Understanding the links among innovation performance,market performance and financial performance

Innovation and its impacts on business performance are strategically vital deliberations for modern business organizations. In this study, we examine how innovation performance affects two different facets of firm performance: market performance and financial performance. Many studies address the relationship between innovation and business performance, but few empirical studies analyze the interplay between those variables. Research results reveal a suppression effect of market performance on the innovation–financial performance relationship. We find a negative direct relationship between innovation and financial performance; however, market performance reverses this negative effect to a positive total influence through its suppression effect. This result indicates the vital role of market performance in converting innovation to positive financial outcomes. The proposed mediation model is relevant regardless of the set of firm-level and environmental contingency variables.     

The `Game' of Leadership: Exercise, Games, Sports, and Leadership

The relationship between leadership and sports was analyzed. Peer influence was most important, with that of teachers and parents seeming to have a second-order effect as perceived through peers. Each gender benefitted more in leadership when mentored by their own gender, especially so for women. In work settings, men reported more leadership learning and encouragement than did women. Women experienced more frustration in participating in games and sports in school, the encouragement and continued mentoring being insufficient. Harragan's 1977 thesis that the corporate world and the playing field of sports and high-level policy-making have a male schema was borne out.     

Examining family and school factors as predictors of delinquency: A study of juvenile offenders,at‐risk students,and low‐risk students in Malaysia

This study aims to examine family and school factors as predictors of delinquency among adolescents in Malaysia. A total of 101 juvenile offenders, 86 at‐risk students, and 92 low‐risk students were involved in this study. Multinomial logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of an adolescent being in a group of juvenile offenders or of being an at‐risk or low‐risk student, based on four predictor variables: family structure, family relationships, school relationships, and commitment to learning. The results show that family relations, school relations, and commitment to learning have different predictive effects on the likelihood of different levels of delinquent behavior. However, family structure is not found to be a significant predictor in the logistic regression in this study. The findings of the study suggest that keeping young people in school can serve as a strong protective factor that serves to prevent at‐risk students from moving along the trajectory of serious delinquent behaviors.     

Darfurian Livelihoods and Libya: Trade,Migration, and Remittance Flows in Times of Conflict and Crisis1

Labor migration and commerce between Sudan and Libya have long been features of livelihoods in Darfur. This paper describes the importance of historical trade and migration links between Darfur and Libya, and provides a background to the political and economic situation in Libya which has influenced opportunities for Sudanese migrant workers. A case study of the situation of the Darfurian migrants in Kufra (an oasis and transnational trade hub in southern Libya) illustrates how the recent Darfur conflict has affected migration patterns from Darfur and remittance flows in the opposite direction. Official estimates of Darfurian migrant workers in Libya were unavailable but were estimated to be between 150,000 and 250,000. The closure of the national border between Sudan and Libya in May 2003, largely a result of insecurity in Darfur, stopped the traffic of migrant workers between northern Darfur and southern Libya (which prevented the onward travel to Sudan of several thousand migrants in Kufra), and curtailed the well‐established trade routes, communications, and remittance flows. The current limited economic prospects for migrant workers in Libya, combined with the threat of detention, difficulties of return to Sudan, and loss of contact with and uncertainty about the fate of their families in Darfur, have created a sense of despair among many Darfurians. The paper concludes with a series of recommendations to improve the conditions of the Darfurian migrants in Libya, including an amnesty for illegal migrants, and also to ease the travel of migrants, promote communications between Libya and Darfur, and support the flow of remittances.     

中亚五国二氧化碳排放变化特征及其影响因素

强调走低碳经济是目前中亚五国乃至全世界所面临的气候变化背景下不可动摇的战略选择。分析中亚五国1993—2009年CO2总排放量、人均CO2排放以及CO2排放强度变化特征,利用Kaya模型定量分析各种影响因素的相对重要性,结果表明：（1）中亚五国的CO2排放情况存在较大的差异。哈萨克斯坦、乌兹别克斯坦、土库曼斯坦CO2排放水平已远高于世界的平均水平,其中哈萨克斯坦和土库曼斯坦CO2排放量有继续上升的趋势,乌兹别克斯坦已经控制在某一个稳定的水平。（2）经济发展和人口增长是导致中亚五国CO2排放的主要因子,能源结构的调整也在一定程度上对CO2排放带来了压力,而能源强度对减缓CO2排放的贡献是极大的。     

Estimating Box-Cox power transformation parameter via goodness-of-fit tests

Box–Cox power transformation is a commonly used methodology to transform the distribution of the data into a normal distribution. The methodology relies on a single transformation parameter. In this study, we focus on the estimation of this parameter. For this purpose, we employ seven popular goodness-of-fit tests for normality, namely Shapiro–Wilk, Anderson–Darling, Cramer-von Mises, Pearson Chi-square, Shapiro-Francia, Lilliefors and Jarque–Bera tests, together with a searching algorithm. The searching algorithm is based on finding the argument of the minimum or maximum depending on the test, i.e., maximum for the Shapiro–Wilk and Shapiro–Francia, minimum for the rest. The artificial covariate method of Dag et al. (2014) is also included for comparison purposes. Simulation studies are implemented to compare the performances of the methods. Results show that Shapiro–Wilk and the artificial covariate method are more effective than the others and Pearson Chi-square is the worst performing method. The methods are also applied to two real-life datasets. The R package AID is proposed for implementation of the aforementioned methods.     

The negative effects of construction boom on urban planning and environment in Turkey: Unraveling the role of the public sector

Construction sector is usually accepted as the engine that triggers economic growth due to its strong backward and forward linkages with other sectors. On the other hand, it is also argued that increased construction activity could end up with negative economic, social and environmental impacts. The literature emphasizes the role of public sector, especially the national governments in minimizing the negative impacts of construction activity. The related arguments mostly postulate that public sector is well aware of the environmental challenges caused by construction activity and devoted to the understanding of how to improve the sustainability performance of private developers. Yet the case of Turkey provides significant evidences to question these assumptions. In this respect, this paper elaborates on the negative impacts of increased construction activity in Turkey and argues the role of public sector in intensification of the negative environmental effects through deregulation on urban planning and housing production by public agencies. The findings of the research highlight the importance of sustainable construction and verify the need for mainstreaming of sustainable construction into public policy-making at national and local levels, especially in developing countries, where most, if not all, of the future urban population growth will take place.     

土耳其媒体和社会对“一带一路”的认识

中国作为丝绸之路的起点,土耳其作为联结东西方的一个重要枢纽,两者之间的关系在丝绸之路历史上扮演了重要的角色。随着当今世界局势的变化,丝绸之路也以一种新的姿态大放异彩。土耳其更有其得天独厚的优势, 尤其是特殊的地理位置,让中国的学者和官员都把土耳其放在一个重要的合作伙伴的位置。加之土耳其是世界第17大经济体,各大文明和文化的融合之地,重振东西方的运输走廊又非等闲之举,这些都成为土耳其能在“一带一路”倡议中——无论是经济还是文化方面,将做出巨大贡献的潜在因素。土耳其媒体以及其他的包括民间组织对此的态度,也能清楚地说明土耳其在这“一带一路”中的角色,以及“一带一路”将在未来发挥怎样重要的作用。通过对土耳其媒体和社会对“一带一路”态度的研究,分析了“一带一路”在土耳其公众舆论中的地位、支持赞同率以及扩大其战略影响的可能。     

The Secular and the Religious in the Management of Islam in Singapore

This article examines the Singaporean model of “secularism” and its impact on the relations between the Singaporean government and the minority Muslim community in Singapore. While the Singaporean state defines itself as secular, its policies do not depict a strict dichotomy between religion and state. This paper argues that the obscure nature of secularism in Singapore has led to tensions on several issues between the government and Muslim community due to differing perceptions of what Singaporean secularism means. The first section of the paper deals with the concept of secularism as defined by the Singaporean state and examine the historical factors that led to the provision of special rights to Muslims in Singapore. The paper will then analyse the legal positions of institutions such as the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, MUIS) and the Syariah court which are tasked with managing Islamic affairs in Singapore. Lastly, the paper will analyse how the unique definition of secularism in Singapore led to tensions between the government and the Muslim community. These cases included the headscarf controversy that erupted in 2002 and 2013, the madrasah controversy in 1999, foreign policy issues and terrorism. The paper concludes by drawing a trajectory of the future relations between the Singaporean government and the Muslim community.