bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Availability and persistence of web citations in Indian LIS literature
Authors: Sampath Kumar B.T. , Prithvi Raj K.R. 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe worldwide web is growing at an enormous speed and web citations are becoming very common in scholarly publications. However the major problem of web citation is its persistence since citations disappear over time, causing accessibility problems for readers. In this context the present study aims to investigate the availability of web citations and their persistence in Indian Library and Information Science literature. The study also aims to investigate types of link accessibility errors encountered, domains associated with missing web citations and the correlation between the path depth and missing web citations.Design/methodology/approachThe web citations (URLs) from 350 articles published in Indian Association of Teachers in Library and Information Science (IATLIS) conference volume (2001‐2008) were extracted and then tested to determine the accessibility. The W3C Link Checker (http://validator.w3.org/checklink) was used to evaluate links associated with a cited web resource. This link checker tests a submitted web page for broken or non‐valid hypertext links and reports the types of HTTP messages encountered.FindingsResults of the study show that the average citations per article have been increased substantially from 0.25 (in the year 2001) to 3.02 (in the year 2008). It also found that 45.61 per cent of citations are not accessible during the time of testing, and the majority of web citations show HTTP Error Code 404 (63.84 per cent). Web citations from the .org domain are found to have the highest failure rates (30.29 per cent) compared to .edu (21.49 per cent) and .com/.co (14.33 per cent) domains.Originality/valueThe researchers analysed 673 web citations from 350 articles published during 2001 to 2008 in IATLIS conference volumes. The study investigated the percentage of missing web citations and domains associated with missing web citations. The study suggests some possible solutions to improve web citation accessibility. This carries research value for web content providers, web authors and researchers in library and information science.
Virtual references services: defining the criteria and indicators to evaluate them
Authors: Pinto María , Manso Ramón A. 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThis paper aims to analyse the common features of the virtual reference services provided by European and American libraries in order to evaluate the service from the user's perspective, taking into account the potential of Web 2.0 applications.Design/methodology/approachThis research adopts a quantitative approach, to contribute to better understanding of the problems currently facing virtual reference services and offers solutions to them. The study also combines qualitative methodologies.FindingsThe study reports that virtual reference services in university communities have not changed significantly since they first appeared, and highlights the need to incorporate new technologies.Originality/valueThe paper draws attention to certain features of virtual reference services that are undervalued or have not attracted research interest, and calls for a technological shift in the services provided to users from the academic communities involved in this study.
E‐government portals: a knowledge management study
Authors: Behzadi Hassan , Isfandyari‐Moghaddam Alireza , Sanji Majideh 
Published: February 2012

PurposeIn view of their significance as well as influence, this article aims to examine knowledge management (KM) mechanisms in 20 Iranian e‐government portals used to provide services to citizens.Design/methodology/approachUsing the model “knowledge access, creation and transfer” (K‐ACT), a checklist was developed. This checklist was then applied to demonstrate its utility for evaluating 20 Persian‐language official e‐government portals in Iran.FindingsThe maximum score for the knowledge mechanism was 30 for knowledge creation. The mean score for KM in Iran e‐government portals was 26 per cent. This percentage indicates that e‐government portals in Iran are very poor.Practical implicationsIranian e‐government portals and Iran governors must consider some features in their decisions about portal design. This area requires further work, in particular in elaborating the relationship between e‐government and KM. In addition, planning strategically with key experts to design new models for the adoption of KM in e‐government is of high importance. These experts can be computer specialists, knowledge managers, librarians, portal designers and users of portals.Originality/valueThis study provides an insight into the situation of KM processes in the portals of Iranian ministries.
Balancing exploration and exploitation in complex environments
Authors: Bocanet Anca , Ponsiglione Cristina 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe objective of this study is to model and analyze the exploration‐exploitation dynamics of March's model of mutual learning in a complex environment. By enhancing the above mentioned model, the paper seeks to propose a new agent‐based model of mutual learning within an organization.Design/methodology/approachThe paper replicates March's model of simulating learning within an organization using an agent‐based simulation approach, and extends it by modelling the problem space as a fitness landscape using Kauffman's NK model technique.FindingsIt was found that it is impossible to find a right balance between exploration and exploitation using the communication structure of March's model.Practical implicationsThe proposed model could help create a virtual laboratory for experimenting organizations' behavior in a complex co‐evolving environment. This virtual laboratory may be used in the future to support the decision‐making process of managers and policy makers.Originality/valueDesigning the external environment as a fitness landscape helps in discovering what effect the environmental complexity has on the emerging balance between exploration and exploitation. It is the first study to design the environment of a model which analyzes the mutual learning between an organization and its members as a complex non‐linear space.
A debate dashboard to enhance online knowledge sharing
Authors: Iandoli Luca , Quinto Ivana , De Liddo Anna , Buckingham Shum Simon 
Published: February 2012

PurposeIn this paper the aim is to present Debate Dashboard, an online collaborative platform designed to support distributed knowledge management and decision making. The platform integrates an argument mapping tool with visual widgets with the objective of enhancing collective sense‐making and mutual understanding as well as to compensate for the costs of mediated communication in virtual collaborative environments.Design/methodology/approachThe design of Debate Dashboard is based on the theory of common ground according to which participants involved in a conversation build mutual understanding thanks to the exchange of different types of feedback. Using the concept of grounding cost, the authors identified several features of the Dashboard supposed to favour mutual understanding and knowledge sharing. Such features have been implemented through six visual widgets selected through a benchmarking of currently available visualization tools.FindingsThe paper discusses the limitations and advantages of online argumentation to support online discussions and presents a review of current visualization tools. The design of a new platform able to integrate online argumentation and visualization technologies is described and it is argued that Debate Dashboard will improve online collaboration in many respects especially in terms of supporting the construction of shared knowledge representations for geographically distributed collaborative teams.Originality/valueFirst, the work adds to the debate on the development of online argumentation platforms by offering an alternative theoretical perspective based on language and conversational studies. Second, it proposes for the first time to integrate argumentation and visualization technologies in the same tool to create an augmented collaborative platform able to overcome the limitations of both traditional online collaboration technologies, such as forums and wikis, as well as the criticalities associated with the use of argumentation technologies.
Elucidation and enhancement of knowledge and technology transfer business models
Authors: Landry Réjean , Amara Nabil 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework identifying and differentiating how knowledge and technology transfer organizations (KTTOs) create value from how they capture and transfer value.Design/methodology/approachThe argument of the paper is developed in two steps. First, the knowledge and technology transfer process is conceptualized as a value chain. Second, the internal KTTO's value chain perspective is extended by integrating the knowledge and technology transfer value chain into a business model conceptual perspective in order to emphasize the value captured by the clients of KTTOs. Then, the authors examine how KTTO managers could describe, benchmark and improve their business models by altering or reinforcing how they are positioned with respect to the interdependent elements of their business model. Finally, the elements of the conceptual framework are used to derive emblematic types of business models and provide exemplary cases for each emblematic case.FindingsLooking at KTTO management under the lenses of business models invites KTTO managers to look at knowledge and technology transfer as a whole. It suggests to managers to invest resources not only in the improvement of these elements where their organizations are strong, but also in these elements that constitute their weakest elements in the business model. Failure to improve the weakest elements of the business model might compromise the overall knowledge and technology transfer capabilities and performances of KTTOs.Originality/valueThe conceptual framework developed in this paper is intended as a starting point to explore how KTTO managers may be more effective in creating and capturing value from knowledge transfer.
Refining information and knowledge by social media applications
Authors: Vuori Vilma , Okkonen Jussi 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe paper seeks to discuss how traditional knowledge refining processes differ from those enabled by using social media applications. By addressing the topic with practical examples the paper aims to outline how collaborative work setting and social media tools are used in refining unstructured and unmanaged knowledge for value adding purposes.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is a conceptual analysis with reflections on current practices.FindingsThe paper proposes that the collaborative setting provided by social media applications enables sharing of different insights: combining mutual insights as well as discussing conflicting insights helps to form a more multifaceted and truthful understanding on issues. Utilizing social media applications as collaborative tools also enriches information as it can also contain elements that are not predestined as in common business information systems. Social media applications empower employees to collaborate and contribute to intra‐organizational information flows in a more informal manner. In addition to factual information insights to it can be shared and discussed.Originality/valueThe paper studies the idea of social media, as well as social media tools, from different perspectives, such as leisure or user perspectives or context. However, interest has increased toward usability of such tools also in working or business contexts. The paper points out that social media applications can aid collaboration and informal participation and thus leverage refining of information and knowledge.
The influence of intellectual capital on global initiatives
Authors: Ling Ya‐Hui 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to explain a firm's global initiatives from the intellectual capital (IC) perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis study presents empirical evidence on the relationships among intellectual capital, business environment, and global initiatives using a sample of firms located in Taiwan but competing in the global market. Altogether 168 companies took part in the study.FindingsThe findings have confirmed that intellectual capital is positively associated with a firm's global initiatives. There is also moderating effect of the business environment on the relationship between intellectual capital and global initiatives. The important role of intellectual capital is highlighted for firms intending to compete in the international arena. The importance of human capital (top management teams' visionary leadership) also increases as the environment becomes more dynamic.Originality/valueThe dimensions and measures provided by this study might serve as a starting point for further studies on the management of intellectual capital in the international context. With a longitudinal study design and large‐scale questionnaire survey, the study might enrich the existing literature by identifying the intellectual capital‐global initiatives relationship and exploring the moderating effect of the environment on the intellectual capital‐global initiatives relationship. The study might further contribute to the literature by focusing on Taiwan rather than a developed Western economy as employed in related work.
Managing knowledge processes for value creation
Authors: Schiuma Giovanni , Carlucci Daniela , Lerro Antonio 
Published: February 2012

PurposeNowadays organizations have realized that knowledge, its effective use and the fast acquisition and utilization of new knowledge represent the only source of sustainable competitive advantage. In fact, an effective exploitation and management of knowledge resources are the basis of the development of those capabilities that ground the organization's capacity to deliver successfully targeted value propositions. During recent decades, there has been a growing interest in the processes of management of knowledge resources. Currently the debate on knowledge management processes is still lively. The dynamics which link knowledge processes to value creation, the valuation of their impact on organizational performance and the role of some organizational and technological resources as enablers or restraints of successful knowledge management emerge as relevant topics to be investigated. This introduction to the special issue aims to develop some theoretical and managerial reasons explaining the importance of an effective management of knowledge processes to deal with the uncertainty, change, and turbulence of the current socio‐economic scenario.Design/methodology/approachThe approaches, evidences and insights discussed in this introduction are largely based on the discussion of the topics of the conference “International forum on knowledge assets dynamics” organized in June 2010 in Matera, Italy. At this conference, leading experts discussed the challenges and practices of measuring and managing knowledge resources to support value creation and business performance improvement of organisational systems.FindingsThe outcomes of this introduction and of all the contributions to the special issue reflect the emerging discussion about the role of knowledge processes and, more generally, of the management of knowledge resources, in value creation. This discussion is largely focused on the dynamics at the base of the translation of knowledge processes and resources into value, highlighting properly approaches and tools or application in different contexts of analysis.Originality/valueThis introduction, as well as all the contributions to the special issue, deal with different aspects which are important in the discussion both of the role played by knowledge processes in achieving outstanding organisational performance and the approaches, tools, methods and techniques to structure, organize knowledge resources and optimize their use in order to support effective organizational processes execution and value creation.
The use of ultrasound to enable low temperature electroless plating
Authors: Cobley Andrew J. , Saez Veronica 
Published: February 2012

PurposeElectroless plating is an important process in printed circuit board and electronics manufacturing but typically requires temperatures of 70‐95°C to give a suitable deposition rate. This is becoming problematic in industry due to the rising price of energy and is a major contribution to production costs. Previous studies have noted beneficial effects of ultrasonic irradiation upon electroless plating processes and it has been reported that sonication can increase the plating rate and produce changes to the chemical and physical properties of the deposited coating. The purpose of this paper is to reduce the operating temperature of an electroless nickel bath by introducing ultrasound to the process.Design/methodology/approachThe deposition rate of an electroless nickel solution was determined by two techniques. In the first method, test coupons were plated in an electroless nickel solution at temperatures ranging from 50‐90°C and the plating rate was calculated by weight gain. In the second approach the mixed potential (and hence the current density at the mixed potential) was determined by electrochemical analysis of the anodic and cathodic reactions. In both cases the plating rate was found with and without the application of an ultrasonic field (20 kHz). The electroless nickel deposits obtained in the plating tests were also analysed to determine the phosphorus content, microhardness and brightness.FindingsThe plating rates under ultrasonic agitation were always higher than under “silent” conditions. Most importantly, considering the objectives of this study, the deposition rate under sonication at 70°C was significantly higher than that found with mechanical agitation at 90°C. In addition, the results indicated that the deposits produced in an ultrasonic field had consistently lower phosphorus content, higher microhardness and were brighter than those prepared in an electroless nickel bath that was not sonicated.Originality/valueAlthough previous work has been performed on the effect of ultrasound on electroless plating, all these studies have been carried out at the normal operating temperature of the electroless process. In this paper, ultrasound has been applied at temperatures well below those normally used in electroless nickel deposition to determine whether sonication can enable low temperature electroless plating.
Recovery of copper from PCB manufacturing effluent using chitin and chitosan
Authors: Goosey Martin , Kellner Rod 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential for using chitin and chitosan sustainable materials to absorb copper from PCB manufacturing effluent and to report the results of an initial feasibility study aimed at demonstrating proof of concept.Design/methodology/approachCrab shells and prawn shells, both waste products of the seafood industry, as well as chitosan, were evaluated as potential absorbents for recovering copper present at low levels in the manufacturing effluent produced in a UK‐based PCB manufacturing facility. Various conditions were investigated and efforts were also made to recover absorbed copper via a regeneration process that enabled the metal to be electroplated from solution.FindingsAlthough only a short feasibility study, conditions were found that enabled copper to be absorbed by the ground crab shells and chitosan and then subsequently recovered by electrowinning to produce the metal.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough successful as a feasibility study, the experimental work highlighted the large number of variables that need to be investigated and optimised in order to obtain the most efficient copper capture and recovery. Further work needs to be carried out to determine these optimum conditions and to investigate the potential for recovery of other metals from a wider range of solutions.Originality/valueThe paper details how individual treatment technologies can be combined to enable a much more sustainable approach to PCB manufacturing which offers the benefits of reduced effluent metal levels, metal recovery and a novel use for another sector's waste products.
A multi‐electrode array (MEA) biochip with excimer laser‐produced micro‐well features
Authors: Flaherty Olivia M. , Cui Xiaoyun , Rajamohan Divya , Hutt David , Denning Chris , Conway Paul P. , West Andrew A. 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight a novel manufacturing process for a biochip with a multi‐electrode array (MEA) that is specifically designed for use in characterising cardio‐active substances and to demonstrate a novel proposed solution prototype that has been constructed to meet the needs of end‐users.Design/methodology/approachPractical problems encountered with conventional MEA biochips are described and a novel biochip design to tackle these problems is presented. The manufacturing approach used to produce the prototypes of that design is described and depicted.FindingsThe novel prototype MEA biochips were successfully manufactured using conventional electronics manufacturing approaches. Prototypes demonstrated limited successes in the early stages of testing. Further revisions of the feature geometry are required to implement an alternative MEA biochip that is suitably reliable.Research limitations/implicationsBasic photolithography techniques have been used to construct a base substrate for proof‐of‐principle studies. Increased sophistication in manufacturing stages is required in future iterations of the proposed concept.Originality/valueThis paper introduces a problem encountered by MEA system adopters that requires a suitable solution. The scale up of an electronics manufacturing process‐based solution to the problems described holds much promise for the screening of new chemical entities.
How can economic stochasticity promote or prevent corporate defaults?
Authors: Parnes Dror 
Published: February 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to theoretically examine under what circumstances economic cycles advance or deter corporate defaults.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical inferences are authenticated through Monte Carlo simulations.FindingsIt is found that an ongoing catastrophe dominates other macroeconomic conditions and forces corporate failures. In contrast, when a catastrophe is unlikely, a constant economy permits no‐defaults merely as an unstable equilibrium, yet a stochastic economy allows rival firms to remain operational within a stable general disequilibrium and under a wide range of economic conditions.Research limitations/implicationsThis topic can only be theoretically examined.Practical implicationsThe paper's findings assert that moderate economic variability typically discourages corporate defaults. These inferences convey high significance for regulators and policy makers.Originality/valueThe paper shows that in a perfect competition, economic waves can change the hierarchy of competitive advantages among rival firms and could help distressed firms to emerge.