bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of riblets in a bird beak (Rynchops) for low fluid drag
Authors: Martin Samuel , Bhushan Bharat
Published: June 2016

Riblet structures found on fast-swimming shark scales, such as those found on a mako shark, have been shown to reduce fluid drag. In previous experimental and modelling studies, riblets have been shown to provide drag reduction by lifting vortices formed in turbulent flow, decreasing overall shear stresses. Skimmer birds (Rynchops) are the only birds to catch fish in flight by flying just above the water surface with a submerged beak to fish for food. Because they need to quickly catch prey, reducing drag on their beak is advantageous. For the first time, riblet structures found on the beak of the skimmer bird have been studied experimentally and computationally for low fluid drag properties. In this study, skimmer replicas were studied for drag reduction through pressure drop in closed-channel, turbulent water flow. Pressure drop measurements are compared for black and yellow skimmer beaks in two configurations, and mako shark skin. In addition, two configurations of skimmer beak were modelled to compare drag properties and vortex structures. Results are discussed, and a conceptual model is presented to explain a possible drag reduction mechanism in skimmers.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science’.
Bioinspired materials for water supply and management: water collection, water purification and separation of water from oil
Authors: Brown Philip S. , Bhushan Bharat
Published: June 2016

Access to a safe supply of water is a human right. However, with growing populations, global warming and contamination due to human activity, it is one that is increasingly under threat. It is hoped that nature can inspire the creation of materials to aid in the supply and management of water, from water collection and purification to water source clean-up and rehabilitation from oil contamination. Many species thrive in even the driest places, with some surviving on water harvested from fog. By studying these species, new materials can be developed to provide a source of fresh water from fog for communities across the globe. The vast majority of water on the Earth is in the oceans. However, current desalination processes are energy-intensive. Systems in our own bodies have evolved to transport water efficiently while blocking other molecules and ions. Inspiration can be taken from such to improve the efficiency of desalination and help purify water containing other contaminants. Finally, oil contamination of water from spills or the fracking technique can be a devastating environmental disaster. By studying how natural surfaces interact with liquids, new techniques can be developed to clean up oil spills and further protect our most precious resource.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Bioinspired hierarchically structured surfaces for green science’.
Library computing services going back to the future: a thin client approach
Authors: McMullen Anthony
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This study aims to provide insights and commentary into issues encountered in providing computing services to library users in an era of shrinking budgets, reductions in staffing and increased utility costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses examples and illustrations from a real-world deployment of thin client technologies to illustrate efficiencies achieved in not only maintenance and continued upkeep but also consumption of power.

Findings

Although thin client technologies were largely displaced with the proliferation of inexpensive and powerful desktop computing, great savings in both staff time and electricity can be achieved with a phasing out of desktop computing in favor of a thin client model.

Originality/value

This paper describes the benefits of a test of the viability of a thin client computing model in a highly utilized academic library computing facility. The consumption of power of the thin client model is compared and contrasted with the desktop systems that were displaced.
Exploration of noisy data in differential electronic nose
Authors: Osowski Stanislaw , Siwek Krzysztof , Grzywacz Tomasz
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The paper is concerned with exploration of sensor signals in differential electronic nose. It is a special type of nose, which applies double sensor matrices and exploits only their differential signals, which are used in recognition of patterns associated with them. The purpose of this paper is to study the application of differential nose in dynamic measurement of aroma of 11 brands of cigarettes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The most important task in pattern recognition using electronic nose is its resistance to the noise corrupting the measurement. The authors will analyze and compare the performance of the nose in the noisy environment by applying two classifier systems: the support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) of decision trees.

Findings

– On the basis of numerical experiments the authors have found that application of SVM as the classifier in the electronic nose is more advantageous than RF, especially at high level of noise and small number of measuring sensors. Its application allowed to recognize 11 brands of cigarettes with the accuracy close to 100 percent.

Practical implications

– Thanks to application of two identical sensors working in a differential mode the authors avoid the baseline estimation and thus the solution is well suited for on-line dynamic measurements of the process.

Originality/value

– The paper has studied the advantages and limitations of the differential electronic nose following from the existence of the noise, corrupting the measurements. It has pointed an important role of the applied classifier system in getting the electronic nose of the highest quality.
Visualization of spatial conductivity irregularities within conductive rubber sheets
Authors: Wernick Helmut , Hoelzl Patrick , Zagar Bernhard G.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a fast and contactless measurement method to determine the spatial conductivity distribution within an intrinsically conducting polymer, more precisely a conductive rubber sheet specimen. As a consequence of the manufacturing process and the material composition, the conductivity distribution within the sheet is assumed to be inhomogeneous.

Design/methodology/approach

– The current density distribution within the conductive rubber sheet due to an excitation current is estimated from the measured magnetic field distribution. Therefore, a GMR sensor is used to spatially sample the magnetic field above the specimen. Based on the estimated current density distribution and alternatively the local power dissipation calculated from a thermal image, the conductivity distribution within the specimen is determined. For comparison a reference measurement with a classical resistivity probe is done.

Findings

– The measurement results show a good agreement between the developed and the classical method. Moreover, the developed measurement method requires less time and still offers a higher spatial resolution.

Originality/value

– The presented results demonstrate the potential of the developed measurement method for determining the conductivity distribution within thin and planar specimens. Furthermore, conclusions can be drawn about the material homogeneity of the used test specimen.
Is having accurate knowledge necessary for implementing safe practices?
Authors: Krishen Anjala S. , Agarwal Shaurya , Kachroo Pushkin
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to increase consumer safety by providing insights about the linkage between consumer knowledge, price perception and safety intentions. Drawing from the expanded societal view of marketing, this model aims to further understanding of the connection between consumer education and safety from a folk theories-of-mind perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilizes a phased, mixed-methods and interdisciplinary approach which blends transportation research and marketing. First, a qualitative inquiry of 151 comments regarding child safety seats was conducted. Next, using the key themes and concepts, a quantitative model was derived and a proposed structural equation model on a sample of 217 respondents was tested.

Findings

Although consumers understand the importance of child safety seats and the ample potential harms associated with their misuse, this paper contributes to existing literature by showing that a high perceived price can offset potential experience with them, attitude toward them and future use of them.

Practical implications

Integrated marketing campaigns to increase safety practices regarding child safety can be framed from a “cost of a life” rather than a “cost of a seat” perspective.

Originality/value

This research contributes by highlighting the importance of perceived price as it weighs against safety in a quantitative model, showing that consumer education can increase usage intentions for critical products and offering a mixed-methods, interdisciplinary approach to reduce framing biases and address a topic of significant societal concern.
A systematic assessment of empirical research on foreign entry mode
Authors: Nydam Wulff Jesper
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically assess the empirical support for central relationships in the empirical literature on foreign market entry mode. The reviewing method overcomes methodological limitations in past reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

This review provides a systematic assessment of empirical support through a simple quantitative procedure using transparent criteria for article selection. In total, 1,217 statistical tests from 119 studies published in 44 different scientific journals in the period 1997-2013 are examined across a range of dimensions.

Findings

Findings question the frequent use of commonly used measures (e.g. advertising intensity) and control variables (e.g. firm size) and suggest that statements about the importance of mode choice for subsidiary performance may be premature. Methodologically, this study identifies critical issues with regard to interpretation of interactions and the entry mode choice set.

Research limitations/implications

This study limits itself to study the direction of relationships and does not analyze effect sizes. Further, future research may benefit from broadening the entry mode choice by extending the use of multiple outcome models as well as implementing the correct interpretational tools when investigating interactions.

Originality/value

The review is relevant to researchers seeking an overview over the research literature or practitioners interested in the link between mode choice and subsidiary performance.
Chinese restaurant employees’ perceptions of their nationals abroad: a comparative study
Authors: Moufakkir Omar , Reisinger Yvette
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This study aims to further an understanding of hospitality employees’ perceptions of their customers in the context of service encounter by utilizing the concepts of contact hypothesis and cultural distance in a multi-ethnic environment. The study compares perceptions of Chinese immigrants working in restaurants of their British patrons (from a remote culture) and Chinese patrons (from a proximate culture). The service encounter takes place in the London Chinatown. The dynamics of Chinatown as a “third space” adds complexity to service encounter and employee perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 118 Chinese restaurant employees in the Soho area of the London Chinatown. Perception questions were based on interviews undertaken in an earlier phase of the research. A pairedt-test was run to identify significant differences in the Chinese restaurant employees’ perceptions of the Chinese and British patrons. Discriminant analysis was performed to determine which perception variables discriminated the most between the two patron groups.

Findings

Despite cultural proximity, the perceptions held by Chinese restaurant employees of their nationals were negative compared to the perceptions of British patrons. Out of 16, in 15 areas of measurement, there were significant differences in the Chinese restaurant employees’ perceptions’ of their Chinese and British guests. Six variables that discriminated the most between the two groups of guests were no tips, not polite, loud, no compliment, messy and demanding.

Research limitations/implications

Research in ethnic and minority quarters, such as Chinatown in London, may suffer from “recall bias”, or in this case from making the difference between customer groups. Also, the Chinese are not a homogeneous group. For example, despite cultural similarity with mainstream culture, cultural and behavioral characteristics may exist between residents from the South, North and Hong Kong.

Practical implications

The cultural diversity of the industry’s employees necessitates managing cultural diversity effectively, especially in the sectors that rely heavily on guest–employee interaction. Perceptions affect attitudes and behavior. Training programs about perception and its roots may bridge the service gap in high-contact service encounters.

Originality/value

This study provides a ground for future empirical research into understanding the immigrant employees’ perceptions of their guests, nationals versus non-nationals and the ways for improving these perceptions. Taking the example of Chinatown as a dynamic “third space” is another approach to understanding the effects of “ethnoscape” on encounters in a more globalized village.
Tour operator perspectives on responsible tourism practices: a case of Kinabalu National Park, Sabah
Authors: Chan Jennifer Kim Lian , Tay Kai Xin
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key motivators triggering tour operators to practise responsible tourism in Kinabalu Park.

Design/methodology/approach

Inductive and phenomenological research data were collected via in-depth interviews with 25 tour operators guiding tours in Kinabalu Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Findings

The paper uses push and pull motivation theory to explain motivation in practising responsible tourism. The findings show that push factors are more significant to tour operators as compared to pull factors. The key motivation of tour operators to practise responsible tourism is organisational benefits and own initiative (intrinsic) and response demand and market trends (extrinsic). However, the findings show that although tour operators have a positive attitude towards responsible tourism, it does not show in their tour operations of Kinabalu Park. This is because the challenges like lack stakeholders participation and low responsible tourism awareness were negatively affecting to what tour operators would like to do and what actually gets done.

Practical implications

Identified motives, practices, issues and challenges are valuable information and to enhance the practices of responsible tourism in Kinabalu Park, Sabah.

Originality/value

The paper provides in-depth insight of the motivation to practise responsible tourism from tour operators’ perspectives in Kinabalu Park. The finding is benefiting the implementation of responsible tourism in Kinabalu Park.
Unit-cell-based derivation of the material models for armor-grade composites with different architectures of ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene fibers
Authors: Grujicic Mica , Snipes Jennifer , Ramaswami S , Avuthu Vasudeva , Yen Chian-Fong , Cheeseman Bryan
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Traditionally, an armor-grade composite is based on a two-dimensional (2D) architecture of its fiber reinforcements. However, various experimental investigations have shown that armor-grade composites based on 2D-reinforcement architectures tend to display inferior through-the-thickness mechanical properties, compromising their ballistic performance. To overcome this problem, armor-grade composites based on three-dimensional (3D) fiber-reinforcement architectures have recently been investigated experimentally. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the present work, continuum-level material models are derived, parameterized and validated for armor-grade composite materials, having four (two 2D and two 3D) prototypical reinforcement architectures based on oriented ultra-high molecular-weight polyethylene fibers. To properly and accurately account for the effect of the reinforcement architecture, the appropriate unit cells (within which the constituent materials and their morphologies are represented explicitly) are constructed and subjected to a series of virtual mechanical tests (VMTs). The results obtained are used within a post-processing analysis to derive and parameterize the corresponding homogenized-material models. One of these models (specifically, the one for 0°/90° cross-collimated fiber architecture) was directly validated by comparing its predictions with the experimental counterparts. The other models are validated by examining their physical soundness and details of their predictions. Lastly, the models are integrated as user-material subroutines, and linked with a commercial finite-element package, in order to carry out a transient non-linear dynamics analysis of ballistic transverse impact of armor-grade composite-material panels with different reinforcement architectures.

Findings

– The results obtained clearly revealed the role the reinforcement architecture plays in the overall ballistic limit of the armor panel, as well as in its structural and damage/failure response.

Originality/value

– To the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first reported attempt to assess, computationally, the utility and effectiveness of 3D fiber-reinforcement architectures for ballistic-impact applications.
Working under pressure: economic recession and third sector development in Europe
Authors: Pape Ulla , Chaves-Ávila Rafael , Pahl Joachim Benedikt , Petrella Francesca , Pieliński Bartosz , Savall-Morera Teresa
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The context conditions for third sector organizations (TSOs) in Europe have significantly changed as a result of the global economic crisis, including decreasing levels of public funding and changing modes of relations with the state. The effect of economic recession, however, varies across Europe. The purpose of this paper is to understand why this is the case. It analyses the impact of economic recession and related policy changes on third sector development in Europe. The economic effects on TSOs are thereby placed into a broader context of changing third sector policies and welfare state restructuring.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper focusses on two research questions: how has the changing policy environment affected the development of the third sector? And what kind of strategies have TSOs adopted to respond to these changes? The paper first investigates general trends in Europe, based on a conceptual model that focusses on economic recession and austerity policies with regard to the third sector. In a second step of analysis, the paper provides five country case studies that exemplify policy changes and responses from the third sector in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain.

Findings

– The paper argues that three different development paths can be identified across Europe. In some countries (France and Spain), TSOs face a strong effect of economic recession. In other countries (Germany and Poland) the development of the third sector remains largely stable, albeit at different levels, whereas in the Netherlands, TSOs rather experience changes in the policy environment than a direct impact of economic decline. The paper also shows that response strategies of the third sector in Europe depend on the context conditions. The paper is based on the European project “Third Sector Impact.” It combines an analysis of statistical information with qualitative data from interviews with third sector representatives.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to our understanding of the interrelation between economic recession, long-term policy changes and third sector development in Europe.
School-NGO interaction: case studies of Israel and Germany
Authors: Sagie Netta , Yemini Miri , Bauer Ullrich
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction between schools and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Israeli and German education systems from the perspective of the stakeholders involved: school principals, the NGOs’ leadership, and regulatory authorities in each country.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study documents the process by which the interactions between schools and NGOs emerge, the motivations of each of the involved stakeholders, how stakeholders perceive the interaction and the power relations between the involved stakeholders. The study was conducted using the qualitative “grounded theory” methodology, which the authors applied to develop a concept that is anchored in data collected through the research and systematically analyzed.

Findings

– Using case studies, the authors examine how the relationships between the formal education system and the external entity are formed, reveal the motivations and strategies of the stakeholders involved in the interaction, and investigate the partnerships’ development process in the two different educational systems studied. Findings from the study leading to the conclusion that school-NGO interaction is based on entrepreneurial activities on the part of the school principals and the NGOs, which is gradually becoming institutionalized.

Originality/value

– Through this study, the authors have developed a new empirical based theory on the interaction between schools and NGOs as entrepreneurial activity.
Global perspectives on volunteerism
Authors: Halsall Jamie , Cook Ian , Wankhade Paresh
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of volunteerism in three different case countries, namely, that of USA, UK and China while highlighting the role of the state, society and social capital.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper reviews the extant literature on the volunteering traditions in the chosen case study countries highlighting the idiosyncrasies while analysing implications for future research.

Findings

– The paper highlights the role of the state, society and social capital in the chosen countries, each deriving its origins from the specific traditions in those countries.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper provides a conceptual review focusing on the key literature in the field. The authors have examined various academic texts and published materials.

Practical implications

– This paper provided an update critically discussion on the concept of volunteerism in three different case countries.

Social implications

– This paper is highly relevant to academics and social policy makers. Moreover, this paper has been written from an international context.

Originality/value

– The paper makes an original contribution by comparing and contrasting three important countries with different histories and traditions of volunteerism highlighting diversity of type and application.
Inter-industry creative collaborations incorporating luxury fashion brands
Authors: Alexander Bethan , Contreras Luis Ortega
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to conceive the concept of inter-industry creative collaboration; a unique kind of cooperation between business partners from diverse industries. It investigates the motivations that encourage their creation and identifies a method to evaluate consumers’ attitudes towards this kind of partnership. The study analyses consumer-based brand equity and links them to inter-industry creative collaborations within the luxury fashion industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– Research was conducted using a comparative case design, which was qualitative in nature. Four cases were selected purposively. The data were obtained using semi-structured interviews with industry informants and consumer focus groups. Transcripts were thematically analysed according to common categories identified in the literature to enable cross-case conclusions to be drawn.

Findings

– The research proposes the existence of a direct relationship between the consumer-based brand equity effects and consumers’ attitudes towards inter-industry creative collaborations. This research not only proves the existence of the stated relationship but also generates a theoretical framework that specifically analyses inter-industry creative collaboration involving luxury fashion brands.

Research limitations/implications

– The usage of convenience sampling limited consumer participants to individuals who considered themselves luxury fashion consumers. In addition, the findings are limited to London, UK and cannot be generalised outside the examined cases. That said, the research provides a useful starting point for further empirical research to test the validity and reliability of the model outside of the stated cases.

Practical implications

– The proposed theoretical framework serves as a practical guide for luxury managers to assess the planning and execution of inter-industry creative collaborations conducted by their brands.

Originality/value

– The research makes a contribution to brand management literature by creating a connection between four topics of academic research: motivations of inter-industry creative collaborations; consumer-based brand equity; consumers’ attitudes towards inter-industry creative collaborations; and the creative and emotional elements of luxury fashion.
You’re in the Army now!
Authors: Ritson Philip A. , Parker Lee D.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the employment of the military metaphor by the management thinker and writer Lyndall Urwick who in the twentieth century developed and articulated his ideas over a 60-year period, arguably the longest continuous period of any management writer of his day.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on published research into Urwick as well as upon the breadth of his published writings over a 60-year period. It offers a contextualised explanatory analysis of his military theory ideas and explores their lack of traction by reference to British military, economic and social history.

Findings

The study reveals the wartime context that surrounded the emergence of his ideas and motivated Urwick’s faith in the military approach to management. This stood in contrast to the countervailing forces of the post-war decline in British industry and a populist mythology of British Army mismanagement and failure in the Great War.

Originality/value

In this case of a management idea’s failure to gain traction, the importance of the congruence between management theory and societal beliefs emerges as crucial to the likely uptake of new management thinking.
Testing the trade relationships between China, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand using grey Lotka-Volterra competition model
Authors: Wang Zheng-Xin , Zhu Hong-Tao
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Since the construction of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) launched in 2002, the bilateral trade increased rapidly. The purpose of this paper is to test the competition and cooperation in trade relationships between China and the main trading partners (Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand (SMT)) from ASEAN in international trade under CAFTA.

Design/methodology/approach

– Grey Lotka-Volterra competition models are established for testing the trade relationships between China and SMT, respectively, based on the data of import and export from 2003 to 2014. To improve modeling accuracy, the interpolated coefficients for dynamic background value are introduced into the grey Lotka-Volterra model. The optimal parameters are solved through minimizing the mean absolute percentage error and the constraint of parameter relationships. Besides, eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix are adopted to carry out the stability of equilibrium points of the trade relationships.

Findings

– As the beneficiary party, China has mutual benefit and win-win trade relationship with Singapore, while it has predator-prey trade relationships with Malaysia and Thailand. The future exports from SMT to China will stabilize at 462.31, 598.13 and 447.03 billion dollars, respectively. The future exports from China to SMT will stabilize at 637.16, 943.71 and 827.52 billion dollars, respectively.

Practical implications

– This study can be regarded as an important reference for China and its trading partners from ASEAN. The modeling results can help the decision makers to formulate appropriate international trade strategies to gain and maintain competitive advantages.

Originality/value

– A new approach to testing the trade relationships is proposed based on grey Lotka-Volterra competition model. The study also proposed a dynamic optimization method for the background value of grey Lotka-Volterra model.
The multiple markets competitive location problem
Authors: Drezner Tammy , Drezner Zvi , Kalczynski Pawel J
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate a competitive location problem to determine how to allocate a budget to expand company’s chain by either adding new facilities, expanding existing facilities, or a combination of both actions. Solving large problems may exceed the computational resources currently available. The authors treat a special case when the market can be divided into mutually exclusive sub-markets. These can be markets in cities around the globe or markets far enough from each other so that it can be assumed that customers in one market do not patronize retail facilities in another market, or that cross-patronizing is negligible. The company has a given budget to invest in these markets. Three objectives are considered: maximizing profit, maximizing return on investment (ROI), and maximizing profit subject to a minimum ROI. An illustrative example problem of 20 sub-markets with a total of 400 facilities, 4,800 potential locations for new facilities, and 5,000 demand points is optimally solved in less than two hours of computing time.

Design/methodology/approach

– Since the market can be partitioned into disjoint sub-markets, the profit at each market by investing any budget in this sub-market can be calculated. The best allocation of the budget among the sub-markets can be done by either solving an integer linear program or by dynamic programming. This way, intractabole large competitive location problems can be optimally solved.

Findings

– An illustrative example problem of 20 sub-markets with a total of 400 facilities, 4,800 potential locations for new facilities, and 5,000 demand points is optimally solved in less than two hours of computing time. Such a problem cannot be optimally solved by existing methods.

Originality/value

– This model is new and was not done in previous papers.
Terminal airspace sector capacity estimation method based on the ATC dynamical model
Authors: Zhang Ming , Shan Le , Zhang Ming , Liu Kai , Yu Hui , Yu Jue
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– Air traffic resources mainly include two parts, namely, air traffic controller (ATC) and physical system resources, such as airspace. Reasonable assessment and effective management of ATC and airspace resources are the premise and foundation of ensuring the safety and efficiency of air traffic management systems. The previous studies focussed on subjective workload control and the statistics of control communication time; they revealed the lack of kinetic universality analyses of controlling actions. Although frequency distribution patterns were generated by controlling the timing sequence, the correlation between the controlling actions and terminal airspace (TMA) sector capacity was not revealed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Thus, given the immeasurable complexity of controlling actions and statistical features of the controlling communications, a dynamical model of ATC was built in this study to identify the frequency distribution patterns generated by controlling the timing sequence. With the Directorate of Operational and Analysis Task method, TMA sector capacity was estimated through multiple linear regression analysis.

Findings

– With data from the Kunming sector, the power exponent was calculated as 2.55, and the mathematical expectation was determined to be 47.21 s. The correlation between controlling actions (workload) and sector capacity was obtained. Finally, the data were integrated in the verification of the model and its feasibility.

Originality/value

– Airspace capacity is an index to measure the ability of the airspace system to deliver services to meet the air traffic demand. A scientific and accurate forecast of airspace capacity is a foundation of the effective management and rational allocation of the airspace resources. The study is of great significance for the efficient use of airspace resources, controller resources.
Toward a rational and sustainable division of labor for the preservation of knowledge
Authors: Reilly Bernard F
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a rational and sustainable division of labor between national libraries and the information industry for the preservation of knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is a based on remarks presented by the author at the 25th Anniversary Conference of the National Repository Library of Finland, held in Kuopio on May 21-22, 2015.

Findings

– Crafting a useful new role for libraries will require imagination and curatorial rigor, capabilities that the industry has found in the past, and can summon once again. No templates for such a role exist, but must be newly invented by the current generation of librarians. This is a tall order in an era of diminishing public funding for libraries and archives. But it will be essential if libraries are to continue to be key institutions of civil society.

Originality/value

– There are formidable challenges to ensuring a rational and sustainable division of labor for the preservation of knowledge and many of those challenges will not be solved by new technologies alone. But the discussion needs to move beyond dated, late twentieth century strategies like mass digitization of books and “web archiving”.
A series of new organic sensitisers for dye-sensitised solar cells
Authors: Hosseinnezhad Mozhgan
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) have attracted a great deal of interest. Dye molecules are key materials in DSSCs that produce electrons. This study reports on synthesis of the organic dyes and investigation their performance in DSSCs.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of new organic dyes were prepared using double rhodanine as the fundamental electron-acceptor group and aldehydes with varying substituents as the electron-donor groups. These dyes were first purified and then characterised by analytical techniques. DSSCs were fabricated to determine the photovoltaic behaviour and conversion efficiency of each individual dye.

Findings

Results demonstrated that all the dyes form j-type aggregates on the nano TiO2. All dyes in DSSC structure show suitable power conversion efficiency, and Dye 5 due to presence of OCH3 and OiPr presents maximum conversion efficiency.

Practical implications

In the search for high-efficiency organic dyes for DSSCs, development of new materials offering optimised photochemical stabilities as well as suitable optical and electrical properties is importance.

Social implications

Organic dyes as photosensitisers are interesting due to low cost, relatively facile dye synthesis and capability of easy molecular tailoring.

Originality/value

A series of new organic metal-free dyes were prepared as sensitisers for DSSCs for the first time.
A simple approach for the synthesis of coumarin fluorescent dyes under microwave irradiation and their application in textile printing
Authors: Elgemeie G.H. , Ahmed K.A. , Ahmed E.A. , Helal M.H. , Masoud D.M.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to successfully implement microwave irradiation for the rapid synthesis of novel fluorescent dyes. The prepared dyes are then applied for printing of polyester and polyamide by silk screen printing process.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of new N′-(methylene)-2-imino-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide derivatives 3a–r were synthesised in excellent yield and high atom economy by the Knoevenagel condensation of salicylaldehyde derivatives 1 and cyano-N′-methyleneaceto-hydrazide derivatives 2 in the presence of piperidine catalyst. The optical properties of the synthesised compounds were recorded; all of the compounds were found to be fluorescent in 1, 4-dioxane solution; they all emitted blue light (440-460 nm). This work shows that the optical properties strongly depend on the nature of the substituent, and indicate which type of substituent is favourable for a given application. It confirms that iminocoumarin derivatives could lead to a new generation of fluorescent probes, prone to easy modification of their chemical structure. These synthesised dyes are used to print polyester and polyamide fabrics using synthetic thickener in the printing paste for silk screen technique.

Findings

The structures of synthesised dyes were established and confirmed for the reaction products on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data (MS, IR and 1H-NMR). The suitability of the prepared dyestuffs for traditional printing on polyester and polyamide fabrics has been investigated. The prints obtained using the synthesised dyes were found to possess high colour strength and excellent overall fastness properties but relatively low light fastness.

Research limitations/implications

The synthesised fluorescent dyes were prepared by a simple reaction process in microwave. The optical properties for obtained dyes show include the fact that it will have various important applications. In addition, they were used for printing synthetic fabrics and were found to have good results.

Practical implications

The new fluorescent dyes’ system has excellent printing properties. Also they are superior in terms of yield, purity, colour strength and fastness properties which may lend them valuable commercial production.

Originality/value

The result of this work aimed to define the scope and limitation of the procedures for the synthesis of novel iminocoumarin dyes via a simple and economic way.
Health literacy education: the impact of synchronous instruction
Authors: Lantzy Tricia
Published: June 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the integration of librarian-led health literacy instruction into an undergraduate course, focusing specifically on how the method of instruction impacts learning outcomes and self-reported confidence levels in completing a course assignment. Undergraduate students struggle to critically evaluate online health information in an increasingly diffuse information landscape. Assessing the success of different instructional techniques aimed at building these abilities can guide pedagogical choices and provide new opportunities to increase health literacy skills in a variety of library user populations.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental research design with pre- and post-tests and a participant survey was used to compare one-shot information literacy instruction techniques in two hybrid sections of a kinesiology course. One class received a traditional, face-to-face librarian-led session and the other a synchronous online instructional session through web conferencing.

Findings

There were no significant differences in student learning between the in-person and online groups. Students in both conditions demonstrated an extremely significant increase from pre-test to post-test scores, suggesting that librarian-led instruction in either format can lead to substantial learning of online health literacy skills. Survey results showed no significant differences in confidence levels following instruction and suggest that both methods of instruction provide a positive learning experience for students.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence that synchronous online instruction can be as effective as face-to-face instruction in teaching students to evaluate health-related information resources. These findings are valuable for librarians in a variety of settings who are considering providing health literacy education in an online environment.
Transformational leadership and employee turnover intention
Authors: Gyensare Michael Asiedu , Anku-Tsede Olivia , Sanda Mohammed-Aminu , Okpoti Christopher Adjei
Published: June 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of transformational leadership on employee turnover intention through the mediating role of affective commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study examines conceptual relationships in the Ghanaian context, based on structural equation modelling with maximum likelihood estimation, using sample employees from the private sector organizations. In addition, the mediation analysis is conducted with Sobel’s test and 95 per cent CI bootstrap analysis.

Findings

– The study shows that affective commitment would decline workers’ quitting intention and serves to promote a degree of trust and willingness to follow their leaders’ philosophy, ideology, vision and guidance in the organization. Hence, affective commitment fully mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and employee turnover intention.

Practical implications

– To help lessen employees quitting intentions, both middle and top-level managers should endeavour to create an atmosphere of trust, admiration, loyalty and respect for their employees.

Originality/value

– Overall it is shown that affective commitment was the mechanism through which transformational leadership influences employees’ turnover intentions in the SLCs in Ghana.
Numerical upscaling of frequency‐dependent P‐ and S‐wave moduli in fractured porous media
Authors: Caspari Eva , Milani Marco , Rubino J. Germán , Müller Tobias M. , Quintal Beatriz , Holliger Klaus
Published: June 2016

Relating seismic attributes to the characteristics of mesoscopic fractures is inherently challenging, yet these heterogeneities tend to dominate the mechanical and hydraulic properties of the medium. Analytical approaches linking the effects of material properties on seismic attributes, such as attenuation and velocity dispersion, tend to be limited to simple geometries, low fracture densities, and/or non‐interacting fractures. Furthermore, the influence of fluid flow within interconnected fractures on P‐wave and S‐wave attenuation is difficult to accommodate in analytical models. One way to overcome these limitations is through numerical upscaling. In this paper, we apply a numerical upscaling approach based on the theory of quasi‐static poroelasticity to fluid‐saturated porous media containing randomly distributed horizontal and vertical fractures. The inferred frequency‐dependent elastic moduli represent the effective behaviour of the underlying fractured medium if the considered sub‐volume has at least the size of a representative elementary volume. We adapt a combined statistical and numerical approach originally proposed for elastic composites to explore wether the overall statistical properties of simple fracture networks can be captured by computationally feasible representative‐elementary‐volume sizes. Our results indicate that, for the considered scenarios, this is indeed possible and thus represent an important first step towards the estimation of frequency‐dependent effective moduli of realistic fracture networks.
Are changes in time‐lapse seismic data due to fluid substitution or rock dissolution? A CO2 sequestration feasibility study at the Pohokura Field, New Zealand
Authors: Sim Cheng Yii , Adam Ludmila
Published: June 2016

Seismic methods are commonly used to monitor the subsurface when carbon dioxide (CO2) is injected into a reservoir. Besides fluid saturation and pressure changes, CO2–water mixtures may cause rock alteration. In this petrophysical study, we compare the elastic property changes due to fluid replacement and those due to mineral dissolution for carbonate‐cemented sandstones at the Pohokura Field, New Zealand. We quantify the effects of fluid substitution from fully brine to fully supercritical CO2 saturation and carbonate cement dissolution on the seismic signatures of the reservoir rocks by combining laboratory results, petrographic analyses, and geophysical well log data. We conclude that elastic property changes due to mineral dissolution are significantly greater than those due to fluid substitution alone. The northern part of the Pohokura Field has coarser‐grained sandstones, which experience the largest changes in wave speeds. Our hypothesis is that these changes result from carbonate cement dissolution in the presence of CO2–water–sandstone reactions. If time‐lapse seismic data were to be acquired in this field, the northern area could show P‐wave velocity reductions of up to 20% and a 131.7% increase in seismic amplitude from a brine‐saturated rock to an altered, fully CO2‐saturated rock. In comparison, the southern part of the field, where sandstones are mostly fine‐grained, we expect a P‐wave velocity decrease of 6% if such dissolution process took place. Finally, we show that the elastic properties of the reservoir rocks can be described with the constant‐cement model. The model is used to predict that the dissolution process reduces the volume of grain contact cement, on average, from 2.5% to 1.75% of the total rock mineral volume. Our analysis suggests that changes to the rock frame, which includes carbonate minerals, cannot be ignored for a CO2 injection scenario.
Constipation, fiber intake and non‐compliance contribute to inadequate colonoscopy bowel preparation: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Fang Jun , Fu Hong Yu , Ma Dan , Wang Dong , Liu Ya Ping , Wang Yun Feng , Zhu Chun Ping , Qian Wei , Bai Yu , Li Zhao Shen
Published: June 2016

Objective

Adequate bowel preparation is important for colonoscopy. Currently available evidence on the determinants of poor bowel preparation is largely derived from studies in Western countries. We aimed to identify the risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy in the Chinese population.

Methods

In this single‐center study, patients admitted to the Outpatient Department between March 2013 and December 2015 and had indications for colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled. Questionnaires were administered to the patients. Their characteristics and procedure‐related parameters such as procedure time were recorded. Bowel preparation was assessed using Boston bowel preparation scale score.

Results

A total of 409 patients with a mean age of 48.8 ± 12.9 years were enrolled in the study, 60.9% of whom were men. On univariate analysis, poor educational level (P = 0.020), chronic constipation (P = 0.001), taking no physical exercise after medication (P < 0.001), a high‐fiber diet during the 24‐h period immediately preceding the colonoscopy (P < 0.001), incomplete intake of medication (P < 0.001), the passage of yellow or dark stools before colonoscopy (P < 0.001), waiting time (P = 0.001) and stool frequency after medication (P = 0.048) were significantly associated with inadequate bowel preparation. On multivariate analysis, chronic constipation [odds ratio (OR) 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.31–3.23, P = 0.002], incomplete intake of the medication (OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.47–5.21, P = 0.002) and a high‐fiber diet within 24 h before colonoscopy (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.40–3.28, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation.

Conclusions

Chronic constipation, poor compliance with treatment and high‐fiber diet were predictors of poor bowel preparation. Patients with these risk factors require more effective strategies for bowel preparation.