bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural adjustment policies, currency devaluation and liberalised exchange rate on library acquisitions in the University of Malawi Libraries
Authors: Mapulanga Patrick 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to determine the impact of the structural adjustment policies on library and information services in the University of Malawi Libraries.Design/methodology/approachA case study methodology was adopted, and data – budget documents and various reports and technical papers – were collected.FindingsFindings show that libraries in this study were affected by the structural adjustment reforms. Budgets of the libraries increased but were affected by currency devaluations, unavailability of foreign exchange to pay for subscriptions and purchase books and this had negatively impacted on the provision of library and information services.Research limitations/implicationsThe study looks at implications of the structural adjustment policies in the five libraries in the University of Malawi, namely the Bunda College, Chancellor College, College of Medicine, Kamuzu College of Nursing and the Polytechnic only. However the results give a general picture of both academic and public libraries in Malawi.Practical implicationsLibraries are encouraged to consider adopting UNESCO coupons to solve foreign exchange shortages for software and journal subscriptions as well as engage international publishers with local shops to circumvent paying for library purchases in foreign currency. Libraries are also encouraged to use the Malawi Library and Information Consortium (MALICO) for bargaining prices against ever escalating journal and book prices.Originality/valueThe paper explores the impact of the structural adjustment polices in Malawi.
Functioning staff or staffing functions?
Authors: Fitsimmons Gary 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a model for staffing library functions that is free from the limits of rigid job descriptions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper introduces the concept of fluid job descriptions and then explains how to use the concept to balance workloads and solve other problems.FindingsUsing this concept allows the best possible use of available talent and skills.Practical implicationsLibrary directors can make their staff assets go further by avoiding the limitations that rigid job descriptions impose.Social implicationsThis model has the potential for increasing job satisfaction of library staffs as well as the efficiency with which they work together in serving their constituencies.Originality/valueThe value of the article is in improving library efficiency, along with employee job satisfaction, by introducing more flexibility into staff workload assignments.
“Retreat. Reveal. Retain”
Authors: Cottrell Terrance (Terry) 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to suggest that leaders use staff retreats as a time for budget and planning, more than as a time for working on the prototypical subjects of group cohesion, personality pairing/profiling and teamwork exercises.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis from the perspective of staff retention frames the explanation of staff retreats used primarily as budget exercises, to educate and spark informed debate leading to increased employee satisfaction.FindingsOpen and honest budgetary disclosure is the fundamental desire of employees concerned about macroeconomic issues affecting organizations going forward. Placing these matters first during staff retreats will create the desired group cohesion and retention effects sought through embarking on staff retreat activities.Originality/valueStaff retreats are very popular, and literature on this topic is plentiful. Positive retention outcomes attained from staff retreats because of a focus on a shared understanding of budget and planning is not, however, a popular idea. This paper suggests that the common retreat goal of group cohesion can be a direct product derived from carefully planned and explained budget disclosure, instead of crafty psychological and team exercises.
Outsourcing of human resources in science and technology libraries of northern India
Authors: Sharma Veerbala , Gupta Dinesh K. 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the extent to which outsourcing of human resources (HR) is used and the attitude of the library staff towards outsourcing in science and technology libraries in Delhi and Chandigarh, India.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is the result of a survey conducted in 25 science and technology libraries of Delhi and Chandigarh, India. Questionnaire and interview tools of survey were used to collect the primary data.FindingsMost of the Indian libraries have been using selective outsourcing for many years, which has had favourable impact on the activities and services of these libraries. Outsourcing seems a viable solution, as a majority of the libraries lack the required permanent HR. Normally, outsourcing is considered to be an anti‐staff and an anti‐professional activity. However, the study found the library professional staff supportive of outsourcing because it reduced their workload and improved their skills and professional competencies.Originality/valueThis paper explores the hidden practices of Indian libraries to fill the gaps present in required and available HR. However, they hesitate to accept openly that outsourcing is a tool for managing resources and services that are not available in‐house.
Is the encyclopedia dead? Evaluating the usefulness of a traditional reference resource
Authors: Wexelbaum Rachel 
Published: November 2013

Purpose‐‐ The purpose of this paper is to examine past, current, and future usage of encyclopedias.Design/methodology/approach ‐‐ The paper reviews the history of encyclopedias, their composition, and usage by focusing on select publications covering different subject areas.Findings ‐‐ Due to their static nature, traditionally published encyclopedias are not always accurate, objective information resources. Intentions of editors and authors also come into question. A researcher may find more value in using encyclopedias as historical documents rather than resources for quick facts.Practical implications ‐‐ Academic librarians may begin to invest more selectively in encyclopedias, whether in print or electronic format, and market them differently to students and faculty.Originality/value ‐‐ This article explores the academic value of encyclopedias in the twenty‐first century.
The impact of natural hedging on a life insurer's risk situation
Authors: Gatzert Nadine , Wesker Hannah 
Published: November 2013

PurposeSystematic mortality risk, i.e. the risk of unexpected changes in mortality and survival rates, can substantially impact a life insurers' risk and solvency situation. By using the “natural hedge” between life insurance and annuities, insurance companies have an effective tool for reducing their net‐exposure. The purpose of this paper is to analyze this risk management tool and to quantify its effectiveness in hedging against changes in mortality with respect to default risk measures.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this goal, the paper models the insurance company as a whole and takes into account the interaction between assets and liabilities. Systematic mortality risk is considered in two ways. First, systematic mortality risk is modeled using scenario analyses and, second, empirically observed changes in mortality rates for the last 10‐15 years are used.FindingsThe paper demonstrates that the consideration of both the asset and liability side is vital to obtain deeper insight into the impact of natural hedging on an insurer's risk situation and shows how to reach a desired safety level while simultaneously immunizing the portfolio against changes in mortality rates.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by considering the insurance company as a whole in a multi‐period setting and taking into account both, assets and liabilities, as well as their interaction. Furthermore, the paper shows how to obtain a desired safety level while simultaneously immunizing a portfolio against changes in default risk.
A multi‐year risk capital concept for internal models and enterprise risk management
Authors: Diers Dorothea 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate how risk capital can be calculated and allocated in a multi‐year context. This is an important issue, since strategic management and decision making within insurance companies require a multi‐year time horizon (instead of a one‐year time horizon, as set out in solvency models).Design/methodology/approachAfter defining risk capital in a multi‐year context, the paper discusses the different properties of the multi‐year risk capital concept. The paper also presents an allocation rule of how to allocate the multi‐year risk capital to individual years as well as to individual segments. The paper applies the author's model framework in an application study to illustrate the different effects.FindingsThe paper shows how multi‐year risk capital can be used as a basis for analyzing different management strategies within risk and return indicators in the context of value‐based management. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates the effect of allocating risk capital in a multi‐year context.Originality/valueThe analysis provides new and relevant information to insurance companies' management. Whereas usually solvency rules set out a time horizon of one year, in the context of internal risk models a multi‐year planning horizon is taken into account. Management needs to get an idea of how much risk capital is necessary in order to survive the next five years without external capital supply. The paper presents an answer to these questions.
Small businesses and risk contingent credit
Authors: Turvey Calum G. , Bogan Vicki L. , Yu Cao 
Published: November 2013

PurposeFirms facing significant income volatility can often suffer from downside risk such that return on assets is insufficient to meet fixed financial obligations. The purpose of this paper is to provide a prescriptive credit solution for small businesses facing exogenous income risk.Design/methodology/approachFormulas for risk‐contingent operating and collateralized loans are developed and simulated in the context of a specific business sector.FindingsThe paper demonstrates that a structured credit product with an imbedded option can reduce or eliminate financial risks by providing payouts that decrease the amount of principal and/or interest that firms must repay under low income states.Originality/valueThe overall objective of this paper is to provide a means to mitigate exogenous income risk faced by firms through the design and application of a risk‐contingent credit product that is tied to primary markets and simple to implement. In this context, risk contingency credit refers to a suite of financial products with payoff schedules (loan principal) that are linked to specific commodities or indices. The authors are in fact unaware of any commercial financial products of the type considered in this paper and thus their approach is a prescriptive solution to the identified problem.
Ageism: a study of demographic diversity in Brazil
Authors: Ferreira Vasconcelos Anselmo 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the demographic diversity of the so‐called 100 best companies to work for in Brazil and probe whether they exhibit any age bias and discrimination and, if so, in what degree it occurs.Design/methodology/approachDrawing predominantly on Great Place to Work® Institute Brazil lists, the author develops, through a historical research method, the analysis of the published data of those organizations over the decade between 1998 and 2008.FindingsThe results show that older workers were being sidelined by top‐tier organizations in Brazil. Further, the findings suggest that just some worker groups were being benefited by the 100 best organizations to work for; at the same time, it seemed that they are not interested in other ones.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough some triangulations were done with the Minister of Labor statistics, this investigation it is not completely exempt of bias. In light of this possibility, future research should focus on those organizations that show an undeniable age bias in their workforce demographic diversity composition.Practical implicationsThe paper argues that behind the ageism concept lies an inadequate appreciation for some human beings. As a result, organizations that are concerned with better corporate reputation and images should hunker down to eliminate the signals of ageism and the lack of demographic diversity within their workforces.Originality/valueThis paper shows the results of a qualitative research design focused on Brazilian corporate settings reality. It examines the demographic diversity of the 100 best companies to work for in that country and identifies, in which degree, age bias and discrimination were found inside them, specifically over the period between 1998 and 2008.
Bad for practice?
Authors: Lazzarini Sergio , Islam Gazi , Mesquita Luiz 
Published: November 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reconcile alternative managerial views regarding self‐serving behavior in organizations: while some propose that such behavior is commonplace and detrimental to performance, and suggest policies to counteract such conduct, critics contend that such policies generate distrust and diminish performance. The authors integrate elements from agency and interactional justice theories, and hypotheses that managerial attitudes not related to self‐interest can influence behaviors often attributed to the desire to curb self‐interest, and vice‐versa.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employ structural equation modeling based on survey data from 387 team‐leaders from both Brazil and the USA.FindingsAn asymmetric relation is found in the aforementioned theoretical “cross‐talk:” managers concerned with self‐interest tend to devise policies solely focused on curbing self‐interest, while managers concerned with justice not only adopt justice‐enhancing practices but also certain incentivizing agency‐related practices which jointly increase performance.Research limitations/implicationsBy proposing and testing theoretical interactions between agency and justice theories, support is found for both enthusiasts and critics of self‐interestedness, but pointedly they occur in different domains.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that managers should foster interactional justice, promoting incentivizing agency‐related behaviors that may be interpreted as justice‐seeking, while avoiding those that send a message of distrust.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first empirical papers directly addressing the ongoing debate raised by Ghoshal and others on the merits of managerial theories based on the assumption of self‐interest.
Dispersal, niche breadth and population extinction: colonization ratios predict range size inNorthAmerican dragonflies
Authors: McCauley Shannon J. , Davis Christopher J. , Werner Earl E. , Robeson Michael S. 
Published: November 2013

SummarySpecies' range sizes are shaped by fundamental differences in species' ecological and evolutionary characteristics, and understanding the mechanisms determining range size can shed light on the factors responsible for generating and structuring biological diversity. Moreover, because geographic range size is associated with a species' risk of extinction and their ability to respond to global changes in climate and land use, understanding these mechanisms has important conservation implications.Despite the hypotheses that dispersal behaviour is a strong determinant of species range areas, few data are available to directly compare the relationship between dispersal behaviour and range size. Here, we overcome this limitation by combining data from a multispecies dispersal experiment with additional species‐level trait data that are commonly hypothesized to affect range size (e.g. niche breadth, local abundance and body size.). This enables us to examine the relationship between these species‐level traits and range size across North America for fifteen dragonfly species.Ten models based ona prioripredictions about the relationship between species traits and range size were evaluated and two models were identified as good predictors of species range size. These models indicated that only two species' level traits, dispersal behaviour and niche breadth were strongly related to range size. The evidence from these two models indicated that dragonfly species that disperse more often and further had larger North American ranges.Extinction and colonization dynamics are expected to be a key linkage between dispersal behaviour and range size in dragonflies. To evaluate how extinction and colonization dynamics among dragonflies were related to range size we used an independent data set of extinction and colonization rates for eleven dragonfly species and assessed the relationship between these populations rates and North American range areas for these species.We found a negative relationship between North American range size and species' extinction‐to‐colonization ratios. Our results indicate that metapopulation dynamics act to shape the extent of species' continental distributions. These population dynamics are likely to interact with dispersal behaviour, particularly at species range margins, to determine range limits and ultimately species range sizes.
SNPMeta: SNP annotation and SNP metadata collection without a reference genome
Authors: Kono Thomas J. Y. , Seth Kiran , Poland Jesse A. , Morrell Peter L. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe increase in availability of resequencing data is greatly accelerating SNP discovery and has facilitated the development of SNP genotyping assays. This, in turn, is increasing interest in annotation of individual SNPs. Currently, these data are only available through curation, or comparison to a reference genome. Many species lack a reference genome, but are still important genetic models or are significant species in agricultural production or natural ecosystems. For these species, it is possible to annotate SNPs through comparison with cDNA, or data from well‐annotated genes in public repositories. We present SNPMeta, a tool which gathers information about SNPs by comparison with sequences present in GenBank databases. SNPMeta is able to annotate SNPs from contextual sequence in SNP assay designs, and SNPs discovered through genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approaches. However, SNPs discovered through GBS occur throughout the genome, rather than only in gene space, and therefore do not annotate at high rates. SNPMeta can therefore be used to annotate SNPs in nonmodel species or species that lack a reference genome. Annotations generated by SNPMeta are highly concordant with annotations that would be obtained from a reference genome.
Features of urate deposition in patients with gouty arthritis of the foot using dual‐energy computed tomography
Authors: Sun Ying , Ma Lili , Zhou Yi , Chen Huiyong , Ding Yuqin , Zhou Jianjun , Wei Lei , Zou Hejian , Jiang Lindi 
Published: November 2013

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate features of urate deposition in gout and the association between these features and attacks of gouty arthritis using dual‐energy computed tomography (CT).MethodsDual‐energy CT scans of both feet were performed in 80 consecutive patients with gout and 22 with asymptomatic hyperuricemia.ResultsOverall, 333 areas of urate deposition were found in patients with gout. The most commonly affected sites were the first metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ; 57/333), the distal area of the first toe (59/333) and the calcaneal bone (61/333). For episodes of the first MPJ arthritis, urate deposits in the flexor pollicis longus muscle tendon (P = 0.02), as well as solitary and punctate depositions (P = 0.03 and 0.01, respectively) were positively related to the acute attacks. For episodes of arthritis around the ankle, deposits in the area, including the talus and inferior tibia, were associated with attacks of arthritis at the ankle (P = 0.02); additionally, deposits in the flexor tendon adjacent to the inferior tibia (P < 0.01) and a punctiform conformation were significantly associated with attacks of arthritis (P = 0.02). Logistic regression analysis showed that deposits around the first MPJ (OR = 3.38, 95% CI: 1.32, 8.17) or around the talus and inferior tibia (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.11, 7.15) would increase the risk of an attack of arthritis.ConclusionsDual‐energy CT imaging can be used to detect and analyze the features of urate deposition in patients with gout. Specific features of the deposits appeared to be associated with acute attacks of gouty arthritis.
The Novelty of Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Emperor's New Clothes?
Authors: Braunstein Jürgen 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis article broadens the empirical and conceptual perspective on sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). This is first done through providing a definition of contemporary SWFs. Using recent literature it suggests that SWFs can be differentiated into discrete categories in terms of their funding, governance and investment structures. Using this definition, the subsequent history section identifies earlier instances of SWFs in the context of 17th century financial mercantilism and 1930s monetary mercantilism. This leads directly to a number of investment deals in the 2000s where some countries with SWFs were subject to intense media and government scrutiny. In the aftermath, commentators warned of protectionism and a resurgence in financial and monetary mercantilism by pointing to emerging economies, most notably China. Though contemporary SWFs are not the same as earlier state‐related pools of capital, there are important similarities concerning policy‐relevant variables, highlighted by the SWF literature. A historical interpretative approach provides a bridge between historical instances and a reconceptualised notion of SWFs, linking historical evidence directly to functional claims about the purposes of contemporary SWFs.
Newspaper Coverage and Climate Change Legislative Activity across US States
Authors: Dolšak Nives , Houston Kristen 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThere has been no federal legislation in the US regarding global climate change. Yet, state‐level and city governments have exhibited policy leadership on this subject. How has this varied across states, specifically how has newspaper coverage about global climate change influenced legislative activity across US states during the period 1998–2006? Drawing insights from the literature on the impact of media on agenda setting, we employ regression analysis to understand the impact of newspaper coverage on the introduction of global climate change bills across 17 US states. Newspaper coverage is operationalized in two ways. First, we focus on the overall tone of the coverage: (1) negative, anti‐policy tone; (2) balanced tone; or (3) positive, pro‐policy tone. We find that pro‐ policy narratives are associated with increased legislative activity and balanced narratives are associated with fewer bills aiming at global climate change mitigation. Second, we examine issues addressing: (1) the occurrence of global climate change; (2) its consequences; and (3) global climate change policy solutions. We find that newspaper coverage focused on consequences and policy solutions is associated with increases in the number of introduced bills whereas coverage focused on occurrence is associated with decreases in the number of introduced bills. This article highlights the need to understand the role of subnational units in global public policy especially the implementation of global regimes. Second, we highlight the important role of media in agenda setting and in influencing subnational policy processes.