bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An active control for hydrostatic journal bearing using optimization algorithms
Authors: Ur Rehman Waheed , Wang Xinhua , Chen Yingchun , Yang Xiaogao , Ullah Zia , Cheng Yiqi , Kanwal Marya
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve static/dynamic characteristics of active-controlled hydrostatic journal bearing by using fractional order control techniques and optimizing algorithms.

Design/methodology/approach

Active lubrication has ability to overcome the unpredictable harsh environmental conditions which often lead to failure of capillary controlled traditional hydrostatic journal bearing. The research develops a mathematical model for a servo feedback-controlled hydrostatic journal bearing and dynamics of model is analyzed with different control techniques. The fractional-order PID control system is tuned by using particle swarm optimization and Nelder mead optimization techniques with the help of using multi-objective performance criteria.

Findings

The results of the current research are compared with previously published theoretical and experimental results. The proposed servo-controlled active bearing system is studied under a number of different dynamic situations and constraints of variable spindle speed, external load, temperature changes (viscosity) and variable bearing clearance (oil film thickness). The simulation results show that the proposed system has better performance in terms of controllability, faster response, stability, high stiffness and strong resistance.

Originality/value

This paper develops an accurate mathematical model for servo-controlled hydrostatic bearing with fractional order controller. The results are in excellent agreement with previously published literature.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2020-0272
Cybersecurity awareness training programs: a cost–benefit analysis framework
Authors: Zhang Zuopeng (Justin) , He Wu , Li Wenzhuo , Abdous M'Hammed
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Employees must receive proper cybersecurity training so that they can recognize the threats to their organizations and take the appropriate actions to reduce cyber risks. However, many cybersecurity awareness training (CSAT) programs fall short due to their misaligned training focuses.

Design/methodology/approach

To help organizations develop effective CSAT programs, we have developed a theoretical framework for conducting a cost–benefit analysis of those CSAT programs. We differentiate them into three types of CSAT programs (constant, complementary and compensatory) by their costs and into four types of CSAT programs (negligible, consistent, increasing and diminishing) by their benefits. Also, we investigate the impact of CSAT programs with different costs and the benefits on a company's optimal degree of security.

Findings

Our findings indicate that the benefit of a CSAT program with different types of cost plays a disparate role in keeping, upgrading or lowering a company's existing security level. Ideally, a CSAT program should spend more of its expenses on training employees to deal with the security threats at a lower security level and to reduce more losses at a higher security level.

Originality/value

Our model serves as a benchmark that will help organizations allocate resources toward the development of successful CSAT programs.
Digital labour platforms in Pakistan: institutional voids and solidarity networks
Authors: Malik Fareesa , Heeks Richard , Masiero Silvia , Nicholson Brian
Published: February 2021

Purpose

While digital labour platforms are being increasingly studied across the Global South, the existing literature does not conceptualise the theoretical link between such platforms and socio-economic development. This paper theorises such a link drawing on the notion of institutional voids defined, as in Khanna and Palepu (2010), as “the absence of intermediaries to efficiently connect buyers and sellers” in an economy. We frame digital labour platforms as means to fill institutional voids, seeking to create “development” in the form of earning opportunities in contexts of deprivation.

Design/methodology/approach

We draw on an interpretive case study of an online work training project in a deprived region of Pakistan, where members of marginalised communities were trained to become freelancers for global digital labour platforms. We use the notion of market-enabling institutions aimed at filling institutional voids as a lens to study the project's declared goals, examining the extent to which these were met in practice for the workers who participated in the training.

Findings

Our analysis reveals three types of market-enabling institutions–credibility enhancers, aggregators and distributors, and transaction facilitators–through which digital labour platforms seek to fill institutional voids. However, workers' narratives reveal that institutional voids are only partially filled by these platforms, and their perpetuation results in diverse forms of power asymmetries leveraged by clients and owners of the platforms. We also observe the formation of solidarity networks among workers, networks that are intra-familial and societal rather than characterised by formal unionisation.

Originality/value

The paper offers a novel perspective to theorise the link between digital labour and socio-economic development. Applying such a perspective in a Global South context, it also finds the limits of the digital platforms' institutional void-filling potential, highlighting the emergence of power asymmetries and the emerging formation of worker solidarity networks.
Adoption impact of maize seed technology on farm profitability: evidence from Ghana
Authors: Mensah Amos , Asiamah Maxwell , Wongnaa Camillus Abawiera , Adams Faizal , Etuah Seth , Gaveh Eli , Appiah Patrick
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to examine impact of adopted maize seed technology on farm profitability. It assesses both the revenue and cost implication of the adopted technology on farmers' welfare. The study aims to expand the domain of farm investment assessment analysis by including a broader range of production outcome indicators than is normally found in the adoption impact on farm profitability literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an empirical study using field survey data. A structured questionnaire was used to interview 400 maize farmers across four regions of Ghana. The survey was complemented with focus group discussions in each region with participants representing male and female farmers cultivating maize on a commercial basis. The data captured detail household level (i.e. demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) as well as farm-level information on maize production (i.e. input use and farm output).

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about maize farmers' perception on the adopted maize seed technology and the factors influencing adoption. It also shed light on the fact that maize farmers do not base their adoption decisions solely on farm output and revenue indicators alone, but mainly on the return on their investment and the cost associated with the maize seed technology adopted.

Research limitations/implications

Because of data limitation, the influence of some important actors (market power) could not be directly captured in the analysis; this may lead to over simplification of a very complex situation in the maize sector. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to future investigate the influence of such important phenomenon on farm profitability.

Social implications

Improving maize productivity and farm profitability across the sectors is important in order to improve farmer income. This study, therefore, highlights the effect of adopted seed technology and its impact on farm profitability.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how investment cost in maize seed technology affect farm profitability.
Vertical coordination in the Chinese grape market
Authors: Bitsch Linda , Li Shuo , Hanf Jon H.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Regarding the global development of the wine industry, China has gained a notable share in terms of wine consumption, and its domestic wine production has increased steadily since 2000. The wine production process requires close coordination between growers and processors to avoid disruption and instability in the supply chain of the wine grapes. However, vertical coordination in the Chinese wine regions has received little attention. Based on the existing theoretical background on vertical coordination, this study aims to detect the evolution processes of vertical coordination in the Chinese grape market.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploratory qualitative research fits with the aim of this study. From December 2018 to January 2019, interviews with grape growers and wine processors of various Chinese wine-producing areas took place. After transcribing all recorded files into text, a qualitative data analysis following the approach of Mayring (2015) was used to analyse and interpret the data.

Findings

The models of vertical coordination in the grape supply in China vary between the producer's requirements on grape quality/quantity and the arrangements of grape supply chains, which are diverse depending on regional strategies of the local government.

Research limitations/implications

However, in this research, the authors did not get into details on the organization of the contractual coordination, and due to the limited access to grape growers, the relationship between farmers and processors cannot be analysed in detail. With a better understanding of the coordination relationship and enhanced contract enforcement, the vineyard management and grape supply chain management can be better performed, inducing a steady industrial development.

Originality/value

Regarding the global development of the wine industry, China has gained a notable share in terms of wine consumption, and its domestic wine production has increased steadily since 2000. However, vertical coordination in the Chinese wine regions has received little attention. The study provides a first insight into the grape market structures, as very little is known.
Knowing new managerial directions: the role of AIS
Authors: Rizza Carmela , Ruggeri Daniela
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to better understand how an accounting information system (AIS), working as a multidimensional knowledge object, engages users in a new round of knowledge development which allows them to explore new managerial directions. Drawing on the concept of the knowledge object and the knowing in practice perspective, this study considers the relationships between subjects and objects in the explication of accounting practice, underlining how AIS could become a knowledge object that can assume a variety of forms, starting from such contradictions emerging from practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Theoretical argumentations are applied to a case study at a global logistics provider in the South of Italy, which manages the supply chain from origin to destination, offering a multitude of services in the transport and distribution sector.

Findings

The case study shows that the process of knowledge accumulation promotes the mutation of AIS into a knowledge object that, in its variety of forms, allows managers to explore new managerial directions such as the reorganization of warehouse activities.

Originality/value

The paper seeks to enrich the interpretation of AIS as a multidimensional knowledge object becoming a catalyst of new managerial directions through knowing. That helps to understand the role of accounting tools as a social practice supporting decision-making and how accounting systems’ openness and questioning nature makes them objects of enquiry able to support the identification of new managerial directions and lead the AIS to continually explode and mutate into something else.
Making internationalization of higher education a national strategic focus
Authors: Garwe Evelyn Chiyevo , Thondhlana Juliet
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper contributes to knowledge on the internationalization of higher education (HE) through presenting a “lived” experience on how to optimize internationalization outcomes through national internationalization policy development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a case study of Zimbabwe to qualitatively chart a strategic focus to internationalization through incorporating the theory of change (ToC) approach to national (government) policy development.

Findings

The paper details the context, challenges, rationales, approaches, priorities and processes that guided IHE policy development in Zimbabwe. It underscores the importance of baseline research and benchmarking in propelling an evidence-based and participatory approach to IHE policy development.

Research limitations/implications

The methodology and framework used here makes it possible to draw comparisons in similar settings in a way that enables a more holistic understanding of the complexities and practicalities of national internationalization policy development.

Practical implications

The study can assist nations to take a strategic approach to guide institutional internationalization responses. In doing so, researchers and HE stakeholders in similar national contexts can learn valuable lessons from the study.

Social implications

Internationalization is increasingly becoming a policy imperative for HE in pursuit of quality as well as fostering sustainable national development (Craciun, 2018). Higher education institutions (HEIs) are recognized as key drivers of sustainable national and international development through the production of quality graduates with “global competencies.”

Originality/value

The study contributes to the growing research interest on strategic approaches to internationalization targeting specific national experiences.
Introducing sharing-focused business models in the B2B context: comparing interaction and environmental sustainability for selling, renting and sharing on industrial markets
Authors: Melander Lisa , Arvidsson Ala
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the sales-, rental- and sharing-focused business models for industrial markets by analysing interactions and environmental sustainability efforts within them.

Design/methodology/approach

Case studies are conducted at two world-leading manufacturing firms of complex industrial products. The analysis compares how interaction takes place in sales-, rental- and sharing-focused business models in industrial markets for high-technology products in connection with environmental sustainability outcomes.

Findings

The findings show the need for different interaction patterns in sales-, rental- and sharing-focused business models at firm, relationship and network levels. The implementation of sharing-focussed business models requires new interactions with actors within firms, between firms and key collaborators and in networks. The firms in our study have made a wide range of efforts to improve the environmental sustainability of their products. Sharing-focused business models have the potential to be environmentally sustainable if products can be shared among customers. However, under-usage of products and the increased need to transport them may reduce environmental sustainability.

Originality/value

This study reveals that although manufacturing firms and customers are willing to implement sharing-focused business models, there are obstacles to achieving the expected environmental sustainability associated with this business model. These are due to the high-technology nature and level of customisation of the associated firms’ products and services, which make it difficult to share resources across firms without advanced adaptations to products such as re-programming. This study contributes to the sharing-focused business model literature for the business-to-business context, by pointing to the pivotal role partnerships with new actors and closer collaboration with existing actors in supply chains can play in enabling sharing-focused business models in the future.
The affluenza epidemic: consequences of parent-child value congruence in a material world
Authors: Flurry Laura Ann , Swimberghe Krist R.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to offer a theoretical explanation for the perpetuation of materialistic values among adolescents. In a recent survey by the Pew Research Center (2019), adolescents in America say that having a lot of money is more important to them in their future than getting married or having children. This research answers the call for a theoretical explanation for the perpetuation of materialistic values among adolescents. Using person–environment fit (P-E fit) theory, this study argues that it is not the content of the values, but rather the fit between a person’s value priorities and the values prevailing in the environment which is crucial to well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

A national online panel was used to collect cross-sectional survey data from 278 families (adolescents aged 13–18 and their parents).

Findings

Findings indicate that adolescents in congruent value households express significantly greater life satisfaction and less depressed mood than adolescents in conflict value households. In fact, materialistic adolescents living in materialistic households expressed the greatest life satisfaction, a finding which contrasts with the current claims that materialism uniformly causes anxiety and depressed mood.

Research limitations/implications

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to test person–environment fit theory in the context of the family and to offer this theory as a viable explanation of affluenza among America’s youth. The results of this study support the P-E fit theory and suggest that materialism is not universally associated with negative well-being, but rather that adolescents’ well-being is a function of the congruency of an adolescent’s values to his/her family environment.

Social implications

While materialistic socialization within the family does enhance the well-being of adolescents temporarily, it may also set adolescents up for a lifetime of harmful expectations from the pursuit money. A consistent pattern of overconsumption as a reward to adolescents may later produce materialistic adults who suffer from financial difficulties and mental health disorders. Disproportionate consumption further leads to environmental pollution.

Originality/value

No study to date has examined the impact of value congruence in the household (parent-child), as it pertains to the development of materialism in adolescents and its effects on adolescents’ well-being. This study suggests that highly materialistic adolescents can experience happiness from the pursuit of consumption. This offers insight into how a value deemed as detrimental as materialism continues to permeate in our society.
Cognitive analytics management of the customer lifetime value: an artificial neural network approach
Authors: De Marco Marco , Fantozzi Paolo , Fornaro Claudio , Laura Luigi , Miloso Antonio
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to show that the use of CAM (cognitive analytics management) methodology is a valid tool to describe new technology implementations for businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting from a dataset of recipes, we were able to describe consumers through a variant of the RFM (recency, frequency and monetary value) model. It has been possible to categorize the customers into clusters and to measure their profitability thanks to the customer lifetime value (CLV).

Findings

After comparing two machine learning algorithms, we found out that self-organizing map better classifies the customer base of the retailer. The algorithm was able to extract three clusters that were described as personas using the values of the customer lifetime value and the scores of the variant of the RFM model.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this methodology are strictly applicable to the retailer which provided the data.

Practical implications

Even though, this methodology can produce useful information for designing promotional strategies and improving the relationship between company and customers.

Social implications

Customer segmentation is an essential part of the marketing process. Improving further segmentation methods allow even small and medium companies to effectively target customers to better deliver to society the value they offer.

Originality/value

This paper shows the application of CAM methodology to guide the implementation and the adoption of a new customer segmentation algorithm based on the CLV.
Effects of personality disorders and attitudes towards social networking services: evidence from family business successors in the Arab world
Authors: Abbas Hasan A.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper examines the effect of personality disorders, namely loneliness and shyness, on the family business successors' attitude towards social networking services (SNS).

Design/methodology/approach

In this study the personality disorder and attitude towards using WhatsApp are analysed in a sample of 511 family business successors, aged 18 and up to more than 50 years. Participants completed questionnaires designed for the purposes of the study specifically using for loneliness factor the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russell et al., 1978) and for shyness the Sociability Scale (Cheek and Buss, 1981). We use two statistical methods: the first statistical technique is an exploratory factor analysis to show that shyness can be measured down into two dimensions (1) lack of confidence and (2) hesitancy, while loneliness also can be measured into the two dimensions: (1) amiability and (2) abandonment. The second statistical method uses structural equation modelling (SEM) to fit the data to the proposed model.

Findings

The results indicate that neither a lack of confidence nor amiability has a significant effect on the attitude towards instant messaging, while hesitancy and abandonment both have significant effects on attitude. Moreover, abandonment has a stronger effect on attitude than hesitancy.

Research limitations/implications

In this study were not included other related social disorders that other scholars normally study in such projects. For example, narcissism, addiction and socially anxious are very important and have results that conflict with ours.

Originality/value

The causal relations between the two independent factors of shyness and loneliness and the dependent factor of attitude towards using an Internet and SNS in family businesses from the Arab world have not yet been clearly and fully explored. This study aims to fill this gap through studying the impact of personality disorder (loneliness and shyness) on attitude to use SNS by the successors of family businesses.
Assessing the risk of self-harm: the impact of safety interventions on the predictive validity of risk assessment in secure care
Authors: Girardi Alessandra , Webb Elanor Lucy , Roychowdhury Ashimesh
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Self-harm is a cause of concern for health-care professionals. The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) is a short-term assessment instrument used to rate the likelihood of risk behaviours, including self-harm. As result of the assessment, interventions that are implemented to reduce the risk of self-harm may reduce the strength of the predictive validity of a risk assessment tool. The aim of this study was explore the impact of risk management interventions on the capacity of START to predict self-harm. It was predicted that the interventions would weaken the ability of START to predict self-harm in patients who received the intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary analysis of routinely collected data in a large sample of women in an inpatient secure care setting. Demographic and clinical information, self-harm episodes, safety management interventions and START assessments were extracted and used to build an anonymous database.

Findings

START significantly predicted self-harm in those with and without the safety management intervention. However, the strength of the predictive validity was smaller in those who received the intervention compared to those without.

Practical implications

The results suggest that the implementation of safety management interventions needs to be taken into account when assessing future risk of self-harm.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the impact of safety management interventions on the predictive validity of START in a large sample of women.
Miles and Snow Typology: most influential journals, articles, authors and subject areas
Authors: Anwar Jamil , Hasnu S.A.F. , Butt Irfan , Ahmed Nisar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out the most influential journals, articles, authors and the subject areas where Miles and Snow typology is used. The study identifies the opportunities for future research as well.

Design/methodology/approach

Review is based on 196 journal articles selected through a systematic and rigorous search process from the four databases: ProQuest, Business Source Complete, Willy and Science Direct. Total Citation, threshold citations, fractional citation and citation per year techniques are used for analyses.

Findings

Strategic Management Journal (SMJ), Academy of Management Journal (AMJ) and Journal of Marketing (JOM) are the most influential Journals. The most influential and prolific articles on the subject are from Hambrick (1983), Conantet al.(1990), Dotyet al.(1993), Sabherwalet al.(2001), Desarboet al.(2005) and Fiss (2011). Management, strategic management and marketing are the most studied subject areas.

Originality/value

Although there have been many reviews of the literature on this typology, the systematic review on Miles and Snow typology to find out the most influential journals, authors, articles and subject area has not been done before.
Promoting customer engagement in service settings through identification
Authors: Black Hulda G. , Jeseo Vincent , Vincent Leslie H.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically test some of the consumer engagement frameworks that have been previously proposed in marketing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered via surveys distributed to members of a health club in the USA. Results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

We found the effects of satisfaction on intercustomer support – the assistance received from other customers within a service setting – to be fully mediated by customer identification. The strength and direction of effects differed based on the type of identification. They also found an effect of satisfaction on customer patronage frequency. This effect was fully mediated by customer–employee identification.

Practical implications

The findings illustrate that, in most cases, intercustomer support can be built and enhanced by focusing on customer identification. Both customer–company and customer–customer identification had a positive effect on social/emotional and instrumental support; however, they did not influence a consumer’s patronage frequency. Conversely, customer–employee identification decreased perceptions of instrumental support, but increased perceptions of social/emotional support and patronage frequency. While the findings indicate that identification with a firm’s employees drives a customer’s patronage, firms must decide if the benefits received from increased patronage are worth the decreased instrumental support.

Originality/value

Past research has demonstrated the benefits of intercustomer support at both the firm and customer level, yet little research has investigated what enhances intercustomer social support in an organization. The research answers this question and illuminates some specific mechanisms that mediate this effect. Additionally, while previous research indicates that intercustomer support drives objective outcomes such as firm performance and loyalty intentions, we instead found these outcomes to be driven by customer–employee identification.
Service authenticity and its effect on positive emotions
Authors: Kim Jong-Hyeong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to report that authenticity is a crucial factor in determining consumer behavior. To ensure that customers feel a sense of authenticity, service organizations and researchers must understand the factors that convey perceived authenticity. Therefore, this study uses multiple features of perceived service authenticity (i.e. continuity, consistency, uniqueness, talent, scarcity, honesty and traditional) and examines their effects on positive emotions in a traditional restaurant service context.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 342 surveys were collected using a panel data service in China. This study examined the structural relationships among perceived service authenticity, positive emotions and revisit intention using AMOS. Additionally, a multigroup analysis was conducted to identify the moderating effect of individuals’ psychological traits (i.e. nostalgia proneness).

Findings

The results indicated that all service authenticity dimensions except continuity significantly enhance positive emotions. Furthermore, positive emotions significantly enhanced revisit intention. The results also revealed that nostalgia proneness moderates the effects of service authenticity on positive emotions.

Practical implications

The results provide important insights into how to increase customers’ perceived service authenticity and positive emotions.

Originality/value

This research is a pioneering effort to conceptualize a multiple-dimensional structure of the authenticity model and test its appropriateness in a traditional restaurant context. Furthermore, this study is one of the first attempts to develop an authenticity model that links service authenticity, positive emotions, revisit intention and the moderator of nostalgia proneness based on the Mehrabian and Russell model.
A study on top managers from a resource-based perspective
Authors: Hsu Ya-Ti , Chang Kuo-Chien
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to apply the resource-based and upper-echelons perspectives to integrate concepts of strategic decision-making (i.e. speed and quality) and transformational leadership behavior (i.e. inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, individualized consideration and idealized influence) to examine how these resources are influenced by the characteristics of top managers (i.e. demographic backgrounds and entrepreneurial orientation) to affect firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using evidence from a sample of 111 top managers from different firms in Taiwan, this research examined the relationships among the selected variables using two versions of the designed questionnaire: one for the leader, and the other for the followers. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings reveal the following: the entrepreneurial orientation of top managers does affect their leadership style, which affects firm performance; if top managers display traits of transformational leadership, then firm performance will be higher, likely because transformational leaders tend to make high-quality decisions and strategic decision-making speed was influenced by the experience of top managers and the inspirational motivation provided by transformational leadership.

Originality/value

This study makes three specific contributions: improving the limitations of demographics-based top-management studies by investigating both demographics and psychological characteristics; advancing research on the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and performance by integrating transformational leadership behaviors and examining the proposed research model from a resource-based perspective.
Does perceived morality of CEO activism matter? Understanding employees' responses to CEO actions on sociopolitical issues
Authors: Lee Yeunjae , Tao Weiting
Published: February 2021

Purpose

From an internal perspective, the purpose of this study is to understand employees' responses to chief executive officer (CEO) activism, a phenomenon wherein a company's CEO expresses his/her own opinions and ideas on controversial sociopolitical issues. Integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR), public relations and leadership literature, this study examines the effects of employees' expectations toward CEOs and transformational CEO leadership on the perceived morality of CEO activism and its attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was conducted with 417 full-time employees in the US whose CEO has been engaging in sociopolitical issues.

Findings

The results showed that employees' ethical expectations toward their CEOs and transformational CEO leadership were positively associated with perceived morality of CEO activism, whereas economic expectations toward CEOs had no significant relationship with it. In turn, perceived morality of CEO activism contributed to employees' positive attitudes and supportive behaviors for their CEOs and their companies.

Originality/value

This study is among the first attempts to examine the effectiveness of CEO activism from an internal perspective, drawing from CSR, public relations and leadership literature.
Advanced utilization of 3D digital image correlation for thermal and impact reliabilities of electronics components
Authors: Kwak Jae B. , Chung Soonwan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present an adaptation of digital image correlation (DIC) to the electronics industry for reliability assessment of electronic packages. Two case studies are presented: one for warpage measurement of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) package under different temperature conditions and the other for the measurement of transient displacements on the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly under free-fall drop conditions, which is for explaining the typical camera setup requirement and comparing among different boundary conditions by fastening methods of PCB.

Design/methodology/approach

DIC warpage measurements on a small device, such as a MEMS package, require a special speckle pattern. A new method for the creation of speckle patterns was developed using carbon coating and aluminum evaporative deposition. To measure the transient response on the surface of a PCB during a free-fall impact event, three-dimensional (3D) DIC was integrated with synchronized stereo-high speed cameras. This approach enables the measurement of full-field displacement on the PCB surface during a free-fall impact event, contrary to the localized information that is obtained by the conventional strain gage and accelerometer method.

Findings

The authors suggest the proposed patterning method to the small-sized microelectronics packages for DIC measurements. More generally, the idea is to have a thin layer of the dark or bright color of the background and then apply the white or black colored pattern, respectively, so that the surface has high contrast. Also, to achieve a proper size of speckles, this paper does not want to expose the measuring objects to high temperatures or pressures during the sample preparation stage. Of course, it seems a complicated process to use aluminum evaporator, carbon coater and electroformed mesh. However, the authors intend to share one of the solutions to achieve a proper pattern on such small-sized electronic packages.

Originality/value

3D DIC technique can be successfully implemented for the measurement of micro-scale deformations in small packages (such as MEMS) and for the analysis of dynamic deformation of complex PCB.
Understanding sport event ticket-type preference in a forced e-ticket environment
Authors: Popp Nels , Simmons Jason M. , Smith Danielle Kushner , Tasker Rachel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Many sport venues utilize digital ticketing, in some instances exclusively. Forced technology adoption among ticket buyers in nonsport contexts, (i.e. airline passengers) has been shown to produce negative responses among consumers. The purpose of the current study is to examine sport consumer response to forced e-ticket adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

E-surveys were disseminated to attendees of a major NCAA Division I football conference championship game where digital tickets were required for entry for the first time in event history. Mixed methods were utilized to examine both quantitative and qualitative data from 1,821 respondents.

Findings

Among respondents, 29.6% indicated a preference for traditional paper tickets and 48.3% preferred e-tickets, with younger patrons more likely to prefer the digital option. No significant difference related to future consumption was found between those preferring hard tickets and those preferring e-tickets. An analysis of qualitative responses revealed five primary themes for hard ticket preference: (1) ease of use, (2) souvenir, (3) reliability, (4) lack of technology and (5) preference. Five primary themes supporting e-ticket preference were also uncovered: (1) convenience, (2) simplicity, (3) familiarity, (4) paperless and (5) security.

Originality/value

The current study is the first to examine actual sport event consumers in a forced self-service technology environment. Also, no previous studies have explored respondents' preference motivations. The current study is also the first to link both age and future consumption to ticket-type preference.
Motivations, barriers and readiness factors for Quality 4.0 implementation: an exploratory study
Authors: Sony Michael , Antony Jiju , Douglas Jacqueline Ann , McDermott Olivia
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Quality 4.0 is the new buzzword among quality professionals. There has been no empirical study of Quality 4.0 yet. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate what are the motivations, barriers and readiness factors for Quality 4.0 implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses an online survey on senior quality professionals working in leading companies in Europe and America. In total, 50 participants participated in this study.

Findings

This study finds the top five motivating, barriers and readiness factors for Quality 4.0 implementation. These factors are ranked in terms of the order of importance as perceived by senior quality professionals.

Research limitations/implications

This is the first empirical study on Quality 4.0 that investigates the motivation, barriers and readiness factors of Quality 4.0. This study provides a theoretical base of Quality 4.0 body of knowledge in terms of its practical relevance and adoption in modern-day organizations.

Practical implications

Organizations can use this study to understand what the motivation and barriers for implementing Quality 4.0. In addition, before implementation of Quality 4.0, the readiness factor for Quality 4.0 can be used by organizations to evaluate their preparedness before the actual implementation of the initiative.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical study on Quality 4.0 that captures the viewpoints of senior quality professionals on the motivation, barriers and readiness factors of Quality 4.0.
Concomitant inhibition of hedgehog signalling and activation of retinoid receptors abolishes bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis
Authors: Eleraky Ahmed Fawzy , Helal Gouda Kamel , Elshafie Mohamed F. , Ismail Raed S.
Published: February 2021

Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease with unknown treatment. All‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) attenuates bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis by different mechanistic pathways. However, the role of retinoid receptors in lung fibrosis is still unclear. Forskolin (FSK), a potent inhibitor for the revolutionary hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway, has a promising antifibrotic effect on other organs such as the liver. This study investigates the interplay between the retinoid receptors modulation and the Hh signalling pathway in bleomycin (BLM)‐induced pulmonary fibrosis. Rats were randomised and administrated a single dose of 7.5 mg/kg of BLM alone and with ATRA, FSK and both of them. The effects of FSK and ATRA on lung functions, oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], glutathione [GSH], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT]), retinoid markers (retinoic acid receptors [RAR] and rexinoid X receptors [RXR]) and Hh signalling markers (patched homolog 1 [Ptch‐1], Smoothened [Smo] and glioblastoma‐2 [Gli‐2]) were assessed. In single therapies, ATRA and FSK ameliorated BLM‐induced lung fibrosis. On the contrary, a combination of both drugs synergistically reversed the effect of BLM‐induced lung fibrosis, as indicated by the enhancement of lung functions and the decrease of the α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) expression and collagen deposition. Additionally, FSK and ATRA ameliorated oxidative stress and inflammation, reduced transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) levels and reversed the effect of BLM on the mRNA expression of Ptch‐1, Smo and Gli‐2. FSK inhibited the Hh pathway and also activated protein kinase A (PKA) that is, in part, involved in phosphorylation of RAR/RXR heterodimer (a key step in retinoid receptor activation). The present results suggest that a combination of FSK and ATRA has a promising therapeutic value for lung fibrosis management.
A randomized controlled trial of oxycodone/acetaminophen versus acetaminophen alone for emergency department patients with musculoskeletal pain refractory to ibuprofen
Authors: Friedman Benjamin W. , Irizarry Eddie , Feliciano Carmen , Izzo Albert J. , Borrayes Lester , Restivo Andrew , Costa Vincent , Bijur Polly E.
Published: February 2021

Background

Use of oral opioids does not result in more pain relief than nonopioid alternatives when administered to patients as first‐line treatment for acute musculoskeletal pain. This study compared the efficacy of oxycodone/acetaminophen to that of acetaminophen alone as second‐line treatment for patients with acute musculoskeletal pain who were administered prescription‐strength ibuprofen and reported insufficient relief 1 h later.

Methods

A randomized, double‐blind study was conducted in two urban emergency departments. Opioid‐naïve patients ≥ 18 years with an acute musculoskeletal injury were administered ibuprofen 600 mg as part of the study protocol. Those who reported insufficient relief 1 h later were randomized (1:1 ratio) to oxycodone 10 mg/acetaminophen 650 mg or acetaminophen 650 mg. The primary outcome was improvement in 0 to 10 pain scale between randomization and 2 h later. We also assessed medication‐associated adverse events. A sample size calculation, built around a minimum clinically important difference of 1.3 units, determined the need for 154 patients.

Results

We screened 924 patients and enrolled 393. All 393 received ibuprofen. A total of 159 (40%) patients reported inadequate relief after 1 h had elapsed. A total of 154 of these were randomized, 77 to oxycodone/acetaminophen and 77 to acetaminophen. Baseline characteristics were comparable. Among patients randomized to oxycodone/acetaminophen, mean (±SD) improvement in 0 to 10 pain scale was 4.0 (±2.6) versus 2.9 (±2.4) in the acetaminophen arm. The 95% confidence interval (CI) for the mean difference of 1.1 was 0.3 to 1.9. Among patients who received oxycodone/acetaminophen, 26 of 76 (34%) reported any medication‐related adverse event versus seven of 74 (9%) participants who received acetaminophen. The 95% CI for the between‐group difference of 25% was 12% to 37%).

Conclusion

Among patients with acute musculoskeletal pain refractory to oral ibuprofen, oxycodone/acetaminophen resulted in slightly greater pain relief than acetaminophen, but this was associated with more medication‐related adverse events.
Evaluation of repeat testing of a non‐sequencing based NIPT test on a Finnish general‐risk population
Authors: Karlsson Filip , Ahola Tarja , Dahlberg Jenny , Prensky Lawrence , Moilanen Helena , Spalding Heli
Published: February 2021

Introduction

To evaluate the effect of repeating test failures using an automated, non‐sequencing based non‐invasive prenatal testing test on a general‐risk population in Finland.

Material and Methods

A total of 545 samples from women who represent the average‐risk population in Oulu, Finland were analyzed with Vanadis® non‐invasive prenatal testing. Repeat testing of test failures was performed using a second sample. Results before and after repeat testing were compared with the reference outcome, as determined by clinical examination of neonates.

Results

There were eight test failures after first‐pass analysis, representing 1.5% of samples (95% CI 0.6%‐2.9%). Seven out of eight failures could be resolved by analysis of a second sample, thereby reducing the test failure rate from 1.5% to 0.2% (95% CI 0.0%‐1.0%).

Conclusions

Repeating test failures with a second plasma sample could significantly reduce the effective failure rate, thereby providing a way to effectively minimize test failures and further improving clinical utility and test performance.
Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Tranexamic acid in women undergoing caesarean delivery
Authors: Li Shuhui , Ahmadzia Homa K. , Guo Dong , Dahmane Elyes , Miszta Adam , Luban Naomi L.C. , Berger Jeffrey S. , James Andra H. , Wolberg Alisa S. , van den Anker John N. , Gobburu Jogarao V.S.
Published: February 2021

Aims

The population pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of tranexamic acid (TXA) have not been studied to prevent postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in pregnant women. It is unclear which TXA dose assures sufficient PPH prevention. This study investigated population PK/PD of TXA in pregnant women who underwent caesarean delivery to determine the optimal prophylactic doses of TXA for future studies.

Methods

We analysed concentration (PK) and maximum lysis (PD) data from 30 pregnant women scheduled for caesarean delivery who received 5, 10 or 15 mg/kg of TXA intravenously using population approach.

Results

TXA PK was best described by a two‐compartment model with first‐order elimination and the following parameters: clearance (between‐subject variability) of 9.4 L/h (27.7%), central volume of 10.1 L (47.4%), intercompartmental clearance of 22.4 L/h (66.7%), peripheral volume of 14.0 L (13.1%) and additive error of 1.4 mg/L. The relationship between TXA concentration and maximum lysis was characterized by a sigmoid Emax model with baseline lysis of 97%, maximum inhibition of 89%, IC50 of 6.0 mg/L (65.3%), hill factor of 8.5 (86.3%) and additive error of 7.3%. Simulations demonstrated that 500 and 650 mg of TXA maintained therapeutic targets for 30 minutes and 1 hour, respectively, in 90% of patients.

Conclusion

This is the first population PK and PD study of TXA in pregnant women undergoing caesarean delivery. Our analysis suggests that a 650 mg dose provides adequate PPH prophylaxis up to 1 hour, which is less than the currently used 1000 mg of TXA in pregnant women.