bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Balanced Scorecards in education: focusing on financial strategies
Authors: Schobel Kurt , Scholey Cam
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of the Balanced Scorecard in a higher education distance learning environment, and to highlight the importance of financial strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a review of the existing literature, case studies and management best practices, the authors use their university as an example to develop a second‐generation Balanced Scorecard including a strategy map and scorecard.

Findings

Higher education organizations with well‐defined financial strategies that are linked to educational outcomes will be well positioned for success even as their funding models change.

Research limitations/implications

The scorecard was created for a publicly funded university and thus some features may be less relevant to privately funded universities.

Practical implications

This paper demonstrates a working, second‐generation Balanced Scorecard and provides practitioners with a proven example of a strategy map and its resultant scorecard. In addition, considerations for the development of a scorecard in higher education are provided as well as working financial strategies for a university.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates the use of a BSC within a higher education distance learning environment and highlights the importance of financial strategies for higher education at a time when most universities are focused on performance metrics associated with learning.
Measuring parameters of lean manufacturing realization
Authors: Chauhan Gulshan , Singh T.P.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

Manufacturing organizations are under pressure to improve productivity and reduce costs through the realization of lean manufacturing. This paper approaches lean manufacturing and aims to identify and measure the intimately associated parameters of lean manufacturing and also examines the weight of their contribution to overall lean manufacturing.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey study was performed in Indian manufacturing industries to collect data. The reliability of the survey instrument was pre‐tested and an acceptable value of Cronbach's α (a reliability coefficient) was found. Three experts determined the relative weight of various parameters using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Pearson's coefficient of correlation analysis was used to measure the strength of the relationships between various parameters of lean manufacturing.

Findings

The experts found “elimination of waste” to be the most important parameter of lean manufacturing, followed by “just in time deliveries”. The survey shows that most of the responding firms are in transition towards the realization of lean manufacturing. These firms believe that the factors that drive the realization of lean manufacturing are “just in time deliveries” and achieving “continuous improvement”. This study also revealed that Indian manufacturing industries are still overlooking the elimination of waste, the most important parameter of lean manufacturing.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of this paper is the sample size (n=52).

Practical implications

The present study provides guidelines to assess the status of leanness in the manufacturing industries. According to conclusions, feeble areas in the manufacturing system can be identified and a suitable course of action might be planned for the improvement. Hopefully this study will help the firm's management to identify the problems to implement an effective lean manufacturing.

Originality/value

In this work, the theoretical perspective was used not only to update the original instrument, but also to study the subject from a perspective beyond that usually associated with lean manufacturing.
Evolving benchmarking practices: a review for research perspectives
Authors: Hong Paul , Hong Soon W. , Jungbae Roh James , Park Kihyun
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review a major section of the literature on benchmarking practices in order to achieve better perspectives for emerging benchmarking research streams.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines the benchmarking literature and presents a framework that suggests evolving patterns of firms' benchmarking practices. This paper examines the studies published in Benchmarking: An International Journal and other articles related to benchmarking practices in major Strategic Management, OM/SCM, and Technology Management journals from 2001 to 2010.

Findings

Benchmarking remains an important strategic tool of business in turbulent times. Five research dimensions for benchmarking are discussed in terms of the following: strategy‐based benchmarking; operational effectiveness‐based benchmarking; technical efficiency‐based benchmarking; and micro‐macro integrative benchmarking. For sustainable competitive advantage, benchmarking goes beyond the operational level and moves into a wide range of value chain, strategic, operational, and project levels.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the benchmarking literature by identifying key areas of benchmarking. It reflects a qualitative orientation, but future research may achieve a more systematic and quantitative analysis of the benchmarking literature.

Originality/value

This review paper is unique in that it examines the benchmarking literature and summarizes the results in order to gain a proper understanding of benchmarking and provide perspectives for future research.
Dealing with informational asymmetries under the proposed CESL and CISG
Authors: Twigg‐Flesner Christian
Published: August 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the way in which informational asymmetries between the two parties to a contract for the sale of goods are dealt with under two legal regimes designed for transnational sales contracts: the UN Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and the proposed Common European Sales Law (CESL).

Design/methodology/approach

Having considered the different types of informational asymmetry that can exist in a contract of sale, the paper undertakes a doctrinal legal analysis of the relevant provisions first in the CESL and then the CISG to identify what, if anything, has been done to deal with informational asymmetries. The paper primarily exposes and analyses these rules and compares the approaches taken under both legal regimes.

Findings

The CESL has a more detailed set of rules which address informational asymmetries. This might be because the genesis and context of the CESL (being limited to the EU) might make it easier to agree on more extensive rules. However, the CESL has not yet been adopted.

Practical implications

A seller in a contract of sale governed by CESL will be subject to more detailed (and onerous) requirements when it comes to the disclosure of information.

Originality/value

This is a first attempt to compare the treatment of informational asymmetries under the CISG and CESL, and will be of interest to scholars of both transnational and EU private law.
Change of circumstances: CISG, CESL and a case from Scotland
Authors: MacQueen Hector L.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a critical analysis of the concept of “change of circumstances” as a justification for judicial revision of contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyses international legal texts on the subject in the light of a decision of the Inner House of the Court of Session in Scotland,Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotlandv.Lloyds Banking Group plc[2011] CSIH 87 (currently subject to appeal to the UK Supreme Court).

Findings

Whatever the merits of a change of circumstances doctrine, theLloydscase does not provide a good example for its application.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of a change of circumstances doctrine should be tested by further comparative study.

Originality/value

This is the first consideration of theLloydscase in an international and comparative context.
Strategic engagement and alignment of corporate talent
Authors: Wilson Clive
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share a methodology for strategic engagement and alignment of corporate talent.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is gleaned from 25 years' practical experience in the design and delivery of interventions to leverage leadership and team dynamics to support corporations with the development of progressive strategies for talent management.

Findings

Managers and staff are motivated to add significant value to their organizations when they are provided with the opportunity to co‐create their future and work out how to align their talents to its delivery.

Research limitations/implications

This work is based on practical assignments with clients over a 25‐year period.

Practical implications

Organizations have identified significant bottom‐line benefit from the actions delivered by managers through these techniques.

Social implications

Social benefits lie in two areas. First, when people are provided opportunity to engage with the delivery of their futures this provides opportunity for more democratic and socially acceptable outcomes. Second, these methods have been used by change agents and social entrepreneurs, including the United Nations and British Council.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge these methods are not used elsewhere. Experiential engagement with future vision and the alignment of talent in this way is novel, efficient and value‐adding.
An approach to analyze logistic outsourcing problem in medium‐scale organization by CFPR and VIKOR
Authors: Kumar Raman , Singh Harwinder , Dureja J.S.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make out a complete solution to logistic outsourcing problem in a medium‐scale organization by using consistent fuzzy preference relation (CFPR) and vlsekriterijumska optimizacija i kompromisno resenje (VIKOR) method.

Design/methodology/approach

The initial approach to this research was to develop a comprehensive framework for logistic outsourcing problem and selection of most appropriate third party logistic (3PL) provider.

Findings

It has been found that the organization should outsource logistic activities. The alternatives (3PL providers) have also been ranked and the fifth 3PL provider has been termed as best third party logistic provider.

Research limitations/implications

The parameters selected for this study and developed framework are applicable only to a medium‐scale organization manufacturing automobile parts in northern India.

Originality/value

This is probably the first time that an attempt has been made to apply the two‐phase methodology approach, using CFPR and VIKOR, to analyze a multi‐criteria logistic outsourcing problem. A case is provided which demonstrates how to solve logistic outsourcing, a multi‐criteria decision‐making problem.
Selection of logistic service provider using fuzzy PROMETHEE for a cement industry
Authors: Gupta Rajesh , Sachdeva Anish , Bhardwaj Arvind
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a method to select the best alternative in a multi‐criteria decision making (MCDM) environment when the decision is taken by a group of members in an uncertain environment.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, Fuzzy Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (Fuzzy PROMETHEE) technique has been used for MCDM problems. The team of decision makers is constituted to integrate their opinion. The analysis is done using Geometrical Analysis for Interactive Aid (GAIA) plane, available in Decision Lab 2000 software, which provides valuable help in understanding the conflicts among criteria.

Findings

The selection of best alternative is done on the basis of generally conflicting criteria. Fuzzy PROMETHEE technique has been proposed and the same is demonstrated using Decision Lab 2000 software. This software can be used for as many criteria as possible and also in a fuzzy environment, where the crisp data for criteria comparison are not available. It is found that the analysis of the results becomes very easy and effective with this software. A case study is conducted for a cement company to select the logistic service providers (LSPs) to demonstrate its ease and effectiveness of use.

Originality/value

The research provides a model to choose the best alternative using Decision Lab 2000 software for Fuzzy PROMETHEE technique. The proposed methodology can be used in a fuzzy environment with ease and effectiveness. In the competitive scenario, this could help the industry in prompt and efficient decision making in MCDM problems.
Determining the parameters of MSG algorithm for multi period layout problem
Authors: Ulutas Berna , Saraç Tugba
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The facility layout problem aims to assign machines/departments to locations and modeled as a quadratic assignment problem (QAP). Multi period facility layout is a special case of this problem where the sum of material handling and re‐layout costs are minimized. Since the problem is proved to be NP‐hard, several exact and heuristic methods are proposed in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to solve the multi period layout problem by using the modified sub‐gradient (MSG) algorithm for the first time and to determine its parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

The MSG algorithm can solve a large‐scale of optimization problems that also includes multi period facility layout. Since the performance of the algorithm depends on parameters, a design of experiment is made to determine the appropriate parameter values.

Findings

The proposed method evaluates the parameters of the MSG algorithm and most suitable general algebraic modeling solvers. It is observed that the parameter α value and solver type have main effects for small and large size test problems. Further, the results stated that solver type has more influence on large size test problem.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited with the determination of the MSG algorithm parameters and solver types on the well known small and large size test problems. Further studies may include other test problem results obtained from the presented MSG algorithm parameters and compare them with best known results in the literature.

Originality/value

The paper determines the parameters of the MSG algorithm that is used to solve the multi period layout problem, for the first time in the literature.
Factorial analysis of lifting task to determine the effect of different parameters and interactions
Authors: Singh Sarbjeet , Kumar Sunand
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of main parameters and their interactions on the workers' Lifting Index in a steel rolling mill.

Design/methodology/approach

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting equation has been used to evaluate the risk of lifting tasks with respect to low back injury under varying load (10, 15, 20 kg), frequency (2, 3, 4 lifts/min), and twisting angle (0, 30, 45 degree).

Findings

The level of importance of the parameters on lifting index at origin and destination has been determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA).The analysis draws on lifting parameters and uses both main effects and interactions to describe the variation in Lifting Index and to identify the social influence associated with back injury. The interactions between object weight and twisting angle and object weight and lifting frequency turn out to be significant (p<0.05), whereas the interaction between twisting angle and lifting frequency is less significant (p=0.061).

Research limitations/implications

The study includes a specific location (steel rolling mills located in Jammu region of India) only.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that focus should be made on all lifting parameters, rather than sole emphasis on the load to be lifted.

Originality/value

The paper supports the view that load, twisting angle and lifting frequency greatly influence the physical stressfulness of the task. It is suggested that the workplace should be designed for negligible twisting and moderate lifting frequency, so as to have minimum Lifting Index.
Family members' roles in healthy‐eating socialization based on a healthy‐eating intervention
Authors: Pedersen Susanne , Grønhøj Alice , Bech‐Larsen Tino
Published: August 2012

Purpose

Healthy‐eating socialization is often described as a bi‐directional process, but there are only few studies on children and parent's roles in the process. This paper aims to investigate children and parents' accounts of awareness and involvement in healthy eating and how they relate it to their roles in healthy‐eating socialization.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 38 families three months after a healthy‐eating intervention involving dietary advice and SMS feedback. The interviews were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.

Findings

Children and parents identified several causes of awareness and involvement in healthy eating: new or re‐activated health knowledge, visualization of amounts, self‐regulation and planning. Children adopted two strategies in terms of family socialization: a direct strategy placing demands on parents or a cooperative strategy helping the parents. Parents initiated dialogues with family members about healthy eating and felt responsible as role models often honouring the children's demands and help.

Research limitations/implications

Findings provide a concrete empirical account of the socialization process and confirm that parents still have the superior hand, when it comes to healthy eating, but with children as active players. The authors suggest future studies to explore the development of influence and awareness of healthy eating among children and the extent to which children wish to engage in healthy‐eating socialization.

Originality/value

The study supplements previous research by including children's immediate family as a unit of analysis. By taking an intra‐familiar systemic approach to studying family socialization, future studies can take into account the family support (or lack hereof), when designing interventions and evaluating the outcomes.
Pester power: it's all in “the game”
Authors: Nash Cathriona , Basini Serge
Published: August 2012

Purpose

This study sets out to capture the consumer perspective regarding the purchase request relationship between parent and child.

Design/methodology/approach

This interpretive study enhances an understanding of these purchase request experiences as they are lived by respondents. The story of both parents, along with children, is thus considered paramount. Using a series of depth‐interviews and focus groups with parents and children, a key theme emerged through the interpretive process. “The game” permeates their experiences of this request relationship and is virtually unreported until now.

Findings

Contrary to extant research, this study positions the contemporary parent‐child purchase relationship as a positive experience where an understanding of “the game” permeates this natural familial interaction. Furthermore, a tacit understanding and awareness of the intricacies associated with “the game”, including each other's roles, tactics, outcomes, feelings and perspectives regarding “the game”, are considered playful and entertaining by all respondents.

Originality/value

First, adopting a consumer‐centric approach as the focus of this research instead of the much reported “vested interest” perspective added a new breadth and dimension to an understanding of the parent‐child purchase request relationship not previously captured. Second, the departure from extant positivistic research, to an interpretive approach proved very beneficial in uncovering “the game”: a novel departure from previous pester power research.
Six P's of youth social media from a young consumer's perspective
Authors: Wang Hongjun
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide marketing professionals and researchers with an overview and understanding of core components that make up the current social media environment from a young consumer's perspective to enable successful communication, outreach and engagement techniques to be developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper combines personal and peer experiences, observations of user interaction and behavior on social media with the application of existing frameworks and campaigns to derive a complete picture of the social media environment.

Findings

The paper will provide insights into how social value creation can help companies large or small in creating positive social media presence while providing insights into the six P's of social media (person, profile, perception, peer, post, and pull) and their significance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based primarily on a user and observer perspective with the intention of providing a succinct structural overview to aid future research and exploration. Empirical research should be conducted to verify and challenge assumptions made.

Practical implications

The insights provided can be used to design better social media engagement campaigns and explore future directions of research into developing measurement metrics for interactions and relationships between users and brands.

Social implications

The creation of social value will be encouraged and better policies and support can be developed to address abuses of social media.

Originality/value

This paper is an original attempt to contextualize the new socially connected environment that we live in and combines insights from within with existing business frameworks to develop a potentially groundbreaking foundation framework on which future research and development by skilled researchers and practitioners can be based.
Chinese managers' cognition of corporate social responsibility: an empirical investigation
Authors: Wang Qian , Dou Junsheng
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is viewed in the Chinese situation. The paper views CSR as an endogenous motivation for corporate social behaviour. The intended contributions of this paper are twofold. On the one hand, the authors intend to collect first‐hand data to understand the current status of Chinese managers' cognitions of CSR. On the other hand the paper intends to analyse the differences which exist in managers' cognitions on CSR among different kinds of firms in a Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

A random survey was conducted among 157 businessmen using the force‐choice questionnaire, based on the four‐part construct proposed by Carroll. The confirmatory factor analysis was utilized to test the construct validity of Carroll's conceptual model with the data sample drawn from Chinese situation. Then correlation, six pairwise t‐tests and MANOVA test were conducted for the purpose of this study.

Findings

Chinese managers' cognition of CSR is found to be consistent with the four‐component construct. A relatively strong preference toward economic component has been examined. The results present a significant negative correlation between economic cognition and all three of its non‐economic counterparts. No significant cognitive differences have been verified between firms with different characteristics.

Research limitations/implications

This paper initially examined the cognition of Chinese managers toward CSR. Chinese managers are viewed as having an important role in decision making on social issues. However, how to promote the managers' cognition of CSR is needed for future research which will also examine the internal driving mechanism of CSR.

Originality/value

There has not been a great deal of empirical research done in the field of social responsibility in China. This study is a starting point for those who seek to understand the economic and sociological aspects of mainland Chinese business.
An application of a foresight‐based new product planning model
Authors: Yuan Benjamin J.C. , Yi Liu Chun , Chuan Ho Shun , Kao Hector K.M. , Chang Shen Po
Published: August 2012

Purpose

Under such circumstances, how to assign the highest priority for future products which will create the greatest value will be the key success factor for a product planning model. The purpose of this study is to construct an improved planning model for new products based on the theoretical structures of technology roadmaps and patent analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes the perspective of a product planning strategy, using technology roadmap developed by Institute of Manufacturing Technology of the University of Cambridge, combining with scenario planning and patent analysis. The main body of the proposed model is the technology roadmap of the product. Through patent analysis, the technology roadmap was integrated into the hierarchical execution of product planning to improve the disadvantages of the original technology roadmap and thereby clarify the content of the implemented procedure. With the planning of digital home products in a large household appliance manufacturer in China as a case study, the feasibility of the proposed model was verified.

Findings

The improved planning model for new products comprised five planning phases: market scenario planning, product feature analysis, technological development analysis, patent combination analysis, and resource allocation. A matrix corresponding to product planning was established. The case study is to find out the developing trends in next‐generation product features in six different scenarios of digital home for M, a home appliance manufacturer. There are five steps of the product planning model. The product planning model provides enterprises with integrated information from market demand, technology as well as patents. At the same time, it is easy to maintain and reproduce. The authors expect the model to make a contribution to practical product planning.

Originality/value

This model should become an essential prediction tool for enterprises developing new products and can assist in decision‐making and strategic implementation.
International expansion and firm performance in emerging market: evidence from China
Authors: Wu Dong , Wu Xiao‐bo , Zhou Hao‐jun
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between international expansion and firm performance in an emerging market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper firstly explores the relationship between internationalization and firm performance, then investigates the roles of diversification, and examines how diversification moderates the relationship between internationalization and firm performance. For this purpose, panel data on 318 Chinese listed manufacturing firms during the period 1999‐2008 were utilized. Three groups of samples of high, medium and low levels of diversified manufacturing firms were obtained. Statistical techniques of fixed‐effects panel data model yielded an interesting pattern of findings. On the basis of these results, the paper then discusses the implications for the international expansion of Chinese firms.

Findings

At high and low levels of internationalization, internationalization is negatively associated with firm performance, but at medium levels of internationalization, greater internationalization is accompanied by higher performance. Product diversification negatively moderates the relationship between internationalization and performance. As product diversification increases, the relationship between internationalization and performance changes from a horizontal S‐curve in firms with low levels of diversification to a U‐curve in moderately diversified firms and eventually to an equilibrium level in highly diversified firms. The initial stage of the horizontal S‐curve of internationalization and performance declines markedly in Chinese manufacturing firms as a whole, therefore it is by no means easy for Chinese firms to undertake internationalization.

Research limitations/implications

These findings do suggest that managers need to take a long‐term view of internationalization and make a commitment to internationalization.

Originality/value

This is the first paper of its kind to empirically validate the relationship between internationalization, firm performance and diversification in China. It is intended to make a contribution to theoretical research on international business in an emerging market.
Challenging envy in organizations: multicultural approaches and possibilities
Authors: Canen Alberto G. , Canen Ana
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The paper's aim is to discuss envy as an institutional force that can sap peoples' energy and provoke inner conflicts that may prevent institutional flourishing. This represents a crucial element in the so‐called hidden curriculum of any institution, including higher education ones. The paper also intends to further the analysis of envy, its effects and ways to diminish them in the context of academic and non‐academic organizations, from a multicultural perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper's approach is a literature review and a qualitative methodology of story lives in the form of narratives of main actors in high echelons of institutions in Brazil that deal with key areas in higher education institutions (HEI). It discusses how envy has been perceived in their institutional contexts and what possible models of multicultural leaders could emerge from those narratives.

Findings

Counteracting forces in relation to the effects of envy in organizational climate could be noted, particularly highlighting the role of multiculturally sensitive leaders in dealing with it.

Practical implications

The role of leaders in enhancing organizational and collective goals and promoting the valuing of plural institutional actors was particularly stressed as a possible path towards minimizing envy at the work place. The role of the curriculum in HEI and even of citizenship education in primary and secondary schooling is highlighted to better equip students to address ethical and multicultural dimensions in their future professional lives.

Originality/value

Productivity and capacity for innovation – issues increasingly addressed in institutional evaluation – should be likely boosted in environments where leaders competently deal proactively in a way that prevents envy to become a destructive force. The paper shows that HEIs have a high potential for contribution, by preparing future professionals in broader, multicultural perspectives that better equip them to become leaders for a better world.
Proposed implementation strategies for energy sustainability on a Malaysian university campus
Authors: Sheau Ting Low , Hakim Bin Mohammed Abdul , Wai Choong Weng
Published: August 2012

Purpose

This study seeks to propose the implementation strategies for energy sustainability on a Malaysian university campus.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes five proposed implementation strategies for Malaysian Universities to contribute to a sustainable energy future and to realise a sustainable university, namely: gaining top management commitment, raising energy awareness, providing energy education, developing energy conservation behaviour and developing a sustainable campus implementation blueprint.

Findings

Over the years, numerous global energy issues have been identified, which include fluctuation of world energy prices, uncertainty of future energy supplies and environmental degradation. All these problems are threatening global movement towards a sustainable energy future. Immediate action should be taken by everyone in order to secure a sustainable energy future for the next generation. Malaysian universities, which are composed of hundreds of building blocks equipped with massive facilities, present enormous opportunities to contribute to a sustainable energy future, through reduction of their overall energy consumption.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed implementation strategies are set in the Malaysian context. These strategies detail the crucial aspect towards an energy efficient campus especially in Malaysian universities. It is recommended in future studies to benchmark other countries in this research.

Originality/value –

The study provides an overview of the important strategies for energy sustainability on a Malaysian university campus.
Price transmission market power and industry technology: a note
Authors: Weldegebriel Habtu T. , Wang Xiuqing , Rayner Anthony J.
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model of price transmission from the farm to the retail sector, allowing not only for an interaction between oligopoly power, oligopsony power and non‐constant returns to scale in industry technology, but also allowing for the market power conduct parameters to vary in response to an industry‐wide exogenous shock. Also, the degree of price transmission under imperfect competition relative to that under perfect competition is evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

Conjectural variations are used to parameterize both seller and buyer market power conduct of the industry and then the equilibrium displacement approach is applied to solve a system of six structural equations which describe the demand for and supply of industry retail output and farm and marketing inputs.

Findings

First, it is found that given empirical values of retail output demand elasticity, of farm and marketing inputs supply elasticities, of market power conducts, and of the returns to scale measure, the degree of price transmission under imperfect competition is greater than that under perfect competition. Second, it is found that the relative degree of price transmission under imperfect competition could be greater or smaller under the assumption of a varying market power conduct than one under the alternative assumption of a constant market power conduct, depending on whether market conduct is falling or rising, respectively.

Originality/value

The paper makes two original contributions to the literature. First, it allows for an interaction between oligopoly power, oligopsony power and industry technology. Second, it allows both oligopoly and oligopsony power parameters to vary in response to industry‐wide exogenous shocks.
Is China entering a high food price era?
Authors: Alexander Nuetah J. , Xiao Yitian , Guo Pei
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide readers with the main findings and conclusions of papers presented at the 2011 CAER‐IFPRI International Conference held under the theme “Is China entering a high food price era?”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a desk review of papers presented at the conference and provide a brief summary of the analytical tools, and main findings and conclusions of each presentation.

Findings

These reviews show that, while there seems to be an increase in the prices of agricultural commodities on the Chinese market, in real terms, these rises fall far below the increases in the prices of industrial commodities. Thus, expert views remain divided on whether China is entering an era of high food price.

Originality/value

The discussions initiated by the conference theme aroused researchers' curiosities for further studies into understanding the current level of food prices in China.
Students' perception of quality for a business program delivered in Canada and China
Authors: Hohner Margaret , Tsigaris Panagiotis
Published: August 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the beliefs of undergraduate business students studying in Canada and partners in China about the quality of the program; what they consider effective signals of quality; and their willingness to pay to improve the quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was designed and distributed to 481 students in the transnational program during the 2009 and 2011 academic years. Statistical tests were conducted to examine mean differences in the perception of quality, different signals of quality and willingness to pay to improve quality.

Findings

The findings of the study indicate that Canadian University and Chinese partner students, mostly in their final years of study, have similar beliefs about the quality of the program. They consider the program as good quality but not top rated. Chinese partners' students in their earlier years of study have a lower perception of quality but this gets better as they progress through the program. Students perceive high quality reputation and professional accreditation as equally important in terms of signalling quality. Finally, many students are willing to pay more to improve the quality of the program.

Research limitations/implications

Some limitations of the study include convenience sample selection and size, translation of survey, the framing of the survey questions and controlling for factors such as grade point average, gender and other factors.

Practical implications

The paper provides important information to monitor quality and to place a value on pursuing accreditation and tuition fee increases.

Originality/value

Students' perception of quality has remained under‐examined in the literature. The research establishes a framework which can lead to future explorations.
Lesson study in Indonesia: an Indonesia University of Education experience
Authors: Suratno Tatang
Published: August 2012

Purpose

Since its introduction in early 2000s, lesson study has been viewed as a promising and powerful approach to professional development and school improvement in Indonesia. The purpose of this article is to discuss the historical development and unique perspective of lesson study at Indonesia University of Education.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a systematic review of the related literature to analyse practitioners and official point of views regarding adaptability and sustainability of the lesson study effort, the author portrays the progress and challenge faced by practitioners of lesson study in Indonesia. The author also points out its “existence proof” through the “story of adaptation” in order to describe the “steady change and improvement” and the “local proof route” in practice.

Findings

The review shows consecutive changes that started from reforming student learning, teachers’ learning and empowering the learning community, though reaching the core of instructional improvement is indeed challenging.

Originality/value

In this paper there are two substantial lessons learned, i.e. teaching practice and reflective practice are explicated to underlie the proposed framework of substantive aspects of lesson study. Key factors are also highlighted to develop further a valuable and sustained teacher education and development in Indonesia.
Effects of tryptophan depletion on reactive aggression and aggressive decision‐making in young people with ADHD
Authors: Kötting W. F. , Bubenzer S. , Helmbold K. , Eisert A. , Gaber T. J. , Zepf F. D.
Published: August 2012

Kötting WF, Bubenzer S, Helmbold K, Eisert A, Gaber TJ, Zepf FD. Effects of tryptophan depletion on reactive aggression and aggressive decision‐making in young people with ADHD.

Objective:  The neurotransmitter serotonin (5‐HT) has been linked to the underlying biological processes related to aggressive behaviour. However, only a few studies on this subject involving young people have been published so far.

Method:  We aimed to investigate the effects of acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) on reactive aggression and decision‐time for aggressive responses in a sample of young people with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (n = 20), a population at risk for aggressive behaviour. The study design was a double‐blind within‐subject crossover design. Aggression was assessed using a Point subtraction aggression game (PSAG) with high (HP) and low provocation (LP) trials 2.5 h after the intake of ATD and a tryptophan‐balanced control condition.

Results:  A chi‐square comparison was used to identify the effect of ATD on increased aggression after LP. Boys were more likely to respond with an increased aggressive response after HP under ATD as represented by an increased relative risk and odds ratios. Girls had a higher relative risk than boys of an increased point subtraction under ATD after LP. No significant gender differences in decision‐time were detected.

Conclusion:  An effect of ATD on increased aggression was found in the whole sample after LP. Research involving larger samples is needed to confirm the present preliminary findings.
MicroRNA signature in various cell types of mouse spermatogenesis: Evidence for stage‐specifically expressed miRNA‐221, ‐203 and ‐34b‐5p mediated spermatogenesis regulation
Authors: Smorag Lukasz , Zheng Ying , Nolte Jessica , Zechner Ulrich , Engel Wolfgang , Pantakani Dasaradha Venkata Krishna
Published: August 2012

Background information

Recently, it became apparent that microRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally. Despite the advances in identifying the testis‐expressed miRNAs and their role in spermatogenesis, only few data are available showing the spatiotemporal expression of miRNAs during this process.

Results

To understand how different miRNAs can regulate germ cells differentiation, we generated a transgenic mouse model and purified pure populations of premeiotic (PrM) cells and primary spermatocytes (meiotic cells). We also established spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) culture using relatively simple and robust culture conditions. Comparison of global miRNA expression in these germ cell populations revealed 17 SSC‐, 11 PrM‐ and 13 meiotic‐specific miRNAs. We identified nine miRNAs as specific for both SSC and PrM cells and another nine miRNAs as specific for PrM and meiotic cells. Additionally, 45 miRNAs were identified as commonly expressed in all three cell types. Several of PrM‐ and meiotic‐specific miRNAs were identified as exclusively/preferentially expressed in testis. We were able to identify the relevant target genes for many of these miRNAs. The luciferase reporter assays with SSC (miR‐221)‐, PrM (miR‐203)‐ and meiotic (miR‐34b‐5p)‐specific miRNAs and 3′‐untranslated region constructs of their targets, c‐Kit, Rbm44 and Cdk6, respectively, showed an approximately 30%–40% decrease in reporter activity. Moreover, we observed a reduced expression of endogenous proteins, c‐Kit and Cdk6, when the testis‐derived cell lines, GC‐1 and GC‐4, were transfected with miRNA mimics for miR‐221 and miR‐34b‐5p, respectively.

Conclusions

Taken together, we established the miRNA signature of SSC, PrM and meiotic cells and show evidence for their functional relevance during the process of spermatogenesis by target prediction and validation. Through our observations, we propose a working model in which the stage‐specific miRNAs such as miR‐221, ‐203 and ‐34b‐5p coordinate the regulation of spermatogenesis.
Prediagnostic smoking and postoperative survival in lymph node‐negative esophagus squamous cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Lin Yongbin , Su Xiaodong , Su Hongyu , Lin Peng , Long Hao , Zhang Lanjun , Fu Jianhua , Rong Tiehua , Tan Zihui , Meng Yuqi , Ma Guowei
Published: August 2012

Smoking is well known as a risk factor for esophageal cancer, but controversial as a prognostic factor. Moreover, evidence is scarce that a dose–response relationship exists. We conducted a retrospective study on the effect and dose–response relationship of prediagnostic smoking on the postoperative disease‐specific survival of patients with lymph node‐negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We enrolled 643 patients with lymph node‐negative ESCC who had undergone esophagectomy between 1990 and 2005 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. The patients' demographic, pathological, preoperative and cancer outcome data were obtained from medical records. These data were reviewed and analyzed using life table, Kaplan–Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression. A significant reduction in 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates was observed in smokers with lymph node‐negative ESCC compared with those in non‐smokers. The 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 54% and 46% for smokers, and 67% and 64% for non‐drinkers, respectively (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that smoking was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.008, hazard ratio = 1.404). Both log‐rank test (P = 0.065) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.091) showed no significant difference between the survival rates of light and heavy smokers. Prediagnostic smoking is an independent prognostic factor for patients with lymph node‐negative ESCC, but the dose–response relationship needs further investigation.
In Silico Modeling of the Molecular Structure and Binding of Leukotriene A4 into Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase
Authors: Paz Paula B. , Vega‐Hissi Esteban G. , Estrada Mario R. , Garro Martinez Juan C.
Published: August 2012

A combined molecular docking and molecular structure in silico analysis on the substrate and product of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) was performed. The molecular structures of the substrate leukotriene A4 (LTA4) and product leukotirene B4 (LTB4) were studied through density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31 + G(d) level of theory in both gas and condensed phases. The whole LTB4 molecule was divided into three fragments (hydrophobic tail, triene motif, and a polar acidic group) that were subjected to a full conformational study employing the most stable conformations of them to build conformers of the complete molecule and geometry optimize further. LTA4 conformers’ structures were modeled from the LTB4 minimum energy conformers. Both protonated and deprotonated species of LTA4 and LTB4 were analyzed according to pKa values found in the literature. Finally, a binding model of LTA4 with LTA4 hydrolase is proposed according to docking results that show intermolecular interactions that position the protonated and deprotonated ligand in the active site, in excellent agreement with the model suggested from LTA4H‐inhibitors crystallographic data.