bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainability knowledge and behaviors of apparel and textile undergraduates
Authors: Hiller Connell Kim Y. , Kozar Joy M. 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze changes in undergraduate student knowledge of issues of sustainability relevant to the apparel and textiles industry. Assessment occurred prior to and upon completion of a course that addressed topics specific to the global production and distribution of apparel and textile goods. The study also examined modifications in students' reported apparel purchasing behaviors.Design/methodology/approachParticipants included those in their third, fourth or fifth year of undergraduate education in the apparel and textile discipline at a higher education institution located in the Midwestern USA. All participants were enrolled in a course focused on globalization and the apparel and textile industry. Measures used to assess students' knowledge of social and environmental sustainability issues related to the industry and their apparel purchasing behavior were included in the research instrument.FindingsPre and post comparisons revealed significant changes in students' knowledge of social and environmental issues relevant to the apparel and textile industry. However, the study found no significant adjustments in apparel purchasing behavior. Further, a post hoc analysis revealed no significant relationship between students' knowledge and their reported purchasing behavior.Originality/valueLimited resources exist which examine methods for educating apparel and textile students about sustainability issues, with even less research documented on assessing the effectiveness of these methods. The paper analyzes the contributions sustainability‐focused curriculum can make in modifying the level of knowledge and purchasing behavior of students and recommends further strategies to yield possibly even greater results.
ReProTool Version 2.0
Authors: Pouyioutas Philippos , Gjermundrod Harald , Dionysiou Ioanna 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present ReProTool Version 2.0, a software tool that is used for the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the Bologna Process re‐engineering of academic programmes. The tool is the result of an 18 months project (February 2012‐July 2013) project, co‐financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research Promotion Foundation (www.reprotool.com).Design/methodology/approachThe project entails the development and pilot use of ReProTool, a software tool that will support the design and development of university academic programmes using Learning Outcomes and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) of the Bologna Process. The paper briefly describes the various stages of the project: Identification of User and System Requirements; System Analysis and Design; and Software Development. More specifically, it presents the results of on‐line questionnaires distributed to students and academics aiming at extracting the user requirements of the system. Based on these results and the results from interviews with experts and literature review, the system was designed. The underlying database is thus presented. The implementation details and the system architecture are also presented. Various screenshots of the system are used in the paper to exemplify the functionality of the tool.FindingsThe ECTS process and the supporting methodologies are quite complex and complicated, requiring the involvement of all education stakeholders (faculty, students, industry, etc.). The lack of a software tool to support the available methodologies and the involved stakeholders makes the process even more complex, laborious and difficult to complete. The authors are currently developing such tool. The availability of a free software tool will therefore simplify the process and help all Universities in their effort to obtain the ECTS label and help them towards the full implementation of the Bologna Process directives.Originality/valueThe paper presents the software tool ReProTool, which will provide support to the Tuning Methodology, also taking into consideration state‐of‐the‐art developments in the area of ECTS, Learning outcomes and the European Qualifications Framework and will thus make it possible for Universities to re‐engineer their academic programs in line with ECTS, achieve ECTS certification/label and fulfill the Bologna Process directives. This will result in the improvement of academic programs offered by Universities and the creation of compatible programmes across Europe, so that students and faculty will be able to utilize the Erasmus and other mobility programmes and participate in exchange visits. Without the use of such a tool, the application of such methodologies is really a non‐trivial, error‐prone task. This is a very demanding task and very few Universities in Europe have managed to obtain the ECTS label.
Helping disabled people: the potentials of biometric information
Authors: Chin Ann Ong , Bee Theng Lau 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate an idea of producing an assistive and augmentative communication (AAC) tool that uses natural human computer interfacing to accommodate the disabilities of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and assist them in their daily communication.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed a prototype that recognizes the real time detected emotions display on the face and send alerts to the caretakers through Short Messaging System (SMS) or loud speaker.FindingsThe evaluation result shows that the proposed prototype recognizes real time facial expressions from the children with CP with an average of 79.4 per cent, and a maximum of 88.3 per cent (standard deviation of 7.4 per cent) on ten children with CP. Evaluations were also conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the prototype to deliver critical expression messages to their caretakers. The result showed that 98.5 per cent of SMS was sent successfully to the caretakers (pre‐defined mobile phone number) with an average waiting time of 8.3 seconds.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the potential of the proposed prototype to assist children with CP to communicate with their caretakers in real time.
Assessing the health needs of vulnerable children, are the data fit for purpose?
Authors: Evans Sian 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess whether current routinely available population level data are adequate for assessing the health needs of vulnerable children.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a review of routinely available population level data relating to 23 vulnerable child groups.FindingsData were available to measure how many children may be affected locally for seven groups (30 per cent) (looked after children, care leavers, absent or excluded pupils, children in poverty, young offenders, children in need and children assessed to be at risk of social services). Partial data were available for 11 (48 per cent) groups and no data were identified for five (22 per cent) groups. At least one measure of health and well being status was identified for three groups (13 per cent) (care leavers, children assessed to be in need of social services and children assessed to be at risk by social services). For seven groups (30 per cent), a measure of health status was identified for some children in the group. No measure of health status was identified for 13 groups (57 per cent).Research limitations/implicationsThe review only considered routinely published data that can be reported for all counties or unitary authorities in England. Although every effort was taken to ensure complete identification, it is still possible that some data sources may have been missed.Practical implicationsThe gaps in available data to monitor vulnerable children's health will make the task of ensuring their needs are appropriately represented in local needs assessment and health strategies more difficult. The current service reforms offer an opportunity to address the data gaps.Originality/valueData relating to some vulnerable child groups was reviewed in 2006 when a number of recommendations were made. This paper updates and broadens that review and reports on progress made against the 2006 recommendations. The findings of the paper have implications for policy makers and commissioners of children's services.
Changes in the levels of psychological distress in eight countries of the former Soviet Union
Authors: Roberts Bayard , Abbott Pamela , McKee Martin 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare levels of psychological distress in 2001 and 2010 in eight countries of the former Soviet Union and to explore how these changes vary for different population groups.Design/methodology/approachData were collected using two related studies from 2001 (n=14,242) and 2010 (n=15,081). Both studies consisted of nationally representative cross‐sectional household surveys in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine using a standardized questionnaire. Psychological distress was measured using a 12 item instrument, with scores of 10‐12 indicating high psychological distress. Changes in prevalence of high psychological distress were measured between 2001 and 2010 by country, gender, age group, educational level, disability status, personal support and household economic status using descriptive and prevalence rate ratio analysis.FindingsLevels of high psychological distress decreased from 8.7 per cent in 2001 to 4.9 per cent in 2010 for the whole study region (4.5 per cent to 2.8 per cent for men; 12.0 per cent to 6.5 per cent for women). All study countries recorded decreases in high psychological distress. The adjusted relative rate ratios indicate the observed decreases have not been experienced by men, older age groups, less educated respondents, those with a disabling health condition, low levels of support and bad household economic status.Originality/valueThe study shows decreases in levels of high psychological distress in the study countries, but that decreases were less for socially and economically marginalised populations. This highlights the cycle of poverty, social exclusion and poor mental health in the region. Despite decreases of psychological distress among women, they continue to bear a significantly higher burden than men.
Cross‐sectional analysis of emerging market volatility index (India VIX) with portfolio returns
Authors: Bagchi Debasis 
Published: September 2012

PurposeEarlier studies establish a positive relationship between volatility index (VIX) and the stock index returns. These studies are mainly restricted to developed markets and research in this regard in emerging markets is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap.Design/methodology/approachThe paper studies the direct and cross‐sectional relationship of India VIX in relation to three important parameters: viz., stock beta, market to book value of equity and market capitalization. The paper constructs value weighted portfolio sorted on the basis viz., stock beta, market to book value of equity and market capitalization. The paper employs three‐factor multiple regression to find out the results.FindingsThe paper finds that India VIX has a positive and significant relationship with the returns of the value‐weighted high‐low portfolios sorted on the basis of the above parameters. The paper examines the behavior of India VIX in the presence of the above two parameters. The India VIX yields a positive and significant relationship with the above sorted portfolio returns.Research limitations/implicationsIndia VIX was recently introduced in November, 2007 and therefore the research is expected to suffer from small sample bias.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest India VIX is a distinct risk factor capable of predicting the price discovery mechanism of the market.Originality/valueIn the rapidly expanding emerging markets the introduction of Volatility Index is a recent phenomenon. Research in this regard is scarce, particularly in the area of finding predictive ability of the Volatility Index. This research is in this direction and would definitely help the market regulators and policy‐makers with their understanding of the market and market direction. It would help them to correct the market imbalances and avert crisis, which has been recently witnessed.
A survey of mutual fund fees and expenses in Thailand
Authors: Na Lamphun Pornlapas , Wongsurawat Winai 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to supply basic statistics of fees and expenses charged by mutual funds in Thailand, and to investigate the economic determinants of the variations in these charges.Design/methodology/approachThe authors construct an original dataset on characteristics of Thai mutual funds from annual reports filed between 2005 and 2007, and then use statistical analysis to investigate variations in fees and expenses.FindingsFunds that are small, entail higher risk, and offer special income tax benefits charge higher fees and expenses. Bond funds that produce high returns on investment tend to charge significantly lower fees and expenses when compared to those that produce low returns.Practical implicationsStatistics from the gathered data can help investors better evaluate Thai mutual funds. Determinants of variations in the fees and expenses can yield useful insights for policy makers regarding the competition and efficiency of the asset management industry.Originality/valueThis paper adds to a small but growing literature that investigates characteristics of the asset management industries outside of the United States and Europe.
The profile of health problems in African refugees admitted to Sicilian hospitals from Lampedusa, since the beginning of the 2011 humanitarian exodus (1 January to 22 September)
Authors: Pasta Linda , Farinella Enzo M. , Marchese Gaetano , Mesa Suero Leonardo A. , D'Amico Nicolò , Giovanna Di Stefano Maria 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThis paper's aim is to study North African refugees admitted to Sicilian hospitals from Lampedusa by helicopter emergency service 118, from 1 January to 22 September 2011 when due to a violent uprising in the Refugee Centre, Lampedusa is no longer accepting refugees by order of the Ministry of Interior.Design/methodology/approachThose migrants who were in need of hospitalization were transferred to the Sicilian hospitals exclusively by the emergency helicopter service 118. All 203 patients were classified according to the admission diagnosis reported on medical records of 118 and data were aggregated according to: disease, sex and department in which hospitalization was required.FindingsWomen were admitted to hospital almost exclusively for obstetrics and gynecological problems, while men for trauma, severe dehydration, attempted suicide, infectious diseases (TB, airways distress, and scabies), seizures and metabolic diseases. Hospitalization rate was 20 times lower in African migrants than Italian population compared per age and sex, confirming “the healthy immigrant effect”.Originality/valueThe paper shows that identification of health problems requires a careful monitoring that has implications for diseases dissemination (i.e. TB, HIV) both for ill patients who arrive, either for prophylaxis of healthy migrants, pursuing a valid vaccination policy. Maximum use must be made of the moment of the arrival of migrants to get and disseminate health information.
Meaningful use of service user contributions to professional training courses: whose formulation is it anyway?
Authors: Tickle Anna , Braham Louise 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThere is much literature regarding the involvement of service users in the training of mental health professionals, yet there are few specific examples of such initiatives. This paper aims to report an innovative way of involving service users via DVDs in the teaching psychological formulation on the Trent Clinical Psychology Doctorate programme.Design/methodology/approachA focus group was held with the service users involved in teaching psychological formulation and analysed using thematic analysis incorporating saliency analysis.FindingsAnalysis revealed ten themes, which broadly fell into two categories: service users' experience of involvement and consideration of the impact on teaching and improving trainee experience.Originality/valueIt is believed that this approach could not only inform the teaching of psychological formulation but also inspire other innovative opportunities to involve service users in the training of mental health professionals.
The influence of managerial factors on the capital structure of small and medium‐sized enterprises in emerging economies
Authors: Borgia Daniel , Newman Alexander 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of owner/manager characteristics in explaining the capital structure decisions of entrepreneurial enterprises in emerging economies using a sample of Chinese small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Although mainstream theories from the finance literature are useful in explaining capital structure decisions for large firms in developed economies, they do not adequately explain the financing behaviour of SMEs in developing economies.Design/methodology/approachThe authors' mixed methods approach utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand how managerial factors influence the capital structure of Chinese SMEs.FindingsThe findings suggest that the capital structure of SMEs in China is primarily influenced by aversion to external control and propensity to take risk. It was also found that owners with better networking ties generally require less debt financing because they can access adequate external resources through informal channels.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation concerns the extent to which the paper's findings can be generalised to outside of the specific location in which the research was undertaken. Future research might be extended to other emerging economies to determine whether the findings of this research are unique to China or robust across emerging economies, given different institutional contexts.Practical implicationsGiven the critical importance of fostering growth of private enterprise in China, policy makers should be aware of how the attitudes of owner/managers impact on the development of SMEs when developing mechanisms to support them.Social implicationsCitizens in economies which provide sufficient financing and support to entrepreneurial enterprises generally enjoy a higher standard of living than societies which do not.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need for studying how entrepreneurial firms in emerging economies make the financing decisions necessary to expand and grow.
IPO valuation of entrepreneurial firms in China's new growth enterprise market
Authors: Xu Zhijian , Xu Libo 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study whether there is correlation between valuation in initial public offering (IPO) and board composition, the ownership dispersion of top management teams (TMTs) and their human capitals, in entrepreneurial firms of China's new growth enterprise market (GEM). Also, it aims to evaluate the relative importance of various factors in determining initial public issuing value.Design/methodology/approachThe SPSS 16.0 statistical package was used to perform the analysis. The authors compute descriptive statistics, calculate correlation coefficients for all variables and use multiple regression analysis test the hypothesis.FindingsThe paper shows that IPO valuation has significant positive correlation with board composition, significant negative correlation with TMT ownership dispersion, but it does not show significant correlation with TMT human capital. The empirical results also show that: the influence of variable “CEO also Founder” on IPO valuation is significant, which indicates that investors are concerned with the leadership of firms in IPO. Also the influence of the variable “underwriter prestige” on IPO valuation is also significant, but weaker, which indicates that investors still keep confidence in the well‐known underwriters for their vision and ability of judging the firms.Research limitations/implicationsBased on the first batch of 28 entrepreneurial firms listed on Chinese GEM, the sample size is relative small. Also, the measure of TMT human capital, defined by the education degree level, is not an accurate rule in this paper.Originality/valueFocusing on 28 new firms in China's new security market, this paper presents some interesting and new findings, by using data from the first batch of listed companies in China's GEM, which comprises many privately‐owned, high technology and entrepreneurial firms.
The influences of entrepreneurial orientation on product advantage and new product success
Authors: Kam Sing Wong Stanley 
Published: September 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to improve understanding of what makes or breaks a new product by exploring the direct and indirect impacts of the three dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) – innovativeness, risk taking and proactiveness – on product advantage and new product success (NPS).Design/methodology/approachBased on the literature reviewed, theoretical relationships among five constructs and relevant hypotheses were developed and subsequently tested using data collected from 244 electronics manufacturers in China.FindingsThe results show that the three dimensions of EO and product advantage are the driving antecedents of NPS. Moreover, it is confirmed that the relationships between the three dimensions of EO and NPS are mediated by product advantage and the relationship between risk taking and product advantage is moderated by innovativeness and proactiveness.Originality/valueLiterature about the interplay among the three dimensions of EO and NPS are often disparate and heterogeneous. The paper overcomes this problem by confirming the relative influences of each of the EO dimensions on NPS, as well as their respective indirect impacts on NPS through the intermediate construct of product advantage. The findings help to enrich our knowledge on EO, particularly on the roles of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk taking in new product development in the electronics manufacturing sector in China.