bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citation analysis of dissertations for collection development
Authors: Abeyrathne Dilani Kanishka
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to make recommendations for library collection development because undergraduates expect to satisfy their information need for research activities through library collection. Therefore librarian should assess whether the library is adequately responding their research demands. This can be answered by analyzing citations in the dissertations.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study analyzed 8,224 citations from 204 undergraduate dissertations submitted to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, in 2012. The most cited format was determined. Bradford’s law was applied to prepare a ranked list of journals. Accessibility of each core journals was observed and recommendations were made for collection development.

Findings

– Journals were the most cited format. Data sets were fit with either the verbal formula or mathematical formula of the Bradford’s law. Core journals were determined. Core journals were accessible via number of ways. Some journals are subscribed by the Agriculture or via databases through UGC consortia (through University of Peradeniya’s library network) or open access journals. There are several journals in which the free access is available through Sri Lanka Journals OnLine. Based on the results, recommendations were made for collection development.

Originality/value

– The paper provides useful insight for collection development for research demand, Agriculture Library, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
“As rare as a panda”
Authors: Maurer-Fazio Margaret , Lei Lei
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore how both gender and facial attractiveness affect job candidates’ chances of obtaining interviews in China’s dynamic internet job board labor market. It examines how discrimination based on these attributes varies over occupation, location, and firms’ ownership type and size.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors carry out a resume audit (correspondence) study. Resumes of fictitious applicants are first carefully crafted to make candidates appear equally productive in terms of their work histories and educational backgrounds. The authors control gender and facial attractiveness. The authors establish the facial attractiveness of candidate photos via an online survey. In total, 24,192 applications are submitted to 12,096 job postings across four occupations in six Chinese cities. Callbacks are carefully tracked and recorded. Discrimination is estimated by calculating the differences in the rates of callbacks for interviews received by individuals whose applications vary only in terms of facial attractiveness and gender. The authors reuse the same resumes repeatedly through this project such that names and photos of each of the candidates: attractive man, attractive woman, unattractive man, and unattractive woman is attached to each resume hundreds of times for each occupation in each city.

Findings

– The authors find sizable differences in the interview callback rates of attractive and unattractive job candidates. Job candidates with unattractive faces need to put in 33 percent more applications than their attractive counterparts to obtain the same number of interview callbacks. Women are preferred to men in three of the four occupations. Women, on average need put in only 91 percent as many applications as men to obtain the same number of interview callbacks.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis of this paper focusses on only four different occupations. Its scope is also limited to exploring only the first part of the hiring process – obtaining a job interview. Furthermore, its fictitious applicants are all young people, approximately 25 years old. It would be useful to explore how gender and facial attractiveness affect candidates’ chances of landing a job after getting an interview.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to and expands the literature on hiring through China’s internet job boards. It also contributes to the literature on the role of facial attractiveness in hiring.
Can internet searches forecast tourism inflows?
Authors: Artola Concha , Pinto Fernando , de Pedraza García Pablo
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to improve the forecast of tourism inflows into Spain by use of Google – indices on internet searches measuring the relative popularity of keywords associated with travelling to Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two models are estimated for each of the three countries with the largest tourist flows into Spain (Germany, UK and France): a conventional model, the best ARIMA model estimated by TRAMO (model 0) and a model augmented with the Google-index relating to searches made from each country (model 1). The overall performance of both models is compared.

Findings

– The improvement in forecasting provided by the short-term models that include the G-indicator is quite substantial up to 2012, reducing out of sample mean square errors by 42 per cent, although their performance worsens in the following years.

Research limitations/implications

– Deeper study and conceptualization of sources of error in Google trends and data quality is necessary.

Originality/value

– The paper illustrates that while this new tool can be a powerful instrument for policy makers as a valuable and timely complement for traditional statistics, further research and better access to data is needed to better understand how internet consumers’ search activities translate (or not) into actual economic outcomes.
Demographic research with non-representative internet data
Authors: Zagheni Emilio , Weber Ingmar
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Internet data hold many promises for demographic research, but come with severe drawbacks due to several types of bias. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature that uses internet data for demographic studies and presents a general framework for addressing the problem of selection bias in non-representative samples.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors propose two main approaches to reduce bias. When ground truth data are available, the authors suggest a method that relies on calibration of the online data against reliable official statistics. When no ground truth data are available, the authors propose a difference in differences approach to evaluate relative trends.

Findings

– The authors offer a generalization of existing techniques. Although there is not a definite answer to the question of whether statistical inference can be made from non-representative samples, the authors show that, when certain assumptions are met, the authors can extract signal from noisy and biased data.

Research limitations/implications

– The methods are sensitive to a number of assumptions. These include some regularities in the way the bias changes across different locations, different demographic groups and between time steps. The assumptions that we discuss might not always hold. In particular, the scenario where bias varies in an unpredictable manner and, at the same time, there is no “ground truth” available to continuously calibrate the model, remains challenging and beyond the scope of this paper.

Originality/value

– The paper combines a critical review of existing substantive and methodological literature with a generalization of prior techniques. It intends to provide a fresh perspective on the issue and to stimulate the methodological discussion among social scientists.
Comparing collective bargaining agreements for developing countries
Authors: Besamusca Janna , Tijdens Kea
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to fill several knowledge gaps regarding the contents of collective agreements, using a new online database. The authors analyse 249 collective agreements from 11 countries – Benin, Brazil, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda. The authors research to what extent wage and other remuneration-related clauses, working hours, paid leave arrangements and work-family arrangements are included in collective agreements and whether bargaining topics cluster within agreements.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use the web-based WageIndicator Collective Bargaining Agreement Database with uniformly coded agreements, that are both collected and made accessible online. The authors present a quantitative multi-country comparison of the inclusion and contents of the clauses in the agreements.

Findings

– The authors find that 98 per cent of the collective agreements include clauses on wages, but that only few agreements specify wage levels. Up to 71 per cent have clauses on social security, 89 per cent on working hours and 84 per cent of work-family arrangements. The authors also find that collective agreements including one of these four clauses, are also more likely to include the other three and conclude that no trade off exists between their inclusion on the bargaining agenda.

Research limitations/implications

– Being one of the first multi-country analyses of collective agreements, the analysis is primarily explorative, aiming to establish a factual baseline with regard to the contents of collective agreements.

Originality/value

– This study is unique because of its focus on the content of collective bargaining agreements. The authors are the first to be able to show empirically which clauses are included in existing collective agreements in developing countries.
Productivity of product design and engineering processes
Authors: Hinckeldeyn Johannes , Dekkers Rob , Kreutzfeldt Jochen
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Maintaining and improving productivity of product design and engineering processes has been a paramount challenge for design-driven companies, which are characterised a high degree of development of products and processes in order to meet particular customer requirements. Literature on this issue is fragmented and dispersed and a concise and systematic overview is lacking. Hence, it remains unclear, which methods are applicable for design-driven companies to improve the productivity of limitedly available engineering resources (a challenge companies and nations face currently). The purpose of this paper is to develop such a systematic overview.

Design/methodology/approach

– An unusual approach was utilised by combining the outcomes from a systematic literature review and the results of a Delphi study. From both research approaches complementary and overlapping methods for improving the productivity of product design and engineering processes could be drawn.

Findings

– The unique systematic overview presents 27 methods to increase the productivity, effectiveness and efficiency of product design and engineering processes of design-driven companies. Moreover, the study finds that methods for improving effectiveness are preferred over methods for improving efficiency and that limitations with regard to the availability of resources are often not considered.

Research limitations/implications

– During the development of the systematic overview, a lack of empirical evidence to assess the actual impact of productivity improvement methods was discovered. This shortcoming demonstrates the need for more conceptual and empirical work in this domain. More studies are needed to test and confirm the usefulness of the proposed methods.

Practical implications

– Nevertheless, design-driven companies, which struggle to increase the productivity of their product design and engineering processes, can systematically select improvement methods from the overview according to their impact on productivity, effectiveness and efficiency. However, companies should keep in mind, whether effectiveness of product design and engineering can really be increased without considering limitations in engineering resources.

Originality/value

– Therefore, the systematic overview provides a valuable map of the unexplored territory of productivity improvement methods for product design and engineering for both practitioners and researchers. For the latter ones, it creates directions for empirical investigations in order to explore and to compare methods for the improvement of productivity of product design and engineering processes.
Research methodologies and publication trends in manufacturing strategy
Authors: Chatha K A , Butt I , Tariq Adeel
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate trends in the use of research methodologies and publications in manufacturing strategy (MS) literature across geographical regions and suggests possible future research opportunities.

Design/methodology/approach

– This literature review is based on a sample of 512 subject-relevant journal articles and uses content analysis as the primary method for data analysis. The paper investigates developments in the use of research methodologies – in terms of research design, data collection methods, country of data collection, sample size, respondent type, statistical techniques used and time horizon of studies; and publication trends in terms of authorship type, authorship collaboration, most prolific authors, top journals, most prolific universities, and citation analysis.

Findings

– Research in MS has substantially changed from conceptual quantitative to empirical quantitative designs. NA and Europe show a declining research interest. However, other regions of the world are consistently showing higher interest. Significant opportunities and synergies exist for collaborative research among regions.

Research limitations/implications

– Though the literature review is limited in its selection of articles and journals it sketches a picture that may surrogate the whole research community in MS.

Practical implications

– Trends in publications and use of research methodologies provide directions for designing research projects relevant to various geographical regions. This will help develop a holistic understanding of MS that is meaningful for managers of today’s organizations.

Originality/value

– This paper provides broader and deeper review of the MS literature. Complex patterns in data are revealed using cross-tabulations and advanced cross-tabulations that have not been performed in previous content-analysis–based literature reviews in MS. These patterns will help position future research studies.
Themes of study in manufacturing strategy literature
Authors: Chatha K.A. , Butt I.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– A literature review within the manufacturing strategy (MS) discipline with a focus on thematic developments is provided. Based on recent studies, a set of challenges posed to manufacturing enterprise of the future are summarized, and thematic areas are analyzed in relation to meeting those challenges. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a select set of 506 articles published in top-ranked refereed international journals in the discipline of operations management, major and subthemes are identified and the publication trends in these themes are provided with time and across geographical regions, namely: North America, Europe, and other parts of the world.

Findings

– MS literature is predominantly focussed on the economic objectives of firms without a due focus on the social and environmental perspectives. MS literature covers 11 major thematic areas, namely: MS components and paradigms, manufacturing capabilities (MCs), strategic choices (SCs), best practices (BPs), the strategy process (SP), supply-chain management (SCM), performance measurement, transnational comparisons, global manufacturing, environmental/green manufacturing, and literature reviews. The research in two areas – SCs, and MCs – has been in decline, while the research in BPs, the SP, and transnational comparisons is growing (in absolute figures). Various research opportunities for future studies are identified.

Research limitations/implications

– The literature review is limited in its selection of articles and journals, however, the identified trends clarify the state of research by the MS research community at large.

Practical implications

– For researchers, multiple new research directions are identified in order to advance knowledge in the field of MS. The publication trends also highlight thematic areas where most of the MS body of knowledge is currently available and can be utilized by practitioners.

Originality/value

– The paper’s novelty comes from: first, a broader and deeper review of thematic areas that has not been researched before, second, trends in thematic areas by time, across geographical regions, and including time-region dyads, and third, coverage provided by MS literature in meeting challenges posed to manufacturing enterprise of the future.
Driving forces of road freight CO2 in 2030
Authors: Liimatainen Heikki , Hovi Inger Beate , Arvidsson Niklas , Nykänen Lasse
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Road freight carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are determined by a complex interaction between shippers and hauliers within the boundaries set by regulations and economic factors. It is necessary to gain understanding about the various driving forces and trends affecting these to promote low carbon future. The purpose of this paper is to find out what factors affect the long-term future development of road freight CO2 emissions and whether the long-term emission targets will be achieved.

Design/methodology/approach

– An international comparison of similar Delphi surveys is carried out in Finland, Norway, and Sweden.

Findings

– The Delphi surveys indicate that the structural change of the economy, changes of consumer habits, concerns of energy and environment and changes in logistics practices and technology are the overarching trends shaping the future of the energy efficiency and CO2 emissions of road freight transport. The expert forecasts for Finland and Sweden highlight that reaching the carbon emission target of 30 per cent reduction for the year 2030 is possible. However, the CO2 emissions may also increase significantly even though the CO2 intensity would decrease, as the Norwegian forecast shows.

Originality/value

– This study combined quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results confirmed that similar factors are seen to affect the future in all three countries, but with some national differences in the likely effects of the factors. Future research using the same methodology would enable wider analysis of the global significance of these driving forces.
Market adoption of reverse factoring
Authors: Dello Iacono Umberto , Reindorp Matthew , Dellaert Nico
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show that market dynamics can significantly influence the lifecycle and value of a supply chain finance (SCF) arrangement.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a review of scientific and trade literature, the authors construct a model of market dynamics for reverse factoring, a specific type of SCF arrangement. The authors assume that firms’ participation in a reverse factoring arrangement is determined by the direct benefits they can derive from it. The authors analyse the model by means of simulation in system dynamics.

Findings

– The authors identify the following market factors as key for direct benefits: competition, interest rates, receivables volumes, and firms’ working capital goals. The authors find that reverse factoring can yield direct benefits for all supply chain participants, but that these benefits are highly sensitive to market conditions.

Research limitations/implications

– The model is stylized, but this study shows the need for further research on the dynamic aspects of SCF arrangements.

Practical implications

– The authors show that supply chain actors should carefully consider the expected evolution of market factors when deciding on participation in a reverse factoring arrangement.

Originality/value

– Existing research on SCF arrangements almost exclusively considers a static context, where market factors take fixed, known values. The authors provide the first study that links the direct benefits of SCF arrangements to dynamic, interacting market factors. The authors utilize system dynamics, a methodology well-suited to the analysis of such settings, to show that a comprehensive assessment of SCF arrangements cannot neglect the evolutionary perspective.
Key variables to predict tie strength on social network sites
Authors: Luarn Pin , Chiu Yu-Ping
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to predict tie strength using profile similarities and interaction data between users, and thus distinguish between strong and weak relationships on social network sites (SNSs).

Design/methodology/approach

– This study developed a program and an online questionnaire to collect the data set from Facebook, and then integrated that data set with a subjective data set consisting of participants’ opinions of the strength of their friendships on Facebook. The model developed here for predicting tie strength performed well when was applied on a data set of 6,477 SNSs’ ties, distinguishing between strong and weak ties with over 50 percent accuracy.

Findings

– The results developed an algorithm (predictive model) that quantifies and measures tie strength continuously to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The results found that the variables in the dimension of emotional intensity had stronger effects than other interaction variables.

Originality/value

– This study developed a predictive model that helps explain the meaning of interaction on SNSs, providing an efficient method to examine tie strength on SNSs. The tie strength estimates can also be used to improve the range and performance of various aspects of SNSs, including link predictions, product recommendations, newsfeeds, people searches, and visualization. Such understanding of the structure of SNSs might lead ultimately to the design of algorithms that can detect trusted or influential users of SNSs.
Understanding the relationships of critical factors to Facebook educational usage intention
Authors: Wu Chih-Hung , Chen Shih-Chih
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise a framework that integrates information quality, system quality, function quality, and social influence based on the information system (IS) success model, to explore the relationship among these factors, which might be the key determinants of Facebook educational usage intention.

Design/methodology/approach

– An internet survey was conducted to collect empirical data from 221 Facebook users on their experiences of using Facebook. This study applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to demonstrate the proposed model’s construct relations and multiple group analysis.

Findings

– The results of this study show that social influence and information quality are critical and direct determinants that affect users’ continuous intention to use Facebook in learning; social influence also indirectly affect Facebook usage intention through the mediating effect of information quality. Except the path between social influence and usage intention in age subgroups, the relationships among these determining factors in the proposed model are stable, and there were no significant differences among gender subgroups and age subgroups examined using the multiple group comparison test.

Originality/value

– The findings provide a better understanding of the IS success model that influences the Facebook educational usage intention for researchers and practitioners.
Antecedents and consequences of e-shopping: an integrated model
Authors: Lim Weng Marc
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated information systems–consumer behavior (IS-CB) model for e-shopping to examine the antecedents and consequences of e-shopping and usage behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study tests 320 usable responses collected from e-shoppers against the integrated model using structural equation modeling.

Findings

– The main research results support the use of antecedents of e-shopping acceptance and usage by drawing from unified knowledge of IS and CB underpinnings. The findings show the significance of perceived value, social factors, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, entertainment gratification (EG), web irritation (WI), emotional state, and web atmospherics (WA) in the process of e-shopping.

Practical implications

– The results suggest that e-retailers should establish positive perceived value in consumers’ minds and uphold trust to foster favorable attitudes and intentions toward e-shopping and actual e-shopping purchase. Proper and good construction of WA can lead to useful and easy-to-use e-shopping sites, EG, and minimization of WI. Capitalizing on online social influences also would be an advantage.

Originality/value

– This paper bridges a gap in the studies of IS and CB, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the influence of IS and CB antecedents on acceptance and usage of e-shopping.
An exploratory study of product placement in social media
Authors: Liu Su-Houn , Chou Chen-Huei , Liao Hsiu-Li
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus specifically on the examination of factors influencing the effectiveness of product placement in social media.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two field experiments were used to test research models and questions. In each experiment, random sampling was used to assign volunteers into groups, controlled by different experimental settings. Questionnaires were distributed to the volunteers in order to collect their attitude toward advertisement, brand impression, and intention to click the advertisement. Their browsing behavior was measured by click through rate, browse depth, and browsing time.

Findings

– The paper found that the effects of product placement conducts (product prominence and presentation) in social media are similar to the effects of product placement in other media. Also, a match between the vehicle and product would create deeper browsing depth and longer browsing time on the product web site. Product placement on a higher awareness vehicle would be more effective for marketing.

Originality/value

– This study makes its contribution in understanding the effectiveness of product placement in social media on delivering a marketing message. The results further highlight the importance of “integrating” the product placement content with its context and its vehicle.
Digital diplomatics and forensics: going forward on a global basis
Authors: Cohen Frederick B.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to discuss moving forward on a global basis with digital diplomatics.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study fused a historic review of multiple fields to form a proposed future.

Findings

– Today, the metadata associated with digital record-keeping is largely based on the methods from the pre-digital age. It fails to take into account the underlying digital mechanisms and their unique properties. At the same time, digital systems already produce large quantities of redundant data that could be and has been used in consistency analysis. A rational improvement would be to use the nature of digital systems in conjunction with intentional redundancy to create metadata and other forms of redundant information that could be validated in diplomatic examination but would be hard to forge consistently by an internal act of alteration.

Originality/value

– This study uses a unique approach of fusing digital forensic science with digital diplomatics in the form of using inherent redundancy in digital records and metadata for consistency analysis as a means to fuse the fields.
Processing of metal-diamond-composites using selective laser melting
Authors: Spierings Adriaan Bernardus , Leinenbach Christian , Kenel Christoph , Wegener Konrad
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is a feasibility study that was performed to investigate the basic processability of a diamond-containing metal matrix. Powder-bed-based additive manufacturing processes such as selective laser melting (SLM) offer a huge degree of freedom, both in terms of part design and material options. In that respect, mixtures of different powders can offer new ways for the manufacture of materials with tailored properties for special applications such as metal-based cutting or grinding tools with incorporated hard phases.

Design/methodology/approach

– A two-step approach was used to first investigate the basic SLM-processability of a Cu-Sn-Ti-Zr alloy, which is usually used for the active brazing of ceramics and superhard materials. After the identification of a suitable processing window, the processing parameters were then applied to a mixture of this matrix material with 10-20 volume per cent artificial, Ni-coated mono-crystalline diamonds.

Findings

– Even though the processing parameters were not yet optimized, stable specimens out of the matrix material could be produced. Also, diamond-containing mixtures with the matrix material resulted in stable specimens, where the diamonds survived the layer-wise build process with the successive heat input, as almost no graphitization was observed. The diamond particles are fully embedded in the Cu-Sn-Ti-Zr matrix material. The outer part of the diamonds partly dissolves in the matrix during the SLM process, forming small TiC particles and most likely a thin TiC layer around the diamond particles.

Originality/value

– The feasibility study approved the SLM processing capabilities of a metal-diamond composite. Although some cracking phenomena sill occur, this seems to be an interesting and promising way to create new abrasive tools with added value in terms of internal and local lubrication supply, tooling temperature control and improved tooling durability.
Towards a sustainable and economic selection of part candidates for additive manufacturing
Authors: Lindemann Christian , Reiher Thomas , Jahnke Ulrich , Koch Rainer
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a methodology to help end-users to find appropriate part candidates for the use of the additive manufacturing (AM) technology. These shall be capable of bringing AM into their businesses. The concept furthermore includes approaches for redesigning current available parts and helps to estimate the economic implications of the use of the technology.

Design/methodology/approach

– The approach starts to discuss general economic aspects for the successful use of AM. While describing the introduction of new technologies into existing businesses, the importance of an appropriate part selection for AM is pointed out. A methodology for a part selection process is presented, and the different criteria are developed. An approach for a redesign of the selected parts, including the gathering of requirements, is given based on different sample parts. A variation of criteria to include measures for product piracy is highlighted.

Findings

– The methodology has proven applicability in several research and industry projects in aerospace applications. Independent part selections from experts analyzed within a project of the European Space Agency had a 90 per cent overlap with the results. It allows companies with only basic AM knowledge to start a part screening for applicable AM candidates in their own company with a reasonable effort.

Originality/value

– The methodology for the redesign process helps to identify the main functions of the products targeted and the relevant environment, so one can benefit from the various advantages that AM has to offer. The selection methodology helps to ask the right questions and to reduce the effort.
Negative stiffness honeycombs for recoverable shock isolation
Authors: Correa Dixon M , Klatt Timothy , Cortes Sergio , Haberman Michael , Kovar Desiderio , Seepersad Carolyn
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the behavior of negative stiffness beams when arranged in a honeycomb configuration and to compare the energy absorption capacity of these negative stiffness honeycombs with regular honeycombs of equivalent relative densities.

Design/methodology/approach

– A negative stiffness honeycomb is fabricated in nylon 11 using selective laser sintering. Its force-displacement behavior is simulated with finite element analysis and experimentally evaluated under quasi-static displacement loading. Similarly, a hexagonal honeycomb of equivalent relative density is also fabricated and tested. The energy absorbed for both specimens is computed from the resulting force-displacement curves. The beam geometry of the negative stiffness honeycomb is optimized for maximum energy absorption per unit mass of material.

Findings

– Negative stiffness honeycombs exhibit relatively large positive stiffness, followed by a region of plateau stress as the cell walls buckle, similar to regular hexagonal honeycombs, but unlike regular honeycombs, they demonstrate full recovery after compression. Representative specimens are found to absorb about 65 per cent of the energy incident on them. Optimizing the negative stiffness beam geometry can result in energy-absorbing capacities comparable to regular honeycombs of similar relative densities.

Research limitations/implications

– The honeycombs were subject to quasi-static displacement loading. To study shock isolation under impact loads, force-controlled loading is desirable. However, the energy absorption performance of the negative stiffness honeycombs is expected to improve under force-controlled conditions. Additional experimentation is needed to investigate the rate sensitivity of the force-displacement behavior of the negative stiffness honeycombs, and specimens with various geometries should be investigated.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study indicate that recoverable energy absorption is possible using negative stiffness honeycombs without sacrificing the high energy-absorbing capacity of regular honeycombs. The honeycombs can find usefulness in a number of unique applications requiring recoverable shock isolation, such as bumpers, helmets and other personal protection devices. A patent application has been filed for the negative stiffness honeycomb design.
Analysis of suitable modulation scheme for compressive sensing algorithm in wireless sensor network
Authors: Chakraborty Parnasree , Tharini C.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to find out the use of compressive sensing (CS) algorithm for wireless sensor networks (WSNs). As energy-efficient algorithms are required for WSNs, CS is very much useful as less than 25 per cent of the entire input data alone is required to be transmitted, and reconstruction at the receiver with this reduced data set is of good quality. But, the usefulness of the algorithm with suitable modulation schemes is not analyzed so far in the literature. Hence, this work concentrated on the algorithm performance with different modulation schemes and different channel conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Compressive sensing encoding is performed by using suitable transform on the input signal. Here, DCT and DWT are used to generate the sparse signal. Random measurement matrix is used to generate the compressed output, which is reconstructed using the Basis Pursuit (BP) method. Also, an analysis for the energy-efficient modulation scheme is performed by modulating the compressed output using QPSK/BPSK/QAM and transmitted by considering the Gaussian and Rayleigh Channels. Energy required per bit transmission is modeled and computed for different schemes.

Findings

– Simulation result shows that the use of CS algorithm for data compression tremendously reduces the number of transmission bits and, hence, enhances the transmission and bandwidth efficiency in WSN. Results show that DWT is a much suitable transform to be used for sparse measurement generation. In comparison with DCT, DWT is computationally simple and takes very less time, which is expected in real-time application. The reconstruction result shows that about 25 per cent of the data sample is sufficient to recover the original image, perhaps which is the most surprising result. An extensive analysis of various modulation schemes based on the energy model shows that QPSK is in the AWGN channel, and QAM modulation in the Rayleigh channel is a much suitable modulation scheme to be used in WSN for further reduction of energy consumption.

Originality/value

– Compressive sensing is recently gaining importance for quantization, compression and noise removal in images. In this paper, this technique was used along with modulation schemes to analyze the suitability of the algorithm for WSN.
Detecting gases with light: a review of optical gas sensor technologies
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide details of the major optical gas sensing techniques and their applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– Following an introduction, this paper first identifies the major gas sensing technologies and provides an overview of optical sensing techniques. The sources and impact of the gases most frequently sensed by optical methods are listed. Three non-absorption-based and nine absorption-based methods and their main applications are then described in detail. Brief concluding comments are drawn.

Findings

– All manner of optical gas sensing techniques have been commercialised and while the majority are absorption-based, several other methods also play a significant role. Some optical gas sensors offer advanced capabilities such as remote monitoring, the creation of 2D and 3D distribution maps, detection of parts per trillion levels and even the visualisation of gases in real time. They play a vital role in protecting workers from hazardous gases, controlling and minimising air pollution and monitoring the atmospheric environment, as well as being used in the food, medical, process, power generation and other industries.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a detailed insight into optical gas sensing techniques and their uses.
Film thickness planar sensor in oil-water flow: prospective study
Authors: Bonilla Riaño Adriana , Bannwart Antonio Carlos , Rodriguez Oscar M.H.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study a multiphase-flow instrumentation for film thickness measurement, especially impedance-based, not only for gas–liquid flow but also for mixtures of immiscible and more viscous substances such as oil and water. Conductance and capacitive planar sensors were compared to select the most suitable option for oil – water dispersed flow.

Design/methodology/approach

– A study of techniques for measurement of film thickness in oil – water pipe flow is presented. In the first part, some measurement techniques used for the investigation of multiphase flows are described, with their advantages and disadvantages. Next, examinations of conductive and capacitive techniques with planar sensors are presented.

Findings

– Film thickness measurement techniques for oil–water flow are scanty in the literature. Some techniques have been used in studies of annular flow (gas–liquid and liquid–liquid flows), but applications in other flow patterns were not encountered. The methods based on conductive or capacitive measurements and planar sensor are promising solutions for measuring time-averaged film thicknesses in oil–water flows. A capacitive system may be more appropriate for oil–water flows.

Originality/value

– This paper provides a review of film thickness measurements in pipes. There are many reviews on gas – liquid flow measurement but not many about liquid – liquid flow.
Wearable sensors bring new benefits to continuous medical monitoring, real time physical activity assessment, baby monitoring and industrial applications
Authors: Bloss Richard
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the recent advancements in the development of wearable sensors which can continuously monitor critical medical, assess athletic activity, watch babies and serve industrial applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents an in-depth review of a number of developments in wearable sensing and monitoring technologies for medical, athletic and industrial applications. Researchers and companies around the world were contacted to discuss their direction and progress in this field of medical condition and industrial monitoring, as well as discussions with medical personnel on the perceived benefits of such technology.

Findings

– Dramatic progress is being made in continuous monitoring of many important body functions that indicate critical medical conditions that can be life-threatening, contribute to blindness or access activity. In the industrial arena, wearable devices bring remote monitoring to a new level.

Practical implications

– Doctors will be able to replace one-off tests with continuous monitoring that provides a much better continuous real-time “view” into the patient’s conditions. Wearable monitors will help provide much better medical care in the future. Industrial managers and others will be able to monitor and supervise remotely.

Originality/value

– An expert insight into advancements in medical condition monitoring that replaces the one-time “finger prick” type testing only performed in the doctor’s office. It is also a look at how wearable monitoring is greatly improved and serving athletics, the industry and parents.
Eradicating down the food chain: optimal multispecies eradication schedules for a commonly encountered invaded island ecosystem
Authors: Bode Michael , Baker Christopher M. , Plein Michaela
Published: March 2015

Islands are global hotspots of both biodiversity and extinction. Invasive species are a primary threat, and the majority of islands have been invaded by more than one. Multispecies eradications are essential for conserving the biodiversity of these islands, but experience has shown that eradicating species at the wrong time can be disastrous for endemic species.

Managers not only have to decide how to eradicate each invasive species, they need to determine when to target each species, and how to control multiple species with a limited budget. We use dynamic control theory to show that, when resources are limited, species should be eradicated in a particular order (an eradication schedule). We focus on a common invaded island ecosystem motif, where one invasive predator consumes two prey species (one endemic, one invasive), and managers wish to eradicate both invasives while ensuring the persistence of the endemic species. We identify the optimal eradication schedule for this entire class of problem. To illustrate the application of our solution, we also analyse a particular case study from California's Channel Islands.

For any island ecosystem that shares this motif, managers should begin by allocating all of their resources towards invasive predator control. Only later should resources be shifted towards controlling the invasive prey. This shift should ideally be gradual, but an abrupt shift is very close to optimal. The Channel Islands case study confirms these findings. Targeting both species simultaneously is substantially suboptimal.

We reach the robust conclusion that the same eradication schedule should be applied to any island with this ecosystem motif, even if the ecosystem contains different species to the Channel Islands case study.

Synthesis and applications. Although very numerous, the world's invaded island ecosystems could be described by a limited range of invaded ecosystem motifs. By calculating robust optimal eradication schedules for each motif, the approach defined in this study could offer rapid decision‐support for a large number of future conservation projects where specific data are scarce.
Pesticide‐handling practices: the case of coffee growers in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Zapata Diomedi Belén , Nauges Céline
Published: March 2015

Pesticide mismanagement potentially has high risks for farmers, households living in the community and the environment. In Papua New Guinea where farming is the primary occupation, there is evidence of dangerous herbicide application methods being used by coffee growers. Using original survey data for coffee smallholders from four provinces, we assess the factors driving farmers' use of personal protective equipment when preparing and applying herbicides, and farmers' disposal of agro‐chemical containers. We control for households' demographic variables and measure the impact of farmers' training in pest and disease management. We use the special regressor method to estimate binary choice models featuring an endogenous binary regressor (training). Our results show that human capital (education) and training are important drivers of farmers' pesticide‐handling practices, with marginal effects estimated at 10 and 22 per cent, respectively.
Identity and Security in China: The Negative Soft Power of the China Dream
Authors: Callahan William A.
Published: March 2015

Joseph Nye concentrates on the positive attractive aspects of soft power as a foreign policy tool. This article will argue that the Chinese discussion of soft power is interesting because it does the opposite: soft power is negative rather than positive, and is employed as a tool in domestic policy more than in foreign affairs. It will use Chinese President Xi Jinping's new ‘China Dream’ discourse to explore China's ‘negative soft power’ strategy. Rather than take for granted that we understand what the ‘Chinese values’ are that inform the PRC's soft power, it argues that soft power discourse is a useful heuristic device for understanding how Chinese policy makers and public intellectuals are actively constructing a ‘China’ and a ‘world’ to promote regime legitimacy. The Chinese case thus suggests that we need a more complex view of power that considers the contingent dynamics of its hard/soft, positive/negative, foreign/domestic aspects.
Prevalence, course and determinants of carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms during pregnancy: a prospective study
Authors: Meems M , Truijens SEM , Spek V , Visser LH , Pop VJM
Published: March 2015

Objective

To investigate the prevalence, severity and relation to fluid retention of self‐reported pregnancy‐related carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms in a large sample of pregnant women.

Design

A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Dutch women who became pregnant between January 2013 and January 2014 in the southeast of The Netherlands.

Population or sample

A total of 639 Dutch pregnant women.

Methods

Baseline characteristics were assessed at 12 weeks’ gestation. CTS symptoms were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) at 32 weeks and during the first postpartum week regarding the last weeks of pregnancy. Fluid retention, sleeping problems and depressive symptoms (using the Edinburgh Depression Scale) were assessed at several time points during pregnancy.

Main outcome measures

BCTQ scores, fluid retention and sleeping problems.

Results

Of the 639 women, 219 (34%) reported CTS symptoms during pregnancy. Total mean scores on the BCTQ were significantly higher after 32 weeks’ than up to 32 weeks’ gestation. Most women experienced mild to moderate symptoms. Pregnant women with CTS symptoms reported significantly higher levels of fluid retention during gestation compared with pregnant women without CTS symptoms [F = 60.6, df (1598), P < 0.001], adjusted for body mass index (BMI), age, parity, and depression scores. Higher scores on fluid retention throughout the pregnancy were significantly related to CTS (OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.5, 2.1, P < 0.001). Finally, the occurrence of CTS was independently related to sleeping problems.

Conclusions

Although the severity of symptoms and functional impairment of CTS were relatively mild, health care professionals should be aware of the high prevalence. The occurrence of CTS symptoms is significantly higher in women who report fluid retention during gestation and it can contribute to sleeping problems.