bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of combined argon gas treatment on the quality of fresh-cut potatoes
Authors: Son Hyun-Ju , Moon Kwang-Deog
Published: July 2014

The effect of the combined argon (Ar) gas packaging treatment on the browning of fresh-cut potatoes was studied. Fresh-cut potatoes were prepared for the following six groups: dipping distilled water for 1 minute and air packaging (Cont); dipping in distilled water for 1 minute and argon gas packaging (AR); dipping in 1% ascorbic acid for 1 minute and air packaging (AA); dipping in 1% ascorbic acid for 1 minute and argon gas packaging (AAR); blanching at 35℃ for 30 minutes and air packaging (BL); and blanching at 35℃ for 30 minutes and argon gas packaging (BAR). The potatoes were washed, peeled, and sliced (1.5×1.5×1.5 cm) before treatment. The samples were packed with a 0.04-mm-thick OPP film and were stored at 5℃ for 9 days. During the storage, the O2 concentration decreased in Cont but increased in the AR, AA, AAR, BL, and BAR groups. The CO2 concentration increased during storage. The AR, AAR, and BAR groups showed high L* and low a*, b* values (browning index). The growth of the total aerobic bacteria was also inhibited in the AR group. During storage, the PPO activity gradually increased, and the AR group showed lower PPO activity. The AA and AAR groups showed high DPPH radical scavenging activity. It was demonstrated that the argon gas packaging is effective in the quality maintenance of fresh-cut potatoes.
A credibility-based Erlang mixture model for pricing crop reinsurance
Authors: Porth Lysa , Zhu Wenjun , Seng Tan Ken
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to address some of the fundamental issues surrounding crop insurance ratemaking, from the perspective of the reinsurer, through the development of a scientific pricing framework.

Design/methodology/approach

– The generating process of the historical loss cost ratio's (LCR's) are reviewed, and the Erlang mixture distribution is proposed. A modified credibility approach is developed based on the Erlang mixture distribution and the liability weighted LCR, and information from the observed data of the individual region/province is integrated with the collective experience of the entire crop reinsurance program in Canada.

Findings

– A comprehensive data set representing the entire crop insurance sector in Canada is used to show that the Erlang mixture distribution captures the tails of the data more accurately compared to conventional distributions. Further, the heterogeneous credibility premium based on the liability weighted LCR's is more conservative, and provides a more scientific approach to enhance the reinsurance pricing.

Research limitations/implications

– Credibility models are in the early stages of application in the area of agriculture insurance, therefore, the credibility models presented in this paper could be verified with data from other geographical regions.

Practical implications

– The credibility-based Erlang mixture model proposed in this paper should be useful for crop insurers and reinsurers to enhance their ratemaking frameworks.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper to introduce the Erlang mixture model in the context of agricultural risk modeling. Two modified versions of the Bühlmann-Straub credibility model are also presented based on the liability weighted LCR to enhance the reinsurance pricing framework.
Customer value perception: cross-generational preferences for wine
Authors: Wiedmann Klaus-Peter , Behrens Stefan , Klarmann Christiane , Hennigs Nadine
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– A deeper understanding of the key drivers of consumer wine perception is a major challenge in the domain of wine marketing. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various dimensions of customer-perceived value that lead the customers – in general and divided into different age groups – to choose and consume a certain wine.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the exploratory study context of examining value-related consumer attitudes and behavioural effects, the drivers and outcomes of wine consumption based on a cross-generation sample, PLS path modelling was considered for the empirical tests of our hypotheses.

Findings

– Though there exist differences between Generation X and Generation Y consumers, the empirical results are supportive of the hypothesized positive relations between financial, functional, individual and social perceptions that influence the desire for and the consumption of wine.

Research limitations/implications

– For future research, the findings presented in the paper support the importance of enlarging the size of the sample and collecting data in different countries to compare the results on an international level.

Practical implications

– Successful wine marketing strategies should focus on the customer's subjective expectations and individual value perceptions by addressing the specific value aspects that are highly relevant for consumer loyalty.

Originality/value

– The study results are valuable for researchers, managers and marketers because they address the question of how to measure and forecast the perceived value with the greatest influence on consumers’ wine choices.
Lower alcohol wines in the UK market: some baseline consumer behaviour metrics
Authors: Bruwer Johan , Jiranek Vladimir , Halstead Lulie , Saliba Anthony
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide clearer insights into and identify the key consumer behaviour metrics of the lower alcohol category (<11 per cent ABV) in the UK wine market.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected via an online survey from a sample size of 598 regular UK wine drinkers. To operationalise the study, five research questions were formulated. A highly structured quantitatively directed questionnaire was designed to find the answers to the research questions.

Findings

– Barriers to a larger uptake of the product category included non-availability of the products, lower quality perceptions, taste issues, lack of awareness, lack of alcohol's “feel effect” and absence of a lower alcohol drinking occasion. Many UK consumers are not yet convinced how/if lower alcohol wine fits into their wine drinking occasions. The lower ABV wine buyer's main profile characteristics are weighted towards females, Millennial and Baby Boomer age generations, mostly mid to low income, who drink mainly white and rosé wines. Lower alcohol on its own is not seen as a big benefit, thus lower ABV wines should be more creatively communicated to sell the benefits.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to the knowledge base in that it is the first to investigate consumer behaviour metrics as regards lower ABV wine in one of the world's leading markets, in the process providing some important baseline research information on this category. As such it is of value to academic researchers and practitioners alike.
Sustainable cultures
Authors: Greene Catherine , Crumbleholme Lottie , Myerson Jeremy
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to describe a design research project which looked at how to support facility managers engage employees in behaviour change to create more environmentally sustainable workplaces and work styles.

Design/methodology/approach

– The multi-disciplinary research team used ethnographic and user-centred design methodologies to get employees’ perspectives on environmental sustainability in the workplace. This involved in-depth interviews and workplace observations to understand employees’ views on sustainability in their organisation; workshops to explore attitudes towards sustainability; and design provocations to explore how employees might be motivated to act more sustainably.

Findings

– The research demonstrated the different understandings people have of what sustainability in the workplace should mean and whose responsibility they think it should be. The results were developed into a model of four different sustainability cultures, pragmatist, libertarian, housekeeper and campaigner, based upon people’s perception of the cost of sustainability to both company and employees. This model can be used to provide insight into the predominant sustainability culture of an organisation as well as the attitudes of individual employees.

Originality/value

– The research has been compiled into a toolkit, “The Sustainable Cultures Engagement Toolkit”, aimed at FM and workplace managers, which uses this model as the basis to provide information about how best to communicate with employees about environmental sustainability in the workplace and how to motivate behavioral change. This research demonstrates a user-centred design approach to address these challenges.
Green buildings for greying people
Authors: Zuo Jian , Xia Bo , Barker Jake , Skitmore Martin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to identify the critical issues to be considered by developers and practitioners when embarking on their first green residential retirement project in Australia. With an increasingly ageing population and widespread acceptance of the need for sustainable development in Australia, the demand for green retirement villages is increasing.

Design/methodology/approach

– In view of the lack of adequate historical data for quantitative analysis, a case study approach is used to examine the successful delivery of green retirement villages. Face-to-face interviews and document analyses were conducted for data collection.

Findings

– The findings of the study indicate that one of the major obstacles to the provision of affordable green retirement villages is the higher initial costs involved. However, positive aspects were identified, the most significant of which relate to the innovative design of site and floor plans; adoption of thermally efficient building materials; orientation of windows; installation of water harvesting and recycling systems, water conservation fittings and appliances; and waste management during the construction stage. With the adoption of these measures, it is believed that sustainable retirement development can be achieved without significant additional capital costs.

Practical implications

– The research findings serve as a guide for developers in decision-making throughout the project life-cycle when introducing green features into the provision of affordable retirement accommodation.

Originality/value

– This paper provides insights into the means by which affordable green residential retirement projects for aged people can be successfully completed.
How buildings learn
Authors: Jane Wilkinson Sara
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to study the adaptation of low grade commercial buildings for sustainability in Melbourne. Informed adaptation of existing stock is imperative because the challenge of attaining sustainable development in the 21st century will be won or lost in urban areas. Local authorities promote adaptation to reduce building related energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Melbourne aims to retrofit 1,200 central business district (CBD) properties before 2020 as part of their carbon-neutral city strategy. Australian cities date from the early 1800s to the present day and the concepts of adaptation and evolution of buildings and suburbs is not as well-developed or entrenched as in other continents. As such, there is a pressing need for greater knowledge and awareness of what happens to buildings over time.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research examines all building adaptation from 1998 to 2008 within the Melbourne CBD. This paper concentrates on the question: what is the pattern of adaptation within low grade office buildings over time? Using the Melbourne CBD as a case study, the research analysed all commercial building adaptations in Melbourne. Here a range of office building types are selected and profiled to discover what happened to them during the period and to ascertain what may be learned as a result to inform future adaptation strategies and policies.

Findings

– Adaptation of existing buildings is vital to deliver the emission reductions required to transition to carbon-neutral urban settlements. In the short-term, it is opportune to capitalise on existing behaviour patterns in respect of adaptation and to “learn how buildings learn”, rather than seek to instigate major changes in behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

– The researcher acknowledges that the depth of analysis for each individual case does not attain levels achieved through a purely qualitative approach to data collection and that this is a limitation of this method of data collection.

Practical implications

– Examination of adaptation patterns showed that the events were similar regardless of age or location and typically involved multiple adaptations to separate areas within buildings such as office floors, lobbies and foyers. Such a pattern misses the opportunity to benefit from economies of scale or to incorporate more extensive adaptations to reduce environmental impact of the building as a whole.

Social implications

– The patterns of ownership and relatively short-term multiple tenancies compound the piecemeal approach to adaptations in this sector of the market. Moving forward, a more holistic approach is required to optimise adaptation and sustainability benefits and to minimise unnecessary waste.

Originality/value

– A real danger is that numerous adaptations over time which may seem “sustainable” within the context of the one adaptation may not be sustainable in the context of the entire building over the whole lifecycle or the city over the long–term, and this is a challenge we must attend to.
Don't walk by: urban faith-based homeless outreach campaigns
Authors: Oh Hans , Albertson Sam
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the objectives and overall approach of a faith-based homeless outreach campaign. It aims to stimulate wider discussion about how civil society can play a role in achieving participatory parity for the homeless.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a case study approach, this viewpoint paper then connects practical considerations to extant literature on community inclusion.

Findings

– This particular homeless outreach campaign generated a tremendous amount of volunteerism – perhaps unparalleled relative to any other recent campaign driven by civil society. Yet it aimed only to funnel the homeless into the private social sector. Furthermore, most of the homeless people engaged on the streets did not complete the rehabilitation programs.

Research limitations/implications

– Campaigns such as this may need to adopt discursive habits in order to recognize the social distances that must be bridged between the housed and the homeless. With greater reflexivity, volunteers can use their interactions with the homeless to develop empathy, compassion, and understanding. Volunteers may then feel inspired to leverage their personal resources to address community perceptions of homelessness, or to advocate for systematic changes.

Originality/value

– This paper suggests recasting the goals of homeless campaigns to include the development of social bridges between the housed and the homeless, which can guide advocacy efforts.
The impact of technology CSFs on customer satisfaction and the role of trust
Authors: Tahir Jan Muhammad , Abdullah Kalthom
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify and test technology-related critical success factors (CSFs) and its impact on trust and customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper analyses the causal relationship that exists between technology CSFs and customer satisfaction. It also investigates the mediating role of trust between these two. For this purpose data were collected quantitatively from 349 employees working in different banks, through self-administered questionnaire. The data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS software. Factor analysis was performed to extract and decide on the number of factors underlying the measured variables of interest. Structural equation modelling was then used to examine the variables and the fitness of proposed model.

Findings

– The result revealed that technology CSFs positively affect customer satisfaction. Also, trust partially mediates the relationship between technology CSFs and customer satisfaction. A significant positive impact of technology CSFs on trust, and trust on customer satisfaction have also been obtained.

Practical implications

– The significant influence that technology CSFs have on customer satisfaction and trust shows that technology-related CSFs are inevitable for the success of customer relationship management (CRM) in financial services industry, particularly banks. Policy makers of service industry in general and financial service industry in particular may benefit from the findings of this study.

Originality/value

– Despite the plethora of research on CSFs for CRM, very limited attention has been given to testing and validating the identified CSFs. Negligible research has been conducted to investigate trust as a mediating variable in the relationship between technology CSFs and customer satisfaction. This paper, therefore, offers valuable insight into technology-related CSFs and trust with their impact on customer satisfaction.
Six Sigma methods applied in an injection moulding company
Authors: Timans Werner , Ahaus Kees , Antony Jiju
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a demonstration of the application of techniques for robust optimization for improvement of the injection moulding processes in an injection moulding small and medium sized enterprise (SME).

Design/methodology/approach

– A critical to quality characteristic (CtQ) which is connected to assembly problems is the subject of investigation. The CtQ is not directly measurable. The variation in a dimension of a product, which is correlated to the CtQ, is studied using design of experiments (DoE) and Taguchi methods. A two-cavity mould is used in the injection moulding process. To evaluate the robustness of the process using signal-to-noise analysis, the data were transformed to compensate for the systematic differences between the mould cavities.

Findings

– The initial results showed that finding optimal process parameter settings commonly valid for both cavities was impossible. After a modification of the mould, the experiments were rerun and optimal settings could be found.

Practical implications

– Applying DoE techniques in small and medium-sized injection moulding companies is far from common practice. This case study demonstrates a method to apply DoE with five process parameters which can serve as a standard method to prepare production when a new mould is used for the first time.

Originality/value

– The originality is connected to the combination of the applied methods and, in the context of the case study, carried out in an SME unfamiliar with the power of the applied methods. The value of the paper is to demonstrate the power of the most powerful technique in quality engineering to improve an injection moulding process within the context of SMEs. The authors would accentuate the point that the true power becomes visible when this powerful technique is introduced into an organization with very little understanding of the technique. In addition, the case study is valuable to practitioners because it proposes a new scientific and systematic approach to understand and optimize the start-up of the moulding process.
Vocational bachelor graduates in France: labour market integration and social mobility
Authors: Calmand Julien , Giret Jean-François , Guégnard Christine
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– In France, the vocationalization of higher education has resulted in an increase in the number of graduates and created new opportunities. The access of these vocational bachelor graduates to the labour market raises the issue of their professional prospects amid changing economic and social circumstances. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– To provide insights into these issues, the employment situation of bachelor graduates during the first years of active working life will be compared with other tertiary graduates entering the labour market in the same years, using econometric models that estimate the effects of vocational courses “all other things being equal”, incorporating a range of individual characteristics.

Findings

– Overall, vocational bachelor graduates experienced fewer difficulties in seeking to enter the labour market during difficult economic circumstances. They did not achieve upward social mobility with a lower probability of obtaining a managerial/professional occupation three years after graduation. These results confirm that diplomas continue to play a central and hierarchized role in France.

Originality/value

– The originality of this paper is to highlight the labour market transition of vocational bachelor graduates during a period of economic crisis, inquiring on the social benefit of this new diploma in France: what were the impacts of the changing economic conditions and influx of vocational bachelor graduates on their labour market transition and their chances of upward social mobility?
On the application of Big Data in future large-scale intelligent Smart City installations
Authors: Girtelschmid Sylva , Steinbauer Matthias , Kumar Vikash , Fensel Anna , Kotsis Gabriele
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to propose and evaluate a novel system architecture for Smart City applications which uses ontology reasoning and a distributed stream processing framework on the cloud. In the domain of Smart City, often methodologies of semantic modeling and automated inference are applied. However, semantic models often face performance problems when applied in large scale.

Design/methodology/approach

– The problem domain is addressed by using methods from Big Data processing in combination with semantic models. The architecture is designed in a way that for the Smart City model still traditional semantic models and rule engines can be used. However, sensor data occurring at such Smart Cities are pre-processed by a Big Data streaming platform to lower the workload to be processed by the rule engine.

Findings

– By creating a real-world implementation of the proposed architecture and running simulations of Smart Cities of different sizes, on top of this implementation, the authors found that the combination of Big Data streaming platforms with semantic reasoning is a valid approach to the problem.

Research limitations/implications

– In this article, real-world sensor data from only two buildings were extrapolated for the simulations. Obviously, real-world scenarios will have a more complex set of sensor input values, which needs to be addressed in future work.

Originality/value

– The simulations show that merely using a streaming platform as a buffer for sensor input values already increases the sensor data throughput and that by applying intelligent filtering in the streaming platform, the actual number of rule executions can be limited to a minimum.
MobiPSE
Authors: Tran Khoi-Nguyen , Nguyen Hong-Quang
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to solve the stated limitations through (i) exploring usages of scenarios and (ii) proposing a lightweight iterative requirement exploration process that utilizes scenarios to transform the vague ideas of the developers into concrete application’s vision. The explosive growth in pervasiveness, programmability and computational capability of smartphones and tablets unlocks the possibility for many uses of technology, including end-user development (EUD) where end-users create applications as pragmatic tools for their work and hobbies. An extensive amount of research effort has been done to solve EUD challenges; however, the focus of such research lies mainly on designing and implementing software applications.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on review on existing application of usage scenario in software application development, we proposed SRE – a scenario-based requirement exploration method and MobiPSE – a lightweight software process that applies SRE. Two EUD projects performed by undergraduate students were used as case studies to test and fine-tune methods.

Findings

– This paper proposes MobiPSE – a lightweight iterative software process that resolves around our proposed SRE method. Through case studies on MobiPSE, we confirmed that MobiPSE works in real-life scenarios and emphasized two points: ad hoc training has limited effect and lack of technical expertise can still leave a negative impact on requirement exploration process.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of the limited number of case studies performed for testing and tuning purpose, the proposed methods may not be able to satisfy all cases of EUD. MobiPSE can be fine-tuned further with additional case studies of different scale and team structure.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils the need for a lightweight method for exploring requirements and ideas in a EUD project based on creating and analyzing possible usage scenarios.
Mapping public value processes
Authors: Alford John , Yates Sophie
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to add to the analytic toolkit of public sector practitioners by outlining a framework called Public Value Process Mapping (PVPM). This approach is designed to be more comprehensive than extant frameworks in either the private or public sectors, encapsulating multiple dimensions of productive processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper explores the public administration and management literature to identify the major frameworks for visualising complex systems or processes, and a series of dimensions against which they can be compared. It then puts forward a more comprehensive framework – PVPM – and demonstrates its possible use with the example of Indigenous child nutrition in remote Australia. The benefits and limitations of the technique are then considered.

Findings

– First, extant process mapping frameworks each have some but not all of the features necessary to encompass certain dimensions of generic or public sector processes, such as: service-dominant logic; external as well internal providers; public and private value; and state coercive power. Second, PVPM can encompass the various dimensions more comprehensively, enabling visualisation of both the big picture and the fine detail of public value-creating processes. Third, PVPM has benefits – such as helping unearth opportunities or culprits affecting processes – as well as limitations – such as demonstrating causation and delineating the boundaries of maps.

Practical implications

– PVPM has a number of uses for policy analysts and public managers: it keeps the focus on outcomes; it can unearth a variety of processes and actors, some of them not immediately obvious; it can help to identify key processes and actors; it can help to identify the “real” culprits behind negative outcomes; and it highlights situations where multiple causes are at work.

Originality/value

– This approach, which draws on a number of precursors but constitutes a novel technique in the public sector context, enables the identification and to some extent the comprehension of a broader range of causal factors and actors. This heightens the possibility of imagining innovative solutions to difficult public policy issues, and alternative ways of delivering public services.
Polish and UK doctors’ engagement with hospital management
Authors: Hartley Kathy , Kautsch Marcin
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a short research project, conducted in 2010 as part of a larger EU funded action investigating the participation and impact of doctors in management. The authors sought to compare the ways in which hospital doctors in the UK and Poland – countries with distinct histories – participate in management; whether they are converging and whether the type of participation found results from changes in the governance and management of these systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– First, a review of existing evidence and an analysis of policy documents and healthcare statistics were conducted. Identifying a lack of empirical data in the Polish context, and a potentially changing situation in the UK, the authors proceeded to collect some exploratory data in Poland, via interviews with expert informants, and to draw on data collected alongside this study in the UK from qualified doctors participating in research on management and leadership development.

Findings

– Hospital doctors currently hold similar types of management role in both systems, but there are signs that change is underway. In Poland, different types of medical manager and role are now emerging, whereas in the UK younger doctors appear to be expecting greater management responsibility in the future, and are starting to take up the management training now on offer.

Research limitations/implications

– The potential implications of these changes for the profession and policymakers in both Poland and the UK are discussed, with opportunities for further research highlighted.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a comparison of how medical engagement within two systems with different histories is occurring, and also of the changes underway. It provides some much needed initial insight via interviews with expert informants within the polish system, which has been under-researched in relation to the involvement of medicine in management.
Evaluation of public policy advocacy: challenges, principles and BEST-AC case study
Authors: Jackson Annabel
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that both the processes and outcomes of advocacy can be evaluated in ways that can help with learning and accountability. The paper reviews the literature on evaluating advocacy, with a particular focus on development work, and describes an example of the systematic evaluation of the Business Environment Strengthening in Tanzania-Advocacy Component business advocacy programme in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

– The evaluation uses a Scientific Realist methodology to give a disaggregated, contextual analysis of advocacy, asking the typically Scientific Realist question: “What works for whom in what circumstances?” Complementary methods are being applied longitudinally over a five-year period and include stakeholder interviews, business surveys, diagnostic tools and learning seminars.

Findings

– The paper argues that advocacy evaluation is no more complex or difficult than other aspects of development. Rigorous, cost-effective methods can be developed, so long as clear conceptualisation is carried out as an initial step. Systematic analysis of influencing tactics and capacity building demonstrates the relative skill of the advocacy organisations and allows the funder to see intermediate indicators of progress which are otherwise invisible.

Practical implications

– Consistent conceptualisation and measurement allow comparison over time, and between different types of projects and organisations. Integrating methods with the operation of campaigns or programmes allows the evaluator to give feedback in real time and minimise the burden on evaluands.

Originality/value

– The paper is based on original research/evaluation. The field is heavily concentrated on social change. The paper makes a contribution by providing an example of advocacy evaluation in the field of business advocacy and economic development. In addition, the example extends the field of advocacy evaluation by considering the systematic evaluation of a whole programme of individual advocacy projects.
Greening retail: an Indian experience
Authors: Kumar Prashant
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the extent of greening retail taking place in Indian context and identifies its core groups of green retail practices.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire was developed and used to collect data from retailers of green products, and caselets were developed.

Findings

– Nine core groups of green retail practices are identified – distinctness of green products, promoting sustainable business practices, use of environmental keywords, promotion for awareness, promotional offers for sale, ensuring availability and visibility of green products, approval for environmental claims, environmentally friendly appeal of store and consumer involvement approaches.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings of the study should be generalised with its limitations; though are useful in understanding greening retail concept.

Originality/value

– This paper is original in terms of its value addition to the green marketing literature and extends the concept of sustainability to retailing.
Scenario analysis for commercial Internet content delivery
Authors: Zhang Nan , Smura Timo , Grönvall Björn , Hämmäinen Heikki
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the key uncertainties and to construct alternative future scenarios for Internet content delivery. The relative positions and roles of different actors and content delivery technologies in each scenario are then discussed. As traffic volume rapidly grows, the current Internet architecture faces scalability issues. To meet the demand, technical solutions utilizing caching and name-based routing are developed.

Design/methodology/approach

– This work followed a scenario planning process, and two workshops were organized for identifying the key trends and uncertainties. Industry architecture notation was used to systematically illustrate and compare the constructed scenarios.

Findings

– Of the 94 forces identified, the revenue model and Internet service provider's (ISP’s) role in content provision were singled out as the two most important uncertainties, upon which four scenarios were constructed. In-network caching technologies are strong candidates in ISP-dominated scenarios. Content delivery networks are more likely outcomes in scenarios, where content providers’ role is significant.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper focuses on qualitative analysis of scenarios. Utilizing, for instance, system dynamics to model interdependencies between the trends and uncertainties could provide a path toward quantitative analysis.

Originality/value

– The paper increases understanding of relative positions and roles of different actors and technologies in possible future scenarios. The findings are important, especially for ISPs, content providers and technology vendors. The scenarios can be used to identify desirable futures and strategies to achieve them and to make informed choices in technology design to meet the demands of key actors.
The Pransky interview: Rich Walker, Managing Director at the Shadow Robot Company
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experiences of a prominent robotic industry engineer-turned entrepreneur regarding the evolution, commercialisation and challenges of bringing a technological invention to market.

Design/methodology/approach

– The interviewee is Rich Walker, the Managing Director at the Shadow Robot Company in London, UK. Rich Walker joined the Shadow team before going to University, and in this interview, he describes his 25-year journey with the company.

Findings

– While he was studying mathematics at Cambridge, Rich Walker's passion for cutting edge robotics led him to write software in 1989, unpaid, as part of a team at the pioneering the Shadow Robot Company. Walker was soon involved in developing robotic hands based on pneumatic muscles, which resulted in eight patents, with Walker named as one of the inventors. Walker and the small team have since grown Shadow to become a thriving global business that designs and manufactures state-of-the-art anthropomorphic robot hands and related systems, with 20 R&D and production engineers in London, Brest and Shanghai.

Originality/value

– Walker's experiences with a small entrepreneurial robot start-up has led him not only to become a leader at Shadow for new robotics applications but he is also active in developing and implementing European projects, and he consults as an expert in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and innovators.
Development of a reliable microgripper system based on failure analysis
Authors: Abbas Zaidi Nayyer , Ahmed Bazaz Shafaat
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the design of a microgripper system that comprises a dual jaw actuation mechanism with contact sensing.

Design/methodology/approach

– Interdigitated lateral comb-drive-based electrostatic actuator is used to move the gripper arms. Simultaneous contact sensing of the gripper jaws has been achieved through transverse comb-based capacitive sensor. The fabricated microgripper produces a displacement of 16 μm at gripper jaws for an applied actuation voltage of 45 V.

Findings

– It is observed that the microgripper fails to operate for the maximum performance limits (70 μm jaws displacement) and produces uncontrolled force at the tip of the jaws > 45 V.

Originality/value

– A novel behavioral model of the microgripper system is proposed using the fabricated dimensions of the system to carry out a detailed analysis to understand the cause of this failure. The failure analysis shows that the microgripper system failed to operate in its designed limits due to the presence of side instability in the designed combs structure. Our proposed failure model helps in redesigning the actuator to ensure its operation above 45 V so that the gripper jaw can be displaced to its maximum limit of 70 μm and also result in the increase of the controlled force from 250 to 303 μN at the microgripper jaws.
Psychological adversity in pregnancy: what works to improve outcomes?
Authors: Glover Vivette , Barlow Jane
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– Foetal programming is one of the key mechanisms by which physical and social adversity is biologically embedded during pregnancy. While early interest in such programming focused on the long-term impact of the mother's nutritional state on the child's later physical health, more recent research has identified an increased risk of psychopathology in children of women who have experienced stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy. The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature addressing the impact of stress in pregnancy and the implications for practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– An overview of the literature has been provided.

Findings

– Both anxiety and depression in pregnancy are common, with a prevalence in the region of 20 per cent. Exposure in pregnancy to anxiety, depression and stress from a range of sources (e.g. bereavement, relationship problems, external disasters and war), is associated with a range of physical (e.g. congenital malformations, reduced birthweight and gestational age), neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and emotional and behavioural (e.g. ADHD, conduct disorder) problems. The magnitude is significant, with the attributable risk of childhood behaviour problems due to prenatal stress being between 10 and 15 per cent, and the variance in cognitive development due to prenatal stress being around 17 per cent. A range of methods of intervening are effective in improving both maternal anxiety and depression, and in the longer term should improve outcomes for the infant and child.

Research limitations/implications

– This research highlights the importance of intervening to support the psychological wellbeing of pregnant women to improve outcomes for infants and children, and points to the need for further research into innovative ways of working, particularly with high-risk groups of pregnant women.

Originality/value

– The paper provides an update of earlier overviews.
Neurodevelopment in the first three years: implications for child development, professional practice and policy
Authors: Glaser Danya
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to outline brain structure and development, the relationship between environment and brain development and implications for practice.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on a selected review of the literature and clinical experience.

Findings

– While genetics determine the sequence of brain maturation, the nature of brain development and functioning is determined by the young child's caregiving environment, to which the developing brain constantly adapts. The absence of input during sensitive periods may lead to later reduced functioning. There is an undoubted immediate equivalence between every mind function – emotion, cognition, behaviour and brain activity, although the precise location of this in the brain is only very partially determinable, since brain connections and function are extremely complex.

Originality/value

– This paper provides an overview of key issues in neurodevelopment relating to the development of young children, and implications for policy and practice.
Social capital among migrating doctors: the “Bridge” over troubled water
Authors: R. Terry Daniel , Lê Quynh
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of social capital among International Medical Graduates (IMGs). It will specifically examine bridging social capital and greater intercultural communication which provides IMGs access to the wider community and plays a key role in cross-cultural adaptation and acculturation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A review of the literature.

Findings

– An Australian wide shortage of doctors has led to an increased reliance on the recruitment of IMGs. As IMGs migrate, they may encounter different meanings of illness, models of care and a number of social challenges. Nevertheless, greater cross-cultural adaptation and acculturation occurs through bridging social capital, where intercultural communication, new social networks and identity aids integration. This process produces more opportunities for economic capital growth and upward mobility than bonding social capital.

Practical implications

– Concerns regarding immigration, appropriate support and on-going examination processes have been expressed by IMGs in a number of studies and policy papers. However, there is very little insight into what contributes cross-cultural adaptation of IMGs.

Originality/value

– As IMGs migrate to not only a new country, but also a new health system and workplace they arrive with different cultural meanings of illness and models of care. These differences may be in contrast to the dominant western medical model, but often bring positive contributions to patient care in the new environment. In addition, improving bridging social capital provides IMGs access to the wider community and has been demonstrated to play a key role in cross-cultural adaptation and ultimately acculturation.
Management attitudes and technology adoption in long-term care facilities
Authors: C. Bezboruah Karabi , Paulson Darla , Smith Jason
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitudes of nursing home administrators and key managerial staff toward health information technology (health IT).

Design/methodology/approach

– This research is exploratory in nature, and applies qualitative case-study methodology to further understand health IT adoption by nursing homes through multiple in-depth semi-structured interviews of management, and direct observations of employee behavior at each participating facility. A modified Technology Acceptance Model is used to examine the attitudes and perceptions of administrators.

Findings

– This study finds that there are differences in the level of health IT adoption by nursing homes. While some administrators are aware of health IT and are implementing or updating their IT systems in a gradual but haphazard manner, others exhibited a lack of interest in implementing change. Overall, there is a lack of systematic planning and decision-making toward health IT adoption. Adoption is not evidence-based, instead driven primarily by real and perceived regulatory requirements combined with a lack of information about, or consideration of, the real costs and benefits of implementing health IT.

Research limitations/implications

– Including six in-depth case studies, the sample for this study is small for generalizing the findings. Yet, it contributes to the literature on the slow process of health IT adoption by nursing homes. Moreover, the findings provide guidelines for future research.

Practical implications

– This study demonstrates that nursing home administrators must systematically plan the adoption of health IT, and such decision making should be evidenced-based and participatory so that employees can voice their opinions that could prevent future resistance.

Originality/value

– This study is original and advances knowledge on the reasons for the slow adoption of health IT in nursing homes. It finds that lack of adequate information regarding the utility and benefits of health IT in management adoption decisions can result in haphazard implementation or no adoption at all. This finding has significant value for policy makers’ practitioners for improving accessibility of information regarding the use of health IT in nursing homes that could address the health IT adoption challenge in this industry.
An analysis of intercultural bilingual education in Argentina
Authors: Carolina Hecht Ana
Published: July 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to assess the state of affairs of intercultural bilingual education (IBE) policies in Argentina. IBE encompasses educational proposals designed to address the specific needs of ethnolinguistic minorities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article is divided into three parts and methodologically analyzes different types of materials (national legislation, bibliography and personal research experiences).

Findings

– In the first section, the educational policies on cultural and linguistic diversity are contextualized historically. Later, IBE is defined considering five main characteristics (the neoliberal compensatory education policy, educational decentralization/regionalization, the educational category of the system, linguistic goals and teacher profiles). Finally, the conclusions list the challenges, goals that have yet to be achieved and the future perspectives of this educational policy.

Originality/value

– This article contributes to the field of studies on diversity in the schooling of ethnically different groups.