bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensorimotor Axonal Polyneuropathy Without Hepatic Failure in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria
Authors: Hengstman Gerald J D , de Laat Karlijn F , Jacobs Bram , van Engelen Baziel G. M 
Published: November 2009

Abstract

The erythropoietic porphyrias are primarily manifested by skin sensitivity. They are, unlike many other forms of porphyria, usually not associated with neurologic manifestations. Only a few cases have been reported of neuropathy in patients with erythropoietic porphyrias, all characterized by an acute motor and proximally accentuated neuropathy occurring in the setting of hepatic failure. In this report, we present a patient without hepatic failure who presented with a sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy before being diagnosed with erythropoietic porphyrias. The presented case expands the forms of neurologic complications that can be seen in this specific form of porphyria.
Neuromuscular Manifestations in a Patient with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type IV
Authors: Barboi Alexandru , Dennis Cedric , Timins Michael , Peltier Wendy , Klotz Craig M , Jaradeh Safwan 
Published: November 2009

Abstract

We present a case of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) type IV with associated neuromuscular manifestations. The patient presented with nonspecific myopathic-type symptoms and later developed a spontaneous median mononeuropathy in the forearm. We believe that the case presented here complements current published neuromuscular manifestations occurring in EDS IV patients and illustrates the urgency of making the diagnosis, given the increased mortality associated with EDS IV.
The milieu of reporting of Nacamaki and Nabuna villages of Koro Island
Authors: Brown Alistair 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to examine the milieu of reporting in two villages operating on Koro Island, Republic of Fiji Islands. It aims to analyse how both western‐narrow and traditional reporting offers rural villages extensive opportunities to discharge responsibilities of stewardship, accountability and accounts of the activities of farmers and stores in an agrarian setting, whether the activities are subsistence‐ or cash‐based.Design/methodology/approachFieldwork was conducted in two villages of Koro Island, Nacamaki and Nabuna, to ascertain the milieu of reporting, and open‐ended interviews were conducted with villagers from both villages. The “view from the centre” is adopted here, rather than the “view from the periphery”.FindingsThe study shows that people of both Nacamaki and Nabuna villages have adapted their specific reporting styles according to the circumstances facing them. Despite being only 5 km apart, two sharply contrasting village reporting milieux emerge. One relies greatly on the use of both Traditional oral and Western‐narrow hand‐written reports to fulfil accounts of entities (co‐operative and individual farmers) operating in the village. The other prefers oral communication to any form of written communication to raise accounts of villagers' collectivist and independently charged, agrarian‐based activities.Research limitations/implicationsThe study raises three sets of policy issues that are central to the development of reporting in Eastern Fijian villages. Numerous resources are unnecessary in presenting a western‐narrow account of transactions when the accounts are supplemented by a traditional reporting mien. Western‐narrow reporting appears to be well received by co‐operative members and individually oriented farmers. In the absence of Western‐narrow reporting, Traditional reporting seems to serve the needs of both communally oriented and individualistically inclined villagers. The results of the study underlie both the complexity of village life in determining systems of reporting and the fragility of written reporting in Eastern Fijian outer island villages.Practical implicationsThe study shows the way in which Eastern Fijian villages resolve subsistence and cash exchanges at the social level, taking into account local conventions, customs, laws, rituals and values.Originality/valueThe originality of the paper rests in considering villagers' own reporting through internal points of reference, providing space for interrelations between traditional Fijian values, the island landscape and the cultural geography.
Commons and anti‐commons
Authors: Prescott Semisi M. , Hooper Keith C. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine Tongan businesses in New Zealand, bearing in mind that they have shared mixed success. Faced with the challenges of competition, compliance, and financial and operational management, these businesses are characterised by a relatively higher failure rate.Design/methodology/approachA series of open‐ended interview‐type sessions calledtalanoawere carried out to study their business practices and how these were linked to sustainability. These data were then triangulated withtalanoasessions carried out with business advisers who had worked with many of those Tongan businesses. Further information was collected during individual and group sessions with members of the Tongan community regarding Tongan businesses practices from both a general and a customer perspective.FindingsThe results of thetalanoasessions support a theoretical framework that suggests that an entrenched Tongan culture based on a “commons” mentality of sharing is partly responsible for a relatively high failure rate in an “anti‐commons” environment. The findings also suggest that certain aspects of the Tongan culture, in the form of social capital, support business sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsThe data gained from thetalanoasessions are based on a small number of Tongan businesses, Pacific business consultants and members of the Tongan community in New Zealand. The findings are therefore not statistically generalisable, although they do provide insights to guide further research in this area.Practical implicationsThe findings are likely to provide benefits to a number of key stakeholders including Tongan businesses, policy makers, Government business assistance programmes and the wider small business community.Originality/valueThe research project introduces traditionaltalanoato qualitative business research. The findings are specific to Tongan business operating in a western commercial context and provide insights into the drivers of business success and failure for the growing Pacific business community in New Zealand.
What motivates environmental auditing?
Authors: Rika Nacanieli 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThis paper seeks to discuss the motivation for commencement of environmental auditing within the Fiji Office of the Auditor‐General (OAG). It also aims to analyse the actual topics audited between 2005 and 2007 and the standards employed in those audits.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach is employed, involving document analysis and semi‐structured interviews.FindingsEnvironmental auditing in Fiji's public sector can be explained in terms of institutional isomorphism: coercive, through pressure from the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and United Nations (UN); mimetic, in relation to adoption of best practice within INTOSAI; and normative, through communication and professional training provided by INTOSAI. There is also evidence of decoupling; although government has ratified Millennium Development Goal 7 on environmental sustainability, it has failed to allocate adequate resources to the relevant departments.Research limitations/implicationsSince audit reports were not publicly available, it was not possible to review audit opinions and the main audit findings. Nor was it possible to conduct follow‐up interviews with audit clients.Practical implicationsSufficient financial and human resources must be devoted to environmental management and auditing. Accountants must be involved in the initial development of Environmental Management Systems (EMS). This recognises the particular skills which they possess and facilitates the subsequent audit of systems.Originality/valueThe current research examines the adoption of environmental auditing in the public sector and finds that it can be explained using institutional theory. Accounting practices in a small developing country are strongly influenced by global networks.
Do firms obey the law when they fire workers? Social criteria and severance payments in Germany
Authors: Jahn Elke J. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeEmployment protection legislation defines social criteria according to which firms can dismiss workers. If firms evade the law, then negotiation about compensation begins. To reduce the legal and financial uncertainty often associated with ex post bargaining, the German government stipulate severance payments in the case of mutual agreements in law in 2004. This paper aims to examine whether social criteria affect the dismissal probability of workers.Design/methodology/approachThe probability of receiving compensation and the factors determining the amount of severance payment are estimated when it comes to private negotiations about the termination of an employment contract. In addition, the effect of the reform of the employment protection legislation on the probability of receiving compensation and the amount of redundancy pay is analysed. A stepwise estimation strategy is developed to account for sample selection bias when examining which workers receive severance payments and the determinants of severance pay variation. Empirical evidence is provided using German panel data for the period 2000‐2006.FindingsThe paper shows that workers protected by law have the lowest probability of being dismissed. The expected severance payment and firm size increase the probability of receiving compensation while the amount of severance payment depends significantly on the way the employment relationship is dissolved. Contrary to the intention of the legislator, the reform increases the level of compensation.Originality/valueThe paper fills a gap in the literature by taking into account selectivity bias when estimating the probability of receiving redundancy pay and the size of compensation. The evidence also provides insights which may be useful for the ongoing discussion to reform employment protection legislation in Germany.
The influence of psychological contracts on the adjustment and organisational commitment among expatriates
Authors: Chen Huei‐Fang , Chiu Yung‐Ho 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of psychological contracts on the adjustment and organisational commitment of expatriates during international business assignments. The study also aims to investigate the influence of psychological barriers to expatriate adjustment.Design/methodology/approachA unique survey questionnaire was developed to collect data from 219 Taiwanese business expatriates during the first quarter of 2007. A LISREL analysis is used to test the hypotheses of the research framework.FindingsThe study finds that: perceived fulfilment of the psychological contracts of expatriates significantly influences both their adjustment to foreign situations and their organisational commitment; psychological barriers to adjustment have a negative influence on both socio‐cultural adjustment and psychological adjustment; and expatriate psychological adjustment has both a direct and an indirect influence on organisational commitment.Practical implicationsInternational managers should implement appropriate human resource measures to meet expatriates' expectations for their psychological contracts. Managers should ensure that expatriates receive adequate counsel and training to assist them in minimizing any psychological barriers they might have to adjustment in a foreign environment.Originality/valueThe study extends concepts from organisational behaviour theory and applies them to the process of international manpower management.
Gender employment discrimination: Greece and the United Kingdom
Authors: Livanos Ilias , Yalkin Çagri , Nuñez Imanol 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the factors affecting the labour market status of females in Greece and the UK respectively and also attempts to explore what accounts for the differences in the employment status between males and females. In particular, the study seeks to assess whether these differences can be explained by employees' endowments or by discrimination in the labour market.Design/methodology/approachLabour Force Survey (LFS) data are used to examine the impact of observable characteristics on female labour market participation, unemployment, and self‐employment through the use of logit models. An extension of the Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition technique is used to estimate the gender employment discrimination gap.FindingsClear evidence of gender differences was found in both countries, although differences are substantially larger in the case of Greece. Evidence of female employment discrimination was also found in both labour markets.Originality/valueThe paper explores the factors affecting the labour market situation of females and, for the first time, assesses the level of gender employment discrimination in Greece and the UK analysing the differences between the unemployment rates of males and females.
Reliability testing for microvias in printed wire boards
Authors: Birch Bill 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and expand upon the understanding of the reliability of high density interconnect (HDI) technologies containing multi‐level microvia interconnections with 2, 3 or 4 stacked and staggered configured structures.Design/methodology/approachMicrovia testing was performed with interconnect stress testing (IST) using a modified methodology documented in the IPC test methods manual TM650, Method 2.6.26, titled DC current induced thermal cycle test. The IST coupon designs utilize mathematical modeling, in combination with prior experience in the fields of printed wiring board (PWB) processing, chemistry, materials and statistics, to improve the sensitivity of testing.FindingsSingle and 2 stack microvias are generally the most robust type of copper interconnection used in HDI applications, 3 stack and 4 stack require greater discipline to assure product reliability. Ranking the inherent reliability of 3 stack and 4 stack structures to other interconnects like plated through holes, blind, or buried vias, may need to be reconsidered in future reliability test programs.Research limitations/implicationsThis work was focused on the reliability of bare board and does not address failure modes associated with the additional stresses applied to the microvia structures created by the devices and their associated solder joints formed during surface mount assembly and rework operations.Originality/valueThis paper was written to improve the understanding of various aspects of design and their influence on reliability for stacked and staggered microvia structures. The design function must understand the physical construction as a critical influence on microvia reliability that should be taken into consideration in parallel with the electrical requirements.
High aspect ratio “multiple wire” microvias in flexible PCBs
Authors: Lindeberg Mikael , Hjort Klas 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an update and the latest results from work on high aspect ratio “multiple wire” microvias in porous flexible Kapton foils for printed circuit boards (PCBs).Design/methodology/approachKapton foils are made porous by ion track technology and dry resist patterning. In combination with thin film deposition and electroplating the technology is used to define circuits and sensors with microvias made of many individual high aspect ratio wires. The processes are within the reach of many production environments and are suitable for flexible PCB fabrication.FindingsThe use of these novel processes enables new types of microvias and multiple wire structures in the foils for millimeter wave circuitry of substrate integrated waveguides and shielding, as well as for sensors with high thermal resistance.Research limitations/implicationsToday, through foil electroplating is fairly slow and more work should be made with copper electroplating. Ion track technology works well on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), and polyimide (PI) but should also be studied for novel polymer foils such as liquid crystal polymers (LCPs).Originality/valueThe paper details how ion track and PCB technology can be combined to enable a new type of through the foil via interconnect that consists of a multitude of wires. With these porous substrates, double‐sided circuits with high aspect ratio microvias and other multiple wire structures can be created using only lithography, thin film deposition, and electroplating. A new type of electrothermal sensorfoil is presented with several advantages over its competing micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) based Si sensors.
The effects of forecast specificity on the asymmetric short‐window share market response to management earnings forecasts
Authors: Chan Howard , Faff Robert , Kee Ho Yee , Ramsay Alan 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThis study aims to test the effects of forecast specificity on the asymmetric short‐window share market response to management earnings forecasts (MEF).Design/methodology/approachThe paper examines a large sample of hand‐checked Australian data over the period 1994 to 2001. Using an analyst news benchmark, it estimates a series of regressions to investigate whether the short‐term impact from bad news announcements is greater in magnitude than from good news announcements and whether this differs between routine and non‐routine MEFs. Additionally, it examines whether (after controlling for news content of MEF) there is a differential market impact conditional on specificity: minimum versus maximum versus range versus point.FindingsThe results indicate that an asymmetric response is evident for the overall sample and a sub‐set of non‐routine forecasts. Contrary to predictions, the results show that forecast specificity, minimum, maximum, range and point MEFs make no additional contribution to the differences in the market reaction to bad or good news.Originality/valueThe study extends the research investigating the short‐run market impact of MEFs. The main element of innovation derives from the interaction between specificity and news content, as well as distinguishing between routine versus non‐routine cases. Notably, it found little support for the view that more specific forecasts elicit greater market responses. What the results do suggest is that managers appear to choose the form of the forecast to suit the news being delivered. In particular, bad news delivered in a minimum forecast seems to be ignored by the market.
The impact of different types of ownership concentration on annual report voluntary disclosures in New Zealand
Authors: Jiang Haiyan , Habib Ahsan 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of different categories of ownership concentration on corporate voluntary disclosure practices in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies panel data regression analysis to a sample of New Zealand listed companies from 2001 to 2005. Two‐stage least squares analysis (2SLS) is conducted. Ownership concentration is categorised into four mutually exclusive ownership structures.FindingsThe paper finds that firm‐year observations characterised by financial institution‐controlled ownership structure tends to make significantly fewer (more) disclosures at high (low) concentration levels supporting expropriation. In contrast, firm‐year observations in the high (low) concentration group with government‐ and management‐controlled ownership structures exhibit considerably higher (lower) voluntary disclosure scores, suggesting a positive monitoring effect at high ownership concentration level.Research limitations/implicationsThe results provide evidence for the proposition that the efficiency of large block holders' monitoring varies with the level of ownership concentration.Practical implicationsTo promote transparency in capital markets, regulators can encourage or discourage certain types of large shareholding, while monitoring the level of ownership concentration by means of regulation. Investors, especially less sophisticated retail investors, will benefit from the findings that different ownership groups affect disclosure policies differently.Originality/valueThe findings strengthen the importance of differentiating ownership structures into various classes to infer the real impact of differential controlling properties on managerial disclosure decisions. Furthermore, the results reveal that the relationship between ownership concentration and voluntary disclosure practices has a non‐linear pattern.
A study of reference‐price formation in value judgment
Authors: Lii Yuan‐shuh , Lee Monle , Lin Ming‐ji James , Trust Lin Hsin‐jen 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the type and number of reference prices used and their formation process in consumers' price judgments across product and service categories.Design/methodology/approachA pretest of a group of 50 graduate students is conducted to determine the service and product stimuli. Questionnaires for shampoo and hair salons, respectively, are sent out to the employees in four different companies. The subjects are asked to provide information on five commonly used measures of reference price: price most frequently charged; lowest market price; fair price; normal price; and reservation price.FindingsAlthough consumers use the same process to evaluate the retail price, the number and types of internal reference prices (IRP) used by consumers for their price judgments are different. In the case of shampoo, consumers use the fair price and the normal price to determine the offer value. In the case of hair salons, consumers use the price most frequently charged, the fair price, and the normal price for their evaluation. The findings suggest that the relative importance of IRP differs between product and service categories.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper suggests that the relative importance of IRP differs between product and service categories. Further research is needed to determine if the findings also apply in different cultural environments.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications for managers when creating price communication strategies, they should pay close attention to the specific reference prices and maintain these IRPs within a standard range when determining offer value.Originality/valueThis paper supports a multi‐dimensional view of reference prices and suggests the need to consider multiple reference prices when examining consumers' responses to price information.
The market competition of Saudi small‐sized manufacturing firms: an exploratory study
Authors: Maghrabi Ahmed S. , Jefery Yasin A. , Bin Sabbaan Saleh A. 
Published: November 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is designed to address the nature of small manufacturing firms in Saudi Arabia, their products, customers, suppliers, and prevailing competition.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses a survey of 85 firms and collects data relevant to the study objectives.FindingsThe small manufacturing firms in the Kingdom operate in a competitive environment and are actively engaged in market research relevant to market needs and customer loyalty. These firms are mostly owned by Saudi nationals.Practical implicationsThe paper offers managers and researchers various avenues to compete in a market that experiences economic growth.Originality/valueThe paper is exploratory in nature. It provides a unique insight into the nature of business environment in the manufacturing sector.