bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical modeling, theoretical analysis, and experimental test of via holes in microwave planar circuits
Authors: Tian Yu , Tong Ling
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the transmission and reflection characteristic of via holes in microwave planar circuits by the matrix‐penciled moment method (MP‐MOM) including physical modeling, theoretical analysis, and experimental test. Especially, the experimental test is given in detail including device under test design, fixture design, and de‐embedding method.

Design/methodology/approach

The MP‐MOM is used to analyze the transmission and reflection characteristic of via holes in a wide frequency band. An emulator is built on MATLAB program (M‐file) to explore the effects of various parameters of via holes.

Findings

The smaller thickness of the dielectric‐slab means the more conductive to transfer. The smaller radius of the via hole means the more conducive to transfer. The lower dielectric constant means the more conductive to transfer.

Research limitations/implications

Some boundary conditions such as perfect magnetic conduction (PMC) and perfect electric condition have not been studied, and only perfectly matched layer, which means the infinite plane is dealt with.

Practical implications

The transmission and reflection characteristic of via holes will contribute to the design in such fields: microwave planar circuits, multilayer printed circuit boards, radio frequency integrated circuits, monolithic microwave integrated circuits, etc. which can guarantee the maximum transmission and the minimum reflection or radiation.

Originality/value

This paper presents the transmission and reflection characteristic of via holes with different parameters by the MP‐MOM and the design of experimental test including de‐embedding method.
Innovative applications of multidisciplinary researches
Authors: Rudall B.H. , Mann C.J.H.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper aims to review current research and developments with particular reference to the next‐generation technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

A general review and survey of selected research and development topics is given, and considers some of the new challenges and applications of future technologies.

Findings

This paper illustrates the multi‐ and trans‐disciplinary natures of studies in cybernetics, systems and management science, with a view to further research and development activity.

Practical implications

The choice of reviews provides an awareness of current trends in these areas of endeavour.

Originality/value

The reviews are selected from a global database and give a studied assessment of current research and development initiatives.
Cyberspace wars
Authors: Andrew Alex M.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the influence of the Conficker virus on the internet and show it to be still very much a cause for concern.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim is to review developments on the internet, especially those of general cybernetic interest.

Findings

Although a deadline of first of April 2009 has passed without apparent disruption, the virus continues to be active and dangerous. An impressive amount of ingenuity and expertise has been invested in it.

Practical implications

Computer users must be vigilant and keep anti‐virus software updated. The Conficker worm appears to be organising a worldwide network whose consequences are difficult to predict but likely to be serious.

Originality/value

It is hoped this paper is a valuable periodic review.
Requisitely holistic ethics planning as pre‐condition for enterprise ethical behaviour
Authors: Belak Jernej , Duh Mojca , Mulej Matjaž , Štrukelj Tjaša
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Ethical behaviour of enterprises can be attained only by planning of ethics. The purpose of this paper is to show the need for the business ethics planning, to disclose the need for the requisitely holistic planning of enterprise ethics, and to offer the concept of the requisitely holistic planning of enterprise ethics.

Design/methodology/approach

The research cognitions on the importance of ethical core values, enterprise culture, ethical climate and informal as well as formal measures of business ethics are discussed and argued in application of the dialectical systems theory. The various research insights are used and applied in concluding concept of requisitely holistic planning of enterprise ethics.

Findings

For successful implementation of the ethics program or plan, it is important that the program is internalized by all enterprise's stakeholders. The paper shows that credibility and ethical behaviour of an enterprise can be achieved only through requisitely holistic planning of enterprise ethics.

Practical implications

This paper gives us the insights in the state of the importance and interconnection between ethical core values, culture and ethical climate as well as informal and formal measures of business ethics in relation to enterprise ethics implementation. The present research paper also has important practical implications since it shows the importance of the requisitely holistic planning of enterprise ethics in a sense of sustainable development of enterprises as well as enterprises' long‐term success.

Originality/value

The available literature does not provide for a similar research or concept of requisitely holistic planning of enterprise ethics. The paper also models the interconnection between core values, culture, climate and informal as well as formal measures of business ethics in order to understand the importance of enterprise ethics.
A new supplier performance evaluation model
Authors: Kang He‐Yau , Lee Amy H.I.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Most industries have become increasingly competitive nowadays, and a good supply chain relationship is essential for a company to survive and to acquire reasonable profit. Therefore, supplier selection is very important. The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel model for evaluating the performance of suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

A supplier performance evaluation model based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) is constructed. DEA is applied first to evaluate quantitative factors, and the results are transformed into pairwise comparison values for AHP analysis. Qualitative factors are also evaluated through AHP analysis, and a final ranking of suppliers can be obtained by combining the quantitative and qualitative results.

Findings

The proposed model can be applied to evaluate and select the most appropriate integrated circuit packaging company for outsourcing. With the incorporation of experts' opinions and the consideration of qualitative and quantitative factors, the model can provide a both subjective and objective supplier performance ranking.

Practical implications

The proposed model can be tailored and applied to supplier evaluation and selection in other industries.

Originality/value

Although many models are available for supplier evaluation, this paper considers both the subjective and objective performance characteristics simultaneously in the evaluation process.
Elements of a cybernetic epistemology: preprogrammed adaptive systems
Authors: Nechansky Helmut
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate different cybernetic structures of simple adaptive systems and their cognitive and behavioral options.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a functional approach, two basic forms of adaptive systems are constructed, which process data on one level respectively two hierarchical levels. Based on that complex combinations of such one‐level and hierarchical structures are investigated.

Findings

It is shown how different cybernetic structures enable simple forms of adaptive behavior. A basic blueprint for the controller structure of animal species is derived from them, with a simple “brain” and a unit for “motion control” as subsystems. Four paths of evolutionary growth are identified that allow a widely independent development of these subsystems.

Practical implications

The paper provides a typology of simple adaptive systems and discusses the forms of behavior they can develop with preprogrammed – i.e. evolutionary given or technically programmed – decision‐rules. It discusses the requirements that these decision‐rules can form models enabling adaptive behavior. It is suggested that these requirements hold for the models of more complex adaptive systems, too.

Originality/value

This paper is the first in a series of three on a cybernetic theory distinguishing systems able of preprogrammed adaptation, system‐specific adaptation, and learning.
On generative morphological diversity of elementary cellular automata
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew , Martinez Genaro J.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Studies in complexity of cellular automata do usually deal with measures taken on integral dynamics or statistical measures of space‐time configurations. No one has tried to analyze a generative power of cellular‐automaton machines. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap and develop a basis for future studies in generative complexity of large‐scale spatially extended systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Let all but one cell be in alike state in initial configuration of a one‐dimensional cellular automaton. A generative morphological diversity of the cellular automaton is a number of different three‐by‐three cell blocks occurred in the automaton's space‐time configuration.

Findings

The paper builds a hierarchy of generative diversity of one‐dimensional cellular automata with binary cell‐states and ternary neighborhoods, discusses necessary conditions for a cell‐state transition rule to be on top of the hierarchy, and studies stability of the hierarchy to initial conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The method developed will be used – in conjunction with other complexity measures – to built a complete complexity maps of one‐ and two‐dimensional cellular automata, and to select and breed local transition functions with highest degree of generative morphological complexity.

Originality/value

The hierarchy built presents the first ever approach to formally characterize generative potential of cellular automata.
Feedback‐linearization and fuzzy controllers for trajectory tracking of wheeled mobile robots
Authors: Keighobadi Jafar , Menhaj Mohammad B. , Kabganian Mansour
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on perfect trajectory tracking control of 2 DOF non‐holonomic mobile robots in which the guidance and control commands are imposed through independent driver wheels. Model‐based nonlinear controllers for these robots with unknown parameters require estimation of a specified set of the robot parameters. The effects of the proposed model dynamics in both local and global coordinate systems are fully examined on the parameter estimation and tracking performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Design of suitable feedback linearization (FL) controllers for trajectory tracking control of wheeled mobile robots (WMRs) is first reviewed. A FL controller whose parameters are tuned using fuzzy computations (fuzzy if‐then rules) is then developed. In the line of the other contributions of the paper, a pure fuzzy controller that is merely based on fuzzy if‐then rules is proposed to trajectory tracking control of the mobile robots.

Findings

Use of global dynamics for designing a suitable FL control system leads to a perfect compensation for initial off‐tracks. Furthermore, the estimated parameters are unbiased because the corresponding regressor/signal matrix indicates a high rank of persistent excitation. Fuzzy tuning of the controller instead of keeping the gains fixed makes the overall system more robust against measurement noises while upper bounds and fluctuations of the input torques are both remarkably reduced. The pure fuzzy controller is naturally independent of the robot dynamics and therefore, the necessity of parameter estimation algorithm is removed.

Originality/value

The paper provides some new nonlinear controllers for WMRs, in order to make perfect trajectory tracking and initial off‐tracks compensation.
Innovation approach to detect the faults in multidimensional dynamic systems
Authors: Hajiyev Chingiz , Okatan Ali
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design the fault detection algorithm for multidimensional dynamic systems using a new approach for checking the statistical characteristics of Kalman filter innovation sequence.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach is based on given statistics for the mathematical expectation of the spectral norm of the normalized innovation matrix of the Kalman filter.

Findings

The longitudinal dynamics of an aircraft as an example is considered, and detection of various sensor faults affecting the mean and variance of the innovation sequence is examined.

Research limitations/implications

A real‐time detection of sensor faults affecting the mean and variance of the innovation sequence, applied to the linearized aircraft longitudinal dynamics, is examined. The non‐linear longitudinal dynamics model of an aircraft is linearized. Faults affecting the covariances of the innovation sequence are not considered in the paper.

Originality/value

The proposed approach permits simultaneous real‐time checking of the expected value and the variance of the innovation sequence and does not need a priori information about statistical characteristics of this sequence in the failure case.
The systemic yoyo model: an introduction
Authors: Lin Yi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the necessary background information and literature in order to make this special issue self‐contained.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper comprises: an Introduction; Section 2 outlines the origin of the yoyo structure by presenting a brief historical account and the concept of whole evolution of systems; Section 3 introduces the literature on applications of the systemic yoyo model in areas of natural science, social science, epistemology, and practical disastrous weather forecasts; and Section 4 outlines what is contained in this special issue.

Findings

A personal account of aspects of a career in systems research and description of a personal ambition to introduce laws for social science and laws that make both natural and social sciences exact at the same time.

Originality/value

With regard to the systemic yoyo model, this paper presents an introduction to what has been accomplished by using this model and what will be presented in this special issue in order to provide all interested colleagues with an overall picture in terms of where the paper stands in the relevant research activities.
The fields and their structures around systemic yoyos
Authors: Lin Yi , He Xiaoya
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structure of the fields of the general systemic yoyo model and how these fields interact with each other.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative analysis and figurative reasoning, combined with calculus‐based methods, are employed to enrich the analysis of how spinning yoyos interact with each other. Known laboratory observations in relevant studies, such as those in electromagnetic theory, are employed as the basis of the investigation, while brand new understandings of these observations are derived.

Findings

Some well‐known facts of magnetism are shown to hold true with the general systemic yoyo model.

Originality/value

It is shown that general systems also satisfy such important properties of magnets and electricity as the following: like poles attract and opposite poles repel; field intensities can be superpositioned over each other; systems can potentially become yoyo dipoles when influenced by external systems; etc.
Potentials and potential energies of systemic yoyos
Authors: He Xiaoya , Lin Yi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the quantitative properties of systemic yoyos both with and without their internal structures.

Design/methodology/approach

This entire paper is based on the idea of the infinitesimals so that some of the well‐developed concepts and methods of calculus can be adequately employed to address some of the local properties of spinning yoyos.

Findings

The concepts of potential energies and yoyo potentials of both particle yoyos and general systemic yoyos are introduced and investigated.

Originality/value

This work is expected to pave the necessary ground for further deepened studies along the idea of rotational kinetic energies and rotational momentums.
The physical structure of atoms: a new model
Authors: Lin Yi , He Xiaoya
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish a systemic yoyo model‐based explanation for the internal structure of atoms, which is totally different of the conventional ones.

Design/methodology/approach

The spin fields of systemic yoyos are used to explain the interactions between electric and magnetic fields and between elementary particles.

Findings

The concepts of potential pits (traps) and ramparts for electrons and those of nuclear, atomic, and molecular bonds are introduced. These concepts are employed successfully to describe the topological structure of atoms.

Originality/value

Other than providing a brand new model for the internal structure of atoms, this paper establishes a deeper understanding of the general systemic yoyo mode.
Manifestation of eddy and meridian fields of systems
Authors: Lin Yi , He Xiaoya
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the general systemic yoyo model to illustrate why electric fields and magnetic fields can manifest each other and interact with each other.

Design/methodology/approach

The coordinated interaction of eddy and meridian fields of spinning yoyos is employed as our methodology for the investigation in this paper. At the end, the First Law on State of Motion is beautifully utilized.

Findings

Among many new theoretical discoveries, systemic yoyo models are provided to understand electric currents and the induced magnetic fields, which lead to a distinction between the yoyo structures of permanent magnets and those of the magnetic field induced by electric currents. It is theoretically shown why all fields in nature, such as electric, magnetic, universal, gravitational, and nuclear fields, have to exist in pairs of opposite polarities, even though one polarity might not be visible or recognizable with the current technology. Using the quark structures of spinning yoyos, an explanation is provided for why protons carry positive electric fields, while neutrons are electrically neutral.

Originality/value

One of the originalities of this paper is about its unified theory underlying many observed phenomena of electric and magnetic fields.
Ring‐shaped composite fields
Authors: Lin Yi , He Xiaoya
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reach two goals: one is to generalize the well‐studied theories of electricity and magnetism to the enrichment of deepened understanding of the general systemic yoyo model, and the other is to employ the established yoyo model to provide more refined explanations for some of the known experimental observations in physics.

Design/methodology/approach

The general structure and the field characteristics of the general systemic yoyo model are employed as the basis of our exploration in this paper. Then, methods of quantitative analysis are introduced to address some of the problems encountered.

Findings

Among several new results, many important concepts, such as ring‐shaped electric fields, cylinders of equal potential intensities, yoyo resistances, yoyo capacitors, etc. are introduced and studied in some detail. Several important Laws in electromagnetic theory, such as Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, etc. are generalized to the case of the general systemic yoyo model. The refined theory is applied to provide theoretical explanations for some laboratory‐observed phenomena that cannot be well illustrated by either Faraday's theory of electromagnetic induction or Lenz's law.

Originality/value

Phenomena related to electricity and magnetism are explained the first time in history by using a unified model: the systemic yoyo model. At the same time, some well established Laws in physics are generalized to scenarios of this general mode with the hope that these new Laws can be applied equally well to natural and social sciences in the coming years.
A new theory for modern electrical marbles
Authors: Lin Yi , He Xiaoya
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the new theory on the general systemic yoyos can be plausibly employed to provide novel explanations for some of the well‐known laboratory experiments of physics and how a different theory that is more refined than the currently accepted theories can be established for illustrating phenomena that have not been completely explainable by using the traditional theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The general field structures of systemic yoyos, combined with some of the well‐known laboratory observation of physics, are employed as the basic methodology for the current paper.

Findings

Owing to the co‐existence of magnetic fields and ring‐shaped negative electric fields, all possible ways for an electromagneton to be fired into a stable, uniform‐intensity magnetic field are investigated. How such an electromagneton could be traveling under the mutual influence of the fields is described with details.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies on the fact that it points out a brand new and practically applicable theory for looking at some of the well‐recorded phenomena of electromagnetism.
Motional meridian motive forces
Authors: He Xiaoya , Lin Yi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate yoyo potential difference and induction of electric yoyo flows by using the general systemic yoyo model and available quantitative tools.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical laws and well‐known laboratory experiments of physics are revisited in light of the spinning yoyo method and thinking logic. When appropriate, relevant quantitative methods are established.

Findings

By generalizing the concept of electromotive force, the paper introduces that of meridian motive forces (MMF). By considering two possible cases when electric yoyo flows can be induced within a return circuit, the paper uses specific examples to compute yoyo potential differences, the forces needed to pull a conductive wire in a magnetic yoyo field, and the total flux of magnetic yoyo field passing through a return circuit. When the paper tries to address the questions of how an electric yoyo current in a circuit is produced and what force could get around the resistance of metals to make electric yoyo charges move around inside return circuits, the paper successfully establishes a theoretical explanation for why Lenz's law about the direction of induced electric currents holds true. At the end, the paper develops a quantitative formula for practically calculating desired MMF.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first ever theoretical explanation for why Lenz's law could be true. It is expected that this explanation would be equally applicable in the study of social systems.
Quantitative properties of the general systemic yoyo model
Authors: He Xiaoya , Lin Yi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to establish quantitative properties for the general systemic yoyo model so that this model can be readily employed to study problems from various disciplines of knowledge, be they from natural science or social science.

Design/methodology/approach

Figurative analysis combined with calculus‐based methods is applied in this research, in order to achieve the goal that whatever is obtained theoretically, here can be practically used in various applications.

Findings

The paper introduces the concepts of gravitation, potential energy, and yoyo potentials for general spinning yoyos and look at the structure of yoyo fields with relevant quantitative representations developed for practical computation purposes. The paper shows how the spin field of a yoyo can be decomposed into eddy and meridian fields and why spinning yoyos have the tendency to line up in such a way that their axes of spin are parallel to each other and their like polarities face the same direction. When looking at yoyo flows and resistances, the Kirchhoff Junction and Loop Laws are generalized to the most general case of systemic yoyos. By considering the concept of yoyo fluxes, it is possible to rewrite the Gauss's law in the relevant most general language.

Originality/value

This work is the first of its kind to develop quantitative methods for studying various properties of systems on a unified footing: the general systemic yoyo model. As shown in this special issue, the results of this work have been and will continue to be applied to address many difficult problems that have been encountering scholars in the areas of modern science and humanities.
Picturing your community: Flickr use in public libraries
Authors: Forsyth Ellen , Perry Leanne
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Flickr is being used by an increasing number of public libraries for providing access to collections and services for their communities. Public libraries are also using Flickr to build community engagement. Local communities are participating in building collections on Flickr, adding context and their own stories to images. The purpose of this paper is to explore public library expectations and strategic objectives for using Flickr.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses Flickr statistics from public libraries around the world as well as qualitative survey feedback to analyse the impact of Flickr on public libraries.

Findings

The paper explores public library expectations and strategic objectives for using Flickr, what the libraries have observed about their presence on Flickr, how Flickr relates to the other social networking tools they are using, what is the tagging, commenting, favouriting activity like, and how the libraries have responded to the use of their images on Flickr.

Research limitations/implications

This information will enable public libraries to plan more effectively for their presence via Flickr and how to use it with other web 2.0 developments.

Originality/value

This paper usefully investigates the increased public library use and impact of Flickr that had not been evaluated in any depth.
Access to agricultural information and millennium development goals
Authors: Adewale Oduwole Adebambo , Nancy Okorie Chichi
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The millennium development goals (MDGs) emerged from the Millennium Declaration adopted by all Member States of the United Nations. The MDGs are international objectives on poverty reduction adopted by the world community in 2000. This paper examines provision of agricultural information to rural dwellers/farmers in meeting the MDG 1: eradicating poverty and hunger in the world.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is drawn from the authors' interaction /interviews with a group of farmers in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Findings

Methods of disseminating information to farmers identified include the use of electronic and print media, village square meetings, church and mosques as well as market places.

Practical implications

Study recommends the support of pro‐poor policies by the developed countries as this will allow people living in the developing world to break out of the poverty, hunger and malnutrition trap in which they find themselves.

Originality/value

Agricultural information required by farmers, among others, includes pest and disease control and management, services available from government/private organizations and information on high yielding varieties of crops and animals.
The Singapore Global Schoolhouse
Authors: Tee Ng Pak , Tan Charlene
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to analyse the Singapore government's recent attempt to make Singapore a “Global Schoolhouse” by transforming its tertiary education sector. It aims to examine the government's attempt to promote greater diversity and autonomy in the tertiary education landscape; it also aims to examine the government's systems of state funding and accountability for the tertiary education sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilises a policy analysis approach to examine the development of the “Global Schoolhouse” in Singapore. In particular, it examines a case study of the setting up and subsequent sudden pull‐out of the University of New South Wales Asia (UNSW Asia) to highlight the increasing challenge faced by the government in this undertaking.

Findings

Despite the government's promotion of greater diversity and autonomy in the tertiary education landscape, the government maintains centralised control through systems of accountability to, and funding from, the state. The case study of UNSW Asia shows that it is a paradoxical challenge for the government to engineer a tertiary education “market economy” with private foreign players while maintaining centralised control over the achievement of its strategic agenda within its stipulated time frame.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis of the Singapore “Global Schoolhouse” effort is limited to a general review of the higher education scene in Singapore and a case study.

Practical implications

The study of Singapore serves as a mirror to other developing countries in understanding the challenges in developing a “Global Schoolhouse” while trying to maintain centralised control.

Originality/value

This paper provides an analysis of the recent developments in the Singapore “Global Schoolhouse” effort.
Mathematics achievement in middle school level in Pakistan
Authors: Tayyaba Saadia
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The general objective of this paper is to investigate the mathematics achievement of middle grade students in Pakistan. Specifically: to determine whether mathematics achievement varies systematically across students and schools; to what extent the mathematics curriculum and frameworks are implemented in schools; to what extent gender and location account for differences in mathematics achievement (at item and test scores levels); to what extent student demographics, home background, and homework variables predict mathematics achievement; to what extent schools' physical and academic resources predict mathematics achievement; and to what extent student‐ and school‐level variables interact to predict achievement indirectly.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach was to undertake a quantitative survey of 14,440 students from 770 schools across the country. The analytic strategy included item‐level Rasch analysis, DIF analysis across gender and regional location, and MLM analysis to test various student‐ and school‐level models.

Findings

Rasch analysis indicated that students were able to pass low‐rigour items requiring simple mathematical skills. The DIF analysis indicated that items favouring female students in either content domain belonged to knowledge of concepts to recall basic facts, terminologies, numbers, and geometric properties. Items favouring male students in either domain belonged to the problem solving level. MLM analysis revealed that at the student level, gender, location, and some home background and homework variables contributed towards mathematics achievement. At the school level, availability of learning resources and better physical facilities were found to be associated with increase in achievement scores.

Research limitations/implications

Only a few major variables with policy and research implications were tested to keep the interpretations clear and simple. The next stage of this study could examine the more complex pattern of relationships and interactions among relationships for subgroups.

Practical implications

The study has implications for a review of the gender gap in school enrolment, the national curriculum for mathematics, homework policy, the role of regional languages as a medium of instruction in schools, the provision of school resources, and learning aids in schools.

Originality/value

The paper shows that the estimated models were successful in explaining the variation in average achievement in terms of proportion of variance explained and significance of estimates of the effects.
Issues of e‐learning standards and identity management for mobility and collaboration in higher education
Authors: Alves Paulo , Uhomoibhi James
Published: March 2010

Purpose

This paper seeks to investigate and report on the status of identity management systems and e‐learning standards across Europe for promoting mobility, collaboration and the sharing of contents and services in higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The present research work examines existing e‐learning standards and the tools and processes applied to managing the identity of learners registered for programmes of study in higher education. The paper draws on recent developments and argues that the creation of identity management federations is mandatory to provide the mobility of users and to permit the exchange of contents and services between institutions.

Findings

It is revealed that it is crucial to create identity management federation to provide for ease of mobility and facilitate collaboration and sharing information amongst staff and students in higher education.

Research limitations/implications

The challenges arising from language, culture and differences in systems for the regions require consideration. Future work intends to incorporate some of these issues, to examine and report on them from the diverse perspectives, taking into account, the impact of globalisation.

Originality/value

This paper presents the main features of e‐learning standards and how they can be used in conjunction with identity management systems to create collaborative learning objects repositories to promote a more effective learning experience and a more competitive European space for higher education, with respect to the requirements of knowledge‐based societies.
The impact of sponsorship announcements on shareholder wealth in Australia
Authors: Johnston Margaret A.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of 51 sponsorship announcements upon the stock prices of firms sponsoring in Australia. The research examines the broader question of whether sponsorship has the potential to transcend cultural boundaries and contribute to financial performance in regional markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on the event study technique which is applied to the estimation of excess returns that arise in response to announcements of corporate sponsorship made by leading industrial stocks trading on the Australian Stock Exchange. Regressions examine whether the cost and duration of sponsorship signal information of importance to investors regarding the financial prospects of sponsoring firms.

Findings

A small, fleeting positive increase in wealth effects is observed indicating that economically, sponsorship expenditure in Australia is more or less value neutral. While investors appear indifferent to sponsorship cost, they value short‐term sponsorships of less than two years in particular.

Research limitations/implications

Future research needs to examine the role of associated variables such as contract size and length, and the type and level of sponsorship investment.

Originality/value

For firms, the study indicates that sponsorship in smaller regional markets should be valued by investors especially when firms keep the duration of the sponsorship as short. As stock prices tend to rise briefly following sponsorship announcements, marketers should leverage sponsorships immediately to gain the attention of investors. For a regional market, short and sharp sponsorships appear to be the optimal approach.
Alcohol consumption motivations and behaviours in Hong Kong
Authors: Pettigrew Simone , Charters Steve
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the way Hong Kong drinkers have internalised the meanings associated with alcoholic beverages and how these meanings influence the motivation to drink. Also of interest was how symbolic meanings and motivations are similar or different to those in Western nations and the implications for the marketing of alcohol products.

Design/methodology/approach

An ethnographic approach comprising participant observations and interviews is used to generate data relating to alcohol consumption. Observations are conducted at 11 venues including pubs, clubs, restaurants, and a convention centre. More than 40 h of observations yield data pertaining to public drinking while the interview data also provides insight into the nature of private drinking in Hong Kong.

Findings

Alcohol consumption in Hong Kong may be primarily a function of the need to convey desired images to specific and generalised others. The finding that product symbolism dominates taste considerations supports previous research relating to beer consumption but varies somewhat from identified motivations for wine consumption in developed markets.

Practical implications

Alcohol marketers may benefit from adapting their products to suit the specific taste preferences of Chinese consumers, although care would need to be taken to ensure the symbolic value of the beverage is not diminished in the process. A focus on the situational context and moderate consumption in promotional messages may increase perceived salience.

Originality/value

Little previous research on alcohol consumption motivations has been conducted in Hong Kong. The findings provide insight into likely characteristics of the future alcohol market in mainland China.
Engineering support issues for flexibility in maintenance
Authors: Garg Amik , Deshmukh S.G.
Published: March 2010

Purpose – Flexible system management has brought a concept of flexibility in all spheres including maintenance management. Considerable literature is available on various facets of flexibility management, namely, production, supply chain, day‐to‐day activities, etc.; however, not much literature on flexibility in maintenance is reported. The purpose of this paper is to bridge this gap highlighting various issues involved in flexibility on maintenance. Design/methodology/approach – A situation‐actors‐process (SAP)‐learning‐action‐performance (LAP) model has been applied to understand and analyze the concept of flexibility in maintenance. The paper analyses a case study of ABC, a Government maintenance organization for repair of automobiles in India, to discuss the various issues arising out of maintenance flexibility. Findings – Various issues concerning flexibility in maintenance are: business or corporate philosophy, systems and processes, inventory, manpower, performance measurements and information systems. Research limitations/implications – The concept of flexibility in maintenance has been demonstrated using only two facets of maintenance, i.e. manpower and the repair scope in the case study. Practical implications – The SAP‐LAP model presents the concept of flexibility in maintenance adequately. The concept can be implemented while planning the maintenance in any organization for various issues like inventory stock levels, manpower, repair scope, etc. The technicians may be trained on more than one specialty so that they can easily re‐muster into other streams in case of flexible maintenance environment. Originality/value – This is an original approach to apply the concept of flexibility in the area of maintenance management. The issues affecting maintenance flexibility are identified and future researchers may find these gaps interesting.
Developing countries in the ITO and GATT negotiations
Authors: Scott James
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The literature examining the participation of developing countries in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and International Trade Organisation (ITO) negotiations generally sees their attitudes towards these projects as having been driven exclusively by a commitment to import substitution. This commitment, it is argued, led developing countries to oppose many aspects of the GATT/ITO project, particularly the requirement for reciprocal tariff cuts. The purpose of this paper is to focus on examining the critical period around the ultimately doomed negotiation of the Charter for an ITO and the process of creating the GATT.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws from GATT documents and from the literature on economic history to give a more comprehensive account of the motivating ideas underpinning developing countries attitudes to the post‐war negotiations.

Findings

This paper argues that this view misconstrues and caricatures the ideas and motivations underpinning developing countries' attitudes towards the GATT and ITO. Though import substitution and the related objective of industrialisation each played a part in shaping developing countries' attitudes, they are only aspects of a more complex set of aims and ideas. Developing countries were drawing from a range of key experiences and ideas beyond simply import substitution in forming their attitude towards the GATT/ITO project, in particular the volatility in commodity markets that preceded the negotiations, the legacy of colonialism and the lessons provided by the ninetieth and twentieth centuries on trade policy. Finally, this paper argues that the first round of GATT negotiations shows that developing countries were substantially less opposed to reciprocal tariff concessions than has previously been argued.

Originality/value

These findings are important for anyone who wants to understand the evolution of the GATT and the role developing countries played in it, and the difficulties between the rich and poor nations that continue to characterise negotiations in the World Trade Organisation.
International trade law and trade theory
Authors: Warburton Christopher E.S.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the potential for tariff reduction under the most favored‐nation (MFN) provision of international trade law as it is written, lex lata.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes differences in average tariff rates applied to imports under the MFN provision of international trade law. Two empirical methods are used; an analysis of variance to estimate significant differences in tariff rates between high‐income members and least‐developed members of the World Trade Organization (WTO); and fixed‐effects regression model to determine the effect of national output on the marginal propensity to import (MPM).

Findings

The paper finds that there is a significant difference in the margins of import tariffs that are applied to imports by the high income and the least‐developed members and that the MPM is significantly dependent on output for the high‐income members, but not for the least‐developed members.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that international trade law must be developed with the aim of increasing national earnings capacity and not just creating enabling conditions for tariff reduction or the harmonization of municipal law with international trade law. When circumstances change in a fundamental way (rebus sic stantibus), WTO members must be measured in their approach to attain the law that is sought (lex ferenda).

Originality/value

The paper argues that multilateral trade arrangements for tariff reduction and fair trade must integrate enabling conditions with arrangements for earnings capacity to increase national income and reduce tariffs.
Distance is a friction to Pacific Island countries' trade with the USA
Authors: Gani Azmat
Published: March 2010

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if distance is a friction to Pacific Island countries (PICs) trade with the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A gravity model is used to estimate trade flows using time‐series cross‐country data for period 1981‐2005.

Findings

The empirical findings utilizing panel data estimation procedures here provide confirmation that distance imposes significant regressive effect on PICs exports to the USA.

Originality/value

This paper expresses the view that distance can impose regressive effects on PICs commodity exports to the USA.
Why are there local shortfalls in anaesthesia consultant staffing?
Authors: Pandit J.J. , Tavare A.N. , Millard P.
Published: March 2010

Purpose

Anecdotally, many hospitals experience shortfalls in anaesthetic consultant staffing. This paper aims to investigate whether these subjective experiences are confirmed objectively.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper hypothesises that a simple model that estimated service delivery capability using consultant entitlements to annual and other types of leave would not (null hypothesis) accurately predict the magnitude of any shortfall that existed. It also hypothesises that excessive leave‐taking was an important cause of any shortfall. A comparison is made between the model predictions for total leave taken and service delivery with results from a real data set from a large university teaching hospital's department of anaesthetics.

Findings

The model prediction for leave (median total 45 days absence in a year per consultant, range (30‐59)) closely matched the reality (median 41 days (tenth‐ninetieth deciles 30‐69)). Consequently, both model predictions and the real data for annual elective service delivery agreed: median 228 sessions (193‐266) vs 232 (183‐266) per consultant respectively. Taking into account likely service delivery by trainees (2,304‐4,140 elective sessions in total annually) the predicted shortfall of 2,220 sessions was very close to the true elective service shortfall of 2,148 sessions for the department as a whole over the year.

Practical implications

Rejecting the null hypothesis, it is concluded that a simple model that estimates elective service delivery using leave entitlements as the main factor can accurately predict actual service capability for a department. There is no evidence that excessive leave‐taking occurs.

Originality/value

The paper computes an estimate that 2.2‐2.6 consultants per functional operating theatre are necessary to ensure that staffing matches the elective workload.