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This paper aims to introduce a new large‐scale panel study (“PASS”) for research on the labour market, the welfare state and poverty that combines a sample of 6,000 recipient households with an equally large sample of the general population.

The authors show how research goals and the specific population of the survey are accounted for in a tailored survey design.

The authors point the reader to new research potential created by the new study. The new potential is mainly derived from the sampling design (large recipient sample combined with a population sample), the direct measurement of poverty by a deprivation index, the detailed measurement of the migratory background, additional information (like attitudes, search intensity) for models of recipiency dynamics, and the linkage of the survey data with administrative data.

The data set described fills a major gap in the data‐infrastructure available for labour‐market research. From a methodological point of view it presents an innovative sampling design.

On the invitation of the Editor I am publishing in the JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION a selection of lists of music publishers' numbers, with an indication of the date of issue of their publications so numbered.

The paper aims to focus on the individual contribution of water to the lubrication regimes in articular joints because understanding of these regimes is crucial not only for the treatment of diseases like osteoarthritis but also for the development of new implants to have a longer service cycle.

Cartilage specimen and the synovial fluid were both isolated from bovine knee joints that are enclosed by a synovial membrane under sterile conditions of a biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) cabinet. Subchondral bone was removed from the cartilage because it not only creates a stable base to place the specimen on the holder, but it also acts as a primary shock absorber protecting the overlaying cartilage under high-impact loads. A specimen holder specially designed for tests and was attached to the linear oscillation (SRV) test machine. The SRV test machine provides a reciprocating sliding motion between the cartilage samples that are submerged into the selected biological media. The entire system can be mounted on the BSL2 cabinet, sealed with the convoluted gaiter and transported to the SRV machine with a specifically designed handle for the entire system. The process ensures sterile conditions for tests on biological samples that are highly sensitive to the environmental conditions.

A remarkably low coefficient of friction value for distilled water constitutes more evidence to support the assumption of the impact of water in the friction behaviour of the cartilage-against-cartilage contact. As the fluid in articular cartilage (AC) effectively serves as a synovial fluid reserve and 70-80 per cent of its composition is distilled water, it can be stated that the tribotest system mimics the natural working conditions of an actual knee joint adequately.

Time and limited availability of the animal-driven samples led to a focus on certain parameters mentioned in the approach. A planned scan of parameter matrix, such as variation of load and speed, would allow deeper knowledge on the lubrication regimes.

Study of relevant tribological contact in human joints might give ideas on new designs for artificial joints.

Understanding of lubrication regimes is crucial not only for the treatment of diseases like osteoarthritis but also for the development of new implants to adapt motion of related joint.

Exclusion of water and application as the primary lubricant in the test system brings a new perspective to joint lubrication.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of information technology (IT) on supply chain performance in the automotive industry. Prior studies that analyzed the impact of IT on supply chain performance report results representing the situation of the “average industry.” This research focuses on the automotive industry because of its major importance in many national economies and due to the fact that automotive supply chains do not represent the supply chain of the average industry.

A research model is proposed to examine the relationships between IT capabilities, supply chain capabilities, and supplier performance. The model divides IT capabilities into functional and data capabilities, and supply chain capabilities into internal process excellence and information sharing. Data have been collected from 343 automotive first-tier suppliers. Structural equation modeling with partial least squares is used to analyze the data.

The results suggest that functional capabilities have the greatest impact on internal process excellence, which in turn enhances supplier performance. However, frequent and adequate information sharing also contributes significantly to supplier performance. Data capabilities enable supply chain capabilities through their positive impact on functional capabilities.

The findings will help managers to understand the effect of IT implementation on company performance and to decide whether to invest in the expansion of IT capacities.

This research reports the impact of IT on supply chain performance in one of the most important industries in many industrialized countries, and it provides a new perspective on evaluating the contribution of IT on firm performance.

Based on an in‐depth comparison of 20 multicultural university curricula, this article aims to provide practical and implementable suggestions about how to improve such curricula in order to ensure highest and globally compatible academic quality. The recently founded developmental Master's curriculum “Global Studies” (GS) at the University of Graz, Austria serves as a case study.

Through an academic web‐based process of authoring and reviewing, over a dozen students and practitioners in Global Studies have compiled this analysis. Such an approach shows that education technologies significantly enhance peer‐oriented scientific culture. Further networking among universities from every continent, and their students, is also facilitated.

Analyses conducted by over 50 contributors during 2010‐2013 show first that the Graz‐based curriculum has achieved international quality standards by spanning multiple faculties, disciplines, professional roles, and perspectives regarding globalisation. Secondly, suggestions for improvements pertaining to nine aggregated issues are provided: partner universities, semester abroad, interdisciplinarity, didactics & lectures, practicals, languages, electives, admission of students, and exams.

The present specific recommendations serve as valuable evidence‐based and authentic input for quality assessment procedures at Graz University, and similarly for other academic curricula elsewhere.

Peer‐oriented higher education profits greatly from student input that has undergone an academic peer review procedure. Such quality assurance is favourably implemented via collaborative education technologies such as web platforms with discussion fora.

Students as the core target group in higher education institutions express their own opinion and are valued as experts and stakeholders in a genuinely democratic procedure.

Nobody concerned with political economy can neglect the history of economic doctrines. Structural changes in the economy and society influence economic thinking and, conversely, innovative thought structures and attitudes have almost always forced economic institutions and modes of behaviour to adjust. We learn from the history of economic doctrines how a particular theory emerged and whether, and in which environment, it could take root. We can see how a school evolves out of a common methodological perception and similar techniques of analysis, and how it has to establish itself. The interaction between unresolved problems on the one hand, and the search for better solutions or explanations on the other, leads to a change in paradigma and to the formation of new lines of reasoning. As long as the real world is subject to progress and change scientific search for explanation must out of necessity continue.