bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The pre‐ and post‐IPOs gender composition of board of directors in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad‐Zaluki Nurwati A. 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the gender composition of the board of directors of Malaysian initial public offering (IPO) companies. This study also examines the business case for having women on boards.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 228 IPO companies that went public during the period 1999‐2006, this study tracks the changes in the gender composition of these companies prior to the IPO year, IPO year and three‐year post‐IPOs. This study also tracks the changes in the gender composition between the pre‐IPO period and some 5 to 12 years later after the IPOs for a subsample of 89 companies that appear as top 500‐companies on the Malaysian Stock Exchange (Bursa Malaysia) in 2011. The compounded buy‐and‐hold returns method is used to measure the post‐IPO company performance.FindingsThis study finds that female representation as board of directors in 228 Malaysian companies prior to the IPO is only about 8 percent. This percentage is almost similar for the subsequent four years (IPO year and three‐year post‐IPOs). By using a subsample of 89 companies that appear as top 500‐companies in 2011, the percentage of female directors increases only 2.5 percent from the pre‐IPO year. However, the increment is not statistically significant. An extended analysis on the business case for women on boards reveals that greater percentage of female representation leads to lower long run underperformance. This underperformance is much lower for companies having more foreign ethnic female representation.Research limitations/implicationsThe results of this study suggest that there is still a long way to realize the benefits of having female directors in Malaysian companies. Malaysia needs to create an environment that realizes the benefits of having women in the top management levels.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the existing literature on gender especially in the context of IPO companies. This is the first comprehensive study on gender composition using Malaysian IPOs data. Prior studies on gender mainly focus on established listed companies.
Development of a climate change risk and vulnerability assessment tool for urban areas
Authors: Cavan Gina , Kingston Richard 
Published: September 2012

PurposeAssessment of climate change risks and vulnerability is essential in order to inform and implement appropriate adaptation strategies. Disastrous effects of extreme weather events such as the heat waves across Europe in 2003 highlight the adaptation imperative. Regional spatial planning and urban design can help to reduce the vulnerability of communities to these risks. The purpose of this paper is to report on the development of an assessment tool, which highlights climate change risks and vulnerabilities in urban areas, and the results of pilot and user testing with the Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Eco Towns (GRaBS) project partners.Design/methodology/approachThe tool follows the principles of an online public participation GIS, and is built using the Google Maps Interface. The approach is based on a risk framework, focusing on the three elements; hazard, vulnerability and exposure. Thus, the assessment tool assesses vulnerability of population and infrastructure in urban areas to climate change impacts (in particular flooding and heat stress). It also enables spatially relating patterns of vulnerability with risk where data are available.FindingsA key finding of the project has been the need to break down silos between departments in order to build an evidence base for decision makers for adaptation plans and strategies. The tool is considered to be an excellent means of raising awareness, and the results of the pilot study confirm the assessment tool is seen as innovative, cost effective, intuitive and simple to use and navigate. Furthermore, by helping to visualise vulnerability of urban areas it may be useful in supporting planning of both emergency responses and long‐term land use changes.Research limitations/implicationsThe tool is limited by the availability of geospatial data and information, which has implications for the types of outputs the tool can produce.Practical implicationsThe tool has been implemented in all of the case study partner areas, which will be affected to a greater or lesser extent by a range of climate change impacts requiring responses, depending on the severity and likelihood of the hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. The methodological approach adopted in the project has to take account of this important issue.Originality/valueThe tool brings together diverse data and information from a large number of European partners, and provides users with an understanding of climate change issues, many of whom may not have been familiar with the topic at the outset. The tool delivers GIS data and analysis functions on the web through the internet, widening the possibilities for participation in climate change adaptation planning.
Disparate coping strategies for gendered effects of drought
Authors: Mpuya Madaha Rasel 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to facilitate an understanding of influence of gender roles in drought so as to come with relevant recommendation aimed at bettering the lives of men, women and female children.Design/methodology/approachData have been collected via participant observation, interviews and collection of unpublished primary and secondary data generated by case studies conducted by the author. After which, content analysis was employed for its potentiality as a means of systematically identifying, classifying and analyzing information relevant to this study.FindingsIt is argued in this study that the survival of the community, in Central Tanzania, is questionable because effects of drought have reached intolerable levels and strategies adopted aren't that helpful. More specifically, socially assigned gender roles, position women and female children at the most disadvantageous position as the main victims of the disaster. Accordingly, gender roles have to be changed, if the effects of drought have to be mitigated and the community rescued from disappearance.Originality/valueThe research is original as data obtained cannot be easily accessed by short term researchers who have inadequate knowledge of the community and cannot observe season changes. Practitioner, social scientists and natural scientists, engineers and contractors included, can have their confidence in the findings: the findings are ready to be used.
The Pierre Part Store: a case study
Authors: Cater John James 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this case study is to examine the impact of regional culture and family dynamics on firm survival and longevity. Secondary issues include operations management in a retail grocery, hardware, and building supply store.Design/methodology/approachThe author performed in‐depth qualitative interviews with the business owners and visited on site. The tape‐recorded interviews followed a formal list of questions, but were semi‐structured in nature.FindingsAlthough the store was remotely located, wise management and intelligent leadership have contributed to business success and survival into the fourth generation of family ownership.Research limitations/implicationsAs an exploratory qualitative case study, there are limitations concerning generalizability. Additionally, the findings here relate particularly to small family businesses.Practical implicationsFamily firms possess a business side and a family side. In this case, success factors on the business side included merchandising skills, responsiveness to customer needs, profitable sales margins, and reinvestment in facilities. On the family side, success factors included harmonious relations among family members, the incumbent leaders’ desire for succession to occur, incumbent leaders’ financial forbearance or sacrifice, solid education of successors, mentoring of the next generation, and willing and able successors.Originality/valueThis case analyzed characteristics that lead to long term survival, examined the process of succession, and assessed the two‐sided nature – business side and family side – of a small family business.
Tackling entrepreneurship in the informal economy: evaluating the policy options
Authors: Williams Colin C. , Nadin Sara J. 
Published: September 2012

PurposeAlthough there is emerging an understanding that many entrepreneurs conduct some or all of their transactions off‐the‐books, there has so far been little attempt to consider what can and should be done about entrepreneurship in the informal economy. The purpose of this paper is to bridge this gap.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a review of what is known about the prevalence and nature of informal entrepreneurship, this paper evaluates what can and should be done about informal entrepreneurs by analyzing the various policy options and their implications.FindingsEvaluating the possible policy approaches of doing nothing, eradication, de‐regulation and facilitating formalisation, the finding is that doing nothing leaves intact the existing negative impacts on formal and informal businesses, customers and governments, whilst eradicating informal entrepreneurship results in governments stamping out precisely the entrepreneurship and enterprise culture that they wish to nurture, and de‐regulation results in a levelling down rather than up of working conditions. Only facilitating the formalisation of informal entrepreneurship is found to be a viable policy approach. How this might be achieved is then considered.Research limitations/implicationsMore research is required on the hurdles informal entrepreneurs witness when seeking to legitimize their business ventures in different populations before it can be known whether specific policy measures to facilitate formalisation are appropriate.Practical implicationsThis paper evaluates various public policy options for tackling informal entrepreneurship and their impacts.Originality/valueThis is one of the first evaluations of the policy options available for tackling informal entrepreneurship.
Why do nascent entrepreneurs use external assistance programs?
Authors: Yusuf Juita‐Elena (Wie) 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study support factors influencing the entrepreneur's use of external assistance programs and explain why some entrepreneurs obtain support from these programs while others do not. The proposed framework suggests that outside assistance programs are a support option of last resort that entrepreneurs utilize only when the start‐up team and personal network are incapable of providing support.Design/methodology/approachData from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics I are used to perform logistic regression of use of assistance programs on the entrepreneur's human capital and characteristics of the start‐up team and personal network.FindingsA total of 26 percent of entrepreneurs in the sample made contact with assistance programs. Regression results suggest that entrepreneurs who are more educated and experienced, rely extensively on the start‐up team, have a less experienced start‐up team, and have larger personal networks are more likely to use assistance programs.Practical implicationsThis study informs policy and support practices about the different factors that drive entrepreneurs to use assistance programs provided by public agencies, professional organizations, and educational institutions.Originality/valueThis research fills the gap in existing research of entrepreneurial assistance programs by studying both entrepreneurs who do and do not obtain support, thus addressing the selection bias problem.
Classification of cesarean sections among immigrants in Belgium
Authors: MINSART ANNE‐FREDERIQUE , DE SPIEGELAERE MYRIAM , ENGLERT YVON , BUEKENS PIERRE 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjective. To provide insight into the differential effect of immigration on cesarean section (CS) rates, using the Robson classification. Design. A population‐based study using birth certificates from the birth registry of 2009. Setting. All births in two of the three Belgian regions excluding Flanders. Population. 37 628 deliveries from Belgian and immigrant mothers from sub‐Saharan Africa, Maghreb and Eastern Europe. Methods. Multivariate analyses using CS as the dependent variable and immigration status as the primary independent variable. Several multivariate logistic regression models were built including medical, anthropometric, socio‐economic characteristics, and medical interventions. The impact of analyzing all delivery sites together was tested using mixed‐effect analyses. Main outcome measures. CSs of immigrant subgroups compared with Belgian women. Results. CS rates varied according to immigrant subgroups. Mothers from sub‐Saharan Africa had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.06 (1.62–2.63) for CS compared with Belgian natives. Increased risk for mothers from sub‐Saharan Africa compared with Belgian natives was found among nulliparous and multiparous women without previous CS, and a term, singleton fetus in cephalic position. In comparison, nulliparous East European mothers with a term singleton fetus in cephalic position in spontaneous labor had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.29 (0.08–0.99) for CS. Conclusions. CS rates currently vary between Robson categories in immigrant subgroups. Immigrant mothers from sub‐Saharan Africa with a term, singleton infant in cephalic position, without previous CS, appear to carry the highest burden.
Improving the quality of educational strategies in postgraduate dental education using student and graduate feedback: findings from a qualitative study in New Zealand
Authors: Subramanian J. , Anderson V. R. , Morgaine K. C. , Thomson W. M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIntroductionResearch suggests that students' perceptions should be considered in any discussion of their education. However, to date, there has been no systematic examination of New Zealand postgraduate dental students' learning processes in both the research and clinical settings. This study aimed to obtain in‐depth qualitative insights into student and graduate perspectives of effective and ineffective learning experiences during their postgraduate dental education.MethodsData were collected in 2010 using semi‐structured individual interviews. Participants included 2010 final‐year students and 2009 graduates of the University of Otago Doctor of Clinical Dentistry programme. Using the Critical Incident Technique, participants were asked to describe at least one effective and one ineffective learning experience in detail. Interview transcripts were analysed using a general inductive approach.ResultsBroad themes which emerged included supervisory approaches, characteristics of the learning process and characteristics of the physical learning environment. The focus of this article is to report and discuss the learning processes that participants identified as promoting and precluding effective learning experiences in the clinical and research settings. Students and graduates in the study had largely similar perspectives of learning processes likely to result in effective clinical and research learning. These included self‐directed and collaborative learning; timely, constructive and detailed feedback with directions for further improvement; and discreet clinical feedback. Learning processes that precluded effective learning included unsupported and isolated learning, delayed and overly critical/destructive feedback and open criticism in the clinical context.ConclusionThe in‐depth findings of this study contribute to the scientific literature that identifies learning process characteristics which facilitate effective learning from New Zealand postgraduate students' and graduates' perspectives. Additional cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies (both qualitative and quantitative) would lead to a better understanding of what constitutes effective teaching in postgraduate dental education.
20‐Residue and 11‐residue peptaibols from the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum are synergistic in forming Na+/K+‐permeable channels and adverse action towards mammalian cells
Authors: Mikkola Raimo , Andersson Maria A. , Kredics László , Grigoriev Pavel A. , Sundell Nina , Salkinoja‐Salonen Mirja S. 
Published: September 2012

Certain species of the filamentous fungal genus Trichoderma (e.g. Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma citrinoviride) are among the emerging clinical pathogens and also the most common species in the indoor space of mould‐damaged buildings. The molecules involved in its pathology are not known. In the present study, we report that 0.5–2.6 wt% of the T. longibrachiatum mycelial biomass consisted of thermostable secondary metabolites mitochondriotoxic to mammalian cells. These were identified by LC/MS as one 11‐residue and eight 20‐residue peptaibols, AcAib‐Asn‐Leu/Ile‐Leu/Ile‐Aib‐Pro‐Leu/Ile‐Leu/Ile‐Aib‐Pro‐Leuol/Ileol (1175 Da) and AcAib‐Ala‐Aib‐Ala‐Aib‐Ala/Aib‐Gln‐Aib‐Val/Iva‐Aib‐Gly‐Leu/Ile‐Aib‐Pro‐Val/Iva‐Aib‐Val/Iva/Aib‐Gln/Glu‐Gln‐Pheol(1936–1965 Da) (Aib, α‐aminoisobutyric acid; Ac, acetyl; Ileol, isoleucinol; Iva, isovaline; Leuol, leucinol; Pheol, phenylalaninol). The toxic effects on boar sperm cells depended on these peptaibols, named trilongins. The trilongins formed voltage dependent, Na+/K+ permeable channels in biomembranes. The permeability ratios for Na+ ions, relative to K+, of the 11‐residue trilongin channel (0.95 : 1) and the 20‐residue trilongin channel (0.8 : 1) were higher than those of alamethicin. The combined 11‐residue and 20‐residue trilongins generated channels that remained in an open state for a longer time than those formed by either one of the peptaibols alone. Corresponding synergy was observed in toxicokinetics. With 11‐residue and 20‐residue trilongins combined 1 : 2 w/w, an effective median concentration (EC50) of 0.6 μg·mL−1 was reached within 30 min, and the EC50 shifted down to 0.2 μg·mL−1 upon extended exposure. By contrast, with 11‐residue or 20‐residue trilonging separately in 30 min of exposure, the EC50 values were 15 and 3 μg·mL−1, respectively, and shifted down to 1.5 and 0.4 μg·mL−1 upon extended exposure. This is the first report on ion‐channel forming peptaibols with synergistic toxicity from T. longibrachiatum strains isolated from clinical samples.Database

Nucleotide sequence data have been deposited in the GenBank database under accession numbers HQ593512 and HQ593513
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Analysis of isopropyl para‐toluenesulphonate in palm‐based esters by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and confirmed with mass spectrometry
Authors: Tay B. Y. P. 
Published: September 2012

SynopsisA simple and rapid gas chromatography (GC) method with flame ionization detector was developed for detection of isopropyl para‐toluenesulphonate (IPTS) in palm‐based isopropyl palmitate (IPP) and isopropyl myristate (IPM). The method involved spiking the IPP/IPM samples with IPTS and directly injecting the spiked samples into GC without undergoing clean‐up steps. The calibration curves for IPTS showed good linearity with coefficient correlation of 0.9999 for six‐point calibration from 0.5 to 50 μg mL−1 and 0.9996 for six‐point calibration from 0.5 to 200 μg mL−1. IPTS recoveries from IPP were 98.6–103.5% with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.40–2.80%, whereas recoveries from IPM were 97.0–107.2% with RSD of 0.42–4.21%. The identity of IPTS recovered from the isopropyl esters was confirmed by a GC‐mass spectrometer detector. The method was successfully applied to the analyses of IPTS in commercial samples. It was found that there were IPTS in the range of 34.8–1303.0 μg g−1 in the palm‐based esters for some of the samples analysed.
Advanced care planning in health service users
Authors: Van Leuven Karen A 
Published: September 2012

Aims and objectives.  To examine the use of advanced directives (ADs) in patients actively using health services in the USA.Background.  Since 1991, USA law (PSDA 1991) has required hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health services to inquire, at admission, if patients have in place ADs, to provide patients with a written summary of their rights in regard to health‐related decision‐making and to provide education to staff and the community about ADs.Design.  Via chart review and observation, the AD status of patients residing in three SNFs during a six‐week period was ascertained (n = 272). Those with ADs were further evaluated to examine the timing of the directive in regards to their health status.Methods.  Patients residing at SNFs were selected for study because SNF patients are admitted from the hospital; therefore, there are at least two opportunities – at hospital admission and at SNF admission – to inquire and educate about advance directives.Results.  Residents ranged in age from 35 to 100 years and included patients admitted for short‐term rehabilitation after hospitalisation, as well as residents who were initially admitted after a hospitalisation but required long‐term care. A full 90·44% (n = 246) entered skilled care without an AD, and 69·11% (n = 188) remained without an AD. The most likely reason for the development of an AD was lengthy decline in health status associated with multiple hospitalisations.Conclusions.  Current law appears ineffective. A more appropriate approach is to encourage open dialogue about treatment options and quality of life.Relevance to clinical practice.  Given the rapidity with which populations are ageing in countries worldwide, ADs would appear to be a phenomenon that should be embraced. However, experience in the USA has called into question their usefulness.
Identifying and acquiring the contextual skills and knowledge for nursing practice in assisted reproductive technology: a grounded theory study
Authors: Applegarth Judith , Dwyer Trudy , Moxham Lorna , Happell Brenda 
Published: September 2012

Aims and objectives.  To identify the contextual knowledge and skills required for practice.Background.  Nursing practice in assisted reproductive technology (ART) makes a significant contribution to patient care. Despite this, the knowledge and skills integral to this area of practice have not been clearly articulated, particularly from an Australian perspective.Design.  A constructivist grounded theory design was used to gain the perspective of ART nurses in relation to how they understood their clinical practice as well as the issues and challenges that they faced.Methods.  Individual in‐depth interviews were undertaken with 15 registered nurses working in ART units across Australia. Constant comparative data analysis was used to determine the main categories.Results.  Contextual knowledge and skills was one category to emerge from this research, and this is the focus of this paper. The findings in respect of knowledge and skill included three main subcategories: required skills and knowledge; acquisition of skills and knowledge; and factors influencing acquisition.Conclusions.  The role of the ART nurse which must be performed within the context and competency standards of nursing requires a framework that could define and contribute to specialised ART nursing practice standards.Relevance to clinical practice.  The nursing role is instrumental to effective ART treatment and care. The standard of clinical practice will depend in part on the ability of specialist nurses to articulate their practice, and their professional development needs to optimise quality and effectiveness. The results of this study demonstrate that contextual knowledge and skills are a key aspect of this specialised nursing role.