bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sulfonate pseudohalides of boron subphthalocyanine
Authors: Paton Andrew S. , Lough Alan J. , Bender Timothy P. 
Published: October 2012

The crystal structures of three sulfonate pseudohalide derivatives of boron subphthalocyanine (BsubPc) are described and compared with four structures of three published sulfonate derivatives. Benzenesulfonate boron subphthalocyanine [(benzenesulfonato)(subphthalocyaninato)boron, C30H17BN6O3S, (I)] crystallizes in the space groupP\overline{1} withZ= 2. The structure contains two centrosymmetric π-stacking interactions between the concave faces of the isoindoline units in the BsubPc ligands. 3-Nitrobenzenesulfonate boron subphthalocyanine [(3-nitrobenzenesulfonato)(subphthalocyaninato)boron, C30H16BN7O5S, (II)] crystallizes in the space groupP21/cwithZ= 4. The structure contains an intermolecular S—O...π interaction from the sulfonate group to a five-membered N-containing ring of an isoindoline unit on the concave side of a neighbouring BsubPc ligand, at a distance of 3.151 (3) Å. The crystal of methanesulfonate boron subphthalocyanine [(methanesulfonato)(subphthalocyaninato)boron, C25H15BN6O3S, (III)] was producedviasublimation and it is not a solvate, in contrast with two previously published structures of the same compound. Compound (III) crystallizes in the space groupP21/nwithZ = 2, and its structure is similar to that of the more common compound Cl-BsubPc.
The SURE program and incentives for crop insurance participation
Authors: Bekkerman Anton , Smith Vincent H. , Watts Myles J. 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to show how provisions of the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program impacts production practices, and empirically examine changes in crop insurance participation rates as a means of measuring producer responses to the program.Design/methodology/approachThe structure of the SURE program is described and a stylized theoretical model is used to show the SURE program's effects on farm‐level crop insurance and production decisions. A county‐level cross‐sectional empirical specification with regional fixed effects is used to test the hypothesis that producers who are most likely to benefit from production practice re‐optimization are more likely to participate in crop insurance.FindingsResults from empirical analyses of corn, soybean, and wheat production areas show that the SURE program has had substantial impacts on crop insurance participation by producers who are more likely to receive SURE indemnities and exploit moral hazard opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsBecause the program has only recently been introduced, empirical estimates of the program's long‐run impacts are not estimable.Practical implicationsResults indicate that the program can have unexpected market consequences, with increased frequency and size of SURE indemnity claims than the Congressional Budget Office anticipated and increases in aggregate tax payer subsidies for both the crop insurance and SURE program. These outcomes can have important implications on motivating a restructuring of the program in the next farm bill.Social implicationsIncreased tax payer expenditures on the SURE and crop insurance programs in the form of subsidies can lead to non‐trivial reductions in social welfare.Originality/valueThis research is the first to develop a rigorous model of the SURE program's impacts on producer responses and associated effects on crop insurance participation. The study also provides empirical evidence of these effects.
The convenience consumer's dilemma
Authors: Veflen Olsen Nina 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe overall aim of this research is to increase understanding of consumers' barriers in relation to convenience food. While the motivation for consuming convenience food has been investigated frequently, few studies have investigated the barriers.Design/methodology/approachThree focus group studies, exploring consumers' ready‐to‐heat (RTH) meal dilemmas, were conducted in Norway.FindingsThe frequency of barriers and four narratives are presented, and the results indicate that consumers face bottom‐up dilemmas related to barriers like sensory perception, health, economy, and managing relationships; and/or top‐down value dilemmas related to traditions, quality of life and environmental barriers when considering convenience food consumption.Research limitations/implicationsThis research contributes to the current body of literature, which mainly focuses on drivers of convenience demand, by elaborating on barriers and dilemmas for convenience choice.Practical implicationsThe findings imply how marketers should communicate with the convenience market. Marketing managers need to understand which barriers to break or what dilemmas to discuss when communicating with the RTH market.Originality/valueBy structuring focus group interviews according to the individual respondents (“who said what”) and by presenting the data as narratives, the paper shows a new way to analyze focus group interviews.
Food sector SMEs and innovation types
Authors: Baregheh Anahita , Rowley Jennifer , Sambrook Sally , Davies Dafydd 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThis article aims to offer insights into the range of innovations in food sector SMEs, and demonstrate the way in which managers classify their innovations on the basis of Francis and Bessant's classification of innovations into the following four types: product, process, position, and paradigm.Design/methodology/approachAs part of a larger questionnaire‐based survey on innovation in food sector SMEs, respondents were asked to provide examples of their recent innovations and to categorise them as product, process, position, or paradigm innovations.FindingsFood sector SMEs offered a wide range of examples of innovation. They were able to classify their innovations into product, process, position or paradigm innovations. Further, there is evidence that food sector SMEs are engaged in a range of innovation types, although a greater number of examples were offered for product innovation than for other types of innovation. Additionally, there is evidence of overlap and complementariness between different types of innovation.Originality/valueAlthough the food sector plays an important role within the UK economy, innovation in food and drink sector SMEs has received relatively limited attention. This article offers interesting insights into the reality of innovation in food sector SMEs. In addition, it demonstrates the applicability of Francis and Bessant's model of types of innovation to SMEs in this sector.
Knowledge management and open access e‐theses: Indian initiatives
Authors: Sheeja N.K. 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to describe recent developments in the services provided by Indian electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) repositories. It seeks to explore the prospect of knowledge formation and diffusion in India and to discuss the potential of open access e‐theses repositories for knowledge management.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on literature review and content analysis of Indian ETD repository websites. Institutional repositories and electronic thesis and dissertation projects in India were identified through a literature survey as well as internet searching and browsing. The study examines the tools, type of contents, coverage and aims of Indian ETD repositories.FindingsThe paper acknowledges the need for knowledge management for national development. It highlights the significance of an integrated platform for preserving, searching and retrieving Indian theses. It describes the features and functions of Indian ETD repositories.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights into the characteristics of the national repository of ETDs of India, which encourage and support open access to publicly‐funded research.
Recycling attitude and behaviour in university campus: a case study in Hong Kong
Authors: Wan Calvin , Cheung Ronnie , Qiping Shen Geoffrey 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThis study investigates the recycling attitudes and behaviour of university students and staff members, and suggests ways to improve environmental policies and recycling facilities in a university campus.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies the theory of planned behaviour, through which it develops an instrument to measure the determinants of recycling behaviour among the people in a university campus. A survey was designed and administered at a public university in Hong Kong; 205 valid responses from 179 students and 26 staff members were collected. A partial least squares approach was used to validate the proposed model. This model accounted for the 42.1 per cent and 50.3 per cent variance (R2) in behavioural intention and behaviour, respectively, vis‐à‐vis recycling activities.FindingsThe survey results suggested that behavioural intention with regard to recycling is influenced by attitude, the subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, awareness of consequences, the moral norms, and convenience. Educational and promotional programmes highlighting the benefits and importance of recycling activities and convenience of the recycling facilities can be adopted as the key strategies to encourage recycling on campus.Research limitations/implicationsThe unique culture in relation to recycling in the specific campus environment and the nature of the sample might limit the generalisability of the results to other areas and contexts. The self‐report‐based measures adopted in this study might lead to a social desirability bias in the results provided by the respondents.Originality/valueThe findings provide insightful information for universities and the wider community to shape a more user‐friendly and convenient recycling scheme. This can fulfil the actors' social responsibility.
A framework for the evaluation of turnaround maintenance projects
Authors: Obiajunwa Christopher C. 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe aim of this study is to establish a framework with which process plants can evaluate the performance of their turnaround maintenance (TAM) projects at the end of the event without making reference to previous events.Design/methodology/approachThis is a case study. The study involved the case studies of six process plants in the UK. Three sources of evidence were used in this study including; interviews, direct observation and official documents.FindingsThe case studies show that TAM projects can be evaluated by assessment of the management performance and the resultant benefits realised. The uses of generic project success measures are not very adequate for TAM.Practical ImplicationsThe study developed success measurement criteria for TAM projects. Instead of comparing performance of TAM projects with previous ones to assess how successful the outcome is, organisations can evaluate their TAM project's performance based on the current TAM using the criteria developed in the framework. In addition, these success criteria will enable the organisation to evaluate the benefits expected from the TAM project outcome at hand‐over of the plant from the TAM project management to the operations management.Originality/valueOperators of process plants and hence engineering facilities still measure the outcome of TAM using measures that are generic for EPC projects. Considering the peculiar nature of TAM, this study has developed success measurement criteria for TAM projects specifically.
Preventive maintenance planning using group technology
Authors: Almomani Mohammed , Abdelhadi Abdelhakim , Seifoddini Hamid , Xiaohang Yue 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a preventive maintenance (PM) model that encounters the problems of traditional methods of conducting PM within high component/machine variety environments.Design/methodology/approachA new platform to conduct planning of the PM actions by using clustering based on the Group Technology concept to create PM virtual cells of equipment/machines is introduced. A real case study at Arab Potash Company was used to illustrate the model. The component/machine variety that requires PM at the considered company is in thousands of items.FindingsPM for high component/machine environments are not enough addressed in the literature. The concept of clustering and similarity coefficient was used and found very useful to model this situation.Practical implicationsThe proposed procedure will assist maintenance managers/engineers in too many ways. It will help to optimize the inventory of the spare parts, and to create standard process plan for executing the preventive maintenance operation.Originality/valueThis paper presents a new procedure to implement preventive maintenance in high component/machine environments using clustering technique concept. Models that address this concept are rare and very limited in the literature.
Distribution network rationalisation through benchmarking with DEA
Authors: Hung Lau Kwok 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to benchmark store performance for the purpose of rationalising retail distribution network.Design/methodology/approachAs an illustration of the approach, DEA is applied to a sample of front stores of a major retailer in Australia to compare their relative efficiency in distribution. Together with other techniques such as customer segmentation and spatial distribution of demand, this paper shows that DEA can provide an objective basis for distribution network rationalisation and be a suitable analytical tool to facilitate continuous improvement.FindingsBased on the DEA results, it is concluded that overall distribution efficiency of the part of the retail network under study can be improved by either closing the less efficient stores or merging them with the others in the same service areas to streamline the network. Such rationalisation will help aggregate demand and improve vehicle utilisation for distribution with minor impact on current level of customer service.Research limitations/implicationsThis study lends insight into the use of DEA, together with other analyses, for distribution network rationalisation. This approach is less data hungry and relatively easy to implement than full‐fledged optimisation through integer programming. To serve mainly as a proof of concept and an illustration of the approach, the scope of the study is limited to six stores in the retail network with relative performance in distribution evaluated on a single input and a single output variables.Practical implicationsManagers can use DEA to benchmark the distribution performance of their stores against the best performers in the retail network so as to identify areas for improvement. The approach can also assist in the adoption of best practice and facilitate more effective allocation of resources across the entire retail network.Social implicationsRetail network rationalisation through benchmarking with DEA can facilitate continuous improvement in distribution efficiency. This will help reduce fuel consumption, carbon emission, as well as other pollutions such as noise and traffic congestion.Originality/valueResearch in retail network performance using DEA to date is mainly on comparative performance of supermarkets within or between chains. The focus is mainly placed on the relationship between floor area, workforce, and sales. This paper fills the gap in the literature by applying DEA in distribution network rationalisation instead of mere performance comparison of individual stores. It focuses on distribution costs rather than store attributes and supplements DEA with other techniques to obtain a fuller picture of the overall network efficiency in terms of distribution. It also contributes to a better understanding of how demand management can affect distribution efficiency of the retail network.
Exploring current benchmarking practices in the Egyptian hotel sector
Authors: Nassar Mohamed 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the current state, understanding and opinions of benchmarking in the Egyptian hotel sector in order to establish its perceived benefits, obstacles, and possible improvements.Design/methodology/approachBy way of a three part structured self‐administrated questionnaire, a representative sample of 128 two, three, four and five star hotels (giving a response rate of 29 percent) in Sharm El‐Sheikh, Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor were examined. Descriptive statistics were drawn from general hotel data, in addition to data pertaining to the understanding of benchmarking and the impressions or experiences of its barriers and future use.FindingsA generally positive attitude towards benchmarking predominated, with the majority of participants understanding benchmarking to be a quality enhancement tool that can bring about better service. Most perceived it to be a useful and inexpensive strategy to connect to other businesses. Furthermore, senior management staff were seen to play a crucial role in quality improvement. However, barriers to its wider or continuing use exist, with 25 percent of participants unwilling or unsure to consider its usage in the future. Limitations of benchmarking included too much data collection and the unwillingness of potential benchmarking partners in sharing data.Research limitations/implicationsIdentifying specific obstacles to effective benchmarking must be undertaken so that they may be practically overcome. In addition conducting multiple case studies to compare benchmarking practices around the Arab world, or in conjunction with the US and UK, would be of great value to the industry.Originality/valueThere is an absence of empirical research into benchmarking applications in the hospitality industry, especially in North Africa and the Middle East. The present study addresses the lack of data regarding benchmarking within the context of the Egyptian hotel sector.
Lean Six Sigma for higher education institutions (HEIs)
Authors: Antony Jiju , Krishan Netasha , Cullen Donna , Kumar Maneesh 
Published: October 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate whether Lean Six Sigma (LSS) can be a powerful business improvement methodology for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of higher education institutions (HEIs). The paper will also explore the fundamental challenges, barriers and critical success factors for the introduction and development of LSS in the HE context. The last part of the paper is to understand the role of tools and techniques for the sustainability of this initiative for making the HEIs more efficient and effective.Design/methodology/approachThe paper discusses whether LSS can be a useful and systematic approach to tackle operational and strategic issues within the HE industry. The authors use secondary data from literature to justify the need for this powerful approach and the benefits of adopting this business process improvement strategy within the HEIs.FindingsThe paper presents the challenges and barriers to be encountered during the introduction of LSS in the higher education sector, most useful tools and techniques for process improvement problems, success factors which are essential for the implementation and sustainability of LSS.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a very theoretical paper based on the existing literature and authors’ experiences in the HE sector. The next stage of the research is to carry out empirical studies in a number of HEIs and develop a practical and useful roadmap for the implementation and sustainability of LSS as a business process improvement methodology.Originality/valueThis paper makes an attempt to remove the myth that LSS is confined to manufacturing. It also demonstrates, through relevant existing literature and authors’ experiences, that LSS is equally applicable to public sector organisations and in particular HEIs. Although lean has been adopted by a few HEIs in the UK and abroad, very few HEIs have adopted the integrated LSS approach for waste reduction and variability reduction, which leads to superior performance and enhanced student satisfaction.
A simulation study of a new rate‐and‐queue‐based active queue management algorithm
Authors: Asghar Jomah Adham Ali , Mat Tahar Razman 
Published: October 2012

PurposeNowadays, e‐queues are built up everywhere where customer online service is necessary such as in banks' e‐service, enterprises' e‐business, etc. In order to enhance quality of service (QoS), active queue management (AQM) algorithms are frequently employed due to their efficiency in congestion avoidance as well as the differentiated forwarding of packets. This paper aims at developing a novel AQM algorithm to better QoS in terms of congestion prediction, queuing delay, packet loss and link utility, etc.Design/methodology/approachUpon the traditional designs of AQM, this paper establishes a new integrated AQM scheme (RQ‐AQM) by employing input rate and current queue length to calculate the packet dropping/marking probability. In this way, the rate feedback control enables to rapid response to congestion, decreasing the packet loss from buffer overflow. Meanwhile, the queue length feedback control stabilizes the queue length around a given target, achieving predictable queuing delay and lower delay jitter. Thus, the main feature of the design is to use coefficients of both proportional rate control and proportional‐integral queue length control, and to simplify parameter setting, the control parameters were scaled by the link capacity C to normalize the rate and by the bandwidth‐delay product BDP to normalize the queue length, respectively.FindingsThe stability performance of RQ‐AQM was tested via simulation under several conditions. The results proved that it is able to maintain the queue length around the given target. Also, the comparison results with other AQM schemes, including RED, ARED, PI controller, AVQ and REM, demonstrated the superiority of RQ‐AQM in low packet loss, faster convergence to target queue length and closest to the target queue length.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this study is that all the simulations were merely under a single bottleneck network topology. Furthermore, the system stability was examined under just a few cases. Other cases like TCP connections mixed with HTTP connections, or UDP flows, etc. can also be tested. Furthermore, the multiple bottleneck scenarios should be covered in the future work with more parameters set to enhance the proved results.Practical implicationsThe paper sets clear but ideal conditions for the performance of proposed algorithm; so the simulation results can only be used as a rough reference instead of an exact practical one. But the concepts the paper attempted to advocate could be considered seriously.Social implicationsThe scope of the paper is within the general theory of AQM. So it can be referred to any specific field that employs AQM technology, no matter locally or globally.Originality/valueThere are not much new brand contents in the paper. The main contribution is on some extension of the known related work.