bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Undergraduate Research-Methods Training in Political Science: A Comparative Perspective
Authors: Parker Jonathan 
Published: January 2010

AbstractUnlike other disciplines in the social sciences, there has been relatively little attention paid to the structure of the undergraduate political science curriculum. This article reports the results of a representative survey of 200 political science programs in the United States, examining requirements for quantitative methods, research methods, and research projects. The article then compares the results for the United States with a survey of all political science programs in Australia, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The results suggest (1) that the state of undergraduate methods instruction is much weaker in the United States than indicated in previous research, (2) this pattern is repeated in other countries that emphasize broad and flexible liberal arts degrees, and finally (3) this pattern of weak methods requirements is not found in more centralized, European higher education system that emphasize depth over breadth. These countries demonstrate a consistent commitment to undergraduate training in research methods that is followed up with requirements for students to practice hands-on research. The model of weak methods requirements in the discipline is not the norm internationally, but differs depending upon the type of higher education system.
Using Intrade.com to Teach Campaign Strategies in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election
Authors: Abramson Paul R. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractDuring the six weeks before the 2008 elections, I conducted a contest for the 72 students enrolled in my upper-division course Campaigns and Elections. Using contract prices posted by Intrade.com, an electronic gaming market based in Dublin, I asked students to choose among 10 political outcomes. The “contracts” earned by each choice were determined by the Intrade “bid” prices as of September 24, 2008, the day the contest began. The contest helped teach students about campaign strategies, the way electoral rules affect electoral outcomes, provided a reference point to discuss the campaign, and was designed to stimulate interest in the election.
High frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in a Brazilian population
Authors: Xavier JM , Costa FF , Annichino-Bizzacchi JM , Saad STO 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjectiveThere are few studies regarding vitamin B12 deficiency in developing countries. In Brazil, a late diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency progressing to severe neurological damage is common. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in two Brazilian populations (elderly and adult participants) and to compare different methods of vitamin B12 deficiency detection.DesignFive hundred participants were recruited from health centres from south-east Brazil and were separated into two groups: 60 years old or more and 30–59 years old. Vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECI) and RIA. Methylmalonic acid (MMA) was measured by LC coupled to tandem MS. Full blood counts were acquired using standard methods.ResultsAll participants had normal blood count results and mean cell volume less than 99 fl; none of them presented folate deficiency according to the results, which were all greater than 3 ng/ml. Cobalamin levels less than 200 pmol/l were identified by one of the two or by both methods in 7·2 % of the participants aged 60 years or more and 6·4 % of the participants aged 30–59 years. MMA levels were higher in older subjects (P = 0·007) compared with younger subjects. A greater correlation of MMA v. RIA was observed than of MMA v. ECI (P = 0·0017 v. P = 0·014). MMA quantification estimated that cobalamin deficiency was present in more than 11 % of the subjects for both studied groups.ConclusionsThe study shows that vitamin B12 deficiency is frequent in Brazilian adults and suggests that RIA is more sensitive than ECl for measuring cobalamin levels.
Soft drink consumption and mental health problems among adults in Australia
Authors: Shi Zumin , Taylor Anne W , Wittert Gary , Goldney Robert , Gill Tiffany K 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the association between soft drink consumption and mental health problems, including self-reported doctor-diagnosed anxiety, stress-related problem and depression, suicidal ideation and psychological distress, among adults in South Australia.DesignData were collected using a risk factor surveillance system. Each month a representative random sample of South Australians was selected from the Electronic White Pages with interviews conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing.SettingSouth Australia.SubjectsParticipants were aged 16 years and above.ResultsAmong 4741 participants, 12·5 % reported daily soft drink consumption of more than half a litre. High levels of soft drink consumption were positively associated with depression, stress-related problem, suicidal ideation, psychological distress and a current mental health condition, but not anxiety. Overall, 24·0 % of those having suicidal ideation reported consuming more than half a litre of soft drink per day. In the multivariate analysis, after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, those who consumed more than half a litre of soft drink per day had approximately 60 % greater risk of having depression, stress-related problem, suicidal ideation, psychological distress or a current mental health condition, compared with those not consuming soft drinks. The soft drink to total fluid consumption ratio had similar associations with mental health problems.ConclusionsThere is a positive association between consumption of soft drinks and mental health problems among adults in South Australia.
Food insufficiency among HIV-infected crack-cocaine users in Atlanta and Miami
Authors: Vogenthaler Nicholas S , Hadley Craig , Lewis Sarah J , Rodriguez Allan E , Metsch Lisa R , del Rio Carlos 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjectiveTo measure the occurrence and correlates of food insufficiency among HIV-infected crack-cocaine users in Atlanta and Miami, USA.DesignNon-probability cross-sectional sample.SettingInner-city hospitals in Atlanta and Miami.SubjectsTwo hundred and eighty-seven HIV-infected crack users.ResultsOne-third (34 %) of respondents experienced food insufficiency within 30 d of interview. Increased odds of food insufficiency was associated with current homelessness (adjusted OR = 3·78, 95 % CI 1·70, 8·41), living alone (adjusted OR = 2·85, 95 % CI 1·36, 5·98), religious service attendance (adjusted OR = 2·34, 95 % CI 1·02, 5·38) and presence of health insurance (adjusted OR = 2·41, 95 % CI 1·06, 5·54). Monthly income greater than $US 600 (adjusted OR = 0·19, 95 % CI 0·06, 0·58) was associated with decreased odds of food insufficiency, and less than weekly crack use was marginally associated with decreased odds of food insufficiency (adjusted OR = 0·39, 95 % CI 0·13, 1·08).ConclusionsFood insufficiency is very prevalent among HIV-infected urban crack-cocaine users in Atlanta and Miami. Correlates of food insufficiency confirm the social vulnerability of these individuals. Routine assessment for food insecurity should become a routine component of treatment and prevention programmes in at-risk populations.
Livestock pathology in the central African region: some epidemiological considerations and control strategies
Authors: Awa Daniel Ndzingu , Achukwi Mbunkah Daniel 
Published: January 2010

AbstractDisease consistently features among the major constraints of livestock production in the central African region, orchestrating important economic losses. This article reviews livestock diseases of economic importance, including foot-and-mouth disease, trypanosomosis and dermatophilosis in cattle, peste des petits ruminants and gastrointestinal helminthosis in sheep and goats, and Newcastle disease in poultry. Some aspects of epidemiology such as pathogen identification, prevalence and risk factors are examined in the light of research findings in the region. Control tools such as vaccines, chemotherapeutic or prophylactic agents, and protocols developed for their efficient use are also reviewed. Constraints to the effective use of these tools have been identified as mostly due to institutional insufficiencies and measures for improvement have been proposed. These include the promotion of private professional veterinary services endowed with greater responsibility in animal health care, creation and promotion of community-based animal health care units in areas of marginal professional coverage, and adoption of a regional approach to the control of diseases of economic importance.
Fleeing war and relocating to the urban fringe – issues and actors: the cases of Khartoum and Bogotá
Authors: de Geoffroy Agnès 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis article presents the findings of a long-term study of the circumstances of displaced persons in Khartoum and Bogotá. It explores the similarities and differences between these contexts and how they have evolved. The study shows that while the two situations raise fairly similar issues, the policy decisions taken differ widely, impacting on how various actors cope with the phenomenon.
Internal displacement in Colombia: humanitarian, economic and social consequences in urban settings and current challenges
Authors: Carrillo Angela Consuelo 
Published: January 2010

AbstractThis article provides an overview of internal displacement and the internally displaced person (IDP) assistance system in Colombia. It analyses the humanitarian consequences faced by IDPs when they move to an urban environment, and examines the impact of the influx of IDPs into cities on the different actors involved, such as the government, national and international organizations and host communities.
Positive polynomials and sequential closures of quadratic modules
Authors: Netzer Tim 
Published: January 2010

Let

S

=
{
x
∈

R

n

∣

f
1

(
x
)
≥
0
,
…
,

f
s

(
x
)
≥
0
}

\mathcal {S}=\{x\in \mathbb {R}^n\mid f_1(x)\geq 0,\ldots ,f_s(x)\geq 0\}

be a basic closed semi-algebraic set in

R

n

\mathbb {R}^n

and let

P
O

(

f
1

,
…
,

f
s

)

\mathrm {PO}(f_1,\ldots ,f_s)

be the corresponding preordering in

R

[

X
1

,
…
,

X
n

]

\mathbb {R}[X_1,\ldots ,X_n]

. We examine for which polynomials

f
f

there exist identities
\[

f
+
ε
q
∈

P
O

(

f
1

,
…
,

f
s

)

for all

ε
>
0.

f+\varepsilon q\in \mathrm {PO}(f_1,\ldots ,f_s) \mbox { for all } \varepsilon >0.

\]
These are precisely the elements of the sequential closure of

P
O

(

f
1

,
…
,

f
s

)

\mathrm {PO}(f_1,\ldots ,f_s)

with respect to the finest locally convex topology. We solve the open problem from Kuhlmann, Marshall, and Schwartz (2002, 2005), whether this equals the double dual cone
\[

P
O

(

f
1

,
…
,

f
s

)

∨
∨

,

\mathrm {PO}(f_1,\ldots ,f_s)^{\vee \vee },

\]
by providing a counterexample. We then prove a theorem that allows us to obtain identities for polynomials as above, by looking at a family of fibre-preorderings, constructed from bounded polynomials. These fibre-preorderings are easier to deal with than the original preordering in general. For a large class of examples we are thus able to show that either every polynomial

f
f

that is nonnegative on

S

\mathcal {S}

admits such representations, or at least the polynomials from

P
O

(

f
1

,
…
,

f
s

)

∨
∨

\mathrm {PO}(f_1,\ldots ,f_s)^{\vee \vee }

do. The results also hold in the more general setup of arbitrary commutative algebras and quadratic modules instead of preorderings.
Swedish managers in TWA act as boundary spanners
Authors: Augustsson Gunnar , Olofsdotter Gunilla , Wolvén Lars‐Erik 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight the complexity of manpower management in temporary work agencies (TWA). The aim is to investigate to which extent the managers reflects the features of boundary spanners.Design/methodology/approachThe results come from a case study where manpower managers at one of the biggest TWAs in Sweden are interviewed.FindingsTWAs' boundary‐spanning managers mediate between the opinions of the clients, the TWAs, and the individual temps as well as balancing between trust and risk. The findings reveal the relevance of the managers' application of a flexible and a dialectical approach when delivering service to clients, the TWA and the temps. This flexible approach means being able to simultaneously embrace these three perspectives of interests. A dialectical approach involves being able to: systematically balance between the opposing pair of trust and risk and search for the most functional option and not relate others' opinions to one's own personal values.Research limitations/implicationsThe interview data come from a case study at only one TWA and it is collected in a limited number of interview subjects.Practical implicationsThe results can provide useful information for recruiters of manpower managers in a TWA when choosing staff members that can enhance strategic management of temps. The results can also be of assistance for managers when interacting with both customers and temps.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by an analysis of the complex working conditions under which manpower managers in TWAs work.
Mapping the intellectual structure of modern leadership studies
Authors: Tseng Hsing‐Chau , Tung Hui‐Lien , Duan Chi‐Hsiang 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore and map the intellectual structure of leadership studies during 1997‐2006. This paper also attempts to help researchers identify the important publications and the influential scholars as well as the correlations among these publications using citation and co‐citation.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, co‐citation analysis and social network analysis techniques are used to research knowledge network of the leadership literature by analyzing 31,232 cited references of 2,322 articles from two leadership related journals in social science citation index and science citation index databases.FindingsFour factors emerged in this paper: effectiveness of leadership style, leadership theory and development, leadership categorization, and current issues of leadership research.Originality/valueThis paper provides management researchers a tool for evaluating leadership publications and provides a systematic and objective means of determining the relative importance of different knowledge nodes in the development of the leadership research.
Financial market development and corporate financing: evidence from emerging market economies
Authors: Bokpin Godfred A. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of financial market development on corporate financing of emerging market firms to ascertain whether or not interactions in the financial market has any impact on the available choice of financing of firms.Design/methodology/approachPanel data covering the period 1990‐2006 for 34 emerging market economies were analyzed within the framework of Pesaran's dynamic fixed effect model and the pooled mean group estimator to capture the short‐ and long‐run effects of the covariates on the endogenous variables.FindingsThe findings of the research indicate significantly that the direction and magnitude of the impact of financial market development and macroeconomic variables on capital structure vary with the maturities of the security issue. It is also documented that firm level variables such as profitability, investment opportunity, asset tangibility and risk are equally important in predicting firms' capital structure decisions. The findings also indicate that economy wide variables such as gross domestic product per capita are significant predictors of financing choices of firms. The results of the study generally support existing literature on the impact of financial market development, macroeconomic variables and certain firm level factors on capital structure.Originality/valueThe paper considers unique data from emerging market economies over a 17‐year period.
Struggles of managerial being and becoming
Authors: Andersson Thomas 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the struggles of managerial identity in relation to the process of becoming/being a manager, and the personal conflicts involved within this process.Design/methodology/approachIn a qualitative, longitudinal project, five managers were studied for two years using interviews and observations. This was undertaken before, during, and after their participation in personal development training. In total, 62 interviews and eight half‐day observations were conducted.FindingsThe study puts emphasis on the role of management training in providing templates for “how to be a manager”, but it also illustrates the double‐edged and complex role played by context in managerial being and becoming. On the one hand context shapes managerial identity; on the other hand, context might operate to dilute the identity an individual manager wishes to assume.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on only five managers in two organizations. This small sample limits the generalisabilty of the research.Practical implicationsManagement training tends to be based on the idea that management concerns the acquisition of competencies, techniques and personal awareness, while managerial practice is more fluid and contextually based. There is a challenge for organizers of all types of management training to bridge the gap between a fixed idea of what it is to be a manager and how management is actually practised.Originality/valueThe longitudinal and in‐depth qualitative approach facilitates an important contribution to understanding issues in developing a managerial identity.
Study abroad education in New England higher education: a pilot survey
Authors: Niser John C. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop relevant questions for research by gaining an initial understanding of how the field of study abroad education is organizing itself within institutions of higher education. The context is the growing numbers of students, demands, and expectations made on study abroad programs.Design/methodology/approachThe survey was carried out by analyzing publicly available data and information, as it would be available to students, of all the accredited institutions of higher education within the six states of New England.FindingsThe findings confirm that albeit for Community Colleges, the vast majority of institutions offer study abroad programs. However, this survey also reveals the important role providers are playing in offering generic programs to students from multiple institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings call for further investigation into institutional strategies concerning the choice of programs, particularly those involving providers who potentially imply losing tuition and control over educational outcomes. Limitations are discussed suggesting the need to widen the geographical area studied as well as analyzing in more detail the Community College offerings that are not easily accessible with the methodology that has been used in this paper. The findings also raise some questions and future avenues of research particularly in the area of examining the integration of generic study abroad programs within particular institutional and programmatic objectives. It is also suggested that further research is needed to better evaluate if/how study abroad programs are designed to capitalize on the employability advantage they offer to participating students when they enter the job market.Originality/valueThe number of US students participating in study abroad programs is expected to continue to grow and it seems these programs will become part of mainstream offerings in most institutions. Similar trends are observed in Europe between member states. Besides giving a broad overview of the current offerings, this pilot study principally reveals several important avenues for future research that should help institutions in their choices of programs and the orientation they give to study abroad.
Evaluation of the influence of Bi and Sb additions to Sn‐Ag‐Cu and Sn‐Zn alloys on their surface tension and wetting properties using analysis of variance – ANOVA
Authors: Bukat K. , Sitek J. , Kisiel R. , Moser Z. , Gasior W. , Kościelski M. , Pstruś J. 
Published: January 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is a comparable evaluation of the influence of a particular element (Bi and Sb) added to Sn‐Ag‐Cu and Sn‐Zn alloys on their surface and interfacial tensions, as well as the wetting properties on the Cu substrate expressed by the wetting angle.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied the L8 orthogonal Taguchi array to carry out the experiments and discussed the results using analysis of variance (ANOVA).FindingsIt was expected, on the base of previous studies, the decrease of the surface and interfacial tensions and thus improving wettability after the Bi and Sb addition to Sn‐Ag‐Cu and Sn‐Zn alloys. Unfortunately, the obtained results on the quinary Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Bi‐Sb alloys and the quaternary Sn‐Zn‐Bi‐Sb alloys do not confirm these trends. The performed analyses suggest that the compositions of the quinary Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Bi‐Sb alloys, as well as the quaternary Sn‐Zn‐Bi‐Sb alloys, do not have optimal compositions for practical application. The Cu, Bi and Sb elements in the case of the Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Bi‐Sb alloys and the Zn, Bi and Sb elements in the case of the Sn‐Zn‐Bi‐Sb alloys show mutual interaction and, in consequence, there is no correlation between the tendency of the surface and interfacial tensions changes and the wettings of the Cu substrate.Research limitations/implicationsIt is suggested that further studies are necessary for the purpose of the practical application, but they should be limited mainly to the Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Bi and the Sn‐Zn‐Bi alloys with the optimal compositions.Practical implicationsThe performed analysis suggests that none of the investigated compositions of the quinary Sn‐Ag‐Cu‐Bi‐Sb alloys, as well as the quaternary Sn‐Zn‐Bi‐Sb alloys, have the optimal compositions for practical application.Originality/valueThe quickest way to determine which element of the alloy composition influences the surface tension and the wetting properties, and how, is to apply orthogonal analysis. After choosing the orthogonal array, the experiments were performed and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to perform the quantifiable analysis of the measured and calculated results of surface and interfacial tensions, as well as the wetting properties on the Cu substrate.