T −1/2 relationship, which suggests tunneling electron conduction in the granular composite. The MR ratio changed with the magnetization of the (M,Fe)3O4 spinel ferrite, with a maximum at 2.02% where the (Mn,Fe)3O4 ferrite grains were separated with the α‐Fe2O3 barrier of several micrometer thickness. The MR may be attributed to spin polarization in the ferrite grains coupled with the α‐Fe2O3 insulating barrier, where its spins are slightly canting in strong anti‐FM interaction.