bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3D printed devices and infrastructure for liquid sample delivery at the European XFEL
Authors: Vakili Mohammad , Bielecki Johan , Knoška Juraj , Otte Florian , Han Huijong , Kloos Marco , Schubert Robin , Delmas Elisa , Mills Grant , de Wijn Raphael , Letrun Romain , Dold Simon , Bean Richard , Round Adam , Kim Yoonhee , Lima Frederico A. , Dörner Katerina , Valerio Joana , Heymann Michael , Mancuso Adrian P. , Schulz Joachim
Published: February 2022

The Sample Environment and Characterization (SEC) group of the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (EuXFEL) develops sample delivery systems for the various scientific instruments, including systems for the injection of liquid samples that enable serial femtosecond X-ray crystallography (SFX) and single-particle imaging (SPI) experiments, among others. For rapid prototyping of various device types and materials, sub-micrometre precision 3D printers are used to address the specific experimental conditions of SFX and SPI by providing a large number of devices with reliable performance. This work presents the current pool of 3D printed liquid sample delivery devices, based on the two-photon polymerization (2PP) technique. These devices encompass gas dynamic virtual nozzles (GDVNs), mixing-GDVNs, high-viscosity extruders (HVEs) and electrospray conical capillary tips (CCTs) with highly reproducible geometric features that are suitable for time-resolved SFX and SPI experiments at XFEL facilities. Liquid sample injection setups and infrastructure on the Single Particles, Clusters, and Biomolecules and Serial Femtosecond Crystallography (SPB/SFX) instrument are described, this being the instrument which is designated for biological structure determination at the EuXFEL.
A cell design for correlative hard X-ray nanoprobe and electron microscopy studies of catalysts under in situ conditions
Authors: Parker Julia E. , Gomez-Gonzalez Miguel , Van Lishout Yolanda , Islam Husn , Duran Martin Desiree , Ozkaya Dogan , Quinn Paul D. , Schuster Manfred E.
Published: February 2022

To improve the understanding of catalysts, and ultimately the ability to design better materials, it is crucial to study them during their catalytic active states. Using in situ or operando conditions allows insights into structure–property relationships, which might not be observable by ex situ characterization. Spatially resolved X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy are powerful tools to determine structural and electronic properties, and the spatial resolutions now achievable at hard X-ray nanoprobe beamlines make them an ideal complement to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies in a multi-length-scale analysis approach. The development of a system to enable the use of a commercially available gas-cell chip assembly within an X-ray nanoprobe beamline is reported here. The novel in situ capability is demonstrated by an investigation of the redox behaviour of supported Pt nanoparticles on ceria under typical lean and rich diesel-exhaust conditions; however, the system has broader application to a wide range of solid–gas reactions. In addition the setup allows complimentary in situ transmission electron microscopy and X-ray nanoprobe studies under identical conditions, with the major advantage compared with other systems that the exact same cell can be used and easily transferred between instruments. This offers the exciting possibility of studying the same particles under identical conditions (gas flow, pressure, temperature) using multiple techniques.
Has bank credit really impacted agricultural productivity in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community?
Authors: Ngong Chi Aloysius , Onyejiaku Chinyere , Fonchamnyo Dobdinga Cletus , Onwumere Josaphat Uchechukwu Joe
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) from 1990 to 2019. Studies’ results on the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity are not conclusive. The studies demonstrate diverse outcomes which are debatable. The results are conflicting.

Design/methodology/approach

Agricultural value added (AGRVA) to the gross domestic product (GDP) proxies agricultural productivity while domestic credit to the private sector by banks (DCPSB), broad money supply, land, inflation (INF), physical capital (PHKAP) and labour supply are explanatory variables. The autoregressive distributed lag technique is utilized.

Findings

The co-integration test results show a long-run co-integration among the variables. The findings disclose that DCPSB, land and PHKAP impact positively on the AGRVA. Broad money supply, INF and labour impact negatively on the AGRVA to the GDP.

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that the CEMAC governments should encourage effective ways to increase bank credit flow to private enterprises in the agricultural sector through efficient bank's intermediation.

Practical implications

The governments should create more agricultural banks and improve the operation of existing ones to ensure direct credit to agricultural activities. The Bank of Central African Economic and Monetary Community should apply aggressive policy which eliminates all the bottlenecks undermining credit flow to the private sector in mutualism with agricultural productivity.

Social implications

The commercial banks should give more credit to private sector to mutually benefit the agricultural sector and the banking sector. The governments of the CEMAC economies should expand funding into the capital market which considerably boosts agricultural productivity.

Originality/value

Studies’ results on the impact of bank credit on agricultural productivity are not conclusive. The studies demonstrate diverse outcomes which are debatable. The results are conflicting; some reveal positive impacts, some show negative impacts and others indicate U-shape behaviour. Hence, research is required to fill the lacuna.
A semantic model to publish open source software on the web of data
Authors: Mosharraf Maedeh
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to propose a semantic model for describing open source software (OSS) in a machine–human understandable format. The model is extracted to support source code reusing and revising as the two primary targets of OSS through a systematic review of related documents.

Design/methodology/approach

Conducting a systematic review, all the software reusing criteria are identified and introduced to the web of data by an ontology for OSS (O4OSS). The software semantic model introduced in this paper explores OSS through triple expressions in which the O4OSS properties are predicates.

Findings

This model improves the quality of web data by describing software in a structured machine–human readable profile, which is linked to the related data that was previously published on the web. Evaluating the OSS semantic model is accomplished through comparing it with previous approaches, comparing the software structured metadata with profile index of software in some well-known repositories, calculating the software retrieval rank and surveying domain experts.

Originality/value

Considering context-specific information and authority levels, the proposed software model would be applicable to any open and close software. Using this model to publish software provides an infrastructure of connected meaningful data and helps developers overcome some specific challenges. By navigating software data, many questions which can be answered only through reading multiple documents can be automatically responded on the web of data.
Factors affecting the smallholder farmers' participation in the emerging modern supply chain in developing countries
Authors: KC Diwakar , Roberts Robin E. , Quach Sara
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Despite the availability of new buyers and the possibility to receive higher prices, still large numbers of smallholder farmers do not participate in the modern supply chains. This study aims to understand the factors that affect smallholder farmers' participation in a newly emerging modern supply chain context.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 6 focus groups of farmers (67 farmers in total) and 14 interviews with market actors and key informants such as government officials and donor organisations.

Findings

Influential factors of farmers' participation in the modern chain include buyer attributes and transaction conditions. High prices and prompt payment are the key motivators, with the main inhibitors being personal relationships with buyers and strict market requirements related to quality and quantity supplied.

Practical implications

In order to encourage smallholder farmer participation in modern chains, an expansion of the marketing of high-quality vegetables by implementing quality control mechanisms and the encouragement to adopt safe marketing practices is needed. These results are particularly relevant for practitioners and policymakers.

Originality/value

Most research to date concentrates on farmers' socioeconomic characteristics and are based in countries with advanced modern chains, and rarely focus on farmer participation in countries where modern chains are relatively new. This study addresses this gap by analysing farmer preferences to engage in the context of a country experiencing the emergence of trade through modern vegetable supply chain system.
Design and fabrication of rotary magnetostrictvie energy harvester for knee-joint wearable applications
Authors: Yan Baiping , Huang Dazhuo , Hong Junjie , Zhang Chengming
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to present the design and fabrication of a rotary magnetostrictive energy generator, using to harvest the rotation energy of human knee joint.

Design/methodology/approach

A rotary magnetostrictive energy generator is presented in this paper. The harvester consists of six movable flat Terfenol-D rods, surround by the picked-up coils respective, and alternate permanent magnet (PM) array fixed in the upper cover of the stator. The harvester rotates like as a stepper motor, which has rotary electromagnetic power generating effect and impacted magnetostrictive power generating effect in its rotation. Modeling and simulation are used to validate the concept. A prototype of harvester is fabricated and subjected to the experimental characterization.

Findings

The size of proposed structure is control as 77 cm3, and its mass is about 0.21 kg. Huge induced voltage generated in the short-time impact situation, and that induced voltage in the harvester can up to 18.6 V at 0.32 s stepper rotation. Also, the presented harvester has good harvesting effects at low frequency human walking situation, which is suitable to be used for future researches of wearable knee joint applications.

Originality/value

A new concept of magnetostrictive harvester is presneted, which will be benefit for the application of human knee joint wearable. Also, this concept will give us more idea for collection of human movement energy.
Comparing insolation on building façades in five different climates
Authors: Stasinopoulos Thanos N.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The objective is to provide a quantitative insight on the dynamic nature of insolation on the building perimeter according to location, season and orientation. Such understanding is necessary for deciding on solar control strategies in diverse climatic environments, from low to high availability of insolation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explores the seasonal changes of solar irradiation on building façades of various orientations at five locations with diverse climates (Reykjavík, London, Athens, Riyadh, Lagos). Solar data collected from the European PVGIS database is used to study the monthly distribution of global solar radiation incident on building façades at cardinal and ordinal orientations, as well as the proportions of its components.

Findings

The results illuminate the effects of the various factors on insolation. Among others: In all locations, horizontal surfaces receive more annual irradiation than any façade. In summer, east/west facades receive more radiation than south, hence solar protection on those directions is more important than on south. The beam fraction varies seasonally on south and north facades, but not so on east/west. Local atmospheric conditions can offset the importance of latitude on insolation levels and composition.

Originality/value

The paper utilises commonly available data to correlate insolation values and types under different factors across the globe, offering a better understanding on insolation for the design of greener buildings.
Construction productivity prediction through Bayesian networks for building projects: case from Vietnam
Authors: Khanh Ha Duy , Kim Soo Yong , Linh Le Quoc
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to focus on exploring the construction productivity of building projects under the influence of potential factors. The three primary purposes are (1) determining critical factors affecting construction productivity; (2) identifying causal relationship and occurrence probability of these factors to develop a Bayesian network (BN) model; and (3) validating the accuracy of predictions from the proposed BN model via a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual framework that includes three performance stages was used. Twenty-two possible factors were screened from a comprehensive literature review and evaluated through expert opinions. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire-based survey and case-study-based survey. The sampling methods were based on non-probability sampling.

Findings

Worker characteristic-related factors significantly affect labour productivity for a construction task. Construction productivity is dominated by the working frequency of workers (overtime), complexity of the task, level of technology application and accidents. Labour productivity is defined as nearly 50% of the baseline productivity using the BN model created by the caut 2sal relationship and probability of factors. The prediction error of the BN model was 6.6%, 10.0% and 9.3% for formwork (m2/h), reinforcing steel (ton/h) and concrete (m3/h), respectively.

Research limitations/implications

The evaluation or prediction of productivity performance has become a necessary topic for research and practice.

Practical implications

Managers and practitioners in the construction sector can utilise the outcome of this study to create good productivity management policies for their prospective projects.

Originality/value

Worker-related characteristics are dominant among critical factors affecting labour productivity for a construction task; the proposed BN-based predictive model is built based on these critical factors. The BN approach is highly accurate for construction productivity prediction. The findings of this study can fill gaps in the construction management body of knowledge when modelling construction productivity under the effects of multiple factors and using a simple probabilistic graphic tool.
Constructing a mobile visual search framework for Dunhuang murals based on fine-tuned CNN and ontology semantic distance
Authors: Zeng Ziming , Sun Shouqiang , Sun Jingjing , Yin Jie , Shen Yueyan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Dunhuang murals are rich in cultural and artistic value. The purpose of this paper is to construct a novel mobile visual search (MVS) framework for Dunhuang murals, enabling users to efficiently search for similar, relevant and diversified images.

Design/methodology/approach

The convolutional neural network (CNN) model is fine-tuned in the data set of Dunhuang murals. Image features are extracted through the fine-tuned CNN model, and the similarities between different candidate images and the query image are calculated by the dot product. Then, the candidate images are sorted by similarity, and semantic labels are extracted from the most similar image. Ontology semantic distance (OSD) is proposed to match relevant images using semantic labels. Furthermore, the improved DivScore is introduced to diversify search results.

Findings

The results illustrate that the fine-tuned ResNet152 is the best choice to search for similar images at the visual feature level, and OSD is the effective method to search for the relevant images at the semantic level. After re-ranking based on DivScore, the diversification of search results is improved.

Originality/value

This study collects and builds the Dunhuang mural data set and proposes an effective MVS framework for Dunhuang murals to protect and inherit Dunhuang cultural heritage. Similar, relevant and diversified Dunhuang murals are searched to meet different demands.
Discrepancies between national and state building by-laws in Malaysia: a review
Authors: Kamarulzaman Putri Nabila , Azmi Nur Farhana , Sulaiman Raha , M. Zaid Suzaini
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Malaysia’s building regulation is mainly based on the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984 which provides guidelines on the procedures for building plans approval and other means of development control. However, the application of these by-laws varies between local authorities, as they are gazetted by different state governments. The formulation of UBBL 1984 which was originally formulated to address the need for a standardized set of building regulations for the country is now perceived as inconsistent and complex. Therefore, this research attempts to examine the discrepancies between state by-laws, particularly Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and national UBBL 1984.

Design/methodology/approach

Critical review of the content of the UBBL (Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur) 1985 and national UBBL 1984 was carried out to pinpoint discrepancies between the two by-laws.

Findings

Differences between national UBBL and Kuala Lumpur By-laws fall into four main categories particularly terminology, prescriptive requirements, presence of terms and by-laws. Three editorial spelling and typing errors were also found in the national UBBL 1984. It is argued that the errors and differences lead to confusion and pose unnecessary regulatory burden to the construction industry which ultimately discourage people to disobey the rules. The identified discrepancies between these by-laws showed an urgent need to review the current building by-laws considering today’s technologies, norms and citizen needs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of many fruitful contributions that examine discrepancies between by-laws that govern building control matters in Malaysia. Although centred on legislation in Malaysia, the findings are relevant for governments around the world working towards improving public service delivery.
Risk management of supply chains in the digital transformation era: contribution and challenges of blockchain technology
Authors: Rauniyar Komal , Wu Xiaobo , Gupta Shivam , Modgil Sachin , Lopes de Sousa Jabbour Ana Beatriz
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The high degree of likely disruption challenges organizations at all levels to develop and implement innovative strategies. Ensuring supply chain continuity even during emergency and complex situations is critical for organizations. Therefore, this study explores some strategies adopted by firms based on innovation and blockchain-enabled digital transformation to reduce risk in their supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows the qualitative form of enquiry. The authors interviewed 26 professionals from the supply chain domain. After three-layered coding and mapping multiple layers to the data of interviews, the authors identified emerging themes and sub-themes through a thematic analysis.

Findings

The authors identified type of risks that can affect global supply chains along with both the role of blockchain and innovation culture in minimizing the degree of such risks and the challenges in adopting blockchain technologies. This led us to develop a framework to address supply chain risk through digital transformation through innovation and blockchain.

Practical implications

This research offers exciting implications for practice by drawing on the insights gathered to facilitate supply chain risk management through innovation and blockchain applications for organizations that are strongly impacted by digital transformation practices around the world. The study also offers the utilization of a framework followed by propositions to reduce supply chain risks in the digital transformation era.

Originality/value

This study focuses on presenting a mechanism of supply chain risk management through the application of innovation and blockchain technology for the digital transformation of a value chain. Blockchain can offer an innovative platform to ready the supply chain for future dynamic situations.
Assessing the antecedents and outcomes of salesperson’s psychological capital
Authors: Gupta Bindu , Singh Rakesh , Puri Sandeep , Rawat Pankaj Singh
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of a salesperson’s psychological capital (PsyCap) on sales performance through the interplay of work engagement and performance feedback. This study examines the role of thought self-leadership (TSL) as an antecedent of a salesperson’s PsyCap.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in the social cognitive theory and job demands–resources theory, a hypothesized model is proposed. To test the hypothesized model, data on sales professionals were collected from B2B sales organizations, and a structural equation model was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results demonstrate that TSL drives PsyCap in salespeople. The results also suggest an interesting relationship between salesperson’s PsyCap and their sales performance through work engagement as a mediator for PsyCap and sales performance. The moderating effect of performance feedback on work engagement was not significant and thus counterintuitive.

Practical implications

The results suggest that organizations should invest in training to develop the TSL of their salesforce, which will lead to enhanced performance through personal resources such as PsyCap. Further, the findings have implications for sales organization designs and structure.

Originality/value

This study augments the extant information on the linkage between a salesperson’s PsyCap and sales performance by suggesting mediation mechanisms and proposing an integrated framework with work engagement. Further, the authors establish TSL as an important cognitive mechanism to strengthen PsyCap in salespeople.
A new solar powered robotic arm guided master–slave electric motors of biomass conveyor
Authors: Ghodki Manish Kumar
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Electric motor heating during biomass recovery and its handling on conveyor is a serious concern for the motor performance. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to design and develop a hardware prototype of master–slave electric motors based biomass conveyor system to use the motors under normal operating conditions without overheating.

Design/methodology/approach

The hardware prototype of the system used master–slave electric motors for embedded controller operated robotic arm to automatically replace conveyor motors by one another. A mixed signal based embedded controller (C8051F226DK), fully compliant with IEEE 1149.1 specifications, was used to operate the entire system. A precise temperature measurement of motor with the help of negative temperature coefficient sensor was possible due to the utilization of industry standard temperature controller (N76E003AT20). Also, a pulse width modulation based speed control was achieved for master–slave motors of biomass conveyor.

Findings

As compared to conventional energy based mains supply, the system is self-sufficient to extract more energy from solar supply with an energy increase of 11.38%. With respect to conventional energy based \ of 47.31%, solar energy based higher energy saving of 52.69% was reported. Also, the work achieved higher temperature reduction of 34.26% of the motor as compared to previous cooling options.

Originality/value

The proposed technique is free from air, liquid and phase-changing material based cooling materials. As a consequence, the work prevents the wastage of these materials and does not cause the risk of health hazards. Also, the motors are used with their original dimensions without facing any leakage problems.
Performance implications of corporate venture capital investments for entrepreneurial ventures: the differing moderating effects of R&D intensity before and after IPO
Authors: Dai Weiqi , Wang Yi , Liao Mingqing , Shao Mei , Jiang Yue , Zhang Miao
Published: February 2022

Purpose

One increasingly popular financing option for entrepreneurial ventures is to attract corporate venture capital (CVC) investments. Prior research tends to take a CVC-centric perspective assessing the benefits and contingencies for incumbent firms or corporate investors to engage with entrepreneurial ventures. Few studies have taken the opposite perspective of investigating factors that entrepreneurial ventures need to take into account when engaging with CVC investments. As such, this study aims to investigate pre- and post-IPO entrepreneurial venture performance that partners with CVC providers or corporate investors, as well as to assess organizational and environmental contingencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on a sample of 631 entrepreneurial ventures from the CSMAR database ranging from 2009 to 2019, along with CVC financing data from the CVSource database and financial data in entrepreneurial ventures’ annual reports from the Juchao Network. This study applies multiple linear regression modelling and fixed effect panel data analyses to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that CVC investment contributes to entrepreneurial ventures’ financial performance, both pre- and post-IPO. However, while research and development (R&D) intensity and geographic proximity strengthen the positive relationship between CVC investment and entrepreneurial ventures’ performance pre-IPO, R&D intensity has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between CVC investment and entrepreneurial ventures’ performance post-IPO.

Practical implications

First, in emerging economies, adopting a CVC financing strategy is an important strategic choice for entrepreneurial ventures that have a great demand for external capital, resources and technology support. Second, leveraging the relationship between external financing and internal R&D investment is essential for them to maintain their core competitiveness and sustainable growth. Moreover, entrepreneurial ventures should deal with the coopetitive relationship with incumbent companies and manage their dependency on other market participants in the external environment.

Originality/value

This study focuses on the performance implications for entrepreneurial ventures engaging with CVC investments pre- and post-IPO. First, this study broadens and expands prior research on the mechanism of the relationship between CVC and entrepreneurial ventures’ financial performance. Second, the research conducts a comparative study of the moderating effects of different timings. Third, this study applies learning theory to the field of CVC in emerging economies.
Internal audit quality and resistance to pressure
Authors: AL Fayi Salem M.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The work of internal auditors is relevant to their host entities' reporting processes; however, few researchers have examined how internal auditors’ competency and objectivity affect their resistance to pressure from host entities regarding their reports. Thus, the main objective of this study is to examine the influence of internal audit functions' (IAF) quality factors on chief audit executives' (CAEs) ability not to modify internal audit report.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from the Global Internal Audit Common Body of Knowledge to investigate the relationship between IAF quality and auditor resistance to pressure related to changes in internal audit reports. IAF quality is calculated using a composite measure comprising four IAF quality components. Auditors' resistance is measured using the extent to which internal auditors experienced a situation wherein they were directed to modify a valid audit finding in a report.

Findings

The analyses provide evidence that CAEs experience, certification, training and objectivity were all significantly associated with resistance to pressure. In other words, a greater quality of IAF leads to a greater ability to resist pressure to change their reports.

Research limitations/implications

Despite the statistically significant results that confirm the impact of IAF competence and objectivity on the resistance of CAEs to pressure, some other factors should be considered simultaneously in future research. In addition, the study sample contains 2,193 CAEs from different regions, environments, sectors and business areas. Focussing on a particular environment, sector or organisation size may generate different results.

Practical implications

The following practical implications are proposed: First, internal audit regulators will find this study helpful in formulating strategies for creating balanced relationships between CAEs and other authorities and users. Second, CAEs can be encouraged to undergo constant training and complete professional development (as required by the Institute of Internal Auditors [IIA] standard). Finally, it would be interesting to apply this study to a particular environment, sector and size.

Originality/value

This study builds on the limited research that investigates the relationship between IAFs’ quality and the resistance of CAEs to pressure. It extends Calven’s (2021) study that investigates the impact of adherence to the IIA's Core Principles on the likelihood of IAFs modifying valid audit findings. This study examines the influence of IAF quality factors on CAEs' ability not to modify internal audit report.
Entrepreneurship in smart cities: elements of start-up ecosystem
Authors: Mitra Somnath , Kumar Harish , Gupta M.P. , Bhattacharya Jaijit
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The cities are distinctly engine of economic growth, which depends upon speed at which innovations are brought out and trigger entrepreneurship. Smart city initiatives are one of the opportunities to unleash innovation and entrepreneurship in developing countries like India. Entrepreneurial ecosystem research in smart cities is still in its nascent phase. Therefore, the study aims to bring out elements for a start-up ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship in smart cities.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus group discussion has been applied to gain a variety of insights and opinion from selected participants with diverse expertise.

Findings

The study proposes a framework for developing a start-up ecosystem in smart city. The findings suggest the technology infrastructure along with the elements of start-up framework as knowledge hub, public policy, entrepreneurship and city economy.

Research limitations/implications

The study does not show the impact of smart city strategies over an extended period.

Practical implications

A robust entrepreneurial framework usually impact on utilization of technologies for economic activities and regional development. The innovators, policymakers, city administrators, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and various stakeholders in society will get benefit from the outcomes of this study.

Social implications

The evolution of smart cities is a social initiative with various stakeholders –such as governments, residents, businesses and entrepreneurs. The creation of start-up ecosystem in smart cities requires several levels of interventions such as new programs and institutional reforms.

Originality/value

The research explores pillars and constituents that describe a start-up ecosystem in smart cities and nurtures a collaborative culture of innovations and entrepreneurship.
An overview of dimensions and dimensions badge
Authors: Jamwal Vineet , Kumar Harish
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Research assessment has long been important for directing research funding, rationalizing research organizations and enhancing productivity, including concentrating on specialized subjects. But due to a lack of data, research assessment procedures centered on simple indicators that solely included publications and their citation counts. The Dimensions is one such prodigy of technological evolution like the internet in discovering the research data metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper outlines Dimensions, the emergence of Dimensions by partnering with various development partners into a single robust platform and provides directions on implementing a free tool for research insights: Dimensions badge.

Findings

The Dimensions platform for research insights pulls together data on financing, publications, policy, patents and grants.

Originality/value

This tool is freely available to libraries worldwide.
“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” changing the legal foundation of the internet: Section 230
Authors: Fernandez Peter
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how changes to the regulatory framework of Section 230 may impact the development of internet-powered websites and technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

Specific legislative proposals serve as a jumping off point to clarifying underling principles that impact how the internet operates and is impacted by legal frameworks.

Findings

Issues of power and the law interact with the technology that undergirds the internet in complicated ways. Once established, many of these dynamics can become invisible to the average user.

Originality/value

New regulations for the internet are constantly being proposed. Many of them would directly impact libraries. Librarians need to understand these underlying dynamics to successfully navigate the changes that are to come (or help avoid them).
Interpersonal justice and creativity: testing the underlying cognitive mechanisms
Authors: Khan Abdul Karim , Bell Chris M. , Quratulain Samina
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the underlying cognitive mechanisms between interpersonal justice and creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model was tested through survey method in two distinct settings, i.e. student teams and organizational setting.

Findings

This study found evidence that interpersonal justice has an indirect relationship with creative behavior through two distinct paths of psychological meaningfulness and psychological availability in Study 1 and through psychological availability in Study 2. The results clarify and support the proposition in the justice literature that interpersonal fairness is relevant to creativity because of its relationship to risks associated with creativity, and that this affect holds when controlling for procedural, distributive and informational justice (Study 2).

Research limitations/implications

The results suggest that interpersonally fair supervision has a significant influence on employees’ creativity. Fair supervisory treatment adds value to the organization and contributes to the well-being of employees by directly influencing perceptions of psychological engagement factors of meaningfulness and availability of resources.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the justice, creativity and psychological engagement literatures by exploring the mechanisms linking organizational justice and creativity in a non-Western context.
Enhancing sustainability education in the accounting curriculum: an effective learning strategy
Authors: Sharma Umesh , Stewart Brody
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the embedding of sustainability courses in the accounting curriculum by using the Delta Business School in New Zealand as an example. The focus of this paper is an effective learning strategy on sustainability education, which other business schools could follow using this approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Each course’s published outline was subjected to an in-depth analysis. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from the course controllers and students.

Findings

The findings revealed that while some courses are considered stand-alone sustainability courses, others incorporate a technical focus on accounting as required by the professional accounting bodies: Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, certified public accountant (Australia) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to sustainability education content at a single university.

Practical implications

Students at tertiary education institutions, who will be future managers, are dependent on business schools to teach them the importance of sustainability.

Social implications

Sustainability education in accounting could be instrumental in transforming the nature and role of the accountant in society.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the discussion required to understand how sustainability education is embedded within the accounting curriculum and the perceptions of lecturers and students with regard to sustainability education.
Corporate environmental disclosure and local government environmental oversight in China
Authors: Qian Wei , Zhu Ping , Tilt Carol
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Recent research has drawn attention to the tension between the Central and local governments in China regarding their roles in environmental protection. This paper aims to explore this tension and examine the extent to which local/provincial government’s environmental oversight has influenced the quality of corporate environmental disclosure in China.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 198 listed companies in heavily polluting industries were selected to examine the relationship between their environmental disclosure quality and the respective local government’s environmental oversight level.

Findings

The results provide evidence that local/provincial government’s environmental oversight significantly influences environmental disclosure in China. Despite the coercive pressure from the powerful Central government on corporate environmental disclosure, local/provincial governments are able to buffer the pressure and adjust the intensity of their environmental oversight on companies during the implementation of central policies to retain local economic and political interests. This may partially explain the persistent issue of low environmental disclosure quality in China.

Research limitations/implications

This study enriches our understanding of the significant role of local governments in China in enhancing or sometimes discounting the regulatory enforcement of the Central government on corporate environmental disclosure, pointing to the need for concerted efforts by both local and Central governments to advance environmental disclosure development.

Originality/value

Research on environmental disclosure in developed countries has been well established in the literature. However, such research in developing nations is still limited, especially in China, the world largest developing country. The existing literature on environmental disclosure in China links it with either market demands, or regulatory enforcement from the Central government. The importance of local/provincial governments and their environmental oversight has long been ignored, which motivates this research.
Highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on novel Ag Nps/Ppti films for detection of hydrazine
Authors: Xu Jing , Long Xiaoju , Zhang Jiaojing , Wu Song
Published: February 2022

Purpose

A novel semiconducting macromolecule-polyperylene tetraamide (PPTI) was first synthesized with a simple method using 3, 4, 9, 10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) and hydrazine hydrate (N2H4).

Design/methodology/approach

The Ag nanoparticle was doped on the surface or inside of the PPTI film to obtain a highly sensitive hydrazine sensor-Ag/PPTI, which was synthesized within one step. The structure of Ag/PPTI was characterized through various techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements (XPS) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM).

Findings

According to cyclic voltammetry results, Ag/PPTI/GCE indicated good electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of hydrazine. The amperometric detection of hydrazine was then applied on Ag/PPTI/GCE. It exhibited a wide linear range from 0.05 to 50 µM, a low detection limit (S/N = 3) of 0.05 µM and high sensitivity of 0.45 µA/(µM•cm2).

Originality/value

In authors’ perception, this approach emerges as an effective technique for developing efficient chemical sensors for environmental pollutants.
Responding to the Camp Fire: a case study on an academic library's public services policy changes
Authors: Korber Irene
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This article provides a case study on changes to an academic library's public services policies in order to support a community undergoing the ramifications of a natural disaster.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper describes a case study on how the Meriam Library at California State University, Chico responded to the 2018 Camp Fire by making changes to public services policies. A literature review of disaster response and planning materials is included.

Findings

This case study demonstrates the need for flexibility in public services policies when experiencing natural disasters, and provides examples of how academic libraries can respond to natural disasters in order to support surrounding communities. Many library disaster response plans and literature do not include information on continuity of public services, or how public services policies can/should be temporarily altered in response to a disaster.

Practical implications

This article provides practical examples of how an academic library can implement changes to support a local community experiencing a disaster.

Originality/value

The public services response by Meriam Library offers lessons in supporting a community in the wake of a natural disaster. While articles detailing library responses to natural disasters are fairly ubiquitous, these primarily focus on salvaging collections. Few resources exist on how an academic library can ensure continuity of public services to support communities experiencing the aftermath of natural disasters, and this article is a contribution to that area of research.
The association of breastfeeding and other factors on respiratory virus positivity and severity in hospitalized children
Authors: Ferreira Laura Holtman , Silva Breno Gonçalves da , Giamberardino Heloísa Ihle , Pacheco Ana Paula , Pereira Luciane Aparecida , Genelhoud Gustavo , Petterle Ricardo Rasmussen , Raboni Sonia Mara
Published: February 2022

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are the most prevalent diseases in children under 5 years old, and viruses are the leading cause. ARIs arise due to numerous factors, including age, contact with siblings or other children in daycare centers, and environmental pollution. Breastfeeding reportedly confers protection against ARIs through bioactive components related to mucous epithelial immunity. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and severity of viral ARIs in hospitalized children, together with the status and duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and other associated factors. It comprised an epidemiological surveillance study to investigate respiratory viruses in hospitalized children, in which demographic and clinical data were collected. Overall, 279 patients were included, 190 (68%) had positive viral results, and 132 (47%) were exclusively breastfed. In an adjusted analysis, it was observed that older children, the parents' educational level, and the presence of chronic disease were significantly related to EBF for more than 6 months. No significant differences were observed in viral positivity and disease severity concerning EBF. Whereas the EBF status was associated with a positive rate of virus detection, the significance did not remain after adjustment, and it was not considered a protective factor against ARIs. On the other hand, young age and exposure to tobacco were confirmed as risk factors of frequency and severity, respectively. Such confounding factors can impact the analysis and should be considered in future studies.
Collective efficacy and the built environment*
Authors: Lanfear Charles C.
Published: February 2022

Collective efficacy is a prominent explanation for neighborhood crime concentrations. Just as crime is concentrated in particular neighborhoods, within‐neighborhoods crime is concentrated in particular criminogenic locations. Research suggests criminogenic locations are determined by features of the built environment. This study links collective efficacy with situational opportunity to propose that collective efficacy facilitates the removal of criminogenic features of the built environment. I test this by examining associations 1) between past collective efficacy and present criminogenic features of the built environment, as well as 2) between those built environment features and crime, net of present collective efficacy. These are modeled using piecewise structural equations with generalized linear mixed‐effect regressions on data from 1,641 blocks in 343 Chicago neighborhoods. Four types of police‐reported crime are modeled using eight block‐level built environment features in the 2003 Chicago Community Area Health Study (CCAHS; N = 3,074) and neighborhood collective efficacy from the CCAHS and the 1995 Project in Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) Community Survey (N = 7,672). Findings suggest neighborhoods with high collective efficacy maintain low rates of crime in part by limiting criminogenic built environment features, in particular, abandoned buildings. This crime control pathway is important because changes to the built environment are long lasting and reduce the need for future interventions against crime.
GC–MS analysis of chemical constituents and determination of the total antioxidant capacity of adult powder of Periplaneta americana
Authors: Yang Zhen , Xie Jiqin , Huang Feiyun , Yang Yu , Zhang Xiuyue , Yue Bisong
Published: February 2022

Edible insects are alternative sources of high protein. Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and Europe have recorded edible insects and, especially in Europe and America, there are factories that produce insects as food. In some areas of China, there has also been the habit of eating insects since ancient times. Periplaneta americana is an insect with the homology of medicine and food. In recent years, its medicinal and nutritional functions have attracted extensive attention and research. Its adult powder has been certified as a health product. It not only contains a variety of proteins but also is rich in fatty acids. The composition and antioxidant function of adult powder extract was analyzed in this study. Using adult P. americana powder as the raw material, it was extracted with n‐Hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate, respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) removed a total of 60 compounds, and many active components were extracted from P. americana powder for the first time. The parts and relative content of each extracted sample were obtained, and the total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) of each extracted piece was determined, among which the antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate was the highest.