When work keeps us apart: a thematic analysis of the experience of business travellers

Whilst business travel is deemed important for organisational success and economic outcomes, little is known about the actual process of business travelling from the perspective of individuals who undertake such travel on a regular basis. Thus the current qualitative study examined how business travellers (three women and eight men) attempt to find a balance between work and family, by focusing on how time together and time apart are experienced. The results can be interpreted and framed within work/family border theory in that business travellers' borders are less defined and less permeable, thus requiring them to border-cross more frequently. This necessitates a process of negotiation with key border-keepers (their spouse/partner). Business travellers also undertake compensatory behaviours to make up their time away from family. In order to find a work/family balance, they go through a process of adapting, negotiating and tailoring their lives around their work commitments to alleviate work–life conflict.     

西部地区工业竞争力综合评价

本文基于面板数据的因子分析,从经济效益、科技与人才、能源与环保三个维度对西部十一省工业综合竞争力进行评估。结果表明,西部地区工业竞争力总体水平不高且不平衡明显。其中四川、重庆、陕西、广西、云南是西部具有较强的工业竞争力的地区,而贵州、甘肃、内蒙古、新疆、青海、宁夏竞争力较弱。因此要有针对性地实施发展规划,以促进西部地区工业差距缩小与总体发展水平的提升。     

建构区域文化认同的“影视叙事综合体”——以“京津冀协同发展”为视角

“京津冀区域协同发展”的历史机遇已然到来，而长期以来各成气象的文化形象影响了三地之间的融通和发展。打通文化根脉，营造共通的文化空间，建构区域文化认同，消解隔膜与屏障，是推动区域协同发展的当务之急。在大众传播时代，影视艺术是蕴藉文化，构建形象，传播共识的主要媒介类型。“影视叙事综合体”以影视艺术为传播载体，通过叙事行为、叙事故事、叙事话语、叙事反应等影视叙事功能建构区域文化认同的影像文化空间，提升区域文化形象，促进区域文化的融通和协同发展。     

边疆、边界与国家:韦伯的“农业-政治”研究的理论启发

本文以19世纪90年代中期德国的工业化和城市化过程为背景，以韦伯对"农业-政治"问题的讨论为核心，提出了国家的边疆、边界等问题，讨论人口、物资、资本等流动下的国家经济建设与政治结构。文中涉及的实质性问题包括：全球化、工业化背景之下的农村发展问题，国家建设与国家治理思路，以及国家边界的多重（政治、经济与文化）含义。本文认为，在法律、政治、经济等角度的国家观之外，可以建立一种社会取向的、以国民为核心的"国民-国家"观，即包容多元，建立共识，赋予国民以平等的基本权利，并建立国民共享权责和符合国民基本特质的政体制度。     

Generalized empirical likelihood inference in partially linear model for longitudinal data with missing response variables and error-prone covariates

In this article, we consider statistical inference for longitudinal partial linear models when the response variable is sometimes missing with missingness probability depending on the covariate that is measured with error. A generalized empirical likelihood (GEL) method is proposed by combining correction attenuation and quadratic inference functions. The method that takes into consideration the correlation within groups is used to estimate the regression coefficients. Furthermore, residual-adjusted empirical likelihood (EL) is employed for estimating the baseline function so that undersmoothing is avoided. The empirical log-likelihood ratios are proven to be asymptotically Chi-squared, and the corresponding confidence regions for the parameters of interest are then constructed. Compared with methods based on NAs, the GEL does not require consistent estimators for the asymptotic variance and bias. The numerical study is conducted to compare the performance of the EL and the normal approximation-based method, and a real example is analysed.     

Role of Leaders as Agents of Negotiation for Counterbalancing Cultural Dissonance in the Middle East and North Africa Region

This study provides a unique perspective in the field of cross-cultural management by exploring the relationship between “cultural dissonance”—the gap between cultural values and actual practice—and effective leadership attributes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Incorporating cultural dissonance into implicit leadership theory, the study uses measurements of dissonance on nine cultural dimensions to identify particular leadership preferences in seven MENA countries. The overall findings suggest that societies prefer leaders who counterbalance cultural dissonance by allowing space for negotiations by members of society to reduce disparities between cultural values—“the way things should be”—and actual practices—“the way things are.” The greater the disparity between cultural values and practices, the greater the citizens' desire that leaders act as agents of change by creating space for negotiation.     

Training needs of extension agents’ regarding organic agriculture in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the needs of extension agents for training on organic agriculture (OA) in the Riyadh Region. Fifty-five percent (n = 69) of extension agents were selected to collect data through an electronic survey. Results indicated that extension agents in the Riyadh Region cited on job training as a main source for acquiring knowledge in OA. Agents expressed interest in receiving training in OA in general, OA marketing, and transitioning to OA. The most useful resources were field days at organic farms, OA training sessions at colleges, and attending OA trial plots. There were no differences in the level of interest in training; however, there were significant differences between individuals in terms of their experience in OA, job responsibility for providing information related to OA, and area of specialization in their job. This study recommends developing professional training programs based on the current knowledge of extension agents.     

Bootstrapping Periodic State-Space Models

This article is concerned with how the bootstrap can be applied to study conditional forecast error distributions and construct prediction regions for future observations in periodic time-varying state-space models. We derive, first, an algorithm for assessing the precision of quasi-maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters. As a result, the derived algorithm is exploited for numerically evaluating the conditional forecast accuracy of a periodic time series model expressed in state space form. We propose a method which requires the backward, or reverse-time, representation of the model for assessing conditional forecast errors. Finally, the small sample properties of the proposed procedures will be investigated by some simulation studies. Furthermore, we illustrate the results by applying the proposed method to a real time series.     

Stretching the borders: how international business travel affects the work–family balance

This study examined the consequences of international business travel for the balance between work–family domains by exploring how international business travellers and travellers’ partners manage the boundaries between work and family in order to maintain the balance. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used in analysing the semi-structured interviews of 10 male travellers and 10 partners. Because of its irregular nature, international business travel affects the personal life and the family of business travellers. Work-related travel also has an impact on how travellers and their partners construct, manage and negotiate borders between work and family in order to avoid an imbalance between these domains. Integration of work and family is usually inevitable in international business traveler families. Integration may lead to role blurring and thus lead to imbalance.     

抗战时期陕甘宁边区学前教育建设的经验与启示

抗战时期，陕甘宁边区在中国共产党的领导下进行了独具特色的学前教育建设活动，形成了独特的建设经验，主要包括提供保障措施、建立精简高效的组织架构、注重保教队伍的建设、关爱幼儿的身体健康、开展科学的教育教学工作。重现边区学前教育活动，探寻其成功经验，继承与发扬红色教育精神，对新时期幼儿的培养与培育有积极的现实指导意义。