bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manipulating motions of targeted single cells in solution by an integrated double-ring magnetic tweezers imaging microscope
Authors: Wu Meiling , Yadav Rajeev , Pal Nibedita , Lu H. Peter
Published: July 2017

Controlling and manipulating living cell motions in solution hold a high promise in developing new biotechnology and biological science. Here, we developed a magnetic tweezers device that employs a combination of two permanent magnets in up-down double-ring configuration axially fitting with a microscopic objective, allowing a picoNewton (pN) bidirectional force and motion control on the sample beyond a single upward pulling direction. The experimental force calibration and magnetic field simulation using finite element method magnetics demonstrate that the designed magnetic tweezers covers a linear-combined pN force with positive-negative polarization changes in a tenability of sub-pN scale, which can be utilized to further achieve motion manipulation by shifting the force balance. We demonstrate an application of the up-down double-ring magnetic tweezers for single cell manipulation, showing that the cells with internalized paramagnetic beads can be selectively picked up and guided in a controlled fine motion.
Including surface ligand effects in continuum elastic models of nanocrystal vibrations
Authors: Lee Elizabeth M. Y. , Mork A. Jolene , Willard Adam P. , Tisdale William A.
Published: July 2017

The measured low frequency vibrational energies of some quantum dots (QDs) deviate from the predictions of traditional elastic continuum models. Recent experiments have revealed that these deviations can be tuned by changing the ligands that passivate the QD surface. This observation has led to speculation that these deviations are due to a mass-loading effect of the surface ligands. In this article, we address this speculation by formulating a continuum elastic theory that includes the dynamical loading by elastic surface ligands. We demonstrate that this model is capable of accurately reproducing the l = 0 phonon energy across a variety of different QD samples, including cores with different ligand identities and epitaxially grown CdSe/CdS core/shell heterostructures. We highlight that our model performs well even in the small QD regime, where traditional elastic continuum models are especially prone to failure. Furthermore, we show that our model combined with Raman measurements can be used to infer the elastic properties of surface bound ligands, such as sound velocities and elastic moduli, that are otherwise challenging to measure.
Investigation of compressibility effects on dynamic stall of pitching airfoil
Authors: Sangwan Jyoti , Sengupta Tapan K. , Suchandra Prasoon
Published: July 2017

In the present work, effects of compressibility on the dynamic stall of NACA 0012 airfoil, pitching sinusoidally from 5.03° to 24.79°, are investigated computationally using implicit large eddy simulations in a finite difference framework. Simulations of two-dimensional (2D), high Reynolds number, compressible flows are carried out without any transition or turbulence model to capture the physics of the dynamic stall process. The problem is formulated in a body-fixed, rotating, non-inertial frame. High accuracy, dispersion relation preserving optimized upwind compact scheme is used to compute convective flux derivatives, and an optimized three-stage Runge-Kutta method is used for time integration. Results are presented for free stream Mach number M∞ = 0.283, 0.4, and 0.5, where the Mach number is varied independent of the Reynolds number. The computations have been quite successful in capturing the essential features of the dynamic stall mechanism. It is observed that dynamic moment and lift stalls occur at smaller angles of attack as the Mach number increases. Reduction in the size of airload hysteresis loops and maximum attainable load coefficients are observed with increasing Mach number. Weak shock waves are observed near the leading edge (LE) at M∞ = 0.4, and lambda-shock is formed near the LE for M∞ = 0.5. It is observed that with increasing Mach number, the impact of dynamic stall on the aerodynamic loads (Cl, Cd, and Cm) becomes less dramatic as the maximum value attained by these aerodynamic loads decreases with an increase in the Mach number. An increase in positive damping area in the hysteresis loop is observed with an increase in the Mach number, inhibiting possible vulnerability to stall flutter.
Processing and analysis methods for transonic cavity flow
Authors: Loupy G. J. M. , Barakos G. N.
Published: July 2017

This paper focuses on the localisation of noise sources in transonic cavity flows. Beamforming is used to estimate the pressure fluctuations inside a resonant transonic cavity, showing the localisation of the main sources of noise using an acoustic array and also combining it with a mean flow-field. The influence of the microphone array position, density, and shape is investigated. The presented method models the noise propagation with simple assumptions that are easily applicable to wind tunnel testing and may help localise the noise sources from complex geometries without intrusive methods.
Geometry-dependent atomic multipole models for the water molecule
Authors: Loboda O. , Millot C.
Published: July 2017

Models of atomic electric multipoles for the water molecule have been optimized in order to reproduce the electric potential around the molecule computed by ab initio calculations at the coupled cluster level of theory with up to noniterative triple excitations in an augmented triple-zeta quality basis set. Different models of increasing complexity, from atomic charges up to models containing atomic charges, dipoles, and quadrupoles, have been obtained. The geometry dependence of these atomic multipole models has been investigated by changing bond lengths and HOH angle to generate 125 molecular structures (reduced to 75 symmetry-unique ones). For several models, the atomic multipole components have been fitted as a function of the geometry by a Taylor series of fourth order in monomer coordinate displacements.
Extending the range and physical accuracy of coarse-grained models: Order parameter dependent interactions
Authors: Wagner Jacob W. , Dannenhoffer-Lafage Thomas , Jin Jaehyeok , Voth Gregory A.
Published: July 2017

Order parameters (i.e., collective variables) are often used to describe the behavior of systems as they capture different features of the free energy surface. Yet, most coarse-grained (CG) models only employ two- or three-body non-bonded interactions between the CG particles. In situations where these interactions are insufficient for the CG model to reproduce the structural distributions of the underlying fine-grained (FG) model, additional interactions must be included. In this paper, we introduce an approach to expand the basis sets available in the multiscale coarse-graining (MS-CG) methodology by including order parameters. Then, we investigate the ability of an additive local order parameter (e.g., density) and an additive global order parameter (i.e., distance from a hard wall) to improve the description of CG models in interfacial systems. Specifically, we study methanol liquid-vapor coexistence, acetonitrile liquid-vapor coexistence, and acetonitrile liquid confined by hard-wall plates, all using single site CG models. We find that the use of order parameters dramatically improves the reproduction of structural properties of interfacial CG systems relative to the FG reference as compared with pairwise CG interactions alone.
2D-3D transition in Cu–TiS2 system
Authors: Shkvarina E. G. , Titov A. A. , Doroschek A. A. , Shkvarin A. S. , Starichenko D. V. , Plaisier J. R. , Gigli L. , Titov A. N.
Published: July 2017

The phase diagram of the quasi-binary Cu–TiS2 system has been studied in situ in the temperature-concentration plane for the first time. Phase transitions between 2D (layered) and 3D (cubic) phases in CuxTiS2 (x = 0-0.5) intercalation compounds have been studied by the X-ray diffraction technique in the temperature range 20–1000 °C. It has been found that the stability of the layered phase is determined by the distribution of copper atoms between the octahedral and tetrahedral crystallographic sites. The occupation of octahedral sites dominates at low temperatures. Upon heating, tetrahedral site occupation is limited due to elastic lattice distortion and the layered phase becomes unstable and transforms to the spinel. Further heating allows the distribution of copper between octahedral and tetrahedral sites; the layered phase becomes stable again.
Explicit correlation treatment of the six-dimensional potential energy surface and predicted infrared spectra for OCS–H2
Authors: Liu Jing-Min , Zhai Yu , Li Hui
Published: July 2017

An effective six-dimensional ab initio potential energy surface (PES) for H2–OCS which explicitly includes the intramolecular stretch normal modes of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) is presented. The electronic structure computations are carried out using the explicitly correlated coupled cluster [CCSD(T)-F12] method with the augmented correlation-consistent aug-cc-pVTZ basis set, and the accuracy is critically tested by performing a series of benchmark calculations. Analytic four-dimensional PESs are obtained by least-squares fitting vibrationally averaged interaction energies to the Morse/long-range potential model. These fits to 13 485 points have a root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of 0.16 cm−1. The combined radial discrete variable representation/angular finite basis representation method and the Lanczos algorithm were employed to evaluate the rovibrational energy levels for five isotopic species of the OCS-hydrogen complexes. The predicted transition frequencies and intensities based on the resulting vibrationally averaged PESs are in good agreement with the available experimental values, whose RMSDs are smaller than 0.004 cm−1 for five different species of OCS-hydrogen complexes. The calculated infrared band origin shifts for all five species of OCS-hydrogen complexes are only 0.03 cm−1 smaller than the corresponding experimental values. These validate the high quality of our PESs which can be used for modeling OCS doped in hydrogen clusters to further study quantum solution and microscopic superfluidity. In addition, the analytic coordinate transformation functions between isotopologues are also derived due to the center of mass shifting of different isotope substitutes.
An approach for obtaining integrable Hamiltonians from Poisson-commuting polynomial families
Authors: Leyvraz F.
Published: July 2017

We discuss a general approach permitting the identification of a broad class of sets of Poisson-commuting Hamiltonians, which are integrable in the sense of Liouville. It is shown that all such Hamiltonians can be solved explicitly by a separation of variables ansatz. The method leads in particular to a proof that the so-called “goldfish” Hamiltonian is maximally superintegrable and leads to an elementary identification of a full set of integrals of motion. The Hamiltonians in involution with the “goldfish” Hamiltonian are also explicitly integrated. New integrable Hamiltonians are identified, among which some have the property of being isochronous, that is, all their orbits have the same period. Finally, a peculiar structure is identified in the Poisson brackets between the elementary symmetric functions and the set of Hamiltonians commuting with the “goldfish” Hamiltonian: these can be expressed as products between elementary symmetric functions and Hamiltonians. The structure displays an invariance property with respect to one element and has both a symmetry and a closure property. The meaning of this structure is not altogether clear to the author, but it turns out to be a powerful tool.
Wannier Koopman method calculations of the band gaps of alkali halides
Authors: Weng Mouyi , Li Sibai , Ma Jie , Zheng Jiaxin , Pan Feng , Wang Lin-Wang
Published: July 2017

Correcting the band structure within the density functional theory (DFT) formalism is a long term goal for its development. Recently, we have proposed a Wannier Koopman method (WKM) to correct the DFT bandgap using the Kohn-Sham equation. Previous tests show that WKM works well for common semiconductors. Here, we test its accuracy in terms of predicting the bandgap of extreme ionic crystals: alkali halides. We found that the WKM can accurately reproduce the alkali halide bandgaps with accuracy in par with the GW method. On the other hand, the hybrid functional with common parameters, which work well for common semiconductors, significantly underestimate the alkali halides.
Reproductive size thresholds and seedling survival in Acacia harpophylla (Mimosaceae)
Authors: Dwyer John M.
Published: July 2017

Acacia harpophylla F.Muell. ex Benth. (brigalow) forests and woodlands formerly occupied at least 8.7 M ha of Queensland and New South Wales, but less than 10% persists in isolated fragments and linear strips within a matrix of exotic beef pasture and dryland cropping. Given the relatively rapid and widespread clearing of brigalow forests, recent research has focussed on restoration via naturally resprouting vegetation. However, our understanding of A. harpophylla sexual reproduction and seedling recruitment remains poor. This study, undertaken following a widespread masting event in late 2007, aimed to (1) quantify initial densities of A. harpophylla germinants; (2) estimate subsequent seedling survival during the first year; and (3) determine minimum size thresholds for sexual reproduction in A. harpophylla. Initial densities averaged >46 000 seedlings ha–1, but only 438 seedlings ha–1 (<1%) were estimated to remain after a year. Although mortality was high, seedling recruitment is probably still sufficient to replace senescing stems and augment population genetic diversity to some extent. A reproductive size threshold of 10 cm diameter was identified, providing useful information to predict when naturally resprouting stands will begin to participate in masting events.
(When) do L3 English learners transfer from L2 German?
Authors: Angelovska Tanja
Published: July 2017

This study examines the negative1 interlanguage transfer2 of the verb-second (henceforth V2) by adult speakers with L1 Russian, advanced L2 German and at either elementary3 or intermediate L3 levels of English, whereby L2 and L3 were acquired subsequently and formally. It questions if and which of the existing L3 transfer models will offer the best prediction for the source of negative interlanguage transfer by responding to two existing gaps: (a) taking into consideration the dominant language used on a daily basis and (b) comparing spoken and written data.
Fluently disfluent?
Authors: Belz Malte , Sauer Simon , Lüdeling Anke , Mooshammer Christine
Published: July 2017

In this article, we explore the disfluencies of advanced learners and native speakers of German in spontaneous speech. We focus on the frequency, form, and place of silent and filled pauses as well as self-repairs. Frequency significantly differs for silent pauses only. As to form, the distribution for both filled pauses and repair types significantly differs between the groups, while the proportion of within-repair hesitations (‘interregna’) is similar. For the neighbouring tokens of filled pauses, learners adhere to the pattern of their native language English, which is significantly different from the pattern we find for native German. Our results indicate that for some aspects of disfluencies, it seems that learners can adapt to a native-like pattern, while others are imported from the L1. Still others are significantly different from both the target and the native pattern. We present different possible explanations for all these cases.
“Can I say something?”
Authors: Szczepek Reed Beatrice
Published: July 2017

In English the organization of talk into turns is routinely accomplished through a complex system of implicit, non-lexical cues. However, explicit verbalizations, such as “I haven’t finished” or “Can I say something?” do exist. This paper investigates instances in which participants employ meta formulations to structure their interaction. It describes their forms, sequential locations and interactional relevance. Speakers are found to make meta references to turn beginnings, both their own and those of others; and turn completions, typically by others. Meta turn-taking actions are used as a last resort, after other, implicit turn-taking strategies have failed; as a strategy to secure turn space; as a way of eliciting specific next actions; as a practice for initiating repair; and as a more general strategy for committing to a specific course of action.
Perception of (im)politeness and the underlying cultural conceptualisations
Authors: Sharifian Farzad , Tayebi Tahmineh
Published: July 2017

The present study sets out to investigate the role of ‘culture’ as one of the many important factors that influence the evaluation of (im)politeness in Persian from a Cultural Linguistics perspective. The paper argues that Cultural Linguistics, and in particular the notion of cultural schema, has the potential to offer a robust analytical framework for the exploration of (im)polite use of language. We elaborate on this proposal by presenting examples of data from Persian in which speakers interpret impolite behaviour in light of a number of Persian cultural schemas. The study also offers a novel three-layered approach for the analysis of (im)politeness data that combines metadiscourse analysis with the ethnography of cultural conceptualisations, while highlighting the importance of the notion of ‘heterogeneous distribution’ of cultural conceptualisations, a pivotal theoretical concept in Cultural Linguistics which accounts for the variations in speakers’ evaluation of (im)politeness.
Over-expression, characterization, and modification of highly active alkaline phosphatase from a Shewanella genus bacterium
Authors: Aiba Hiroshi , Nishiya Yoshiaki , Ojima Yoshihiro , Azuma Masayuki
Published: July 2017

We isolated a Shewanella sp. T3-3 bacterium that yielded highly active alkaline phosphatase (APase). We then cloned the APase gene from Shewanella sp. T3-3 (T3-3AP), and expressed and purified the enzyme from Escherichia coli. Recombinant T3-3AP showed high comparative reactivity on colorimetric (pNPP) and luminescent substrates (PPD and ASP-5). Subsequently, we improved the residual activity after maleimide activation by introducing amino acid substitutions of two Lys residues that were located near the active site. The double mutant enzyme (K161S + K184S) showed much higher residual specific activity after maleimide activation than the wild type enzyme, and had approximately twofold increased sensitivity on sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) compared with calf intestinal APase (CIAP), which is routinely used as a labeling enzyme for ELISA.
Evaluating Ecosystem-Based Reference Points for Atlantic Menhaden
Authors: Buchheister Andre , Miller Thomas J. , Houde Edward D.
Published: July 2017

Implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) for forage fish requires methods to evaluate tradeoffs associated with competing management objectives that focus on supporting fishery yields or providing food for predators. We developed an Ecopath with Ecosim ecosystem model of the U.S. Northwest Atlantic continental shelf (NWACS) for the period 1982–2013 to inform an EAFM for Atlantic Menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus. The model (with 61 trophic groups and 8 fishing fleets) was parameterized and fitted to time series using data from stock assessments, surveys, and literature. Fifty-year simulations evaluated how Atlantic Menhaden fishing mortality rates (F) influenced different ecosystem indicators, including population biomasses, fishery yields, prey-to-predator ratios, and the proportion of trophic groups that were positively or negatively affected. We quantified tradeoffs associated with a range of alternative ecosystem-based reference points for Atlantic Menhaden F and biomass (B), including F for maximum sustainable yield (FMSY), 0.5FMSY, proxies for current single-species F reference points, 75% of virgin unfished biomass (B0), and 40%B0. Striped Bass Morone saxatilis were most sensitive to increases in Atlantic Menhaden fishing, largely due to their strong dietary reliance on this prey species, but other higher-trophic-level groups (birds, highly migratory species, sharks, and marine mammals) were also negatively impacted. Other commercially important predators of Atlantic Menhaden (e.g., Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix and Weakfish Cynoscion regalis) had moderate to negligible responses at the highest levels of Atlantic Menhaden F. The alternative reference points considered resulted in (1) variable Atlantic Menhaden biomasses (40–75% of B0) and yields (54–100% of MSY), (2) up to a 60% decline in Striped Bass B and yield, (3) negative impacts on the B of ≤13% of modeled groups, and (4) positive impacts on the B of ≤6% of modeled groups. Simulations demonstrated the varied responses, potential winners and losers, and tradeoffs resulting from alternative management strategies for Atlantic Menhaden. These results and the NWACS model can help to advance an EAFM for Atlantic Menhaden and other fishes.
Numerical investigation and optimization of mixed convection in ventilated square cavity filled with nanofluid of different inlet and outlet port
Authors: Milani Shirvan Kamel , Mamourian Mojtaba , Ellahi R.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the optimal conditions of the mixed convection in a ventilated square cavity filled with Cu-water nanofluid using the Taguchi method. The paper aims to discuss diverse issues affecting the said model.

Design/methodology/approach

The numerical solutions of nonlinear coupled equations are developed by means of the Taguchi method. The Taguchi method is used as an effective way to optimize the design process engineering tests.

Findings

The governing equations are discretized using a finite volume method and solved with semi-implicit method for pressure linked equations (SIMPLE) algorithm. The effect of Richardson number (0.01-10), the volume fraction of nanofluid (0-5 per cent), distance of inlet port position from bottom wall of the cavity (0-0.9 H) and distance of outlet port position from top wall of the cavity (0-0.9 H) as effective parameters are analyzed across four levels. This analysis is done for fixed Grashof number 104. The results show that the mean Nusselt number almost decreases by an increase in the Richardson number, volume fraction of nanofluid, position of the inlet port and position of the outlet port. It is found that the cavity with distance of inlet port position from bottom wall of the cavity 0 and distance of outlet port position from upper wall of the cavity 0.9 H at the Richardson number 0.01 and the volume fraction 3 per cent is the optimal design for heat transfer.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, this model has been investigated for the first time.
Comparison of solutions of linear and non-linear shallow water wave equations using homotopy perturbation method
Authors: Karunakar Perumandla , Chakraverty Snehashish
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to solve linear and non-linear shallow water wave equations using homotopy perturbation method (HPM). HPM is a straightforward method to handle linear and non-linear differential equations. As such here, one-dimensional shallow water wave equations have been considered to solve those by HPM. Interesting results are reported when the solutions of linear and non-linear equations are compared.

Design/methodology/approach

HPM was used in this study.

Findings

Solution of one-dimensional linear and non-linear shallow water wave equations and comparison of linear and non-linear coupled shallow water waves from the results obtained using present method.

Originality/value

Coupled non-linear shallow water wave equations are solved.
Does bad company corrupt good character? A spatial econometric analysis of oil resource management in Africa
Authors: Ackah Ishmael
Published: July 2017

Purpose

A widely held belief before the 1990s – referred to as the oil-blessing hypothesis – was that oil discovery and production should promote economic growth and development and lead to poverty reduction. However, the so-called ‘oil-curse’ hypothesis, postulated by Sachs and Warner in 1995, challenged this belief, thus provoking a heated debate on the theme. The oil-curse hypothesis has been traditionally tested by means of cross-sectional and panel-data models. The author goes beyond these traditional methods to test whether the presence of spatial effects can alter the hypothesis in oil-producing African countries. In particular, this paper aims to investigate the effects on economic growth of oil production, oil resources and oil revenues along with the quality of democratic institutions, investment and openness to trade.

Design/methodology/approach

A Durbin spatial model, a cross-sectional model and panel-data model are used.

Findings

First, the validity of the spatial Durbin model is vindicated. Second, consistently with the oil-curse hypothesis, oil production, resources, rent and revenues have a negative and generally significant effect on economic growth. This result is robust for across the panel data, spatial Durbin and spatial autoregressive models and for different measures of spatial proximity between countries. Third, the author finds that the extent to which the business environment is perceived as benign for investment has a positive and marginally effect on economic growth. Additionally, economic growth of a country is further stimulated by a spatial proximity of a neighbouring country if the neighbouring country has created strong institutions protecting investments. Fourth, openness to international trade has a positive and marginally significant effect on economic growth.

Originality/value

This paper examines theories and studies that have been done before. However, as the related literature on the growth–resource abundance nexus has rarely examined spatial effects, this study seeks to test jointly the spatial effect and the neighbouring effect on the oil curse hypothesis.
Mobilizing cross-sector community partnerships to address the needs of criminal justice-involved older adults: a framework for action
Authors: Metzger Lia , Ahalt Cyrus , Kushel Margot , Riker Alissa , Williams Brie
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The rapidly increasing number of older adults cycling through local criminal justice systems (jails, probation, and parole) suggests a need for greater collaboration among a diverse group of local stakeholders including professionals from healthcare delivery, public health, and criminal justice and directly affected individuals, their families, and advocates. The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework that local communities can use to understand and begin to address the needs of criminal justice-involved older adults.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework included solicit input from community stakeholders to identify pressing challenges facing criminal justice-involved older adults, conduct needs assessments of criminal justice-involved older adults and professionals working with them; implement quick-response interventions based on needs assessments; share findings with community stakeholders and generate public feedback; engage interdisciplinary group to develop an action plan to optimize services.

Findings

A five-step framework for creating an interdisciplinary community response is an effective approach to action planning and broad stakeholder engagement on behalf of older adults cycling through the criminal justice system.

Originality/value

This study proposes the Criminal Justice Involved Older Adults in Need of Treatment Initiative Framework for establishing an interdisciplinary community response to the growing population of medically and socially vulnerable criminal justice-involved older adults.
A cross-cultural comparative study of internal auditor skills: UK vs Korea
Authors: Seol Inshik , Sarkis Joseph , Wang Zhihong (Rita)
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Based on the theoretical development by House et al. (2004), the purpose of this paper is to investigate the cross-cultural differences of internal auditors’ perceptions on the importance of internal auditor skills.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a survey based on the competency framework for internal auditing and collected data from the UK (Anglo cultural cluster) and Korea (Confucian cultural cluster). In total, 231 internal auditors participated in the study.

Findings

The results showed that UK auditors perceived behavioral skills as more important than cognitive skills, while Korean auditors had an opposite perception. Not surprisingly, UK auditors rated each sub-category of behavioral skills higher than Korean auditors; Korean auditors gave higher scores than UK auditors for each sub-category of cognitive skills.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation of the study is that two different data collection methods were used for the study: online for the UK and paper-based for Korean auditors. Another limitation of the study is that the authors did not analyze the possible impact of each participating auditor’s background knowledge.

Practical implications

The findings of the study contributes to professional practice by providing culturally adaptive criteria for regulators’ policy-making, organizations’ employee hiring and training, and educators’ curriculum design across various cultural environments.

Originality/value

The findings of the study can provide some insights on cultural impacts to help academic researchers develop models regarding the internal auditor selection and training in different nations.
Virtualisation of an administrative work environment in higher education
Authors: Adam Ibrahim Osman , Effah John , Boateng Richard
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries can migrate their physical administrative work environment to a virtual platform to improve information management.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs an interpretive case study approach and a combined lens of activity and agency theories to understand how a developing country HEI attempted to improve its information management by migrating from a physical to a virtual administrative work environment.

Findings

The findings show how contradictions caused by role conflicts, administrative staff’s fear of elimination and external consultants’ limited understanding of administrative rules and procedures can hamper work environment virtualisation. Such challenges should be resolved in order to achieve a successful virtual work environment that supports timely and accurate information management.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited by its single case perspective in one developing country. However, future studies can compare the experiences of HEIs from developed and developing countries in order to account for contextual differences.

Practical implications

The study provides practitioners with insight into how to address conflicts between employees (as potential users) and external consultants during virtual system development and implementation. In particular, role conflict, fear of eliminating some administrative staff and consultants’ limited understanding of administrative work procedures should be resolved for successful work environment virtualisation.

Originality/value

The study is the first attempt to offer rich insight into the challenges associated with administrative work environment virtualisation for improved information management in HEIs, through the principal-agent relationship.
An agile approach for academic analytics: a case study
Authors: McNaughton Maurice , Rao Lila , Mansingh Gunjan
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an agile approach to academic analytics that is currently being applied on one of the campuses of a leading higher educational institution in the Caribbean. This agile approach enables the rapid development of a strategic analytics roadmap and proof-of-concept analytics applications for the institution.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach was developed using Design Science which involves the development and rigorous evaluation of an artifact. The agile approach is the artifact and the design evaluation was done using the observational method of primary cases studies where the artifact is studied in depth in a business environment, in this case this was a leading higher educational institution in the Caribbean.

Findings

The final output, the roadmap, highlights the importance of a balanced portfolio of analytics initiatives, relevant and tailored to the institution’s specific context that includes technology and applications projects, as well as capacity building, organizational structures and policy initiatives.

Research limitations/implications

The approach that was used and the specific techniques proposed can be extended by other researchers and in so doing will increase the body of research as it relates to agile analytics.

Practical implications

The approach will be beneficial to educational institutions that are considering how best to harness the strategic value of its data. The analytics roadmap will allow the institution to be clear about the path they should take to maximize their investments in analytics initiatives.

Originality/value

A number of existing well-accepted research techniques have been synthesized in the development and application of this agile approach. The approach and final roadmap consider the institution’s readiness for and understanding of what is involved in analytics before investing significant resources in its adoption.
Libraries and technology: Canadian and Malaysian copyright exceptions
Authors: Wahid Ratnaria
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a snapshot and a comparative analysis of copyright exceptions available for libraries. It frames the differences and similarities, leading to discussion as to what extent copyright exceptions help libraries cater the changing technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces the role of copyright exceptions in balancing owners and users interests. It explains evolving libraries activities due to technological development and how copyright exceptions significantly applies. Several factors in Canadian and Malaysian statutes are compared, namely, the rights granted, purposes allowed, beneficiaries affected, works involved, and conditions attached. This signifies to what extent the library exceptions cater to the changing needs and circumstances. It emphasizes the importance of awareness and understanding in order for libraries to serve its role effectively.

Findings

Both countries consider the use of new technologies in its library exceptions. Malaysian statute adopts a general approach which can either be flexibly or rigidly interpreted. Comparatively, Canada adopts a more specific and detail approach that might restrict beneficial activities. This paper calls for extra effort for policy makers to allow more control of digital works that may serve libraries activities.

Originality/value

There has not been any comparative study in the library literature on copyright exceptions for libraries in Malaysia and Canada. This study aims to provoke such discussion and how each country may learn from each others practices. It should be useful to the whole library community, particularly to both countries.
Journal portals – an important infrastructure for non-commercial scholarly open access publishing
Authors: Björk Bo-Christer
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at third party journal portals, which facilitate the low-cost publishing of open access journals. Portals have become very important enablers for converting journals published by scholarly societies and universities to open access, in particular in the social sciences and humanities.

Design/methodology/approach

Portals were identified using a combination of methods including a literature search, interviews with experts, a key word web search and by analyzing web addresses and publishers in data from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ).

Findings

In total, 21 portals fitting our definition were identified. Together these published more than 6,000 journals. They contribute around 10 percent of the journals indexed in the DOAJ, and the content is very highly skewed to certain countries, in particular Latin America and Asia.

Originality/value

While there have been earlier case study reports about individual portals, especially SciElo, this is probably the first systematic study of this phenomenon as a whole.
Factors affecting users’ online privacy literacy among students in Israel
Authors: Weinberger Maor , Zhitomirsky-Geffet Maayan , Bouhnik Dan
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes and influential factors of users’ knowledge and use of the tools designated for controlling and enhancing online privacy, which are referred to as online privacy literacy (OPL). Particularly, inspired by the protection motivation theory, a motivational factor is defined as comprising several variables which reflect users’ motivation to protect their online privacy.

Design/methodology/approach

To this end, a user study was conducted based on the quantitative method with the participation of 169 students from the Israeli academia who were administered closed-ended questionnaires.

Findings

Generally low to moderate levels of OPL were obtained. Interestingly, the multivariate linear regression analysis showed that motivational factors, such as users’ concern for personal information protection on the internet and users’ privacy self-efficacy and sense of anonymity when visiting a website, were among the strongest predictive factors of users’ OPL level.

Social implications

This research has social implications that might contribute to an increase in the OPL among internet users.

Originality/value

The direct influence of the examined factors on users’ OPL was not previously discussed in the literature. As a result of the study, a comprehensive model of user online privacy behavior was constructed.
Explaining teaching uses of Wikipedia through faculty personal and contextual features
Authors: Lladós-Masllorens Josep , Aibar Eduard , Meseguer-Artola Antoni , Minguillón Julià , Lerga Maura
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore which personal and contextual factors affect the use of Wikipedia as a teaching resource in higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This research question is approached by investigating faculty perceptions and attitudes in two large Spanish universities. For this purpose, a comprehensive empirical study has been employed, based on an online survey to faculty members and the inclusion of a decision-making model in the analysis.

Findings

Data provide evidence that a combination of cultural, social and subjective factors influences the decision to use Wikipedia. This decision is not only associated with lecturers’ individual characteristics, but mostly with surrounding influences. Teaching uses are more frequent when academics have close reference models and when they perceive that Wikipedia is being positively valued by their colleagues.

Research limitations/implications

The present study provides a creative framework to analyze the main determining factors of Wikipedia usage by faculty. The inclusion of both internal and external factors in the decision process has proved to be a valuable novelty.

Practical implications

The study detects the main factors affecting the negative or reluctant attitude toward Wikipedia and provides some recommendations to overcome these barriers.

Originality/value

The study widens the scope of previous investigations supplying a new research framework and including, for the first time, a prominent online university in the analysis in order to discard the potential effects of digital and information illiteracy among students and faculty members.
A practical guide to structured expert elicitation using the IDEA protocol
Authors: Hemming Victoria , Burgman Mark A. , Hanea Anca M. , McBride Marissa F. , Wintle Bonnie C.
Published: July 2017

Expert judgement informs a variety of important applications in conservation and natural resource management, including threatened species management, environmental impact assessment and structured decision‐making. However, expert judgements can be prone to contextual biases. Structured elicitation protocols mitigate these biases, and improve the accuracy and transparency of the resulting judgements. Despite this, the elicitation of expert judgement within conservation and natural resource management remains largely informal. We suggest this may be attributed to financial and practical constraints, which are not addressed by many existing structured elicitation protocols.

In this paper, we advocate that structured elicitation protocols must be adopted when expert judgements are used to inform science. In order to motivate a wider adoption of structured elicitation protocols, we outline the IDEA protocol. The protocol improves the accuracy of expert judgements and includes several key steps which may be familiar to many conservation researchers, such as the four‐step elicitation, and a modified Delphi procedure (“Investigate,” “Discuss,” “Estimate” and “Aggregate”). It can also incorporate remote elicitation, making structured expert judgement accessible on a modest budget.

The IDEA protocol has recently been outlined in the scientific literature; however, a detailed description has been missing. This paper fills that important gap by clearly outlining each of the steps required to prepare for and undertake an elicitation.

While this paper focuses on the need for the IDEA protocol within conservation and natural resource management, the protocol (and the advice contained in this paper) is applicable to a broad range of scientific domains, as evidenced by its application to biosecurity, engineering and political forecasting. By clearly outlining the IDEA protocol, we hope that structured protocols will be more widely understood and adopted, resulting in improved judgements and increased transparency when expert judgement is required.
Point‐of‐care measurement of fetal blood lactate – Time to trust a new device
Authors: Wang Mandy , Chua Seng C. , Bouhadir Lilain , Treadwell Erin L. , Gibbs Emma , McGee Therese M.
Published: July 2017

Background

Point‐of‐care lactate devices are used worldwide for intrapartum decision making. Current practice is often based on Lactate Pro (Arkray) but its imminent product discontinuation necessitates determination of an optimal replacement device.

Aims

To evaluate the performance of Lactate Pro and two other point‐of‐care devices, Lactate Pro 2 (Arkray) and StatStrip (Nova Biomedical), and to derive scalp lactate cut‐offs equivalent to the current intervention trigger of >4.8 mmol/L.

Materials and methods

Paired umbilical cord arterial and venous blood samples from 109 births were tested on the three point‐of‐care products (two devices each), cross‐compared with the reference method blood gas analyser.

Results

All brands deviate from the blood gas analyser, with Lactate Pro and StatStrip results consistently lower and Lactate Pro 2 consistently higher. Standard deviation from the blood gas analyser was smallest for StatStrip (0.78 mmol/L, cord artery), and largest for Lactate Pro 2 (1.03 mmol/L, cord artery). Within‐brand variation exists and is similar for all brands (mean absolute difference on cord artery 0.23–0.30 mmol/L). Equivalent values to the 4.8 mmol/L intervention threshold based on Lactate Pro are 4.9–5.0 mmol/L for StatStrip and 5.3–5.9 mmol/L for Lactate Pro 2, calculated by receiver‐operating characteristic analysis.

Conclusions

StatStrip appears superior to Lactate Pro 2 to replace the original Lactate Pro. Using StatStrip, the 4.8 mmol/L intervention threshold equivalent was 4.9–5.0 mmol/L. The variation in accuracy of point‐of‐care lactate devices may exceed the small increments (eg <4.2 mmol/L vs >4.8 mmol/L) that guide obstetric decisions.
Impact of health utility after thrombotic complications following total hip and knee arthroplasty
Authors: Karmakar Bikram
Published: July 2017

Background

Medical complications and preexisting conditions frequently place the surgeon in the unenviable position of choosing between the serious and potentially life‐threatening effects of thrombosis, or the issue of bleeding and surgical site complications. The aim of this research was to determine if health utility could be a consideration before choosing to therapeutically anticoagulate in the hip and knee arthroplasty patient.

Methods

The quantitative risks and effectiveness of treatment options for venous thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndromes, ischaemic stroke and mechanical heart valves were evaluated from previously published data. Previously calculated health utility values were obtained from published studies for both thrombotic events and anticoagulant‐related complications at the site of arthroplasty. An impact score was generated through a multiplication of 1 − utility with the rate of the event occurring.

Results

Impact scores associated with revision surgery and deep infection at the arthroplasty site following anticoagulation are higher compared to impact scores in subsets of non‐treated venous thromboembolism, low CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age >75, diabetes (1 point each), stroke/transient ischaemic attack (2 points)) atrial fibrillation and potentially some acute coronary syndrome patients. Some anticoagulation strategies in mechanical heart valves are of definite overall patient value due to the significant complications otherwise.

Conclusion

Objective calculation of both the benefit and risks of anticoagulation in the post‐operative patient is significantly altered by including the effect on patient's quality of life utility value. Therapeutic anticoagulation in some common situations is probable to be of more detriment than benefit when considering health utility.
Renal toxicity and chemotherapy in children with cancer
Authors: Ruggiero Antonio , Ferrara Pietro , Attinà Giorgio , Rizzo Daniela , Riccardi Riccardo
Published: July 2017

The clinical use of antineoplastic drugs can be limited by different drug‐induced toxicities. Of these, renal dysfunction may be one of the most troublesome in that it can be cumulative and in general is only partially reversible with the discontinuation of the treatment. Renal toxicity may be manifested as a reduction of the glomerular filtration rate, electrolyte imbalances, or acute renal failure. Careful assessment of renal function has to be performed taking into account that the impairment of renal function is initially silent and only later may be clinically dramatic. When clinically indicated, the reduction or, in cases of severe nephrotoxicity, the suspension of chemotherapy should be considered to avoid the progressive deterioration of the compromised glomerular and/or tubular function.