bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On various neutrosophic topologies
Authors: Gallego Lupiáñez Francisco 
Published: July 2009

PurposeRecently, F. Smarandache generalized the Atanassov's intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and other kinds of sets to neutrosophic sets (NSs) and also defined various notions of neutrosophic topologies on the non‐standard interval. One can expect some relation between the intuitionistic fuzzy topology (IFT) on an IFS and neutrosophic topologies on the non‐standard interval. The purpose of this paper is to show that this is false.Design/methodology/approachThe possible relations between the intuitionistic fuzzzy topology and neutrosophic topologies are studied.FindingsRelations on IFT and neutrosophic topologies.Research limitations/implicationsClearly, the paper is confined to IFSs and NSs.Practical implicationsThe main applications are in the mathematical field.Originality/valueThe paper shows original results on fuzzy sets and topology.
Extracting order from chaos
Authors: Sherif Joseph , Singhania Ram 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to advance research that portrays chaos in number theory. Classical and quantum physics, and lately pure mathematics and system that exhibit deductive inference produced randomness and unpredictability over time.Design/methodology/approachThis paper discusses the fact that in raising numbers to higher powers, it is noticed that the scale of intensities of order and tidiness is very poor and chaos occurs mainly when numbers are raised to even powers. When numbers are raised to odd powers, the chaos is obtained still, but was able to extract order from this chaos strangely enough.FindingsLinear relationships if left to themselves long enough will eventually produce disorderly chaotic and inconsistent results. Chaos are being found where the order was thought to be found. But then, looking more closely, unexplained order is being found in what looked like chaos.Practical implicationsThe results of this research may be applied to develop algorithms for random number generation and also for developing encryption algorithms for routers security and privacy.Originality/valueThe paper tackles one of the most unexplained phenomena where scientists are findings chaos where they thought they would find order.
Pansystems‐based fuzzy systems relations and clustering
Authors: Sheng Minglan 
Published: July 2009

PurposeMelting universality, quantification and relative computability into a meta‐synthesis, pansystems theory develops an investigation on W‐fuzziness and 0*‐fuzziness connected with generalized conceptions such as derivative, equation, variational principle and OR. The purpose of this paper is to unify various mathematical structures, fuzziness categories, definitions of systems are unified within a general framework.Design/methodology/approachThe paper includes topics: pansystems approach to fuzzy systems and relations, pansystems variational principle and Zadeh's extension principle, pansystems clustering and its fuzzy embodiment, pansystems topology and approximation to fuzziness, relative unification of fuzziness and roughness.FindingsZadeh extension principle about fuzziness transmission can be considered as a specific model of pansystems extremum principle, and so the more modes can be developed. Based on them a further investigation is present on pansystems clustering, which is a W‐fuzzy clustering, an extension or sublation of traditional one and fuzzy one.Originality/valuePansystems clustering embodies mutuality of many logoi of different subbraches with classification‐styled OR, including related interpromotions of the principles among knowledge rediscovery, data mining, mathematical reasoning and the investigations of fuzzy systems. W‐fuzziness and 0*‐fuzziness realize a relative unification for many logoi and principles.
Indian Library Association (ILA) annual conference report
Authors: Swain N.K. , Kumar Satish 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to report on the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Indian Library Association (ILA) held during December 13‐16, 2008 in Hyderabad.Design/methodology/approachThis is a descriptive report.FindingsThe meeting discussed “Developing library and information resources and services in the internet era”, comprising “Public library as a community information centre/knowledge centre”, “Legislation for libraries in the internet era”, “Library 2.0 and Web 2.0”, “Collection/resource development policies”, “Management and evaluation of collection”, “Print and digital publications issues”, “Knowledge management and knowledge society” and “Open sources”.Originality/valueWill be of interest to library and information professionals.
Balancing outreach and privacy in Facebook: five guiding decision points
Authors: Fernandez Peter 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to highlight five decision points intended to serve as guideposts for librarians attempting to conceptualize their own efforts within Facebook.Design/methodology/approachFacebook has tendencies and restrictions that can be troubling for librarians committed to a certain conception of privacy. Each decision point highlighted in this paper is an opportunity to consider the implications of a particular decision in light of the privacy concerns created by Facebook. Rather than attempting to be exhaustive, it is an attempt to give a broad overview of the places that librarians should focus their attention.FindingsEach of the five decision points is discussed and the implications considered.Originality/valueIt is hoped that the decision points discussed in this paper serve as a starting point for dealing with social networking privacy issues.
SMS library reference service options
Authors: Stahr Beth 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review the usefulness of short message service (SMS) or text‐messaging for library reference service.Design/methodology/approachThe different technological approaches to SMS reference service are described and compared.FindingsThe advantages and disadvantages of each approach are provided.Research limitations/implicationsBecause these technologies are still evolving, this report is merely a first effort at describing the different service methods in a single review.Practical implicationsThis paper is intended to be helpful to any library considering providing a text message reference service. It should help the library identify which approach will best suit the culture of that library.Originality/valueThis is an overall look at different available technologies, which will be helpful to any library contemplating adding an SMS reference service.
Research into open access science publishing
Authors: Welfare Irivwieri Joseph 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of some issues and controversies surrounding arguments for research into open access.Design/methodology/approachThe paper begins with a brief investigation of some background on library, research into open access, questions and then considers three major public definitions of open access, types of open access journals currently available, history of open access, reasons for open access, public and advocacy, criticism of open access, publishing in an open access journal, users, research funders, and universities, libraries and librarians.FindingsAs a matter of fact, the scholarly community is not yet completely aware of the potential of the open access web, both as a network of communication and a cradle for new tools for research practice.Research limitations/implicationsOpen access is a simple concept, but a complex one to achieve in reality.Originality/valueThe way open access is viewed, either as a source of information or as a medium, affects the great multitude of players and interests involved.
Information search for home, medical, and financial services by mature consumers
Authors: Altobello Nasco Suzanne , Hale Dena 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the information search behaviors of mature consumers (age 55 and older) for new service purchases across several contexts.Design/methodology/approachAlmost 200 mature consumers in the Midwestern USA were surveyed regarding new home, medical, or financial service purchases made within the past 12 months. Questions regarding information search, importance of different information sources, satisfaction with the service decision, and demographics were collected.FindingsMature consumers consulted few information sources for service decisions, irrespective of context. Service context did affect the number of service providers considered; significantly fewer providers were considered for medical and financial services than for home services. Information search was negatively related to age, but unrelated to service outcome satisfaction and responsibility for the decision.Research limitations/implicationsNo comparison was made between the search behavior of older and younger consumers. Although the breadth of information search was examined, the depth of search within each type of information source was not. As a descriptive study, it was not possible to address why such little external search was conducted. A convenience sample was used.Practical implicationsMature consumers conducted more external search for less‐involved service contexts (e.g. home services) than for those more‐involved (e.g. medical and financial services). Companies are beginning to realize the value of maintaining relationships with mature consumers; the results may suggest ways to improve those relationships with mature consumers by detailing the service decision process. Additionally, public policy interventions or education programs based on the work might help mature consumers to learn better service decision strategies.Originality/valueA large range of ages was sampled in the study (respondents ranged from 55 to 93) and multiple responses were obtained from some participants across several service contexts, allowing for a within‐subjects design of the survey. It was then possible to explore the effect of context on the number of service providers considered and the number of external information sources consulted prior to purchase.
Using the I‐MARKOR scale to identify market‐oriented individuals in the financial services sector
Authors: Schlosser Francine K. , McNaughton Rod B. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeExtant studies of the market orientation of service firms rarely consider the contribution of individual employees to the realization of this orientation. Existing scales that measure market orientation reveal the perceptions of a key informant about the dominant orientation within the firm. These scales do not measure the willingness of employees to act in a market‐oriented way. This paper aims to report the development of a multi‐dimensional scale of individual market‐oriented behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe scale development process included identification of items from focus groups with employees of a major Canadian financial services firm and the market orientation literature. A pretest with marketing practitioners and academics helped to purify and reduce the number of items. Finally, a sample of North American financial services employees responded to the items in a web‐based questionnaire.FindingsConfirmatory factor analysis of the responses confirmed the presence of a single latent construct with three dimensions: information acquisition, information sharing and strategic response, measured by 20 items.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough scale validation included both qualitative and quantitative tests that triangulated the opinions of multiple stakeholders in the service delivery chain, future research must also test the predictive validity of this scale.Practical implicationsSuch research is important to increase understanding of how service organizations foster market orientation. The I‐MARKOR augments the organizational scorecard approach with individual level measurement.Originality/valueThe scale provides a method to assess differences between individuals within an organization, enabling empirical research on differences between departments, roles, training and other characteristics that may influence the extent to which an individual performs market‐oriented behaviors.
Services marketing in a cross‐cultural environment: the case of Egypt
Authors: Hyder Akmal S. , Fregidou‐Malama Maria 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to analyze how adaptation/standardization, trust and network development are achieved when marketing services in a culturally distant country through handling the problems of intangibility and heterogeneity.Design/methodology/approachQualitative data are collected in the form of unstructured interviews and direct observation to conduct a single case study on Gamma Knife.FindingsAdaptation/standardization plays the central role in internationalization of services marketing. For service development and quality maintenance, values and ideas of the foreign company dominate the adaptation (i.e. standardization), while market‐related adaptation is carried out in response to local culture and practices.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on a single case. Future research can involve similar in‐depth study examining how internationalization of services works in culturally distant countries, the results of which can be compared with the current study.Practical implicationsIn international services marketing, in addition to meeting formal and official requirements, managers must concentrate on building trust and informal contacts.Originality/valueThe research uses an empirical illustration to provide a model on internationalization of services marketing based on adaptation/standardization, trust and network, to overcome intangibility‐ and heterogeneity‐related difficulties.
How technological innovations extend services outreach to customers
Authors: Khan Maryam , Khan Mahmood A. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to deal with an exploratory analysis of the impact of technological innovations on the extent of outreach of hospitality services to customers.Design/methodology/approachAfter a review of several hospitality services, two factors were selected to assess their outreach to customers: location of service provider; and direct or indirect service delivery mode.FindingsPlacing these factors on different axes, cells were created to distinguish innovative features of these services. It became apparent that, as the technological innovations develop, new categories of services are emerging. These categories were placed into six different cells identifying services based on their innovative characteristics. When the proximity of the service provider to the customer is less, the range of services involves: service and style improvements; service‐line extensions; and major service innovations. With the increase in distance between service provider and customer, service processes become prominent and involve: process improvements; process‐line extensions; and major process innovations. With the advancement of technology, services move from direct to indirect delivery mode in both service and service process innovations. In order to illustrate the assumptions, examples of services and technology used are provided.Research limitations/implicationsRecommendations are provided for utilizing technology for enhancing services based on the location of their target markets. This is an exploratory analysis of the current situation, which will rapidly change with technological developments.Practical implicationsFindings led to the recommendations for service innovations, location of desired markets, and providing services to customers at near and far locations. Service providers and marketers can benefit by utilizing innovative technology suitable for reaching their selected target customers.Originality/valueThe work is a first step in studying services, technology use, and outreach to customers. Identifying service categories will help service marketers in locating their target market and providing services to customers using developing technology.
Environmental measures for hotels' environmental management systems
Authors: Chan Wilco W. 
Published: July 2009

PurposeImplementation of environmental management systems (EMS) in hotels is gaining popularity world‐wide. ISO 14001, which is the only certifying document in the ISO 14000 series, provides guidelines to set up an EMS. However, there is a paucity of information about the actual environmental measures implemented in ISO 14001 certified hotels. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify and generalize the environmental measures undertaken by studied hotels and to evaluate the performance of these environmental measures.Design/methodology/approachThree case studies were carried out to identify the green measures undertaken in ISO 14001‐certified hotels. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. Then, regression analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between monthly utilities input (electricity, gas, fuel oil and water) and activity parameters.FindingsA total of 113 measures were identified, nearly half of which concern energy conservation. Results of multiple regression showed that R2 for different utilities varied. The explanatory power of equation was strong for electricity consumption, moderate for fuel gas consumption, and weak for both gas and water consumption.Practical implicationsThe identified measures provide hoteliers with a thorough picture about the actual environmental works involved in this internationally recognized EMS. Hotel operators and owners can use these measures as a reference either for applying EMS certification or for developing their own EMS.Originality/valueThe paper, which was based on operational experiences from existing hotels, was a collaborative work between hospitality industry practitioners and educators. The paper is also the first of its kind to unveil the comprehensive environmental measures undertaken in city hotels with ISO 14001 certification.
Perceptions of job quality in the tourism industry
Authors: Weaver Adam 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how recent graduates of a university's tourism management programme in New Zealand perceive job quality in the tourism industry.Design/methodology/approachSemi‐structured interviews are used to examine graduates' assessments of the quality of their current jobs. These assessments are informed by their personal expectations and experiences. Understanding job quality requires an approach that takes into account both economic and non‐economic variables.FindingsThe interviews indicate the importance of job content and its compatibility with interests and preferences. Graduates associate job quality with opportunities to consume tourism products, assist tourists, acquire valued knowledge, confront challenges, and perform meaningful work. The quality of a job is influenced by the types of tasks graduates are required to undertake. However, graduates also consider a job's ability to provide access to a better job in the future.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough graduates were able to share their views in an in‐depth fashion through the interviews, the size of the sample prevents the author from determining whether the interviews uncover sweeping trends or the experiences of only a small group of individuals.Originality/valueThe study incorporates the voices of university graduates into the study of job quality in the tourism industry. An important determinant of job quality revealed through this research is the extent to which graduates receive intrinsic rewards from their jobs. Even though the findings of the study diverge from the view that jobs in the tourism industry are mainly of poor quality, a number of graduates would still prefer to see some improvement in the quality of their jobs.
Determinants of capital structure: evidence from Turkish lodging companies
Authors: Karadeniz Erdinc , Yilmaz Kandir Serkan , Balcilar Mehmet , Beyazit Onal Yildirim 
Published: July 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors affecting capital structure decisions of Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) lodging companies.Design/methodology/approachA model based on the trade‐off and pecking order theories is specified and implications of both theories are empirically tested. The model is estimated using a dynamic panel data approach for five ISE companies for the period of 1994‐2006.FindingsThe findings suggest that effective tax rates, tangibility of assets, and return on assets are related negatively to the debt ratio, while free cash flow, non‐debt tax shields, growth opportunities, net commercial credit position, and firm size do not appear to be related to the debt ratio. Although the findings partially support the pecking order theory, neither the trade‐off nor the pecking order theory exactly seem to explain the capital structure of Turkish lodging companies.Research limitations/implicationsThe data used in this paper are limited to five companies traded in the ISE, since the data on other companies are not available. A more detailed analysis would use data for other companies in the industry.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study clearly demonstrate the importance of capital structure decisions for financial sources.Originality/valueAlthough the capital structure theory is extensively examined in the finance literature, there are fewer studies covering the tourism industry, particularly Turkey. The paper establishes the determinants of the capital structure of Turkish lodging companies. The research findings should help managers to make optimal capital structure decisions.
Alternative models framing UK independent hoteliers' adoption of technology
Authors: Mun Lim Wai 
Published: July 2009

PurposeWhile there is a plethora of literature examining the antecedents affecting technology adoption decision, there have been limited investigations into the various stages of technologies adoption by hoteliers. This paper aims to examine two established theoretical paradigms jointly, facilitating an understanding of not only the antecedents affecting technology adoption but also the hoteliers' intensity of technology adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe development of Davis's Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) will be explored, from its adaptation of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Following which, Roger's Diffusion of Innovation will be discussed and whether the concepts should jointly be explored so as to provide a more comprehensive elucidation of hoteliers' internet technologies adoption decisions.FindingsThe literature has corroborated that the TAM is effective in evaluating the concept of the user's perception of technology use by including the construct of internet applications' usefulness regardless of innovation intensity. Owing to the perpetual proliferation of internet technologies, the investigation of hoteliers' propensity to adopt internet technologies could be enhanced with the inclusion of the various levels of internet applications that are adopted. Rogers' diffusion of innovation paradigm helps to address this problem.Practical implicationsThe concepts discussed here could help practitioners to become more aware of the factors that drive their internet technologies adoption. Academics could advance the paper's discussion of internet technologies adoption to other sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry.Originality/valueThe paper provides insight into the use of broader theories in understanding tourism and hospitality management phenomena. It is expected that academics would develop the discussed concepts further in order to create a wider awareness of how the industry responds to internet technologies at various stages.