bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The experimental and quantum chemical investigation for two isomeric compounds as aminopyrazine and 2-amino-pyrimidine against mild steel corrosion
Authors: Dogru Mert Basak , Mert Mehmet Erman , Kardas Gülfeza , Yazici Birgül 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adsorption and corrosion inhibition of two isomeric compounds (C4H5N3) as aminopyrazine (AP) and 2-amino-pyrimidine (2AP) on mild steel (MS) in 0.5 M HCl. The study was a trial to combine experimental and modelling studies and research effect of molecular geometry on inhibition effect of inhibitor molecules.

Design/methodology/approach
The thermodynamic, kinetic and quantum parameters were determined. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and anodic polarisation measurements were obtained. The scanning electron microscope was used for monitoring electrode surface. The highest occupied molecular orbital, energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, Mulliken and natural bonding orbital charges on the backbone atoms, absolute electronegativity, absolute hardness were calculated by density functional theory (DFT)/B3LYP/6-311G (++ d,p).

Findings
Results showed that AP and 2AP suppressed the corrosion rate of MS. The corrosion current values were 0.530, 0.050 and 0.016 mA cm-2 in HCl, AP and 2AP containing HCl solutions, respectively. It was illustrated with the blocked fraction of the MS surface by adsorption of inhibitors which obeyed the Langmuir isotherm. The inhibition efficiency follows the order: 2AP > AP which is in agreement with experimental and quantum results.

Originality/value
This paper provides lay a bridge on the molecular geometry and inhibition efficiency by electrochemical tests and modelling study. The inhibition effect of AP and 2AP has not been compared with each other, neither experimentally nor theoretically. This study put forward possible application of 2AP as corrosion inhibitor especially for closed-circuit systems.
A failure before analysis: the soup to nuts of preparing for multicountry analyses
Authors: Karam Charlotte M. , Ralston David A. 
Published: September 2016

PurposeA large and growing number of researchers set out to cross-culturally examine empirical relationships. The purpose of this paper is to provide researchers, who are new to multicountry investigations, a discussion of the issues that one needs to address in order to be properly prepared to begin the cross-cultural analyses of relationships.Design/methodology/approachThus, the authors consider two uniquely different but integrally connected challenges to getting ready to conduct the relevant analyses for just such multicountry studies. The first challenge is to collect the data. The second challenge is to prepare (clean) the collected data for analysis. Accordingly, the authors divide this paper into two parts to discuss the steps involved in both for multicountry studies.FindingsThe authors highlight the fact that in the process of collecting, there are a number of key issues that should be kept in mind including building trust with new team members, leading the team, and determining sufficient contribution of team members for authorship. Subsequently, the authors draw the reader’s attention to the equally important, but often-overlooked, data cleaning process and the steps that constitute it. This is important because failing to take serious the quality of the data can lead to violations of assumptions and mis-estimations of parameters and effects.Originality/valueThis paper provides a useful guide to assist researchers who are engaged in data collection and cleaning efforts with multiple country data sets. The review of the literature indicated how truly important a guideline of this nature is, given the expanding nature of cross-cultural investigations.
Why replication studies are essential: learning from failure and success
Authors: Harzing Anne-Wil 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the pervasive problem of a lack of replication studies in international business based on van Witteloostuijn’s (2016) commentary “What happened to Popperian Falsification?”

Design/methodology/approach
The author presents two short case studies from her own research, one in which no replication studies took place, and one in which a replication study was conducted shortly after the original study was published.

Findings
The author shows how the lack of replication in the first case study example resulted in the creation of research myths, whereas the judicious replication in her second case study strengthened arguments for a new – less biased – measure of research performance. The author also discusses why most journals in the field are not open to replication studies and provides recommendations on how to move forward.

Originality/value
Using two real-life case studies provides a vivid illustration of the problems created by a lack of replications and illustrates the benefits of good replication studies.
Looking closer at reading comprehension
Authors: Ortlieb Evan , McDowell F.D. 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
Reading comprehension levels of elementary students have not significantly improved in the twenty-first century, and, as a result, the need for systematic and intensive reading interventions is as high as ever. Literacy clinics are an ideal setting for struggling readers to experience success through the implementation of a cyclical approach to individual assessment, planning, instruction and evaluation. Yet, additional research is needed to create current and relevant models of literacy clinics for today’s diverse learners. This paper aimed to measure the effects of an experimental approach to reading comprehension instruction for third graders within an off-campus literacy clinic; the intervention involved a scope and sequence of comprehension strategies in which students had to demonstrate skill mastery before progressing to the next skill.

Design/methodology/approach
This investigation used a classic controlled experiment design by randomly assigning half of the literacy clinic participants (30) to either a control or experimental group. The previous year-end’s Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) scores of the participants were used as indicators (or base lines) of each participant’s preexisting level of reading achievement.

Findings
There was a statistically higher achievement rate in the experimental group as measured by the CRCT statewide assessment with a Cohen’s effect size value (d = 0.79) suggested a moderate to high practical significance.

Practical implications
This study’s findings are relevant to those involved in literacy remediation, including literacy clinic directors, preservice educators and curriculum directors.

Originality/value
This paper is one of a kind in that it is the first to trial a scope and sequence of evidence-based comprehension strategies for comprehension improvement in primary school students. The findings call for major changes to thinking about how we improve students’ reading skills by focusing on depth rather than breadth.
Discourses of “Crazy English”: reconciling the tensions between the nation-state and neoliberal agenda
Authors: Hamid M. Obaidul , Luo Shuqin 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
While education policymakers in Asian polities find it difficult to resist the English language which has attained a new status in “late capitalism”, prevailing policy-level perceptions also suggest that a ruthless adoption of English may undermine national languages, identities and cultures. Despite the heightened commercialisation of English as a global language this policy dilemma raises some critical questions. For example, how can individual entrepreneurs also acting as “language policy actors” effectively promote for-profit English teaching ventures without being accused of compromising national interests, identities and traditions? This article makes a modest attempt towards addressing these questions by conducting a critical analysis of Li Yang’s English teaching venture called “Crazy English” in China and its underlying discourses.

Design/methodology/approach
From a sample of English teaching resources available on its official website, this paper identifies and discusses four major discourses on the relationship between English and individual entrepreneurship in English on the one hand and Chinese and China’s national values and interests on the other.

Findings
This paper argues that collectively these discourses represent a model of “edu-business” in English language teaching that reconciles the dichotomies between nationalism and post-nationalism, individualism and collectivism and public and private interests in a neoliberal world.

Originality/value
With the onset of globalisation and its impact on all aspects of life including the economy, education and communication, there have been on-going debates on the emerging tensions between the nation-state and the forces of trans/post-nationalism, the latter being underpinned by neo-liberalism. These tensions have also been observed in the fields of English and English language education. While research has examined how macro-level policymakers respond to globalisation through their English language policies, there has been limited work on how individual language policy actors engaged in the commercialisation of English reconcile the apparently irreconcilable forces of nationalism and post-nationalism. The contribution of the present article lies in illustrating a case that seeks to reconcile these forces through discourses and discursive strategies.
State fragility and transparency
Authors: Dutta Nabamita , Roy Sanjukta 
Published: September 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the relationship between state fragility and transparency. A state is deemed fragile when it falters in its ability to manage conflict and in its capacity to deliver basic functions and implement public policy. Although minimizing fragility of the state is undoubtedly an integral component of economic development, there is a huge variation across countries in terms of where they stand with regard to fragility. Further, it also explores how educational attainment affects the relationship between state fragility and transparency.Design/methodology/approachUsing several robust estimation methodologies and a relatively new database on transparency, the authors find that higher levels of transparency lower state fragility. They reply on fixed effect estimators, lagged one period and five periods and system GMM estimators as part of our identification strategy.FindingsUsing several robust estimation methodologies and a relatively new database on transparency, the authors find that a higher level of transparency lowers state fragility. Greater and free flow of information empowers the populace, restores trust in government, increases participation in the political arena and, thus, reduces state fragility. This paper additionally shows that higher educational attainment helps reap the benefits of transparency even more and, thus, catalyzes transparency to lower-state fragility more effectively.Research limitations/implicationsOur research shows that greater transparency leads to lower state fragility. Additionally, if the populace of the country has higher educational attainment, the benefits of transparency in reducing state fragility is enhanced. Although enhancing transparency amid high state fragility may be a challenging task, it can be achieved by providing the populace with better media access via internet and cell phones.Originality/valueThe authors use a relatively new database of transparency to show that transparency acts as an important determinant of state fragility. A state is deemed fragile when it falters in its ability to manage conflict and in its capacity to deliver basic functions and implement public policy. Given this definition, it is needless to say that what can affect state fragility and how can such fragility be lowered is an important research agenda. This paper aims to fill this gap. Additionally, it shows the importance of education while exploring such a relationship.
Optimizing preventive maintenance: a deteriorating system with buffers
Authors: Zhou Binghai , Liu Zilong 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
Making decisions on preventive maintenance (PM) policy and buffer sizing, as is often studied, may not result in overall optimization. The purpose of this paper is to propose a joint model that integrates PM and buffer sizing with consideration of quality loss for a degenerating system, which aims to minimize the average operation cost for a finite horizon. The opportunistic maintenance (OM) policy which could increase the output and decrease the cost of the system is also explored.

Design/methodology/approach
A joint PM and buffer size model considering quality loss is proposed. In this model, the time-based PM and the condition-based PM are taken on the upstream and the downstream machine, respectively. Further, the OM policy based on the theory of constraints (TOC) is also considered. An iterative search algorithm with Monte Carlo is developed to solve the non-linear model. A case study is conducted to illustrate the performance of the proposed PM policies.

Findings
The superiority of the proposed integrated policies compared with the separate PM policy is demonstrated. Effects of the policies are testified. The advantages of the proposed TOC-based OM policy is highlighted in terms of low-cost and high-output.

Originality/value
Few studies have been carried out to integrate decisions on PM and buffer size when taking the quality loss into consideration for degenerating systems. Most PM models treat machines equally ignoring the various roles of them. A more comprehensive and integrated model based on TOC is proposed, accompanied by an iterative search algorithm with Monte Carlo for solving it. An OM policy to further improve the performance of system is also presented.
RFID impacts on barriers affecting lean manufacturing
Authors: Rafique Muhammad Zeeshan , Ab Rahman Mohd Nizam , Saibani Nizaroyani , Arsad Norhana , Saadat Waqar 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
Lean manufacturing is one of the leading paradigms for fast and proficient manufacturing but its proper implementation is a foremost task due to certain barriers affecting lean and can be handled when utilized with RFID technology. With this aspect in view, the purpose of this paper is to enlighten and present a thorough literature study that can show how RFID-based lean manufacturing is helpful for handling barriers affecting lean manufacturing in light of previous literature available.

Design/methodology/approach
In order to achieve this purpose a systematic literature review is conducted to justify the impacts of RFID technology for handling barriers. The aim of this systematic literature review is to initially find the barriers affecting lean implementation and then to explain the properties of RFID-based lean manufacturing which are highly feasible to handle detected barriers.

Findings
An interrelation is generated in this study which provides a clear indication that the properties of RFID carry significant effects to handle detected barriers in the operational, managerial and financial regime of manufacturing companies. The detected barriers that affect lean implementation are company’s cultures, top management commitment, poor employee administration, lack of finances, unbalanced inventory control, unstable customer handling and longer lead times. The properties of RFID-based lean manufacturing like operational visibility, inventory control, production control, minimized lead times and the real-time data information (to facilitate top management and employees on shop floor) are extremely helpful to control these barriers.

Originality/value
The originality of this study is the provision of clarity provided to both academicians and practitioners by citing and utilizing previous research studies which undoubtedly indicates positive impacts of RFID on lean implementation.
Predicting instructional effectiveness of cloud-based virtual learning environment
Authors: Hew Teck-Soon , Syed Abdul Kadir Sharifah Latifah 
Published: September 2016

PurposeCloud computing technology is advancing and expanding at an explosive rate. These advancements have further extended the capabilities of the virtual learning environment (VLE) to provide accessibility anywhere, anytime where educational resources can be saved, modified, retrieved and shared on the cloud. The purpose of this paper is to examine the predictors of instructional effectiveness of cloud computing VLE by extending the Self Determination and Channel Expansion Theory with external constructs of VLE interactivity, content design, school support, trust in website, knowledge sharing attitude and demographic variables.Design/methodology/approachRandom sampling data were collected in two waves of nation-wide survey and analyzed with artificial neural network approach.FindingsSDT, CET, content design, interactivity, trust in website, school support and demographics significantly predict instructional effectiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has provided a new paradigm shift from investigating the behavioral intention and continuance intention to the effectiveness of an information system. It advocates that quality of research may be improved by adhering to the basic research methodology starting from rigorous instrument development and validation to future research direction.Practical implicationsThe research provides implications to Ministry of Education, the VLE content and service providers, scholars and practitioners.Social implicationsThe findings of the study may further improve the quality of living of the society when the instructional effectiveness of the cloud-based VLE is further enhanced.Originality/valueExisting grid computing VLE studies have focussed on the acceptance of students and teachers and not its instructional effectiveness. Unlike existing studies that examined extrinsic motivational factors (e.g. TAM, UTAUT), this study uses intrinsic motivational factors (e.g. relatedness, competence and autonomy) as well as perceived media richness. Malaysia is the first nation to implement the VLE at a national scale and the findings from this study will provide a new insight on the determinants of instructional effectiveness of the VLE system.
The impact of external involvement on new product market performance
Authors: Zhang Huiying , Yang Fan 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to bridge the gap in understanding the effects of external involvement on new product market performance. Particularly, the authors investigate the mediating effects of speed-to-market of new products and moderating effects of information technology (IT) implementation.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is based on the high-performance manufacturing (HPM) project database collected from 366 manufacturing plants in ten countries and three representative industries. The hierarchical regression analysis is employed to explore the relationships in the model.

Findings
The empirical findings indicate that speed-to-market of new products positively and significantly mediates the relationship between customer involvement and new product market performance. The results also demonstrate that IT implementation moderates the relationship between external involvement and speed-to-market of new products. More importantly, the findings reveal that supplier involvement is less likely to lead to the enhancement of speed-to-market if the firm is not able to establish a higher level of IT implementation.

Practical implications
This analysis uncovers the way of how customer and supplier involvement are related to new product market performance, and highlights the importance of IT implementation in absorbing and exploiting external resources.

Originality/value
This paper moves us from a simplistic understanding of external involvement to a more nuanced and complex model which is closer to reality. The obtained findings highlight the importance for manufacturers to establish speed advantage of new products and implement IT as an enabler.
Applying service-dominant logic to recurrent release of software: an action research study
Authors: Barqawi Neda , Syed Kamran , Mathiassen Lars 
Published: September 2016

Purpose
Fierce competition drives software vendors to rely on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) strategies and to continuously match new releases with customers’ needs and competitors’ moves. Such recurrent release practices pose specific challenges for software vendors which shape how they service customers. To address these challenges, this paper aims to apply service science to innovate strategies for SaaS release management.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on action research methodology, the authors collaborated closely with Software Inc., an alias for a large multinational software provider, to apply service-dominant logic systematically, to analyze and improve its SaaS release management process and to support ongoing value co-creation with its customers.

Findings
The authors provide a detailed account of how Software Inc. improved its SaaS release management practices; they extend current understanding of service innovation dynamics in SaaS environments and offer a model of value co-creation in SaaS release management grounded in the findings from Software Inc.

Research limitations/implications
The research draws on a single case study with particular characteristics. Still, it allows for analytical generalizations with both theoretical and practical implications for how SaaS managers can improve recurrent release practices based on foundational service-dominant logic principles.

Practical implications
The authors suggest that SaaS managers concentrate on knowledge-sharing with customers, ensure continuous communication among teams supporting the service, re-organize release management to enhance the value co-creation process, use technology to improve customer service experiences and use service mapping to improve release management and service quality.

Originality/value
The authors bridge service-dominant logic principles and SaaS knowledge by demonstrating how service-dominant logic can be used to improve SaaS release practices and by offering conceptual and practical knowledge about value co-creation between customers and suppliers in SaaS contexts.