bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Asset specificity and capability of e-Trade performance: evidence from Korea
Authors: Kim Hag-min , Lee Ho-hyung 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– E-Trade (paperless trade or cross-border e-commerce in B2B format) does not necessarily show positive results. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize why and how such happens and furthermore, has two research purposes. First is to explain why studies in e-Trade performance show controversial results, such as some showing positive while others are not. Second is to investigate the relationship among research constructs such as e-Trade benefits, e-Trade use, asset specificity, and exporting firm’s capability.

Design/methodology/approach
– This study considers multiple dimensions and evolutionary perspective of e-Trade performance. Structural equation model adopts the measures of firm’s capability, e-Trade use, and benefits to analyze e-Trade performance. Performance was divided into organizational net benefits (ONB) and industrial net benefits. Several hypotheses were suggested to test the relationship among the variables in the model. Basic moderator effect represented as an interaction between asset specificity and other constructs. In total, 295 exporting firms have participated in the survey and their responses were utilized for analysis.

Findings
– This study shows that e-Trade performance should consider maturity as well as multiple stages among constructs. Critical paths were found among capability factors, process use (PU), ONB, and asset specificity. Results also show that information capability and marketing capability (MC) are determinant factors on e-Trade performance. In addition, MC and level of PU are read to be determinant factors of ONB. Furthermore, small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) asset specificity, with level of capability and e-Trade use moderates their e-Trade performance.

Research limitations/implications
– Asset specificity of SMEs has to be managed in a positive direction. Government’s e-Trade supporting programs for SMEs should be transformed in a way that can foster the growth of capability and self-sustainment. It reads to be inevitable to amend the current characteristics of e-Trade services. Furthermore, developing a specialized e-Trade service for large firms will also be in need. And utilizing exporting firm’s financial data would be more advisable testing the hypotheses.

Originality/value
– Most works in information system as well as in e-Trade area report controversial performance results and this paper suggests an alternative model by combining asset specificity into capability and e-Trade use. Study on e-Trade performance is complicated and needs to consider multiple dimensions as well as their stages. This study envisions firm’s capability, asset specificity and at the same time contributes in e-Trade benefits.
Environmental assessment of the MSW treatment from the transport point of view
Authors: Torretta Vincenzo , Ionescu Gabriela 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to point out some important elements that can be useful to minimize the impacts and the results can possibly inform business and policy makers about how to minimize the impacts associated to the municipal solid waste (MSW) collection.

Design/methodology/approach
– The present work faces with the problem of transport, placing attention to the relationship of emissions from scenarios that has been selected between real systems of management.

Findings
– The choices related to the typology of treatment has the same importance to the item concerning the correct localization of the plant for the implications related to the environmental pressure due to the transport of waste.

Originality/value
– An important aspect that has to be considered in terms of MSW management is the stage of collection. The emissions generated from these systems can arrive to values that are of the same order of magnitude of emissions from combustion of waste in waste-to-energy plants according to some scenarios.
Assessing the economic sustainability of managing protected areas using the CVM and CBA approaches
Authors: Aoun Dani 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to design a preservation policy aimed at safeguarding the Ehden Natural Reserve, a reserve providing shelter to a substantial number of endangered species.

Design/methodology/approach
– The current paper, offers an approach which merges contingent valuation and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to design a preservation policy aimed at safeguarding the reserve. Contingent valuation is used to estimate the expected benefits from the reserve for both local residents and tourists visiting Ehden, while using a certainty analysis approach to explore the problem of hypothetical bias. A CBA is then applied to the findings to evaluate a ten year plan to preserve the protected area through a non-profit foundation.

Findings
– Findings from the analysis support the feasibility of a project of this nature, which shows a positive NPV within the studied period and at an acceptable social discount rate (SDR). The balance between benefit and cost is thus always positive, except in some pessimistic cases when analyzing the sensitivity of the model’s critical variables, particularly the number of visitors, the different WTPs for visitors and locals and the different SDRs.

Originality/value
– The paper adds to the scarce research available on the sustainability of protected areas in the Middle East region.
Experimental and computational investigations of the potential improvement in helmet blast-protection through the use of a polyurea-based external coating
Authors: Grujicic M. , Ramaswami S. , Snipes J. S. , Yavari R. , Dudt P. 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– The design of the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) currently in use was optimized by its designers in order to attain maximum protection against ballistic impacts (fragments, shrapnel, etc.) and hard-surface/head collisions. Since traumatic brain injury experienced by a significant fraction of the soldiers returning from the recent conflicts is associated with their exposure to blast, the ACH should be redesigned in order to provide the necessary level of protection against blast loads. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach
– In the present work, an augmentation of the ACH for improved blast protection is considered. This augmentation includes the use of a polyurea (a nano-segregated elastomeric copolymer) based ACH external coating. To demonstrate the efficacy of this approach, blast experiments are carried out on instrumented head-mannequins (without protection, protected using a standard ACH, and protected using an ACH augmented by a polyurea explosive-resistant coating (ERC)). These experimental efforts are complemented with the appropriate combined Eulerian/Lagrangian transient non-linear dynamics computational fluid/solid interaction finite-element analysis.

Findings
– The results obtained clearly demonstrated that the use of an ERC on an ACH affects (generally in a beneficial way) head-mannequin dynamic loading and kinematic response as quantified by the intracranial pressure, impulse, acceleration and jolt.

Originality/value
– To the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first reported combined experimental/computational study of the blast-protection efficacy and the mild traumatic brain-injury mitigation potential of polyurea when used as an external coating on a helmet.
Non-linear delamination fracture analysis by using power-law hardening
Authors: Rizov Victor Iliev 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to perform a theoretical analysis of non-linear delamination fracture in cantilever beam opened notch (CBON) configuration. It is assumed that the non-linear mechanical behavior of the CBON can be described by using a stress-strain curve with power-law hardening.

Design/methodology/approach
– The fracture analysis is carried-out by applying the integration contour independent J-integral. For this purpose, a model based on the technical beam theory is used. Equation is derived for determination of the CBON specimen curvature in elastic-plastic stage of deformation. The equation is solved by using the MatLab program system. Solutions of the J-integral are obtained at linear-elastic as well as elastic-plastic behavior of the CBON. The influence of the power-law exponent on the non-linear fracture is evaluated.

Findings
– The analysis reveals that the J-integral value increases when the exponent of the power-law increases. The solution obtained here is very useful for parametric analyses of the non-linear fracture behavior, since the simple formulas derived capture the essentials of the fracture response.

Practical implications
– Beside for parametric investigations, the solution obtained here can also be applied for calculating the critical J-integral value at non-linear behavior using experimentally determined critical fracture load at the onset of crack growth from the initial crack tip position in the CBON configuration.

Originality/value
– An analysis is performed of the non-linear fracture in the CBON configuration by applying the J-integral approach, assuming that the mechanical response can be modeled using a stress-strain curve with power-law hardening.
Watch the working capital of tier-two suppliers: a financial perspective of supply chain collaboration in the automotive industry
Authors: Vázquez Xosé H. , Sartal Antonio , Lozano-Lozano Luis M. 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how lack of financial cooperation damages the operational efficiency of supply chains. The thesis is that economic and technological forces are provoking increasing financial tensions that push companies to transfer their credit needs and inventory requirements to their weakest suppliers. Thus, what might initially seem positive from an individual perspective can in fact generate losses in production efficiency for the supply chain as a whole.Design/Methodology/approachThis paper uses official data collected from 116 first- and second-tier suppliers in the Spanish automotive components sector, covering nine years (2001-2009). The relationships between the key variables are analysed using panel data estimations.FindingsSignificant differences were found between the working capital (WC) of first- and second-tier companies, proving additionally that although this approach may temporarily improve the results of first-tier suppliers, it leads to lower production efficiency in plants throughout the value chain.Practical implicationsPractitioners should avoid short-sighted attitudes when organizing the supply chain on a cooperative basis, going beyond the conventional wisdom on physical and information flows between original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers to reach upstream stages and embracing financial considerations.Originality/valueThe paper takes a novel approach to the issue of inter-organizational collaboration in the supply chain, aiming to go beyond conventional Lean Supply practices. From an empirical point of view, while much of the research on the topic utilizes key informant insights collected using psychometric data collection techniques, this study uses different financial proxies collected from secondary panel data.
Motivational influences on supply manager environmental sustainability behavior
Authors: Anthony Swaim James , Maloni Michael J. , Henley Amy , Campbell Stacy 
Published: May 2016

PurposeAlthough supply chain managers serve a central role when implementing corporate environmental sustainability objectives, existing literature does not demonstrate high levels of supply manager support for such initiatives. This paper aims to investigate the potential of individual behavioral influences to explain supply manager orientation toward environmental responsibility.Methodology/approachThis paper constructs a research model based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explore how personal environmental motivations influence supply manager environmental behavior in the workplace. This paper also incorporates hyperbolic discounting as a cognitive bias moderator in the model. The research hypotheses were tested with regression of survey data of practicing supply managers in the USA.FindingsSupport was found for the direct TPB hypotheses, revealing the importance of an individual’s personal attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control on interpreting and applying the organization’s environmental sustainability objectives. Although the interactive effect of hyperbolic discounting as a cognitive bias was not supported, a direct effect was found.Practical implicationsThe findings can help organizations improve supply manager support for sustainability initiatives.Originality/valuePrior supply chain sustainability research has examined drivers and barriers at political, legal, economical and overall firm levels. This study expands this research base by investigating individual-level barriers and drivers related to personal responsibility for environmental sustainability. As a second contribution, integration of cognitive biases in the TPB has been understudied in existing literature.
How much can we afford to lose?
Authors: Savage Kathryn S. 
Published: May 2016

Synopsis
This case focusses on internal controls necessary to prevent theft of cash collections. Troy Wheeler, assistant dean of the School of Business and Public Policy was asked to write a memorandum to the university’s internal auditor verifying that controls on the cash register in the school were adequate to prevent major theft. Troy wrote the memo, but the request awakened nagging concerns regarding the cash register. The more Troy thought about it, the more concerned he became about the potential for loss. Troy needed to identify the major weaknesses in the existing system and make feasible recommendations to improve control.

Research methodology
This case is based on the author’s personal association with the organization, observation, interviews of key figures in the case, and examination of relevant documents.

Relevant courses and levels
This case is appropriate for any graduate or undergraduate accounting class where internal controls are analyzed and documented. The case could be used in courses on internal or external auditing or accounting information systems.
Conceptual model for knowledge discovery process in databases based on multi-agent system
Authors: Jahani Alireza , Akhavan Peyman , Jafari Mostafa , Fathian Mohammad 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
Knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) is a tedious and repetitive process. A challenge for the effective use of KDD is understanding and confirming its results derived from the harmonized process. To exploit the advantages of agents’ application, this paper aims to propose a conceptual model based on a multi-agent system (MAS) to control each step of the KDD process.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper reports the empirical findings of a survey conducted among academic and industrial sectors in Tehran, Iran. In this survey, the participants answered a questionnaire about the main factors of designing a suitable model for the KDD process based on MAS. The factor analysis reveals important insights of previous models developed by various researchers.

Findings
This research uses the survey results to find six critical success factors, continuity in refinement and improvement; learning and acting concurrently; loosely or tightly coupled approach for using technologies; cooperative, dynamic and flexible environment; documentation and reporting; and extracting and evaluating knowledge intelligently, for a proper conceptual model of the KDD process based on MAS.

Research limitations/implications
The proposed model reflects all aspects of the KDD process by applying the intelligent agents for each process steps. In addition, this research only considers the Iran society; hence, it cannot be generalized to other nations, and it may need further research in other countries and to be implemented in real-world business domains.

Originality/value
This research helps organizations to adopt a proposed model and implement a KDD process to advantage the valuable knowledge that exists in their data resources.
Collaborative conceptualisation processes in the development of lightweight ontologies
Authors: Sousa Cristóvão Dinis , Soares António Lucas , Pereira Carla Sofia 
Published: May 2016

PurposeIn collaborative settings, such as research and development projects, obtaining the maximum benefit from knowledge management systems depends on the ability of the different partners to understand the conceptualisation underlying the system’s knowledge organisation. This paper aims to show how information/knowledge organisation in a multi-organisation project can be made more effective if the domain experts are involved in the specification of the systems semantic structure. A particular aspect is further studied: the role of conceptual relations in the process of collaborative development of such structures.Design/methodology/approachAn action-research approach was adopted, framed by a socio-semantic stance. A collaborative conceptual modelling platform was used to support the members of a research and development project in the process of developing a lightweight ontology aiming at reorganising all the project information in a wiki system. Data collection was carried out by means of participant observation, interviews and a questionnaire.FindingsThe approach to solve the content organisation problem revealed to be effective both in the result and the process. It resulted in a better-organised system, enabling more efficient project information retrieval. The collaborative development of the lightweight ontology embodied, in fact, a learning process, leading to a shared conceptualisation. The research results point to the importance of the elicitation of conceptual relations for structuring the project’s knowledge. These results are important for the design of methods and tools to support the collaborative development of conceptual models.Originality/valueThis paper studies the social process leading to a shared conceptualisation, a subject that has not been sufficiently researched. This case study provides evidence about the importance of the early phases of the construction of ontologies, mainly if domain experts are deeply involved, supported by appropriated tools and guided by well-structured processes.
An investigation of the effect of extroverted and introverted personalities on knowledge acquisition techniques
Authors: Akhavan Peyman , Dehghani Maryam , Rajabpour Amir , Pezeshkan Amir 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to explore the relationship between personality traits (introversion versus extroversion) and knowledge acquisition (KA) techniques.

Design/methodology/approach
The major methodology of the current study is survey. Results are based on 152 usable responses provided by experts in different industries including electronic, communication, information technology, computer and biology. The major analytical technique used is Pearson correlation analysis.

Findings
According to the results, there are significant relationships between personality traits (i.e. introversion versus extroversion) and KA techniques.

Research limitations/implications
This study was conducted on data from 152 Iranian experts which limits the generalizability of the results. This limitation can be addressed by future studies conducting similar studies on cross-country samples. Further, due to the analytical technique adopted in this study, causality implications cannot be drawn from the results.

Originality/value
This study reveals linkages between personality traits (i.e. introversion versus extroversion) and KA techniques. Results shed light on the KA process for both scholars and practitioners involved in KA programs in the organizations.
Maternal and offspring outcomes in women with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Brown HK , Cobigo V , Lunsky Y , Vigod SN 
Published: May 2016

ObjectiveTo compare the risks for adverse maternal and offspring outcomes in women with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.DesignPopulation‐based cohort study.SettingOntario, Canada.PopulationSingleton obstetrical deliveries to 18‐ to 49‐year‐old women with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (n = 3932 in the exposed cohort, n = 382 774 in the unexposed cohort; 2002–2011 fiscal years).MethodsWomen with intellectual and developmental disabilities were identified based on diagnoses in health administrative data or receipt of disability income support. The unexposed cohort comprised women without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Modified Poisson regression was used to compute adjusted relative risks (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the two cohorts.Main outcome measuresPrimary maternal outcomes were: gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia, and venous thromboembolism. Primary offspring outcomes were: preterm birth, small for gestational age, and large for gestational age.ResultsThe exposed cohort, compared with the unexposed cohort, had increased risks for pre‐eclampsia (aRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.11–1.93) and venous thromboembolism (aRR 1.60, 95% CI 1.17–2.19). Their offspring had increased risks for preterm birth (aRR 1.63, 95% CI 1.47–1.80) and small for gestational age (aRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.25–1.45).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that there is a need to address modifiable risk factors for adverse outcomes among women with intellectual and developmental disabilities prior to and during pregnancy. Moreover, there is a need to enhance monitoring for maternal and offspring complications in this population.Tweetable abstractLarge cohort study: intellectual and developmental disabilities predispose women/babies to adverse outcomes.
Ethyl Acetate Extract of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum Prevents Streptozotocin‐Induced Diabetes in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Vujicic Milica , Nikolic Ivana , Kontogianni Vassiliki G. , Saksida Tamara , Charisiadis Pantelis , Vasic Bobana , Stosic‐Grujicic Stanislava , Gerothanassis Ioannis P. , Tzakos Andreas G. , Stojanovic Ivana 
Published: May 2016

AbstractType 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that develops as a consequence of pancreatic β‐cell death induced by proinflammatory mediators. Because Origanum vulgare L. ssp. hirtum (Greek oregano) contains antiinflammatory molecules, we hypothesized that it might be beneficial for the treatment of T1D. An ethyl acetate extract of oregano (EAO) was prepared from the leaves by a polar extraction method. Phytochemical composition was determined by liquid chromatography‐UV diode array coupled to ion‐trap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization interface (LC/DAD/ESI‐MSn). In vitro immunomodulatory effect of EAO was estimated by measuring proliferation (MTT) or cytokine secretion (ELISA) from immune cells. Diabetes was induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLDS) in male C57BL/6 mice and EAO was administered intraperitoneally for 10 d. Determination of cellular composition (flow cytometry) and cytokine production (ELISA) was performed on 12th d after diabetes induction. EAO suppressed the function of both macrophages and lymphocytes in vitro. In vivo, EAO treatment significantly preserved pancreatic islets and reduced diabetes incidence in MLDS‐challenged mice. Besides down‐modulatory effect on macrophages, EAO reduced the number of total CD4+ and activated CD4+CD25+ T cells. Furthermore, EAO affected the number of T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells through downregulation of their key transcription factors T‐bet and RORγT. Because EAO treatment protects mice from development of hyperglycemia by reducing proinflammatory macrophage/Th1/Th17 response, this plant extract could represent a basis for future diabetes therapy.