bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of 3-{5-[4-(diethylamino)benzylidene]rhodanine}propionic acid on the conformation of 5-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3H-imidazol-4(5H)-one
Authors: Żesławska Ewa , Nitek Wojciech , Tejchman Waldemar , Handzlik Jadwiga
Published: October 2018

The arylidene–imidazolone derivatives are a group of compounds of great interest in medicinal chemistry due to their various pharmacological actions. In order to study the possible conformations of an arylidene–imidazolone derivative, two new crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction, namely (Z)-5-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-3H-imidazol-5(4H)-one, C15H17ClN4O, (6), and its salt 4-[5-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-3H-imidazol-2-yl]-1-methylpiperazin-1-ium 3-{5-[4-(diethylamino)benzylidene]-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl}propionate, C15H18ClN4O+·C17H19N2O3S2
−, (7). Both compounds crystallize in the space group P\overline{1}. The basic form (6) crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. In the acid form of (6), the N atom of the piperazine ring is protonated by proton transfer from the carboxyl group of the rhodanine acid derivative. The greatest difference in the conformations of (6) and its protonated form, (6c), is observed in the location of the arylidene–imidazolone substituent at the N atom. In the case of (6c), the position of this substituent is close to axial, while for (6), the corresponding position is intermediate between equatorial and axial. The crystal packing is dominated by a network of N—H...O hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the crystal structures are stabilized by numerous intermolecular contacts of types C—H...N and C—H...Cl in (6), and C—H...O and C—H...S in (7). The geometry with respect to the location of the substituents at the N atoms of the piperazine ring was compared with other crystal structures possessing an N-methylpiperazine moiety.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of dimethyl (3aS,6R,6aS,7S)-2-(2,2,2-trifluoroacetyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H,6H,7H-3a,6:7,9a-diepoxybenzo[de]isoquinoline-3a1,6a-dicarboxylate
Authors: Atioğlu Zeliha , Akkurt Mehmet , Toze Flavien A. A. , Dorovatovskii Pavel V. , Guliyeva Narmina A. , Panahova Humay M.
Published: October 2018

The title molecule, C18H16F3NO7, comprises a fused cyclic system containing four five-membered (two dihydrofuran and two tetrahydrofuran) rings and one six-membered (piperidine) ring. The five-membered dihydrofuran and tetrahydrofuran rings adopt envelope conformations, and the six-membered piperidine ring adopts a distorted chair conformation. Intramolecular O...F interactions help to stabilize the conformational arrangement. In the crystal structure, molecules are linked by weak C—H...O and C—H...F hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network. The Hirshfeld surface analysis confirms the dominant role of H...H contacts in establishing the packing.
Tetraaqua[2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(semicarbazone)]samarium(III) trinitrate
Authors: Gioia Michael , Crundwell Guy , Westcott Barry L.
Published: October 2018

The structure of tetraaqua[2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(semicarbazone)]samarium(III) trinitrate, [Sm(C11H15N7O2)(H2O)4](NO3)3, has monoclinic (P21/c) symmetry. The 2,6-diacetylpyridine (DAPSC) ligand is pentadentate. The coordination of the DAPSC ligand and four coordinated water molecules around the metal cation is best described as a distorted tricapped trigonal prism. The structure displays intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The structure is isomorphous with many other published lanthanide(III) nitrate salts with the DAPSC ligand, 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(semicarbazone). One of the three nitrate counter-anions is disordered, which is consistent with the structures of other +3 lanthanide nitrate salts with DAPSC. Refinement of occupancies for the disordered nitrate group gave major and minor occupancies of 54.9 (14) and 45.1 (14)%, respectively.
Development taxonomy of human risk factors for corporate sustainability in aviation sector
Authors: Yazgan Ebru
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Contemporary management and strategy mean optimization of ingredient factors such as human factors, systems, operations and equipment. With system approach in management and strategy, human risk factor as input has considerable potential to change results as airworthiness in aviation management. The managers of aviation business also optimize their functions to act safe while making contribution to development in triple of sustainability as economic development and its sustainability; social development and its sustainability; and environmental development and its sustainability. Corporate sustainability can be accomplished via supporting workforce which is the human risk factor. To support (empowerment) workforce, researchers should identify human risk or error factors which are important to this research. The purpose of this study is to suggest holistic framework for working environment system of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) within two respects such as human performance (ergonomics) and corporate performance (sustainability). The secondary purpose of this system is to develop human risk taxonomy by determining the factors affecting both human and work by taking ergonomic aspects in aviation.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a taxonomy of human risk factors for AMTs is developed. These human factors divided into groups and subfactors are obtained from an extensive literature review and experts’ opinions in the field of human performance in aviation. Taxonomy developed will be useful to both sharing and using corporate sources in sustainable way.

Findings

Human risk factors can be considered or accepted as factors that cause human error. This may result in the optimum way to managing human risk factor via minimizing human-based error. Personality, hazardous attitudes, individual characteristics, physical/psychological condition of AMTs and corporate social responsibility factors are human-related risk variables in this study. The risks and error can be reduced by recognizing these factors and revealing their relation to ergonomic design.

Originality/value

The results of this study are intended to constitute a guide for managers to manage risk factors and to take corrective and preventive actions for their maintenance operations. It is believed that this study is highly important for the aviation sector in terms of raising awareness or providing awareness for similar practices. As taxonomy of the risk factors contributes to the managing human error, corrective actions related to these factors must be taken by managers.
Factors influencing Midwestern grain farmers’ use of risk management tools
Authors: Coffey Brian K. , Schroeder Ted C.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships between grain farm and farmer profiles and their respective choices to use forward pricing techniques and revenue protection crop insurance to manage risk.

Design/methodology/approach

An e-mail survey of Midwestern grain farmers elicited farmer demographic information, farm profile, risk attitudes and farmer use of forward pricing and revenue protection insurance. Responses regarding use of risk management tools were compiled as choices to use possible bundles of tools to account for simultaneous nature of the decision. Choices to use bundles of tools were used as the independent variable categories in a multinomial logit regression. Regressors were relevant data collected from the survey.

Findings

Farm size, using a market advisory service, and being a technology adopter are the most important factors in predicting risk management tool use by grain farmers. Farmers tend to use forward pricing and revenue protection insurance in combination. Large farms are more likely to use forward pricing tools.

Practical implications

Results provide researchers, extension professionals and risk management specialists with a current understanding of how farm and farmer characteristics relate to use of risk management tools. The authors also elaborate on findings to provide guidance for future risk management research.

Originality/value

The survey covered 9 Midwestern states and 648 grain farmers. The survey results update understanding of grain farmers’ risk management practices. The empirical approach treats risk management decisions to use available tools as simultaneous, which recent literature suggests is more appropriate than earlier approaches.
Master’s theses and open scholarship: a case study
Authors: Schopfel Joachim , Vanacker Sylvain , Kergosien Eric , Jacquemin Bernard
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to show how Master’s theses can contribute to open scholarship and give reasons why this should be done.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an overview of published studies and, based on the experience at the University of Lille (France), describes some essential aspects for the processing and valorization of these documents in the academic cloud, as a contribution of open scholarship.

Findings

Because of their number and diversity, collections of Masters’ theses in open repositories could be an excellent showcase for the universities’ Master programs and research. They could also offer interesting and large samples for content analysis, citation analysis and text and data mining (TDM). However, some issues need attention, above all intellectual property, quality and preservation. Quality is crucial, and the paper describes how the Lille project proceeds to assure sufficient quality and right clearance, and why the project shifted from students’ self-archiving to a digital library collection in the academic cloud, run by faculty and information professionals. The paper presents also some usage statistics to illustrate the potential, global impact of such a collection.

Practical implications

The paper provides helpful and empirical evidence and insight for those who want to develop the dissemination of Master’s theses via open repositories.

Originality/value

In the context of open scholarship, only few studies deal with Master’s theses, and this paper is the only recent reference that brings together a review of other papers and a case study with empirical evidence.
Improving predictions of international business environments: China as a case in point
Authors: Zhang Marina Yue
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Firms engaged in international business necessarily make predictions about the business environments in which they operate or seek to enter, on the basis of which they make a number of strategic decisions. The purpose of this paper is to consider the difficulties there are in making accurate predictions and how the process might be improved.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines predictions made in 2007 by ‘China experts’ about what the Chinese business environment would look like in 2017. Their predictions were accurate in respect of around two-thirds of the issues they were asked to consider. This paper focuses on the one-third of issues about which they were wide of the mark and examine the likely reasons.

Findings

The predictions of the 2007 study were accurate in respect of around two-thirds of the issues the China experts on the Delphi panel were asked to consider. The reason that they were wide of the mark on about one-third of issues could be attributed to two main factors: the 2008/2009 Global Financial Crisis and the appointment in 2013 of Xi Jinping as the President of China. These events precipitated changes in direction in the Chinese business environment that had not been (and could not have been) anticipated by the Delphi panel.

Originality/value

Very few Delphi studies have been subject to a follow-up examination of the accuracy of their predictions. This paper contributes a discussion the various methodologies that firms can use to improve their forecasts of international business environments.
The impact of disability on guests’ perceptions of service quality delivery in the hospitality industry
Authors: Kalargyrou Valentini , Barber Nelson A. , Kuo Pei-Jou
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of employees’ different disability types on lodging guests’ perceptions of service quality delivery and stereotyping. The study also explores the influence of consumer characteristics (i.e. gender, education, religiosity, generational identity and relationship to a person with a disability) on service delivery quality perceptions and stereotyping.

Design/methodology/approach

Using different types of disabilities, the study uses a controlled experiment, followed by a survey, to evaluate consumers’ perception of service quality delivery of a hotel front office staff member.

Findings

The results suggest that there are no significant differences in the perceptions of service quality delivery and stereotyping for service employees with disabilities with the exception of employees with a visual impairment. The study found that participants, who had a close friend or family member with a disability, expressed less stereotyping than those who did not have a close friend or family member with a disability.

Research limitations/implications

Real service encounters can be used where participants might be more involved in the service process than in a controlled experiment setting.

Practical implications

The findings provide support to human resource management in strategically placing people with disabilities into front-line positions because they satisfactorily represent the image of the company and guests consider their service professional and reliable.

Social implications

The study’s findings support that employers should tap into the under-utilized workforce of people with disabilities and avoid pre-existing stereotyping.

Originality/value

A major concern of hospitality companies making employment decisions about hiring people with disabilities is guests’ attitude. This is the first study in hospitality that examines service quality delivery of employees with different types of disability serve guests.
Contraceptive needs among newly incarcerated women in a county jail in the United States
Authors: Cannon Rachel , Madrigal Jessica M. , Feldman Elizabeth , Stempinski-Metoyer Kelly , Holloway Lillian , Patel Ashlesha
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the risk of unintended pregnancy among women during Cook County Jail intake by assessing basic contraceptive history, the need for emergency contraception (EC) at intake, and contraception at release.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross-sectional study of women 18–50 years old at Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois from June 2011 through August 2012. The authors administered the survey at the time of intake on 33 convenient evenings. Surveys consisted of multiple-choice close-ended questions administered via interview. Topics included contraceptive use, pregnancy risk and pregnancy desire. The authors computed frequencies to describe the distribution of question responses and used logistic regression modeling to identify factors significantly related to the use of contraception at intake and to the acceptance of contraception at release.

Findings

Overall, 194 women participated. Excluding women not at risk for pregnancy (4.6 percent currently pregnant, 17.5 percent surgically sterilized/postmenopausal and 4.6 percent using long-acting reversible contraceptives), 73.2 percent of women were at risk for pregnancy (n = 142) and, therefore, had a potential need for contraception. Among these women at risk for unintended pregnancy, 68 (47.9 percent) had unprotected intercourse within five days prior to survey administration. When asked about EC, most women (81.4 percent) would be interested if available. Additionally, 141 (72.7 percent) of women would be interested in contraceptive supplies if provided free at release.

Originality/value

Newly incarcerated women are at high risk for unintended pregnancy. Knowledge about EC and ability to access birth control services are both significantly limited. These conclusions support providing an intake screening in jails to identify women at risk for unintended pregnancy.
Non-cancer pain clinic in three English prisons: understanding prisoner needs and prescribing practice in relation to chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP)
Authors: Sondhi Arun , Garrett Tina
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Prisoner access to opiate-based analgesics and gabapentinoids is a concern to prisons through illicit trading. The purpose of this paper is to describe patient needs following introduction of nine pilot chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) clinics for chronic pain in three prisons (two male and one female) in the South of England. The study evaluated the effectiveness of this model and assessed the wider practical implementation issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Clinical notes were reviewed for 63 consultations, anonymised and recorded for secondary analysis.

Findings

Alongside CNCP, high levels of substance misuse, physical and mental health histories were noted, especially for female patients. Amitriptyline, pregabalin, gabapentin were the main frontline analgesics prescribed prior to assessment. A total of 41 per cent of patients did not change their medication following the consultation; 25 per cent had their medication increased or reintroduced (greater for women prisoners); with one-third (33 per cent) of patients reducing the prescription of strong opioids and gabapentinoids. Significant differences were noted between male and female patients. Prisoners were amenable to changes in medication to facilitate access to work and other therapeutic interventions.

Social implications

The prescribing of analgesics has largely been couched in terms of disruption to the prison regime through illicit trading. This study highlights the need to place CNCP within wider contexts of substance misuse, physical and emotional health. There is an opportunity to develop a rehabilitative rather than palliative approach to pain management. Gender specific approaches for female patients should be considered.

Originality/value

Few studies of CNCP have been conducted within a prison environment.
Income diversification and bank performance: evidence from BRICS nations
Authors: Sharma Shweta , Anand Anand
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of income diversification on bank performance in BRICS countries as a structural response to concentration risk. The authors argue that effectiveness of this approach is conditional upon its extent and quality. To understand the role of firm-specific characteristics on effectiveness of diversification, the authors examine this relationship across asset sizes.

Design/methodology/approach

An unbalanced panel data set of 169 BRICS banks is sampled over the period 2001–2015. Fixed effect models and system generalized method of moments techniques are used to test the relationship between diversification and bank performance using alternate measures.

Findings

Results indicate a positive relationship between diversification and performance measured in terms of bank risk and returns for medium and large size banks. However, for small banks this relationship is negative suggesting a “diversification discount.”

Originality/value

The study indicates that diversification as a risk mitigating tool can be effective but the managers and regulators should not emphasize on the “one-size-fits-all” approach for all banks. Policy frameworks for controlling concentration risk should be developed keeping in mind factors like bank size, customer base and financial leverage which brings variations to the risk profile of banks.
Authentic leadership and creativity
Authors: Chaudhary Richa , Panda Chinmay
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a conceptual model which explains whether and how authentic leadership, through psychological meaningfulness, safety and work engagement, influences employee creativity. The authors delineate two pathways from authentic leadership to work engagement, which in turn foster creativity. The first pathway illuminates how authentic leadership generates psychological meaningfulness which enhances work engagement and creativity subsequently, while the second elucidates the indirect impact of authentic leadership on creativity via psychological safety and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 300 employees working in heavy engineering and automobile industry in India. Regression analysis was used to analyze data with the help of SPSS 24. Serial mediation effects were tested with the help of bootstrapping procedures using SPSS process macro (Hayes, 2013).

Findings

Psychological meaningfulness and work engagement were found to mediate the relationship of authentic leadership with creativity both independently and in series. Psychological safety failed to transfer the effect of authentic leadership on both work engagement and creativity.

Practical implications

Organizations may reap the benefits of a creative and engaged workforce by selecting, nurturing and developing authentic leaders.

Originality/value

The study contributes to theory building in the area of authentic leadership by enriching the understanding of the processes carrying the effect of authentic leadership on desirable workplace outcomes. In doing so, the study also explicates the less understood nature of relationship between leadership and creativity.
Assessing Egyptian construction projects performance using principal component analysis
Authors: Marzouk Mohamed Mahdy , Gaid Emad Fayez
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The construction sector is a major contributor to the Egyptian economy and gross domestic products, plus considered as one of its fastest-growing sectors. Various deficiencies such as low productivity, delays, cost overrun, poor quality, etc. have plagued the construction sector, leading to undesirable project performance across Egypt and several other countries. One of the best methods to measure and improve performance evaluation and consequently a step toward industry improvement is key performance indicators (KPIs). The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the importance index for 35 KPIs. The KPIs were identified and selected based on an extensive literature review and one on one interview with expert construction professionals. Moreover, exploratory factor analysis method has been used to analyze and determine the inter-relationships between the set of indicators.

Findings

Seven indicators that have the highest importance indicator were selected to create project overall performance indicator assessment models to consistently measure the performance of different construction projects. Seven equations are introduced reflecting the output of the research while considering both organization size and project type.

Practical implications

The proposed evaluation assessment models can be used to: evaluate the relative success of projects; indicate the areas of strengths and weaknesses in performance and establish company benchmarking. Three projects were selected to validate the performance evaluation models.

Originality/value

This paper provides mathematical assessment models for evaluating overall construction project performance in Egypt, taking into consideration organization size and project type. Previously published research works on the subject matter are quite limited, and frequently deal with only one or two selected aspects.
The impacts of leadership support and coworker support on employee creative behavior
Authors: Zaitouni Michel , Ouakouak Mohamed Laid
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Previous research has emphasized how leadership style and collegial relationships can foster creativity in the workplace; in a related sense, understanding how support from leaders and coworkers affect the creativity process is critical too. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to seek a deeper understanding of how leadership support and coworker support influence employee creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was conducted among 299 employees working at eight organizations in a non-western country.

Findings

The results of this research revealed that both leadership support and coworker support exert positive influences on employee creativity, moderated by several additional variables. Specifically, employee engagement and tenure both strengthen the relationship of leadership support with employee creativity. Furthermore, individual creativity has a positive impact on job performance.

Research limitations/implications

These findings offer theoretical and practical implications, as well as directions for further research

Originality/value

This research examined the impacts of leadership support and coworker support on employee creative behavior and individual performance. To better understand the nature of these impacts, the authors introduced two moderators such as employee engagement and tenure. To the best of our knowledge, there are no empirical evidences regarding whether and how leadership support and coworker support interact with employee engagement and tenure to influence employee creative behavior and individual performance.
Availability analysis of distillery plant using petri nets
Authors: Bahl Ankur , Sachdeva Anish , Garg Rajiv Kumar
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prepare a methodology to evaluate availability analysis of distillery plant using Petri nets (PN). The effect of various failures, repair rate and availability of repair facilities on the system has been studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The PN model of a system is developed to study the dynamic behavior of the system under various working conditions. Availability analysis of the plant is presented taking into consideration of failure and repair rates of their subsystems and has been carried out using Monte Carlo simulation.

Findings

The bottle washing machine is the most critical machine from a maintenance point of view which has more compact on the system performance as compared to other machines. The availability analysis of distillery plant helps the management to adopt a suitable maintenance policy to improve upon plant production and plant availability.

Originality/value

The application of this proposed PN-based approach is very useful in finding the most critical subsystem and its effect on the performance of the system in terms of availability and plant production. Further, the advantage of the PN approach is that dynamic behavior of the system under consideration is modeled with graphic representation of the system and given distribution can be associated with the subsystems for analysis. The superiority of this approach over others, such as network, fault tree and Markov analysis, is outlined in the paper.
Optimizing replacement time for mining shovel teeth using reliability analysis and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Sembakutti Dilip , Ardian Aldin , Kumral Mustafa , Sasmito Agus Pulung
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: an approach is proposed to determine the optimum replacement time for shovel teeth; and a risk-quantification approached is developed to derive a confidence interval for replacement time.

Design/methodology/approach

The risk-quantification approach is based on a combination of Monte Carlo simulation and Markov chain. Monte Carlo simulation whereby the wear of shovel teeth is probabilistically monitored over time is used.

Findings

Results show that a proper replacement strategy has potential to increase operation efficiency and the uncertainties associated with this strategy can be managed.

Research limitations/implications

The failure time distribution of a tooth is assumed to remain “identically distributed and independent.” Planned tooth replacements are always done when the shovel is not in operation (e.g. between a shift change).

Practical implications

The proposed approach can be effectively used to determine a replacement strategy, along with the level of confidence level, for preventive maintenance planning.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper rests on developing a novel approach to monitor wear on mining shovels probabilistically. Uncertainty associated with production targets is quantified.
THz spectroscopy for inspection and evaluation of internal structure of sandwich samples
Authors: Mieloszyk Magdalena , Majewska Katarzyna , Ostachowicz Wieslaw
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of THz spectroscopy for the inspection and evaluation of the internal structure of complex samples with honeycomb fillers.

Design/methodology/approach

Three complex samples with honeycomb fillers are investigated using THz spectrometer in order to determine the applicability of chosen non-destructive method for the analysis of internal structure of structural components. The first analysed sample has aluminium honeycomb filler with some cells filled with water. The aim of the analysis is to distinguish empty and full cells. The other two sandwich samples are made of different non-metallic components and for them the possibility of THz spectroscopy application is analysed.

Findings

The empty and full cells in metal honeycomb filler were easily distinguished due to different absorption coefficients of electromagnetic waves in THz range for air and water. It was especially visible for frequency domain. The THz spectroscopy was able to inspect the non-metallic samples internal structures and distinguish skins (with layers), honeycomb fillers and adhesive layers between them. It was also possible to detect, localise and determine the size of a local damage of honeycomb walls due to impact influence.

Originality/value

The present study is an original research work. There are very limited literature papers which present analyses of internal structures of sandwich elements using THz spectroscopy and investigate utility of the method for mechanical damage and contamination (water) detection and localisation.
Designs of low frictional coefficients for joint bearings by inlaying graphites and liquid spraying of MoS2
Authors: Cao Jun , Yin Zhongwei
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem of joint bearings that cannot work in high temperature because of their high frictional coefficients.

Design/methodology/approach

Two methods of inlaying graphites and liquid spraying of MoS2 are designed. The arrangement of graphites is shown and its frictional coefficients (COFs) are discussed. MoS2 coating is deposited by liquid spraying. The ingredients of liquid spraying of MoS2 are illustrated. Stresses, structure deformations and fatigue life are analyzed by finite element analysis.

Findings

Results show that both two designed methods can decrease COFs effectively. All stresses are in the limit of the maximum permissible stresses. The new designed bearings can be safety worked in sealed and high temperature environment which are proved by fatigue analyses.

Practical implications

Two new designs can help joint bearings work in nuclear plants because of their low COFs and litter wear. The new designs can improve bearings life.

Originality/value

Two methods of decreasing COFs of joint bearings are designed in this paper. The technologies are illustrated. The proper scopes of applications of two designed methods are discussed.
A two-level optimized graph-based simultaneous localization and mapping algorithm
Authors: Xiong Hui , Chen Youping , Li Xiaoping , Chen Bing
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Because submaps including a subset of the global map contain more environmental information, submap-based graph simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) has been studied by many researchers. In most of those studies, helpful environmental information was not taken into consideration when designed the termination criterion of the submap construction process. After optimizing the graph, cumulative error within the submaps was also ignored. To address those problems, this paper aims to propose a two-level optimized graph-based SLAM algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

Submaps are updated by extended Kalman filter SLAM while no geometric-shaped landmark models are needed; raw laser scans are treated as landmarks. A more reasonable criterion called the uncertainty index is proposed to combine with the size of the submap to terminate the submap construction process. After a submap is completed and a loop closure is found, a two-level optimization process is performed to minimize the loop closure error and the accumulated error within the submaps.

Findings

Simulation and experimental results indicate that the estimated error of the proposed algorithm is small, and the maps generated are consistent whether in global or local.

Practical implications

The proposed method is robust to sparse pedestrians and can be adapted to most indoor environments.

Originality/value

In this paper, a two-level optimized graph-based SLAM algorithm is proposed.
How groups of nursing home residents respond to “the CRDL”: a pilot study
Authors: Luyten Tom , Braun Susy , van Hooren Susan , de Witte Luc
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe whether and how groups of nursing home residents respond to the interactive device “the CRDL”. The CRDL can translate touches between people into sounds. It recognises the type of touch and adjusts the produced sound accordingly.

Design/methodology/approach

This was as an observational explorative study. Responses were coded and analysed using an existing theoretical framework.

Findings

The CRDL creates an atmosphere of playfulness and curiosity. It lowers the threshold to touch, provides an incentive to touch and encourages experimentation with different types of touches on arms and hands. The sounds the CRDL produces sometimes trigger memories and provide themes to start and support conversation. Involving a (large) group of nursing home residents to interact with the CRDL is challenging.

Research limitations/implications

In order to more fully understand the potential of the CRDL, its use should be studied in different group and individual sessions and the effects of tailored content, adjusted to individual preferences and/or stages of cognition should be explored. Finally, the effects of using the CRDL on the general wellbeing of nursing home residents should be studied.

Practical implications

The CRDL can help caregivers to use touch to make contact with (groups of their) residents. A session should be guided by an experienced caregiver. Some familiarisation and practice with the CRDL are recommended and a quiet environment is advised.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the potential of interactive objects, such as the CRDL, in the nursing home.
Risk reporting appraisal in post-revolutionary Tunisia
Authors: Hemrit Wael
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the determinants of operational and liquidity risk reporting for the Tunisian insurance and banking sectors after the outbreak of the Tunisian revolution on 14 January 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

A manual content analysis approach was used to measure risk disclosure by counting the number of risk-related words within risk-related sentences in a wide range of publications.

Findings

The results show that operational risk disclosure is associated positively with operational losses frequency, institution size and the proportion of independent non-executive members of the board of directors. Also, board size is found to be negatively associated with risk disclosure. Moreover, net stable funding ratio, size and proportion of independent non-executive members have a positive effect on liquidity risk disclosure. The authors also discover that infrequency of board meetings and the presence of young members on the board increase the extent of liquidity risk information.

Research limitations/implications

The research focuses on a small number of observations which somewhat restrict the generalization of results to the entire class of financial sector in Tunisia. Also, the qualitative character of some supposed explanatory variables (frequency and severity of operational risk) relies heavily on the experiences of interviewees and their basic perceptions.

Practical implications

Investors might do well to rely on such characteristics (large board size, less active board and a high proportion of non-executive directors) to predict the disclosure of risk information, either operational or liquidity risk. Board members should keep an eye on reporting on risk, by promoting the success keys of governance, because good corporate governance has to be recognizable at first to be an effective value driver.

Originality/value

The findings rationalize the debate over the impact of improved corporate governance on risk disclosure practices within the context of the Tunisian revolution. The logic of this rationalization may help to promote political incentives that will encourage a risk management culture based on a dynamic communication framework.
Markov probabilistic decision making of self-driving cars in highway with random traffic flow: a simulation study
Authors: Guan Yang , Li Shengbo Eben , Duan Jingliang , Wang Wenjun , Cheng Bo
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Decision-making is one of the key technologies for self-driving cars. The high dependency of previously existing methods on human driving data or rules makes it difficult to model policies for different driving situations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, a probabilistic decision-making method based on the Markov decision process (MDP) is proposed to deduce the optimal maneuver automatically in a two-lane highway scenario without using any human data. The decision-making issues in a traffic environment are formulated as the MDP by defining basic elements including states, actions and basic models. Transition and reward models are defined by using a complete prediction model of the surrounding cars. An optimal policy was deduced using a dynamic programing method and evaluated under a two-dimensional simulation environment.

Findings

Results show that, at the given scenario, the self-driving car maintained safety and efficiency with the proposed policy.

Originality/value

This paper presents a framework used to derive a driving policy for self-driving cars without relying on any human driving data or rules modeled by hand.
From laurels to learners: leadership with virtue
Authors: Antonacopoulou Elena , Bento Regina F.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach to leadership development founded on the principle of the Leader-as-Learner: a reflective human who pursues the 4C – virtues of courage, commitment, confidence and curiosity, rather than the laurels of traditional approaches of heroic leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

Exploring art-based methods and fostering a new approach to leadership development: Leaders-as-Learners.

Findings

In this paper, studies and theoretical findings from the literature are discussed.

Research limitations/implications

This paper includes extending life stories and modes of learning by projecting possible selves as leaders, to learn the daily practice of leadership.

Practical implications

Leadership involves not only the art of judgment but refines it through a learning orientation to confront volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity conditions.

Social implications

Leadership is not limited to organizations and in relation to work practices. It is a central aspect in all social affairs and integral to building societies which serve, through leaders, the common good.

Originality/value

An approach to leadership development that supports human flourishing and locates leadership among ordinary people who do extra-ordinary things.
What determines customers’ engagement in the digital service process?
Authors: Saunila Minna , Ukko Juhani , Rantala Tero
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine customer engagement behavior (CEB) in digital environments. Specifically, the paper seeks to determine the factors that affect CEB in the different parts of the digital service process.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal, qualitative, single-case study is used to examine CEB in digital environments. The selected case company is a provider of streaming TV services. Both primary data, gathered from interviews, focus groups and participant observations in meetings with a selected focus group, and secondary data, gathered from company websites sources, were used.

Findings

This study shows that CEB is determined by different factors in different phases of the digital service process. Moreover, the results show that engagement is highlighted during the front-end phase of the process. During the back-end phase, the role of engagement is realized by maintaining and updating solutions.

Originality/value

The originality of the research is based on the study of CEB in the context of the digital service process. The factors that affect CEB are classified as customer-based, firm-based and context-based factors.
Detection of phishing websites using a novel twofold ensemble model
Authors: Nagaraj Kalyan , Bhattacharjee Biplab , Sridhar Amulyashree , GS Sharvani
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Phishing is one of the major threats affecting businesses worldwide in current times. Organizations and customers face the hazards arising out of phishing attacks because of anonymous access to vulnerable details. Such attacks often result in substantial financial losses. Thus, there is a need for effective intrusion detection techniques to identify and possibly nullify the effects of phishing. Classifying phishing and non-phishing web content is a critical task in information security protocols, and full-proof mechanisms have yet to be implemented in practice. The purpose of the current study is to present an ensemble machine learning model for classifying phishing websites.

Design/methodology/approach

A publicly available data set comprising 10,068 instances of phishing and legitimate websites was used to build the classifier model. Feature extraction was performed by deploying a group of methods, and relevant features extracted were used for building the model. A twofold ensemble learner was developed by integrating results from random forest (RF) classifier, fed into a feedforward neural network (NN). Performance of the ensemble classifier was validated using k-fold cross-validation. The twofold ensemble learner was implemented as a user-friendly, interactive decision support system for classifying websites as phishing or legitimate ones.

Findings

Experimental simulations were performed to access and compare the performance of the ensemble classifiers. The statistical tests estimated that RF_NN model gave superior performance with an accuracy of 93.41 per cent and minimal mean squared error of 0.000026.

Research limitations/implications

The research data set used in this study is publically available and easy to analyze. Comparative analysis with other real-time data sets of recent origin must be performed to ensure generalization of the model against various security breaches. Different variants of phishing threats must be detected rather than focusing particularly toward phishing website detection.

Originality/value

The twofold ensemble model is not applied for classification of phishing websites in any previous studies as per the knowledge of authors.
A systemic methodology for the reduction of water consumption in rural areas
Authors: Flórez María Paula , Ramírez María Catalina , Payán-Durán Luisa Fernanda , Peralta Mauricio , Acero Lopez Andres Esteban
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to present a systemic methodological proposal for the reduction of water consumption in rural areas, based on participatory tools.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical framework was constructed based on the importance of stakeholders’ participation in the adequate use of the hydro resources, technologies to save water and modeling the adoption of possible water-saving technologies. After that, it was proposed a methodology for the reduction of water consumption in rural areas. This methodology was tested in a participatory study case, including the system dynamics model.

Findings

This study proposes a participatory systemic methodology – PAWAME – participation-water waste-adoption-model-empowerment, which consists of four steps: identify stakeholders and the activities related with the waste of water in the study site and establish their values, measure the adoption that the technology would have based on the awareness generated, relate in a model the variables of the water-consuming activities and the variables of the technology and its adoption to analyze possible future behaviors and empowerment of the technology to reduce water consumption.

Practical implications

In Colombia, part of the population has the wrong perception about the abundance of the hydro resource, and for this reason, people do not use water in a correct way. The inclusion of a participatory systemic methodology was fundamental to apprehend the dynamic aspects of users’ behaviors, as well as of the management of the water resource. The model addresses the complexity of the situation, allowing exploring future scenarios of environmental protection.

Originality/value

This study advances the knowledge in participatory systemic methodology to design and adopt a local technology to save water.
Impact of nutrition and health counselling on quality of life in celiac children aged 7-12 years as reported by parents
Authors: Chishty Sadia , Monika Monika , Singh Nimali
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of nutrition and health counselling on quality of life (QoL) among celiac children (CC) aged 7-12 years, which was reported by the parent. So far, no study has emphasized on impact of nutritional counselling on QoL in CC. The QoL in the present study was reported by parents of celiac and non-celiac (NC) subjects.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an interventional study. Follow-up celiac cases aged 7-12 years (n= 50) were compared with NC cases (n= 25). A 24-item instrument was standardized for reliability and validity and was used to assess the QoL of children on a 100-score scale. The scale used four dimensions and explored physical, emotional, social and family outlook. The impact of health counselling using posters, leaflets and a booklet prepared on simplification of disease, gluten-free diet and its treatment was determined.

Findings

Total QoL scores were better in NC children (7-9 years), whereas celiac pre-adolescents (CP; 10-12 years) showed higher QoL scores than NC pre-adolescents. NC QoL scores were significantly higher than CC in emotional and mental domain (p< 0.02) and family outlook (p< 0.01). In CP, physical well-being (p< 0.01) and social well-being (p< 0.04) were significantly higher, whereas family outlook was significantly lower (p< 0.01). After repetitive counselling sessions, the CC had higher scores than their NC siblings. Postintervention QoL scores in CC (7-9 years) and pre-adolescents improved from 77.5 to 80.95 and from 80.16 to 83.75, respectively, and a significant positive shift was seen in family outlook (p< 0.05).

Originality/value

This study presents a comparative analysis on impact of nutrition counselling on QoL in Indian CC and their comparison with NC siblings matched for age.