bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of specific open innovation practices for radical innovations within companies of different sizes
Authors: Aničić Zorica
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The prevailing view in the existing literature is that open innovations (OI) increase the innovative performance of enterprises. The author examines whether the same OI practices are equally important for sole entrepreneurs, micro firms, small firms, medium-sized and large enterprises in introducing radical innovations and which set of OI practices is best for a firm, given the firm's size.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study probit models were used on a sample of 915 innovative Serbian enterprises.

Findings

OI is important for all enterprises introducing radical innovations. However, not all OI practices are equally effective in each enterprise size group. The set of OI practices leading to radical innovations depends on the firm size. Cooperation with others is not important for sole entrepreneurs and micro and large companies in introducing radical innovations. Still, cooperation's role is predominant in small and medium-sized enterprises. Also, certain OI practices are important for all enterprises, whilst others do not contribute to radical innovations, regardless of the firm size.

Practical implications

Owners/managers can save considerably by avoiding the allocation of resources to OI practices that result in little to no contribution to radical product commercialisation. At the macroeconomic level, these findings can help policymakers create adequate (tailor-made) public policies to achieve innovation in each specific group of firms.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that not all OI practices are equally important for achieving radical production solutions in each group of enterprises.
iRelevancy: a framework to identify the relevancy of a social media message to a disaster
Authors: Singla Annie , Agrawal Rajat
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to propose a novel deep learning (DL)-based framework, iRelevancy, for identifying the disaster relevancy of a social media (SM) message.

Design/methodology/approach

It is worth mentioning that a fusion-based DL model is introduced to objectively identify the relevancy of a SM message to the disaster. The proposed system is evaluated with cyclone Fani data and compared with state-of-the-art DL models and the recent relevant studies. The performance of the experiments is assessed by the accuracy, precision, recall, f1-score, area under receiver operating curve and precision–recall curve score.

Findings

The iRelevancy leads to a better performance in accuracy, precision, recall, F-score, the area under receiver operating characteristic and area under precision-recall curve, compared to other state-of-the-art methods in the literature.

Originality/value

The predictive performance of the proposed model is illustrated with experimental results on cyclone Fani data, along with misclassifications. Further, to analyze the performance of the iRelevancy, the results on other cyclonic disasters, i.e. cyclone Titli, cyclone Amphan and cyclone Nisarga are presented. In addition, the framework is implemented on catastrophic events of different natures, i.e. COVID-19. The research study can assist disaster managers in effectively maneuvering disasters during distress.
DisDSS: a novel Web-based smart disaster management system for determining the nature of a social media message for decision-making using deep learning – case study of COVID-19
Authors: Singla Annie , Agrawal Rajat
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to propose DisDSS: a Web-based smart disaster management (DM) system for decision-making that will assist disaster professionals in determining the nature of disaster-related social media (SM) messages. The research classifies the tweets into need-based, availability-based, situational-based, general and irrelevant categories and visualizes them on a web interface, location-wise.

Design/methodology/approach

It is worth mentioning that a fusion-based deep learning (DL) model is introduced to objectively determine the nature of an SM message. The proposed model uses the convolution neural network and bidirectional long short-term memory network layers.

Findings

The developed system leads to a better performance in accuracy, precision, recall, F-score, area under receiver operating characteristic curve and area under precision-recall curve, compared to other state-of-the-art methods in the literature. The contribution of this paper is three fold. First, it presents a new covid data set of SM messages with the label of nature of the message. Second, it offers a fusion-based DL model to classify SM data. Third, it presents a Web-based interface to visualize the structured information.

Originality/value

The architecture of DisDSS is analyzed based on the practical case study, i.e. COVID-19. The proposed DL-based model is embedded into a Web-based interface for decision support. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is India’s first SM-based DM system.
Reflection on possible role of academic libraries in facilitating post-COVID-19 food security
Authors: Alade Adesola Victoria , Ureki Alexis Isioma , Adekoya Clement Ola
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Year 2020 recorded an unprecedented bewilderment of the world with novel COVID-19, thereby threatening global food security. As such, there is need for academic libraries in Nigeria to provide information regarding food security to users to ensure post-COVID-19 food security. This study, therefore, aims to reflect on the role of academic libraries in facilitating post-COVID-19 food security in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive research design of survey type was used for the study. Librarians and library officers in academic libraries in south-west Nigeria were considered for the study. Self-structured online questionnaire was sent to the respondents via social media. The data generated were analysed using frequency count and simple percentage.

Findings

It was found that academic libraries performed significant role during the COVID-19 period by disseminating online information on preventive measures, and supporting research team with information on the pandemic. The study further found that the services of academic libraries are strongly required in facilitating post-COVID-19 food security, even in the face of some challenges.

Practical implications

In the face of the looming COVID-19-induced food shortage, it becomes evident that academic libraries have to support individuals, farmers, research teams and organisations with information and information resources that can help in accomplishing global food security.

Social implications

Failure of academic libraries to offer the required support in terms of provision of necessary information resources on agriculture may make the attainment of COVID-19 food security difficult.

Originality/value

Ensuring post-COVID-19 food security is an issue of global concern. This study encourages academic libraries to expedite action to contribute towards ensuring post-COVID-19 global food security.
Building sustainable community resilience and business preparedness through stakeholder perspective
Authors: Soomro Shuaib Ahmed
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The paper aims to examine business and community-based organizations’ efforts to increase engagement in building resilience to violent acts of terrorism in the community. Businesses and community-based organizations are now being called upon to join the wider preparedness, response and recovery efforts in response to terrorist violence.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach is used to explore the study. Data collection includes observation, analysis and interviews with practitioners and local stakeholders to document lessons learnt from all perspectives. Further to understand the role of private sector business and NGOs in building resilience to violent acts of terrorism in the community, 21 businesses were selected in the two cities of Shikarpur and Sukkur in the province of Sindh in Pakistan, during a period of high stress from terrorist violence between November and December 2020.

Findings

Community-based organizations in study areas contribute to resilience to violent acts of terrorism through making financial or material donations to local resilience to violent acts of terrorism programmes and by contributing supplies to affected people. Findings indicate that the implementation of a wide spectrum of community engagement initiatives has increased awareness of terrorist violence amongst various segments of societies.

Originality/value

The study provides a combination of practical data along with review of literature. A practical approach to the data collection from organizations operating in terrorist-ridden areas and consequently developing and implementing strategies to resilience to violent acts of terrorism in the community.
The evaluation of Safe and Well visits as part of the prevention activities of Fire and Rescue Services in England
Authors: Lakoma Katarzyna , Murphy Peter
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Safe and Well visits are the primary preventative vehicle now used by all Fire and Rescue Services in England. The purpose of this paper is to examine their recent development to identify notable practice and potential improvements.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review and archival document analysis have been supplemented by data and information from the evaluation of a case study at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Findings

There is considerable scope to improve Safe and Well visits, although individual services and the sector are not yet able to implement effective benchmarking across services or commission a more appropriate evaluation methodology such as a social return on investment.

Research limitations/implications

The research is situationally bound to England, although there may be transferable lessons to other services and jurisdictions.

Practical implications

Potential future improvements are identified and recommended at local and national levels, both in the data and information available, and for policy, operationalisation and public assurance.

Originality/value

Although a small number of professional reviews have been undertaken, the authors are not aware of any academic evaluation of Safe and Well visits since they superseded the previous Home Fire Safety Checks.
Assessing the impacts of industrialization, deindustrialization and financialization on Turkey’s energy security: evidence from the augmented NARDL method
Authors: Karasoy Alper
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of industrialization, deindustrialization and financialization on Turkey’s energy insecurity by controlling the impacts of urbanization and alternative energy generation for the 1980–2018 period.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposed an econometric model relying on the literature. Moreover, based on different financialization variables, this study estimated two specifications of this model using the augmented nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach.

Findings

The results are as follows: first, industrialization increased Turkey’s long-run energy insecurity, whereas deindustrialization did not affect Turkey’s energy security. Second, urbanization worsened Turkey’s energy insecurity. Third, financialization aggravated Turkey’s energy insecurity. Last, alternative energy generation improved Turkey’s energy security.

Research limitations/implications

This study identifies the energy security’s drivers in Turkey with a focus on industrialization and financialization. Nonetheless, further research is needed on other emerging economies with high energy insecurity levels, and a disaggregated approach can be followed to examine how various industrial sectors impact energy security.

Practical implications

To combat energy insecurity, quantifiable, innovative and energy-efficient goals should be set for Turkey’s industry sector. Additionally, to achieve these goals, financial opportunities should be provided by reforming the financial sector. This reformative approach can also curb financialization’s negative effect on Turkey’s energy security.

Social implications

Deindustrialization is not a solution to Turkey’s energy insecurity. Also, unless necessary actions are taken, industrialization, financialization and uncontrolled urbanization may continue to threaten Turkey’s energy security. Finally, promoting alternative energy generation seems to be a viable long-run solution to energy insecurity.

Originality/value

Although a significant number of studies investigated industrialization’s and financialization’s impacts on energy demand or environmental damage, only a few studies examined their impacts on energy insecurity. Similar to other developing nations, as Turkey is facing chronic energy security problems, the author believes that the analysis provides important policy insights regarding energy (in)security’s drivers. By differentiating the impacts of industrialization and deindustrialization, this study also shows that deindustrialization may not be a proper solution to deal with energy insecurity.
Is this rating worth it? The benefits of credit ratings in the dynamic tradeoff model
Authors: Krystyniak Karolina , Staneva Viktoriya
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study seeks to identify the main determinants of the optimal capital structure by reexamining the interpretation of the conventional set of explanatory variables used as proxies for the costs and benefits of debt in the context of the dynamic tradeoff theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors isolate the variation in leverage due to different targets from that caused by deviations by aggregating the data across a dimension identifying firms with similar targets – credit rating category.

Findings

Contrary to theoretical priors, large and profitable rated firms have lower targets. The authors show that size and profitability proxy for non-financial risk and that, for rated firms, non-financial risk is positively correlated to the optimal leverage. The benefits of a better rating outweigh the costs of foregone tax shields for firms with relatively low non-financial risk. The authors find support for that theory in institutional trading – institutional investors do not punish highly rated firms when credit downgrades occur.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the capital structure literature by developing a new approach based on data aggregation. This study is the first, to the authors’ knowledge, to find a positive effect of the firm's non-financial risk on target leverage among rated firms. The authors argue that the benefit of a better credit rating is an increasing function of the rating itself. The authors also contribute to the literature on the impact of credit ratings on the capital structure choices of the firm.
Virtuous leadership and individual performance among Indian bank employees: a parallel mediation model
Authors: Tripathi Mamta
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically explore the effect of virtuous leadership on the individual performance of an employee in light of “institutional theory”, considering work engagement and subjective happiness as parallel mediators with specific reference to the banking sector in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered through a survey questionnaire from bank workers employed in branches across central India. After the survey, 453 responses were accepted for analysis after excluding incomplete returns. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses and validation of the proposed model.

Findings

The results revealed the integrated association of virtuous leadership and individual performance in relation to the Indian banking sector. This study also found a significant parallel mediating function of work engagement and subjective happiness in the positive relationship between virtuous leadership and self-assessed individual performance.

Research limitations/implications

Individual performance was assessed using respondents' perceptions of their own performance. Though appropriate care was made to avoid procedural and statistical common method bias, the possibility of an exaggerated relationship between constructs and single-source could not be excluded.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that banks may benefit from a greater emphasis on virtuous leadership in both staff selection and leadership development programmes. According to the present research, employees who believe in the virtuous character of their leader feel more engaged and happier and exhibit better performance; this can help the efficiency of Indian banks.

Originality/value

The study significantly bridges the gap in current literature by explaining the mechanism of the effect of virtuous leadership on individual performance in the Indian banking sector. The study has also addressed the gaps in individual performance literature and has empirically established the layered connection.
Decomposition of income differences between the obese and the non-obese in Brazil
Authors: Souza Wallace Patrick Santos de Farias , Sousa Daniel Tomaz de , Cruz Mércia Santos da
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to measure income differences between the obese and the non-obese for Brazil and understand which components explain these differences.

Design/methodology/approach

A decomposition method based on recentered influence functions, proposed by Firpo et al. (2007) is used, and the procedure is applied to individuals' income distribution quantiles.

Findings

The results confirm the existence of a wage gap between obese and non-obese men and women. In the case of men, the difference was favorable to the obese in all quantiles and in the case of women, favorable to the non-obese. The biggest differences were observed at the top of the distribution. This difference is mostly explained by observable characteristics that cause the wage gap between groups. The wage structure effect, which may have elements associated with discrimination in its composition, was not relevant in most quantiles.

Research limitations/implications

Unobserved factors can impact the results, but our methodology tries to minimize such impact.

Practical implications

The authors can only observe a point in time and with that they do not know how long the individual has been obese.

Originality/value

The methodology adopted in the work is recent; moreover, studies on the effects of obesity on the labor market are still recent in Brazilian research.
The management of Covid19 pandemic and its impact on migrant farmworkers in Italy: anthropological insights
Authors: Vergnano Cecilia
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Two important measures concerning the management of the workforce were introduced in Italy during the COVID-19–related health emergency: the regularization of irregular migrants working in the domestic and agro-industrial sector, and the introduction of the health-pass requirement to access all workplaces. This article analyses the impacts of such measures on a specific category of workers: migrant farmworkers, notably racially subaltern, marginalized and exploited. Implicit ideological and normative assumptions underlying Italian policies to address the health emergency and related labor shortages raise important questions about the meaning of “life” and whose lives matter in emergency contexts, which this article aims to address.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the case study of the informal settlements for seasonal migrant workers in the agro-industrial district of Capitanata (Apulia).

Findings

Based on the aforementioned case study, this article shows that Italian measurs concerning the management of the workforce during the COVID-19–related health emergency resulted in various forms of blackmail to which migrant farmworkers were especially subjected, and increased their exploitability and “expulsability” from the labor market. In particular, it argues that the aforementioned measures resulted in significant shifts in the relationship between migrant farmworkers and the state, on the one hand, and between migrant farmworkers and employers, on the other.

Originality/value

Rather than promoting migrant farmworkers' social, economic and health rights, this double shift turned into increased oppression, exploitability and dependency on the employer.
“Over 800 data points”: how coaches and athletes collectively navigate data-rich learning encounters
Authors: Turcotte Nate , Hollett Ty
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The datafication of teaching and learning settings continues to be of broad interest to the learning sciences. In response, this study aims to explore a non-traditional learning setting, specifically two Golf Teaching and Research Programs, to investigate how athletes and coaches capture, analyze and use performance data to improve their practice. Athletic settings are well known for spurring the proliferation of personal data about performance across a range of contexts and ability levels. In these contexts, interest in athletes’ experiences with data has often been overshadowed by a focus on the technologies capturing the data and their capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This ethnographic research focuses on the data-rich experiences of golf coaches and students during two pedagogical encounters. Using Balka and Star’s (2015) concept of shadow bodies, this article explores how golfing bodies can become infused with data, creating partial representations of a lived experience that can be augmented and manipulated for pedagogical purposes, depending on the context and the individuals involved.

Findings

Interaction analysis helps the authors to examine the embodied and interactional nature of coach-golfer pedagogical encounters across two sites, a local Professional Golf Association golf course and a Swing Analysis Lab. The authors also split these encounters into two episodes to identify how coaches and golfers use partial representations of their bodies to analyze performance and interpret data.

Originality/value

This research suggests that as data-driven practices continue to engulf athletic settings, and teaching and learning settings broadly, emphasis needs to be placed on ensuring that athletes (learners) – from the most recreational to elite users – have an embodied understanding of their performance to improve their ability. Furthermore, this article raises questions about what data gets shared between instructors and athletes and how that data is used.
Connectedness analysis of price return index among Malaysian economic sectors
Authors: Ahmad Norzalina , Shahiri Hazrul , Nor Safwan Mohd , Azman Aziz Mukhriz Izraf
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the connectedness of price return index spillovers across eight economic sectors in the Malaysian stock market (Bursa Malaysia).

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis uses daily data of sectoral price index from 10 May 2005 to 24 February 2021. The study uses Bayesian time-varying parameter vector autoregressive.

Findings

The degree of price return index spillovers varies over time, reaching unprecedented heights during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The industrial economic sector is the main transmitter of price index return shock, whereas the utilities economic sector is the dominant receiver of index return spillovers.

Originality/value

The findings are critical for investors, market participants, businesses and policymakers in developing action plans for the vulnerable sectors. It further enhances investors’ confidence in making investment decisions.
The future of platforms, big data and new forms of capital accumulation
Authors: Nayak Bhabani Shankar , Walton Nigel
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The paper argues that the classical Marxist theory of capitalist accumulation is inadequate to understand new forms of capitalism and their accumulation processes determined by “platforms” and “big data”. Big data platforms are shaping the processes of production, labour, the price of products and market conditions. “Digital platforms” and “big data” have become an integral part of the processes of production, distribution and exchange relations. These twin pillars are central to the capitalist accumulation processes. The article argues that the classical Marxist theory of capitalist accumulation is inadequate to understand new forms of capitalism and their accumulation processes determined by “platforms” and “big data”.

Design/methodology/approach

As a conceptual paper, this paper follows critical methodological lineages and traditions based on non-linear historical narratives around the conceptualisation, construction and transition of the “Marxist theory of capital accumulation” in the age of platform economy. This paper follows a discourse analysis (Fairclough, 2003) to locate the way in which an artificial intelligence (AI)-led platform economy helps identify and conceptualise new forms of capitalist accumulation. It engages with Jørgensen and Phillips' (2002) contextual and empirical discursive traditions to undertake a qualitative comparative analysis by exploring a broad range of complex factors with case studies and examples from leading firms within the platform economy. Finally, it adopts two steps of “Theory Synthesis and Theory Adaptation” as outlined by Jaakkola (2020) to synthesise, adopt and expand the Marxist theory of capital accumulation under platform capitalism.

Findings

This article identifies new trends and forms of data driven capitalist accumulation processes within the platform capitalism. The findings suggest that an AI led platform economy creates new forms of capitalist accumulation. The article helps to develop theoretical understanding and conceptual frameworks to understand and explain these new forms of capital accumulation.

Originality/value

This study builds upon the limited theorisation on the AI and new capitalist accumulation processes. This article identifies new trends and forms of data driven capitalist accumulation processes within platform capitalism. The article helps to understand digital and platform capitalisms in the lens of digital labour and expands the theory of capitalist accumulation and its new forms in the age of datafication. While critiquing the Marxist theory of capitalist accumulation, the article offers alternative approaches for the future.
Impacts of climate change risks on financial performance of listed firms in agriculture industries in Vietnam
Authors: Thai Hanh Minh , Nguyen Thuc Huong Giang , Nguyen Trinh Trong , Pham Hien Thu , Nguyen Huyen Thi Khanh , Vu Trang Huyen
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Climate change increases systematic risk for firms, especially those in the agricultural industry. Therefore, the need to examine the consequences of climate-related risks on agribusiness companies' financial performance across the globe and emerging markets has risen. In this context, the paper aims to investigate the effects of climate change risks on the financial performance of agriculture listed firms in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample includes 77 Vietnamese listed firms in the agricultural industry in the period of 2015–2019. The authors chose temperature, wind, rainfall and humidity proxies to measure climate change. The OLS regression, random regression and sub-sample analysis have been used to examine the impacts of climate risks on firms' financial performance.

Findings

Empirical results show that rain and temperature have positive impacts on financial performance of Vietnamese agriculture listed firms, while wind and humidity have insignificant impacts on financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The research helps researchers, businesses, practitioners and policymakers interested in the agricultural industry, especially those in developing and emerging countries, to develop a deep understanding of the impact of climate change risks on firm performance and therefrom prepare necessary measures to reduce the negative impacts.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature stream on the impacts of climate change on financial performance. It is the first study to investigate this impact in Vietnam, a country which depends mainly on agriculture.
Testing convergence hypothesis for EU countries: a heterogenous panel data approach
Authors: Sanli Devran , Arslan Ramazan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This article investigates the validity of the different types (conditional, unconditional, deterministic, stochastic) of ß-convergence in per capita GDP for EU-28 and EU-19 between 1990 and 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses nonstationary heterogeneous panel-data methodology.

Findings

The panel data reveal that both conditional and unconditional ß-convergence are valid in EU-28 countries However, only conditional convergence exists in EU-19 countries; group-specific findings show that the income levels of 10-EU countries converge toward the EU-19 average and 11-EU countries converge to the EU-28. The convergence speed to EU average varies between 15 and 18%. The robustness of the augmented mean group (AMG) findings are checked with common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) and are consistent. Moreover, panel unit root tests are applied to examine the stochastic and deterministic convergence of the average EU per capita income in the two groups of EU economies. The findings show no evidence of deterministic or stochastic convergence in EU countries. Besides, conditional convergence has not been experienced in countries such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, which are new members of the EU. As a remarkable aspect of the study, the evidence suggests that the Brexit is economically rational for the UK.

Originality/value

The growth and convergence processes of economies differ from each other. Convergence studies in the literature are generally based on the cross-section OLS methodology. In this context, the study is one of the rare studies to examine convergence using heterogeneous panel techniques and allows the convergence of countries to the EU average to be analyzed individually.
Duty calls: prediction of failure in reorganization processes
Authors: Abinzano Isabel , Bonilla Harold , Muga Luis
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Using data from business reorganization processes under Act 1116 of 2006 in Colombia during the period 2008 to 2018, a model for predicting the success of these processes is proposed. The paper aims to validate the model in two different periods. The first one, in 2019, characterized by stability, and the second one, in 2020, characterized by the uncertainty generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of five financial variables comprising indebtedness, profitability and solvency proxies, firm age, macroeconomic conditions, and industry and regional dummies are used as independent variables in a logit model to predict the failure of reorganization processes. In addition, an out-of-sample analysis is carried out for the 2019 and 2020 periods.

Findings

The results show a high predictive power of the estimated model. Even the results of the out-of-sample analysis are satisfactory during the unstable pandemic period. However, industry and regional effects add no predictive power for 2020, probably due to subsidies for economic activity and the relaxation of insolvency legislation in Colombia during that year.

Originality/value

In a context of global reform in insolvency laws, the consistent predictive ability shown by the model, even during periods of uncertainty, can guide regulatory changes to ensure the survival of companies entering into reorganization processes, and reduce the observed high failure rate.
Determination of elevated temperature material properties by ANN-based FE model
Authors: Upasiri Irindu , Konthesingha Chaminda , Nanayakkara Anura , Poologanathan Keerthan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Elevated temperature material properties are essential in predicting structural member's behavior in high-temperature exposures such as fire. Even though experimental methodologies are available to determine these properties, advanced equipment with high costs is required to perform those tests. Therefore, performing those experiments frequently is not feasible, and the development of numerical techniques is beneficial. A numerical technique is proposed in this study to determine the temperature-dependent thermal properties of the material using the fire test results based on the Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based Finite Element (FE) model.

Design/methodology/approach

An ANN-based FE model was developed in the Matlab program to determine the elevated temperature thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity and the product of specific heat and density of a material. The temperature distribution obtained from fire tests is fed to the ANN-based FE model and material properties are predicted to match the temperature distribution.

Findings

Elevated temperature thermal properties of normal-weight concrete (NWC), gypsum plasterboard and lightweight concrete were predicted using the developed model, and good agreement was observed with the actual material properties measured experimentally. The developed method could be utilized to determine any materials' elevated temperature material properties numerically with the adequate temperature distribution data obtained during a fire or heat transfer test.

Originality/value

Temperature-dependent material properties are important in predicting the behavior of structural elements exposed to fire. This research study developed a numerical technique utilizing ANN theories to determine elevated temperature thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity and product of specific heat and density. Experimental methods are available to evaluate the material properties at high temperatures. However, these testing equipment are expensive and sophisticated; therefore, these equipment are not popular in laboratories causing a lack of high-temperature material properties for novel materials. However conducting a fire test to evaluate fire performance of any novel material is the common practice in the industry. ANN-based FE model developed in this study could utilize those fire testing results of the structural member (temperature distribution of the member throughout the fire tests) to predict the material's thermal properties.
Cold supply chain of leafy green vegetables: a social network analysis approach
Authors: Shaharudin Muhammad Shabir , Fernando Yudi
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Cold supply chain technology is critical for extending the shelf life of perishable leafy green vegetables. This study aims to investigate the concept of managing leafy green products using cold supply chain technology and visualise the findings.

Design/methodology/approach

Using expert interviews and data visualisation approaches, this study examines how organisations deal with the complexity of cold supply chain processes and networks. Thematic data analysis was conducted. Two types of software were used to accomplish the research objectives. The first software used AntConc version 3.5.8 with word frequency (N-gram) analysis, whereas the second software, VOSViewer offered co-occurrence network visualisation and cluster analysis.

Findings

The findings show that the appropriate design of cold chain technology is critical in ensuring the freshness and quality of leafy green vegetables. The primary goal of managing the complexity of the cold supply chain is to achieve product freshness and energy efficiency. Regardless of the importance of energy efficiency, cold supply chains require warehouse management solutions for transportation and storage.

Practical implications

This study found that proper design and selection of appropriate technology in the cold supply chain have driven the companies to improve the firms’ competitive advantage while delivering the best quality of perishable leafy green food products. In addition, the freshness, quality, safety, and health of leafy green vegetables will be determined by the company’s capacity to handle long-distance transportation and select the appropriate distribution channels and storage. Warehouse management system technology was found to be secondary compared to cold chain technology, although distribution and warehousing practices are critical for supply chain performance.

Originality/value

This study has established the conceptual indicators based on best practices and outcomes for the cold supply chain. This study argued that cold supply chain management and performance should be monitored independently. Furthermore, the theory of technological adoption can be expanded to include product nature as a driver. Finally, this study has established cold chain best practices based on a perishable supply chain perspective. The findings of this study can promote healthy foods to solve zero hunger and achieve sustainable development goals. Although this study demonstrates that technology improves supply chain practises, cold storage and logistics benefit the most from technological advancements. In contrast, non-cold supply chains benefit from technology-driven improvements in performance.
Joint optimization decision of service provider selection and CODP positioning based on mass customization in a cloud logistics environment
Authors: Wang Guanxiong , Hu Xiaojian , Wang Ting
Published: February 2023

Purpose

By introducing the mass customization service mode into the cloud logistics environment, this paper studies the joint optimization of service provider selection and customer order decoupling point (CODP) positioning based on the mass customization service mode to provide customers with more diversified and personalized service content with lower total logistics service cost.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper addresses the general process of service composition optimization based on the mass customization mode in a cloud logistics service environment and constructs a joint decision model for service provider selection and CODP positioning. In the model, the two objective functions of minimum service cost and most satisfactory delivery time are considered, and the Pareto optimal solution of the model is obtained via the NSGA-II algorithm. Then, a numerical case is used to verify the superiority of the service composition scheme based on the mass customization mode over the general scheme and to verify the significant impact of the scale effect coefficient on the optimal CODP location.

Findings

(1) Under the cloud logistics mode, the implementation of the logistics service mode based on mass customization can not only reduce the total cost of logistics services by means of the scale effect of massive orders on the cloud platform but also make more efficient use of a large number of logistics service providers gathered on the cloud platform to provide customers with more customized and diversified service content. (2) The scale effect coefficient directly affects the total cost of logistics services and significantly affects the location of the CODP. Therefore, before implementing the mass customization logistics service mode, the most reasonable clustering of orders on the cloud logistics platform is very important for the follow-up service combination.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper includes two aspects. One is to introduce the mass customization mode in the cloud logistics service environment for the first time and summarize the operation process of implementing the mass customization mode in the cloud logistics environment. Second, in order to solve the joint decision optimization model of provider selection and CODP positioning, this paper designs a method for solving a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model using a multi-layer coding genetic algorithm.
Research publications and return on library investment: a study of the NIRF ranking university libraries in India
Authors: Kumar Pramod , Pandey Shri Ram , Gupta Shweta
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The study aims to investigate returns on investment (ROI) from the academic library of India's top ten leading university libraries in terms of research publication. Librarians help academic researchers in a variety of ways. Some of these methods are collection oriented, whilst others are service oriented. The study investigates many factors responsible for the increased or decreased institutional ROI, performance and research out of the institution, such as total library budget, staff, library collection, service and facilities. The ROI % shows the institution's highest and lowest investment return in research publication.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is expiation about ROI from the academic library of India's top ten leading university libraries in terms of research publication. The study is based on primary and secondary data gathered from the Ministry of Education, Government of India and universities ranking in June 2020. The data were compiled from the ranking list regarding total library budgets, staff and research publications for 2017–2020. The research is limited to a ROI analysis of university libraries. The study should aid libraries in better understanding the idea of ROI in order to improve library services. The study then looked at various institutions' ROI from 2017 to 2020.

Findings

The study aims to investigate ROI from the academic library of India's top ten leading university libraries in terms of research publication. This study investigates many factors responsible for the increased or decreased institutional ROI, performance and research out of the institution, such as total library budget, staff, library collection, service and facilities. The study found that the overall highest research output is by the Indian Institute of Science and the lowest by Jamia Millia Islamia among the ten leading university libraries in India.

Originality/value

The ROI study displays the importance of libraries in terms of research publication of the institutions. This research can also support decision-making, library collection development and institutional library system analysis. The library can assist with publications, sponsorships, grants, finances and teaching enhancement research output. The last point justifies the library's increased importance in establishing an organisation's status and obtaining accreditation.
DC-port voltage balance strategy for three-phase cascaded H-bridge rectifier based on logic combination modulation
Authors: Dai Mingxiao , Peng Xu , Liang Xiao , Zhu Xinyu , Liu Xiaohan , Liu Xijun , Han Pengcheng , Wu Chao
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a DC-port voltage balance strategy realizing it by logic combination modulation (LCM). This voltage balance strategy is brief and high efficient, which can be used in many power electronic devices adopting the cascaded H-bridge rectifier (CHBR) such as power electronic transformer (PET).

Design/methodology/approach

The CHBR is typically as a core component in the power electronic devices to implement the voltage or current conversion. The modulation method presented here is aiming to solve the voltage imbalance problem occurred in the CHBR with more stable work station and higher reliability in ordinary operating conditions. In particular, by changing the switch states smoothly and quickly, the DC-port voltage can be controlled as the ideal value even one of the modules in CHBR is facing the load-removed problem.

Findings

By using the voltage balance strategy of LCM, the problem of voltage imbalance occurring in three-phase cascaded rectifiers has been solved properly. With the lower modulation depth, the efficiency of the strategy is shown to be better and stronger. The strategy can work reliably and quickly no matter facing the problem as load-removed change or the ordinary operating conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the proposed DC-port voltage balance strategy is calculated and proved, in a three-module CHBR, the LCM could balance the DC-port voltage while one module facing the load-removed situation under 0.83 modulation depth.

Originality/value

This paper provides a useful and particular voltage balance strategy which can be used in the topology of three-phase cascaded rectifier. The value of the strategy is that a brief and reliable voltage balance method in the power electronic devices can be achieved. What is more, facing the problem, such as load-removed, in outport, the strategy can response quickly with no switch jump and switch frequency rising.
Stress in the cybersecurity profession: a systematic review of related literature and opportunities for future research
Authors: Singh Tripti , Johnston Allen C. , D'Arcy John , Harms Peter D.
Published: February 2023

Purpose

The impact of stress on personal and work-related outcomes has been studied in the information systems (IS) literature across several professions. However, the cybersecurity profession has received little attention despite numerous reports suggesting stress is a leading cause of various adverse professional outcomes. Cybersecurity professionals work in a constantly changing adversarial threat landscape, are focused on enforcement rather than compliance, and are required to adhere to ever-changing industry mandates – a work environment that is stressful and has been likened to a war zone. Hence, this literature review aims to reveal gaps and trends in the current extant general workplace and IS-specific stress literature and illuminate potentially fruitful paths for future research focused on stress among cybersecurity professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the systematic literature review process (Okoli and Schabram, 2010), the authors examined the current IS research that studies stress in organizations. A disciplinary corpus was generated from IS journals and conferences encompassing 30 years. The authors analyzed 293 articles from 21 journals and six conferences to retain 77 articles and four conference proceedings for literature review.

Findings

The findings reveal four key research opportunities. First, the demands experienced by cybersecurity professionals are distinct from the demands experienced by regular information technology (IT) professionals. Second, it is crucial to identify the appraisal process that cybersecurity professionals follow in assessing security demands. Third, there are many stress responses from cybersecurity professionals, not just negative responses. Fourth, future research should focus on stress-related outcomes such as employee productivity, job satisfaction, job turnover, etc., and not only security compliance among cybersecurity professionals.

Originality/value

This study is the first to provide a systematic synthesis of the IS stress literature to reveal gaps, trends and opportunities for future research focused on stress among cybersecurity professionals. The study presents several novel trends and research opportunities. It contends that the demands experienced by cybersecurity professionals are distinct from those experienced by regular IT professionals and scholars should seek to identify the key characteristics of these demands that influence their appraisal process. Also, there are many stress responses, not just negative responses, deserving increased attention and future research should focus on unexplored stress-related outcomes for cybersecurity professionals.