bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of sustainability practices in international port operations
Authors: Kim Sihyun , Chiang Bong Gyu 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
With increasing attention to sustainability in port operations, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of sustainability practice (SP) as a moderator on the relationships between competitiveness and performance in port operations.

Design/methodology/approach
To explore the specific route of SPs in managing competitiveness and performance, this study adopted the hierarchical moderated regression analysis. Additionally, to analyze the difference in the level of implementation of SP, alternative subgroup analysis was conducted via independent sample t-tests in SPSS 21.

Findings
Research results have shown the role of SPs in achieving outstanding port activities, which significantly moderates the relationship between competitiveness, particularly for operational efficiency and service quality, and performance.

Research limitations/implications
As this study is based on cross-sectional data, it does not tap any temporal attitude change, which would require a longitudinal approach. The authors contribute to filling a void between what is achievable and how sustainable practice contributes to managing competitiveness and performance, based on commercial port operations.

Practical implications
Results provide useful insights to establish the strategies to develop sustainable port operations and a strategic agenda to assist ports to incorporate SP.

Originality/value
Drawing on multiple theories, this study advances the role of SP by shedding new light on how it improves operational sustainability through strengthening the relationships between competitiveness and performance.
Use of zeroing in the W-T comparison methodology and targeted dumping (US anti-dumping measures on large residential washers from Korea (DS464))
Authors: Kim Sang Man , Kim Jongho 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the use of zeroing in the weighted average-to-transaction (W-T) comparison methodology and targeted dumping under the anti-dumping agreement by reviewing the WTO appellate body’s rulings on the use of zeroing in the W-T comparison methodology in the USA – anti-dumping measures on large residential washers from Korea (DS464). Although the appellate body has ruled that the use of zeroing would not be allowed in the weighted-average-to-weighted-average comparison methodology nor in the transaction-to-transaction comparison methodology, it has not ruled on whether the use of zeroing is allowed in the W-T comparison methodology prior to the instant case.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper mainly analyzes the WTO appellate body report on the USA – anti-dumping and countervailing measures on large residential washers from Korea’s rulings (DS464) and reviews other WTO appellate body reports on the use of zeroing in anti-dumping measures. This paper reviews the relevant provisions of the WTO anti-dumping agreement and the US Anti-Dumping Act, and also referred prior papers on the use of zeroing.

Findings
The appellate body upheld the panel’s finding that the USA’s use of zeroing in the W-T comparison methodology is inconsistent with Article 2.4.2 of the anti-dumping agreement. As zeroing inflates dumping margins, increases the amount of duty collected, and hinders the expansion of trade in goods. The use of zeroing should be prohibited or permitted only in very limited circumstances.

Social implications
Zeroing, which has been the subject of many WTO disputes between the USA and foreign governments, causes dumped sales to be masked by fair value. The WTO appellate body has consistently condemned the US practice of zeroing over the past decade as an unfair commerce practice. The instant case and this paper will help to stop the practice of zeroing in anti-dumping measures.

Originality/value
The text of Article 2.4.2 does not clearly prohibit the use of zeroing. The paper reviews the WTO appellate body’s rulings on the use of zeroing in the W-T comparison methodology in the USA – anti-dumping measures on large residential washers from Korea (DS464). The appellate body report was very recently circulated, on September 9, 2016. The appellate body has not ruled on whether the use of zeroing is allowed in the W-T comparison methodology prior to the instant case. This paper, first, concludes that the W-T comparison methodology is inconsistent with Article 2.4.2 of the anti-dumping agreement.
Supporting participation of Asia-Pacific SMEs in global value chains
Authors: Abe Masato , Proksch Marc 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
Global value chains (GVCs) have become increasingly influential in determining the patterns of international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) and in providing growth opportunities in Asia and the Pacific while small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been an engine of economic development. The purpose of this paper is to provide effective development strategies and relevant policy approaches to facilitate dynamic insertion of SMEs into GVCs.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper was developed based on various Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific works in the fields of the development of SMEs and GVCs in Asia and the Pacific. Sectoral case studies on agribusiness, garment/apparel, automotive and electronics illustrate SMEs’ effective integration into GVCs.

Findings
SMEs face multiple obstacles and challenges which may limit the benefits derived from the development of GVCs in Asia and the Pacific. Policymakers are suggested to design and implement appropriate strategies and polices in order to facilitate the development of SMEs under the ongoing globalization.

Research limitations/implications
This paper is mainly based on existing policy papers which were developed by the United Nations Secretariat, its specialized agencies and others. Further empirical and policy studies are expected to be conducted in order to deepen the understanding of the present topics and to come up with practical policy options.

Practical implications
Policymakers are suggested to consider strategies and policy options recommended by this paper for their works on SME development and trade and investment promotion.

Originality/value
This is the first policy paper which proposes a comprehensive framework for SMEs’ effective participation in GVCs, specifically suggesting seven approaches, namely, SME development; trade policy; behind-the-border and cross-border trade facilitation; regional integration frameworks; FDI promotion; SME clusters; and national innovation system.
Acceptance and usage of social media as a platform among student entrepreneurs
Authors: Nawi Noorshella Binti Che , Mamun Abdullah Al , Nasir Noorul Azwin Binti Md , Shokery Noorlisa Maria bt A. Hamid , Raston Nursalihah Binti Ahmad , Fazal Syed Ali 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
While it is perceived that adoption reflects acceptance, the purpose of this paper is to argue that individual usage is critical and cannot be guaranteed by mere adoption. This study, therefore, focuses on the factors (i.e. performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, facilitating condition, and perceived enjoyment) contributing to the adoption and ultimately usage of social media as a business platform among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia under the premise of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT).

Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a cross-sectional design and quantitative data are collected from 300 selected respondents listed as student entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurship centers of all public universities within Peninsular Malaysia.

Findings
Performance expectancy, perceived risk, perceived trust, and perceived enjoyment have a significant effect on the adoption of social media leading to its usage as a business platform. Findings also report a significant mediating effect of adoption of social media on the relationship between performance expectancy, perceived trust, perceived risk, and perceived enjoyment with the depth of social media usage.

Research limitations/implications
In order to promote entrepreneurial activities among student entrepreneurs using social media as a business platform, programs and policies should focus on improving cyber security and value-added services.

Originality/value
This study puts forward and tests the original UTAUT model to assess the adoption and depth of social media usage as a business platform among young student entrepreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia, which provides a foundation for the design and implementation of programs and policies that promote entrepreneurial activities using social media among student entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
Entrepreneurial intention: a study of individual, situational and gender differences
Authors: Yukongdi Vimolwan , Lopa Nusrat Zahan 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of entrepreneurial intention. Specifically, the study investigated the extent to which personality traits or situational factors influenced entrepreneurial intention and whether the relationship among the predictor variables and the intention to become entrepreneurs differed between men and women.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a questionnaire-based survey of 393 students at a reputable international educational institution in Thailand. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance were employed to test the hypotheses.

Findings
A total of eight independent variables were tested for their effect on entrepreneurial intention. Three of the personality traits, including need for achievement, risk-taking tendency, job security, were found to have a significant effect on intention for entrepreneurship. However, environment for starting a business and educational programme were found to be suppressor variables. Personality factors had a greater degree of effect on entrepreneurial intention than situational factors. With respect to gender differences, for women, job autonomy and job security were significant predictors while for men, need for achievement and risk-taking tendency contributed to entrepreneurial intention.

Originality/value
The study investigated whether personality factors or situational factors were the main drivers of entrepreneurial intention and to what extent gender differences exist in the determinants of entrepreneurial intention. Few studies have been based on a sample of respondents of such diversity in terms of nationality. The present study included respondents from 12 different nationalities in Asia.
The impact of external financing on firm value and a corporate governance index: SME evidence
Authors: Al-Najjar Basil , Al-Najjar Dana 
Published: April 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of external financing needs on both firm value and corporate governance mechanisms within the UK SME context. This framework is of importance because of the limited external financial resources SMEs might face.Design/methodology/approachThe authors consider the endogeneity problem between corporate governance mechanisms and firm value, and hence, the three stages least squares and the instrumental variables based on two stages least squares estimation methods are employed.FindingsThe authors find a positive relationship between external financing needs and firm value. In addition, the authors detect that size and profitability are positively associated with firm value in the sample. Concerning the corporate governance index (CGI), the authors detect that big SMEs and those with low-debt levels have better corporate governance structures.Originality/valueThe authors employ a CGI for the sample which is constructed using ten corporate governance variables. The authors also examine different factors that affect SMEs 2019 governance by applying different models including logistic analysis.
Making collaboration work – developing boundary work and boundary awareness in emergency exercises
Authors: Andersson Annika , Lindström Berner 
Published: April 2017

Purpose
This study aims to investigate how boundary work is carried out at the incident site during exercises with police, ambulance and rescue services, and how boundary awareness is developed based on this boundary work. Collaboration in emergency work is challenging on many levels. The unforeseen and temporary nature of incidents presents basic challenges. Another important challenge is boundaries between specialised and autonomous emergency service organisations. Knowledge on how exercises are performed to increase the individuals' and organisations' preparedness for future joint-response work is relatively limited.

Design/methodology/approach
Empirically, full-scale exercises involving police, ambulance and rescue services and with repetition of practical scenarios and joint-reflection seminars are studied. Interview data with 26 exercise participants were analysed using thematic analysis. The analytic focus is on how boundaries are identified, negotiated and managed in the participants’ work.

Findings
Much of the work in the exercises was performed within distinct areas of expertise, in accordance with concrete routines, skills and responsibilities. Boundary work was often organised in the form of distribution of labour or creating chains of actions. The exercises shed light on challenges related to other aspects of emergency response, such as a lack of resources, diverging primary responsibilities, time-criticality and hazardous environments. The design allowed participants to explicate boundaries, to test and discuss alternative solutions and to visualise the effects of different solutions, as the scenarios were repeated.

Originality/value
The study found that the boundaries that were identified were often of institutional character, and were also related to the specific scenarios and to the actions taken in the activities. By integrating real-life experiences of collaborative work in the exercise, the exercise gained a certain meaning that was essential for the participants to develop boundary awareness.
Sampling roots to capture plant and soil functions
Authors: Freschet Grégoire T. , Roumet Catherine 
Published: April 2017

Summary

Roots vary in anatomy, morphology and physiology, both spatially (different parts of the same root system) and temporally (plastic changes, root ageing), suggesting that root trait measurements are strongly affected by root sampling categories.

In this context, it is urgent to clarify the functional significance of current root sampling categories (e.g. fine roots of the first order, the first three orders, ≤1 mm or ≤2 mm), establish guidelines for choosing between sampling methods and revise root ontology to account for functional differences between traits measured on distinct root categories.

Here, we used a worldwide database of fine‐root traits to test the hypothesis that distinct fine‐root trait values – with link to fine‐root functions – were generally affected by different root sampling categories. We observed indeed a clear functional break between first‐order roots and roots of all three other sampling categories, and a smaller but substantial break between roots of the three first orders and the ≤2 mm category, demonstrating globally that different sampling methodologies capture different functional parts of roots.

Our synthesis suggests that all current root sampling categories present both advantages and pitfalls and that no single method can appropriately tackle the main current challenge of root functional ecology: i.e. linking fine roots to plant and ecosystem functions in a truly comparable way across all plants. We argue instead that a small set of complementary standardized sampling methods is necessary to capture the linkages between root forms and functions.

To assist experimenters selecting adequate sampling we developed a decision table following three logical questions: (i) what plant or ecosystem function must be addressed; (ii) what root categories are involved in this function and (iii) what traits should be measured on these root categories. Challenging, strengthening and expending such common reference framework would be a substantial step towards wider comparability of future functional trait datasets.

A lay summary is available for this article.
Root and shoot glucosinolate allocation patterns follow optimal defence allocation theory
Authors: Tsunoda Tomonori , Krosse Sebastian , van Dam Nicole M. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryOptimal defence allocation theory (ODT) is one of the most prominent theoretical frameworks to explain the allocation of defence compounds within plants. It predicts that the most valuable and vulnerable plant organs have the highest levels of chemical defence. TheODThas been well worked out and experimentally tested for shoot defences, but not for root defences. To assess ifODTprinciples apply similarly to roots and shoots, we examined glucosinolates in above‐ground and below‐ground organs of nine plant species belonging to two families.In order to evaluate whetherODTequally applies to shoot and root organs, we designed a conceptual model in which above‐ground and below‐ground organs were assigned to orders of importance to plant performance. We hypothesized that organs constituting the plant's core structure are better protected than more distal organs.The nine plant species were cultivated, and their roots and shoots were harvested and divided into three orders for glucosinolate analysis. Using a specialist (Delia radicum) and a generalist (Amphimallon solstitiale) root herbivore, we also experimentally tested the hypothesis that the generalist herbivore prefers to feed on fine roots (FRs) with a low glucosinolate concentration, while the specialist prefers taproots (TRs) with a high glucosinolate concentration.We found that both in roots and shoots, the higher ordered core structural organs (TRs and stems) had the highest levels of glucosinolates. Below‐ground, TRs and lateral roots were better protected than the more distal, and less costly, FRs in seven out of nine species tested. The specialist root herbivore preferred feeding on the highly defended TRs, which is in line with what has been found for above‐ground specialist herbivores. Moreover, the glucosinolate concentration in roots overall was significantly higher than that in shoots.Synthesis. These results support the hypothesis thatOptimal defence allocation theory (ODT)generally applies to glucosinolate allocation in above‐ground and below‐ground organs and may mainly serve to maintain the integrity of the main plant structure. Moreover, it suggests that above‐ground and below‐ground insect herbivores independently exert similar selection pressures on defence allocation patterns in roots and shoots.
Effectiveness of vildagliptin as add‐on to metformin monotherapy among uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a real‐world setting
Authors: Melzer Cohen Cheli , Davis Carla , Shalev Varda , Chodick Gabriel 
Published: April 2017

AbstractBackgroundVildagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor commonly used as a dual oral agent with metformin, thiazolidinediones, or sulfonylurea for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The efficacy of dual therapy with vildagliptin and metformin has been established in randomized controlled trials, but there is little evidence from observational studies. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effectiveness of vildagliptin as an add‐on therapy to metformin in reducing HbA1c and its affects on body weight and blood lipids in a real‐life setting.MethodsIncluded in the present retrospective cohort were T2DM patients (n = 345) who were uncontrolled on metformin monotherapy and intensified treatment with vildagliptin. The efficacy of at least 90 days of dual therapy with vildagliptin and metformin in reducing HbA1c levels, as well as changes in blood lipids and body weight, were evaluated.ResultsAfter 180 days (range 90–365 days) from the index date with a mean daily dose of 92 mg vildagliptin, HbA1c was significantly (P < 0.001) reduced by an average of 0.9% (95% confidence interval −1.0%, −0.7%). The absolute reduction in HbA1c was positively associated with baseline HbA1c levels. In addition to HbA1c, a modest but significant (P < 0.05) decrement was also calculated in the patients' body weight and blood lipids.ConclusionsThe present analysis of real‐world data corroborates the results of previous randomized controlled trials indicating that add‐on therapy with vildagliptin in uncontrolled patients on metformin monotherapy is associated with a significant improvement in the control of HbA1c.
The roles of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) density, prostate volume, and their zone‐adjusted derivatives in predicting prostate cancer in patients with PSA less than 20.0 ng/mL
Authors: Shen P. , Zhao J. , Sun G. , Chen N. , Zhang X. , Gui H. , Yang Y. , Liu J. , Shu K. , Wang Z. , Zeng H. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThe aim of this study was to develop nomograms for predicting prostate cancer and its zonal location using prostate‐specific antigen density, prostate volume, and their zone‐adjusted derivatives. A total of 928 consecutive patients with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) less than 20.0 ng/mL, who underwent transrectal ultrasound‐guided transperineal 12‐core prostate biopsy at West China Hospital between 2011 and 2014, were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were randomly split into training cohort (70%, n = 650) and validation cohort (30%, n = 278). Predicting models and the associated nomograms were built using the training cohort, while the validations of the models were conducted using the validation cohort. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed. Then, new nomograms were generated based on multivariate regression coefficients. The discrimination power and calibration of these nomograms were validated using the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and the calibration curve. The potential clinical effects of these models were also tested using decision curve analysis. In total, 285 (30.7%) patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Among them, 131 (14.1%) and 269 (29.0%) had transition zone prostate cancer and peripheral zone prostate cancer. Each of zone‐adjusted derivatives‐based nomogram had an AUC more than 0.75. All nomograms had higher calibration and much better net benefit than the scenarios in predicting patients with or without different zones prostate cancer. Prostate‐specific antigen density, prostate volume, and their zone‐adjusted derivatives have important roles in detecting prostate cancer and its zonal location for patients with PSA 2.5–20.0 ng/mL. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first nomogram using these parameters to predict outcomes of 12‐core prostate biopsy. These instruments can help clinicians to increase the accuracy of prostate cancer screening and to avoid unnecessary prostate biopsy.