bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stair step geometry compliance with standard specifications for safety and usability: a study of selected university buildings in Ghana
Authors: Agyefi-Mensah Stephen , Kpamma Zoya Evans , Hagan Daniel Ebo 
Published: October 2020

PurposeCompliance with standard specifications in stairway design and construction, particularly the step geometry, is imperative for the safety and usability of stairs. The purpose of this study, was to assess the compliance of stair step geometry parameters with standard specifications in selected public buildings in Ghana. Specifically, the study investigated the prevalence of deviations in step geometry parameters from standard provisions; how significant these deviations are in comparison, and by theoretical association, the potential risk of accidents.Design/methodology/approachField measurement of the geometric parameters of a total of 1954 steps in 204 flights of stairs within 28 university buildings was undertaken using a calibrated Multi Digit Pro + digital spirit level and a tape measure following the Nose-to-Nose Method. The results were analyzed using in Microsoft Excel 2016 and Minitab 18 and interpreted based on mean values, one-samplet-test and percentages.FindingsAlthough some parameters generally complied with standard specifications, dimensional inconsistencies in risers and treads of adjacent steps were most prevalent, and significantly at margins far above standard specifications. The findings of the study show the unique limitation of the step geometry design requirements specified in the current Ghana National Building Code and the National Building Regulation, and by association, the potential risk of accidents and discomfort in the use of stairs in public buildings such as those on university campuses.Practical implicationsThe observed deviations in the dimensions of risers and treads point to a lack of strict compliance with standard specifications in the design and construction of stairs. Apart from engaging skilled artisans, and intensifying supervision in stair construction, development control authorities in Ghana need to strengthen inspection of stairs during construction to ensure and enforce compliance.Originality/valueFindings of the study provide insight into stairway design, as well as stair safety and usability in a developing world context, and allows for a more comprehensive study of stair-related accidents and discomfort associated with stairs in public buildings as a basis for the review of standards and codes in Ghana and other developing countries.
Classroom wall color: a multiple variance analysis on social stress and concentration in learning environments
Authors: Pourbagher Somayeh , Azemati Hamid Reza , Saleh Sedgh Pour Bahram 
Published: October 2020

PurposeSocial stress is a psychological and biological pressure that stems from one's relationship with others in social environments, which has become the most serious humanitarian issue today. Learning environments are one of the most important environments for reducing or increasing social stress and concentration. This study aims to investigate the effect of classroom wall color on students' stress and concentration in four common types of classrooms.Design/methodology/approachThis research is a survey of 275 university students with an age range of 20–24. The methodology is a combination of quantitative and qualitative research. Data analysis was performed by multiple variance analysis and the internal reliability of the questionnaire was calculated based on Cronbach's alpha.FindingsResults show that classroom wall color has a significant effect on student stress and concentration. In class type one, wall color had an effect of 10.4% on stress and concentration; in the second type, this variable had an effect of 8.8%, also in the third type it had an effect of 7.3% and 8.8% in the fourth type.Originality/valueIt can be concluded that wall color has an effective role in understanding the level of stress and concentration of users in the classrooms, and considering this factor in designing classrooms improves students' behavior and the quality of education in learning environments.
Does one project success measure fit all? An empirical investigation of Brazilian projects
Authors: Castro Marcela Souto , Bahli Bouchaib , Barcaui Andre , Figueiredo Ronnie 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to identify and accumulate knowledge on the existing developments on project success measures. The authors aim to contribute to this debate by providing both researchers and project management professionals with reliable contemporary project success criteria that permit generalization for a proper assessment regardless of the type and context of the project.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 264 Brazilian project managers from a range of industries, sectors of activities and business areas with different levels of experience. Data analysis was performed using the R software package.FindingsIn this research, the authors propose a general performance measure of project success where different projects can grade differently using the same scale. The data analysis validated five constructs of the developed model in the Brazilian setting.Originality/valueMost of the actual project success measures used in project management literature have been tested in a specific industry or sector. Combinations of the type of project, industry, sector, project nature, stakeholders and other variables make each project unique. Thus, any effort to find a context-specific tool of measure will be an endless endeavor. To fill this gap, more general project success criteria need to be explored to offer a common point of comparison between projects. This is the motivation of the present study.
Economic freedom, competition and bank stability in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Sarpong-Kumankoma Emmanuel , Abor Joshua Yindenaba , Aboagye Anthony Q. Q. , Amidu Mohammed 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the potential implications of economic freedom and competition for bank stability.Design/methodology/approachUsing system generalized method of moments and data from 139 banks across 11 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries during the period 2006–2012, this study considers whether the degree of economic freedom affects the relationship between competition and bank stability.FindingsThe results show evidence of the competition-fragility hypothesis in SSA banking, but suggests that beyond a setting threshold, increases in market power may also be damaging to bank stability. Financial freedom has a negative effect on bank stability, suggesting that banks operating in environments with greater financial freedom generally tend to be less stable or more risky. The authors also find evidence of a conditional effect of economic freedom on the competition–stability relationship, implying that bank failure is more likely to occur in countries with greater economic freedom, but with low competition in the banking sector.Practical implicationsThe results suggests to policy makers that a moderate level of competition and economic freedom may be the appropriate policy to ensure the stability of banks.Originality/valueThe study provides insight on the competition–bank stability relationship, by providing new empirical evidence on the effect of economic freedom, which has not been previously considered.
A new model to monitor very small effects of a polynomial profile
Authors: Atashgar Karim , Abbassi Leila 
Published: October 2020

PurposeDifferent real cases indicate that the quality of a process is better monitored by a functional relationship rather than the traditional statistical process control (SPC) methods. This approach is referred to as profile monitoring. A serious objective in profile monitoring is the sensitivity of a model to very small changes of the process. The rapid progress of the precision manufacturing also indicates the importance of identifying very small shift types of a process/product profile curve. This sensitivity allows one to identify the fault of a process sooner compared to the case of lack of the capability.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposed a new method to monitor very small shift types of a polynomial profile for phase II of the SPC. The proposed method was named as MGWMA-PF. The performance capability of the proposed approach was evaluated through several numerical examples. A real case study was also used to investigate the capability of the proposed model.FindingsThe results addressed that the proposed method was capable of detecting very small shift types effectively. The numerical report based on the average run length (ARL) term revealed the more sensitivity of the proposed model compared to other existing methods of the literature.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a new method to monitor very small shift types of a polynomial profile for phase II of the SPC. The proposed method provides detecting a very small change manifested itself to the process.
Can financial inclusion reduce the presence of corruption? Evidence from selected countries in Africa
Authors: Ajide Folorunsho M. 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of financial inclusion (FI) on control of corruption in selected African countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs secondary data spanning over a period of 2005–2016. These data are sourced from IMF's International Financial Statistics, World Bank Development Indicators, Global Financial Development Database, Transparency International and International Country Risk Guide. The author uses Sarma (2008) approach to construct the FI index for 13 countries in Africa. The author applies random effect, robust least square and instrumental variable (IV) estimations to examine the impact of FI on control of corruption in Africa.FindingsThe author finds that financial inclusion improves the control of corruption. The author tests for possible FI threshold to avoid the case of extreme FI in Africa. The results show that there is a threshold level if reached, FI would have negative impacts in the control of corruption. This may likely happen mainly due to weak institutions in Africa. The results are robust to alternative proxy for control of corruption and various alternative estimation techniques.Practical implicationsThe finding indicates that FI can serve as part of toolkits for reducing corruption in Africa.Originality/valueThis study stresses the important role of FI in the economic system. It is the first paper that empirically suggests the role of FI in controlling corruption in Africa.
Intra-crisis learning and prospective policy transfer in the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Powell Martin , King–Hill Sophie 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThis article brings together the literatures on policy learning and lesson drawing with the intra-crisis learning literature in order to assess “learning lessons” in the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachIt carries out a structured review of articles that seek to provide lessons for the pandemic. It examines these articles using interpretative content analysis to apply the criteria of prospective policy transfer to the material.FindingsApplication of the criteria of prospective policy transfer suggests that lesson drawing was fairly limited. It is often not fully clear why nations were selected. Many articles were brief and provided limited detail, meaning that there was little depth on issues such as problems and goals and on policy performance or policy success or failure. There was limited discussion of transferability of lessons, and few clear lessons could be drawn. Finally, the extent to which it was possible to learn lessons in a “non-routine” or “less routine” crisis, under conditions of threat, uncertainty and urgency was generally not discussed.Practical implicationsThe criteria within the framework of prospective policy transfer provide a template for policy makers to assess lessons.Originality/valueThis article indicates the problems of attempting to draw lessons from the past or from other nations to an unprecedented crisis, where decision-making is characterized by elements of threat, urgency and uncertainty.
Transitioning from child to adult mental health services: what role for social services? Insights from a European survey
Authors: Signorini Giulia , Davidovic Nikolina , Dieleman Gwen , Franic Tomislav , Madan Jason , Maras Athanasios , Mc Nicholas Fiona , O'Hara Lesley , Paul Moli , Purper-Ouakil Diane , Santosh Paramala , Schulze Ulrike , Singh Swaran Preet , Street Cathy , Tremmery Sabine , Tuomainen Helena , Verhulst Frank , Warwick Jane , Wolke Dieter , de Girolamo Giovanni 
Published: October 2020

Purpose
Young people transitioning from child to adult mental health services are frequently also known to social services, but the role of such services in this study and their interplay with mental healthcare system lacks evidence in the European panorama. This study aims to gather information on the characteristics and the involvement of social services supporting young people approaching transition.

Design/methodology/approach
A survey of 16 European Union countries was conducted. Country respondents, representing social services’ point of view, completed an ad hoc questionnaire. Information sought included details on social service availability and the characteristics of their interplay with mental health services.

Findings
Service availability ranges from a low of 3/100,000 social workers working with young people of transition age in Spain to a high 500/100,000 social workers in Poland, with heterogeneous involvement in youth health care. Community-based residential facilities and services for youth under custodial measures were the most commonly type of social service involved. In 80% of the surveyed countries, youth protection from abuse/neglect is overall regulated by national protocols or written agreements between mental health and social services, with the exception of Czech Republic and Greece, where poor or no protocols apply. Lack of connection between child and adult mental health services has been identified as the major obstacles to transition (93.8%), together with insufficient involvement of stakeholders throughout the process.

Research limitations/implications
Marked heterogeneity across countries may suggest weaknesses in youth mental health policy-making at the European level. Greater inclusion of relevant stakeholders is needed to inform the development and implementation of person-centered health-care models. Disconnection between child and adult mental health services is widely recognized in the social services arena as the major barrier faced by young service users in transition; this “outside” perspective provides further support for an urgent re-configuration of services and the need to address unaligned working practices and service cultures.

Originality/value
This is the first survey gathering information on social service provision at the time of mental health services transition at a European level; its findings may help to inform services to offer a better coordinated social health care for young people with mental health disorders.
The public sphere and Habermas: reflections on the current state of theory in public library research
Authors: Larsen Håkon 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThis article addresses a recent debate in this journal between Buschman and Widdersheim and Koizumi on public libraries and public sphere theory in library and information science (LIS). The article moves beyond the debate as the debate has been too focused on the theories of Jürgen Habermas. In order to really understand the democratic mission of public libraries and how it is related to the public sphere, the author argues that LIS scholars need to look beyond Habermas' theories of the public sphere.Design/methodology/approachThis is a theoretical article that discusses different theories of the public sphere, and how they have been and can be applied in library and information science.FindingsThe author finds that a main disagreement between Buschman and Widdersheim and Koizumi is whether one can use the concept of a public sphere without doing it in a “traditional” Habermasian way. The answers put forward in this article, is that we can and should look beyond Habermas' work when seeking to understand the role of public libraries as public spheres.Originality/valueThe article puts forward theories that are not commonly used in LIS, and advocates for broadening the theoretical scope of LIS scholars studying the relations between public libraries and public spheres.
How do Spanish unlisted family firms rebalance their capital structures?
Authors: Serrasqueiro Zélia , Matias Fernanda , Diéguez-Soto Julio 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThis paper seeks to analyze the family firm's capital structure decisions, focusing on the speed of adjustment (SOA) as well as on the effect of distance from the target capital structure on the SOA towards target short-term and long-term debt ratios in unlisted small and medium-sized family firms.Design/methodology/approachMethodologically, we use dynamic panel data estimators to estimate the effects of distance on the speeds of adjustment towards those targets. Data for the period 2006–2014 were collected for two research sub-samples: one sub-sample with 398 family firms; the other sub-sample contains 217 non-family firms.FindingsThe results show that the deviation from the target debt ratios impacts negatively on the speeds of adjustment towards target short-term and long-term debt ratios in unlisted family firms. These results suggest that family firms, deviating from target debt ratios, face deviation costs, i.e. insolvency costs, inferior to the adjustment costs, i.e. transaction costs. Therefore, family firms stay away from the target debt ratios for a long time than do non-family firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe research sample comprises a low number of family firms, therefore for future research we suggest increasing the size of the sample of family firms to get a deeper understanding of family firms' SOA towards capital structure. Additionally, we suggest the analysis of other potential determinants of the speed of adjustment towards target capital structure.Practical implicationsThe results obtained suggest that the distance from the target short-term and long-term debt ratios can be avoided if these firms do not depend almost exclusively on internal finance to adjust towards target capital structure. Moreover, for policymakers, we suggest the creation/promotion of alternative external finance sources, allowing reduced transaction costs that contribute to a faster adjustment of small family firms towards target capital structure.Originality/valueThe most previous research focusing on capital structure decisions have focused on listed family firms. To fill this gap, this study examines the speed of adjustment towards target debt ratios in the context of unlisted family firms. Moreover, transaction costs are a function of debt maturity, therefore this study examines separately the speeds of adjustment towards target short-term and long-term debt ratios. This paper shows that the adjustment costs (i.e. transaction costs) could hold back family firms from rebalancing its capital structure.
How do globalization indicators de jure–de facto and total factor productivity affect tourism development in European countries?
Authors: Tzeremes Panayiotis 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThis research analyzes, for the first time, the linkage among the gathered dataset of globalization indicators, the total factor productivity index and tourism development in a panel of 25 European countries during the 1995–2016 period.Design/methodology/approachThe Generalized Method of Moments estimator for panel Vector Autoregressive Regression model is implemented and as a robustness test, the panel Granger causality test is used.FindingsThe findings have divulged that globalization and total factor productivity increase tourism development. An increase in the economic globalization de factor indicator will cause an increase in tourism development in European countries. Moreover, an increase in the social globalization de jure indicator will lead to a higher level of tourism development in European countries.Practical implicationsPolicy-makers should use the complementary association between globalization and international tourism to promote productivity in European countries. These countries can also utilize the tourism sector as a tool to enhance the connectivity of their economies and societies with other parts of the world.Originality/valueWe use for the first time the globalization index as proposed by Gygli et al. (2019) in the tourism discipline. We evaluate the total factor productivity index instead of the economic growth applied by the majority of the researchers and we employ for the first time in the tourism field the GMM–PVAR framework.
The intellectual legacy of Jaroslav Vanek: how the twain met
Authors: Bonin John 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThis essay is a tribute to Jaroslav Vanek who spent 32 years at Cornell University where he founded the Program on Participation and Labor-Managed Systems (PPLMS) in 1970, which became the home for economic research on these issues in the US. It is a brief intellectual history of a multi-dimensional scholar.Design/methodology/approachVanek's seminal work in the American Economic Review in 1969 marked the culmination of a decade of work on labor management inspired by his brother Jan's work on Yugoslavia, considered then to be a worker-managed economic system. In two rapidly following tomes, Vanek laid out the landscape for the development of a new subfield in economics by providing precursors to many of the results to follow. In that previous decade, Vanek produced papers in traditional economic theory, e.g. international trade and economic growth.FindingsVanek's mindset persists in the interplay between the emerging theory of labor-managed firms and traditional economic literature that takes seriously the role of organizational form. This essay develops that cross-pollination and seeks to identify the remaining questions and issues for future work that the economics profession owes to Jaroslav Vanek.Originality/valueConnection of strands of literature in the economic theory with the literature on labor-managed firms and worker-managed economies tracing the evolution of the latter to the work of Jaroslav Vanek.