bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water pipe failure prediction using AutoML
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Ye Zehao
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Owing to the consumption of considerable resources in developing physical pipe prediction models and the fact that the statistical models cannot fit the failure records perfectly, the purpose of this paper is to use data mining method to analyze and predict the risks of water pipe failure via considering attributes and location of pipes in historical failure records. One of the Automatized Machine Learning (AutoML) methods, tree-based pipeline optimization technique (TPOT) was used as the key data mining technique in this research.

Design/methodology/approach

By considering pipeline attributes, environmental factors and historical pipeline broke/breaks records, a water pipeline failure prediction method is proposed in this research. Regression analysis, genetic algorithm, machine learning, data mining approaches are used to analyze and predict the probability of pipeline failure. TPOT was used as the key data mining technique. A case study was carried out in a specific area in China to investigate the relationships between pipeline broke/breaks and relevant parameters, such as pipeline age, materials, diameter, pipeline density and so on.

Findings

By integrating the prediction models for individual pipelines and small research regions, a prediction model is developed to describe the probability of water pipe failures and validated by real data. A high fitting degree is achieved, which means a good potential of using the proposed method in reality as a guideline for identifying areas with high risks and taking proactive measures and optimizing the resources allocation for water supply companies.

Originality/value

Different models are developed to have better prediction on regional or individual pipeline. A comparison between the predicted values with real records has shown that a preliminary model has a good potential in predicting the future failure risks.
Understanding the relationships between distances and herd behavior in online reviews: the moderating effects of hospitality experience
Authors: Xue Fujing , Dong Longzhu , Gao Baojun , Yu Zhen , Taras Vasyl
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the determinants of herd behavior in online hotel service evaluations, focusing on the cultural and geographic distance characteristics of customers.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of 381,462 TripAdvisor reviews of hotels in the USA written by more than 100,000 customers from 92 countries, this study uses the empirical analysis to explore the collective roles of cultural distance, geographic distance and hospitality experience on herd behavior in online hotel ratings.

Findings

Cultural and geographic distances between customers and product and service locations positively affect herding and these two effects are substitutable. The hospitality experience of customers attenuates the impacts of distances on herding. These results are robust for multiple hotel service ratings.

Practical implications

Findings help hotels understand perceptual biases of customers on hotel services under the social influence and consequently develop effective marketing strategies to boost hotel revenues and increase profitability.

Originality/value

The research contributes to hospitality and online review literature by understanding how cultural and geographic distances shape online hotel service evaluations under the root of the uncertainty of decision-making and the observation of others’ behavior. The research also contributes to the distances in international business literature by deepening the understanding of the substitution and heterogeneity of distance effects. Methodologically, a time-varying and monotonously increasing variable is constructed to depict customers’ hospitality experience. The extensive data volume ensures the generalizability of our results.
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016: revisiting with market reality
Authors: Deb Shakti , Dube Indrajit
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to revisit the Indian experience on corporate bankruptcy law to answer “why Indian corporate insolvency law structured differently from a manager-driven (pre-Insolvency Code) to manager-displacing model (post-Insolvency Code)?”

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is qualitative in nature. The paper analyses the prevailing theoretical wisdom in corporate insolvency law in India and examines the practices of Indian bankruptcy regime.

Findings

The authors argued, considering the corporate ownership composition, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016 will not accomplish the intended objective (i.e. the “creditor primacy”). The findings refute with the evolutionary theory, i.e. debt and equity both will tend towards dispersion in outsider system of governance.

Originality/value

This paper put forward the imprint that Indian corporate insolvency regime is manager-displacing under Law on Books and manager-driven under Law on Practice.
Liability of employers for third party harassment in the UK
Authors: Middlemiss Sam
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to summarise current law dealing with third party harassment in workplaces in the UK and make recommendations for improving law.

Design/methodology/approach

Review of case law, articles etc.

Findings

It is found that the current law is inadequate and unclear, and in dire need of reform.

Research limitations/implications

This research study will be useful for trade unions and employers and employees and workers.

Practical implications

This study supports the cause of reform of the law.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is an original piece of work.
Congruence in perceived overqualification of team members and organizational identification
Authors: Chu Fulei
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Drawing on the equity theory and self-categorization theory, the authors examine the congruence effect of perceived self-overqualification and perceived coworker-overqualification on team–member exchange (TMX) quality, which in turn influences employees' organizational identification.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 392 employees in 78 teams at 2 time points, and polynomial regressions was used to test the hypothesized associations.

Findings

The more consistent perceived self-overqualification is with perceived coworker-overqualification, the higher quality of TMX. Moreover, TMX mediates the relationship between this congruence on organizational identification, which indicates that the congruence of perceived overqualification is related to higher-quality TMX, and then makes overqualified employees produce higher levels of organizational identification.

Originality/value

The findings of the research contributes to theory building of perceived overqualification through distinguishing perceived overqualification as an individual characteristic from the perception of overqualification that occurs in teams. Besides, by analyzing employees' experiences of overqualification in the context of their colleague-group, this study demonstrates the importance of considering overqualified individuals' social context (e.g. the composition of teams) in exploring the consequences of perceived overqualification. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The native-migrant gap in job satisfaction across European countries
Authors: Benedetti Ilaria , Laureti Tiziana , Regoli Andrea
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the body of research on job satisfaction as a subjective dimension of the quality of working life. Specifically, it addresses the comparison of job satisfaction between native-born and foreign-born workers in 28 European countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A multilevel modelling framework is used for exploring the variability associated with every hierarchical level (individuals constitute the first-level units, combinations country-activity sector are the second-level units and countries are the third-level units).

Findings

The country-specific native-migrant gap in job satisfaction displays some heterogeneity across countries when accounting for socio-demographic and job-related characteristics. Country-level factors have a significant effect on job satisfaction score of all resident workers. Nevertheless, they do not moderate significantly the effect of immigrant status on job satisfaction across countries.

Research limitations/implications

The unavailability of data on migrants' country of origin and duration of stay in the host country prevents from exploring in more details the integration issues of migrants.

Social implications

Job satisfaction of migrant workers, as an indicator of their working conditions, is fundamental for evaluating the degree of social integration of migrants in their host countries

Originality/value

A distinctive trait of this research is the use of the 2013 ad hoc EU-SILC module on subjective well-being, which contains subjective evaluations of the satisfaction with the job as well as with other different life domains. Further distinctive aspects are the investigation of (1) the direct effect of country-level factors on job satisfaction and (2) whether country-level factors mediate the effect of the immigrant status on job satisfaction.
Reopening the debate on the relationship among remittances, household consumption stability and economic growth in emerging markets
Authors: Eftimoski Dimitar , Josheski Dushko
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The impact of remittances on household consumption stability and economic growth is not quite clear. This paper attempts to reopen the debate on the relationship among these three variables. The current remittance literature suggests that a decrease in household consumption volatility, induced by remittances, automatically leads to economic growth. This paper challenges these arguments by stating that, under certain circumstances, there is no automatic relationship among remittances, household consumption stability and growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors approach the question from the perspective of emerging Central, Eastern and Southeastern European (CESEE) countries. The authors use the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator with the Windmeijer (2005) finite-sample correction. To test the existence of the possible non-linear effects of remittances on household consumption stability and economic growth, the authors use threshold regressions.

Findings

The authors find that remittances significantly reduce household consumption volatility. They exhibit a consumption-smoothing effect on recipient households. This stabilizing effect happens not through the preventive role of remittances, but rather through their compensatory role. Remittances produce a weaker stabilizing effect on household consumption when the remittance to GDP ratio of the recipient country is above the estimated threshold level of 4.5%. The authors also find that there is a negatively significant and linear impact of remittances on growth. There is no evidence to suggest that remittances can foster productive investment and therefore promote economic growth in CESEE countries, which means that: (1) the remittances cannot be treated as a source of funds to invest in human and physical capital and (2) the remittances are compensatory rather than profit-oriented.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study that investigates the impact of remittances on both household consumption stability and economic growth simultaneously.
Sport events and community development: resident considerations and community goals
Authors: Kaplanidou Kyriaki (Kiki)
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to provide a discussion on using sport events for community development through the lenses of community development theories and perceived event impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

The nature of the paper was not based on a specific methodology or design, rather on a review of relevant studies that aim to support strategies of how to develop a community through the hosting of sport events utilizing community development theories.

Findings

The review revealed that the profile of the community could influence the use of asset or needs-based community theory to achieve community development goals associated with hosting certain size of sport events.

Originality/value

The combination of community development theories with the literature in sport event impacts and legacies provides a novel approach to the discussion of community development through sport events.
The end of over-tourism? Opportunities in a post-Covid-19 world
Authors: Koh Edward
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the issues faced by cities known for their struggles with over-tourism, before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Opportunities to overcome over-tourism in a post-Covid-19 world are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a review of the fundamental issues of over-tourism before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Findings

The pandemic has turned the state of tourism in many cities from “over-tourism” to “no tourism”, prompting massive state intervention from governments, regardless of their political ideology. The pandemic has also been more effective than top-down governmental orders and ground-up green initiatives to reduce pollution within a short span of time.

Practical implications

Many have been left behind by the competitive nature of globalisation, and the Covid-19 pandemic could present a case for governments to play a larger role in improving their citizens’ quality of live. These would include a fundamental shift in focus to jobs (instead of gross domestic products) by governments, increased investment in public works and environment-friendly infrastructure and expanding public regulatory and enforcement roles in areas such as crowd control and inspection of home rentals for regulatory compliance.

Social implications

When normalcy returns and tourists begin to flock to destinations and attractions, there should be a much higher awareness amongst both tourists and locals of the maintenance of personal hygiene and of the need for safe distancing while in dense crowds. A new social norm should emerge.

Originality/value

A heightened sense of material, community, emotional and health and safety well-beings of local residents would ease concerns and perceptions of over-tourism.
Is co-created value the only legitimate value? An institutional-theory perspective on business interaction in B2B-marketing systems
Authors: Massi Marta , Rod Michel , Corsaro Daniela
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the concepts of “institutions” and “institutional logics” in the context of business-to-business (B2B) marketing systems and uses institutional theory as a framework to look at value co-creation.

Design/methodology/approach

By integrating the literature on value co-creation, institutional theory and institutional entrepreneurship, the paper argues that the boundaries of B2B marketing systems are continuously reshaped through legitimation processes occurring through actors’ institutional work, thus making co-created value the only legitimate value.

Findings

The paper proposes a conceptual framework and furthers the conceptual development of value co-creation and augments the literature on service-dominant logic and the notion of co-created value by assuming a legitimacy-based B2B market systems perspective.

Practical implications

This paper presents a number of propositions that serve to illustrate several managerial implications. These arise from organizations co-creating value by conforming to the various institutional logics that maximize their legitimacy.

Originality/value

The paper makes a contribution by developing a critical theoretical framework based on the application of institutional theoretical constructs/concepts (e.g. ceremonial conformity, decoupling, considerations of face, confidence and good faith).
The utilization of online sales forums by salespeople as a mesosystem for enhancing sales-activity knowledge
Authors: Conde Richard , Prybutok Victor , Sumlin Cameron
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Through the use of netnography, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the interaction of 192 inside sales agents who collaborate within discussion forums to create communities of practice (CoPs). Drawing on situated learning theory and inside salespersons’ discussion forums, this study showcases how inside sales agents use CoPs to better their sales activity knowledge. This paper discovered how inside sales agents reach outside their organization to seek information within their mesosystem to positively impact sales activity knowledge outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the use of netnography to follow the online community from afar, observing and capturing the essence of interaction without intruding on the conversation. Data from two inside sales professional discussion forums, 192 inside sales agents, produced nearly 67,161 words or 496 double-spaced pages.

Findings

This research demonstrates the power of CoPs. Inside sales agents seek information outside their company, within their mesosystem, to gain knowledge to improve sales activities. As boundary spanners, inside sales agents are not restricted, but rather, proactively find ways to consistently keep learning.

Practical implications

Organizations can and should implement internal CoPs to allow the exchange between sales agents in a more controlled matter. Furthermore, sales managers should proactively seek extern CoPs and introduced them to their organization as supplemental training.

Originality/value

The use of netnography is limited in sales literature. The research provides support for the use of netnography as it provides researchers firsthand access to multiple sales roles. This unadulterated access provides sales researchers the opportunity to study the many facets of sales, with pure, genuine data.
Becoming an expert: highly-experienced allied health professionals' relationships with their work
Authors: Jackson Bianca N. , Purdy Suzanne C. , Cooper Thomas Helena D.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Highly-experienced allied health professionals have the opportunity to perform at the expert-level by sharing knowledge and skills with more junior staff, with the aim of upskilling the workforce. The study explored the current motivators, aspirations and the role of work in the life of highly-experienced practitioners, revealing factors that hinder or support them to further develop their own expertise and be inspiring role-models and mentors for less experienced staff.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a grounded theoretical research design, we report on interviews with 45 allied health practitioners with at least seven years of professional experience from different professions and across organisational sectors. Transcripts were coded iteratively in conjunction with reviewing the literature, and cases were categorised to form a conceptual typology of work orientation.

Findings

Four work orientations are characterised capturing the diversity of the allied health workforce, particularly in relation to two dimensions of personal fulfilment and future ambition. The relationship between the types and expert-level performance is discussed, leading to recommendations for support that can be implemented to develop and sustain expert-level performance within a community.

Originality/value

A new view of work orientation is introduced that relates expert-level performance with meaningful work. The findings highlight a diversity of work orientation for highly-experienced allied health professionals, that all require managerial awareness. Once recognised, the four types would benefit from different supports that could develop and maintain expert-level performance in those that seek it. Alternatives are also available for those that do not. Implications for workforce policy are discussed.
Evaluating the clinical dyad leadership model: a narrative review
Authors: Clouser Jessica Miller , Vundi Nikita Leigh , Cowley Amy Mitchell , Cook Christopher , Williams Mark Vincent , McIntosh Megan , Li Jing
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Dyadic leadership models, in which two professionals jointly lead and share unit responsibilities, exemplifies a recent trend in health care. Nonetheless, much remains unknown about their benefits and drawbacks. In order to understand their potential impact, we conducted a review of literature evaluating dyad leadership models in health systems.

Design/methodology/approach

Our narrative review began with a search of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus using key terms related to dyads and leadership. The search yielded 307 articles. We screened titles/abstracts according to these criteria: (1) focus on dyadic leadership model, i.e. physician–nurse or clinician–administrator, (2) set in health care environment and (3) peer-reviewed with an evaluative component of dyadic model. This yielded 22 articles for full evaluation, of which six were relevant for this review.

Findings

These six articles contribute an assessment of (1) teamwork and communication perceptions and their changes through dyad implementation, (2) dyad model functionality within the health system, (3) lessons learned from dyad model implementation and (4) dyad model adoption and model fidelity.

Research limitations/implications

Research in this area remains nascent, and most articles focused on implementation over evaluation. It is possible that some articles were excluded due to our methodology, which excluded nonEnglish articles.

Practical implications

Findings provide guidance for health care organizations seeking to implement dyadic leadership models. Rigorous studies are needed to establish the impact of dyadic leadership models on quality and patient outcomes.

Originality/value

This review consolidates evidence surrounding the implementation and evaluation of a leadership model gaining prominence in health care.
The influence of corporate governance characteristics on human capital disclosure: the moderating role of managerial ownership
Authors: Tejedo-Romero Francisca , Araujo Joaquim Filipe Ferraz Esteves
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the content and extent of human capital disclosure by Spanish companies. It studies various factors related to the board of directors’ composition and functioning. These factors can be seen as mechanisms of corporate governance and the moderating role of managerial ownership, which help predict the behaviour of managers in relation to the human capital disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops and applies a more comprehensive framework for coding information on human capital, integrating the intellectual capital and social responsibility perspectives in order to explain the content and extent of human capital disclosure. The research was based on a content analysis of 210 corporate reports from 2007 to 2016. A system-GMM estimator was used to test the hypotheses in four dynamic linear regression models of balanced panel data in order to address concerns of endogeneity.

Findings

The results show that companies are adapting to new regulations and voluntarily disclosing information on human capital – a trend which signals their commitment to responsible attitudes towards employees and stakeholders. The results also show that board composition and functioning are mechanisms of supervision, control and legitimacy that promote human capital disclosure, with managerial ownership acting as moderator for aligning interests between managers and stakeholders.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on human capital disclosure by introducing a broader conception of human capital to coding information. It accomplishes this through considering aspects of the intellectual capital and social responsibility approaches, which provide a better understanding of companies’ human capital disclosure. In addition, it seeks to enrich the debate about the effects of corporate governance mechanisms– such as boards of directors and managerial ownership – on human capital disclosure.
Where eagles dare: a discussion on the debates about management history
Authors: Muldoon Jeff
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the debate initiated by the “historic turn.” This debate has seen several rebuttals of the methodologies and conceptual frameworks advocated by proponents of the “historic turn” including ANTi-History. In contributing to this debate, this paper provides a discussion on some of the ongoing debates within the field. The purpose is to neither condemn nor defend – but to clarify and find points of agreement.

Design/methodology/approach

The design implied is an overview of some of the themes in the field – locating key concepts of agreement and key aspects of disagreement.

Findings

There is a middle ground between the two schools. One is a continued focus on primary sources, the use of new methodologies, understanding context and some new approaches. We must carefully consider context and text and limit the use of concepts that have real limitations.

Originality/value

This is an overview of the field by someone who was considered a critic of the new history. The purpose is to find middle ground.
Effect of underdog (vs topdog) brand storytelling on brand identification: exploring multiple mediation mechanisms
Authors: Delgado-Ballester Elena
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the building of consumer–brand identification through the use of two themes (underdog and topdog) in the design of brand storytelling. It proposes that the underdog theme is superior because it is more effective in immersing readers in the story and generates higher emotional responses. The moderating effect of consumers’ implicit mindsets is also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental study with a single-factorial design is conducted with 301 consumers assigned at random to one of two brand storytelling conditions: underdog theme or topdog theme.

Findings

The results show a full mediating effect of the underdog (vs topdog) theme on brand identification through reader immersion and empathic feelings.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a fictitious brand and a specific product category may limit the generalizability of the results.

Practical implications

Placing the brand in a story with an underdog plot is more effective in catching consumers’ attention than using a topdog brand story. In particular, using an underdog theme is a good approach for targeting consumers who have a growth mindset.

Originality/value

This study explains the persuasiveness of brand storytelling in terms of the characteristics of the storytelling itself rather than the individual characteristics of consumers (e.g. their own underdog dispositions). The results also suggest that the implicit mindset of the individual plays a role.
Wind power system reliability and maintenance optimization considering turbine and wind uncertainty
Authors: Tian Zhigang , Wang Han
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Wind power is an important source of renewable energy and accounts for significant portions in supplying electricity in many countries and locations. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for wind power system reliability assessment and condition-based maintenance (CBM) optimization considering both turbine and wind uncertainty. Existing studies on wind power system reliability mostly considered wind uncertainty only and did not account for turbine condition prediction.

Design/methodology/approach

Wind power system reliability can be defined as the probability that the generated power meets the demand, which is affected by both wind uncertainty and wind turbine failures. In this paper, a method is developed for wind power system reliability modeling considering wind uncertainty, as well as wind turbine condition through health condition prediction. All wind turbine components are considered. Optimization is performed for maximizing availability or minimizing cost. Optimization is also conducted for minor repair activities to find the optimal number of joint repairs.

Findings

The wind turbine condition uncertainty and its prediction are important for wind power system reliability assessment, as well as wind speed uncertainty. Optimal CBM policies can be achieved for optimizing turbine availability or maintenance cost. Optimal preventive maintenance policies can also be achieved for scheduling minor repair activities.

Originality/value

This paper considers uncertainty in both wind speed and turbine conditions and incorporates turbine condition prediction in reliability analysis and CBM optimization. Optimization for minor repair activities is studied to find the optimal number of joint repairs, which was not investigated before. All wind turbine components are considered, and data from the field as well as reported studies are used.
Does institutional ownership affect firms' international investments? empirical evidence from India
Authors: R L Manogna , Mishra Aswini Kumar , Sinha Abhishek Kumar
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The preference of firm internationalization is shaped by different groups of owners and the institutional environment in which the firm operates. Past studies have largely ignored the heterogeneity among the controlling groups in influencing the internationalization decision in emerging economy firms.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors draw understanding from behavioral risk perspective and institutional theory to inspect the risk perceptions and propensities of various ownership groups such as lending institutions, domestic mutual funds and foreign institutional investors (FIIs). Empirical analysis was conducted from a sample of 2695 unique BSE-listed nonfinancial Indian firms during 2005−2019 period using Tobit panel regression analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal that firms' international investments are impacted differently by ownership share of different types of institutional investors after controlling for firm-level resources and capabilities. While lending institutions and FIIs are supportive of foreign investments by firms, domestic mutual funds are not supportive of this strategic decision on foreign investment.

Research limitations/implications

Further, our results show that family ownership, measured in terms of family shareholding, negatively moderates the lending institutions toward internationalization and does not impact the FIIs and mutual fund investor's decision regarding the foreign investments.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, the current paper is the first to address the risk perceptions of various ownership groups on firm's international outlook in an emerging economy context with the latest data. This practical perspective helps the organizations in managing the ownership holdings.
Does international expansion constrain growth? Business groups, internationalization, institutional distance, and the Penrose effect
Authors: Lin Wen-Ting , Chen Ying-Yu , Ahlstrom David , Wang Linda C.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to use the institutional and information-processing perspectives to explore their association with between internationalization and the Penrose effect phenomenon for business groups (BGs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use ordinary least squares regression models to test arguments about data pertaining to 101 Taiwanese BGs’ foreign direct investments.

Findings

The results indicate that greater levels of depth and scope in the process of internationalization during one period may negatively affect rates of growth in the following period. The results further demonstrate that institutional distance moderates the relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Using the perspective of information-processing demands, the authors provide alternate explanations regarding the relationship between the process of internationalization (depth, scope and rhythm) and the Penrose effect.

Originality/value

Owners and managers should focus on both the depth and the scope of internationalization. BGs are likely to incur high dynamic adjustment costs, which then limit the rate of BGs’ growth. Managers should balance international market uncertainty with current managerial resources when determining how deeply and broadly to expand internationally and where to enter. In addition, as recent major panel studies suggest, management capabilities and practices can improve significantly, which has a positive effect on firm growth and performance. This does require the careful development and acquisition of the managerial resources needed for internationalization.
Influence of ABS print parameters on a 3D open-source, self-replicable printer
Authors: Alves Guimarães André Luiz , Gerlin Neto Vicente , Foschini Cesar Renato , dos Anjos Azambuja Maximiliano , Hellmeister Luiz Antonio Vasques
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and discuss the influence of printing parameters on the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) print by fused deposition modelling (FDM). The mechanical properties of ABS are highly influenced by printing parameters, and they determine the final product quality of printed pieces.

Design/methodology/approach

For the paper’s purpose, five main parameters (extrusion temperature, infill pattern, air gap, printing speed and layer thickness) were selected and varied during ABS printing on an open-source and self-replicable FDM printer. Three different colors of commercially available ABS were also used to investigate color and printing parameter’s influence on the tensile strength.

Findings

The research results suggest that two parameters (infill pattern and layer thickness) were most influential on the mechanical properties of print ABS, being able to enhance its tensile strength. Another key influential factor was material color selected prior to printing, which influenced the tensile strength of the print specimen.

Originality/value

This study provides information on print parameters’ influence on the tensile strength of ABS print on replicable open-source three-dimensional (3D) printers. It also suggests the influence of materials’ color on print pieces’ tensile strength, indicating a new parameter for materials selection for 3D printing.
Defined benefit pension policies and social responsibility performance: do socially responsible firms walk the talk?
Authors: Harjoto Maretno Agus , Laksmana Indrarini
Published: September 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether socially responsible firms have well-funded employee pension programs and whether corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance is associated with management discretionary choice of pension accounting assumptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study examines the impact of CSR performance on two measures of pension funding and two pension accounting assumptions using regression analysis. This study uses a panel data of 13,099 firms-years across 1,428 US firms from 1992 to 2015.

Findings

Firms with higher CSR scores report higher pension net assets and are less likely to have underfunded pension than their counterparts. These firms also adopt more responsible (conservative) pension accounting assumptions (i.e. lower discount rate and a higher rate of compensation increase) to estimate pension benefit obligations. Results are stronger for firms that operate in the materials and industrial sectors and for the post-2000 period when underfunded pension has become more prevalent. Firms with higher CSR scores are also less likely to have a pension freeze.

Originality/value

This study examines the signaling role of CSR by using the signaling theory to explain how senders view the signaling process as a channel to build their reputation and the correspondent inference theory to explain how receivers process and assess the signal. It provides evidence that the signal provided by CSR score is reliable in assessing firms’ commitment to non-investing stakeholders, such as employees, providing valuable information for potential employees making career decisions and for managers considering employee pension as part of corporate strategies to attract high quality workforce. This study provides inputs for public accountants providing assurance services that CSR performance has a significant impact on management reporting choices. This study also provides evidence that CSR could be considered a private provision of public goods that internalize the negative externality of the prevalent underfunded pension phenomenon.
Spatial analysis of underfill flow in flip-chip encapsulation
Authors: Ng Fei Chong , Zawawi Mohd Hafiz , Abas Mohamad Aizat
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the spatial aspects of underfill flow during the flip-chip encapsulation process, for instance, meniscus evolution and contact line jump (CLJ). Furthermore, a spatial-based void formation mechanism during the underfill flow was formulated.

Design/methodology/approach

The meniscus evolution of underfill fluid subtended between the bump array and the CLJ phenomenon were visualized numerically using the micro-mesh unit cell approach. Additionally, the meniscus evolution and CLJ phenomenon were modelled analytically based on the formulation of capillary physics. Meanwhile, the mechanism of void formation was explained numerically and analytically.

Findings

Both the proposed analytical and current numerical findings achieved great consensus and were well-validated experimentally. The variation effects of bump pitch on the spatial aspects were analyzed and found that the meniscus arc radius and filling distance increase with the pitch, while the subtended angle of meniscus arc is invariant with the pitch size. For larger pitch, the jump occurs further away from the bump entrance and takes longer time to attain the equilibrium meniscus. This inferred that the concavity of meniscus arc was influenced by the bump pitch. On the voiding mechanism, air void was formed from the air entrapment because of the fluid-bump interaction. Smaller voids tend to merge into a bigger void through necking and, subsequently, propagate along the underfill flow.

Practical implications

The microscopic spatial analysis of underfill flow would explain fundamentally how the bump design will affect the macroscopic filling time. This not only provides alternative visualization tool to analyze flow pattern in the industry but also enables the development of accurate analytical filling time model. Moreover, the void formation mechanism gave substantial insights to understand the root causes of void defects and allow possible solutions to be formulated to tackle this issue. Additionally, the microfluidics sector could also benefit from these spatial analysis insights.

Originality/value

Spatial analysis on underfill flow is scarcely conducted, as the past research studies mainly emphasized on the temporal aspects. Additionally, this work presented a new mechanism on the void formation based on the fluid-bump interaction, in which the formation and propagation of micro-voids were numerically visualized for the first time. The findings from current work provided fundamental information on the flow interaction between underfill fluid and solder bump to the package designers for optimization work and process enhancement.
Evidence of ongoing complement activation on adipose tissue from an 11‐year‐old girl with Barraquer–Simons syndrome
Authors: Corvillo Fernando , Nozal Pilar , López‐Lera Alberto , De Miguel María P. , Piñero‐Fernández Juan Alberto , De Lucas Raúl , García‐Concepción María D , Beato María J. , Araújo‐Vilar David , López‐Trascasa Margarita
Published: September 2020

Barraquer–Simons syndrome (BSS), a form of acquired partial lipodystrophy, is a rare condition characterized by gradual loss of adipose tissue from the upper body, keeping intact the white adipose tissue of the lower extremities. The etiology of BSS is not well understood, and clinical follow‐up studies have not been assessed in these patients. Moreover, no histological studies have been conducted during the active phase of the disease, and complement system activation products have not been sought in the affected areas. The objective of this work was to analyze the clinical, immunological and histological events in an 11‐year‐old girl with BSS over a 5‐year follow‐up period. Clinical data were collected during six regular visits for a time period of 5 years. The circulating levels of C3, C3adesArg (a product released upon C3 activation), C4 and immunoglobulins (Ig) were quantified in serum while fat tissue from lipoatrophic areas was examined by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence approaches. In her regular visits, no clinical or laboratory abnormalities had been observed in the patient, except for the progression of lipoatrophy linked to the C3 hypocomplementemia and the occurrence of C3 nephritic factor. Adipose tissue from the patient showed atrophied and dead adipocytes, an abnormal production of extracellular matrix, and a remarkable accumulation of infiltrating CD68 macrophages and adipocyte precursors (marked by c‐Kit positiveness). Simultaneous detection of IgG, C3, C5a and C5b‐9 proved the ongoing complement activity and complement‐directed injury within the adipose tissue. Our results showed the first evidence that the complement system hyperactivation occurs within the adipose tissue and is linked with fat loss in patients with BSS.
Community context and dispersal stochasticity drive variation in spatial spread
Authors: Dallas Tad , Melbourne Brett , Hastings Alan
Published: September 2020

Dispersal is a key process in shaping species spatial distributions. Species interactions and variation in dispersal probabilities may jointly influence species spatial dynamics.

However, many studies examine dispersal as a neutral process, independent of community context or intraspecific variation in dispersal behaviour.

Here, we use controlled, replicated communities of two Tribolium species (T. castaneum and T. confusum) to examine how intraspecific variation in dispersal behaviour and community context influence dispersal dynamics in simple experimental landscapes composed of homogeneous habitat patches.

We found considerable individual‐level variation in dispersal probability that was unrelated to body size variation. Further, the context of dispersal mattered, as T. castaneum dispersal was reduced in two‐species communities, while T. confusum dispersal was unaffected by community composition. Incorporating individual‐level variation into a two‐species stochastic spatial Ricker model, we provide evidence that individual‐level variability in dispersal behaviour results in more variable spatial spread than assuming individuals have the same dispersal probability. Further, interspecific competition resulted in more variable spatial spread.

The variability in spatial spread observed in our tightly controlled and replicated experimental system and in our stochastic model simulations points to potential fundamental limitations in forecasting species shifting ranges without considering potential interspecific interactions and demographic variability in dispersal behaviour.
Invertebrate community structure predicts natural pest control resilience to insecticide exposure
Authors: Greenop Arran , Cook Samantha M. , Wilby Andrew , Pywell Richard F. , Woodcock Ben A.
Published: September 2020

Biological pest control has become one of the central principles of ecological intensification in agriculture. However, invertebrate natural enemies within agricultural ecosystems are exposed to a myriad of different pesticides at both lethal and sub‐lethal doses, that may limit their capacity to carry out pest control. An important question is how underlying diversity in invertebrate predator species, linked to their unique susceptibility to insecticides, can act to increase the resilience of natural pest control.

We explore this issue by assessing the effects of sub‐lethal insecticide exposure on the predation rates of 12 generalist predators feeding on the aphid Sitobion avenae (Aphididae). Predation rates within a 24‐hr period were assessed (predation assessment) for each species after receiving one of the following treatments: (a) no prior deltamethrin exposure before the predation assessment (control); (b) deltamethrin exposure immediately before the predation assessment (resistance) and (c) deltamethrin exposure 5 days before the predation assessment (recovery). Extrapolating from these species‐specific measures of resistance and recovery, we predicted the resilience of community level predation to insecticide exposure for predator communities associated with 256 arable fields in the UK.

There was large variation in sub‐lethal effects of the insecticide between even closely related species. This ranged from species showing no change in predation rates following sub‐lethal insecticide exposure (high resistance), species showing only immediate depressed feeding rates after 24 hr (high recovery) or those with depressed feeding rates after 5 days (low resistance and recovery).

The community level analysis showed that resistance and recovery of natural pest control was predicted by both community phylogenetic diversity (positively) and weighted mean body mass (negatively). However, the removal of numerically dominant species from the analysis modified these effects.

Synthesis and applications. Our results highlight the role of community diversity in maintaining the resilience of natural pest control following insecticide use. Importantly, less diverse assemblages dominated by predator species that show low resilience to insecticide exposure, may show a greater depression in pest control than diverse assemblages under insecticide based farmland management.