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This study examines the information content of firms’ operations-related disclosures (ORDs) and the importance of these disclosures as an information source to stock markets relative to other commonly examined sources of information. I find that ORDs constitute a large portion of corporate press releases. These disclosures are associated with significant stock price reactions and trading volume. The stock price reactions to ORDs are greater than the reactions to 10-K/Q reports and are of similar magnitudes to the reactions to 8-K filings. On average, ORDs explain variation in firms’ quarterly returns to a similar degree as management earnings forecasts and 10-K/Q reports for the full sample and to a greater degree for small firms and firms with lower earnings quality.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the bibliometric study of journal articles in Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) related to outsourcing library functions, including publication trends from 1994 to 2015, core journals, authorship and citing articles used for librarians and researchers to have a basic reference of relevant resources.

The methodology consisted of journal article searches in SSCI with 1994-2015 as the date limiter. The search terms came from the topic of outsourcing to the topic of library by using the Boolean operator; and results were used in the Web of Science (WOS) database based on pre-determined categories and were evaluated based on the five research questions about core journals, authorship and citing articles.

The findings were based on the five research questions evaluated in the bibliometric study. There were 55 articles published on the topics of outsourcing and library authored by 80 individuals between 1994 and 2015. In the 55 articles analyzed, there were 24 different journals represented with 150 times cited.

This study takes the bibliometric analysis approach, which has rarely been used on the topics of outsourcing and library articles with the specific focus on library finance issues. It provides a foundation for further research on the topic as well as resources to be used by librarians and researchers.

The purpose of this paper is to offer novel insights into: knowledge of proto-feminism through description and analysis of the rule of the seventh century female Emperor Wu Zetian; postcolonial theory by revealing the existence and proto-feminist activities of a non-western female leader; and the literature on gender and invisibility through a study of a leading figure that is relatively unknown to western feminists and is even, in feminist terms, something of a neglected figure.

In order to examine Wu’s proto-feminist practices as recorded in historical materials, we use critical hermeneutics as a tool for textual interpretation, through the following four stages: choosing texts from historical records and writings of Wu; analyzing the historical sociocultural context; analyzing the relationship between the text and the context; and offering a conceptual framework as a richer explanation.

Wu’s life activities demonstrate proto-feminism in late seventh century China in at least four aspects: gender equality in sexuality, in social status, in politics, and women’s pursuit of power and leadership.

Future research may dig into the paradox of Wu’s proto-feminist practices, the relationship between organizational power and feminism/proto-feminism, and the ways in which Wu’s activities differ from other powerful women across cultures, etc.

The study encourages a rethink of women and leadership style in non-western thought.

The study supports Calás and Smircich’s 2005 call for greater understanding of feminist thought outside of western thought and a move to transglobal feminism.

This study recovers long lost stories of women leadership that are “invisible” in many ways in the historical narratives, and contributes to postcolonial feminism by revealing the existence of indigenous proto-feminist practice in China long before western-based feminism and postcolonial feminism emerged.

This article introduces the outlines, objectives and concrete programmes of training performed at the Hitachi Institute of Management Development, Japan, as an example of in‐house education in Japanese industry. The institute serves as a common education centre among the companies of the Hitachi Group to provide their management with education and training. Emphasis is laid on the following: (1) thorough understanding of management concepts; (2) promotion of the entrepreneur spirit; (3) developing a point of view that is adequate for the broad scope of international business management; (4) breeding of a cohesive feeling and sense of direction; and (5) learning important management skills such as management strategy, marketing, and financial management. In order to achieve these objectives, a number of training courses are given with the participation of as many as 5,000 trainees every year. How the institute motivates, directs and assists self‐improvement efforts of managers through these training courses is described.

This review aims to focus on recent reported research work on the construction and function of different electrochemical DNA biosensors. It also describes different sensing materials, chemistries of immobilization probes, conditions of hybridization and principles of transducing and amplification strategies.

The human disease-related mutated genes or DNA sequence detection at low cost can be verified by the electrochemical-based biosensor. A range of different chemistries is used by the DNA-based electrochemical biosensors, out of which the interactions of nanoscale material with recognition layer and a solid electrode surface are most interesting. A diversity of advancements has been made in the field of electrochemical detection.

Some important aspects are also highlighted in this review, which can contribute in the creation of successful biosensing devices in the future.

This paper provides an updated review of construction and sensing technologies in the field of biosensing.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a set of infectious diseases that primarily affect low-income countries situated near the equator. Effective diagnostic tools hold the key to stemming the spread of these infectious diseases. However, specificity is a major concern associated with current diagnostic protocols. In this regard, electrochemical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biosensors could play a crucial role, as highlighted by renewed interest in their research. The purpose of this study was to highlight the current scenario for the design and development of biosensors for the detection of NTDs related pathogens. This review highlights the different types of factors involved and the modifications used to enhance sensor properties.

The authors discuss the potential of electrochemical DNA biosensors as efficient, affordable diagnostic tools for the detection of pathogens associated with NTDs by reviewing available literature. This study discusses the biosensor components, mainly the probe selection and type of electrodes used, and their potential to improve the overall design of the biosensor. Further, this study analyses the different nanomaterials used in NTD-based electrochemical DNA biosensors and discusses how their incorporation could improve the overall sensitivity and specificity of the biosensor design. Finally, this study examines the impact such techniques could have in the future on mass screening of NTDs.

The findings provide an in-depth analysis of electrochemical DNA biosensors for the detection of pathogens associated with NTDs.

This review provides an update on the different types and modifications of DNA biosensors that have been designed for the diagnosis of NTD-related pathogens.

The purpose of this paper is to improve the GM(1, 1) model based on concave sequences.

First, the restored sequence of the GM(1, 1) model is proved to be convex, and the residual characters of the GM(1, 1) model for concave sequences are analyzed. Second, two symmetry transformations are introduced to transform an original concave sequence into a convex sequence, and then the GM(1, 1) model is established based on the convex sequence.

Compared with the traditional modeling method, the new method has high accuracy and is applicable for all concave sequence modeling.

Two cases are used to illustrate the superiority of this modeling method. Case A is to predict China’s per capita natural gas consumption, and case B is to predict the annual output of an oilfield.

The application scope of GM (1, 1) model is greatly extended.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a bibliometric study of journal articles in Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) related to open access journals. Publication trends from 1993 to 2016, core journals, prolific authors and article citation frequencies were examined to provide librarians and scholars with a basic reference of relevant resources.

Among articles published in journals which have been listed in SSCI during 1993-2016, titles were searched for the term “open access journal”. The data were evaluated in response to five research questions concerning topics including publication trends from 1993 to 2016, core journals, prolific authors and article citation frequencies.

In total, 115 articles on open access journals were authored by 215 individuals from 1993 to 2016. The 115 articles analyzed were cited 842 times in 57 journals.

This paper describes a bibliometric study on open access journal publication, which has rarely been performed within the specific context of document supply issues. It provides a foundation for further research on titles as well as resources for librarians and scholars.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the knock combustion characteristics, including the combustion pressure, heat release rate (HRR) and knock intensity of aviation kerosene fuel, that is, Rocket Propellant 3 (RP-3), on a port-injected two-stoke spark ignition (SI) engine.

Experimental investigation using a bench test and the statistical analysis of data to reflect the knock combustion characteristics of the two-stroke SI unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) engine on RP-3 kerosene fuel.

Under the full load condition of 4,000 rpm, at the ignition timing of 25 degree of crank angle (°CA) before top dead centre (BTDC), the knock combustion is sensitive to the thinner mixture; therefore, the knock begins to occur when the excess air ratio is larger than 1.0. When the excess air ratio is set as 1.2, the knock obviously appears with the highest knock intensity. At the excess air ratio of 1.2, better engine performance is obtained at the ignition timing range of 20-30 °CA BTDC. However, the ignition timing at 30° CA BTDC significantly increases the peak combustion pressure and knock intensity with the advancing heat release process.

Gasoline has a low flash point, a high-saturated vapour pressure and relatively high volatility, and it is a potential hazard near a naked flame at room temperature, which can create significant security risks for its storage, transport and use. The authors adopt a low-volatility single RP-3 kerosene fuel for all vehicles and equipment to minimise the number of different devices using various fuels and improve the military application safety.

Most two-stroke SI UAV engines for military applications burn gasoline. A kerosene-based fuel for stable engine operation can be achieved because the knock combustion can be effectively suppressed through the combined adjustment of the fuel amount and spark timing.

The purpose of this study is to examine Chinese international students' narrative stories, experiences and racial dynamics while studying in the United States to argue that Chinese international students navigate multi-dimensional transitions and experiences in different stages. This study uses an AsianCrit lens to address the gap in existing research focusing on Chinese international students' narratives and experiences.

Narrative inquiry with a social constructivist paradigm was used to provide an in-depth exploration of Chinese international students' navigation and negotiation in multi-dimensional experiences. Three phases of semi-structured interviews and journal entries were utilized to examine participants' experiences and struggles while studying in the United States. Descriptive coding, deductive coding and restorying were used to analyze and feather narrators' voices and stories for interpretation.

The findings in this qualitative study demonstrate that Chinese international students have unique backgrounds, and their backgrounds shape their multi-dimensional transitions and experiences in the present and the future. The findings address students' nuanced experiences in academic transitions and non-academic transitions with an AsianCrit lens.

The study calls for higher education institutions to promote intercultural and international training for faculty and staff to better understand and support the unique needs of international students.

Using Multiple and Multi-dimensional Transitions theory with an AsianCrit lens helps make sense of the intersection of international student status, geopolitical tensions, racial dynamics and international student experiences.