bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation of cationic and neutral (allenylidene)(carbene) and bis(allenylidene)gold complexes
Authors: Jin Liqun , Melaimi Mohand , Kostenko Arseni , Karni Miriam , Apeloig Yitzhak , Moore Curtis E. , Rheingold Arnold L. , Bertrand Guy
Published: November 2015

The one-electron reduction of a cationic (allenylidene)[cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene]gold(i) complex leads to the corresponding neutral, paramagnetic, formally gold(0) complex.
Observation of a nanoscale phase separation in blue-emitting Ce-doped SiO1.5 thin films
Authors: Weimmerskirch-Aubatin J. , Stoffel M. , Devaux X. , Bouché A. , Beainy G. , Talbot E. , Pareige P. , Fagot-Révurat Y. , Vergnat M. , Rinnert H.
Published: November 2015

The observation of a phase separation at the nanoscale between pure Si nanocrystals and Cerium silicate clusters is reported.
Subtle control on hierarchic reflow for the simple and massive fabrication of biomimetic compound eye arrays in polymers for imaging at a large field of view
Authors: Wang Mengjia , Wang Taisheng , Shen Honghai , Zhao Jingli , Zhang Zhiyou , Du Jinglei , Yu Weixing
Published: November 2015

In this work, a hierarchic reflow method is demonstrated for the monolithic micro-fabrication of biomimetic compound eye arrays.
Effective coherent integration method for marine target with micromotion via phase differentiation and radon‐Lv's distribution
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Guan Jian , Li Xiuyou , He You
Published: November 2015

Effective detection of marine targets with low observability gives a severe challenge to radar signal processing. The micro‐Doppler (m‐D) signatures of marine target can provide extra information for non‐stationary and time‐varying signal analysis. Long‐time integration is an effective way to strengthen the m‐D signal and improve signal‐to‐clutter ratio. However, the performances are affected by the range across unit and Doppler frequency migration effects. In this study, m‐D characteristics of marine target are studied and a novel representation, i.e. phase differentiation and Radon‐Lv's distribution (PD‐RLVD), is proposed to detect the m‐D signal to realise the long‐time coherent integration. The PD‐RLVD can accurately and directly represent the m‐D signal in the chirp rate and chirp change domain appearing as obvious peaks. The proposed method is simple not only because it only requires a 2D Fourier transform of the scaled Radon instantaneous auto‐correlation function after PD, but also for not introducing any non‐physical attributes. Relations between PD‐RLVD and other integration methods are introduced as well. Experiments with real data show that the proposed method can achieve higher integration gain, detection probability, and accuracies of motion parameter estimation.
Mycotic Aneurysm Treated with Aneurysm Trapping. Case Report
Authors: Flores Juan Castro , Figueiredo Eberval Gadelha , Caldas José Guilherme Pereira , Teixeira Manoel Jacobsen , Neto Sérgio
Published: November 2015

The authors describe a rare case of mycotic aneurysm (MA) associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with aneurysm trapping. The literature on management and the surgical techniques are controversial due to lack of randomize trials.
Production of high current proton beams using complex H-rich molecules at GSI
Authors: Adonin A. , Barth W. , Heymach F. , Hollinger R. , Vormann H. , Yakushev A.
Published: November 2015

In this contribution, the concept of production of intense proton beams using molecular heavy ion beams from an ion source is described, as well as the indisputable advantages of this technique for operation of the GSI linear accelerator. The results of experimental investigations, including mass-spectra analysis and beam emittance measurements, with different ion beams (CH3+,C2H4+,C3H7+) using various gaseous and liquid substances (methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and iodoethane) at the ion source are summarized. Further steps to improve the ion source and injector performance with molecular beams are depicted.
New source of MeV negative ion and neutral atom beams
Authors: Ter-Avetisyan S. , Braenzel J. , Schnürer M. , Prasad R. , Borghesi M. , Jequier S. , Tikhonchuk V.
Published: November 2015

The scenario of “electron-capture and -loss” was recently proposed for the formation of negative ion and neutral atom beams with MeV kinetic energies. However, it does not explain why the formation of negative ions in a liquid spray is much more efficient than with an isolated atom. The role of atomic excited states in the charge-exchange processes is considered, and it is shown that it cannot account for the observed phenomena. The processes are more complex than the single electron-capture and -loss approach. It is suggested that the shell effects in the electronic structure of the projectile ion and/or target atoms may influence the capture/loss probabilities.
A 10 nN resolution thrust-stand for micro-propulsion devices
Authors: Chakraborty Subha , Courtney Daniel G. , Shea Herbert
Published: November 2015

We report on the development of a nano-Newton thrust-stand that can measure up to 100 μN thrust from different types of microthrusters with 10 nN resolution. The compact thrust-stand measures the impingement force of the particles emitted from a microthruster onto a suspended plate of size 45 mm × 45 mm and with a natural frequency over 50 Hz. Using a homodyne (lock-in) readout provides strong immunity to facility vibrations, which historically has been a major challenge for nano-Newton thrust-stands. A cold-gas thruster generating up to 50 μN thrust in air was first used to validate the thrust-stand. Better than 10 nN resolution and a minimum detectable thrust of 10 nN were achieved. Thrust from a miniature electrospray propulsion system generating up to 3 μN of thrust was measured with our thrust-stand in vacuum, and the thrust was compared with that computed from beam diagnostics, obtaining agreement within 50 nN to 150 nN. The 10 nN resolution obtained from this thrust-stand matches that from state-of-the-art nano-Newton thrust-stands, which measure thrust directly from the thruster by mounting it on a moving arm (but whose natural frequency is well below 1 Hz). The thrust-stand is the first of its kind to demonstrate less than 3 μN resolution by measuring the impingement force, making it capable of measuring thrust from different types of microthrusters, with the potential of easy upscaling for thrust measurement at much higher levels, simply by replacing the force sensor with other force sensors.
Small-signal modeling with direct parameter extraction for impact ionization effect in high-electron-mobility transistors
Authors: Guan He , Lv Hongliang , Guo Hui , Zhang Yuming
Published: November 2015

Impact ionization affects the radio-frequency (RF) behavior of high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs), which have narrow-bandgap semiconductor channels, and this necessitates complex parameter extraction procedures for HEMT modeling. In this paper, an enhanced small-signal equivalent circuit model is developed to investigate the impact ionization, and an improved method is presented in detail for direct extraction of intrinsic parameters using two-step measurements in low-frequency and high-frequency regimes. The practicability of the enhanced model and the proposed direct parameter extraction method are verified by comparing the simulated S-parameters with published experimental data from an InAs/AlSb HEMT operating over a wide frequency range. The results demonstrate that the enhanced model with optimal intrinsic parameter values that were obtained by the direct extraction approach can effectively characterize the effects of impact ionization on the RF performance of HEMTs.
Quantum dynamics on a three-sheeted six-dimensional ab initio potential-energy surface of the phosphine cation: Simulation of the photoelectron spectrum and the ultrafast radiationless decay dynamics
Authors: Bhattacharyya Swarnendu , Dai Zuyang , Domcke Wolfgang
Published: November 2015

A diabatic three-sheeted six-dimensional potential-energy surface has been constructed for the ground state and the lowest excited state of the PH3+ cation. Coupling terms of Jahn-Teller and pseudo-Jahn-Teller origin up to eighth order had to be included to describe the pronounced anharmonicity of the surface due to multiple conical intersections. The parameters of the diabatic Hamiltonian have been optimized by fitting the eigenvalues of the potential-energy matrix to ab initio data calculated at the CASSCF/MRCI level employing the correlation-consistent triple-ζ basis. The theoretical photoelectron spectrum of phosphine and the non-adiabatic nuclear dynamics of the phosphine cation have been computed by propagating nuclear wave packets with the multiconfiguration time-dependent Hartree method. The theoretical photoelectron bands obtained by Fourier transformation of the autocorrelation function agree well with the experimental results. It is shown that the ultrafast non-radiative decay dynamics of the first excited state of PH3+ is dominated by the exceptionally strong Jahn-Teller coupling of the asymmetric bending vibrational mode together with a hyperline of conical intersections with the electronic ground state induced by the umbrella mode. Time-dependent population probabilities have been computed for the three adiabatic electronic states. The non-adiabatic Jahn-Teller dynamics within the excited state takes place within ≈5 fs. Almost 80% of the excited-state population decay to the ground state within about 10 fs. The wave packets become highly complex and delocalized after 20 fs and no further significant transfer of electronic population seems to occur up to 100 fs propagation time.
Lie bialgebra structures on the deformative Schrödinger-Virasoro algebras
Authors: Fa Huanxia , Li Junbo , Zheng Yelong
Published: November 2015

In this paper, we investigate Lie bialgebra structures on the deformative Schrödinger-Virasoro algebras mainly using the techniques introduced recently, which indicate that all cases considered in this paper except one behave different from their centerless ones.
Stress transfer during different deformation stages in a nano-precipitate-strengthened Ni-Ti shape memory alloy
Authors: Dong Y. H. , Cong D. Y. , Nie Z. H. , He Z. B. , Li L. F. , Wang Z. L. , Ren Y. , Wang Y. D.
Published: November 2015

Understanding the role of fine coherent precipitates in the micromechanical behavior of precipitate-strengthened shape memory alloys (SMAs), which still remains a mystery heretofore, is of crucial importance to the design of advanced SMAs with optimal functional and mechanical properties. Here, we investigate the lattice strain evolution of, and the stress partition between the nanoscale Ni4Ti3 precipitates and the matrix in a precipitate-strengthened Ni-Ti SMA during different deformation stages by in-situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction technique. We found that, during R-phase reorientation and stress-induced martensitic transformation, which both involve the shear deformation process, the lattice strain of the nanoscale precipitates drastically increases by a magnitude of 0.5%, which corresponds to an abrupt increase of ∼520 MPa in internal stress. This indicates that stress repartition occurs and most of the stress is transferred to the precipitates during the shear deformation of the matrix. It is further revealed that the nanoscale precipitates which only have a low volume fraction bear a considerable amount of applied stress during all deformation stages investigated, implying that the nanoscale precipitates play an important role in the deformation behavior of the precipitate-strengthened Ni-Ti SMAs.
Fast gain and phase recovery of semiconductor optical amplifiers based on submonolayer quantum dots
Authors: Herzog Bastian , Owschimikow Nina , Schulze Jan-Hindrik , Rosales Ricardo , Kaptan Yücel , Kolarczik Mirco , Switaiski Thomas , Strittmatter André , Bimberg Dieter , Pohl Udo W. , Woggon Ulrike
Published: November 2015

Submonolayer quantum dots as active medium in opto-electronic devices promise to combine the high density of states of quantum wells with the fast recovery dynamics of self-assembled quantum dots. We investigate the gain and phase recovery dynamics of a semiconductor optical amplifier based on InAs submonolayer quantum dots in the regime of linear operation by one- and two-color heterodyne pump-probe spectroscopy. We find an as fast recovery dynamics as for quantum dot-in-a-well structures, reaching 2 ps at moderate injection currents. The effective quantum well embedding the submonolayer quantum dots acts as a fast and efficient carrier reservoir.
A two-in-one process for reliable graphene transistors processed with photo-lithography
Authors: Ahlberg P. , Hinnemo M. , Song M. , Gao X. , Olsson J. , Zhang S.-L. , Zhang Z.-B.
Published: November 2015

Research on graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) has mainly relied on devices fabricated using electron-beam lithography for pattern generation, a method that has known problems with polymer contaminants. GFETs fabricated via photo-lithography suffer even worse from other chemical contaminations, which may lead to strong unintentional doping of the graphene. In this letter, we report on a scalable fabrication process for reliable GFETs based on ordinary photo-lithography by eliminating the aforementioned issues. The key to making this GFET processing compatible with silicon technology lies in a two-in-one process where a gate dielectric is deposited by means of atomic layer deposition. During this deposition step, contaminants, likely unintentionally introduced during the graphene transfer and patterning, are effectively removed. The resulting GFETs exhibit current-voltage characteristics representative to that of intrinsic non-doped graphene. Fundamental aspects pertaining to the surface engineering employed in this work are investigated in the light of chemical analysis in combination with electrical characterization.
Navigating the ethics of cross‐cultural health promotion research
Authors: Haintz Greer Lamaro , Graham Melissa , McKenzie Hayley
Published: November 2015

Health promotion researchers must consider the ethics of their research, and are usually required to abide by a set of ethical requirements stipulated by governing bodies (such as the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council) and human research ethics committees (HRECs). These requirements address both deontological (rule‐based) and consequence‐based issues. However, at times there can be a disconnect between the requirements of deontological issues and the cultural sensitivity required when research is set in cultural contexts and settings etic to the HREC. This poses a challenge for health promotion researchers who must negotiate between meeting both the requirements of the HREC and the needs of the community with whom the research is being conducted. Drawing on two case studies, this paper discusses examples from cross‐cultural health promotion research in Australian and international settings where disconnect arose and negotiation was required to appropriately meet the needs of all parties. The examples relate to issues of participant recruitment and informed consent, participants under the Australian legal age of consent, participant withdrawal when this seemingly occurs in an ad hoc rather than a formal manner and reciprocity. Although these approaches are context specific, they highlight issues for consideration to advance more culturally appropriate practice in research ethics and suggest ways a stronger anthropological lens can be applied to research ethics to overcome these challenges.
Sydney Harbour: a review of anthropogenic impacts on the biodiversity and ecosystem function of one of the world
Authors: Mayer-Pinto M. , Johnston E. L. , Hutchings P. A. , Marzinelli E. M. , Ahyong S. T. , Birch G. , Booth D. J. , Creese R. G. , Doblin M. A. , Figueira W. , Gribben P. E. , Pritchard T. , Roughan M. , Steinberg P. D. , Hedge L. H.
Published: November 2015

Sydney Harbour is a hotspot for diversity. However, as with estuaries worldwide, its diversity and functioning faces increasing threats from urbanisation. This is the first synthesis of threats and impacts in Sydney Harbour. In total 200 studies were reviewed: 109 focussed on contamination, 58 on habitat modification, 11 addressed non-indigenous species (NIS) and eight investigated fisheries. Metal concentrations in sediments and seaweeds are among the highest recorded worldwide and organic contamination can also be high. Contamination is associated with increased abundances of opportunistic species, and changes in benthic community structure. The Harbour is also heavily invaded, but invaders’ ecological and economic impacts are poorly quantified. Communities within Sydney Harbour are significantly affected by extensive physical modification, with artificial structures supporting more NIS and lower diversity than their natural equivalents. We know little about the effects of fishing on the Harbour’s ecology, and although ocean warming along Sydney is among the fastest in the world, we know little about how the ecosystem will respond to warming. The interactive and cumulative effects of stressors on ecosystem functioning and services in the Harbour are largely unknown. Sustainable management of this iconic natural system requires that knowledge gaps are addressed and translated into coherent environmental plans.
Sydney Harbour: what we do and do not know about a highly diverse estuary
Authors: Johnston E. L. , Mayer-Pinto M. , Hutchings P. A. , Marzinelli E. M. , Ahyong S. T. , Birch G. , Booth D. J. , Creese R. G. , Doblin M. A. , Figueira W. , Gribben P. E. , Pritchard T. , Roughan M. , Steinberg P. D. , Hedge L. H.
Published: November 2015

Sydney Harbour is a global hotspot for marine and estuarine diversity. Despite its social, economic and biological value, the available knowledge has not previously been reviewed or synthesised. We systematically reviewed the published literature and consulted experts to establish our current understanding of the Harbour’s natural systems, identify knowledge gaps, and compare Sydney Harbour to other major estuaries worldwide. Of the 110 studies in our review, 81 focussed on ecology or biology, six on the chemistry, 10 on geology and 11 on oceanography. Subtidal rocky reef habitats were the most studied, with a focus on habitat forming macroalgae. In total 586 fish species have been recorded from the Harbour, which is high relative to other major estuaries worldwide. There has been a lack of process studies, and an almost complete absence of substantial time series that constrains our capacity to identify trends, environmental thresholds or major drivers of biotic interactions. We also highlight a lack of knowledge on the ecological functioning of Sydney Harbour, including studies on microbial communities. A sound understanding of the complexity, connectivity and dynamics underlying ecosystem functioning will allow further advances in management for the Harbour and for similarly modified estuaries around the world.
Reflections on maternal health care within the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service
Authors: Hooker Leesa , Taft Angela , Small Rhonda
Published: November 2015

Women suffer significant morbidity following childbirth and there is a lack of focussed, primary maternal health care to support them. Victorian Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses are ideally suited to provide additional care for women when caring for the family with a new baby. With additional training and support, MCH nurses could better fill this health demand and practice gap. This discussion paper reviews what we know about maternal morbidity, current postnatal services for women and the maternal healthcare gap, and makes recommendations for enhancing MCH nursing practice to address this deficit.
Enhanced

drift effects in the TCV snowflake divertor
Authors: Canal G.P. , Lunt T. , Reimerdes H. , Duval B.P. , Labit B. , Vijvers W.A.J.
Published: November 2015

Measurements of various plasma parameters at the divertor targets of snowflake (SF) and conventional single-null configurations indicate an enhanced effect of the

drift in the scrape-off layer of plasmas in the SF configuration. Plasma boundary transport simulations using the EMC3-Eirene code show that the poloidal gradients of the kinetic profiles in the vicinity of the null-point of a SF divertor are substantially larger than those of a conventional single-null configuration. These gradients are expected to drive larger

flows in the SF divertor and are thought to be responsible for the formation of the double-peaked particle and heat flux target profiles observed experimentally. Experiments in forward and reversed toroidal magnetic field directions further support this conclusion. The formation of such a double-peaked profiles is enhanced at higher plasma densities and may have beneficial effects on the divertor heat loads since they lead to broader target profiles and lower peak heat fluxes.
Greater understanding is need of whether warmer and shorter winters associated with climate change could reduce winter mortality
Authors: Ebi Kristie L
Published: November 2015

In temperate regions, mortality is higher during winter than summer seasons. Assuming this seasonality is associated with ambient temperature, assessments often conclude that climate change will likely reduce winter mortality. However, there has been limited evaluation of the extent to which cold temperatures are actually the proximal cause of winter mortality in temperate regions. Kinney et al (2015 Environ Res. Lett.

10 064016) analyzed multi-decadal data from 39 cities in the US and France and concluded that cold temperatures are not a primary driver of most winter excess mortality. These analyses suggest that increases in heat-related mortality with climate change will unlikely be balanced by reductions in winter mortality, reinforcing the importance of health systems continuing to ensure adequate health protection against cold temperatures even as temperatures warm.
The Gradual Increase of Responsibility Model for coaching teachers
Authors: Collet Vicki S.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This collective case study investigated the ways in which coaching supports teacher change. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to consider what types of feedback are best at what times in the coaching process and how coaching supports teachers’ application of learning to differing contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was conducted over an 18-month period in three settings: a university reading clinic and two schools. Participants were a coach and two in-service teachers enrolled in a literacy specialist master’s degree program. This qualitative study included observational field notes, interviews, lesson plans, and teacher reflections as primary data sources.

Findings

– Findings suggest a model for coaching that acknowledges the learner’s previous knowledge and experience and continuously gauges support to stay within the ever-escalating zone of proximal development. Specific coaching moves that vary by degree of scaffolding are identified, namely: modeling, recommending, asking questions, affirming, and praising.

Research limitations/implications

– This study clarifies the varying roles that coaches may play and how these roles change over time. Additionally, the model has implications for how coaching might change based on variability among those being coached.

Originality/value

– The Gradual Increase of Responsibility Model has potential to guide coaches as they engage with mentees to improve instruction.
Mentoring pathways to enhancing the personal and professional development of pre-service teachers
Authors: Grima-Farrell Christine
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the critical features and outcomes of an Australian collaborative university- and school-based immersion project for mentoring final year pre-service primary teachers in the area of special education as they embed theory and practice in inclusive classrooms for a full year, to respond to diverse student needs.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a three-year qualitative study design, data were gathered through pre surveys and post surveys, two one-to-one semi-structured interviews, and reflexive journal entries. Analysis using triangulation of data sources and inter-rater reliability was employed to reach consensus on the key themes.

Findings

– Findings suggest that mentors proved critical to reducing pre-service teacher anxieties and to enhancing their personal and professional knowledge, confidence and skills as they differentiated instruction and assessment techniques to cater for students with a diverse range of abilities.

Research limitations/implications

– This research suggests that maintaining the balance of theory and practice through genuine extended school engagement experiences provided opportunities for collaborative connections on multiple levels across the school. This mentoring pathway enhanced and reinforced pre-service teachers’ professional capacity, confidence and employability potential. Limitations such as small sample size and lack of secondary school representation must be noted.

Originality/value

– This work identified the importance of the unique features of a mentoring programme within a university-school partnership, including the benefits of a full-year immersion experience, financial reward, responsibility, empowerment and enhanced employability status of final year pre-service teachers as they transition to classroom teachers. This paper provides useful insights for researchers, practitioners and teacher education policy developers.
Customer returns model in a dual-channel supply chain
Authors: Yang Feng , Hu Pei , Zhao Fuguo , Hu Cuihua
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purposes of this paper is to propose a customer returns model in a dual-channel supply chain where a customer can return the purchased product to the retailer or the manufacturer and obtain an equilibrium of selling prices and refund prices and the optimal profit when considering customer returns in the centralized and decentralized dual-channel supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper mainly uses the game theory technique to analyze the problem. The manufacturer and the retailer are vertically integrated in the traditional channel, and the results of the centralized dual-channel supply chain are obtained. Then, the Stackelberg game was adopted to analyze the decentralized dual-channel supply chain. Finally, the detailed numerical simulation is proposed to obtain straight-forward insights for the industrial managers.

Findings

– The mathematic analysis used shows that the main findings of this paper are: in the centralized scenario, the retailer and the manufacturer will charge higher selling prices when they offer return policy, and the demand for each channel increases, which results in higher profit; and the price and refund price of the direct channel in the centralized and decentralized dual-channel are the same, respectively.

Originality/value

– Most previous literatures highlight that return policy plays an important role in supply chain which considering one channel. But there is no study on the customer return policy in dual-channel supply chain. This paper is a further step to model the effects of customer returns policy on the pricing policy and optimize the profits in a dual-channel supply chain. This paper analyzes the pricing and refund strategies and gets an equilibrium in the centralized and decentralized dual-channel supply chain scenarios.
A literature review on lot size with quantity discounts: 1995-2013
Authors: Pereira Valdecy , Costa Helder Gomes
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a literature review on models developed for the economic order quantity (EOQ) problem with incremental and all-units discounts, extending the work of Benton and Park (1996) which covered the most significant literature, from 1963 to 1994, about EOQ with discounts and that has identified four open areas in this field of study. The modeling of lot size with discounts wishes to give good solutions for realistic situations, such as those concerning the discounts offered by suppliers, to rises in the demand.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was carried out in papers published from 1995 to 2013, and indexed in databases as Scopus and ISI Web of Science. The papers were compared through objective function, constraints, discounts, developed algorithms, allowance of shortages or multiproduct, demand pattern and buyer or buyer–supplier perspective.

Findings

– Results indicate two areas that still remain untouched, and probably the main cause is due to mathematical complexities. The authors have also identified an increasing trend of works that compared just-in-time with the EOQ with quantity discounts policy and also an increasing number of works that solved this category of problems with algorithms.

Research limitations/implications

– The research does not cover materials published in working papers, monographs, thesis, conferences or journals that are not indexed in those databases.

Originality/value

– This manuscript fills a gap in the study of EOQ with incremental discounts, as it highlights the leading edge advances in this field and the main differences among models. As a whole, the new trends about modeling EOQ problems with quantity discounts were discovered.
Aggregate production planning with learning effect and uncertain demand
Authors: Chen Zhixiang , Sarker Bhaba  R.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of learning effect and demand uncertainty on aggregate production planning (APP), provide practitioners with some important managerial implications for improving production planning and productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Motivated by the background of one labour-intensive manufacturing firm – a mosquito expellant factory – an APP model considering workforce learning effect and demand uncertainty is established. Numerical example and comparison with other two models without considering learning and uncertainty of demand are conducted.

Findings

– The result shows that taking into account the uncertain demand and learning effect can reduce total production cost and increase flexibility of APP.

Practical implications

– Managerial implications are provided for practitioners with four propositions on improving workforce learning effect, i.e. emphasizing employee training, combing individual and organizational learning and reduction of forgetting effect.

Originality/value

– This paper has practice value in improving APP in labor-intensive manufacturing.
Shifting the burden archetype: developing a system dynamics game
Authors: Bagodi Virupaxi , Mahanty Biswajit
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the short comings in decision-making in a complex system. An approach to coping with a complex decision-making task is to identify generic structures known as systems archetypes in a given decision situation. In the “shifting the burden” archetype, decision-makers fail to identify the fundamental solution early and are subjected to accumulated side effects as they resort to quick remedial solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– A system dynamics-based game has been built to highlight the pitfalls of “shifting the burden” systems archetype for a decision-making situation in the Indian two-wheeler industry. Participants of the game make strategic decisions for a company and receive feedback of their decisions and corresponding actions after every plan period.

Findings

– The decision-makers who adopt short-term measures to alleviate the company’s problems, invariably fail in their endeavour. Success comes to those who realize the importance of having a long-term perspective in the form of pursuing fundamental solutions.

Practical implications

– What could be a possible way of avoiding the pitfalls? The decision-makers should be aware of the pitfalls beforehand and identify the same – a decision support system possibly can aid them in this regard.

Originality/value

– The complexity of the system increases as the business grows. The managers need to adopt systems thinking and embrace a long-term perspective. Decision support systems integrating models of systems archetypes provide an environment to simulate various decision situations and see the effects beforehand.
Understanding and predicting the quality determinants of e-government services
Authors: Sharma Sujeet Kumar , Govindaluri Srikrishna Madhumohan , Gattoufi Said
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the quality determinants influencing the adoption of e-government services in Oman and compare the performance of multiple regression and neural network models in identifying the significant factors influencing adoption in Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

– Primary data concerning service quality determinants and demographic variables were collected using a structured questionnaire survey. The variables selected in the design of the questionnaire were based on an extensive literature review. Factor analysis, multiple linear regression and neural network models were employed to analyze data.

Findings

– The study found that quality determinants: responsiveness, security, efficiency and reliability are statistically significant predictors of adoption. The neural network model performed better than the regression model in the prediction of e-government services’ adoption and was able to characterize the non-linear relationship of the aforementioned predictors with the adoption of e-government services. Further, the neural network model was able to identify demographic variables as significant predictors.

Practical implications

– This study highlights the importance of service quality in the adoption of e-government services and suggests that an enhanced focus and investment on improving quality of the design and delivery of e-government services can have a positive impact on the usage of the services, thereby enabling the Oman Government in achieving the governance objectives for which these technologies were employed.

Originality/value

– Studies in the area of e-government typically focus either on technology adoption problems or service quality problems. The role of service quality in adoption is rarely addressed. The research presented in this paper is of great value to the institutions that are involved in the development of technology-based e-government services in Oman.
Intrapreneurial ambidexterity: a platform project,Swedish approach
Authors: Burström Thommie , Wilson Timothy L.
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to explore the relationship between projects and intrapreneurial self-renewal activities. In particular,the approach a specific firm has made to renew itself is examined through two lenses commonly used to analyze such efforts – as a platform project and as an intrapreneurship effort based on intrapreneurial ambidexterity.

Design/methodology/approach

– An in-depth case study was conducted in a manner that the contextually sensitive,empirical research for which Nordic studies are known. The common denominator in these studies is a fascination on the practitioners. In other words,what the project managers say and do are of particular interest. Initially,68 in-depth interviews were performed,which were complemented by observations and secondary information.

Findings

– The platform project approach recognized chief project managers and requirement managers as essential elements in development. Further,it suggested there was no obvious champion in the project,nor did slack resources appear as a prerequisite. On the other hand,an intrapreneurship insight provided appreciation for the processes that developed for implementation.

Practical implications

– It is argued that,flagship projects as studied here,in particular,infuse parallel and collective activities since such projects call for significant organizational self-renewal.

Originality/value

– Intrapreneurship tends to be neglected at the expense of entrepreneurship. This study focuses on the former in a Swedish environment in which a major firm bets its future. Observations are interpreted in terms of both platform project and intrapreneurship concepts. We present and define the concept of intrapreneurial ambidexterity.
Uncovering different forms of customer network changes in M & A
Authors: Degbey William Y. , Pelto Elina
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the forms of change that horizontal and vertical mergers and acquisitions (M & As) may evoke in acquired firms’ customer networks. M & As have increasingly become a dominant mechanistic growth path,pursued relentlessly by companies with varying attributes. However,acquiring a firm does not automatically imply that the market position of the acquired firm and its networks can be taken over,as conventionally held.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach takes the form of two qualitative interview-based case illustrations.

Findings

– The illustrative empirical cases within the context of this study suggest that customer network changes may be rapid and/or radical,and gradual,depending on the specific acquisition type,context and managerial actions following the acquisition. Moreover,the visual simplicity of the network drawing in the post-acquisition network environment of a vertical acquisition type is not equivalent to lesser complexity of managing within the network. Rather,it shows a greater complexity as the M & A induces more direct customer relationships to manage and be managed. The study also shows that connected network changes may cause a revision of a specific industry’s business rules,and the management of these changes is critical for acquisition success.

Research limitations/implications

– While the two illustrative M & A cases are deemed practically significant in strategic and social terms within their industry and country settings,further research is required to establish the generalizability of the findings to wider industry and geographical contexts.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the discussion on the important role of the business network approach in elaborating the understanding of a strategic management event,particularly M & A.
Undercover employer: is it ever ok to put your staff under covert surveillance?
Authors: Whittaker Jonathan
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the article is to investigate the issue of covert surveillance of employees in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

– Opinion-based piece that draws on the UK legal environment to assess the legalities of filming and recording staff in the workplace.

Findings

– The paper sets out the circumstances in which surveillance can be used legally in the UK.

Originality/value

– This is the author’s own opinion based on his experience as both an employment lawyer and judge at employment tribunals. It offers original content and was written specifically for Strategic HR Review.
Tax avoidance: the 21st century employment conundrum
Authors: Moseley Barry
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance of being aware of current tax regulations for both the public and private sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses some of the recent news around large corporations and their tax systems to support the argument for more awareness of tax avoidance. Whilst using the recent UK regulations into reporting of non PAYE workers as a case study.

Findings

– More needs to be done to ensure businesses are aware and comply to the regulations around non-PAYE employees.

Originality/value

– Entirely original content, citing examples from government regulation and private companies experience.
Changing behaviors at scale
Authors: Swanson David
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to share how SAP recently tackled the problem of changing behaviors at a large scale.

Design/methodology/approach

– The objectives were achieved through evaluating popular methodologies, i.e. Six Sigma, Quality Circles, Lean, etc., and identifying a new process that had greater potential for innovative thinking to become reality.

Findings

– SAP discovered that Design Thinking allowed the company to connect multidisciplinary teams using “radical collaboration” to tackle big projects using prototyping to discover new solutions.

Originality/value

– This new method of thinking is explored and transferable benefits for other corporations are shared for those interested in exploring new approaches to problem-solving.
Ageing Well in Wales: a national movement
Authors: Williams Iwan , Hattton-Yeo Alan
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to inform readers about the Ageing Well in Wales Programme, including its background, purpose and key aims and objectives.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Programme is in its first year and works at several levels, from high-level national bodies to community/volunteer groups on the ground. The Programme’s success is largely dependent on the commitment of individuals and organisations.

Findings

– The Programme is on-going with no findings as such to date, however, the Programme is a response to research and evidence that suggests that the health and wellbeing of older people in Wales needs to be urgently addressed, particularly in the context of demographic change and the impact of austerity on front-line public services and the development of more preventative approaches.

Practical implications

– One of the outcomes will be an increasing understanding of what makes effective national learning and participative networks.

Social implications

– People in Wales will be more active and engaged and as a consequence experience greater health and wellbeing.

Originality/value

– Provides a state of play on the Programme up to Summer 2015, outlining what has been achieved to date and next steps.
The Age of No Retirement
Authors: Collie Jonathan
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the value, often overlooked, inherent within a society where people are living longer, healthier and more productively than ever before.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is a summary of the activities, achievements and objectives of “The Age of No Retirement” movement for social change since its inception on 1st October 2014.

Findings

– The spectacular demand for new thinking and design-led action across all sectors of society to break down the ageist stereotypes that are impeding age-neutral societal progress in the UK.

Practical implications

– Communities, employers, individuals – EVERYONE – can begin to harness the incredible power of the Xtra 10 (the extra ten years of healthy life expectancy that modern generations can now expect – in the middle of their lives!).

Social implications

– The social implications are almost limitless – for a new era of over-50 makers, designers, entrepreneurs, workers, leaders, learners, teachers, doers, intergenerational catalysts, etc., the list goes on.

Originality/value

– The Age of No Retirement is a design-led social enterprise that is driving new thinking in the Age space.
Analysis of dsDNA and RNA viromes in methanogenic digesters reveals novel viral genetic diversity
Authors: Calusinska Magdalena , Marynowska Martyna , Goux Xavier , Lentzen Esther , Delfosse Philippe
Published: November 2015

Although viruses are not the key players of the anaerobic digestion process, they may affect the dynamics of bacterial and archaeal populations involved in biogas production. Until now viruses have received very little attention in this specific habitat; therefore, as a first step towards their characterization, we optimized a virus filtration protocol from anaerobic sludge. Afterwards, to assess dsDNA and RNA viral diversity in sludge samples from nine different reactors fed either with waste water, agricultural residues or solid municipal waste plus agro‐food residues, we performed metagenomic analyses. As a result we showed that, while the dsDNA viromes (21 assigned families in total) were dominated by dsDNA phages of the order Caudovirales, RNA viruses (14 assigned families in total) were less diverse and were for the main part plant‐infecting viruses. Interestingly, less than 2% of annotated contigs were assigned as putative human and animal pathogens. Our study greatly extends the existing view of viral genetic diversity in methanogenic reactors and shows that these viral assemblages are distinct not only among the reactor types but also from nearly 30 other environments already studied, including the human gut, fermented food, deep sea sediments and other aquatic habitats.
Metagenomic analysis of anammox communities in three different microbial aggregates
Authors: Guo Jianhua , Peng Yongzhen , Fan Lu , Zhang Liang , Ni Bing‐Jie , Kartal Boran , Feng Xin , Jetten Mike S. M. , Yuan Zhiguo
Published: November 2015

There is great potential to understand the functional diversity of microorganisms that are involved in waste water treatment through metagenomic analyses. This study presents the first metagenomic comparison of taxonomic and functional profiles of the microbial communities occurring in different aggregates from anaerobic ammonium‐oxidizing (anammox) bioreactors. The anammox bacterial communities in both biofilm and granule sludge samples showed relatively high abundance and diversity compared with floccular sludge. Four of the five known genera of anammox bacteria were detected in the three cultures except Candidatus Jettenia, which was absent in the granules. Candidatus Kuenenia comprised the major population of anammox bacteria in these three sludges, independent of their growth morphologies. The genome assembled for the Candidatus Kuenenia in the granule was very similar to the published reference genome of Candidatus K. stuttgartiensis. Genes involved in the metabolism of the anammox process were highly detected in the biofilm and granule sludges. In particular, the abundance of hydrazine synthase gene (hzs) in the biofilm was around 486 times more pronounced than that in the granules. The knowledge gained in this study highlights an important role of sludge aggregate in affecting community structure and metabolic potential of anammox systems.
Bidimensional Data Allow for Better Age Estimation on Immature Specimens than Unidimensional Data: A Preliminary Study on the Ilium
Authors: Daumas Mathilde , Chaumoître Kathia , Adalian Pascal , Marchal François
Published: November 2015

Most biometric age estimation methods used in anthropological and forensic science for juveniles are based on unidimensional measurements (length or width). Here, a new method using bidimensional data was tested. A 3D morphometric analysis was performed on 108 CT scans of ilium bone of juveniles (from 20 gestational weeks to 12 years old). The sample was divided into training and validation groups. Best predictors were determined by comparing the efficiency of each variable (length, width, area, and module: a product of length and width). We established linear and polynomial regressions for each parameter for both sides. Applying the equations to the validation sample showed no significant difference between real and predicted ages. For age estimation, the area and module parameters yielded better results than unidimensional measurements. The results from this preliminary study were highly conclusive, and it would be interesting to extend the work, covering larger samples, and other bones.