bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risks perceived regarding recruitment process outsourcing: stakeholder concerns
Authors: David Rajasekhar , Banerjee Pratyush , Ponnam Abhilash 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore various risks that are associated with recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) strategy in the Indian information technology (IT)/IT-enabled service (ITes) industries.Design/methodology/approachPurposeful intensity sampling was used to select respondents from IT/ITes organizations. Twenty-eight respondents were interviewed through face-to-face semi-structured interviews and telephonic interviews. Each interview lasted for approximately 65 min. All interviews were audio recorded with the permission of the respondents and were then transcribed. The data were analyzed with the help of a qualitative technique, thematic analysis.FindingsResults show that the stakeholders associated with RPO are not satisfied with several issues such as violation of initial contact between the applicant and the potential employer, violation of contracts by the vendor, unfair practices by the vendor, poor quality service provided by the vendor, plausibility that the vendor does not understand the culture of the client organization, inappropriate placement of human resources by the vendor, low morale of the employees and loss of managerial control due to RPO.Research limitations/implicationsSmall sample size and qualitative research design reduces the external validity of the findings to certain extent.Practical implicationsCompanies deploying RPO should be wary about the plausible negative consequences. This paper offers various solutions to mitigate such risks.Originality/valueThis paper is a novel attempt which details various risks due to deployment of RPO from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
Quo vadis outsourcing? A view from practice
Authors: Gewald Heiko , Schäfer Leonie 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to derive a prioritized list of the present and future topics that sourcing managers in large companies are mostly concerned with using a rigorous methodological approach.

Design/methodology/approach
The Delphi method was chosen to derive the list. An initial list of topics was compiled based on a literature review combined with the results of an expert panel. This input was prioritized and extended by sourcing managers over three iterations.

Findings
The findings indicate that outsourcing remains a hot topic, even after almost 25 years of academic research. The authors identified four clusters where outsourcing scholars who are interested to provide insights and guidance for practitioners should focus their attention: managerial decisions (selection of the right partner and ability of the company to outsource parts of their business), managing the service provider (governance issues and relationship management and alignment), managerial responsibilities (integrated risk management and adherence to regulation and compliance) and increased flexibility (cloud computing and multi-vendor arrangements).

Research limitations/implications
The findings are only directly transferrable to large companies using experienced sourcing managers in Germany.

Originality/value
The findings may serve as input in formulating a research agenda which helps to align scholars’ focus and practitioners’ problems.
Discursive construction of the legitimacy of a place marketing project: the case of North Karelia
Authors: Halme Juha 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to theoretically explain the significance of discourse for the construction of the legitimacy of place marketing practice, and to illustrate empirically how this is done in a “genre of strategy”.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper applies a critical discourse analysis perspective, and utilises a theoretical framework of four legitimation strategies of authorisation, moral evaluation, rationalisation and mythopoesis to analyse how the legitimacy of a place marketing project carried out in the region of North Karelia, Finland, is discursively constructed within strategic documents of the project.

Findings
Several discursive legitimation strategies were recognised. The authority of the project was constructed by referring to the organisational context of the project, while rational and moral legitimation strategies drew from hegemonic discourses of regional competitiveness, attractiveness and cooperation. These discourses were further connected to discussions of contemporary regional development in Finland and in Europe.

Research limitations/implications
While the paper underlines the significance of the “genre of strategy” for the discursive legitimation of place marketing projects, it points out that it does not extend to cover the reception or change over time of the legitimation strategies, that should be addressed in further studies.

Originality/value
The paper presents an original perspective on legitimacy of place marketing projects by introducing discourse as a central element in the construction of legitimacy. This is especially useful for critical purposes, as it allows the discourses that legitimise place marketing practice to be placed under scrutiny, hence opening up the possibility for alternative discourses to emerge.
International retirement migration and Thai stakeholders’ views: a Japanese case study
Authors: Ashton Ann Suwaree , Scott Noel 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate Thai stakeholders’ perceptions of developing a destination for international retirement migration (IRM). Increasingly, residents of developed nations such as Japan who retire from work are choosing to live in Thailand or other less-developed countries.Design/methodology/approachQualitative approach was used, and data were collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Content analysis technique was used to analyze data after completing the interviews of 35 industry participants.FindingsIt was found from the participants that considerable new real estate development and services specifically for these retirees has been created in recent years, but that there is a lack of stakeholder collaboration in catering to this market. Moreover, local resident knowledge of the retirees’ culture and language is lacking, along with a need for policy and planning support from government.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this study is that it explored only the perception of business stakeholders involved with Japanese IRM, a group of importance to the Thai Government due to their increasing numbers. Further study could look at local community attitudes toward IRM and how a community adapts to this new phenomenon.Practical implicationsThis study provides guidelines for stakeholders, government and local communities. Especially, the role of government is to provide support with clear information about the visa process and legal documents.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the body of knowledge of destination development strategy for a specific international retirement tourist group.
Destination brand love: managerial implications and applications to tourism businesses
Authors: Swanson Kathryn 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
In an increasingly competitive marketplace and with homogenization of destination brands occurring alongside globalization, enticing tourists to travel at all, let alone to a particular destination, can be a significant challenge. This paper aims to address this issue through exploration of the utility of the concept of brand love in the context of tourism destinations.

Design/methodology/approach
The investigation of the problem involved three large cities in the USA and utilized a variety of qualitative research methods, including tourist interviews, photos and collages. Additionally, the research included key informant interviews.

Findings
In total, 13 themes through which participants articulated their love were identified through thematic analysis of the tourist data, and these themes were drawn together in a model of destination brand love. Furthermore, three types of destination brand love were identified, and these coincide with three words for “love” in the Greek language.

Practical implications
The most significant managerial value of the article’s findings likely would come from tourism destination marketing organizations determining what type(s) of love is/are (or could be) prevalent among that destination’s most loyal tourists. Steps to do this are provided.

Originality/value
The complexity in tourists’ relationships with, and feelings of love for, destinations and their brands that this research has revealed demonstrates that there is opportunity for deeper understanding of how and why tourists come to love a destination and its brand. With this more complete knowledge, marketers would be better prepared to foster and grow brand love among their destinations’ tourists, resulting in increased visitation and revenue.
Enhancing organizational commitment and employee performance through employee engagement
Authors: Nazir Owais , Islam Jamid Ul 
Published: February 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between perceived organizational support, employee engagement, employee performance and affective commitment in the context of Indian higher education.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 410 employees from various higher educational institutes of India using a self-administered questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results revealed a positive influence of perceived organizational support on employee performance and affective commitment. Moreover, these relationships have also been found to be mediated by employee engagement.Practical implicationsThe study serves as guide for the development of influential strategies to develop and retain a well engaged, competent and committed workforce at higher educational institutes in India.Originality/valueThe study enriches the organizational behavior literature by identifying and empirically validating some antecedents and consequences of employee engagement in the context of Indian higher education where such studies are scant.
Working capital management and firms’ profitability: evidence from emerging Asian countries
Authors: Singhania Monica , Mehta Piyush 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
Excessive working capital or paucity of the same can impair the profits and health of an organization. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of working capital management (WCM) on the profitability of firms for a sample comprising of non-financial companies in countries of South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia.

Design/methodology/approach
Analytical modeling has been used to estimate the impact of WCM on profitability with the help of financial data of the companies listed in major indices of the target countries (India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan). The mathematical model presented in the paper has been tested using two-step-generalized method of moments.

Findings
The study reveals a non-linear relationship between profitability of a firm and WCM for 11 economies of the Asia Pacific region.

Research limitations/implications
The results are subject to the differences in the market dynamics of different economies (countries). Moreover, the limitations of the specific statistical method used to verify the model apply to the model too.

Practical implications
The research can be used as a tool by the firms (global as well as local) to ameliorate their performance by understanding the effects of WCM on profitability in different global markets and adjusting their working capital accordingly.

Originality/value
The research on the impact of WCM on profitability of the firms of South East Asia, South Asia and East Asia is a new effort and tries to make the importance of WCM more luciferous.
Impact of stillbirths on international comparisons of preterm birth rates: a secondary analysis of the WHO multi‐country survey of Maternal and Newborn Health
Authors: Morisaki N , Ganchimeg T , Vogel JP , Zeitlin J , Cecatti JG , Souza JP , Pileggi Castro C , Torloni MR , Ota E , Mori R , Dolan SM , Tough S , Mittal S , Bataglia V , Yadamsuren B , Kramer MS ,   on behalf of the PREBIC Epidemiology Working Group and the WHO‐MCS Research Network
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveTo evaluate the extent to which stillbirths affect international comparisons of preterm birth rates in low‐ and middle‐income countries.DesignSecondary analysis of a multi‐country cross‐sectional study.Setting29 countries participating in the World Health Organization Multicountry Survey on Maternal and Newborn Health.Population258 215 singleton deliveries in 286 hospitals.MethodsWe describe how inclusion or exclusion of stillbirth affect rates of preterm births in 29 countries.Main outcome measuresPreterm delivery.ResultsIn all countries, preterm birth rates were substantially lower when based on live births only, than when based on total births. However, the increase in preterm birth rates with inclusion of stillbirths was substantially higher in low Human Development Index (HDI) countries [median 18.2%, interquartile range (17.2–34.6%)] compared with medium (4.3%, 3.0–6.7%), and high‐HDI countries (4.8%, 4.4–5.5%).ConclusionInclusion of stillbirths leads to higher estimates of preterm birth rate in all countries, with a disproportionately large effect in low‐HDI countries. Preterm birth rates based on live births alone do not accurately reflect international disparities in perinatal health; thus improved registration and reporting of stillbirths are necessary.Tweetable abstractInclusion of stillbirths increases preterm birth rates estimates, especially in low‐HDI countries.
Benefit‐Cost Analysis of Integrated Water Resource Management: Accounting for Interdependence in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan
Authors: Yoder Jonathan , Adam Jennifer , Brady Michael , Cook Joseph , Katz Stephen , Johnston Shane , Malek Keyvan , McMillan John , Yang Qingqing 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIntegrated water resource management (IWRM) requires accounting for many interrelated facets of water systems, water uses and stakeholders, and water management activities. The consequence is that project analysis must account for the nonseparability among the component parts of IWRM plans. This article presents a benefit‐cost (B‐C) analysis of a set of projects included in the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan proposed for the Yakima Basin in south‐central Washington State. The analysis accounts for interdependence among proposed water storage projects and between water storage and water market development in the context of historical and more adverse projected future climate scenarios. Focusing on irrigation benefits from storage, we show that the value of a given proposed storage project is lower when other proposed storage projects in the basin are implemented, and when water markets are functioning effectively. We find that none of the water storage projects satisfy a B‐C criterion, and that assuring proposed instream flow augmentation is less expensive by purchasing senior diversion rights than relying on new storage to provide it.
Cardioprotective effects of pectin–insulin patch in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Authors: Sibiya Ntethelelo , Ngubane Phikelelani , Mabandla Musa 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundCardiovascular complications are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus. Despite the beneficial effects of subcutaneous insulin, reports suggest that the therapy itself precipitates cardiovascular risks due to the high insulin concentration administered. It is therefore necessary to seek alternative routes of insulin administration that may bypass the undesirable effects associated with high plasma insulin concentrations. Accordingly, the present study investigated the effects of a novel transdermal pectin–insulin patch on selected markers of cardiovascular function in diabetes.MethodsPectin–insulin matrix patches (20.0, 40.8, and 82.9 μg/kg) were prepared as described previously. The three formulations were applied to streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats thrice daily. Blood glucose concentrations and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were monitored weekly for 5 weeks. Rats were then killed and blood collected for analysis of the lipid profile, cardiotropin‐1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP).ResultsThe patches decreased blood glucose concentrations and diabetes‐induced disturbances in lipid profile were attenuated by patch application (82.9 μg/kg). The diabetes‐induced increase in MAP was also attenuated in patch (82.9 μg/kg)‐treated rats. Patch treatment resulted in a decreased heart weight: body weight ratio, as well as reductions in cardiotropin‐1, TNF‐α, and hsCRP concentrations.ConclusionsApplication of the pectin–insulin patch protects against the debilitating cardiovascular effects associated with conventional diabetes treatment. This suggests that the pectin–insulin patch may provide an effective alternative therapeutic approach to the commonly used subcutaneous insulin injections in the management of diabetes.
Clinical value of the new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society classification of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Ziwei , Yi Fumei , Yin Wencheng , Zhang Yu , Li Qian , Gu Yangchun , Xiao Yu , Cao Baoshan , Ma Liwen , Liang Li 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundWe explored correlations between the new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society classification, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status, and prognosis.MethodsData from 293 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were classified according to the new classification. Fisher’s exact, χ2, and log‐rank tests and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze correlations between EGFR mutation status, lung cancer prognosis, and the new histologic subtype. Disease‐free survival and progression‐free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.Results
Lepidic and non‐solid adenocarcinomas showed significantly elevated EGFR mutation rates (79.0% and 65.8%, respectively; P < 0.05). EGFR mutation status was only associated with gender (P < 0.001). EGFR mutation‐positive patients who received targeted therapy had better median PFS than those who received chemotherapy as first‐line treatment (P < 0.001). The median PFS of patients with exon 19 and exon 21 mutations who received first‐line targeted therapy were 12.5 and 9.5 months, respectively (P = 0.970). Patients with micropapillary predominant adenocarcinomas had the shortest disease‐free survival (<18 months) and PFS. Histologic subtype (P = 0.036), treatment type (P = 0.031), and EGFR mutation status (P = 0.019) might be good prognostic factors for lung adenocarcinoma.ConclusionPatients with exon 19 mutations obtained greater benefits from targeted therapy. In the new classification, EGFR mutation rates are higher in lepidic cases and in cases without the solid subtype. The micropapillary subtype of adenocarcinoma has the worst prognosis, while the lepidic subtype has the best.
Extent of visceral pleural invasion and the prognosis of surgically resected node‐negative non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Seok Yangki , Jeong Ji Yun , Lee Eungbae 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundVisceral pleural invasion (VPI) is generally considered a poor prognostic factor in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). VPI is defined as penetration beyond the elastic layer of visceral pleura (PL1), including the visceral pleural surface without the involvement of adjacent structures (PL2) by cancer cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the extent of VPI on NSCLC prognosis.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 90 patients with resected node‐negative NSCLC with VPI. The overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariate analysis for prognostic factors was performed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. The pattern of recurrence was also compared between PL1 and PL2 groups.ResultsSeventy‐three patients had PL1. The three‐year OS rates for the PL1 and PL2 groups were 97.4% and 82.4%, respectively (
P
= 0.004). The two‐year DFS rates for PL1 and PL2 groups were 81.0% and 76.5%, respectively (
P
= 0.419). According to the multivariate analysis, PL2 was not a significant prognostic factor for survival outcome in node‐negative NSCLC with VPI compared to PL1 (hazard ratio for DFS 1.753, 95% confidence interval 0.582–5.284;
P
= 0.319). In this study, six patients in the PL1 and one in PL2 group developed ipsilateral pleural recurrence (
P
= 1.000).Conclusion
VPI extent may not influence survival outcomes in patients with surgically resected node‐negative NSCLC with VPI.
Relationships between inflammation‐ and immunity‐related transcript abundance in the rumen and jejunum of beef steers with divergent average daily gain
Authors: Reynolds J. G. , Foote A. P. , Freetly H. C. , Oliver W. T. , Lindholm‐Perry A. K. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryThe bovine rumen papillae are in contact with a wide array of microorganisms and the metabolites they produce, which may activate an inflammatory and/or immune response. Cytokines, chemokines and their receptor genes were tested for differential expression in the rumen and jejunum of beef steers with greater and lesser average daily body weight gain (ADG) near the average daily dry matter intake (DMI) for the population. Angus‐sired steers (n = 16) were used to represent the greater (ADG = 2.2 ± 0.07 kg/day; DMI = 10.1 ± 0.05 kg/day) and lesser (ADG = 1.7 ± 0.05 kg/day; DMI = 10.1 ± 0.05 kg/day) ADG groups with eight steers each. Rumen epithelium and jejunum mucosal samples were collected at slaughter, and gene expression was evaluated using a commercially available qRT‐PCR array containing 84 genes representing chemokines, cytokines and their receptors. None of the genes on the array were differentially expressed in the jejunum of the steers with greater vs. lesser ADG. However, in the rumen, two chemokine genes (CCL11, CXCL5) and one receptor gene (IL10RA) were detected as differentially expressed (P < 0.05). The genes IL1A, BMP2, CXCL12 and TNFSF13 also displayed trends for differential expression (P < 0.10). All of the genes identified were lower in transcript abundance in the greater ADG animals. Thus, greater ADG steers have a lesser inflammatory response in the rumen papillae, which may lead to a more efficient use of nutrients.