bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Speke: a view of regeneration in a localized third sector setting
Authors: Davison Robbie 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of regeneration on one community – Speke in Liverpool, indexed as the most deprived area in England with a population of 9,000 people. The focus is on the role, activity and capacity of the third sector as part of the regeneration effort.Design/methodology/approachThe study period was 2000‐2009. A “practitioners point of view” was sought. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and triangulated method followed using NVivo.FindingsThere is no evidence to indicate the success of national third sector policy and its intent to improve the capacity of the sector at the local level. Service delivery is largely being led by public sector delivery structures. The local third sector is found to have significantly weakened. Community representation in regeneration is also weak, with no community forums in place. As a model, Social enterprise is underdeveloped.Originality/valueThe findings are contribution to theory, policy and practice and provide a practitioners view of third sector delivery at a local level. The evidence is of use to the researchers host organisation to undertake a lead role in developing as a fully representative area development trust.
Appraising climate change information reported to Congress
Authors: Auer Matthew R. , Cox Michael 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the sources and qualities of information on climate change commissioned by the US Congress from its affiliated research bodies.Design/methodology/approachCited material in reports commissioned by Congress from three legislative research bodies were categorized and tallied for the years 1990‐2005. Qualities of cited material, such as indicators of primary‐level data analysis and references to peer‐reviewed academic scholarship were considered.FindingsOf the three agencies, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) makes reference to peer‐reviewed academic scholarship most often. Nevertheless, only around a quarter of all cited material in CBO reports are from academic journals and comparatively few cites are to articles in top‐tier journals. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) cites its own past publications more often than it cites peer‐reviewed scholarship.Research limitations/implicationsRefereed academic journals are not the only source of rigorous scientific information in the reference materials used by the three legislative research bodies. Primary‐level data are found in governmental gray literature, and these data are analyzed by the legislative research bodies in their reports to Congress. The research bodies also make use of peer‐reviewed research by private research organizations, though these latter materials may not be published in academic journals. Further research is needed to determine whether and to what extent the legislative research bodies' reports are consequential in shaping lawmakers' deliberations versus other sources of information and persuasion, e.g. reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, news reportage, constituent perspectives, witness testimony in hearings, campaign contributions, etc.Practical implicationsLegislative research organizations are official conveyors of policy‐relevant information to Congress. It is reasonable to expect these organizations to provide competent analyses derived from peer‐reviewed science. The present paper suggests that commissioned reports by these organizations vary in terms of the range of source materials relied on, but reference materials are seldom derived from top‐tier academic journals. At least one research body, the CRS, frequently refers to its own reports as a major source for information on climate change. Two out of three of the legislative support bodies make greater use of governmental gray literature versus academic scholarship.Originality/valueReferences to purported shortcomings in the legislative research bodies' technical/analytical capacities exist in the public affairs literature, but are anecdotal. The present paper offers an empirical exploration of this concern, focusing on the most important environmental problem of the time.
Micro‐insurance against drought risk in a changing climate
Authors: Hochrainer Stefan , Mechler Reinhard , Kull Daniel 
Published: May 2010

PurposeNovel micro‐insurance schemes are emerging to help the poor better deal with droughts and other disasters. Climate change is projected to increase the intensity and frequency of disasters and is already adding stress to actual and potential clients of these schemes. As well, insurers and reinsurers are increasingly getting worried about increasing claim burdens and the robustness of their pricing given changing risks. The purpose of this paper is to review and suggest ways to methodologically tackle the challenges regarding the assessment of drought risk and the viability of index‐based insurance arrangements in the light of changing risks and climate change.Design/methodology/approachBased on novel modeling approaches, the authors take supply as well as demand side perspectives by combining risk analysis with regional climate projections and linking this to household livelihood modeling and insurance pricing. Two important examples in Malawi and India are discussed, where such schemes have been or are about to be implemented.FindingsThe authors find that indeed micro‐insurance instruments may help low‐income farming households better manage drought risk by smoothing livelihoods and reducing debt, thus avoiding poverty traps. Yet, also many obstacles to optimal design, viability and affordability of these schemes, are encountered. One of those is climate change and the authors find that changing drought risk under climate change would pose a threat to the viability of micro‐insurance, as well as the livelihoods of people requesting such contracts.Originality/valueThe findings and suggestions may corroborate the case for donor support for existing or emerging insurance arrangements helping the poor better cope with climate variability and change. Furthermore, a closer linkage between climate and global change models with insurance and risk management models should be established in the future, which could be beneficial for both sides.
Assessing impact of global change on flood regimes
Authors: Radojevic Biljana D. , Breil Pascal , Chocat B. 
Published: May 2010

PurposeGlobal change results both from climatic and land practice evolution in response to anthropogenic needs for development and human safety. The purpose of this paper is to describe a method to assess the respective effect of both sources of change on the flood regimes.Design/methodology/approachThe research takes place in the Western periurban part of Lyon (France), which is characterized by a rapidly expanding, scattered urban development since the 1970s. An increase in frequency of large floods is reported. At the same time, a long daily rainfall time series exhibits sensitive changes in rainfall durations and intensities. Independent analysis of global change components is performed using observed rainfall and land‐use data from two disconnected decades. A marked difference in natural climatic regime variability between decades is used as a surrogate to study effect of climate change.FindingsAnthropogenic activity at the observed rate of land use change, in particular urban change, mainly influences the frequent flood distribution. The observed large flood increase results both of longer rainfall events and more heavy daily rainfall. From simulations, a 43 percent urban cover as planned from 2025 projection would have a very sensitive effect also on larger floods, giving the hand to a more anthropogenic‐based flood control.Originality/valueDespite an expected increase in rainfall and flow variability regimes as a result of climate change and a projected growing of the world urban population, there is a lack of methodology to address combination of both processes on the flood regimes. A method is proposed to judge on the respective importance and interplay of these processes.
The legal foundations of financial collapse
Authors: Sissoko Carolyn 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the consequences of the “safe harbor” provisions of the US Bankruptcy Code that were enacted from 1984 through 2005 and that protect certain financial contracts from standard bankruptcy procedures.Design/methodology/approachQualitative methods are used to evaluate whether these provisions of the Bankruptcy Code were successful in their stated goal of reducing systemic risk in the financial system. A model of systemic risk is presented verbally in order to frame the discussion.FindingsRecent evidence indicates that the “safe harbor” provisions, in fact, destabilized the financial system by encouraging collateralized interbank lending, discouraging careful analysis of the credit risk of counterparties and increasing the risk that creditors will run on a financial firm.Practical implicationsThis paper indicates that the rewriting of the Bankruptcy Code to favor financial firms has had a profoundly destabilizing effect on the financial system. To put the financial system on more secure foundations, the author proposes that large complex financial institutions be prohibited from posting collateral on over the counter derivative transactions and that the repo‐related bankruptcy amendments passed in 2005 be repealed.Originality/valueThis paper proposes an original framework for understanding systemic risk which drives the results in the paper.
The economic impact of a shift from hard to fuzzy contracts
Authors: Sumner Glenna , Williams Anita 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThis paper aims to explain the economic impact of the change in the degree of contract enforcement in the USA since August 2008. This change, from solid enforcement (hard contracts), to uncertain enforcement (fuzzy contracts), is a result of political expediency during an economic crisis. The purpose of the paper is to point out that political decisions are not made in an economic vacuum, and that there is an economic impact to the move away from hard contracts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses a time value of money, net present value approach with specific emphasis on the investor's adjustment to the required rate of return in the face of uncertain contract enforcement. Both closed and open economic systems are addressed.FindingsThe paper finds that in the shift to a fuzzy contract environment, investors will increase the required rate of return on future investment contracts, thereby lowering the value of those assets. Both individually, and in the aggregate, asset values will fall.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper makes no attempt to evaluate reasons for or against the institutional changes that produced the move to fuzzy contracts. The paper examines only the resulting impact of the change on asset valuations.Practical implicationsReducing the certainty of contract enforcement reduces asset valuations and investment.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills a need to be cognizant of the fact that actions of politicians can have unintended economic consequences, using the specific example of the shift in contract enforcement in the USA since August 2008.
Development of an efficient engineering methodology for non‐linear damage and post‐buckling analysis of large‐scale structures
Authors: Belesis S. , Labeas G. 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an efficient engineering methodology for solving the problem of non‐linear (NL) damage and post‐buckling of large‐scale structures, which is of high importance mainly for the aircraft industry.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology takes advantage of the capabilities of finite element substructuring technique in the simulation of large/complex structures and exploits the advantages of local‐global analysis logic. The main innovation deals with the appropriate modification of superelement method, such that it can deal with NL behaviour and efficiently model the entire large‐scale structure. In this study, the proposed methodology is demonstrated in the treatment of geometrical non‐linearity and its efficiency is assessed in the case of a large‐scale fuselage section.FindingsA method capable of solving large‐scale NL problems by taking advantage of the linear response of the different model regions is developed.Research limitations/implicationsFurther development of the proposed method is required for handling other means of non‐linearity.Originality/valueThe proposed approach is advantageous in terms of computational effort over the corresponding conventional ones.
Improvement fatigue limit of steel containing a small crack‐like surface defect by overload effect
Authors: Mizukami Hiroshi , Hanaori Kazuya , Takahashi Koji , Tange Akira , Ando Kotoji 
Published: May 2010

PurposeSurface defects reduce fatigue strength and may greatly reduce component reliability, particularly in pressure vessel weld regions, springs, and other applications. The fatigue strength of components, and thus their reliability, can be substantially increased by tensile overloading prior to use. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of tensile overload on small cracks by applying a tensile overload to steel plates containing semicircular slits that simulate small surface cracks and by determining the degree of increase in the fatigue strength. The effect of tensile overload on the apparent fatigue threshold stress intensity factor range (ΔKth) was also investigated.Design/methodology/approachA tensile overload stress of 1,000 or 1,200 MPa was applied once to all test pieces. Then, bending fatigue tests were conducted with a stress ratio R=0.1. The slit region was subjected to applied cyclic tensile stress by four‐point bending throughout the fatigue test. A test specimen to which no overload stress was applied was tested for comparison.FindingsThe improvement in ΔKth by tensile overload is observed in the specimen with a small crack like surface defect. However, in the specimen with a small crack like surface defect, the improvement in ΔKth by tensile overload is saturated as increasing tensile overload. The improvement rate of ΔKth by tensile overload and the upper limits of improvement in ΔKth were predicted. The predicted values of the improvement rate of K were well in agreement with the experimental results.Practical implicationsThe proposed method can be applied to pressure vessels and springs.Originality/valueThe overload effects on fatigue strength are studied for large cracks. However, the effect is not understood at all for small cracks. This study focused the over load effects for small cracks. This is the original point of the present study.
For which future? Exploring the implicit futures of service‐learning
Authors: Beatty Joy E. 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a review of the history of the service‐learning movement, a description of the contemporary philosophical models of service‐learning, and an interpretation of which futures are implied in each model's learning objectives.Design/methodology/approachA historical and philosophical review of service‐learning is conducted.FindingsCurrent service‐learning practice has a 40‐year history, evolving from a social movement to a more mainstream pedagogical method. Historical and contemporary versions of service‐learning show three separate models with different assumptions about the purpose of service‐learning. The models are the professional model, which focuses on career training with cognitive learning goals; the civic engagement model, which focuses on developing active and engaged citizens, with affective learning goals; and the social change model, which focuses on empowerment and social justice, also with affective learning goals. While the civic engagement and social change models represent the historic values of the service‐learning movement, evidence suggests the professional model is most common.Practical implicationsTo meet the demands of the unscripted future(s), individual teachers and institutions should reflect on their assumptions about the connection between service and learning to ensure that their learning objectives are aligned with their practice.Originality/valueTeachers benefit from understanding the range of assumptions and values represented in service‐learning, and from the increased personal awareness from comparing their own views and service‐learning objectives with those of the larger field.
Service‐eLearning: educating today's learners for an unscripted future
Authors: Dailey‐Hebert Amber , Donnelli Emily 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer the proposition that by marrying service‐learning and eLearning pedagogies, educators can devise innovative pedagogical approaches that respond to the personal characteristics and educational preferences of today's “millennial” learners.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores the complementary pedagogical theories of service‐learning and eLearning in the context of preparing millennial learners for an increasingly “unscripted” future.FindingsResearch suggests that learners today must be equipped to make knowledge applicable in any setting, to gain the dispositions needed to effectively communicate globally, and to operate within advanced technological systems. Technology is not only a part of what shapes and defines learners' unscripted future; it is likewise essential to education within the context of that unscripted future. When considered in light of the unscripted future faced by millennial learners, service‐learning can gain greater relevance when merged with eLearning pedagogy.Originality/valueThe paper presents an integrative pedagogy of service‐eLearning, offering a discussion of both the theoretical frameworks and practical considerations undergirding this approach.
The consequences of Six Sigma on job satisfaction: a study at three companies in Sweden
Authors: Schön Karin , Bergquist Bjarne , Klefsjö Bengt 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a study of how Six Sigma influences job satisfaction among employees at three large companies with manufacturing units in Sweden that have used different implementation strategies.Design/methodology/approachThe study was performed using a survey distributed to those affected by the implementation at the three company sites, including those not directly involved in any Six Sigma activities.FindingsEmployees participating in Six Sigma feel positive changes in many aspects of job satisfaction. The Black Belts (BBs) felt, on the average, positive changes in almost all the tested areas. The largest changes are related to personal and new skill development, influence on work duties and enjoying the work. BBs also feel more recognition from management. Employees not involved in the Six Sigma projects do, on average, also feel positively influenced by Six Sigma, but the tendency is not as clear.Research limitations/implicationsThe results constitute a platform for further studies on the relation between Six Sigma applications and job satisfaction due to the different approaches used in the three studied plants.Practical implicationsThe positive results should help alleviate concerns of job satisfaction due to implementation of Six Sigma.Originality/valueThe paper fills a knowledge gap concerning the effect of Six Sigma on employees' well being and job satisfaction.
Introducing OEE as a measure of lean Six Sigma capability
Authors: Gibbons Paul M. , Burgess Stuart C. 
Published: May 2010

PurposeThe current paradigm for assessing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) is challenged as being anachronistic to the needs of businesses that now require a more holistic indicator of plant and process effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new framework that expands the original OEE measure to inform business performance at multiple levels focusing on adding benchmarkable indicators of asset management effectiveness and process capability. The ability to compare internal performance against external competition and vice verse is argued as being a critical attribute of any performance measurement system.Design/methodology/approachThe research methodology taken incorporated an action research approach using a pilot study combining case study research with an action research process of planning, observing and reflecting summarized as taking an action case research design.FindingsThe OEE and related literature is replete with many different enhancements to the original OEE framework. Many of the revised OEE frameworks move away from a standard OEE format taking away the opportunity to benchmark against plant and process performance at multiple levels.Research limitations/implicationsThe enhanced OEE framework is developed and testedin situat a single factory manufacturing large batches of similar products. Future research should look to further develop the OEE framework in both continuous process environments and asset intensive service industry environments.Originality/valueThe enhanced OEE framework introduces a measure of Six Sigma process capability using extant data from the OEE framework. Similarly, indicators of plant reliability, maintainability and asset management effectiveness are calculated taking extant data from the OEE framework. This enhanced OEE framework combines measures of process effectiveness, asset management effectiveness, gross process performance, net process performance and Six Sigma process capability into a single lean Six Sigma key performance indicator of process/plant performance.
Large scale screening for haemoglobin disorders in southern Vietnam: implications for avoidance and management
Authors: O’Riordan Sean , Hien Tran Tinh , Miles Katie , Allen Angela , Quyen Nguyen Ngoc , Hung Nguyen Quoc , Anh Do Quang , Tuyen Luc Nguyen , Khoa Dao Bach , Thai Cao Quang , Triet Dao Minh , Phu Nguyen Hoan , Dunstan Sarah , Peto Tim , Clegg John , Farrar Jeremy , Weatherall David 
Published: May 2010

SummaryIn order to obtain an approximate assessment of the public health burden that will be posed by the inherited disorders of haemoglobin in southern Vietnam, several thousand individuals were screened for these conditions. A smaller sample was screened for glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. The important haemoglobin disorders identified were β thalassaemia, haemoglobin E and a variety of different forms of α thalassaemia. There were sufficient G6PD‐deficient individuals to materially affect malaria control programme design. The most remarkable finding was wide variation in the gene frequencies of these conditions among the ethnic groups sampled. The approximate number of babies expected to be born with clinically significant haemoglobin disorders in Vietnam was estimated from the gene‐frequency data. This study emphasizes the importance of wide‐scale population screening, including ethnic subgroups, to establish the requirements for inherited haemoglobin disorder programmes in resource‐limited settings.