bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Semiclassical perspective on Landau levels and Hall conductivity in an anisotropic cubic Dirac semimetal and the peculiar case of star-shaped classical orbits
Authors: Jellal Ahmed , Bahlouli Hocine , Vogl Michael
Published: June 2024

We study an anisotropic cubic Dirac semimetal subjected to a constant magnetic field. In the case of an isotropic dispersion in the x−y plane, with parameters vx=vy, it is possible to find exact Landau levels, indexed by the quantum number n, using the typical ladder operator approach. Interestingly, we find that the lowest energy level (the zero-energy state in the case of kz=0) has a degeneracy that is 3 times that of other states. This degeneracy manifests in the Hall conductivity as a step at a zero chemical potential 3/2 the size of other steps. Moreover, as n→∞, we find energies En∝n3/2, which means the nth step as a function of the chemical potential roughly occurs at a value μ∝n3/2. We propose that these exciting features could be used to experimentally identify cubic Dirac semimetals. Subsequently, we analyze the anisotropic case vy=λvx, with λ≠1. First, we consider a perturbative treatment around λ≈1 and find that energies En∝n3/2 still hold as n→∞. To gain further insight into the Landau level structure for a maximum anisotropy, we turn to a semiclassical treatment that reveals interesting star-shaped orbits in phase space that close at infinity. This property is a manifestation of weakly localized states. Despite being infinite in length, these orbits enclose a finite phase space volume and permit finding a simple semiclassical formula for the energy, which has the same form as above. Our findings suggest that both isotropic and anisotropic cubic Dirac semimetals should leave similar experimental imprints.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Fractional quantum Hall states with variational projected entangled-pair states: A study of the bosonic Harper-Hofstadter model
Authors: Weerda Erik Lennart , Rizzi Matteo
Published: June 2024

An important class of model Hamiltonians for investigation of topological phases of matter consists of mobile, interacting particles on a lattice subject to a semiclassical gauge field, as exemplified by the bosonic Harper-Hofstadter model. A unique method for investigations of two-dimensional quantum systems are the infinite projected-entangled pair states, as they avoid spurious finite-size effects that can alter the phase structure. However, due to no-go theorems in related cases, this was often conjectured to be impossible in the past. In this Letter, we show that upon variational optimization, the infinite projected-entangled pair states can be used to this end by identifying fractional Hall states in the bosonic Harper-Hofstadter model. The obtained states are characterized by showing exponential decay of bulk correlations, as dictated by a bulk gap, as well as chiral edge modes via the entanglement spectrum.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Molecular pentaquark magnetic moments in heavy pentaquark chiral perturbation theory
Authors: Li Hao-Song
Published: June 2024

We propose a new heavy pentaquark chiral perturbation theory for the recently observed hidden-charm pentaquark states by LHCb Collaboration. With the pentaquark chiral Lagrangians, we present a parameter-free calculation of the octet molecular pentaquark magnetic moments up to one-loop level. We improve the quark model description of the data when we include the leading SU(3) breaking effects coming from the one-loop corrections. Without any experimental inputs, our predictions are so simple and unique that we regard them as a theoretical benchmark to be compared with experiments as well as other theoretical models.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Imprints of phase transitions on Kasner singularities
Authors: Caceres Elena , Shashi Sanjit , Sun Hao-Yu
Published: June 2024

Under the AdS/CFT correspondence, asymptotically anti–de Sitter geometries with backreaction can be viewed as conformal field theory states subject to a renormalization group (RG) flow from an ultraviolet (UV) description toward an infrared (IR) sector. For black holes, however, the IR point is the horizon, so one way to interpret the interior is as an analytic continuation to a “trans-IR” imaginary-energy regime. In this paper, we demonstrate that this analytic continuation preserves some imprints of the UV physics, particularly near its “end point” at the classical singularity. We focus on holographic phase transitions of geometric objects in round black holes. We first assert the consistency of interpreting such black holes, including their interiors, as RG flows by constructing a monotonic a function. We then explore how UV phase transitions of entanglement entropy and scalar two-point functions, each of which are encoded by bulk geometry under the holographic mapping, are related to the structure of the near-singularity geometry, which is quantified by Kasner exponents. Using 2D holographic flows triggered by relevant scalar deformations as test beds, we find that the 3D bulk’s near-singularity Kasner exponents can be viewed as functions of the UV physics precisely when the deformation is nonzero.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Is US farm sector debt underestimated? Evidence from equipment lending
Authors: Briggeman Brian , Byers Luke , Ifft Jennifer , Kuhns Ryan , Miller Noah , Yu Jisang
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The growth of lending from nontraditional lenders may pose challenges for official US Department of Agriculture (USDA) farm sector debt estimates, but it is difficult to find data to assess official estimates. The purpose of this study is to examine whether debt provided by nontraditional lenders is accurately accounted for in official estimates.

Design/methodology/approach

We compare traditional and nontraditional lending data from farm equipment lien collateral values and the USDA Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). After analyzing trends in equipment lending implied by farm equipment lien data and ARMS, we estimate whether changes in farm equipment lien values predict changes in equipment debt reported in ARMS and whether lender type influences that relationship.

Findings

We find that credit provided by nontraditional lenders is likely underreported in ARMS. Our econometric model shows that equipment debt volumes for nontraditional lenders are consistently lower than traditional loan volumes in ARMS across a variety of model specifications. We also find that an increase in lien values for nontraditional lenders is less likely to predict an increase in ARMS equipment debt volumes than an increase for traditional lenders.

Practical implications

Official farm sector debt estimates may not fully account for nontraditional lenders.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates how the growth of nontraditional lending poses challenges for estimating US farm sector debt. We evaluate farm sector debt estimates and advance knowledge of the role of nontraditional lenders in farm equipment credit provision. The farm equipment lien dataset provides a rich source of novel data for research on local and national equipment debt and investment.
Chilean national policy councils: a heterogeneous type of public organization for governance
Authors: Cevallos Rodrigo A.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This article aims to explore, characterize and discuss the notion of the National Policy Councils (NPCs) as public organizations for governance in Chilean public management.

Design/methodology/approach

A subset of active NPCs of the Chilean public management was identified, characterized and analyzed following previously used schemes.

Findings

The results showcase heterogeneity in the design of NPCs, with differences among several key features. Proposed explanations for this heterogeneity are an evolutionary approach and the fuzziness of the concept. These notions are relevant outcomes for the academic discussion and the practical implementation of NPCs.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is based on assessing NPCs of different policy domains in an intra-country analysis by comparing their main features and configuration to determine if NPCs could be understood and treated as a unique type of public organization.
Green Lean Six Sigma in the food industry: a systematic literature review
Authors: McDermott Olivia , Moloney Cian , Noonan John , Rosa Angelo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The current paper aims to discuss the implementation of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) in the food industry to improve sustainable practices. The focus is more specifically on dairy processors to ascertain the current state of the literature and aid future research direction.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilising a systematic literature review (SLR), the paper addresses various terms and different written forms in the literature. The study characterises the current deployment of GLSS in the food industry and explains the reported benefits of this approach.

Findings

GLSS, a concept that has yet to be fully explored in the food industry, as in other sectors, holds significant potential to enhance the food industry’s sustainability practices. The dairy sector, a subsector of the food industry known for its high greenhouse gas emissions, is a prime candidate for the application of GLSS. In instances where it has been applied, GLSS has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving sustainability, reducing waste, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and minimising water usage. However, the specific tools used and the model for GLSS implementation are areas that require further study, as they have the potential to revolutionise food industry operations and reduce their environmental impacts.

Practical implications

Benchmarking of this research by the food industry sector and by academics can aid understanding of the practical application of GLSS tools and aid implementation of these practices to evolve the dairy processing sector in the next decade as sustainability champions in the sector.

Originality/value

This study extensively analyses GLSS in the food industry, with a particular focus on dairy processors.
Revisiting mindsets for careers research: what we know, what we don’t and why we should care
Authors: Keating Lauren A.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

By virtue of affecting how people perceive and respond to challenges, mindsets are conceivably consequential for, though relatively under-studied, in careers research. This paper thereby highlights the importance of bridging the mindsets and careers literature.

Design/methodology/approach

I review literature describing the ontology of mindsets, before reviewing what is currently known about mindsets in the careers domain. This is followed by theorizing about mindset dynamics in pressing career challenges, and providing avenues for future research.

Findings

I outline some of the major implications of fixed and growth mindsets as they (potentially) relate to career-relevant cognitions, emotions and behaviors. I also formulate an agenda for future research with regard to what we study, who we study and how we, as scholars, can study mindsets in careers.

Originality/value

This review enables looking back on the state of mindsets and careers research. The theorizing herein about mindset dynamics in careers also invites scholars to look toward exciting research possibilities about how mindsets can shape careers in ways not yet realized.
The role of smart cities in sustainable development: empirical evidence from Türkiye
Authors: Ozarslan Dogan Basak
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine the effects of smart cities on sustainable development for the period 1990–2019 for Türkiye.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between smart cities and sustainable development was analyzed with the help of the ARDL Bounds Test. In addition, the consistency of the model was tested with the FMOLS estimator. The indicators of the smart city were selected following the literature to represent smart cities, and the author created the smart city index. The study used other variables thought to impact sustainable development as secondary data.

Findings

The results show that smart cities positively and significantly impact sustainable development in Turkiye in both models during the sampling period. In addition, while real GDP, population density, and financial development variables positively affect sustainable development, population density has a negative effect on sustainable development, according to the results obtained from FMOLS estimators.

Originality/value

The first novelty of this study is the creation of the smart city index. The second novelty is that there are almost no studies on the effects of smart cities on sustainable development, especially for Türkiye.
Three decades of research in the perceived organizational performance: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Solanki Mamta , Baroda Satyawan
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Many conceptual, empirical and exploratory studies on perceived organizational performance have been conducted in various domains. But, no attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive scientific analysis of that area. Thus, by synthesizing knowledge structures, the aim of this study is to highlight the research field's trend.

Design/methodology/approach

A collection of 115 paper were included from Scopus and Web of science database covering the years 1994–2023. A bibliometric study was conducted on the perceived performance of the organization. The research used Biblioshiny, an online application part of the R-language Bibliometrix package (Aria and Cuccurullo, 2017). Significant journals, authors, countries, articles and topics were discovered using the automated workflow feature of the program. Both social network analysis and conceptual network analysis were done.

Findings

The outcomes display how the themes of perceived organizational performance have evolved as an interdisciplinary field. Initially, the field's analysis progressively expanded to include subjects like leadership and corporate social responsibility. The social structure of the domain is revealed by this research beside the conceptual structure. This study provides valuable new knowledge on areas that require more research.

Practical implications

This study offers significant insights regarding the perceived performance of organizations. It directs the reader toward the potential topics for research while highlighting the most discussed concerns in the field. By revealing the social and conceptual structure of the field, it gives upcoming academics knowledge about novel topics, contexts and collaborative opportunities.

Originality/value

In the past, several cross-national conceptual and empirical investigations in various areas have been carried out. This study's main contribution is the combining of the scattered literature on this topic and the identification of significant authors, sources and documents associated with perceived organizational performance.
How to ameliorate employee engagement among government school teachers? Empirical evidence
Authors: Kaur Raminderpreet , Randhawa Gurpreet
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of three predictors (emotional intelligence, perceived supervisor support and work–life balance) on employee engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The employee engagement and its predictor variables considered have been assessed by a survey using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected for 628 government school teachers of Punjab state of India. SEM using SmartPLS software was used to estimate the relationship between employee engagement and its predictors (emotional intelligence, perceived supervisor support and work–life balance).

Findings

The results reveal that the three predictors (emotional intelligence, perceived supervisor support and work–life balance) have a significant positive impact on employee engagement of the government school teachers.

Practical implications

School authorities need to draft teacher-friendly policies so that teachers can stay deeply engrossed in their work and can handle work and family demands. Engaged teachers brim with positive energy, thereby energetically and vigorously preoccupying themselves in their work, leaving no time and space for negative thoughts.

Originality/value

The influence of emotional intelligence, perceived supervisor support and work–life balance on employee engagement of government school teachers is unprecedented. The study also tested the model in a holistic manner. Since the study is based on an Indian sample, it also adds to growing literature on employee engagement in nonwestern countries. The results are of great value to government authorities, school managements, HR managers and policymakers who are seeking to develop practices that enhance employee engagement at workplaces.
Analysis of the amount of latent carbon in the reconstruction of residential buildings with a multi-objective optimization approach
Authors: Amani Nima , Rezasoroush Abdulamir , Kiaee Ehsan
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Due to the increase in energy demand and the effects of global warming, energy-efficient buildings have gained significant importance in the modern construction industry. To create a suitable framework with the aim of reducing energy consumption in the building sector, the external walls of a residential building were considered with two criteria of global warming potential and energy consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first stage, to achieve a nearly zero-energy building, energy analysis was performed for 37 different states of thermal insulation. Then, the insulation materials’ life cycle assessment was performed. These results were used to find a set of optimal modes in the Pareto front by using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II multi-objective genetic algorithm. Thus, based on the data obtained from this method, it was possible to compare and choose different thermal insulation materials based on the distance from the Pareto front, reducing the environmental effects.

Findings

The results showed that replacing the windows was possible to save 3.24% in energy consumption. Also, selecting the proper insulation reduced energy consumption value by 63.13%. Finally, this building can save 69.31% of energy consumption compared to the base building by following the zero-energy building standard. As a result, the Pareto curve was introduced as a guide for the optimal design of the building’s wall insulation.

Originality/value

The proposed method provides designers with a framework for latent carbon analysis to access quickly and select optimal scenarios. It can also be used without restrictions for other decisions with different goals and criteria.
Knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on disability and vocational rehabilitation of injured male migrant workers in Singapore
Authors: Lam Joshua Jie Feng , Ng Amanda Yun Yee , Ng Emily Shu Ting , Ng Josephine Wei Ting , Yip Teem-Wing
Published: June 2024

Purpose

There are over 300,000 male migrant workers in Singapore. Around 600 major workplace injuries are reported in Singapore each year, mainly in the manufacturing and construction injuries. Migrant workers who are affected by workplace injuries often face many challenges, including not being able to work and thus may be repatriated to their home countries, which affects their financial status and that of their families, whom they support. This research aims to explore the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore, towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifteen male migrant workers, from Bangladesh, China and India, who had acquired disabling injuries in their workplaces in Singapore, were identified through purposive sampling. They were interviewed by a male interviewer, either in Mandarin Chinese or with the assistance of interpreters for Bengali-English and Tamil-English. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated to English, then analysed thematically.

Findings

The interviewees generally had a pessimistic outlook on their disability, which often impacted negatively on their self-worth and familial relationships. Many of them also had little knowledge of vocational rehabilitation and had not yet seriously considered future job prospects.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no similar studies exploring the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of injured migrant workers in Singapore towards disability and vocational rehabilitation.
Performance management systems in startups: an analysis of stages of development and catalyst factors
Authors: Mancebo Victor Orona Claussen , Mucci Daniel Magalhaes , Santos Vanderlei dos , dos Santos Matheus , Kiyan Giovanna Yuli
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to understand the manifestation and adherence of performance management system (PMS) components in Brazilian startups, concurrently considering the different stages of development and catalyzing factors.

Design/methodology/approach

We gathered data through semi-structured interviews with founders and C-level executives from 19 startups. We used an inductive and exploratory method to spot patterns and differences through content analysis, aiming for a contextual understanding of startup PMS manifestation.

Findings

We analyzed the PMS of each startup, highlighting the consistency and differences among PMS components in each stage, considering the value proposition, goals, performance perspectives, monitoring indicators, action plans and performance evaluation processes. We also observe various catalyst factors that played an important role in accelerating the early development of the PMS in each stage.

Practical implications

This study provides a practical understanding of the meaning of each PMS component maturity that could be applied to startups in different stages and the catalyzing factors that played an important role in accelerating the initial development of PMS, providing practitioners with a holistic and situated context approach.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to provide empirical evidence on the manifestation and adherence of different components of the PMS in Brazilian startups, considering concurrently the organizational life cycle and existing catalyzing factors to the reality of these organizations.
Internationalisation through digital platforms: a systematic review and future research agenda
Authors: Gong Chanjuan , He Xinming , Lengler Jorge
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper systematically reviews and scrutinises the current development of studies concerning digital platform use in firms’ internationalisation. It also provides a research agenda for future work. Despite more than two decades of research, the study of how traditional firms enter foreign markets using digital platforms remains in its infancy. This paper contributes insights into the academic and managerial relevance of this field.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the literature based on content analysis was undertaken, drawing from peer-reviewed journal articles in international business, international marketing, information systems, and electronic commerce. The articles were published between 1999 and 2023, and the review employed a vote-counting method.

Findings

This analysis of 61 papers indicates that research on digital platform use in firms’ internationalisation is growing rapidly. However, the field itself is fragmented, and the research findings are inconsistent. This dynamic area reflects a growing trend, is dominated by several theories, relies primarily on survey data, and frequently uses China as a research context.

Originality/value

In acknowledging the vibrancy and managerial importance of this field, the authors offer a comprehensive overview of the existing studies to serve as a repository of knowledge on digital platform use in internationalisation for both academics and practitioners. Based on the aforementioned analysis, this study develops a reconciling framework to address current research gaps and identify future study directions.
Entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability: the effects of passion and self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Gregori Patrick , Holzmann Patrick , Krajger Ines , Schwarz Erich J. , Harms Rainer
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study investigates antecedents determining the inclination to engage in future environmental entrepreneurial activities. Building on passion research and social cognitive theory, the authors explore the role of environmental passion for environmental entrepreneurial intention, drawing attention to the mediating role of environmental self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

A regression-based path analysis for mediation to test the developed hypotheses on a sample of 139 young individuals is applied.

Findings

The results demonstrate a significant positive effect of environmental passion on environmental entrepreneurial intention. The mediation analysis shows a positive direct and indirect effect of passion on intention, concluding that self-efficacy is a partial mediator. The results further suggest that environmental entrepreneurial intention is related to gender. In contrast, covariates like age, entrepreneurial exposure and entrepreneurship education have no significant effect.

Practical implications

The results have implications for practitioners and policymakers who aim to further entrepreneurship for environmental sustainability. It underlines the need to take emotional antecedents seriously, suggests policy for creative and interdisciplinary education with respect to its challenges and emphasizes the roles of teachers in fostering passion.

Originality/value

The results provide a deeper contextualized understanding of passion, self-efficacy and intention in environmental entrepreneurship. These results offer an original perspective of entrepreneurship as a conduit to channel energy, concerns and passionate interests in the natural environment. The study presents theoretical implications for passion theory by extending sources of passion and clarifying the direction of self-efficacy in entrepreneurship.
The details matter: SEC regulatory guidance and informativeness in non-GAAP disclosure decisions
Authors: Desai Hrishikesh , Davern Michael
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how managers make non-generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) exclusion decisions depending on the regulatory guidance provided and their motivations. Guidance detail is a double-edged sword: resolving uncertainty but risking rule-based compliance over principled judgment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the context of non-GAAP measures in reporting, given the history of Securities and Exchange Commission changes in guidance detail. Drawing on theories of epistemic motivation and process accountability, this paper manipulates the goal of management (informativeness vs. opportunism) and guidance detail to examine effects on management decisions to exclude an ambiguous charge.

Findings

The 2×2 between participants experiment with 132 managers reveals that more detailed guidance increases likelihood of exclusion of an ambiguous charge. This paper further finds that this exclusion is more likely when management is given an informativeness goal, a result of a mediating effect of epistemic motivation. However, these findings only hold at low levels of process accountability.

Practical implications

The findings regarding the psychological concepts recognize the influence of perceived decision uncertainty by suggesting how managers respond to the level of regulatory guidance detail, offering regulators and auditors a basis for understanding and anticipating managerial reporting choices. Also, awareness of heightened epistemic motivation under the informativeness goal provides a nuanced practical understanding of non-GAAP decision drivers. Finally, the finding that effects are more pronounced for managers with lower process accountability highlights the significance of organizational accountability structures in guiding managerial choices, which can inform board-level governance and control decisions.

Originality/value

Pragmatically, this paper finds that detailed guidance leads to more appropriate exclusion decisions under a goal of informativeness but finds no such evidence where the goal is opportunism. No prior study has examined how the level of detail in guidance affects managers’ disclosure choices.
Artificial intelligence legal personality and accountability: auditors’ accounts of capabilities and challenges for instrument boundary
Authors: Staszkiewicz Piotr , Horobiowski Jarosław , Szelągowska Anna , Strzelecka Agnieszka Maryla
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The study aims to identify the practical borders of AI legal personality and accountability in human-centric services.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a framework tailored for AI studies, this research analyses structured interview data collected from auditors based in Poland.

Findings

The study identified new constructs to complement the taxonomy of arguments for AI legal personality: cognitive strain, consciousness, cyborg paradox, reasoning replicability, relativism, AI misuse, excessive human effort and substitution.

Research limitations/implications

The insights presented herein are primarily derived from the perspectives of Polish auditors. There is a need for further exploration into the viewpoints of other key stakeholders, such as lawyers, judges and policymakers, across various global contexts.

Practical implications

The findings of this study hold significant potential to guide the formulation of regulatory frameworks tailored to AI applications in human-centric services. The proposed sui generis AI personality institution offers a dynamic and adaptable alternative to conventional legal personality models.

Social implications

The outcomes of this research contribute to the ongoing public discourse on AI’s societal impact. It encourages a balanced assessment of the potential advantages and challenges associated with granting legal personality to AI systems.

Originality/value

This paper advocates for establishing a sui generis AI personality institution alongside a joint accountability model. This dual framework addresses the current uncertainties surrounding human, general AI and super AI characteristics and facilitates the joint accountability of responsible AI entities and their ultimate beneficiaries.
The strategic importance of Australian farmland as a property sector for institutional investors
Authors: Newell Graeme , Marzuki Jufri
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Farmland is an important property sector that has attracted the attention of institutional investors globally in recent years. This paper examines the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of Australian farmland in a portfolio over the eight-year period of Q2:2015–Q2:2023, highlighting the unique property management dimensions to this property sector for its effective role in an institutional investor's property portfolio.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the quarterly ANREV Australian farmland index over Q2:2015–Q2:2023, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification potential of Australian farmland is assessed. Constrained mixed-asset portfolios are used to assess the potential added-value role of Australian farmland in a mixed-asset portfolio. Analyses are also done for the farmland sub-sectors of annual farmland and permanent farmland.

Findings

Australian farmland is seen to show strong risk-adjusted performance but at a much higher risk level than that seen for direct property. Diversification benefits from Australian farmland are also evident, with an important role by Australian farmland seen in the mixed-asset portfolio. Specific farmland property management strategies are identified for the effective inclusion of farmland in an institutional investor's property portfolio, including the potential benefits towards net zero carbon strategies.

Originality/value

This is the first research that provides an independent empirical examination of the strategic importance of Australian farmland property for institutional investors using the institutional investment-grade ANREV Australian farmland database, from both an investment and environmental perspective. The unique property management implications for Australian farmland property are also highlighted, including the potential role of Australian farmland in net zero carbon strategies by institutional investors.
Initial teacher education 2024: why inclusion matters?
Authors: Blandford Sonia
Published: June 2024

Teacher recruitment is under pressure across England with the majority of routes into teaching facing challenges in respect to recruitment and retention. Schools are also challenged by issues of attendance, behaviour and exclusion. This paper examines a way forward that addresses inclusion in the context of initial teacher education. Recent research in the southwest of England serves to illustrate the needs of all teachers to deliver inclusive provision in their schools. Teacher education begins with initial teacher training; irrespective of the route inclusion of all pupils should be understood by all trainees, which would have a positive impact on teacher recruitment and retention.
Effects of anisotropy and infill pattern on compression properties of 3D printed CFRP: mechanical analysis and elasto-plastic finite element modelling
Authors: Bandinelli Francesco , Scapin Martina , Peroni Lorenzo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Finite element (FE) analysis can be used for both design and verification of components. In the case of 3D-printed materials, a proper characterization of properties, accounting for anisotropy and raster angles, can help develop efficient material models. This study aims to use compression tests to characterize short carbon-reinforced PA12 made by fused filament fabrication (FFF) and to model its behaviour by the FE method.

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, the authors focus on compression tests, using post-processed specimens to overcome external defects introduced by the FFF process. The material’s elastoplastic mechanical behaviour is modelled by an elastic stiffness matrix, Hill’s anisotropic yield criterion and Voce’s isotropic hardening law, considering the stacking sequence of raster angles. A FE analysis is conducted to reproduce the material’s compressive behaviour through the LS-DYNA software.

Findings

The proposed model can capture stress values at different deformation levels and peculiar aspects of deformed shapes until the onset of damage mechanisms. Deformation and damage mechanisms are strictly correlated to orientation and raster angle.

Originality/value

The paper aims to contribute to the understanding of 3D-printed material’s behaviour through compression tests on bulk 3D-printed material. The methodology proposed, enriched with an anisotropic damage criterion, could be effectively used for design and verification purposes in the field of 3D-printed components through FE analysis.
A review on microstructure and mechanical properties of Inconel 625 alloy fabricated using wire arc additive manufacturing process
Authors: R. Mohanraj , S. N. Abdul Basith , S Chandru , D Gowtham , M Pradeep Kumar
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is one of the most researched and fastest-growing AM technique because of its capability to produce larger components with medium complexity. In recent times, the use of WAAM process has been increased because of its ability to produce complex components economically when compared with other AM techniques. The purpose of this study is to investigate the capabilities of wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), which has emerged as a recognized method for fabricating larger components with complex geometries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a review of process parameters for optimizing and analyzing mechanical properties, hardness, microstructure and corrosion behavior achieved through various WAAM-based techniques.

Findings

Limited analysis exists regarding the mechanical properties of various orientations of Inconel 625 alloy. Moreover, there is a lack of studies concerning the corrosion behavior of Inconel 625 alloy fabricated using WAAM.

Originality/value

The review identifies that the formation of intermetallic phases reduces the desirability of mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of WAAM-fabricated Inconel 625 alloy. Additionally, the study reported notable results obtained by various research studies and the improvements to be achieved in the future.
Exploring new frontiers of experiential learning landscape: a hybrid review
Authors: Azeez Fousia , Aboobaker Nimitha
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Experiential learning is crucial in education, as it offers hands-on, practical experiences that enable individuals to develop their skills and knowledge more engagingly and interactively. In recent years, experiential learning has become a significant aspect of education. To provide academic scholars with a thorough roadmap for further investigation, this study aims to provide useful insights into the bibliometric and content analysis of experiential learning, including keywords, well-known authors, publications, nations and topics.

Design/methodology/approach

This research does a rigorous bibliometric analysis to give a thorough and visually instructional assessment of the evolution and advancement of the literature on experiential learning. Its fast development between 1976 and 2022 is meticulously tracked in the research. By using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny tools, the present study presents a concise overview of 507 records retrieved from the Scopus database using the keyword “Experiential Learning”, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis protocol. Deeper text mining was done using Python libraries “Pandas” and “Natural Language Toolkit” and regular expressions.

Findings

The findings reveal a surge in the number of publications on experiential learning and provide insights, particularly using the theory, context, characteristics, methodology analysis, supporting researchers and practitioners to understand learning better and provide perspectives for future research. Descriptive bibliometric analysis showed that most contributions are from the USA, the UK and Canada. In-depth content analysis revealed five clusters: developments in learning, management education, engineering curricula, organisational learning and knowledge management and entrepreneurship education. The keyword co-occurrence analysis enabled linkages between relevant fields of study and significant research domains. The most commonly used theories were: experiential learning theory, social learning theory, relational coordination theory, empowerment theory, feedback learning theory, effectuation theory and human capital theory.

Originality/value

This study uses information from the Scopus database to do a bibliometric analysis of experiential learning from 1976 to 2022. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers in the field, helping them to position their work more explicitly within the existing literature and highlighting potential areas for future research. It does this by thoroughly analysing the literature on experiential learning using bibliometrics.
Enhancing quality 4.0 and reducing costs in lot-release process with machine learning-based complaint prediction
Authors: Lobo Armindo , Sampaio Paulo , Novais Paulo
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study proposes a machine learning framework to predict customer complaints from production line tests in an automotive company's lot-release process, enhancing Quality 4.0. It aims to design and implement the framework, compare different machine learning (ML) models and evaluate a non-sampling threshold-moving approach for adjusting prediction capabilities based on product requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies the Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) and four ML models to predict customer complaints from automotive production tests. It employs cost-sensitive and threshold-moving techniques to address data imbalance, with the F1-Score and Matthews correlation coefficient assessing model performance.

Findings

The framework effectively predicts customer complaint-related tests. XGBoost outperformed the other models with an F1-Score of 72.4% and a Matthews correlation coefficient of 75%. It improves the lot-release process and cost efficiency over heuristic methods.

Practical implications

The framework has been tested on real-world data and shows promising results in improving lot-release decisions and reducing complaints and costs. It enables companies to adjust predictive models by changing only the threshold, eliminating the need for retraining.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, there is limited literature on using ML to predict customer complaints for the lot-release process in an automotive company. Our proposed framework integrates ML with a non-sampling approach, demonstrating its effectiveness in predicting complaints and reducing costs, fostering Quality 4.0.
Quality of life in children with erythropoietic protoporphyria: a case–control study
Authors: Kluijver Louisa G. , Wensink Debby , Wagenmakers Margreet A. E. M. , Huidekoper Hidde H. , Witters Peter , Rymen Daisy , Langendonk Janneke G.
Published: June 2024

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited metabolic disease that causes painful phototoxic reactions, starting in childhood. Studies have shown a reduced quality of life (QoL) in adults with EPP, however, data on children with the disease are lacking. Since treatment for EPP is currently not registered for children, knowledge about their QoL is of crucial importance. In this prospective, case–control study, we included children from the Netherlands and Belgium diagnosed with EPP and matched to healthy controls. Previously collected EPP quality of life (EPP‐QoL) data from matched adults with EPP were used. QoL scores, utilizing the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and the disease‐specific EPP‐QoL, were collected. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a higher QoL. Non‐parametric tests were used to compare groups. A total of 15 cases, 13 matched healthy control children, and 15 matched adults with EPP were included. Children with EPP exhibited lower median scores in the PedsQL in both physical (cases: 87.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 77.7–96.1), controls: 99.2 [IQR 94.9–100.0], p = 0.03) and social (cases: 77.5 [IQR 69.4–86.3], controls: 97.5 [IQR 78.8–100.0], p = 0.04) domains compared to healthy children, although these differences were not statistically significant after correcting for multiple testing. The overall median EPP‐QoL score for children was similar to adults with EPP (children: 44.4 [IQR 25.0–54.2], adults: 45.8 [IQR 25.7–68.1], p = 0.68). However, within the EPP‐QoL subdomain on QoL, children were found to have significantly lower median scores (children: 16.7 [IQR 0.0–33.3], adults: 33.3 [IQR 33.3–62.5], p < 0.01). In conclusion, children with EPP experience a reduced QoL compared to both healthy children and adults with EPP. Ensuring treatment availability for this patient group is crucial for improving their QoL. We advocate the inclusion of children in safety and efficacy studies, to ensure availability of treatment in the future.
Staying with the blackout: an insecure anthropology of energy
Authors: Özden‐Schilling Canay
Published: June 2024

In the twenty‐first century, blackouts have settled into a familiar sequence of events in the fully electrified world. After jolting publics into a sudden awareness of energy assemblages, they gradually disappear from public memory. This article is an exercise in dwelling on blackouts that have already begun to recede from public memory so as to better conceptualize ‘energy security’ as an object of anthropological critique. Examining expert reports and retrospective verbal accounts, I focus on the 2021 blackout of Texas and the 2015 nationwide blackout of Turkey. Drawing on my long‐term ethnographic work with the US electric grid, I punctuate these failures with an uneventful day at a high‐security operation building in New England. I show that the desire for security suffuses electricity assemblages, from secure buildings of operation, to governments securing passage for the electric current, to publics demanding uninterrupted electricity access. I argue that in grid experts’ imagination, energy futures hinge on securing high‐risk nodes while continually expanding grids so that potential failures might be better absorbed. This imagination, however, produces a false sense of security when contemporary threats to transmission are too wide‐ranging to isolate and will only be amplified by larger grids.
Smith v Fonterra and the Climatisation of Tort Law
Authors: Bookman Sam
Published: June 2024

How should tort law respond to climate change? In Smith v Fonterra, New Zealand's Supreme Court provided some important answers. This note summarises the decision, and situates it within broader debates about the function of tort law and its necessary evolution in response to climate change. The Supreme Court's decision hints at possibilities for the ‘climatisation’ of tort law, and highlights the double life of tort law as both a backward‐looking mechanism of corrective justice, and a forward‐looking mechanism of risk regulation. As climate‐related harms intensify, the question will be how, rather than if, tort law evolves to meet the challenge. Smith v Fonterra may be one of the first cases to ask that question, but it will not be the last.
Skilled nursing facility staffing shortages: Sources, strategies, and impacts on staff who stayed
Authors: Leland Natalie E. , Prusynski Rachel A. , Shore Amanda D. , Cary Michael P. , Falvey Jason , Mroz Tracy , Saliba Debra
Published: June 2024

Objective

To examine skilled nursing facility (SNF) staffing shortages across job roles during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We aimed to capture the perspectives of leaders on the breadth of staffing shortages and their implications on staff that stayed throughout the pandemic in order to provide recommendations for policies and practices used to strengthen the SNF workforce moving forward.

Study Setting and Design

For this qualitative study, we engaged a purposive national sample of SNF leaders (n = 94) in one‐on‐one interviews between January 2021 and December 2022.

Data Source and Analytic Sample

Using purposive sampling (i.e., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid quality rating, region, ownership) to capture variation in SNF organizations, we conducted in‐depth, semi‐structured qualitative interviews, guided a priori by the Institute of Medicine's Model of Healthcare System Framework. Interviews were conducted via phone, audio‐recorded, and transcribed. Rigorous rapid qualitative analysis was used to identify emergent themes, patterns, and relationships.

Principal Findings

SNF leaders consistently described staffing shortages spanning all job roles, including direct care (e.g., activities, nursing, social services), support services (e.g., laundry, food, environmental services), administrative staff, and leadership. Ascribed sources of shortages were multidimensional (e.g., competing salaries, family caregiving needs, burnout). The impact of shortages was felt by all staff that stayed. In addition to existing job duties, those remaining staff experienced re‐distribution of essential day‐to‐day operational tasks (e.g., laundry) and allocation of new COVID‐19 pandemic‐related activities (e.g., screening). Cross‐training was used to cover a wide range of job duties, including patient care.

Conclusions

Policies are needed to support SNF staff across roles beyond direct care staff. These policies must address the system‐wide drivers perpetuating staffing shortages (i.e., pay differentials, burnout) and leverage strategies (i.e., cross‐training, job role flexibility) that emerged from the pandemic to ensure a sustainable SNF workforce that can meet patient needs.