bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prerna: engendering empowerment through girl education
Authors: Jain Shipra , Singh Smita 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
Quality education can be provided to underprivileged section in developing economies by the collaborative effort of private-paid schools. The purpose of this paper is to explore and highlight the model which can be adopted by a private school in imparting education to girls coming from lower income strata. It also highlights how synergies could be attained by sharing of resources in terms of infrastructure and utilities.

Design/methodology/approach
Data are gathered through multiple sources via literature and interviews with variety of people including CEO, principal and students. Data on profile of students were provided by the school.

Findings
Achieving quality education for girls of low-income strata is possible by efficiently utilizing the resources of a private-paid school. The school operates in second shift when the infrastructure is lying idle without any use. The mammoth cost of building a school can be saved and funds can be diverted for running it. Successful experiments like Prerna shows very distinctively how well-defined intervention strategies and innovation to methodologies using existing infrastructure can provide meaningful access to education not only to girls but to all.

Research limitations/implications
Can the model be adopted by government of developing economies by making it compulsory for every private-paid school.

Practical implications
Findings confirm that quality education to underprivileged girls is a reality at a minimum possible cost.

Social implications
A learned and well-informed girl is in a better position to take life decisions. In a country like India, where cost act as a deterrent to girl child education this model provides a solution to an extent, bringing relevance of education in their lives by right empowerment approach through focused discussions in the form of critical dialogues on sensitive issues related to marriage, sexual abuse, domestic violence, health and others.

Originality/value
This paper provides case-based evidence of how a successful private-paid school can participate in bringing a paradigm shift in providing quality education to underprivileged girls. It helps in understanding dynamics of sustaining such project.
Analyzing the factors that can limit the acceptability to introduce new specializations in higher education institutions
Authors: Abbas Wasim , Ahmed Munir , Khalid Rizwan , Yasmeen Tehreem 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive view of barriers that restrict the adoption of new specializations and courses in the higher education institutions of Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative methods were used to get the responses from the respondents of different institution of target areas. Results were further analyzed with the help of statistical tools. In total, 203 respondents were approached to fill the carefully designed questionnaire.

Findings
Results of the study clearly show four major factors, including internal barrier, external barrier, cultural barrier and leadership barrier, that are restricting the introduction and adoption of new specialization courses in higher education institutes of Southern Punjab. Suggestions at the end are made to address the restrictions.

Research limitations/implications
The current study states only six higher education institution of Southern Punjab, which is a kind of limitation itself. This study is conducted by taking into account the needs and trends of the businesses and markets; student perspective is not taken about the situation in this study, which is an another limitation of the study. To get more accurate and validated results, the higher education institutions located in other areas of Pakistan could be studied, which was not done in this study because of time and resource limitations.

Practical implications
This study may prove worthy to bring a positive and practical shift in the Pakistani higher education system. This study may also prove beneficial to show the actual picture of the situation to national leaders, academician and policy maker so that things are taken seriously to actually align the Pakistani higher education system with the emerging market demands and trends. Suggestions made in this study may provide comprehensive guidelines to the academic strategists to uplift the higher education institutions of Pakistan up to the international standards and requirements, so the Pakistani higher education institutions can get a respectful place in the international academic rankings.

Originality/value
The paper highlights the restrictions and helps the institutions to introduce new specialization courses.
Potential determinants of profits and market efficiency of potato market chains in Uganda
Authors: Kyomugisha Harriet , Mugisha Johnny , Sebatta Christopher 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The study aimed at understanding the level of inefficiencies in the potato market chain. Farmers sell potato to traders but continue to complain of limited market access and low profits. The purpose of this paper is to determine market efficiency and profits of the potato market chain, and factors that influence the profits.

Design/methodology/approach
The study focussed on potato farmers, traders and small-scale processors. It was conducted in Kabale and Mbale districts being the major potato producing areas in Uganda, and Kampala being a major potato market. Data were collected from 180 farmers, 60 traders and 32 small-scale processors. Descriptive and regression methods were used to analyse the data.

Findings
There were three major potato market chains and all were profitable and efficient. The farmer-buyer node was the most efficient (efficiencies of 128-159 per cent). The trader node efficiency ranged between 56 and 81 per cent. Sex of chain actor, group marketing, contract duration and distance to market were among the factors that affected profits.

Research limitations/implications
Processors considered were those operating on very small scale, hence results do not apply to large-scale processing. Consumers were not included but the data and results are adequate for the study objective.

Originality/value
This paper provides empirical information that serves as a basis to adopt market options for increased benefits to various chain actors.
Demand for food safety in emerging and developing countries
Authors: Ortega David L. , Tschirley David L. 
Published: April 2017

PurposeFood safety in emerging and developing regions is receiving increased attention from economists, researchers and policymakers. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature on the economics of food safety in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Of interest are studies exploring consumer demand and producer behavior regarding food safety. Particular attention is given to areas in need of additional research. The studies’ common implications for future research are discussed.Design/methodology/approachTwo English language searches were conducted in the summer of 2013 to identify relevant studies on the economics of food safety, one each in Google Scholar and Web of Science. The authors carefully reviewed the abstracts of these studies for content, and select papers were identified that capture overarching themes found in the literature. Findings are presented by region.FindingsConsumers in developing countries will become increasingly aware of food safety issues as urbanization proceeds and incomes continue to rise at robust rates. However, assuring food safety in modernizing food systems involves significant costs, and current incomes in developing SSA are far lower than in Asia. The authors find that overall consumer awareness of food safety problems in SSA is low relative to Asia. Moreover, knowledge of producer behavior and consumer demand for food safety in developing countries is very limited.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include a lack of information available on domestic food safety issues and overall knowledge of how food safety affects developing agrifood systems.Originality/valueThe findings from this review contribute to a better understanding of the economics of food safety in emerging and developing regions.
Factors attracting private sector investments in public–private partnerships in developing countries
Authors: Osei-Kyei Robert , Chan Albert P.C. 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The increasing demand for public infrastructure has caused a rise in the global adoption of the public–private partnership (PPP) concept. However, over the past years, most of the developing countries have failed to attract more private investments as realised in the developed countries. This paper aims to investigate the critical factors that attract private investments in the PPP markets of developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach
An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted with targeted international PPP experts from the academic and industrial sectors. The inter-rater agreement analysis, mean score ranking and Mann–Whitney U test were used to analyse the survey responses.

Findings
Results indicate that the three most critical factors are political support and acceptability for PPPs, government positive attitude towards private sector investments and political stability. On the other hand, factors including government guarantees, competent PPP unit and tax rebate on imported equipment are of low importance. The Mann–Whitney U test reveals that experts from the academic and industrial sectors view the importance of three factors differently: adequate public sector experience in PPP, government providing guarantees and government providing tax rebate on imported equipment.

Originality/value
The research outputs contribute to the existing but limited knowledge on PPP practices in developing countries by providing empirical evidence and cross-cultural perceptions on the conditions that are critical to the expansion of PPP markets in developing countries. It is therefore expected that governments and policymakers seeking to adopt the PPP concept would take into consideration the results and implications to enhance PPP growth.
Unveiling IASB standardization projects and its influence on the position of Takaful Industry in Indonesia
Authors: Mukhlisin Murniati 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the alignments of the Takaful industry between the Islamic and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) requirement and the subsequent social and political consequences.

Design/methodology/approach
Meta-analysis of thorough examination of 1* to 4* relevant peer-reviewed journals in the academic journal guide 2015 of the Association of Business School from the period when first IFRS was issued in 2005 to 2012 and where Indonesia declared to fully adopt IFRS. The examination also includes some other appropriate Indonesian and Islamic accounting publications. The paper employs comparative analysis between IFRS, Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institution and the financial reporting standards practiced by Takaful industry to examine the hindrance towards the standardization process.

Findings
It is shown that the literature emphasis not only on the technical matters related to financial reporting standardization but also on the complex arrangement in different country settings. Learning from Indonesian experience, the literature suggests that neo-liberalism is piercing through different parts of economic and political setting of the country’s infrastructural powers leading up to the influence of financial reporting standardization process.

Originality/value
The paper contributes to the existing ontological arguments whether the Takaful industry is a mere business entity that has no specific requirements for financial reporting standards.
A knowledge structures exploration on social network sites
Authors: Sánchez-Franco Manuel J. , Muñoz-Expósito Mirian , Villarejo-Ramos Ángel F. 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to describe a method for combining perceived community support, relationship quality and the extended technology acceptance model in the same empirically derived associative network. The research also examines the moderating role of accumulation of knowledge (based on beliefs and opinions) derived from social interactions.

Design/methodology/approach
The Pathfinder algorithm is a valid approach for determining network structures from relatedness data. Such a graphical representation provides managers with a comprehensible picture of how social behaviours relate to loyalty-based dimensions.

Findings
As the benefits of community participation and integration might be differently evaluated by new and long-term users, the research examines the associative network by levels of user familiarity. This study indeed contributes to the analysis of enduring social bonds with respect to individuals’ decision-making processes, as it provides details representing specific relationships between diverse concepts based on true-loyalty.

Practical implications
The application of Pathfinder to the study of online social services and user behaviour appears to have potential for unveiling the structures of social network sites members and designing successful strategies for prospective community managers.

Originality/value
This is the first study to the author’s knowledge that empirically tests a theory-grounded framework for integrating individual characteristics and relational driver and focuses on associative structures evidenced as a representation of the most salient loyalty-based concepts by also studying the moderating effects of familiarity.
Platform investment strategy on reducing transaction costs
Authors: Zhang Shanshan , He Ping 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the investment strategy of a two-sided platform on reducing transaction costs of two user sides and to study the pricing problem of the platform.

Design/methodology/approach
Mathematical derivation is used to compute the optimal decisions of a two-sided platform on pricing and investment. Numerical analysis is used to illustrate the findings.

Findings
It is found that the demand of one user side decreases in the maximal transaction costs reduction to this side but increases in the maximal transaction costs reduction to the other side. It is also found that a platform should never choose the investment in such a way that the maximal transaction costs reductions of two user sides are the same.

Research limitations/implications
Several limitations exist in this paper, most of which exist due to the assumptions. These limitations could be good research directions in the future. For example, only one platform’s decision is considered, and platforms’ competition is not taken into account. Considering other platforms’ competition, the decisions of the users and the platform would be different.

Originality/value
From the transaction costs perspective, this paper finds that a platform should never choose the investment in such a way that the maximal transaction costs reductions of two user sides are the same. This conclusion has not been found in previous literature.
Total quality management elements and results in higher education institutions
Authors: Psomas Evangelos , Antony Jiju 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine the main total quality management (TQM) elements adopted and the respective results achieved by higher education institutions (HEIs) in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach
A research study was designed and carried out in private sector Greek HEIs. Fifteen HEIs were approached through interviews based on a structured questionnaire. The measured variables of the TQM elements and results identified in the literature were used as the questionnaire items. Descriptive statistics were applied to determine the TQM elements mostly adopted and the results achieved by the HEIs.

Findings
According to the findings, the TQM elements mostly adopted by the Greek HEIs concern the following: student focus, leadership and top management commitment, strategic quality planning, process management and teaching staff and employee involvement. On the other hand, the most significant results achieved by the sample HEIs concern quality performance improvement, teaching staff and employee satisfaction, operational performance improvement and the positive impact on society.

Research limitations/implications
The subjective data collection involved chief executive officers of a small sample of HEIs operating in a European Union country. Thus, no advanced statistical methods could be applied. Based on these limitations, future research studies are recommended.

Practical implications
By focusing on specific TQM elements, an HEI can develop a robust TQM model, approach business excellence, which can, in turn, help the HEI apply for appropriate quality awards, and finally derive significant benefits. In doing so, an HEI can lay the foundations for being competitive in the current global context that is characterised by an economic downturn.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by empirically determining the TQM elements mostly adopted as well as the respective results achieved by Greek HEIs in a period of economic downturn. This is the first research study in the field of TQM in higher education that has been carried out in Greece in a period where many service organisations, whether private or public, are making significant efforts to withstand the current downturn and achieve a sustainable growth.
Effects of presynaptic muscarinic cholinoreceptor blockade on neuromuscular transmission as assessed by the train‐of‐four and the tetanic fade response to rocuronium
Authors: Kim Yong Beom , Lee Sangseok , Lee Kyeong Chun , Kim Ha Jung , Ro Young Jin , Yang Hong‐Seuk 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThis study investigated the effect of muscarinic M1 and M2 receptor antagonists on the rocuronium‐induced train of four (TOF) fade and tetanic fade, respectively. Ex‐vivo phrenic nerves and diaphragms were obtained from adult Sprague‐Dawley rats and stabilized in Krebs buffer; the nerve‐stimulated muscle TOF fade was observed at 20 s intervals. For the TOF study, phrenic nerves and diaphragms were incubated with pirenzepine (an M1 blocker) at concentrations of 0 nmol L−1 (control), 10 nmol L−1 (PZP10), or 100 nmol L−1 (PZP100). Rocuronium was then administered incrementally until the first twitch tension had depressed by >95% during TOF stimulation. The mean TOF ratios were compared when the first twitch tensions were depressed by 40%‐50%. For the tetanic fade study, 50 Hz/5 s tetani was applied initially, 30 min after the administration of a loading dose of rocuronium and methoctramine (an M2 receptor blocker, loaded at 0 μmol L−1 [control], 1 μmol L−1 [MET1], or 10 μmol L−1 [MET10]). The EC95 of rocuronium was significantly lower in the PZP10 group than in the control group. In the PZP10 group, the TOF ratios at 50% and first twitch tension depression were significantly lower than those in the control group (P=.02). During tetanic stimulation, the tetanic fade was significantly enhanced in the MET10 group compared to the other groups. This study shows that antagonists of muscarinic M1 and M2 receptors affect the rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block as demonstrated by the reduced EC95 and TOF ratios (M1 antagonist, pirenzepine) or the enhanced 50‐Hz tetanic fade (M2 antagonist, methoctramine).
Integrated species distribution models: combining presence‐background data and site‐occupancy data with imperfect detection
Authors: Koshkina Vira , Wang Yan , Gordon Ascelin , Dorazio Robert M. , White Matt , Stone Lewi 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Two main sources of data for species distribution models (SDMs) are site‐occupancy (SO) data from planned surveys, and presence‐background (PB) data from opportunistic surveys and other sources. SO surveys give high quality data about presences and absences of the species in a particular area. However, due to their high cost, they often cover a smaller area relative to PB data, and are usually not representative of the geographic range of a species. In contrast, PB data is plentiful, covers a larger area, but is less reliable due to the lack of information on species absences, and is usually characterised by biased sampling. Here we present a new approach for species distribution modelling that integrates these two data types.

We have used an inhomogeneous Poisson point process as the basis for constructing an integrated SDM that fits both PB and SO data simultaneously. It is the first implementation of an Integrated SO–PB Model which uses repeated survey occupancy data and also incorporates detection probability.

The Integrated Model's performance was evaluated, using simulated data and compared to approaches using PB or SO data alone. It was found to be superior, improving the predictions of species spatial distributions, even when SO data is sparse and collected in a limited area. The Integrated Model was also found effective when environmental covariates were significantly correlated. Our method was demonstrated with real SO and PB data for the Yellow‐bellied glider (Petaurus australis) in south‐eastern Australia, with the predictive performance of the Integrated Model again found to be superior.

PB models are known to produce biased estimates of species occupancy or abundance. The small sample size of SO datasets often results in poor out‐of‐sample predictions. Integrated models combine data from these two sources, providing superior predictions of species abundance compared to using either data source alone. Unlike conventional SDMs which have restrictive scale‐dependence in their predictions, our Integrated Model is based on a point process model and has no such scale‐dependency. It may be used for predictions of abundance at any spatial‐scale while still maintaining the underlying relationship between abundance and area.
Graphical diagnostics for occupancy models with imperfect detection
Authors: Warton David I. , Stoklosa Jakub , Guillera‐Arroita Gurutzeta , MacKenzie Darryl I. , Welsh Alan H. 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Occupancy‐detection models that account for imperfect detection have become widely used in many areas of ecology. As with any modelling exercise, it is important to assess whether the fitted model encapsulates the main sources of variation in the data, yet there have been few methods developed for occupancy‐detection models that would allow practitioners to do so.

In this paper, a new type of residual for occupancy‐detection models is developed according to the method of Dunn & Smyth (Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, 5, 1996, 236–244). Residuals are separately constructed to diagnose the occupancy and detection components of the model.

Because the residuals are quite noisy, we suggest fitting a smoother through plots of residuals against predictors of fitted values, with 95% confidence bands, to diagnose lack‐of‐fit.

The method is illustrated using Swiss squirrel data, and evaluated using simulations based on that dataset.

Plotting residuals against predictors or against fitted values performed reasonably well as methods for diagnosing violations of occupancy‐detection model assumptions, particularly plots of residuals against a missing predictor. Relatively high false positive rates were sometimes observed, but this seems to be controlled reasonably well by fitting smoothers to these plots and being guided in interpretation by 95% confidence bands around the smoothers.