bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bibliometric practices and activities at the University of Vienna
Authors: Gumpenberger Christian , Wieland Martin , Gorraiz Juan
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe bibliometrics as an emergent field for academic libraries. There is a constant need to adapt to the ongoing changes and new demands of today's information environment, and the increasing importance of bibliometrics certainly presents a great opportunity for librarians to broaden their horizon.

Design/methodology/approach

The ideas outlined here are based on supporting information derived from literature and on practical experience gained at the Vienna University Library, Austria. A rationale is given why libraries should provide bibliometric services followed by a short overview of how the Bibliometrics Department in Vienna came into being. The focus of the paper is set on a detailed description of its practices and activities.

Findings

Bibliometrics is ideal for librarians to develop and provide innovative services for both academic and administrative university staff. In doing so they make sure to actively participate in the development of new strategies and in fostering innovation. Peer‐review is increasingly complemented by quantitative methods like bibliometrics, and librarians are predestined to fill this role and strengthen their on‐campus position. Furthermore bibliometrics is an emerging field in “Information Science”, thus librarians should make use of their experiences gained from bibliometric services provided or projects engaged in and disseminate their findings in the scientific community.

Practical implications

The case study of the Bibliometrics Department in Vienna can be useful for other academic libraries who wish to become more engaged in this field or even plan to implement according services.

Originality/value

This is an original paper, which has been presented at the QQML 2011 in Athens. It provides useful information on how an academic library can adopt bibliometrics as a core role.
Multiple part feeding – real‐world application for mobile manipulators
Authors: Hvilshøj Mads , Bøgh Simon , Skov Nielsen Oluf , Madsen Ole
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present experience from a real‐world demonstration of autonomous industrial mobile manipulation (AIMM) based on the mobile manipulator “Little Helper” performing multiple part feeding at the pump manufacturer Grundfos A/S.

Design/methodology/approach

The necessary AIMM technologies exist at a mature level – the reason that no mobile manipulators have yet been implemented in industrial environments, is that research in the right applications have not been carried out. The paper proposes a pragmatic approach consisting of: a commercial‐off‐the‐shelf (COTS) mobile manipulator system design (“Little Helper”), a suitable and comprehensive industrial application (multiple part feeding), and a general implementation concept for industrial environments (the “Bartender Concept”).

Findings

Results from the three days of real‐world demonstration show that “Little Helper” is capable of successfully servicing four part feeders in three production cells using command signals from an Open Process Control (OPC) server. Furthermore, the paper presents future research and development suggestions for AIMM, which contributes to near‐term industrial maturation and implementation.

Originality/value

The paper presents a full‐scale demonstration of a state‐of‐the‐art COTS autonomous mobile manipulator system with particular focus on industrial utilization and application.
Collaborative virtual maintenance training system of complex equipment based on immersive virtual reality environment
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Gao Qinhe , Zhang Zhili , Huang Xianxiang
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to provide an integrated system for collaborative maintenance training of complex equipment based on virtual maintenance and immersive virtual reality environment.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated platform for collaborative virtual maintenance operation and training of complex equipment is developed. The simulation supporting platform for collaborative virtual maintenance is designed with the combined hierarchical structure and modularized members to support the interactive communication of heterogeneous data and information. By analyzing the collaboration mode of multi operators, the maintenance task allocation model, maintenance operation model and Extensible Markup Language‐based object information template are presented.

Findings

The research finds that the proposed system is an efficient platform for collaborative maintenance training of complex equipment.

Practical implications

Appropriate and efficient maintenance task allocation and collaborative maintenance operation of multi operators can significantly improve the maintenance efficiency of complex equipment.

Originality/value

A collaborative virtual maintenance training system of complex equipment based on immersive virtual reality environment is presented.
Going global: an international survey of lending and borrowing across borders
Authors: Baich Tina , Weltin Heather
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide preliminary results of the 2011 survey on international interlending conducted by the ALA RUSA STARS International Interlibrary Loan Committee.

Design/methodology/approach

An international survey was deployed using SurveyMonkey, an online survey tool, and distributed through various electronic resource sharing discussion lists and personal contacts with international libraries.

Findings

The 2011 survey aimed toward international libraries revealed similar results to those of the Committee's 2007 survey of US libraries. Most international interlending participants both borrow and lend materials internationally. Further analysis will be done focusing on barriers to as well as identification of common practices in international interlending.

Originality/value

This research provides the most recent survey of international interlending practices and will yield potential methods and activities for improving resource sharing globally.
Social capital in Japanese‐Western alliances: understanding cultural effects
Authors: Slater Stephanie , Robson Matthew J.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain the culture‐driven role and effects of social capital in Japanese‐Western alliances. The authors move beyond narrow conceptualizations of relationship bonding (i.e. positive socio‐psychological aspects such as trust and commitment) to explore the broader role of social capital (e.g. in destructive act recovery processes) in such alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual paper adopts a theory development approach.

Findings

The authors advance a process model and propositions that explain the way social capital networks and processes influence relationship‐based contracting and performance outcomes in alliances with the Japanese.

Research limitations/implications

The study assists international marketers in their efforts to overcome cultural barriers to success in Japanese‐Western alliance relationships.

Practical implications

It can be argued that erosion of Japanese business culture potentially clouds the picture for implementing governance through social capital. The study furnishes managers with an understanding of how to take the cultural context of the partnership into account to build appropriate and productive social capital with Japanese partners.

Originality/value

The study is novel in addressing the issue of how to implement relational bonding mechanisms in complex cultural situations. As a result of cultural erosion, different types of Japanese partner, eroded versus traditional, may require different alliance screening and management strategies.
Public attitudes towards the UK banking industry following the global financial crisis
Authors: Bennett Roger , Kottasz Rita
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to establish the antecedents of changes in public attitudes towards the UK banking industry following the global financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire was administered to 1,066 people querying their attributions of blame for the crisis, attitudes towards the banking industry, levels of anger, knowledge of the crisis, degrees of moralistic trust, political orientations, prior perceptions of the banking industry's reputation, and whether they had personally suffered as a result of events. A structural equation model covering these matters was developed and estimated.

Findings

A substantial deterioration in the favourability of public attitudes towards the banking industry seems to have occurred following the crisis. However, certain groups of respondents were much less critical of the industry's role in the crisis than were others.

Research limitations/implications

The banking industry of just a single country was considered. Participants only commented on their attitudes towards the banking sector and not their actual banking behaviour.

Practical implications

Collectively, the banking industry needs to advertise the fact that failures on the part of public regulators played a critical role in the advent of the crisis. The industry should take joint action to influence the mass media's interpretations of the banking sector's current activities.

Originality/value

This was the first study to explore how members of the public interpret the post‐crisis identity and behaviour of the banking industry as a whole, rather than individual companies within it. The results contribute to knowledge concerning the determinants of attitude change vis‐à‐vis the banking sector and how customers might be segmented in terms of their perceptions.
Customer intention to adopt a fee‐based advisory model
Authors: Hoffmann Arvid O.I. , Franken Heiner , Broekhuizen Thijs L.J.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The paper aims to identify which factors determine (German) retail banking customers' intention to adopt a new remuneration system for financial advice. The new system is a pay‐per‐use advisory model that supersedes existing commission‐based advisory approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops and tests a comprehensive conceptual framework that includes perceived innovation characteristics, relationship quality, and socio‐demographic and psychographic variables to explain adoption intentions of the new remuneration system. The data come from a survey among clients of a large German retail bank.

Findings

Perceived innovation characteristics (i.e. relative advantage) largely determine the intention to adopt the fee‐based advisory model. Consumer and relationship quality variables do not directly impact adoption intentions, but have an indirect effect through influencing perceived innovation characteristics and moderating their relative importance. Relationship quality indicators, such as satisfaction with the current service and trust in the bank or its employees, do not impact customers' intentions to switch to the new remuneration system.

Research limitations/implications

The paper describes a (case) study using data from a large German retail bank. Future research may investigate the findings' (international) generalizability using different datasets and also assess additional drivers of customers' intentions to adopt a fee‐based advisory model.

Practical implications

The results suggest that banks should always explain the relative advantage of financial service innovations to their clients, as existing satisfaction and trust levels are not sufficient to ensure adoption.

Originality/value

This is the first paper examining the adoption of a new remuneration system for financial advice in the retail banking industry. By assessing a variety of variables the authors increase understanding of why customers adopt or reject such complex and difficult to evaluate service innovations.
Extent of corporate tax evasion when taxable earnings and accounting earnings coincide
Authors: Kourdoumpalou Stavroula , Karagiorgos Theofanis
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of corporate tax evasion and its implications on the protection of the shareholders and on the function of the capital market.

Design/methodology/approach

The extent of tax evasion of the Greek public companies is estimated on the basis of tax audit data. Unvariate tests are employed in order to assess the effect of the audit firm and to examine corporate tax behaviour.

Findings

The mean rate of tax evasion was estimated at about 16 per cent, showing that the incentive for tax evasion doesn't diminish when the companies are listed in the stock exchange. Specifically, the companies alter their tax behaviour (i.e. appear more tax compliant) only in the year of the IPO and the year before. It was also found out that the type of the audit firm is likely to affect the extent of tax evasion committed.

Practical implications

The present paper provides evidence that corporate tax evasion is widespread and calls for appropriate measures. Nowadays, this issue has become more crucial than ever, as Greece is in the middle of the financial crisis. Moreover, the findings regarding audit effectiveness in detecting tax evasion have significant implications, as the 2010 Greek tax bill grants the audit firms the right to issue certificates for tax purposes.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature of fraudulent financial reporting by focusing on one specific form of fraud, which has been widely neglected – tax evasion.
Environmental event materiality and decision making
Authors: Faux Jeffrey
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate environmental event materiality and user decision making, providing an empirical basis for reporting entities disclosures regarding material environmental events that further users' ability to make decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

A vignette describing an environmental event facing a company was provided to participants who were asked whether the event was deemed to be material and, second, whether the event would initiate an action or no action decision. The use of an experimental approach reveals results regarding the decision‐making process of users rather than relying on respondents stating preferences.

Findings

Results indicate that user groups consider the environmental event to be material at a threshold of 6 percent. The determination of the event as material results in a “no action” decision that suggests isolated events of this size may not result in “action” decisions. The study has implications for policy makers and entities disclosing environmental events.

Research limitations/implications

The experimental research approach adopted is primarily limited by the specific contextual nature of the event.

Originality/value

Entity reporting of environmental events is receiving unprecedented levels of interest and this paper contributes to the materiality research and practice in this area.
Organizations and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
Authors: José Chiappetta Jabbour Charbel , Saturnino Neto Angelo , Ricardo Souza Freitas Wesley , Alves Teixeira Adriano , Januario da Silva Erik
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The objective of this study is to verify whether some of the largest companies in Brazil adopt management practices aligned with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

Overview information obtained from the web sites of six Brazilian multinational companies listed in the Forbes Global 2000 ranking was analyzed.

Findings

The major findings of this study indicate that the companies studied did not demonstrate clear knowledge of the MDGs, nor did they adopt practices aiming at meeting those goals. The evidences show that the companies adopt corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices, which are indirectly related to four MDGs. It was observed that the CSR practices tend to be developed based on a contingency perspective according to the characteristics and impacts of products offered by those companies. Therefore, there is a window of opportunity for those companies to begin developing programs in order to meet the MDGs aiming at new business opportunities, innovative CSR practices, and new ways to make CSR information evident and more organized.

Originality/value

The originality of this research lies in the fact that there is a dearth of literature on MDGs and companies in development countries.
A grand theory of human nature and happiness
Authors: Aydin Necati
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a new theory of human nature to explain the happiness paradox of capitalism.

Design/methodology/approach

It is argued that happiness crisis in capitalism stems from the lack of full understanding of human nature which is like a black box from which key assumptions in capitalist market system are derived. The author attempts to unlock this black box in order to understand the failure of capitalism in bringing happiness.

Findings

As the success of capitalism comes from its partial understanding of human nature, its failure comes from its partial misunderstanding or exploitation of human nature. This leads to ignoring the needs and desires of certain elements of human nature for the sake of serving only the animal spirit and self‐centric ego. The proposed new theory offers a new understanding of happiness and its determinants. Comparing the human body to a luxury recreational vehicle (RV) and the elements of human nature to the companions on this vehicle, the theory suggests that an individual cannot be truly happy if he or she listens only to one of his/her residents while disregarding the others. The new theory offers better explanation for the 2008 financial crisis and the happiness paradox in wealthy nations. It also provides an underlining framework for the existing happiness theories.

Research limitations/implications

The new theory needs to be tested through empirical studies.

Social implications

The paper theoretically argues that that authentic happiness is possible if individuals listen to the voices of all elements of human nature and try to fulfil their needs and desires in a balanced manner.

Originality/value

The paper offers a new comprehensive theory on human nature.
The role of Islam in human capital development: a juristic analysis
Authors: Abdullah Faruk
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the human capital theory from an Islamic perspective. It studies the primary sources of Islam to discover its contribution towards human capital development.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts inductive and analytical method to interpret Islamic viewpoints towards human capital development. It studies the classical and modern sources of Islamic law and analyzes scholars' opinions.

Findings

In fact, human capital theory has a different understanding in Islam, due to its different objectives. However, it resembles the conventional theory in the way that it urges the development of human beings in education, skills and abilities. Islamic teachings contribute a lot to foster development among the individuals in every aspect of their lives. The way Islam gives incentive to development is unique; because, with the improvement of education, good skills, work and production, physical health and perfection, it is concerned about the moral and ethical development of employees, which is no doubt having a great effect in the development of the organization. Moreover, Islamic society plays an important role in nurturing enthusiastic and competent individuals.

Originality/value

It is expected that the paper would be of interest to Muslim authorities, as a means to motivate their employees, as well as to share ideas across the academic disciplines.
A quarter of a century: reflections of the first 25 years of the Journal of Services Marketing
Authors: Martin Charles L.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This “viewpoint” article aims to chronicle the history and evolution of the Journal of Services Marketing from 1987 through 2011, from the vantage point of Professor Charles L. Martin, who served on the journal's Editorial Advisory Board from 1987‐1990 and as Editor from 1990 to the present day.

Design/methodology/approach

The article summarizes the events and publisher's philosophy leading up to the founding of the journal, and discusses the policies/practices and content of the journal from 1987 through 2011.

Findings

The journal has evolved as the field of services marketing has evolved – from many conceptual, “how to” and idea articles to those more empirically‐based and theory‐driven. However, the journal's commitment to managerial implications or other implications continues.

Practical implications

Understanding the history and evolution of the journal promises to help service researchers better understand the field's archives, identify gaps in the literature and position their research for the future. The paper promises to help service researchers and business practitioners alike to understand that the field of services marketing is not static; rather it has evolved and developed over the years and will continue to do so in the future.

Originality/value

It is useful for any organization – including journals – to periodically document and reflect on its history in order to set its sights on the future.
The determinants of consumer attitude toward service innovation – the evidence of ETC system in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Bruce C.Y.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Innovation has attracted considerable interest in recent years in improving competitive advantage for both profit and nonprofit organizations. Service innovation offers the potential for substantially improving the performance, but performance gains are often obstructed by users' unwillingness to accept and use available systems. This research aims to use the concept of Reasoned Action Theory to further examine consumer attitudes toward service innovation and its antecedents.

Design/methodology/approach

By focus group discussion and literature review, a conceptual model with six postulated hypotheses is proposed. The Electronic Toll Collecting (ETC) system launched by the Taiwanese government is selected as the service innovation to test the model. A structured questionnaire is designed to collect field data. The structural equation model with LISREL VIII program is used to estimate the structural coefficients and to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that perceived ease of use, perceived price fairness, risk averseness and satisfaction with existing service significantly influence consumer attitude, and then influence consumer's intention to adopt service innovation.

Practical implications

Before introducing a service innovation, the service provider must seriously consider the possible difficulties of usage and risk from the consumer's perspective.

Originality/value

Compared with product innovation, research focusing on service innovation is relatively scarce. Services have specific characteristics of intangibility, inseparability, heterogeneity and perishability. Hence, the factors influencing the consumer adoption of service innovation may be different from those of product innovation.
On the effectiveness of consumer boycotts organized through the internet: the market model
Authors: Sergius Koku Paul
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of consumer boycotts, which have been launched by individuals using the internet, in inflicting economic harm on the targeted firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the event study technique to analyze the market's response to consumer boycotts launched by individuals using the internet.

Findings

The results show that consumer boycotts launched by individuals on the internet are ineffective in inflicting economic harm on the targeted firm.

Research limitations/implications

Despites the buzz about the “dark side” of marketing using the internet, the stock market does not react significantly to boycotts launched by individuals using the internet. However, the small sample size of 63 events tampers the temptation to generalize the findings. Future studies can be conducted with a larger sample size with a different time horizon for a deeper understanding.

Practical implications

In spite of the findings of this study, managers should still monitor how consumers use the internet to mobilize others against an organization as such consumer actions can affect a firm's reputation negatively.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the boycott literature and furthers the understanding on the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the internet as a boycott tool that is intended to inflict economic harm on the targeted firm.
Service loyalty: accounting for social capital
Authors: Jones Tim , Taylor Shirley F.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

To the extent that customer relationships with service providers provide value to service firms suggests that these relationships can be viewed as social capital. This paper seeks to use social capital as a theoretical framework to examine the effect of these relationships on customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using an online survey of 342 adult consumers of services.

Findings

Results of structural equation modeling analyses indicate that social capital variables explain unique variance in customer responses. The effect of each of the three forms of social capital – structural, cognitive, and relational – are contingent on whether the service is personal (e.g. hairstylist, medical services) or non‐personal (e.g. mechanic, banker).

Research limitations/implications

This research suggests that customer relationships can be viewed as social capital and that the form and content of such relationships are important in terms of influencing customer loyalty.

Practical implications

Managers can build “social capital” by focusing on its three forms – structural, cognitive, and relational social capital. The paper provides prescriptions for such relationship building activities. Such social capital translates into firm value/profits through customer loyalty.

Originality/value

This study uses a theoretical framework from research in social capital to help explain the value of customer relationships with individual service providers to the firm. The idea of social capital is compelling to service managers since it implies that investments in relationship building tactics have real results for firm profitability.
Institutional framework, key stakeholders and community preparedness for earthquake induced disaster management in Balochistan
Authors: Ainuddin Syed , Routray Jayant Kumar
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Balochistan is one of the earthquake disaster prone areas in Pakistan. Earthquakes adversely affect people and their economy, therefore disaster preparedness especially at the community level is imperative to avoid future damages. The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues associated with community preparedness in earthquake prone areas and recommend upgrading the community preparedness, and improving coordination between provincial and national agencies during disasters and seismic emergencies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on field visits. Observations, key informant interviews and group discussions were conducted to analyze the preparedness, both at community and organizational levels.

Findings

Disaster impacts are still handled by provincial level organizations in Balochistan. Disaster management authorities do not implement any activities related to preparedness at local levels, and focus more on reactive and top‐down approaches. On the other hand, community is vulnerable to multiple hazards associated with earthquakes. The study reveals that the available institutional framework does not meet community needs. Both the government institutes and communities are not well prepared, therefore communities get affected from time to time due to earthquake hazards in Balochistan.

Practical implications

Disaster management authorities should implement projects and activities at the local levels to empower communities for disaster preparedness and for disaster risk reduction.

Originality/value

The paper concludes that for efficient preparedness the coordination should be improved between the provincial and national level agencies and community preparedness needs to be enhanced for upgrading people's awareness and defensive mechanism for safeguarding their lives with reference to seismic emergencies.
Perceptions of pet owners in urban Latin America on protection of their animals during disasters
Authors: Hesterberg Uta W. , Huertas Gerardo , Appleby Michael C.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Inclusion of animals in emergency contingency planning is not yet common practice in many countries. The purpose of this paper is to assess the need for and viability of such inclusion in Latin America.

Design/methodology/approach

The study surveyed 1,882 pet owners in urban areas in Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico to evaluate perceptions of pet owners with regard to their animals in emergencies.

Findings

Overall 74.5 percent (confidence interval 72.5‐76.5) said they would take their animals if evacuated. Only 16 percent (14.5‐17.8) would leave their animals behind. Regular vaccination was carried out by 70.5 percent of owners (68.0‐72.5): from 63.6 percent (60.8‐66.2 percent) in Mexico to 87.5 percent (84.3‐90.0) in Colombia. People in lower socio‐economic levels were less likely to take animals to the vet, or to vaccinate or identify them, and more likely to leave their animal behind during evacuation.

Practical implications

Results indicate both the need and the likely success of an animal contingency planning process in urban areas of Latin America.

Originality/value

This is the first survey of its kind concerning disaster preparedness for pets in developing countries, and counters the common perception that in such countries owners are less attached to their pets and that inclusion of animals in emergency contingency planning is not important.
Securing disaster supply chains with cryptography enhanced RFID
Authors: Baldini Gianmarco , Oliveri Franco , Braun Michael , Seuschek Hermann , Hess Erwin
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Humanitarian logistics is an essential element of disaster management and it presents many challenges due to the unique disaster relief environment. The paper describes the main features and challenges of humanitarian logistics and the potential role of technology. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology has been increasingly considered to improve the efficiency of supply chain management. Security is an important requirement for disaster management. The purpose of this paper is to propose and describe the application of secure RFID technology to improve the management and security of relief supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes the challenges of disaster of supply chains and how secure RFID can address them in the overall framework of disaster management.

Findings

The paper describes the efficiency of the crypotgraphic algorithm used in the design of the secure RFID, the system architecture and the deployment workflow.

Practical implications

The establishment of a logistics tracking framework based on secure RFID has the potential to greatly increase the effectiveness of future emergency crises response operations.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is to present the application of secure RFID to the context of disaster management, where the security of supply chains is often not addressed.
Assessment of fire hazard in Pakistan
Authors: Masood Rafi Muhammad , Wasiuddin Syed , Hameed Siddiqui Salman
Published: February 2012

Purpose

There is an acute shortage of infrastructure to deal with fire hazard in big cities in Pakistan. Consequently, fire hazard poses a serious threat to economic and social activites in these cities. Unfortunately, the scale of this threat is not fully recognised in Pakistan despite the fact that recent fire incidences in different cities of Pakistan have resulted in considerable economic and life losses. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey which was conducted in one of the largest cities of Pakistan to determine the nature and level of this threat. A critical evaluation of available resources with the Fire Brigade Department (FBD) to deal with the fire hazard in the city confirmed a lack of infrastructure facilities and adequate training. A conceptual framework model for fire risk management is proposed to reduce the level of this threat.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a survey of fire exposed buildings in Karachi (one of the largest cities of Pakistan) and the analysis of available resources and infrastructure of FBD. A total of 13 sites were visited and interviews were conducted. Fire stations in the city were visited and an inventory of available resources was prepared. The data of fire incidents and human and economic losses were collected and analysed. Based on the findings, a conceptual framework model was suggested for fire risk management in the city.

Findings

The survey of the fire exposed structures indicated that negligence, violation of building codes, unawareness of safety measures, carelessness, and lack of training were the major causes of fire incidents. An acute shortage of facilities and infrastructure for fire fighting was noted. The recording mechanism of data related to fire incidents was found to be inadquate.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is a small but original contribution to identify a potential hazard which is faced by the businesses and community in the city. This is the first attempt (to the best of authors’ knowledge) to mitigate the effects of fire hazard.

Practical implications

The suggested model can be employed by the authorities as a guideline to mitigate fire hazard in the country.

Originality/value

The paper provides valuable information on the fire incidents and human and economic losses in Pakistan. The suggested model can become helpful in reducing fire hazard in Pakistan.
Significance of building heights for urban environmental safety
Authors: Woon Nam Chang
Published: February 2012

Purpose

A natural gas pipeline accident could prove to be a dangerous fire source in city centers. Taking the explosive danger caused by natural gas leakage as an example, the purpose of this paper, based on the box model, is to examine how such an environmental hazard can be hindered by the variation of building heights in the context of urban safety design and land‐use decision making.

Design/methodology/approach

The box model measures the concentration of pollutants within a defined box in which a mixture of pollutants with air and their transport by wind take place. A street surrounded by tall buildings in the city center is a good example for the application of such a model, and the building heights shape the box size and the mixing height. Under the consideration of atmospheric conditions this study identifies how the constellation of physical factors shaping the city‐street box and its change affect the elapsed time to reach the lower explosive limit (LEL) and the upper explosive limit (UEL) of natural gas.

Findings

Ceteris paribus higher building heights expand the time span between initial gas leakage and reaching LEL, in which appropriate safety measures should be taken before ignition, but more rapidly increases the elapsed time to reach UEL, making the time scope for potential explosive danger in the city center even larger.

Originality/value

In the past, the aspect of preventing explosive dangers caused by natural gas leakage has been largely ignored in the building height regulations related to urban safety design and city center development.
Is school participation good for children? Associations with health and wellbeing
Authors: de Róiste Aingeal , Kelly Colette , Molcho Michal , Gavin Aoife , Nic Gabhainn Saoirse
Published: February 2012

Purpose

There is increasing recognition of children's abilities to speak for themselves. School democracy, as demonstrated by genuine participation, has the potential to benefit both teachers and students; leading to better relationships and improved learning experiences. The aim of this study is to investigate whether participation in schools in Ireland is linked with perceived academic performance, liking school and positive health perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via self‐completion questionnaires from a stratified random sample of 10,334 students aged 10‐17 years in Irish schools. The questions included encouragement to express their views in class, participation in the organisation of school events; taking part in making school rules; liking school, perceived academic performance, self‐rated health, life satisfaction and self‐reported happiness. Associations between school participation and other measures were expressed by odds ratios from logistic regression models, conducted separately for girls and boys.

Findings

More than 63 per cent of participating students reported that they were encouraged to express their views in class, 58 per cent that they were involved in organising school events and 22 per cent that they had been involved in making school rules. All forms of participation were lower among older students. Participation in school was significantly associated with liking school and higher perceived academic performance, better self‐rated health, higher life satisfaction and greater reported happiness.

Research limitations/implications

These data are all cross‐sectional and relationships cannot imply causality.

Practical implications

These findings underscore the relevance of school participation for students in Ireland.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that, in general, positive relationships between school participation and health and wellbeing are demonstrated among Irish children.
Health literacy as a learning outcome in schools
Authors: Paakkari Leena , Paakkari Olli
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to define health literacy as a learning outcome in schools, and to describe the learning conditions that are relevant for targeting health literacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on theoretical and empirical educational literature, and also the experiences of the authors.

Findings

Health literacy is defined as consisting of five core components: theoretical knowledge, practical knowledge, critical thinking, self‐awareness, and citizenship. The first three components are rather similar to the commonly‐accepted health literacy concept, but the definition given in this paper expands the concept via two additional – but essential – components. It is emphasized that when one is aiming to develop students' internal capacity to construct their own meanings regarding health topics, these two additional components are called for. The paper argues that one of the main aims of health teaching in schools should be to foster students' ability to define their own beliefs, identity and social relations. Moreover, if it is desired that students should become responsible citizens, acting in an ethically responsible way, competencies such as ethical reflection skills should be developed in schools. The paper also highlights the fact that the development of certain health literacy components calls for particular kinds of learning conditions.

Originality/value

The paper identifies the core components of health literacy as a learning outcome and gives practical examples of means to achieve a particular target.
Moving from health education to health promotion
Authors: Ioannou Soula , Kouta Christiana , Charalambous Neofytos
Published: February 2012

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss the rationale of the newly reformed health education curriculum in Cyprus, which aspires to enable not only teachers, but also all the school personnel, to work from the perspective of health promotion. It is a curriculum which moves from the traditional approach of health education focusing on individual lifestyle/behaviour modification into approaches that recognise and tackle the determinants of health.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper critically discusses the structure and the content of the learning objectives of this curriculum that encourages teachers to work in a health promoting way.

Findings

The central goal of this curriculum is to enable students and schools to act as health agents, addressing the structural determinants of health and promoting environmental changes. The optimum level for all topics of the curriculum is achieved through learning objectives, which concern three interconnected levels. These are: “investigating determinants of health”, “practising action competency skills for health” and “achieving changes in favour of health”. All levels are means as well as end products in terms of the curriculum objectives.

Practical implications

The outcome of the development of the health education curriculum acts as a guide for school interventions, through a methodological framework, which encourages participants to identify and promote environmental changes that facilitate healthy choices. This is of significance to those working in the field of health promotion and who seek to establish a new language of health promotion that goes beyond the pervasive discourse of individual lifestyles.

Social implications

The implementation of the particular health education curriculum will promote not only health in the school community but also in the local community. This is because a key principle which underlies the curriculum is the involvement of the students, school staff, family and community in everyday health promotion practice. It also promotes the development of partnerships among them.

Originality/value

This is an innovative curriculum for Cyprus, based on health promotion and health education principles, but at the same time taking in account the local socio‐cultural and political perspective. This curriculum may be applicable to other European countries.
The impact of introducing a pre‐close on the New Zealand share market
Authors: Pinfold John F. , He Danyang
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the July 2007 introduction of a pre‐close call auction on the New Zealand stock market and its effect on share pricing quality and market manipulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Market quality was tested using the methodology of Pagano and Schwartz, which is based on changes in market model R2s. Closing price manipulation is detected by comparing mean bid‐ask spread characteristics of the periods before and after the introduction of the pre‐close call auction.

Findings

The closing call auction improves the quality of share pricing and reduces the incidence of market manipulation.

Practical implications

The paper confirms the effectiveness of the changes made to the method of closing the market for all firms in the market.

Originality/value

The paper extends knowledge of the effectiveness of closing call‐auctions. It is the first study in a low‐liquidity market and of shares with very low liquidities. Such markets have lower pricing quality and are more vulnerable to market manipulation. The study establishes the effectiveness of closing auctions in this environment.
The older the better!
Authors: Matthijs Bal P. , Smit Priscilla
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of emotion regulation and age in reactions to psychological contract breach towards positive and negative affect. The authors expected that in the context of contract breach, reappraisal emotion regulation mitigate the negative relation with affect. Moreover, based on lifespan theory, suppression emotion regulation was expected to be important for younger workers, because older workers have learned how to express themselves appropriately at the workplace. Consequently, suppression would mitigate the relations of contract breach with well‐being only among younger workers, while it strengthened the relation for older workers.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected among 163 employees working in various Dutch organizations. Moderated regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Reappraisal mitigated the relation of contract breach with positive affect, and suppression mitigated the relations of contract breach with positive affect only among younger workers, while for older workers with high suppression the relations were accentuated. It was also found that contract breach was more strongly related to negative affect for younger workers than for older workers.

Research limitations/implications

Reactions towards psychological contract breaches are influenced by the emotion regulation strategies people employ. Especially reappraisal is important to maintain optimal levels of affect, while suppression is detrimental especially for older workers.

Originality/value

This paper is the first study in which emotion regulation strategies are investigated in the context of psychological contract breaches. The paper presents novel insights into how reactions to contract breaches are modified through emotion regulation strategies and age.
Attitudes towards aging and older people's intentions to continue working: a Taiwanese study
Authors: Lu Luo
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The aim of this research is to examine attitudinal correlates of older adults' (aged 60 and above) intentions to continue working in older age.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured questionnaires combined with home interviews were used to collect data from a sample of community older people (n=289) in Taiwan.

Findings

The study found that positive attitudes towards aging held by older people themselves and perceived subjective norm were related to stronger intentions to continue working in older age, as predicted by the Theory of Reasoned Action, in addition, more positive daily personal experiences with non‐older people enhanced intentions to continue working in older age through fostering more positive attitudes towards aging, as predicted by the contact hypothesis. Finally effects of some known demographic correlates of aging and work were also demonstrated in the structural model, namely, age, sex, current employment status, and personal health were all associated with intentions to continue working in older age.

Originality/value

This is the first study in Taiwan testing hypotheses derived from well‐established social psychological theoretical models explaining links between attitudes and behavioral intentions of working in older age with a non‐Western (Chinese) sample. The results highlight the importance and urgency of more concerted research to inform public and organizational policies to facilitate continued employment and better management of careers of older adults in an aging developing society.