bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pcadapt: An R Package to Perform Genome Scans for Selection Based on Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Luu Keurcien , Bazin Eric , Blum Michael G. B. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe R packagepcadaptperforms genome scans to detect genes under selection based on population genomic data. It assumes that candidate markers are outliers with respect to how they are related to population structure. Because population structure is ascertained with principal component analysis, the package is fast and works with large-scale data. It can handle missing data and pooled sequencing data. By contrast to population-based approaches, the package handle admixed individuals and does not require grouping individuals into populations. Since its first release,pcadapthas evolved both in terms of statistical approach and software implementation. We present results obtained with robust Mahalanobis distance, which is a new statistic for genome scans available in the 2.0 and later versions of the package. When hierarchical population structure occurs, Mahalanobis distance is more powerful than the communality statistic that was implemented in the first version of the package. Using simulated data, we comparepcadaptto other software for genome scans (BayeScan, hapflk, OutFLANK, sNMF). We find that the proportion of false discoveries is around a nominal false discovery rate set at 10% with the exception ofBayeScanthat generates 40% of false discoveries. We also find that the power ofBayeScanis severely impacted by the presence of admixed individuals whereaspcadaptis not impacted. Last, we find thatpcadaptandhapflkare the most powerful software in scenarios of population divergence and range expansion. Becausepcadapthandles next-generation sequencing data, it is a valuable tool for data analysis in molecular ecology.
Threshold capability development in intensive mode business units
Authors: Crispin Stuart , Hancock Phil , Male Sally Amanda , Baillie Caroline , MacNish Cara , Leggoe Jeremy , Ranmuthugala Dev , Alam Firoz 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore: student perceptions of threshold concepts and capabilities in postgraduate business education, and the potential impacts of intensive modes of teaching on student understanding of threshold concepts and development of threshold capabilities.Design/methodology/approach– The student experience of learning was studied in two business units: strategic management, and accounting. The method involved two phases. In the first, students and unit coordinators identified and justified potential threshold concepts and capabilities. In the second, themes were rationalized.Findings– Significantly more so in intensive mode, the opportunity to ask questions was reported by student participants to support their development of the nominated threshold capabilities. This and other factors reported by students to support their learning in intensive mode are consistent with supporting students to traverse the liminal space within the limited time available in intensive mode.Research limitations/implications– Respondents from future cohorts will address the small participant numbers. Studies in only two units are reported. Studies in other disciplines are presented elsewhere.Practical implications– The findings will be important to educators using intensive mode teaching in business, and researchers working within the framework.Originality/value– This is the first study to explore the potential impacts of intensive modes of teaching on student understanding of threshold concepts and development of threshold capabilities.
Attitudes of Nigerian facilities management professionals to the benefits of benchmarking
Authors: Adetoro Adewunmi Yewande , Damilola Ajayi Oluwaseun 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of benchmarking among Nigerian facilities management (FM) practitioners.Design/methodology/approachData collection was through semi-structured interviews with 34 FM heads from three selected cities in Nigeria. Of this number, 16 were from Lagos, 10 from Abuja, while 8 managers were from Port Harcourt. These managers were selected using purposive sampling based on their experience in the field of FM across the various sectors of the economy. The interviews were analysed with Nvivo 10 software qualitative computer software so as to reduce manual tasks, discover tendencies and recognize themes on the practice, meaning and benefits of benchmarking. Matrix coding of the Nvivo software was used to distinguish between benefits realized by those that conduct formal and informal benchmarking.FindingsThe paper found that those that perform informal benchmarking find that the benchmarking tool helps them to improve performance, service quality and their processes. On the other hand, those that perform formal benchmarking affirmed that benchmarking helped them in making strategic plans, striving to be the best in the industry and obtaining explanations for those improvements that are made now and in the near future.Practical implicationsThe results, therefore, suggest that formal benchmarking in Nigeria is needed in performing strategic role in FM, as well as in making good business case agitations. Practitioners also need to know the benefits of benchmarking to improve its usage.Originality/valueThe paper categorised FM benchmarking benefits. Also, there are limited empirical studies on benchmarking benefits in developing countries.
Usability and affordances for inquiry-based learning in a blended learning environment
Authors: Sandström Niclas , Eriksson Robert , Lonka Kirsti , Nenonen Suvi 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the core dimensions of user experiences in a physical and technologically embedded learning environment (LE) designed to support active student-led inquiry-based studies and collaborative knowledge creation in higher education.Design/methodology/approachThe paper integrated the USEframe of usability of built environments and the inquiry-based engaging learning environment (ELE) to test and develop the usability and pedagogy of future LEs. A group of ten teacher students was studied and interviewed semi-structurally after a seven-week inquiry-based course unit. The findings were considered in light of the two frameworks.FindingsThe physical and embedded LEs provided the students with socio-digital affordances that promoted experienced study engagement, knowledge co-creation and sharing and a sense of safety and belonging in the scientific community. The application of the ELE model and the agile physical setting complemented and supported each other and promoted learning.Practical implicationsThe results shed light on how to integrate understanding the user process, user experience and use of embedded LEs to develop usability of new LEs.Originality/valueThe living lab provides different stakeholders with tangible information about usability and helps the designers in concrete streamlining of pedagogy and physical LEs.
Provision of facilities management services in Sri Lankan commercial organisations
Authors: Perera B.A.K.S , Ahamed M.H.S. , Rameezdeen Raufdeen , Chileshe Nicholas , Hosseini M. Reza 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore sourcing strategies for facilities management services using core-competency theory of outsourcing. The aim is to develop a screening framework for deciding the suitability of outsourcing versus in-house delivery for these services based on three levels of managerial functions prevalent in a typical commercial organization.

Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey was administered for facilities managers in Sri Lanka to investigate the relative importance of these managerial functions for facilities management services and obtain their opinions on the best delivery mode. The managerial functions were derived from a literature review and verified using three semi-structured interviews prior to the questionnaire survey design.

Findings
The findings showed that facilities management services that are aligned to strategic functions are suitable for in-house delivery, while those that are aligned to tactical and operational functions for outsourcing.

Research limitations/implications
Further studies should be conducted and extended to other types of organizations beyond commercial ones. Secondly, the quantitative study employed a smaller sample (n = 40), and the survey items were based on the review of literature which was verified using a very small number of interviews (n = 3).

Practical implications
The proposed framework can be utilized when choosing the best facilities management approach for commercial organizations in developing countries such as Sri Lanka.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the body of knowledge on the subject of facilities management by exploring the context in Sri Lankan which has not previously been done.
Deconstructing Islamic banking – history of debates, and steps to an alternative future
Authors: El-Ghattis Nedal 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
There is almost a consensus amongst Muslim scholars that the most crucial problem faced by the Muslim world is in the prevailing ideas (including sanctification, archaism, the common paradigm, the absence of the role of the intellectual, etc.) which formulate people’s thoughts and determine their options. There will not be a genuine renaissance of Islam without updating these ideas and emerging from the cocoon of the past. This can be done through a modern approach which would respond to the changes by looking towards the future rather than towards the past. This study aims to identify the intellectual aspects of this crisis and how this crisis has formed and influenced Islamic banking.

Design/methodology/approach
To analyse this crisis, the methodology called causal layered analysis (CLA) is used, which is drawn from the field of strategic foresight and designed by Inayatullah (2002). CLA is designed on the basis that the way to understand the nature of the problem will determine the proposed solutions, by diving through the surface phenomena of the problem to the depth of the “motors” of the crisis.

Findings
The author finds that Islamic banking is the offspring of its incubator ideas and reform, and the change and progress of Islamic banking can only deal with a critical approach of these ideas; Islamic banking promotes itself as an alternative to conventional banking, but this has not been achieved except on the level of form rather than substance; Islamic banking is a movement within a variable reality, and inertia in specific form and context will keep it in a state of crisis and may lead to its demise.

Originality/value
To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study showing the roots of the ideas making up the fabric of banking in the Muslim world and the repercussions of intellectual crisis on Islamic banking.
Sustainability of positive relationship between environmental performance and profitability of SMEs
Authors: Shahedul Quader Mohammed , Kamal Md. Mostafa , Hassan A.B.M. Enamol 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThis paper aims to conduct an in-depth study of any changes that small medium enterprises (SMEs) environmental performance face, in the retailing and manufacturing sector, as well as to identify their main drivers. Furthermore, it seeks to investigate SMEs’ perspectives regarding the environmental management systems and more specifically International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001 on the one side, whether it is a positive relationship between the implementation of “ISO 14001” by SMEs and their profitability of business on the other.Design/methodology/approachThis study is a qualitative research, which combines secondary data enriched with daily articles and primary data using in-depth interviews with experts from the SME sectors, which attempts to build a sufficient “theory” by answering the research questions.FindingsThe business world has started to get widely involved with the environmental issues and even if this, in some cases, happened only for marketing purposes, it is difficult now to be changed. The SMEs have started to realise their responsibilities and act accordingly, but there is a long way to cover until their actions will be actually beneficial for the environment. However, the improvement or stability of SMEs’ environmental performance, meaning the implementation of more environmental activities, depends on the impact that those changes will have in every SME, due to the unique idiosyncrasy that each of it consists.Originality/valueThis paper reveals proper method for documenting monetary rewards to entrepreneurship through maintaining environmental issues accurately using information about profitability of SME’s. After maintaining environmental factors, the premia illustrates about the entrepreneurs concentrating not only profitability but also environmental concern.
Why did they do it? How customers’ self-service technology introduction attributions affect the customer-provider relationship
Authors: Nijssen Edwin J. , Schepers Jeroen J. L. , Belanche Daniel 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
– Customers often think that innovations, such as self-service technologies (SSTs), are introduced by service providers to cut costs rather than extend customer service levels. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how customers use such attributions to adjust their perceptions of relational value.

Design/methodology/approach
– Drawing on attribution and relationship marketing theories, this study proposes a conceptual model that includes benefit and cost attributions, their antecedents, and consequences. Survey data came from customers of a supermarket that recently introduced self-scanning technology.

Findings
– Attributions mediate the impact of SST performance on relational value. This value is highest for customers with high-benefit and low-cost attributions; customers with low-benefit and low-cost attributions exhibit detrimental effects on the exchange relationship with the firm. Characterized by low self-efficacy, low education, and low spending, these latter customers appear ambivalent and possibly confused about the provider’s motives for introducing SST.

Practical implications
– This research has important implications for service managers responsible for communicating technological innovations to customers. A clear reason for the introduction should be provided, to stimulate customers’ attribution and prevent ambivalence among those with low self-efficacy and low education.

Originality/value
– Most SST research focusses on adoption, non-adoption, and disadoption. The more subtle responses by customers facing a new SST and the consequences for the customer-provider exchange relationship, as addressed herein, have been left largely unexplored.
Liquidity and corporate governance: evidence from family firms
Authors: Yu-Thompson Yin , Lu-Andrews Ran , Fu Liang 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
This paper aims to perform empirical analysis to test whether less severe agency conflict between managers and controlling shareholders may improve family firms’ corporate and stock liquidity, compared to non-family firms.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors use the ordinary least square and two-stage generalized method of moments regression analyses. They also use match-paired design for robustness check.

Findings
Focusing on Standard & Poor’s 500 firms, the authors find that family firms are more conservative by hoarding more corporate liquid assets (as measured by accounting balance sheet liquidity ratios) than their peer non-family firms to prevent underinvestment from external costly finance. These family firms also exhibit higher level of stock liquidity and lower liquidity risk as measured by effective bid–ask spread than non-family firms. The results are consistent with the motivation that organizations (i.e. family firms in this study) whose shareholders can efficiently monitor that their managers are associated with higher level of corporate liquidity and stock liquidity, and lower level of liquidity risk.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature on liquidity (both corporate liquidity and stock liquidity) and ownership structure, more broadly corporate governance. It provides insights into corporate and stock liquidity within a unique ownership context: family firms versus non-family firms. Family firms in the USA are subject to both Type I (agency problems arising from the separation of ownership and control) and Type II agency problems (agency conflict arising between majority and minority shareholders). It is an ongoing debate whether family firms suffer more or less agency problems from one type versus the other than non-family firms. The finding that family firms have higher corporate and stock liquidity is consistent with that family firms being subject to less severe agency conflict due to separation of ownership from control.
Disclosure quantity and the efficiency of price discovery
Authors: Chung Dennis , Hrazdil Karel , Suwanyangyuan Nattavut 
Published: May 2016

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the information disclosure quantity on the pricing efficiency of stocks.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of large and actively traded Canadian companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the authors utilize annual reports filed on system for electronic document analysis and retrieval (SEDAR) between 2003 and 2013 to estimate the amount of publicly available information and find that the length and size of annual reports are important determinants of short-horizon return predictability from historical order flows, which is an inverse indicator of market efficiency.

Findings
The results show that longer and larger annual reports are associated with reduced information asymmetry, lower cost of immediacy, higher trading activity, and an overall improvement in the efficiency of price discovery. The results are robust to the inclusion of controls for various determinants of short-horizon return predictability, such as trading costs, volatility, informational effects and other firm-specific characteristics.

Research Limitations/implications
Collectively, the findings provide empirical support for the benefits of detailed corporate disclosure in Canada.

Originality/value
This is the first study to utilize the short-horizon return predictability approach to evaluate the efficiency of price discovery in relation to the amount of information disclosure.
The role of sport science in the elite football labour process
Authors: Kennedy Peter , Kennedy David 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the elective affinity between sport science and elite football by situating it first, within the wider political economy of football and second, within the dynamics of the market and work situation faced by elite players in the modern game.Design/methodology/approach– The methodology underpinning this paper continues this movement by considering the impact on market and work situation of elite footballers due to wider social structures and the distribution of social power peculiar to the football industry. It is premised on the view that observed events and contingent relations and processes are linked to more enduring social structures and that knowledge must take account of all three.Findings– The resulting impact of sport science on elite football is contradictory, facilitating, on the one hand, the development of football as an aesthetic experience, while on the other hand, threatening to transform the football spectacle into a mundane exercise in the search for increased functional peak performance for its own sake.Research limitations/implications– The value of this paper is that it considers salaries and player power to determine value by exploring the impact on market and work situation of elite footballers set in the context of wider social structures and the distribution of social power peculiar to the football industry.Practical implications– Elite footballers yield immense power over their market situation, which sport science has the potential to enhance and sustain by fine honing peak fitness. The football club’s relative lack of control of the player’s market situation necessitates the appliance of sport science to help maximize control over the player’s work situation.Social implications– The paper demonstrates that sport science develops elite footballers to peak fitness, while also developing footballers as commodities; and this latter aspect if taken too far may potentially transform football into a mundane exercise in the search for increased functional peak performance for its own sake.Originality/value– The paper draws together the relatively neglected analysis of the football labour process with the increasing interventions of sport science to football and sets this within a broader political economy of football.
Volunteers at biking race events
Authors: Mykletun Reidar J. , Himanen Krista 
Published: May 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents of volunteer commitment and intention to remain volunteering for the same event in the future, in the context of two annually held Norwegian cycling race events.Design/methodology/approach– A cross-sectional design was used, applying a questionnaire that was developed and distributed to the cycling events volunteers both in hard copies and as online format by QuestBack.Findings– The volunteers were motivated by egoistic, altruistic, connection to the sport, and external factors. They were highly committed and intended to remain as a volunteers in the future events. Older age; satisfaction from their own contribution and type of work, from recognition; and motivation as personal connections to the sport predicted commitment. Higher levels of education, commitment, and motivation by personal connections to the sport predicted intention to remain as a volunteer for future events. A factor-based structure of sport event volunteer satisfaction was presented, which, to the best of the knowledge is the first of its kind.Research limitations/implications– The study should be replicated across several events to test the external validation of the models.Practical implications– This understanding of motivation and satisfaction can be beneficial for the management of volunteers in order to retain the experienced and motivated volunteers and to ensure the continuation of the event in the future.Originality/value– The study adds new knowledge to the research field by presenting an extensive, updated literature review, development of a fist factor-analysed scale for volunteer satisfaction, and the first application of the model including volunteer demographics, satisfaction, motivation, and commitment in predicting intention to remain volunteers for the biking event in the future.