bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generating Templates and Growth Charts for School-Aged Brain Development
Authors: Dong Hao-Ming , Castellanos F. Xavier , Yang Ning , Zhang Zhe , He Ye , Zhang Lei , Xu Ting , Holmes Avram J. , Yeo B.T. Thomas , Chen Feiyan , Wang Bin , Beckmann Christian , White Tonya , Sporns Olaf , Qiu Jiang , Feng Tingyong , Chen Antao , Liu Xun , Chen Xu , Weng Xuchu , Milham Michael P. , Zuo Xi-Nian
Published: August 2019

Standard brain templates and growth charts provide an invaluable resource for basic science research, with the eventual goal of contributing to the clinical care of neuropsychiatric conditions. Here, we report on a protocol to generate MRI brain templates in children and adolescents at one-year intervals from 6-to-18 years of age, with their corresponding growth charts, using a large-scale neuroimaging data resource (948 brain images from China and United States). To assure that the brain templates and growth charts are reliable and accurate, we developed a refined pipeline consisting of template construction, image registration, brain area labeling and growth chart modeling. The pipeline comprises multiple modular workflows that can be used for multiple applications. In our approach, population- and age-specific templates were first constructed to avoid systemic bias in registration. Brain areas were then labeled based on the appropriate templates, and their morphological metrics were extracted for modeling associated growth curves. We implemented warp cost as a function of age differences between individual brains and template brains. A strong U-shaped cost function was revealed, indicating larger age differences are associated with greater registration errors. This validates the necessity of age-specific reference templates in pediatric brain imaging studies. Growth chart analyses revealed preferential shape differences between Chinese and US samples in lateral frontal and parietal areas, aspects of cortex which are most variable across individuals with regard to structure and function as well as associated behavioral performance. This growth distinction is largely driven by neurodevelopmental differences between Chinese and US age-specific brain templates. The pipeline together with the brain templates and charts are publicly available and integrated into the Connectome Computation System.
When a phenotype is not the genotype: Implications of phenotype misclassification and pedigree errors in genomics-assisted breeding of sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam.]
Authors: Gemenet Dorcus C. , De Boeck Bert , Da Silva Pereira Guilherme , Kitavi Mercy N. , Ssali Reuben T. , Utoblo Obaiya , Swanckaert Jolien , Carey Edward , Gruneberg Wolfgang , Yada Benard , Yencho Craig , Mwanga Robert O. M.
Published: August 2019

Experimental error, especially through genotype misclassification and pedigree errors, negatively affects breeding decisions by creating ‘noise’ that compounds the genetic signals for selection. Unlike genotype-by-environment interactions, for which different methods have been proposed to address, the effect of ‘noise’ due to pedigree errors and misclassification has not received much attention in most crops. We used two case studies in sweetpotato, based on data from the International Potato Center’s breeding program to estimate the level of phenotype misclassification and pedigree error and to demonstrate the consequences of such errors when combining phenotypes with the respective genotypes. In the first case study, 27.7% phenotype misclassification was observed when moving genotypes from a diversity panel throughin-vitro, screenhouse and field trialing. Additionally, 22.7% pedigree error was observed from misclassification between and within families. The second case study involving multi-environment testing of a full-sib population and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping showed reduced genetic correlations among pairs of environments in mega-environments with higher phenotype misclassification errors when compared to the mega-environments with lower phenotype misclassification errors. Additionally, no QTL could be identified in the low genetic correlation mega-environments. Simulation analysis indicated that phenotype misclassification was more detrimental to QTL detection when compared to missingness in data. The current information is important to inform current and future breeding activities involving genomic-assisted breeding decisions in sweetpotato, and to facilitate putting in place improved workflows that minimize phenotype misclassification and pedigree errors.
A machine learning and network framework to discover new indications for small molecules
Authors: Gilvary Coryandar , Elkhader Jamal , Madhukar Neel , Henchcliffe Claire , Goncalves Marcus D. , Elemento Olivier
Published: August 2019

Drug repurposing, identifying novel indications for drugs, bypasses common drug development pitfalls to ultimately deliver therapies to patients faster. However, most repurposing discoveries have been led by anecdotal observations (e.g. Viagra) or experimental-based repurposing screens, which are costly, time-consuming, and imprecise. Recently, more systematic computational approaches have been proposed, however these rely on utilizing the information from the diseases a drug is already approved to treat. This inherently limits the algorithms, making them unusable for investigational molecules. Here, we present a computational approach to drug repurposing, CATNIP, that requires only biological and chemical information of a molecule. CATNIP is trained with 2,576 diverse small molecules and uses 16 different drug similarity features, such as structural, target, or pathway based similarity. This model obtains significant predictive power (AUC = 0.841). Using our model, we created a repurposing network to identify broad scale repurposing opportunities between drug types. By exploiting this network, we identified literature-supported repurposing candidates, such as the use of systemic hormonal preparations for the treatment of respiratory illnesses. Furthermore, we demonstrated that we can use our approach to identify novel uses for defined drug classes. We found that adrenergic uptake inhibitors, specifically amitriptyline and trimipramine, could be potential therapies for Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, using CATNIP, we predicted the kinase inhibitor, vandetanib, as a possible treatment for Type 2 Diabetes. Overall, this systematic approach to drug repurposing lays the groundwork to streamline future drug development efforts.
Bivariate analysis of barley scald resistance with relative maturity reveals a new major QTL on chromosome 3H
Authors: Zhang Xuechen , Ovenden Ben , Orchard Beverley A. , Zhou Meixue , Park Robert F. , Singh Davinder , Milgate Andrew
Published: August 2019

The disease scald of barley is caused by the pathogen Rhynchosporium commune and can cause up to 30-40% yield loss in susceptible varieties. In this study, the Australian barley cultivar Yerong was demonstrated to have resistance that differed from Turk (Rrs1) based on seedling tests with 11 R. commune isolates. A doubled haploid population with 177 lines derived from a cross between Yerong and Franklin was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for scald resistance. Scald resistance against four pathogen isolates was assessed at the seedling growth stage in a glasshouse experiment and at the adult growth stage in field experiments with natural infection over three consecutive years. A QTL on chromosome 3H was identified with large effect, consistent with a major gene conferring scald resistance at the seedling stage. Under field conditions, scald percentage was negatively correlated with early relative maturity. A bivariate analysis was used to model scald percentage and relative maturity together, residuals from the regression of scald percentage on relative maturity were used as our phenotype for QTL analysis. This analysis identified one major QTL on chromosome 3H, which mapped to the same position as the QTL identified for scald resistance at seedling stage. The identified QTL on 3H is proposed to be different from the Rrs1 on the basis of seedling resistance against different R. commune isolates and physical map position. The analysis also identified an additional novel QTL on chromosome 7H. This study increases the current understanding of scald resistance and identifies genetic material possessing QTLs useful for the marker-assisted selection of scald resistance in barley breeding programs.
Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surface analysis of transition-metal complexes of 1,3-azolecarboxylic acids
Authors: Meundaeng Natthaya , Prior Timothy John , Rujiwatra Apinpus
Published: August 2019

The crystal structures of five new transition-metal complexes synthesized using thiazole-2-carboxylic acid (2-Htza), imidazole-2-carboxylic acid (2-H2ima) or 1,3-oxazole-4-carboxylic acid (4-Hoxa), namely diaquabis(thiazole-2-carboxylato-κ2
N,O)cobalt(II), [Co(C4H2NO2S)2(H2O)2], 1, diaquabis(thiazole-2-carboxylato-κ2
N,O)nickel(II), [Ni(C4H2NO2S)2(H2O)2], 2, diaquabis(thiazole-2-carboxylato-κ2
N,O)cadmium(II), [Cd(C4H2NO2S)2(H2O)2], 3, diaquabis(1H-imidazole-2-carboxylato-κ2
N
3,O)cobalt(II), [Co(C4H2N2O2)2(H2O)2], 4, and diaquabis(1,3-oxazole-4-carboxylato-κ2
N,O
4)cobalt(II), [Co(C4H2NO3)2(H2O)2], 5, are reported. The influence of the nature of the heteroatom and the position of the carboxyl group in relation to the heteroatom on the self-assembly process are discussed based upon Hirshfeld surface analysis and used to explain the observed differences in the single-crystal structures and the supramolecular frameworks and topologies of complexes 1–5.
The effect of motivators, supply, and lean management on sustainable supply chain management practices and performance
Authors: Baliga Ravindra , Raut Rakesh , Kamble Sachin
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize a model for sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) that integrates the antecedents, practices and performance measures of sustainability. It also examines if lean management (LM) and supply management (SM) are antecedents of SSCM.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of literature was undertaken across multiple streams, including operations management, SCM, sustainability, business ethics and performance management. Articles relevant to SSCM published over a span of 31 years (1988–2018) were searched using keywords and specific selection criteria.

Findings

From the literature, three dependent constructs – motivators of sustainability, LM and SM – and three independent constructs – environmental practices in SCM, social practices in SCM and SSCM performance – are identified and defined. Linkages between these constructs are hypothesized to develop a theoretical framework called the “integrated lean/supply management with sustainability motivators, practices and performance model.”

Research limitations/implications

Built on the principles-practices-outcomes framework proposed earlier, this model is comprehensive in its coverage of sustainability antecedents, practices and performance. Further, it covers the SCM triad – the supplier, the focal firm and the customers – as well as the roles they play in sustainability performance.

Originality/value

By identifying LM and SM as additional antecedents of SSCM, this study suggests that sustainability may be realized through LM and SM principles. Further, the proposed model presents a novel integration of literature from diverse domains.
Diffusion of innovation in a contractor company
Authors: Lundberg Mary , Engström Susanne , Lidelöw Helena
Published: August 2019

Purpose

In the construction industry, it has proven difficult to implement and realize innovation efforts, for example in the development of industrialized construction and use of platform concepts. Thus, the purpose of this study is to characterize the innovation diffusion process in the social system of a large Swedish contractor company. Specifically, the diffusion of three innovative industrialized house-building (IHB) platforms and factors affecting their adoption and implementation (particularly effects of their perceived radicality in relation to the company’s decentralized characteristics) are identified and discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was applied, using empirical material including semi-structured interviews and archival records (research reports from earlier studies at different points in time related to each innovation and annual corporate reports). The material was analyzed using Rogers’ (2003) five-stage innovation process model, acknowledging the importance of social systems’ structures.

Findings

Structural characteristics of the social system strongly affect innovation diffusion. In subsystems that had not been involved in initiation of the innovations, they were regarded as radical, which hindered their adoption and implementation.

Research limitations/implications

This study builds upon the recent findings that successful innovation implementation depends on a range of contingencies in the construction context. Although the diffusion of the innovations per se has been traced over a ten-year period, generalizability is limited because the results come from one construction company.

Practical implications

Contractors have invested substantially in the development of industrialized construction and use of platform concepts, but less in their implementation, so they have obtained little gain. How innovations are perceived and implemented in different subsystems affects the success of their implementation in the overarching social system.

Originality/value

This study adheres to previous calls for more research on firm level in the complex social system of construction companies by adopting a ten-year perspective on the diffusion of innovation at a large contractor addressing in particular the impact of the innovations perceived radicality in relation to the decentralized characteristics of the company.
Senior citizens’ requirements of services provided by community-based care facilities: a China study
Authors: Xiang Liqun , Yu Ann T.W. , Tan Yongtao , Shan Xuezhu , Shen QiPing
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This study aims to identify senior citizens’ requirements related to “embedded retirement facilities (ERFs)”, which are small-scale, multi-functional and community-based care facilities for senior citizens in mainland China, and to discuss whether senior citizens’ perceptions are influenced by their backgrounds.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire type of research was administrated to gain senior citizens’ rankings of services that should be provided by ERFs. Non-parametric statistical models were applied to analyse the collected data.

Findings

Results reveal that health care services for senior citizens are considered the most important. Requirements regarding rehabilitation and entertainment and daily life assistance are ranked second and third, respectively. Culture-related activities are the least important. Differences in the senior citizens’ background also influence their choices.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on a questionnaire survey completed in northeast China. Opinions from other areas of mainland China will be collected in the future study. Furthermore, the key items identified in this research, which was completed by participants from the built environment discipline, can be further elaborated by combining interdisciplinary feedback.

Practical implications

This study explores services that are supposedly provided by ERFs. Findings will provide useful perceptions from senior citizens and will enable decision makers to prioritise services for senior citizens.

Social implications

Although senior citizens are the end users of ERFs, their needs are easily overlooked. This study calls attention to their needs from ERFs, and the results are likely to serve as references for stakeholders in building improved facilities.

Originality/value

ERFs have been provided in mainland China to cater to senior citizens’ needs since 2014. However, few studies have identified senior citizens’ requirements for provided services. The survey-based results of this work will serve as references for various stakeholders in making enhanced decisions.
Optimum arrangement of two-stage plug and concentrate recycling RO systems using thermodynamic and exergy analysis
Authors: Naeimi Abbas , Ahmadi Mohammad Hossein , Sadeghzadeh Milad , Kasaeian Alibakhsh
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to determine the optimum arrangement of a reverse osmosis system in two methods of plug and concentrate recycling.

Design/methodology/approach

To compare the optimum conditions of these two methods, a seawater reverse osmosis system was considered to produce fresh water at a rate of 4,000 m3/d for Mahyarkala city, located in north of Iran, for a period of 20 years. Using genetic algorithms and two-objective optimization method, the reverse osmosis system was designed.

Findings

The results showed that exergy efficiency in optimum condition for concentrate recycling and plug methods was 82.6 and 92.4 per cent, respectively. The optimizations results showed that concentrate recycling method, despite a 36 per cent reduction in the initial cost and a 2 per cent increase in maintenance expenses, provides 6 per cent higher recovery and 19.7 per cent less permeate concentration than two-stage plug method.

Originality/value

Optimization parameters include feed water pressure, the rate of water return from the brine for concentrate recycling system, type of SW membrane, feedwater flow rate and numbers of elements in each pressure vessel (PV). These parameters were also compared to each other in terms of recovery (R) and freshwater unit production cost. In addition, the exergy of all elements was analyzed by selecting the optimal mode of each system.
Malaysians’ awareness towards legal metrology and Weights and measures act, 1972
Authors: Nazim Ahsan Mohamed , AbuJarad Ismael , Sulaiman Mohamed , Hamzah Ibrahim bin
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the level of awareness of the public about Weights and Measures Act, the awareness of Metrology Corporation Malaysia (MCM) services such as verification sticker and the awareness about ways to file a complaint by the public.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research methodology survey was used to collect data. The quantitative collected data were analysed to achieve the objectives of this study.

Findings

The results of this study showed a low awareness level of the general public, especially non-stakeholders, knowledge, attitude and actual behaviour about the work of verification and re-verification and checking for verification sticker as well as ways of complaining if the instrument is not verified. In addition, the number of stakeholders working in the legal metrology area was high and Facebook was one of the most preferred media by the public to get awareness messages.

Research limitations/implications

It is recommended for other researchers to enlarge the sample size and implement the study on more companies in the industry.

Practical implications

The findings of this study revealed that public awareness, knowledge and intention have significant and positive relationship with actual behaviour of the public and that awareness, knowledge and actual behaviour among the non-stakeholder were low compared to the stakeholder. The results also enriched the stakeholders in legal metrology for improving public awareness, knowledge and actual behaviour toward the legal metrology and Wight and Measure Act, 1972.

Social implications

This study shows that Facebook was one of the most preferred media by the public to get awareness messages. This reflects the important role that social media plays. This is useful to the companies because it helps them understand the preferences of public in the society. In addition, the results of this study are useful to the decision-makers in the industry, which is expected to impact the performance of such companies.

Originality/value

This study is among the few studies conducted in the Malaysian context.
Synthesis and evaluation of amines/phenolics antioxidant for TMPTO base oil
Authors: Zhan Wen , Jia Dan , Jin YongLiang , Duan HaiTao , Li Jian , Liu Jun
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to synthesize amines/phenolic antioxidants by a new method and to characterize the influence of antioxidants on thermo-oxidative degradation in trimethylolpropane trioleate (TMPTO) base oil.

Design/methodology/approach

The molecule structures of antioxidants and lubricants were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The oxidative stability of antioxidants and lubricants was evaluated by pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC).

Findings

These findings suggested that butyl-octyl-diphenylamine has obvious advantage on kinematic viscosity inhibition, and amine-phenol combination antioxidant has a slightly better suppression of total acid in TMPTO under thermal oxidation at 200°C for 96 h. The FTIR characterizations showed that all antioxidants could protect the basic structure of TMPTO in the early stage of thermal degradation.

Originality/value

Under the action of butyl-octyl-diphenylamine, the dehydrogenation of TMPTO is easily met with the alkenyl hydrogen = C–H bond in the unsaturated C = C. Meanwhile, as octadecyl 3-(3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate protects TMPTO, the unsaturated C = C bond in the base oil molecule easily breaks down during transition.
Exploring the scalability process of social innovation
Authors: Bolzan Larissa Medianeira , Bitencourt Claudia Cristina , Volkmer Martins Bibiana
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Social innovation is a recent theme, and the practices related to this area are characterized by punctual actions and projects restricted by time and space that make it difficult to develop strategies that can be sustained in this field. Therefore, one point that deserves to be highlighted in studies on social innovation is a matter of scalability. This paper aims to deal with a bibliometry whose objective was to map the existing studies about scalability of social innovation carried out in the Capes and EBSCOHost portals.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper deals with a bibliometry. The topic researched in this bibliometry is scalability of social innovation. The databases chosen for this research were Portal Periódico Capes and EBSCOHost because they are the leading providers of search databases.

Findings

A total of 42 papers were considered, distributed between 2002 and 2017. The analysis criteria for the study were origin (composed by year, author, country of origin, periodical and impact factor), focus of the investigations, justification, method and main techniques of research, contributions and theoretical advances and challenges and paths.

Originality/value

Among the main results found, one of them is that scalability is a topic that began to be researched recently, so that the USA and Brazil lead the research. Most of the studies focused on the scalability process and justified the importance of studies on the subject as a way to explore the potential of expanding the social impacts of a social innovation. Several studies have emphasized the role of networks as being quite positive for the scalability process and have been concerned with identifying factors that contribute to the scalability process. The challenge that most stood out among the papers was the financial sustainability of a social innovation. At the end, a research agenda was proposed.
Exploring gender discursive struggles about social inclusion in an online gaming community
Authors: Naidoo Rennie , Coleman Kalley , Guyo Cordelia
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to adopt a critical relational dialectics framework to identify and explore gender discursive struggles about social inclusion observed in an online gaming community, in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a technique called contrapuntal analysis to identify and explore competing discourses in over 200 messages on gender struggles about social inclusion posted in the local community’s gamer discussion board, based on seven threads initiated by women gamer activists.

Findings

The findings show how four interrelated gender discursive struggles about social inclusion and social exclusion animated the meanings of online gamer relations: dominance vs equality, stereotyping vs diversity, competitiveness vs cooperativeness and privilege vs empowerment.

Practical implications

Game designers should reinforce more accurate and positive stereotypes to cater for the rapidly growing female gamer segment joining the online gaming market and to develop a less chauvinistic and more diversely representative online gaming community. Enlightened gamers should exercise greater solidarity in fighting for gender equality in online gaming communities.

Originality/value

The critical relational dialectics analysis adopted in this study offers a promising avenue to understand and critique the discursive struggles that arise when online gamers from the different gender groups relate. The findings highlight the unequal discursive power and privilege of many white male gamers when discussing social inclusion. Advancing our understanding of these discursive struggles creates the possibilities for improving social inclusion in online gaming communities.
Insurance regulations, risk and performance in Ghana
Authors: Kusi Baah Aye , Alhassan Abdul Latif , Ofori-Sasu Daniel , Sai Rockson
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the hypothesis that the effect of insurer risks on profitability is conditional on regulation, using two main regulatory directives in the Ghanaian insurance market as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the robust ordinary least square and random effect techniques in a panel data of 30 insurers from 2009 to 2015 to test the research hypothesis.

Findings

The results suggest that regulations on no credit premium and required capital have insignificant effects on profitability of insurers. On the contrary, this study documents evidence that both policies mitigate the effect of underwriting risk on profitability and suggests that regulations significantly mitigate the negative effect of underwriting risk to improve profitability.

Practical implications

The finding suggests that policymakers and regulators must continue to initiate, design and model regulations such that they help tame risk to improve the performance of insurers in Ghana.

Originality/value

This study provides first-time evidence on the role of regulations in controlling risks in a developing insurance market.
Does commission remuneration affect the investor’s outcome? Experience from Central Europe
Authors: Šindelář Jiří , Budinský Petr
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the conflict of interest in the area of investment advice, rewarded through the commission mechanism. Using a substantial data set on sales of independent agents, the authors have examined the relationship between the amount of commission paid to the agent and the subsequent performance of the client’s portfolio (annualised five-year returns, volatility and total expenses ratio).

Design/methodology/approach

The main working method consisted of linear model with mixed effects. Processing total amount of 2,066 advised sales from, the authors were able to examine not only the general level of aforementioned relationship but also the effect of different organisational environments, ranging from multi-level marketing (MLM), pool to flat structures.

Findings

Contrary to general expectations, the authors have found that investment advisers do recommend products with generally higher costs and volatility, but in the MLM networks, they are at the same time able to generate significantly higher returns on recommended funds.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the setting of this study, the authors were only able to cover the vital period of 2007-2018, mostly the “good times” in the region’s economy. Such limitation represents guideline for further longitudinal research, which will be followed in the next analytical steps.

Practical implications

The results are of interest both to policymakers and final consumers. The first group can better adjust rules in the inducements and advice area, to stimulate shift in different organisational environments. Clients, on the other hand, receive additional guidance on which types of companies generally offer the most beneficial advice.

Originality/value

Although research on advice and conflict of interest is prevalent, the meta-analysis shows that only few authors were able to quantitatively disseminate the relationship between remuneration of advisor and subsequent utility of the client. The findings are unique in this regard, bringing statistically conclusive results from region of Central Europe, where advice represents one of the principal distribution channels.
Forgotten agritourism: abandoned websites in the promotion of rural tourism in Poland
Authors: Król Karol
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Until recently, a large number of owners of small agritourism farms in Poland, for promotional purposes, used the (“abandoned”) websites made in an amateur manner at the lowest possible cost. The main purpose of this study is to characterize these websites. To achieve this goal, an attempt was made to evaluate the quality of these sites.

Design/methodology/approach

Two sets of websites were studied: the set of archaic sites (n = 282) and the set of modern sites (n = 282). The study consisted in the evaluation of selected attributes of the website development technology. The obtained results were normalized using the method of zero unitarization. Subsequently, the value of the aggregate variable was determined, which made it possible to describe each website with one synthetic quality index (SQI).

Findings

“Abandoned websites” do not perform marketing and sales functions. Owing to the frequent lack of content, they also lack an informative function. These websites have documentary value, as well as a historical function.

Originality/value

The paper presents the assessment of websites using one of the unification methods and the SQI. It has been shown that websites, in addition to having typical functions such as information, marketing or contact, may also have a historical function.
Awareness of purchasing halal food among non-Muslim consumers
Authors: Bashir Abdalla Mohamed
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate the awareness level of non-Muslim consumers to purchasing halal food products. Research on the non-Muslim consumers’ awareness towards purchasing halal food products is poorly understood so far in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study was adopted to explore new points of views about a particular issue, which is unknown, or not much known about it, to formulate ideas or propositions. Semi-structured interviews were the major primary data collection method. Four non-Muslim consumers from different settings purposively were selected. Thematic data analysis procedures were used.

Findings

The study found that non-Muslim consumers in Cape Town have a positive awareness of halal food, including its benefits and the production processes involved in producing it. The study also concluded that halal is not merely a commercial name using as a trademark in the global market. However, halal has several dimensions; primarily, for non-Muslim consumers, it is a mark of health and hygiene. With regard to psychological aspect, halal is considered as a sign of trust, comfortable and safe. It gives consumers a peace of mind when they consume food products that carry the halal label.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations in the study should be acknowledged. The main limitation of the study is that a small sample size was selected for this study. Another limitation is that the study was only conducted in the city of Cape Town.

Originality/value

This is the first qualitative study of its kind that presents an empirical evidence about the awareness of the non-Muslim consumers towards purchasing halal food products in South Africa, in general, and in Cape Town, in particular.
Innovation in the takaful industry: a strategy to expand the takaful market in Indonesia
Authors: Nugraheni Peni , Muhammad Rifqi
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This study aims to identify and describe possible innovations available to the takaful industry in Indonesia by considering demographic characteristics and geographical conditions. Indonesia has a predominantly Muslim population, and thus, presents good potential for the takaful market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative, descriptive, literature-based method to discuss innovation strategies in the takaful industry. This method is appropriate for reviewing particular conditions and phenomena by analysing information and data drawn from existing literature.

Findings

Market, product and process innovations are chosen as the strategies appropriate to expanding the takaful market in Indonesia. Strategies are described, which could be used to implement these innovations by influencing the community to participate in takaful, and thus, to expand the takaful market.

Research limitations/implications

The innovation strategies described are adapted to the demographic characteristics of Indonesia and so cannot necessarily be generalised to other countries with different environments.

Practical implications

By considering customer demographic and geographical conditions, the takaful industry should choose the types of innovation that will suit the community characteristics and environmental conditions of Indonesia.

Originality/value

The study specifically discusses innovation strategies in the takaful industry by describing the socio-economic conditions of Indonesian society. Takaful companies in Indonesia can use the results to determine the types of innovation they pursue based on the customer demographic and geographical conditions faced.
Making work visible in a breast cancer support business
Authors: Anderson Ariane B. , Jorgenson Jane
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Breast cancer support businesses, retail stores selling mastectomy-related products, are playing an expanding role within healthcare in the USA. As commercial spaces separate from the medical settings where most cancer treatment occurs, these businesses have been largely overlooked in studies of medical care providers and their experiences. The purpose of this paper is to seek to bring to light the meanings and dimensions of the care work provided by breast cancer support staff to newly diagnosed patients.

Design/methodology/approach

This project employed an ethnographic approach centered on the workers at one breast cancer support business. The first author carried out participant observation over a 20-month period and supplemented the observations with staff member interviews.

Findings

The analysis of field notes and interviews revealed two themes or purposes as central to the employees’ understanding of their work: defining the organizational setting as a nonmedical space and balancing image enhancement with comforting care. The findings show how values of client-centered care can be enacted in a for-profit healthcare setting.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited to one for-profit support business in the southeastern USA.

Practical implications

Mastectomy supply businesses appear to offer a kind of support that patients may not be finding elsewhere or at the particular time they need it. Thus the study holds relevance for practitioners and health policy makers who are seeking to develop more comprehensive care for surgical patients within the established healthcare system.

Originality/value

This study gives a detailed picture of breast cancer support work, including the value premises and meanings it holds for support workers.
Making professional decisions account-able
Authors: Schrøder Ida
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze how accounts of costs and accounts of needs are shaped, connected and made durable in the day-to-day practices of welfare professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

Throughout a year, the author traced the work of connecting costs and needs across and beyond the organizational boundaries of the accounting and child protection departments in a Danish local government. Over the course of the study, accountants realized that the budget was overspent and this, accordingly, gave insights into what was done to make accounts more durable.

Findings

This paper shows that multiple accountabilities are made possible through the ongoing and practical work of shaping, connecting and making accounts durable. This fragile process fails when connections between separate aspects of organizational work are not made visible.

Research limitations/implications

This paper attempts to convey the potentials of a symmetrical approach for organizational ethnography. In this way, it does not, for instance, address prevailing budget limits or regimes of cost control.

Originality/value

Insights into how accounts are shaped into meeting multiple and diverging demands for accountability are rare in both the fields of management accounting as a practice and research on social work practice.
The impact of compensation upon urban village residents satisfaction with the land expropriation process
Authors: Chai Ning , Stevens Rob , Fang Xiaozhen , Mao Chun , Wang Ding
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to investigate compensation and related welfare issues in the case of the expropriation of land for urban redevelopment in China.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods quantitative and qualitative approach was selected to undertake the research. This involved a wide ranging qualitative review of the academic and policy literature to explore the relevant arguments and issues, combined with a quantitative regression analysis of survey data collected from research subjects.

Findings

The research identified the complex and changeable phenomena of urban village redevelopment in China, and the variable compensation arrangements used. The research found that monthly family income before land expropriation, monthly family expense before expropriation, the location of the housing expropriation and family unit size are important determinants for the property holders chosen methods of compensation. It also found that an increase in family size leads to a decreasing probability that the expropriated farmers choose the single monetary compensation relative to the alternative option of housing compensation. The degree of satisfaction with compensation, changes in monthly family income and expense are found to be significant determinants for changes in life satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The research made the following four recommendations based upon the qualitative and quantitative analysis: that local governments should pay closer governance/ political attention to changes in the welfare of the farmers/ villagers whose property has been expropriated; that central and local government should aim to improve the compensation system for rural land and property expropriation, to make the compensation policy be perceived as fairer and more reasonable by citizens; that a broad National standard of compensation be used within a pragmatic locally focussed regime; that the Chinese Central, Provincial and Local governments can devise improved policy tools and make more effective policy interventions by learning from the experiences (both successes and failures) of other countries approaches to this topic. It also suggested that further research be undertaken investigating the multitude of local level policy experiments, as a way of developing better National compensation standards based upon those compensation standards that appear to be working – and have citizen support – at the local level.

Originality/value

The literature review identified recent developments in Chinese urban studies and originally synthesised both recent and longstanding work on the issue of urban villages in China. The research also suggested changes to the National and Local legal and policy framework for compensation cases in urban redevelopment expropriation scenarios.
Customer value cocreation activities
Authors: Pham Tram-Anh N. , Sweeney Jillian C. , Soutar Geoffrey N.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a typology of customer value cocreation activities and explore the psychological drivers and quality of life outcomes of such activities in a complex health care service setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Focus groups with people with Type 2 diabetes and in-depth interviews with diabetes educators were conducted.

Findings

Four types of customer value cocreation activities were found (mandatory (customer), mandatory (customer or organization), voluntary in-role and voluntary extra-role activities). In addition, health locus of control, self-efficacy, optimism, regulatory focus and expected benefits are identified as key psychological factors underlying the customers’ motivation to be active resource integrators and resulting in physical, psychological, existential and social well-being.

Originality/value

The study highlights the various types of customer value cocreation activities and how these affect the various quality of life dimensions.
Technology standardization, competitive behavior, and enterprises’ performance of innovation
Authors: Jiang Hong , Liu Wentao , Zhao Shukuan , Chen Yong
Published: August 2019

Purpose

With the development and innovation of IoT technologies, both domestic and international people in the industry believe the development of IoT are the new points of technological innovation and economic growth. But it is becoming more and more prominent that the industries are difficult to connect and the IoT technologies are not standardized. The purpose of this paper is to promote the further development of IoT technology and industry, technology standardization of IoT has become the focus of all concerned parties. Technology standardization, as a technological innovation and development process of the “pruning shears,” has been embedded into the various aspects of innovation activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on many previous theories, the authors establish a matrix of the patterns of technology standardization. The authors use the relative state of the highest level of technology of the enterprise and The degree of independent technological innovation as the two dimensions of the model. At the same time, the authors divide the competitive behaviors into two categories and match them with the technology standardization model.

Findings

The authors explain the short-term competitive behaviors in the same enterprise and among different enterprises by using the theories of mutualism and competition among species in biology, and make an analogy between the phenomenon of base pairing in DNA double helix structure and the corresponding relationship of two kinds of innovation abilities and two kinds of competitive behaviors in the process of technology standardization.

Originality/value

Combined with previous theories, explain that innovation capability plays a mediating role in the process in which the combinations of the patterns of technology standardization and competitive behaviors are transformed into the enterprise innovation performance, and the uncertainty of external environment play a regulatory role in the process. Finally, the authors established the final conceptual model for providing theoretical basis for the later research, and put forward the conclusions and prospect at the end of the paper.
Being known, branching out: troupes, teams and recovery
Authors: Heinemeyer Catherine Rachel , Rowe Nick
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reach beyond existing research into the mental health benefits of arts-based or educational opportunities, to discover the particular impact on members’ recovery processes of being part of a committed, long-term troupe or community – specifically focussing on specialist theatre companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a literature review investigating the growing number of theatre troupes for mental health service users, qualitative research was conducted into one such company. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with six company members. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was then cross-checked and enriched through a group interview with six other members.

Findings

Two overarching themes emerged: the importance of “being known” within the company (key sub-themes included “intuitive democracy” and the “paradox of reliability”), and the ways in which individuals “branched out” from this secure basis into artistic, professional and voluntary roles, while remaining company members.

Research limitations/implications

The findings from this small-scale study, while not necessarily generalisable to other long-term communities of care and learning with a “troupe” or “team” structure, would provide valuable starting points for a larger-scale investigation.

Practical implications

If generalisable, institutions in the mental health and educational worlds should place more emphasis on developing and resourcing long-term models of support.

Social implications

The specialist theatre company model contrasts with prevalent individualised, time-limited services for those experiencing mental ill health.

Originality/value

The study provides compelling narrative evidence to amplify understanding of how “connectedness” is experienced within a troupe, and may enable individuals with mental illnesses to progress further in their recovery journey.