Texas A&M International University: Research Information Online (RIO)
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Numerical study of natural superconvergence in least-squares finite element methods for elliptic problems
No full textNatural superconvergence of the least-squares finite element method is surveyed for the one-and two-dimensional Poisson equation. For two-dimensional problems, both the families of Lagrange elements and Raviart-Thomas elements have been considered on uniform triangular and rectangular meshes. Numerical experiments reveal that many superconvergence properties of the standard Galerkin method are preserved by the least-squares finite element method. © 2009 Mathematical Institute, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic
Alternative measures of price perceptions: Implications for service evaluation models
No full textThis study investigates the role of perceived price and the effects of alternative measures of perceived price (noncomparative or comparative) on the strengths of the relationships in service evaluation models. An extended service evaluation model is tested using alternative price measures with data from a sample of customers of a national retailer of automotive parts and services. The findings suggest that the way perceived price is measured affects the relationships in the model. Implications of the results are discussed and future research avenues are offered
Institutional and individual factors impacting domestic private companies in China
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine several institutional and individual factors impacting business dynamics of domestic private companies in China. Design/methodology/approach: Basing the discussion on detailed interviews with business owners, the paper discusses recent and future effects of financial and legal systems, social networks, family support, informal institutions, and business people\u27s educational and work experiences on domestic, private companies. Findings: The unfolding interplay between formal and informal institutions appears to be crucial for the future of the private sector and the development of free market institutions. Business people, who benefit from the changing orders bring about by economic reform, now want formal institutions to provide stability and security. The Chinese state has played, and will continue to play, a central role in most institutionalization processes. In addition to further shaping and stabilizing their institutional framework, Chinese private companies appear to face the following challenges: acquiring more soft management skills, resolving the potential agency problem of companies with mixed ownership managed by families, and solving the latent succession problem for some family businesses that originate from the one child policy. Originality/value: Although the paper focuses on institutional and individual factors that pertain to the Chinese private business environment and business owners, the findings of this study deepen the understanding of the development of private firms conducting business in transitional economies. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Mandatory arrest? Police response to domestic violence victims
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore lawsuits involving police response to domestic violence incidents. Focusing on the specific legal remedy of due process under Section 1983, the paper seeks to examine federal case law dealing with police response to domestic violence victims. The paper also aims to discuss differences in procedural and substantive due process violations, highlighting circumstances under which the police may be held liable for improper response to domestic violence incidents. Design/methodology/approach: This paper qualitatively examines relevant Section 1983 federal court decisions (n = 27 as of May, 2008) identified through a query of Lexis Nexis for the last ten years (before and after Castle Rock) dealing with lawsuits arising from domestic abuse investigations. Findings: The preponderance of cases have resulted in dismissals of summary judgments filed against police officers and agencies for allegations that the police violated plaintiffs\u27 due process rights. The recent Supreme Court decision in Town of Castle Rock v. Gonzales has prevented plaintiffs from seeking relief under procedural due process; however, domestic abuse victims have been successful to some extent using substantive due process as a basis for civil action. Plaintiffs have prevailed in federal courts alleging that the police acted with deliberate indifference or conscious disregard for victims\u27 civil rights. Research limitations/implications: The paper is limited to federal court decisions involving due process violations and does not account for factors resulting in state tort negligence lawsuits filed against the police. Moreover, federal courts will likely continue to use substantive due process as a Section 1983 remedy for domestic violence victims as research and awareness on domestic violence policy evolves. Practical implications: The paper suggests that police agencies should take note of recent court decisions applicable to their jurisdictions as domestic violence enforcement policy remains fragmented. Agencies should ensure that police dispatcher 911 call classification policies are current and that training guidelines comport with these policies. Originality/value: Given the prevalence of domestic violence in the USA, police agencies should expect increases in the number of lawsuits filed against the police for violations of substantive due process. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
A Classification Analysis of the Success of Open Source Health Information Technology Projects
No full textAs the number of open source software (OSS) projects in healthcare grows rapidly, researchers are faced with the challenge of understanding and explaining the success of the open source phenomenon. This article proposes a research framework that examines the roles of project sponsorship, license type, development status and technological complements in the success of open source health information technology (HIT) projects and it develops a systematic method for classifying projects based on their success potential. Drawing from economic theory, a novel proposition in the authors’ framework suggests that higher project-license restrictiveness will increase OSS adoption, because organizations will be more confident that the OSS project will remain open source in the future. Applying the framework to a sample of open source software projects in healthcare, the authors find that although project sponsorship and license restrictiveness influence project metrics, they are not significant predictors of project success categorization. On the other hand, development status, operating system and programming language are significant predictors of an OSS project\u27s success categorization. Application implications and future research directions are discussed. © 2009, IGI Global. All rights reserved
Golden parachutes, managerial incentives and shareholders\u27 wealth
No full textPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of golden parachutes on shareholders\u27 wealth when the measure is used as a compensation device instead of a takeover defense. The results show that the adoption of the measure has a negative influence on shareholders\u27 wealth. These negative results are more prevalent for firms with an operating performance above their industry peers and are significantly influenced by the previous performance of the firm and the size of the golden parachute. Design/methodology/approach – Event study and regression analysis. Findings – The results show that the adoption of the measure has a negative influence on shareholders\u27 wealth. These negative results are more prevalent for firms with an operating performance above their industry peers and are significantly influenced by the previous performance of the firm and the size of the golden parachute. Practical implications – Investors will have more information about the reaction of stock markets at the announcement of golden parachutes. Originality/value – The paper presents a new evaluation of the adoption of golden parachutes on shareholders\u27 wealth when the measure is used as a compensation device instead of a takeover defense
Synthesis and characterisation of thermotropic liquid-crystalline properties of azomethine dimers
No full textA series of azomethine dimers were prepared by condensation reactions of benzaldehyde, biphenylcarboxaldehyde and 9-anthraldehyde with various aromatic diamines of varying flexibility in ethanol in the presence of tosic acid. Their chemical structures were determined by Fourier transform infrared and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, as well as elemental analysis. Their thermal properties were also examined by using a number of experimental techniques, including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), polarising optical microscopy (POM) and variable temperature X-ray diffraction (VTXRD). Azomethine dimer, prepared from benzaldehyde and 1,9-bis(4-aminophenoxy)nonane, exhibited a monotropic, nematic liquid-crystalline (LC) phase. The majority of the azomethine dimers containing biphenyl moieties exhibited enantiotropic, nematic LC phase on melting at relatively low temperatures, since they developed typical Schlieren, threaded or marbled textures in their LC phase. They also had accessible isotropisation temperatures well below their decomposition temperatures. Azomethine dimers containing anthracene moieties did not exhibit LC properties, but exhibited polymorphism as determined by POM and VTXRD in two cases. All of these azomethine dimers in the series had excellent thermal stability that was in the broad range of temperatures of 307-400°C depending on their degrees of aromaticity index. © 2009 Taylor & Francis
Recepción e impacto del drama cinematográfico: el papel de la identificación con los personajes y la empatía
No full textSe presenta un estudio cuantitativo sobre los procesos de recepción e impacto del drama cinematográfico. En particular, se examinó la relación de la empatía y la identificación con los personajes, con el disfrute e impacto afectivo provocado por una película dramática. En el estudio participaron 102 estudiantes de universidad, quienes fueron expuestos al largometraje “La vida es bella”. La capacidad empática de los participantes se evaluó con anterioridad al visionado de la película. Además, se valoró el impacto afectivo provocado por el visionado de la película dramática, la identificación con los personajes y el disfrute experimentado. Se comprobó que la empatía predecía el grado de identificación con los personajes experimentada por los participantes ante la película. Además, se observó que la identificación con los personajes era la principal variable explicativa del disfrute experimentado por el visionado de La vida es bella, y también de la inducción de malestar afectivo provocado por dicho drama. Estos resultados acreditan la centralidad del constructo identificación con los personajes, para analizar los efectos del entretenimiento mediático y de la recepción del drama cinematográfico, en particular.Palabras clave: identificación con los personajes, empatía, teoría del entretenimiento mediático, cine de ficción, disfrute mediático, estado de ánim
Una comparación de noticias internacionales en las cadenas televisivas estadounidenses
No full textPor muchos años, los medios de comunicación de habla inglesa han sido criticados por no emitir suficientes noticias internacionales durante sus telediarios. Aunque estudios previos se han enfocado solamente en las noticias que transmiten las cadenas establecidas (la ABC, la CBS y la NBC), este estudio incluye un análisis comprensivo y comparación con las cadenas de habla hispana (Telemundo y Univisión). La presente investigación se enfoca en las transmisiones de la semana que comprendió del lunes dos de octubre al viernes seis de octubre del 2006. Palabras clave: noticias internacionales, noticiarios, telediarios, televisión, periodismo, medios de comunicación hispanos, cadenas estadounidenses, noticias en español e inglés
A multivariate analysis of youth violence and aggression: The influence of family, peers, depression, and media violence
No full textObjective: To examine the multivariate nature of risk factors for youth violence including delinquent peer associations, exposure to domestic violence in the home, family conflict, neighborhood stress, antisocial personality traits, depression level, and exposure to television and video game violence. Study design: A population of 603 predominantly Hispanic children (ages 10-14 years) and their parents or guardians responded to multiple behavioral measures. Outcomes included aggression and rule-breaking behavior on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), as well as violent and nonviolent criminal activity and bullying behavior. Results: Delinquent peer influences, antisocial personality traits, depression, and parents/guardians who use psychological abuse in intimate relationships were consistent risk factors for youth violence and aggression. Neighborhood quality, parental use of domestic violence in intimate relationships, and exposure to violent television or video games were not predictive of youth violence and aggression. Conclusion: Childhood depression, delinquent peer association, and parental use of psychological abuse may be particularly fruitful avenues for future prevention or intervention efforts. Copyright © 2009 Mosby Inc