bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Post secondary education: are we lemmings?
Authors: Abeles Tom P. 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this editorial is to describe a current and recurring problem in post‐secondary education and a path out of it.Design/methodology/approachThis is a viewpoint paper.FindingsEducation has to change direction. Badging and the world of multiplayer games provides one path to change the institutions and how to prepare, primarily, undergraduates as education moves from pre‐K‐12 to pre‐K‐16 and towards lifelong learningOriginality/valueThe paper provides a viewpoint into one way in which post‐secondary education can move forwards.
Style of information usage and use of accounting information: a Malaysian study
Authors: Azrina bt Mohd Yusof @ Ghani Nor , Shu Hui Wee , Kamal Abdul Rahman Ibrahim , Omar Shah Alam Normah , Tse Michael S.C. 
Published: May 2012

PurposeSince the 1990s, there has been a growing interest in style of information usage. However, most studies on style of information usage are conducted in developed countries. There is limited research on style of information usage in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the existing literature by examining relationships between style of information usage and use of financial and non‐financial information in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopted a survey method, for which a written questionnaire was prepared and mailed out to companies in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Terengganu and Pulau Pinang.FindingsFindings of the study show that diagnostic style of information usage is positively associated with use of financial information, while interactive style of information usage is positively associated with use of non‐financial information. Further analysis on types of non‐financial information used by managers who adopt interactive style of information usage reveals that customer‐related non‐financial information such as quality, customer satisfaction and flexibility play a more important role in their decision‐making processes.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights into relationships between style of information usage on and use of accounting information in developing countries. Findings of the study can be applied to assist management accountants in meeting managers’ information requirements.
A critique of the official discourse on drug and sex trafficking by organised crime using data on asset recovery
Authors: Sproat Peter 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe article aims to describe the role of asset recovery in combating drug and people trafficking within the UK and the different means by which the proceeds of crime can be taken away from such organised criminals.Design/methodology/approachThe author uses official data on asset recovery to critically analyse both the policing of drug trafficking in the UK and the official discourse on the extent, value and costs to the country of the trafficking of women for sex by organised crime.FindingsThe article raises important questions about the credibility of the official estimates of the scale of drug trafficking by organised crime and/or the management and funding of those tasked with policing it within the UK.Originality/valueThe work provides either a more accurate guide on the extent, value and costs to the country of the trafficking of women for sex or a much needed antithesis to the official discourse on the topic.
Perceptions of fair trade labelling and certification: three case studies
Authors: Jones Angelina R.W. , Williams Gloria 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe fair trade system was established as an alternative to the free trade system. In the case of fair trade apparel, certification standards are nascent and there is no consistent logo or labelling to aid consumers in their quest to purchase fairly‐made garments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the practices and marketing strategies of three fair trade apparel businesses based in a metropolitan city in the USA, where there are no clear standards to follow. The interviews taken for these case studies were conducted before the launching of a certification program for fair trade apparel by TransFair USA.Design/methodology/approachThis research comprised three case study fair trade apparel companies – two wholesale and one retail. The case studies are based on in‐depth interviews, the examination of documents provided by business owners, and publicly available information on each of the companies.FindingsThese three case studies revealed differences in fair trade practices. The wholesalers communicated that they perceived a hierarchy of importance in fair trade practices, placing an emphasis on labour standards and workers’ rights and considering environmental standards to be secondary. The lack of a standardized logo for labels on fair trade apparel has meant that the businesses have had to find creative ways to communicate their fair trade practices to consumers. None of the participants felt that this lack of standardization negatively impacted their businesses.Practical implicationsThere is need for a standardized label to make fair trade apparel easily identifiable for consumers and for the further development of standards for fair trade apparel and the marketing of fair trade apparel.Originality/valueStandards for fair trade apparel are currently being developed and the paper provides valuable information about the process by which fair trade standards are formed and marketed in practice.
Adult learning and the compilation and retrieval of data
Authors: Montague Alan 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to outline a process to assist adult learners and researchers to capture, streamline and retrieve data for the analysis of content from various resources of information encountered in research.Design/methodology/approachThe system is described, including a rationale for its benefit to qualitative researchers utilising multiple sources of data.FindingsThe system is designed mainly to assist the academic expedition of postgraduate students predominantly engaged in qualitative research. It covers theoretical aspects of adult learning principles combined with a systematic method for managing qualitative data.Originality/valueWorking from the assumption that adult learners are time‐poor and likely to be working full‐time, the paper discusses these learners’ need for an efficient method of recording and retrieving information and provides a straightforward, cataloguing process which the author developed when conducting postgraduate research.
Green buildings, environmental awareness, and organizational image
Authors: Rashid Mahbub , Spreckelmeyer Kent , Angrisano Neal J. 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe study seeks to investigate the mechanisms for the effects of environmental design features of a green building on occupants' environmental awareness (EA) and organizational image (OI).Design/methodology/approachOne mechanism investigated the direct effects of environmental design features of a green building on occupants' EA and OI. The other mechanism investigated the indirect effects on occupants' EA and OI resulting from the direct effects of environmental design features on occupants' workplace satisfaction. The data were collected from 175 occupants of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)‐certified green building using a questionnaire instrument.FindingsBased on frequency, correlational, and regression analyses of the data, the study found no evidence for direct effects of environmental design features on occupants' EA and OI. The study, however, found some evidence for indirect effects, indicating that individual workspace and departmental space features affected occupants' satisfaction with individual workspaces and the building, which then affected occupants' EA and OI.Research limitations/implicationsThe study involved only the employees of an organization who occupy a single LEED‐certified green building. Future studies should involve a larger sample of green buildings. Future studies should also involve other stakeholders of these buildings.Practical implicationsThe study is important for the long‐term market growth of green buildings, because it provides supporting evidence for the organizational leaders who want to use green buildings to enhance organizational values and benefits.Originality/valueThe study makes an original contribution to the field, because studies focusing on the potential links between green buildings and organizational benefits and values, and the mechanisms that may help explain these links are still rare.
Difficulties in changing existing leases – one explanation of the “energy paradox”?
Authors: Bonde Magnus 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate if a green lease could eliminate the split incentive problem in two office buildings located in Stockholm, Sweden. It aims to provide a theoretical overview concerning the “energy paradox” and to describe a case study in which a green lease was to be implemented in the legal framework for two office buildings in the Stockholm region.Design/methodology/approachThis paper documents a case study, in which a green lease was to be implemented in the legal framework for two office buildings, to promote a more active engagement in the buildings energy performance. In order to accomplish this, a project group was formed which consisted of representatives from the building owners, tenant, property manager, energy consultants and KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm.FindingsThis paper reveals that it is very hard to alter already legally binding agreements. Furthermore, it shows that the separation of ownership and usage of a building may not be optimal from an energy efficiency point of view.Originality/valueThe paper gives an empirical explanation as to why at times energy efficiency measures are not undertaken, even though the investments themselves bring about a positive net present value. In addition, the paper analyses the situation where property maintenance is outsourced to a property management firm, which is a common but seldom discussed situation in the literature.
Will mobile virtual network operators succeed in Korea?
Authors: Shin Donghee , Chung Sungeun 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThis study aims to analyze how the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) market in Korea will evolve, the opportunities and/or threats of network operators and how the MVNO market will be forged in the future.Design/methodology/approachThis study provides competitive analysis, market evaluation and current regulatory assessment of the Korean MVNO marketplace.FindingsWhile there are many positive prospects of MVNO in Korea, a series of complicated techno‐economic issues arise.Practical implicationsThe current development of MVNO sheds light on the growing challenges of the dynamics of industry, regulation and technology.Social implicationsWhile MVNOs continue to flourish in some markets, their diffusion in other regions is often very limited and continues to drastically decrease.Originality/valueThe results suggest a sustainable ecosystem of MVNO and propose an appropriate policy to promote MVNO diffusion.
The production and distribution of audiovisual works via new media in the light of European media policy: constraints and opportunities
Authors: Werkers Evi , Valcke Peggy 
Published: May 2012

PurposeAudiovisual works – especially cinematographic works – are at the heart of the changes resulting from the development of the information society. Media convergence radically changed the way traditional audiovisual content is produced, distributed, consumed and eventually archived. Film producers slowly started to experiment with new ways of digital production such as the shortening of release windows to favor new on demand services. How does this translate to European film policy? Due to the unique double nature of cinematographic works which are both economic and cultural goods at the same time, the European film policy is at the crossing point of media, culture, competition and heritage. This paper seeks to address these issues.Design/methodology/approachIn this research paper the authors assessed to what extent the adoption of digital technologies is stimulated throughout the value chain of film making and more precisely to what degree the distribution of a European culturally diverse catalogue of films is encouraged.FindingsFor the first time in history, European producers have the tools at their disposal to collaborate, promote and distribute internationally, at lower transaction costs and at a higher speed, and to look beyond their national market. The fast‐evolving technological developments provided the European legislator with the opportunity to strengthen and support the promotion of the European cultural identity in all its diversity. But is this also reflected in the current legislative framework? It is clear that different hurdles still need to be tackled.Originality/valueIn this research paper an overview is given of the regulatory steps that have been taken so far in the field of European film policy to stimulate the digital production and distribution of European film productions. In the context of new unfolding alliances between stakeholders and experiments with premium video‐on‐demand or shorter cinema release windows, the relevance of digital production and distribution schemes can no longer be neglected. The emergence of web‐based services including cloud computing is likely to accelerate this trend.
Development of computerized decision support system for leanness assessment using multi grade fuzzy approach
Authors: Vinodh Sekar , Dinesh Kumar C. 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a decision support system (DSS) for multi grade fuzzy leanness assessment (MGFLA) (DSS‐MGFLA).Design/methodology/approachThe assessment of leanness gains vital importance. Due to the drawbacks associated with conventional approaches, fuzzy methods are gaining importance. In this context, multi‐grade fuzzy method has been used for leanness assessment. Since the computation is time consuming and error‐prone, a computerized DSS known as DSS‐MGFLA has been developed.FindingsDSS‐MGFLA enables the accurate evaluation of leanness. Besides assessing leanness, DSS also enables the identification of improvement areas. The DSS has been validated in an Indian relays manufacturing organization. Based on the validation, its practical feasibility has been ensured.Research limitations/implicationsDSS‐MGFLA has been validated in a single manufacturing organization for its working feasibility. But the findings could be extended to similar manufacturing organizations.Originality/valueThe idea of developing DSS for leanness assessment is novel, original and unique contribution of authors.
Creating a sustainable national index for social, environmental and economic productivity
Authors: Burgess Thomas F. , Heap John 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to create a social, environmental and economic (SEE) index for countries.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology in the OECD handbook on building composite indicators is followed. The data are taken from UN data sources.FindingsAn index is created that describes each of 194 countries. The countries were clustered in three groups, i.e. high, medium and low performing. The country positions matched intuitively those expected. A more focused grouping of the 35 most populous countries was examined. The method was felt to be rigorous and successful in creating an informative measure of SEE.Research implications/limitationsFuture research could include identifying factors that determine a country's SEE productivity. A similar index could be envisaged at more local level.Practical implicationsThe SEE index offers a standard method for benchmarking the SEE productivity of countries, regions and the globe.Social implicationsIt is hoped that this research could have an important contribution to make in enabling society, government, business and policy makers to focus their discussions and actions on areas that will lead to substantial environmental improvement and improved quality of life.Originality/valueA SEE index is created using a rigorous methodology. The authors believe this to be a unique and valuable contribution.
Multiplicity and reflexivity in organizational research
Authors: Steyaert Chris , Marti Laurent , Michels Christoph 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is, first, to assess the potential of the visual to enact multiplicity and reflexivity in organizational research, and second, to develop a performative approach to the visual, which offers aesthetic strategies for creating future research accounts in organization and management studies.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews existing visual research in organization and management studies and presents an in‐depth analysis of two early, almost classical, and yet very different endeavors to create visual accounts based on ethnography: the multi‐media enactments by Bruno Latour, Emilie Hermant, Susanna Shannon, and Patricia Reed, and the filmic and written work by Trinh T. Minh‐ha and her collaborators.FindingsThe authors’ analysis of how the visual is performed in both cases identifies a repertoire of three distinct and paradoxical aesthetic strategies: de/synchronizing, de/centralizing, and dis/covering.Originality/valueThe authors analyze two rarely acknowledged but ground‐breaking research presentations, identify aesthetic strategies to perform multiplicity and reflexivity in research accounts, and question the ways that research accounts are written and published in organization and management studies by acknowledging the consequences of a performative approach to the visual.
Productivity, efficiency and structural problems in Chinese dairy farms
Authors: Yu Xiaohua 
Published: May 2012

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the structural problem in the Chinese dairy sector. There exists a large number of low‐efficiency, small‐scale farms, and productivity inequality between small and large farms keeps increasing, which is a possible driving force behind the Melamine scandal in 2008.Design/methodology/approachUsing the stochastic frontier production function, this paper estimates and compares the changes in technology and technical efficiency between backyard, small‐scale, medium‐scale and large‐scale dairy farms in China over the period between 2004 and 2008.FindingsThere are compensating effects between technology and technical efficiency. However, low yield for backyard farms is mainly caused by traditional low‐yield varieties, even though the technical efficiency is very high, which cannot compensate for the low technology.Research limitations/implicationsThe author put the assumption of constant return to scale mainly due to the data availability. Such an assumption implies that there are no scale‐effects between the different scales in productivity, and the productivity difference is explained by technology and technical efficiency.Practical implicationsIn order to solve the structural problems, Chinese governments should help small‐scale farmers to adopt new high‐yield varieties, to subsidize small‐scale farmers, and to train farmers to master the complicated skills for raising high‐yield varieties.Originality/valueThe paper gives another possible explanation for the Melamine scandal of milk powder in 2008. If the structural problem cannot be solved, similar food safety scandals could happen once again.
Indel information eliminates trivial sequence alignment in maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis
Authors: Denton John S.S. , Wheeler Ward C. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAlthough there has been a recent proliferation in maximum‐likelihood (ML)‐based tree estimation methods based on a fixed sequence alignment (MSA), little research has been done on incorporating indel information in this traditional framework. We show, using a simple model on a single character example, that a trivial alignment of a different form than that previously identified for parsimony is optimal in ML under standard assumptions treating indels as “missing” data, but that it is not optimal when indels are incorporated into the character alphabet. We show that the optimality of the trivial alignment is not an artefact of simplified theory assumptions by demonstrating that trivial alignment likelihoods of five different multiple sequence alignment datasets exhibit this phenomenon. These results demonstrate the need for use of indel information in likelihood analysis on fixed MSAs, and suggest that caution must be exercised when drawing conclusions from software implementations claiming improvements in likelihood scores under an indels‐as‐missing assumption.© The Willi Hennig Society 2012.
Fluid balance monitoring by cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure in haemodialysis patients
Authors: Pikwer A. , Bergenzaun L. , Sterner G. , Krite Svanberg E. , Åkeson J. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryCuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure has been proposed to reflect volume changes in experimental studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure associated with fluid removal by haemodialysis in six adult patients with chronic renal failure on intermittent haemodialysis. Measurements were carried out before and after each haemodialysis session. The volume of fluid removed (indexed to body surface area) linearly correlated with changes in cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure (r = 0.84; r2 = 0.70; p = 0.037). Cuff‐occluded rate of rise of peripheral venous pressure may be feasible for future clinical monitoring of individual fluid balance.
The IGF1 pathway genes and their association with age of puberty in cattle
Authors: Fortes Marina R. S. , Li Yutao , Collis Eliza , Zhang Yuandan , Hawken Rachel J. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryInsulin‐like growth factor I (somatomedin C) (IGF1) influences gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons during puberty, and GnRH release guides pubertal development. Therefore, genes of the IGF1 pathway are biological candidates for the identification of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affecting age of puberty. In a genome‐wide association study, genotyped heifers were Tropical Composite (TCOMP, n = 866) or Brahman (BRAH, n = 843), with observation of age at first corpus luteum defining puberty. We examined SNPs in or near genes of the IGF1 pathway and report seven genes associated with age at puberty in cattle: IGF1R, IGFBP2, IGFBP4, PERK (HUGO symbol EIF2AK3), PIK3R1, GSK3B and IRS1. SNPs in the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) showed the most promising associations: two SNPs were associated with puberty in TCOMP (P < 0.05) and one in BRAH (P = 0.00009). This last SNP explained 2% of the genetic variation (R2 = 2.04%) for age of puberty in BRAH. Hence, IGF1R was examined further. Additional SNPs were genotyped, and haplotypes were analysed. To test more SNPs in this gene, four new SNPs from dbSNP were selected and genotyped. Single SNP and haploytpe analysis revealed associations with age of puberty in both breeds. There were two haplotypes of 12 IGF1R SNPs associated with puberty in BRAH (P < 0.05) and one in TCOMP (P < 0.05). One haplotype of two SNPs was associated (P < 0.01) with puberty in BRAH, but not in TCOMP. In conclusion, the IGF1 pathway appeared more relevant for age of puberty in Brahman cattle, and IGF1R showed higher significance when compared with other genes from the pathway.