bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reinterpreting Fisher’s coordinated strategies: a longitudinal case study
Authors: Stratton Roy
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Much has been written about the need to align the supply chain with the product/market but it has proved, elusive especially in response to a supply change transitions. The purpose of this paper is to review the established theoretical models before considering how the realignment process can be better supported in the light of a longitudinal study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a single apparel case where data were gathered over a five-year period involving multiple site visits, management interviews and archival data across three echelons of the supply chain. Repeated visits enabled the collection of contemporary evidence and the development and testing of the causal relationships. This case was part of a multi-case research project that explored the causal relationship between variation, uncertainty, performance trade-offs and buffering mechanisms (time, capacity and inventory).

Findings

The case analysis demonstrates how established theory and causal reasoning can be used to explain the trade-off oscillations that characterised this case. As with earlier studies, local cost considerations predominated, interspersed with strategic countermeasures. Fisher’s (1997) concept of coordinated strategies is shown to provide an effective means of clarifying the trade-off implications of the transition in support of proactive realignment. This concept is discussed in relation to other cases and literature before proposing how this could be developed and used as a basis for further research.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited to a single case and although this involving several transitions the findings require further testing.

Practical implications

Supply chain redesign is of growing importance and with it the need to more effectively manage such transitions. This paper clarifies the need for supply chain orientation and offers means of clarifying the implications of such transitions to management.

Originality/value

This paper provides case evidence of the underlying operations management issues and the associated analysis.
Business logistics models in omni-channel: a classification framework and empirical analysis
Authors: Marchet Gino , Melacini Marco , Perotti Sara , Rasini Monica , Tappia Elena
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Companies are currently moving from multi-channel strategies to offer their customers an omni-channel (OC) experience. So far, OC research has been mainly tackled from a sales-based view, with numerous operational challenges to be fully investigated yet. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how companies set the logistics variables in their OC management strategy and the business logistics models currently most adopted.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-step methodology was adopted. First, a systematic combining approach with scientific literature review and case studies allowed to derive a framework for classifying the key logistics variables and the related options. The framework was then used to conduct a qualitative survey targeting 92 Italian companies operating in food manufacturing, food retailing and non-food retailing. Collected data were analysed by means of cluster analysis.

Findings

Implementing an OC management strategy requires to set 11 logistics variables belonging to four strategic areas: delivery service, distribution setting, fulfilment strategy and returns management. A broad empirical investigation showed the choices made by companies when setting the logistics variables to implement an OC management strategy. Lastly, four business logistics models, differing in terms of both business sector and OC maturity, were discussed.

Originality/value

The proposed framework extends earlier studies by including additional significant logistics variables. The empirical analysis provides new insights on how to re-structure the business logistics model in OC, suggesting channel integration and the coexistence of multiple configurations as main enablers of an OC proposition.
Integration of a text mining approach in the strategic planning process of small and medium-sized enterprises
Authors: Vásquez Rojas Claudia , Roldán Reyes Eduardo , Aguirre y Hernández Fernando , Cortés Robles Guillermo
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Strategic planning (SP) enables enterprises to plan management and operations activities efficiently in the medium and large term. During its implementation, many processes and methods are manually applied and may be time consuming. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an automatic method to define strategic plans by using text mining (TM) algorithms within a generic SP model especially suited for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Textual feedbacks were collected through a SWOT matrix during the implementation of a SP model in a company dedicated to the local distribution of food. A four-step TM process (performing acquisition, pre-processing, processing, and validation tasks) is applied via a framework developed under the cloud computer paradigm in order to determine the strategic plans.

Findings

The use of categorization and clustering algorithms show that unstructured textual information produced during the SP can be efficiently processed and capitalized. Collected evidence reveals the potential to enhance the strategic plans creation with less effort and time, improving the relevance, and producing new technological resources accessible to SMEs.

Originality/value

An innovative framework especially suited for the SMEs based on the synergy assumption of the coupling between TM and a generic SP model.
Service supply chain integration: the role of interpersonal relationships
Authors: Wang Bill , Kang Yuanfei , Childerhouse Paul , Huo Baofeng
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of interpersonal relationships (IPRs) in service supply chain integration (SSCI) in terms of strategic alliance, information integration, and process integration.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs an exploratory/investigational approach to multiple case studies and empirically investigates effects of IPRs in SSCI. The data were mainly collected through semi-structured interviews with senior management staff from four service companies and their suppliers or customers in New Zealand. Archival data from the Internet and company documentations were also applied.

Findings

The authors find that three dimensions of IPRs influence SSCI in different ways. The effect of IPRs on SSCI is indirect: personal affection acts as an initiator, and personal credibility works as a “gate-keeper” and strengthens the confidence of interactive partners, while personal communication, a facilitator, plays a more important role in SSCI than personal affection and credibility.

Practical implications

The research provides managers in service supply chains the awareness of the importance of IPRs, as well as the characteristics of IPRs, in order to best utilize available resources. Managers should synergize all three dimensions of IPRs’ resources: make efforts to cultivate personal affection to avoid the instinctive isolation modern technology brings; attempt to accumulate positive personal credibility profiles; focus more on the role of personal communication and retain physical contact in SSCI processes.

Originality/value

This study contributes to SSCI literature by extending from the inter-organizational relationships (IORs) to interpersonal level relationships to explore the inner influence mechanism. Also, it explores the role of IPRs on all three dimensions of SSCI simultaneously rather than individual dimensions independently. Finally, it contributes to resource orchestration theory (ROT) by synthesizing three dimensions of IPRs resources, and IORs resources in order to achieve capabilities of SSCI. The study develops the individual-level research in supply chain integration (SCI) to a further depth.
Co-query volume as a proxy for brand relatedness
Authors: Cho Sulah
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to utilize co-query volumes of brands as relatedness measurement to understand the market structure and demonstrate the usefulness of brand relatedness via a real-world case.

Design/methodology/approach

Using brand relatedness measurement obtained using data from Google Trends as data inputs into a multidimensional scaling method, the market structure of the automobile industry is presented to reveal its competitive landscape. The relatedness with brands involved in product-harm crisis is further incorporated in empirical models to estimate the influence of crisis on future sales performance of each brand. A representative incident of a product-harm crisis in the automobile industry, which is the 2009 Toyota recall, is investigated. A panel regression analysis is conducted using US and world sales data.

Findings

The use of co-query as brand relatedness measurement is validated. Results indicate that brand relatedness with a brand under crisis is positively associated with future sales for both US and global market. Potential presence of negative spillovers from an affected brand to innocent brands sharing common traits such as same country of origin is shown.

Originality/value

The brand relatedness measured from co-query volumes is considered as a broad concept, which encompasses all associative relationships between two brands perceived by the consumers. This study contributes to the literature by clarifying the concept of brand relatedness and proposing a measure with readily accessible data. Compared to previous studies relying on a vast amount of online data, the proposed measure is proven to be efficient and enhance predictions about the future performance of brands in a turbulent market.
Identifying and recommending user-interested attributes with values
Authors: Cheng Yun-Shan , Hsu Ping-Yu , Liu Yu-Chin
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To retain consumer attention and increase purchasing rates, many e-commerce vendors have adopted content-based recommender systems. However, apart from text-based documents, there is little theoretical background guiding element selection, resulting in a limited content analysis problem. Another inherent problem is overspecialization. The purpose of this paper is to establish a value-based recommendation methodology for identifying favorable attributes, benefits, and values on the basis of means-end chain theory. The identified elements and the relationships between them were utilized to construct a recommender system without incurring either problem.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted soft laddering and content analysis to collect popular elements. The relationships between the elements were established by using a hard laddering online questionnaire. The elements and the relationships were utilized to build a hierarchical value map (HVM). A mathematical model was then devised on the basis of the HVM to predict user preferences of attributes.

Findings

The results of a performance comparison showed that the proposed method outperformed the content-based attribute recommendation method and a hybrid method by 39 and 68 percent, respectively.

Originality/value

Although hybrid methods have been proposed to resolve the problem of overspecialization in content-based recommender systems, such methods have incurred “cold start” and “sparsity” problems. The proposed method can provide recommendations without causing these problems while outperforming the content-based and hybrid approaches.
Mediating role of managing information technology and its impact on firm performance
Authors: Ilmudeen Aboobucker , Bao Yukun
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Managing IT with firm performance (FM) has always been a debatable topic in literature and practice. Prior studies examining the above relationship have reported mixed results and have yet ignored the eminent managing IT practices. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relevance of Val-IT 2.0 practice in managing IT investment, and its mediating role in the FM context.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is developed on two themes of literature. First, managing IT as a firm’s IT capability in order to generate value from IT investment. Second, IT as a firm’s resource under resource-based view offers firm’s competence that deploys potentials in achieving FM. The structural equation modeling with partial least squares techniques used for analyzing data collected from 176 organization’s IT, and business executives in China.

Findings

The results of this study show empirical evidence that Val-IT’s components (value governance, portfolio management, and investment management) are significantly linked to the management of IT (MIT), and it found to be a significant mediator between Val-IT components and FM.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to the literature and practice by way of highlighting the value generation through managing IT on FM.

Originality/value

This study is fully based on Val-IT 2.0 with the FM where the managing IT mediate this relationship in a country-specific study in China. This study adds to the Chinese information system literature which suffers the lack of empirical studies in the context of MIT research.
I hope and I continue
Authors: Ding Yi
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Continued usage of information systems (ISs) is highly critical to a firm’s sustained success. The expectancy-disconfirmation framework has been effective in explaining continuance. However, our own experiences suggest that we may continue using an IS despite low satisfaction. One of the reasons is that the prediction of future user intent in existing models is predominantly retrospective. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by incorporating forward-looking considerations into the expectancy-disconfirmation model.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted for two types of mobile applications: photo-sharing and note-taking, and 593 valid responses were collected. The partial least squares method was employed for structural model analysis for each type of applications.

Findings

The well-entrenched expectancy-disconfirmation model was empirically verified. This study further shows that the influence of satisfaction on continuance intention is higher when hope for the future of a mobile application is stronger, and vice versa, after controlling for the impact of past usage behaviour. In addition, hope is found to be induced by appraisals of perceived usefulness and importance of a mobile application.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that the expectancy-disconfirmation model can be enhanced with considerations of future outcomes. It shows that emotions such as hope are inherent to continuance decisions. Moreover, it goes beyond the valence dimension of emotions and identified specific antecedents of hope based on the appraisal theory.
The influence of online cross-recommendation on consumers’ instant cross-buying intention
Authors: Zhu Dong Hong , Wang Ya Wei , Chang Ya Ping
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the effect of online cross-recommendation of products from e-retailers on consumers’ instant cross-buying intention, and compare the effect between the contexts that the decision making on focal product is difficult and easy.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the information adoption model, this paper develops a theoretical model to investigate how online cross-recommendation of products from e-retailers influence consumers’ instant cross-buying intention. Empirical data were collected from 224 online shoppers. The Partial Least Squares technique was used to test the proposed research model.

Findings

Choice confidence on focal product and perceived usefulness of cross-buying is the antecedents of instant cross-buying intention. Brand awareness of recommended product, one-stop shopping convenience, and perceived price advantage are the antecedents of perceived usefulness of cross-buying and choice confidence on focal product when the decision making on focal product is difficult, whereas brand awareness is not when it is easy to make focal product decision. Choice confidence on focal product positively affects perceived usefulness of cross-buying when it is easy to make focal product decision, whereas the effect is not significant when the decision making on focal product is difficult.

Originality/value

Knowledge about the effect of online cross-recommendation of products on instant cross-buying intention is scarce. This study reveals the psychological mechanism of the effect of online cross-recommendation of products on consumers’ instant cross-buying intention and finds that decision-making difficulty on focal product is an important moderator.
Lemons problem in collaborative consumption platforms
Authors: Bae Joonheui , Koo Dong-Mo
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Most of the research on collaborative consumption platforms (CCPs) has focused on motivational drives, and little research has been conducted on the problem of unbalanced information sharing, also known as the “lemons problem,” and signals. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a netnography and an experiment.

Findings

The netnographic study showed that participants tend to use low ratings and negative reviews as cues implying more searches, use ratings as an anchor to adjust other information, and employ differing cognitive information-processing styles. The experimental results show that, in a normal environment (when ratings are high), visualizers (verbalizers) have more of an intention to use CCPs when they are exposed to abundant pictures (textual cues); however, when the cues lead to a further information search (when the ratings are low), this search behavior pattern is reversed: visualizers (verbalizers) have more of an intention to use CCPs when they are exposed to abundant textual cues (pictures).

Research limitations/implications

This study extends previous research by showing that people frequently use differing heuristics depending on the context; that ratings have an anchoring effect and guide people in selecting a signal to use and condition how they use it; and that visualizers prefer text cues to pictorial cues when trying to make informed decisions under a condition that points to a further information search. These results are opposite of previous assertion.

Practical implications

Marketers are advised to provide a mechanism by which users can extract the cues they need and reduce the less urgent ones; devise a mechanism that screens participants and divides them into two categories: those who post honest evaluations and those who do not; and reduce the opportunistic behaviors of partners on both sides.

Originality/value

The current study addresses consumers’ use of information posted by other consumers on CCPs and demonstrates that participants use low ratings and negative reviews as cues implying more searches, use ratings as an anchor to adjust other information, and employ differing cognitive information-processing styles. Previous research rarely addressed these information search behaviors of consumers on CCPs.
Households’ valuation of new broadband networks
Authors: Thomas Dominic , Finn Adam
Published: April 2018

Purpose

While governments have invested in broadband infrastructure to ensure universal access, researchers argue that infrastructure alone does not guarantee internet use. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of one such government initiative on households’ internet adoption and use.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data from 2002 to 2014, including two choice experiment surveys and broadband access and subscription data.

Findings

The results of Survey 1 show that urban households valued existing e-services more than rural households, indicating the importance of government investment in broadband access. The results of Survey 2 show that when a publicly funded new broadband network equalized access costs, rural households valued overall e-services more than urban households, highlighting the dual role of access to e-services and their perceived benefits. Importantly, these results suggest that rural households resist social change, which lowers their valuation of certain new publicly funded e-services.

Research limitations/implications

These findings extend the digital divide literature by providing empirical support for the applicability of the global village vs urban leadership framework in households’ valuations of e-services.

Practical implications

While the government has worked diligently to enhance access, it also needs to focus on the types of content and services and better communication with communities.

Originality/value

Recent research has focused on inequities in skills and usage, not internet access. Furthermore, the authors examined the inequality in benefits of access to meaningful e-services and better communication with beneficiaries.
Public relation activities in Islamic banking industry
Authors: Mohd Thas Thaker Mohamed Asmy Bin , Mohd Thas Thaker Hassanudin Bin , Allah Pitchay Anwar Bin
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of religion in influencing the public relations activity of Islamic banking institutions in Malaysia by adopting circuit of culture (COC) model as theoretical framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative analysis is used in this study. This analysis has basically involved the application of symbolic interactionist tenets to respective websites and relevant documents of Islamic banks in Malaysia.

Findings

The paper has identified six Islamic value orientations elements, especially respect for religious authority, affinity with the past, fatalism, communal kinship, attachment to the eternal life and spirituality and idealism relative to public relations practice among the Islamic banks in Malaysia. The study finds that the respective banks are embedded with Islamic values in their communication tools that reflect public relations activity.

Research limitations/implications

The theme of value orientations that have been generated and used in this study are constantly in flux. There are some other orientations that might be affecting the cultural value of public relations activities of Islamic banking in Malaysia. Furthermore, these value orientations are less effective in identifying dominating cultural factors that can be amended with situational flexibility, as the current study focuses on Malaysian context. Future research is required by incorporating a quantitative means of testing and measuring the effectiveness of website by using cultural-economic model for building.

Practical implications

The study suggests that public relations researchers should not ignore the vital relationship between religion and public relations activity. The findings of this paper provide Islamic banking institutions to improve and enhance their public relations activity.

Originality/value

This paper offers an additional literature related to public relations activity by using cultural-economic model. While previous studies have focused on product, brand matters and organization behavior to define cultural and public relation, very little research has been focused on the role of religion in determining public relations activity and cultural pattern. Indeed, no study has been focused explicitly on public relations activity of Islamic banks in Malaysia using COC.
Does gender differences play any role in intention to adopt Islamic mobile banking in Pakistan?
Authors: Haider Muhammad Jamal , Changchun Gao , Akram Tayyaba , Hussain Syed Talib
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Tremendous growth and worldwide expansion of Islamic banking industry has gained widespread attention of economist, bankers, investors and financial experts regardless of economic and political volatility in global banking industry. To compete with conventional banking, Islamic banks are setting up themselves with innovative technologies to gain competitive edge and market share. The establishment of mobile banking has been proven a technological wonder by eliminating time and space boundaries, and one can access financial services anywhere and at any time. For effective market segmentation, recognizing gender differences in factors affecting the adoption patterns of m-banking may provide competitive edge. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate how gender differences impact the intention to adopt Islamic mobile banking in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses extended technology acceptance model (TAM) on final 243 participants from Pakistan. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology has been applied for data analysis using SPSS 21 and AMOS 21.

Findings

Results have identified two interesting and different models for males and females in intention to adopt Islamic mobile banking. It is inferred that males are more task driven and desire for personality, value and status, so their intention is significantly impacted by perceived usefulness and perceived self-expressiveness. Whereas, females have found lack of IT knowledge and trust; therefore, their intention is significantly impacted by perceived credibility. However, the perceived financial cost was found of no concern for both males and females and social norms influenced the adoption, but there existed no significant gender differences.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study to existing literature is twofold. First, the existing research on mobile banking has mainly applied TAM on conventional banking overlooking the important ethnic group, the Muslims, who prefer Islamic banking. Second, the impact of gender differences is investigated in factors affecting intention to adopt Islamic mobile banking that has not been studied previously. The study fills the gap.
Muslim tourist perceived value: a study on Malaysia Halal tourism
Authors: Isa Salmi Mohd , Chin Phaik Nie , Mohammad Nurul Ulfah
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This study aims to align the theoretical foundations of Halal tourism to conventional tourism paradigms. It investigates Muslim tourists’ perception of value in the context of tourist destinations in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The partial least square structural equation modelling uses SMART–PLS for 170 Muslim tourists and uses a positive research approach with a quantitative basis of enquiry. Six variables of Muslim tourist perceived value, such as price, social, emotion and quality, and Halal physical and nonphysical attributes are examined. In addition, this study also examines the mediating effect of destination experience in Malaysia’s environment (i.e. infrastructure, atmosphere and culture) and the relationship between Muslim tourist perceived value and tourist satisfaction.

Findings

Overall, the results indicate that price and social variables had no impact on tourist satisfaction, whereas other variables such as quality, emotion and Halal physical and nonphysical attributes had a direct impact on tourist satisfaction especially with the mediating effect of destination experience.

Practical implications

The effects of cognitive, affective and Islamic (i.e. Halal) values on tourist satisfaction were examined as also the importance of destination experience on tourist satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study also found that destination experience influenced tourist satisfaction significantly.
Multi-level ambidexterity in new product introduction at Tata Motors, India
Authors: Snehvrat Saurav , Dutta Swarup
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the multi-faceted role of metaroutines in dealing with nested ambidexterity challenges experienced during new product introductions (NPIs) at Tata Motors, an Indian automotive giant.

Design/methodology/approach

This study utilizes an in-depth multi-level case study highlighting the ambidexterity dynamics across strategic, business unit and functional levels.

Findings

The authors visualize the NPI system found in the firm, including the interactions between structure, process and governance, as a metaroutine. Based on this visualization, the authors argue that certain ostensive (like voice of customer, commonality) and performative (role of leadership and creative recombination) aspects of the metaroutine aid exploratory and exploitative learning across levels at Tata Motors. Further, the authors argue that the role of embedded NPI metaroutine aspects in promoting multi-level ambidexterity offers a distinct form when compared with other academically established forms of structural, contextual and temporal ambidexterity.

Practical implications

This study focuses on the aspects of the NPI metaroutine that enable ambidexterity within the studied firm. The authors argue that apart from the structural, temporal and contextual mechanisms, managers also need to focus on the nuances of NPI metaroutines and their potential to promote ambidexterity across levels.

Originality/value

The authors visualize the interactions between the process, structure and governance mechanisms, related to NPI, as a metaroutine. The authors argue that metaroutine enabled approaches to ambidexterity offer a distinct form when compared with other academically established forms of structural, contextual and temporal ambidexterity. Also, metaroutine enabled ambidexterity explains a possible way through which multi-level ambidexterity can be promoted and managed within organizations.
Micro electronic systems via multifunctional additive manufacturing
Authors: Li Ji , Wasley Thomas , Ta Duong , Shephard John , Stringer Jonathan , Smith Patrick J. , Esenturk Emre , Connaughton Colm , Harris Russell , Kay Robert
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate the improved functionality of additive manufacturing technology provided by combining multiple processes for the fabrication of packaged electronics.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is focused on the improvement in resolution of conductor deposition methods through experimentation with build parameters. Material dispensing with two different low temperature curing isotropic conductive adhesive materials was characterised for their application in printing each of three different conductor designs, traces, z-axis connections and fine pitch flip chip interconnects. Once optimised, demonstrator size can be minimised within the limitations of the chosen processes and materials.

Findings

The proposed method of printing z-axis through layer connections was successful with pillars 2 mm in height and 550 µm in width produced. Dispensing characterisation also resulted in tracks 134 µm in width and 38 µm in height allowing surface mount assembly of 0603 components and thin-shrink small outline packaged integrated circuits. Small 149-µm flip chip interconnects deposited at a 457-µm pitch have also been used for packaging silicon bare die.

Originality/value

This paper presents an improved multifunctional additive manufacturing method to produce fully packaged multilayer electronic systems. It discusses the development of new 3D printed, through layer z-axis connections and the use of a single electrically conductive adhesive material to produce all conductors. This facilitates the surface mount assembly of components directly onto these conductors before stereolithography is used to fully package multiple layers of circuitry in a photopolymer.
PLA conductive filament for 3D printed smart sensing applications
Authors: Marasso Simone Luigi , Cocuzza Matteo , Bertana Valentina , Perrucci Francesco , Tommasi Alessio , Ferrero Sergio , Scaltrito Luciano , Pirri Candido Fabrizio
Published: April 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present a study on a commercial conductive polylactic acid (PLA) filament and its potential application in a three-dimensional (3D) printed smart cap embedding a resistive temperature sensor made of this material. The final aim of this study is to add a fundamental block to the electrical characterization of printed conductive polymers, which are promising to mimic the electrical performance of metals and semiconductors. The studied PLA filament demonstrates not only to be suitable for a simple 3D printed concept but also to show peculiar characteristics that can be exploited to fabricate freeform low-cost temperature sensors.

Design/methodology/approach

The first part is focused on the conductive properties of the PLA filament and its temperature dependency. After obtaining a resistance temperature characteristic of this material, the same was used to fabricate a part of a 3D printed smart cap.

Findings

An approach to the characterization of the 3D printed conductive polymer has been presented. The major results are related to the definition of resistance vs temperature characteristic of the material. This model was then exploited to design a temperature sensor embedded in a 3D printed smart cap.

Practical implications

This study demonstrates that commercial conductive PLA filaments can be suitable materials for 3D printed low-cost temperature sensors or constitutive parts of a 3D printed smart object.

Originality/value

The paper clearly demonstrates that a new generation of 3D printed smart objects can already be obtained using low-cost commercial materials.
A review of 3D concrete printing systems and materials properties: current status and future research prospects
Authors: Paul Suvash Chandra , van Zijl Gideon P.A.G. , Tan Ming Jen , Gibson Ian
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Three-dimensional printing of concrete (3DPC) has a potential for the rapid industrialization of the housing sector, with benefits of reduced construction time due to no formwork requirement, ease of construction of complex geometries, potential high construction quality and reduced waste. Required materials adaption for 3DPC is within reach, as concrete materials technology has reached the point where performance-based specification is possible by specialists. This paper aims to present an overview of the current status of 3DPC for construction, including existing printing methods and material properties required for robustness of 3DPC structures or structural elements.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has presented an overview of three categories of 3DPC systems, namely, gantry, robotic and crane systems. Material compositions as well as fresh and hardened properties of mixes currently used for 3DPC have been elaborated.

Findings

This paper presents an overview of the state of the art of 3DPC systems and materials. Research needs, including reinforcement in the form of bars or fibres in the 3D printable cement-based materials, are also addressed.

Originality/value

The critical analysis of the 3D concrete printing system and materials described in this review paper is original.
Direct slicing of T-spline surfaces for additive manufacturing
Authors: Feng Jiawei , Fu Jianzhong , Lin Zhiwei , Shang Ce , Li Bin
Published: April 2018

Purpose

T-spline is the latest powerful modeling tool in the field of computer-aided design. It has all the merits of non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) whilst resolving some flaws in it. This work applies T-spline surfaces to additive manufacturing (AM). Most current AM products are based on Stereolithograph models. It is a kind of discrete polyhedron model with huge amounts of data and some inherent defects. T-spline offers a better choice for the design and manufacture of complex models.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a direct slicing algorithm of T-spline surfaces for AM is proposed. Initially, a T-spline surface is designed in commercial software and saved as a T-spline mesh file. Then, a numerical method is used to directly calculate all the slicing points on the surface. To achieve higher manufacturing efficiency, an adaptive slicing algorithm is applied according to the geometrical properties of the T-spline surface.

Findings

Experimental results indicate that this algorithm is effective and reliable. The quality of AM can be enhanced at both the designing and slicing stages.

Originality/value

The T-spline and direct slicing algorithm discussed here will be a powerful supplement to current technologies in AM.
Hunger makes apex predators do risky things
Authors: Boutin Stan
Published: April 2018

In Focus: Blecha, K. A., Boone, R. B., & Alldredge, M. W. (2018). . Journal of Animal Ecology, 87, 609–622. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12801

Puma (Puma concolor), an apex predator, can live at the edge of cities where pockets of low‐density human dwellings form residential patches in the wildland–urban interface. Blecha, Boone, and Alldredge () tracked puma via global positioning system (GPS) telemetry collars to determine when and where they hunted and made kills. Well‐fed puma (1–2 days between kills) strongly avoided residential patches despite these areas having higher mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) densities and higher kill success for puma. However, the strong avoidance of residential patches completely disappeared as puma became hungrier (4–10 days since last kill) making it more likely that hungry individuals hunted in residential areas and ultimately increasing the likelihood of puma–human conflict.
Invaders among locals: Alien species decrease phylogenetic and functional diversity while increasing dissimilarity among native community members
Authors: Loiola Priscilla P. , de Bello Francesco , Chytrý Milan , Götzenberger Lars , Carmona Carlos Pérez , Pyšek Petr , Lososová Zdeňka
Published: April 2018

Plant invasions can drastically change the structure of native communities, but it is not fully understood whether alien species occupy phylogenetic and functional space within the range occupied by natives, or provide a novel set of evolutionary origins and traits to the invaded communities.

Here, we evaluated this open question with data on a large number of plant communities from different terrestrial habitats. We used ~27,000 vegetation plots from 26 terrestrial habitats in the Czech Republic and compared phylogenetic and functional diversity (PD and FD, respectively) and community trait means in invaded and non‐invaded plots. We tested for differences (1) between invaded vs. non‐invaded plots, (2) among natives in invaded vs. non‐invaded plots, and (3) in invaded plots only, with and without aliens. To minimize habitat filtering effects on PD and FD, we ran these tests within the habitat‐specific species pools of the 26 vegetation types.

In general, PD, FD and trait mean values changed with invasion, with changes being rather consistent across the habitats considered. Invaded plots were less phylogenetically, but more functionally diverse than non‐invaded plots. The greater FD in invaded plots, compared to non‐invaded ones, was due to greater dissimilarity between natives. In fact, native species in invaded plots showed higher PD and FD than native species in non‐invaded plots, while alien species reduced PD and FD in invaded plots. Changes in the trait means with invasion were due to differences in native species in invaded and non‐invaded plots, rather than to an effect of alien species. Within most habitats, the trait means and variance of all aliens were similar to those of all natives, while in some habitats, the variability in traits was greater between aliens that belonged to phylogenetically closer clades.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that alien species more often occupy a phylogenetic and functional space within the range formed by the native species in a community. They do so either by filling empty gaps or by excluding natives from the existing phylogenetic and functional space, rather than occupying or creating a phylogenetic and trait space outside of it.
Capital Inflows and Exports Diversification in Sub‐Saharan Africa during the MDGs Era
Authors: Ouedraogo Rasmane , Sourouema Windemanegda Sandrine , Zahonogo Pam
Published: April 2018

This paper explores the impact of different forms of capital inflows, including foreign direct investment, foreign aid, portfolio investment, and remittances, on exports diversification in sub‐Saharan Africa during the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era. We employ the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to deal with the endogeneity issue. Using a sample of 35 countries over the period 2000–15, it shows that the impact of capital inflows on exports diversification depends on the type of capital. We find evidence that foreign aid, foreign direct investment, and remittances have positive effects on exports diversification, while portfolio inflows negatively affect exports diversification. Moreover, we find that the impact of capital inflows on exports diversification differs across the region of destination of the exported products. This study underscores the important role of international cooperation and capital inflows in sub‐Saharan Africa, and lends support to policies aiming to attract foreign capital.
Fuzzy ecospace modelling
Authors: Dick Daniel G. , Laflamme Marc
Published: April 2018

Quantitative ecospace models are a numerical approach to comparing the functional structure of different ecosystems on macroevolutionary time‐scales, by quantifying the distribution of functional ecological traits. Ecospace modelling has historically been restricted to a combination of visual interpretation and quantification via metrics such as mean sum of ranges. We argue that comparing ecosystem function in this way overlooks critical information about degrees of overlap and redundancy, and potentially misrepresents the role of “empty ecospace” in driving macroevolution. Fuzzy ecospace modelling (FEM) places conventional ecospace modelling within a fuzzy set‐theoretic framework, wherein functional groups are learned from the dataset, creating models which are sensitive to overlap and the role of empty ecospace.

Fuzzy ecospace modelling is a machine learning program which quantifies functional ecological similarity, and uses this information to classify new taxa. It creates functional groups using a Gower dissimilarity coefficient‐based approach to the k‐medoids algorithm, and uses fuzzy discriminant analysis to classify the taxa present in another ecosystem into these clusters, based on minimal Gower dissimilarity with a fuzzy threshold. This has the effect of quantifying the similarity between these ecosystems in terms of their functional groups, accounting for total redundancy, partial redundancy/novelty and total novelty.

By using fuzzy membership functions, FEM can classify taxa which are highly ecologically dissimilar (outliers with respect to all functional groups), taxa which are fully redundant (100% similarity to those in a given functional group) and taxa in‐between, which represent degrees of niche overlap. This can be used to compare the functional groups present in different ecosystems (as well as their degrees of overlap), and as a metric approach to comparing total ecological disparity. These results can be used to test models of the role of empty ecospace in macroevolutionary trends, or to investigate how ecosystems respond to global perturbations. Furthermore, it allows us to define numerically the concept of empty ecospace for n‐dimensional datasets.

A cluster‐based approach to the quantification of ecospace allows for a numerical estimate of niche overlap, a value particularly difficult to quantify in fossil contexts.
Sex modulates the association of fibroblast growth factor 21 with end‐stage renal disease in Asian people with Type 2 diabetes: a 6.3‐year prospective cohort study
Authors: Liu J.‐J. , Liu S. , Choo R. W. M. , Wee S. L. , Xu A. , Lim S. C.
Published: April 2018

Aim

To study whether plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 independently predicts the risk of end‐stage renal disease in Asian people with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, 1700 Asian people with Type 2 diabetes were followed for a mean of 6.3 years in a regional hospital in Singapore. Incident end‐stage renal disease was identified by linkage with a national renal registry. The association of baseline fibroblast growth factor 21 levels with risk of progression to end‐stage renal disease was studied using survival analyses.

Results

Participants were aged 60 ± 10 years, with an average diabetes duration of 12 years. Their estimated GFR was 73 ± 28 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 62% had albuminuria at baseline. A total of 179 incident end‐stage renal disease cases were identified. Plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 interacted with sex in its association with end‐stage renal disease (Pinteraction = 0.003). A 1‐sd increment in fibroblast growth factor 21 (natural log‐transformed) was associated with a 1.32‐fold (95% CI 1.05–1.66, P = 0.02) increased hazard for end‐stage renal disease in women, after adjustment for traditional risk factors including estimated GFR and albuminuria. Taking death as a competing risk did not materially change the outcome [sub‐distribution hazard ratio 1.35 (95% CI 1.11–1.66, P = 0.003)]. Fibroblast growth factor 21 did not predict end‐stage renal disease risk in men after adjustment for baseline estimated GFR and albuminuria [hazard ratio 1.07 (95% CI 0.89–1.28, P = 0.49)].

Conclusions

Plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 level independently predicted risk of progression to end‐stage renal disease in women with Type 2 diabetes. The pathophysiological relationships among FGF21, sex and renal progression warrant further study.
Decreases in neprilysin and vasoconstrictors and increases in vasodilators following bariatric surgery
Authors: Ghanim Husam , Monte Scott , Caruana Joseph , Green Kelly , Abuaysheh Sanaa , Dandona Paresh
Published: April 2018

The aim of this study was to determine if weight loss following Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery in morbidly obese patients is associated with a decrease in plasma concentrations of neprilysin, mediators of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), catecholamines and endothelin‐1, and also with an increase in the concentrations of vasodilators. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 15 patients with morbid obesity and diabetes prior to and 6 months after RYGB surgery. Circulating levels of neprilysin, vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, and the mRNA expression of related genes in circulating mononuclear cells (MNC) were measured. Six months after RYGB surgery the concentrations of neprilysin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin II, renin and endothelin‐1 fell significantly by 27 ±16%, 22 ±10%, 22 ±8%, 35 ±13% and 17 ±6% (P < .05 for all), respectively, while ANP concentrations increased significantly by 24 ±13%. There was no significant change in aldosterone, BNP, cAMP or cGMP concentrations, or angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) expression. These changes may contribute to the reduction of congestive cardiac failure and blood pressure risks after RYGB surgery.