bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mina makes the most of human‐resource management
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe how strategic human resource management has transformed the fortunes of three Greek micro‐enterprises.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explains the problems faced by Mina mini‐market, Franco leather manufacturing and Yiannis Hair Care, and how they overcame them.FindingsThe paper highlights the key role that training can play in improving product quality and customer service and setting a struggling company back on the track to success.Practical implicationsThe paper reveals that training can go hand in hand with new bonus schemes, employee empowerment and better conditions of employment.Social implicationsThe paper details a number of approaches that small companies can adopt to help them to survive in a challenging economic context.Originality/valueThe paper recounts how three Greek micro‐businesses have achieved organizational change against the background of difficult economic circumstances.
Academic advising: does it really impact student success?
Authors: Young‐Jones Adena D. , Burt Tracie D. , Dixon Stephanie , Hawthorne Melissa J. 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThis study was designed to evaluate academic advising in terms of student needs, expectations, and success rather than through the traditional lens of student satisfaction with the process.Design/methodology/approachStudent participants (n=611) completed a survey exploring their expectations of and experience with academic advising. Principal axis factor analysis, multiple regression analyses, and analyses of variance were applied to student responses.FindingsSix interpretable factors (i.e. advisor accountability, advisor empowerment, student responsibility, student self‐efficacy, student study skills, and perceived support) significantly related academic advising to student success. Differences emerged with regard to advisement of demographically diverse students.Practical implicationsThe results suggest improvements in advising practices, particularly interventions focused on specific demographic populations.Originality/valueThe present study contributes to existing literature by expanding advising research beyond student satisfaction to explore how it influences student success. Additionally, results suggest a need for future research that further develops the concept and practice of quality academic advising.
The Intangible Global Report: an integrated corporate communication framework
Authors: Veltri Stefania , Nardo Maria Teresa 
Published: January 2013

PurposeIntangibles are the main value drivers of a firm. This consideration implies that it becomes more and more important/urgent to measure and report intellectual capital. The new reporting statement (intellectual capital report) is not yet commonly used by firms, but many, on a voluntary basis, already publish environmental, social and sustainability reports, which contain much information on intangibles. Starting from this point, the purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that it is possible to integrate the information contained in both reports in a singlead hocintegrated document, having both external and internal communication aims.Design/methodology/approachThe paper addresses three research questions: whether the theoretical premises exist for the integration of the two different frameworks; which frameworks should be chosen as a starting point; and which features should have an integrated framework. Theoretical premises for integration have been found in the research‐based view (RBV) theory. To chose the social report and intellectual capital report (ICR) framework to use as starting points, the authors analyze the frameworks from the intellectual capital (IC) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature; then choose the frameworks (GRI3 and Meritum reports) founded on an evolved notion of, respectively, corporate responsibility and IC, which share the same features – the orientation towards stakeholders, the managerial approach, and the focus on intangible activities that a new integrated framework should respect.FindingsStarting from the selected CSR and ICR frameworks, the authors planned and designed a new, ad hocmodel of corporate communication, able to integrate the social and intangible dimensions in a single document, named the Intangible Global Report (IGR). The IGR framework is composed of five dimensions, three derived from the ICR (human capital, structural capital, relational capital) and two from the GRI report (environmental, social). The different aspects of each dimension are surveyed in terms of intangible resources, activities and impacts, measured by financial and non‐financial indicators.Originality/valueThe main originality of the paper consists in providing a general framework for firms to integrate all their intangible information in a single document – the IGR framework – focused on the firm's strategy, which allows the stakeholder to visualize all the firm's intangibles, how a company conducts its activities and the impacts that such activities have on the environmental, social and IC dimensions.
Framing issues in the public debate: the case of human rights
Authors: Meriläinen Niina , Vos Marita 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to better understand how issues may be framed in public debate. The outcomes of this debate affect organizations. The study is based on the seven types of framing identified by Hallahan and scrutinizes which of these types is utilized, and how this is done, in the case of human rights issues.Design/methodology/approachFor this study a secondary analysis of academic papers on human rights issues was conducted. After a literature search, 40 papers originating from 23 different journals were further analyzed. Where the researchers described the framing of human rights issues, the type of framing was identified according to the typology and mode of utilization.FindingsIn the case of human rights, all seven framing types were found; however, the most common were the framing of attributes in which the economic or cultural context was emphasized and the framing of situations pointing out power differences between the actors.Research limitations/implicationsThe study underlines the complexity of framing and the importance of awareness of framing processes. It shows that the framing typology provides valuable insights into the debate on social issues, inspiring further research.Practical implicationsThis study provides a better understanding of the processes of issue framing, an important part of corporate communication strategies.Social implicationsThe study adds to actor and audience awareness of framing.Originality/valueInsights from framing theory are applied to the debate on social issues, thereby offering a fresh perspective on research in this field and relevant to corporate social responsibility.
Energy resources: trajectories for supply chain management
Authors: Halldórsson Árni , Svanberg Martin 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe aim of this research paper is to explain how principles of supply chain management (SCM) provide important conditions for the production, accessibility and use of energy, from the point of origin to the point of consumption.Design/methodology/approachThe paper identifies three distinct trajectories in which the interplay between energy and SCM can release potential for research and practice.FindingsEnergy resources are vital to power industrial processes in manufacturing and logistics, while their use is also a major contributor to carbon emissions. The integrative nature of SCM provides conditions for improvement in use and accessibility of energy, and can facilitate the transition in which fossil fuels are replaced with a system of supply and conversion of renewable energy. These opportunities are highlighted by developing a set of three trajectories, which range from a true supply chain perspective on the energy sector, to an up‐stream and down‐stream perspective, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe impact of energy resources on carbon emissions makes them important units of analysis in further SCM research. Future research must acknowledge the variety in the nature of energy resources, and provide frameworks that are able to address the particular features of these.Practical implicationsSupply chain strategists must assess how energy use, efficiency, dependency and accessibility influence operations, both internally and externally in the supply chain. Logistics flows are powered by energy. As a considerable portion of carbon emissions created by supply chain operations is energy related, energy must be seen as a means towards achievement of environmental sustainability.Social implicationsUnderstanding the relationship between energy and SCM will help managers to address environmental sustainability.Originality/valueThis is a timely topic of a cross‐disciplinary nature that has only been addressed to a limited extent by SCM so far. The topic is relevant to a large group of problem owners: supply chain strategists of companies where energy use, efficiency, dependency and security is an issue, and where operations processes have an impact on carbon emissions; for the energy sector, that needs to sustain a steady supply of energy, and increase accessibility to renewable energy sources that can replace fossil fuel; for policy makers, where energy dependency and security at a national level is an issue.
Broadband deployment and the bandwagon effect in the UK
Authors: Deshpande Advait 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to look at the extent to which the bandwagon effect played a part in digital subscriber line (DSL) broadband adoption combined with the regulatory measures, the slowdown in the cable industry and the changes within the telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom (UK). The dynamics of broadband deployment, broadband adoption against a real‐world supply‐demand equation and the factors that influenced the outcome in the UK are examined in detail.Design/methodology/approachThis paper combines historic facts and socio‐economic analysis done from archival research and interview material to examine the outcome in which the less‐heralded copper DSL technology outpaced cable broadband adoption. The analysis delves into the influence of the bandwagon effect and the two types of outcome associated with it i.e. network externalities and the complementary bandwagon effects.FindingsThe paper argues that the deployment of broadband technologies in the UK has not taken place solely on the merits of the technology or factors such as speed, end‐user demand and costs. A combination of factors related to regulatory decisions, status of industry finances, commercial expediency, short‐term technical benefits and the bandwagon effect are argued to be at work.Originality/valueThe paper is useful for historians, policy makers, regulators and communications industry analysts given its focus on broadband deployment in the UK in correlation to the bandwagon economics.
Pricing strategies and innovations in the Thai mobile communications market
Authors: Srinuan Chalita , Srinuan Pratompong , Bohlin Erik 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to explore the price plans offered by Thai mobile operators and analyse the role of demand characteristics in the development of new price plans. The paper also shows how demand affects a firm's degree of innovativeness in terms of the number of new price plans.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical qualitative analysis is based on an original data set from several secondary data sources and includes all the price plans offered in the history of the Thai mobile communications market between 2002 and 2010.FindingsThe results show that mobile operators have introduced several innovative price plans to attract and retain their consumers. Although a greater number of price plans can increase competition among operators, some have complex combinations that may lead to confusion for consumers.Practical implicationsA price comparison programme should therefore be implemented by the telecom regulator to ensure that consumers receive correct and complete information about the price plans.Originality/valueMost studies, by far, have not extensively discussed this mobile communications market in detail and the effect of innovation on competition between firms in the mobile communications industry, in particular the development of innovation in developing countries.
Empirical relationship between foreign direct investment and economic growth
Authors: Iqbal Chaudhry Naveed , Mehmood Asif , Saqib Mehmood Mian 
Published: January 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to find out empirically the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth and it will also highlight the relationship status between the variables included in the model, either long‐ or short‐run in case of China.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses secondary data obtained from World Development Indicators over the period 1985‐2009, whose viability has also been checked through the World Bank and IFS. An Augmented Dickey‐Fuller (ADF) unit root test is used to estimate an autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) approach to co‐integration as the variables in the model are in I(1) and I(0) form and the Schwarz Bayesian Criterion (SBC) is used in this study to find out the estimated lags of the model, which are ultimately used to find out the short‐ and long‐run relationship of the variables included in the model. The error correction model (ECM) was also applied which basically provides information about the causal factors that may affect the variables included in the model.FindingsThe results provide evidence that there is an empirical relationship among FDI and economic growth. The computed value of F‐statistics is greater than the upper bond value described by Pesaran, M.H. et al., which depicts evidence against the null hypothesis of no effect and hence long‐run relationship among the variables is concluded at bottom line. Empirical evidence reveals that FDI has a positive effect on economic growth. An error correction model (ECM) is applied and the error correction term was negative and significant. This indicates that there exists a relationship between the variables. Diagnostic tests showed a lack of heteroscedisticity, confirming the validity of the model; CUSUM and CUSUMSQ tests were used to reveal the model's stability.Practical implicationsThe Government of China should keep keen emphasis on the ingredients of this study so that China could reap maximum share of FDI through the achievement of positive spillovers of foreign investment, which ultimately results in its economic growth. However, the ingredients of this study depict the expenditures on security status, growth options as well as on infrastructure. This study also gives better impending in decision making about FDI in case of China.Originality/valueThis study bridges the gap between theory and practice and proves empirically the relationship between FDI and economic growth through auto regressive distributive lag approach (ARDL) to co‐integration in case of China. This research includes most dominating factors in the model which differentiate it from all previous empirical researches related to FDI's relationship with economic growth. However, this study not only pin points the new dominating factors related to this kind of relationship, but also set up a new horizon in the field of research to get groundbreaking results – in case of other countries – by following the footings set by this research.
Ecological processes and the ecology of stress: the impacts of abiotic environmental factors
Authors: Wingfield John C. 
Published: January 2013

SummaryRapid, effective and enduring responses of physiology and behaviour to perturbations of the environment are key to robustness of an organism (ability to resist perturbations) and resilience (ability to resist and recover quickly from perturbations) so that the normal life cycle can be resumed quickly.Perturbations of the environment can be labile (i.e. eventually subside) or permanent such as when human activity changes the environment in the long term, for example, deforestation, urbanization, etc.Hormonal responses to labile perturbation factors (LPFs) allow organisms to cope during the perturbation and then return to the normal life cycle. These hormonal responses are called stress responses especially in cases when major changes in physiology and behaviour occur (emergency life‐history stage).Permanent perturbations require more than just temporary acclimation resulting in changes in range, adaptation or in some cases local extinction. Perturbations can be abiotic, biotic and social, but these are not mutually exclusive.Here I focus on the effects of abiotic perturbation factors and their effects on the hypothalamo‐pituitary–adrenal/interrenal axis in vertebrates. There is a great need for more field investigations of responses of free‐living populations to perturbations of the environment, especially now that it appears the frequency and intensity of these events is increasing. However, such studies will require a high degree of opportunism on the part of the investigators to take advantage of unpredictable events when they occur.
Evaluation of the analgesic efficacy and psychoactive effects of AZD1940, a novel peripherally acting cannabinoid agonist, in human capsaicin‐induced pain and hyperalgesia
Authors: Kalliomäki Jarkko , Annas Peter , Huizar Karin , Clarke Cyril , Zettergren Annika , Karlsten Rolf , Segerdahl Märta 
Published: January 2013

Summary

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AZD1940, a novel peripherally acting cannabinoid CB1/CB2 receptor agonist, on capsaicin‐induced pain and hyperalgesia, as well as on biomarkers of cannabinoid central nervous system (CNS) effects.

The present study was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, four‐sequence, two‐period, cross‐over study in 44 male healthy volunteers aged 20–45 years. The effects of two single oral doses of AZD1940 (400 and 800 μg) were compared with placebo. Pain intensity after intradermal capsaicin injections in the forearm was assessed on a continuous visual analogue scale (VAS; 0–100 mm). Primary and secondary hyperalgesia induced by application of capsaicin cream on the calf were assessed by measuring heat pain thresholds and the area of mechanical allodynia, respectively. The CNS effects were assessed at baseline and up to 24 h after dosing using a visual analogue mood scales (VAMS) for feeling ‘stimulated’, ‘high’, ‘anxious’, ‘sedated’ or ‘down’.

AZD1940 did not significantly attenuate ongoing pain or primary or secondary hyperalgesia compared with placebo. Mild CNS effects for AZD1940were observed on the VAMS for ‘high’ and ‘sedated’. Dose‐dependent mild‐to‐moderate CNS‐related and gastrointestinal adverse events were reported following treatment with AZD1940.

No evidence of analgesic efficacy was found for a peripherally acting CB1/CB2 receptor agonist in the human capsaicin pain model. The emergence of mild dose‐dependent CNS effects suggests that the dose range predicted from preclinical data had been attained.
Pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of single‐ and multiple‐dose exenatide once weekly in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (对中国2型糖尿病患者单次和多次给予艾塞那肽周制剂的药代动力学、安全性和耐受性研究)
Authors: Cui Yi Min , Guo Xiao Hui , Zhang Dong Mei , Tham Lai San , Tang Cheng Cai , Mace Kenneth , Linnebjerg Helle 
Published: January 2013

AbstractBackgroundThis open‐label, single‐period study assessed the pharmacokinetics, safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamics of exenatide once weekly (q.w.), following single and multiple weekly subcutaneous (s.c.) injections in native Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsPatients (n = 25; mean [±SD] age 51.3 ± 8.2 years; body mass index 25.6 ± 2.4 kg/m2; HbA1c 7.4 ± 1.2%; duration of diabetes 3.1 ± 3.1 years) previously treated with diet modification and exercise alone or incombination with stable metformin doses were enrolled in the study. Twenty‐five patients received weekly doses of 2 mg, s.c., exenatide q.w. for 10 weeks, followed by 10 weeks observation. Pharmacokinetic parameters of exenatide, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and body weight were summarized using descriptive statistics.ResultsSteady state plasma exenatide concentrations (299 pg/mL) were attained within 8 weeks. Exenatide q.w. was generally well tolerated, and the majority of adverse events reported were mild in severity. The most frequent study drug‐related adverse events were diarrhea and vomiting. Decreases were observed from baseline to 10 weeks in FPG (~3.0 mmol/L), HbA1c (~1.0%), and body weight (~3.8 kg).ConclusionsThis is the first clinical trial of exenatide q.w. in native Chinese patients with T2D. The results suggest that exenatide q.w. has a pharmacokinetic profile in this patient population similar to that observed in other ethnic and racial populations, and appears to be safe and generally well tolerated, with the potential to improve glycemic control and decrease body weight without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia.
Ellagitannins: defences of Betula nana against Epirrita autumnata folivory?
Authors: Ruuhola Teija , Salminen Paula , Salminen Juha‐Pekka , Ossipov Vladimir 
Published: January 2013

The induced resistance of the subarctic mountain birch Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii is a well‐characterized phenomenon, whereas the induced responses of Betula nana L., one of the parental species of mountain birch, have not yet been characterized. Betula nana is more resistant to several classes of insectivorous herbivores than the mountain birch, although the mechanisms responsible for the better ability to resist herbivores are not known.
The present study aimed to determine the metabolic changes that are induced by early season herbivory in B. nana leaves and to study the effects of rapidly induced resistance on the growth of Epirrita autumnata larvae.
Defoliation of B. nana was accomplished by E. autumnata larvae and leaf samples for chemical analyses were collected when the defoliating larvae were at their third and fifth instar. At the same time, laboratory assays for the growth and consumption rates of E. autumnata larvae were conducted.
The wounding of leaves by E. autumna larvae induced the production of ellagitannins (ETs) in B. nana. Intriguingly, the concentrations of protein‐bound amino acids were also induced by herbivory; however, an increase in proteins was not mirrored in the growth rate of larvae, which was less on the induced foliage. The decreased growth rate of larvae was apparently linked to the increased concentrations of oxidatively‐active ETs and the high concentration of ETs may explain the better resistance of this parental species compared with the hybrid mountain birch with its lower levels of ETs.