bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Associations of Specific Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors With Resting-State Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability: Implications for Health and Well-Being
Authors: Kemp Andrew H. , Fráguas Renerio , Brunoni Andre R. , Bittencourt Marcio S. , Nunes Maria A. , Dantas Eduardo M. , Andreão Rodrigo V. , Mill José G. , Ribeiro Antonio L. P. , Koenig Julian , Thayer Julian F. , Benseñor Isabela M. , Lotufo Paulo A.
Published: May 2016

Objective

Debate has focused on the effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants on heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV), both of which are predictors of adverse cardiovascular events. Here, we examine the associations between specific SSRI antidepressants and resting state HR (and HRV) after accounting for a host of potential confounding factors using propensity score techniques.

Methods

Participants included 10,466 not taking antidepressants, 46 participants taking escitalopram, 86 taking citalopram, 66 taking fluoxetine, 103 taking paroxetine, and 139 taking sertraline. HR and HRV (root mean square of successive squared differences, high frequency) were extracted from 10-minute resting-state ECGs. Analyses including propensity score weighting and matching were conducted using R-statistics to control for potentially confounding variables.

Results

Major findings indicated that users of all SSRI medications—except fluoxetine—displayed lower HRV relative to nonusers. Users of paroxetine also displayed significantly lower HRV relative to users of citalopram (Cohen's d = 0.42), fluoxetine (Cohen's d = 0.54), and sertraline (Cohen's d = 0.35), but not escitalopram. Although associations were also observed for HR, these were less robust than those for HRV.

Conclusions

Although paroxetine is associated with decreases in HRV relative to nonusers, as well as users of other SSRI medications, fluoxetine was the only medication not to display significant alterations in HR or HRV. These conclusions are limited by the cross-sectional design and nonrandomized nature of medication prescriptions. Findings highlight the importance of focusing on specific medications, rather than more heterogeneous groupings according to antidepressant action, and may have implications for health and well-being for the longer term.
A new neuroinformatics approach to personalized medicine in neurology: The Virtual Brain
Authors: Falcon Maria I. , Jirsa Viktor , Solodkin Ana
Published: May 2016

Purpose of review

An exciting advance in the field of neuroimaging is the acquisition and processing of very large data sets (so called ‘big data’), permitting large-scale inferences that foster a greater understanding of brain function in health and disease. Yet what we are clearly lacking are quantitative integrative tools to translate this understanding to the individual level to lay the basis for personalized medicine.

Recent findings

Here we address this challenge through a review on how the relatively new field of neuroinformatics modeling has the capacity to track brain network function at different levels of inquiry, from microscopic to macroscopic and from the localized to the distributed. In this context, we introduce a new and unique multiscale approach, The Virtual Brain (TVB), that effectively models individualized brain activity, linking large-scale (macroscopic) brain dynamics with biophysical parameters at the microscopic level. We also show how TVB modeling provides unique biological interpretable data in epilepsy and stroke.

These results establish the basis for a deliberate integration of computational biology and neuroscience into clinical approaches for elucidating cellular mechanisms of disease. In the future, this can provide the means to create a collection of disease-specific models that can be applied on the individual level to personalize therapeutic interventions.

Video abstract

http://links.lww.com/CONR/A41
The influence of leaf morphology on litter flammability and its utility for interpreting palaeofire
Authors: Belcher Claire M.
Published: May 2016

Studies of palaeofire rely on quantifying the abundance of fossil charcoals in sediments to estimate changes in fire activity. However, gaining an understanding of the behaviour of palaeofires is also essential if we are to determine the palaeoecological impact of wildfires. Here, I use experimental approaches to explore relationships between litter fire behaviour and leaf traits that are observable in the fossil record. Fire calorimetry was used to assess the flammability of 15 species of conifer litter and indicated that leaf morphology related to litter bulk density and fuel load that determined the duration of burning and the total energy released. These data were applied to a fossil case study that couples estimates of palaeolitter fire behaviour to charcoal-based estimates of fire activity and observations of palaeoecological changes. The case study reveals that significant changes in fire activity and behaviour likely fed back to determine ecosystem composition. This work highlights that we can recognize and measure plant traits in the fossil record that relate to fire behaviour and therefore that further research is warranted towards estimating palaeofire behaviour as it can enhance our ability to interpret the palaeoecological impact of palaeofires throughout Earth's long evolutionary history.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
Fire in the mind: changing understandings of fire in Western civilization
Authors: Pyne Stephen J.
Published: May 2016

For most of human history, fire has been a pervasive presence in human life, and so also in human thought. This essay examines the ways in which fire has functioned intellectually in Western civilization as mythology, as religion, as natural philosophy and as modern science. The great phase change occurred with the development of industrial combustion; fire faded from quotidian life, which also removed it from the world of informing ideas. Beginning with the discovery of oxygen, fire as an organizing concept fragmented into various subdisciplines of natural science and forestry. The Anthropocene, however, may revive the intellectual role of fire as an informing idea or at least a narrative conceit.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
Fire history on the California Channel Islands spanning human arrival in the Americas
Authors: Hardiman Mark , Scott Andrew C. , Pinter Nicholas , Anderson R. Scott , Ejarque Ana , Carter-Champion Alice , Staff Richard A.
Published: May 2016

Recent studies have suggested that the first arrival of humans in the Americas during the end of the last Ice Age is associated with marked anthropogenic influences on landscape; in particular, with the use of fire which, would have given even small populations the ability to have broad impacts on the landscape. Understanding the impact of these early people is complicated by the dramatic changes in climate occurring with the shift from glacial to interglacial conditions. Despite these difficulties, we here attempt to test the extent of anthropogenic influence using the California Channel Islands as a smaller, landscape-scale test bed. These islands are famous for the discovery of the ‘Arlington Springs Man’, which are some of the earliest human remains in the Americas. A unifying sedimentary charcoal record is presented from Arlington Canyon, Santa Rosa Island, based on over 20 detailed sedimentary sections from eight key localities. Radiocarbon dating was based on thin, fragile, long fragments of charcoal in order to avoid the ‘inbuilt’ age problem. Radiocarbon dating of 49 such fragments has allowed inferences regarding the fire and landscape history of the Canyon
ca
19–11 ka BP. A significant period of charcoal deposition is identified approximately 14–12.5 ka BP and bears remarkable closeness to an estimated age range of the first human arrival on the islands.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
Pyrodiversity is the coupling of biodiversity and fire regimes in food webs
Authors: Bowman David M. J. S. , Perry George L. W. , Higgins Steve I. , Johnson Chris N. , Fuhlendorf Samuel D. , Murphy Brett P.
Published: May 2016

Fire positively and negatively affects food webs across all trophic levels and guilds and influences a range of ecological processes that reinforce fire regimes, such as nutrient cycling and soil development, plant regeneration and growth, plant community assembly and dynamics, herbivory and predation. Thus we argue that rather than merely describing spatio-temporal patterns of fire regimes, pyrodiversity must be understood in terms of feedbacks between fire regimes, biodiversity and ecological processes. Humans shape pyrodiversity both directly, by manipulating the intensity, severity, frequency and extent of fires, and indirectly, by influencing the abundance and distribution of various trophic guilds through hunting and husbandry of animals, and introduction and cultivation of plant species. Conceptualizing landscape fire as deeply embedded in food webs suggests that the restoration of degraded ecosystems requires the simultaneous careful management of fire regimes and native and invasive plants and animals, and may include introducing new vertebrates to compensate for extinctions that occurred in the recent and more distant past.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
Wildfire policy and management in England: an evolving response from Fire and Rescue Services, forestry and cross-sector groups
Authors: Gazzard Rob , McMorrow Julia , Aylen Jonathan
Published: May 2016

Severe wildfires are an intermittent problem in England. The paper presents the first analysis of wildfire policy, showing its halting evolution over two decades. First efforts to coordinate wildfire management came from local fire operation groups, where stakeholders such as fire services, land owners and amenity groups shared knowledge and equipment to tackle the problem. A variety of structures and informal management solutions emerged in response to local needs. Knowledge of wildfire accumulated within regional and national wildfire forums and academic networks. Only later did the need for central emergency planning and the response to climate change produce a national policy response. Fire statistics have allowed wildfires to be spatially evidenced on a national scale only since 2009. National awareness of wildfire was spurred by the 2011 fire season, and the high-impact Swinley Forest fire, which threatened critical infrastructure and communities within 50 miles of London. Severe wildfire was included in the National Risk Register for the first time in 2013. Cross-sector approaches to wildfire proved difficult as government responsibility is fragmented along the hazard chain. Stakeholders such as the Forestry Commission pioneered good practice in adaptive land management to build fire resilience into UK forests. The grass-roots evolution of participatory solutions has also been a key enabling process. A coordinated policy is now needed to identify best practice and to promote understanding of the role of fire in the ecosystem.

This article is part of a themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
The role of fire in UK peatland and moorland management: the need for informed, unbiased debate
Authors: Davies G. Matt , Kettridge Nicholas , Stoof Cathelijne R. , Gray Alan , Ascoli Davide , Fernandes Paulo M. , Marrs Rob , Allen Katherine A. , Doerr Stefan H. , Clay Gareth D. , McMorrow Julia , Vandvik Vigdis
Published: May 2016

Fire has been used for centuries to generate and manage some of the UK's cultural landscapes. Despite its complex role in the ecology of UK peatlands and moorlands, there has been a trend of simplifying the narrative around burning to present it as an only ecologically damaging practice. That fire modifies peatland characteristics at a range of scales is clearly understood. Whether these changes are perceived as positive or negative depends upon how trade-offs are made between ecosystem services and the spatial and temporal scales of concern. Here we explore the complex interactions and trade-offs in peatland fire management, evaluating the benefits and costs of managed fire as they are currently understood. We highlight the need for (i) distinguishing between the impacts of fires occurring with differing severity and frequency, and (ii) improved characterization of ecosystem health that incorporates the response and recovery of peatlands to fire. We also explore how recent research has been contextualized within both scientific publications and the wider media and how this can influence non-specialist perceptions. We emphasize the need for an informed, unbiased debate on fire as an ecological management tool that is separated from other aspects of moorland management and from political and economic opinions.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.
On the reciprocal relationship between individual job insecurity and job insecurity climate
Authors: Låstad Lena , Vander Elst Tinne , De Witte Hans
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between individual job insecurity and job insecurity climate over time.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected among readers of a Flemish Human Resources magazine. The data collection was repeated three times, resulting in a longitudinal dataset with information from 419 employees working in Flanders. A cross-lagged design was used in which both individual job insecurity and job insecurity climate were modeled at all times and reciprocal relationships between these constructs could be investigated.

Findings

– The results showed that perceptions of individual job insecurity were related to perceiving a climate of job insecurity six months later. However, no evidence was found for the effect of job insecurity climate on individual job insecurity. This suggests that job insecurity origins in the individual’s perceptions of job insecurity and subsequently expands to include perceptions of a job insecurity climate at the workplace.

Research limitations/implications

– First, the data used in this study were collected solely by self-reports, which could have introduced a common method bias to the study. Second, as with all non-experimental studies, the possibility that a third variable could have affected the results cannot categorically be ruled out.

Practical implications

– Managers and human resource practitioners who wish to prevent job insecurity in organizations may consider focussing on individual job insecurity perceptions when planning preventive efforts.

Originality/value

– By investigating the relationship between individual job insecurity and job insecurity climate over time, this study contributes to the understanding of job insecurity, both as an individual and a social phenomenon.
Personality and occupational specialty
Authors: Woods Stephen A , Patterson Fiona C , Wille Bart , Koczwara Anna
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the role of personality in occupational specialty choice, to better understand how and in what ways personality traits might influence vocational development after a person has chosen a career.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study tested hypotheses in a sample of UK medical students, each of whom had chosen their specialty pathway, and completed a measure of the Big Five personality traits. Associations of the junior doctor’s Big Five personality traits with the Holland’s realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, conventional (RIASEC) profiles of their medical specialty selections (derived from the O*NET database) were examined.

Findings

– Findings provided good support for the hypotheses. Junior doctors’ agreeableness (with social) and neuroticism (with realistic, artistic and enterprising) were the main predictors of the RIASEC profiles of their specialty selections.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings suggest that personality traits influence specialty selection in predictable ways, and differently compared to occupational choice. The paper discusses findings within a theoretical framework that explains how and why trait influences on within occupational specialty selection differ from influences on occupational interest and choice more broadly. The potential mechanisms underlying these associations are explored in the context of motivational aspects of agreeableness and neuroticism.

Practical implications

– Within-occupation specialties should feature in career guidance discussions and interventions more explicitly to enable people to decide whether occupational specialties are available that appeal to their individual differences.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the relations of personality and occupational specialty through the lens of the RIASEC model, and the first to propose cross-occupation theoretical pathways from personality to specialty choice. The data from the field of medicine enable us to test the propositions in a suitably diverse set of occupational specialties.
The toll of perceived injustice on job search self-efficacy and behavior
Authors: Taggar Simon , Kuron Lisa K. J.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– Individuals normally make fairness judgements when experiencing negative outcomes on an important task, such as finding employment. Fairness is an affect-laden subjective experience. Perceptions of injustice can cause resource depletion in unemployed job seekers, potentially leading to reduced self-regulation. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of: first, justice perceptions during a job search and their impact on job search self-efficacy (JSSE); second, the mediating role of JSSE between justice perceptions and job search strategies; and third, associations between job search strategies and quantity and quality of job search behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Unemployed individuals (n=254) who were actively searching for a job reported on their past job search experiences with respect to justice, completed measures of JSSE, and reported recent job search behavior.

Findings

– Results reveal the potentially harmful impact of perceived injustice on job search strategies and the mediating role of JSSE, a self-regulatory construct and an important resource when looking for a job. Specifically, perceived injustice is negatively associated with JSSE. Reduced JSSE is associated with a haphazard job search strategy and less likelihood of exploratory and focussed strategies. A haphazard job search strategy is associated with making fewer job applications and poor decision making. Conversely, perceived justice is associated with higher JSSE and exploratory and focussed job search strategies. These two strategies are generally associated with higher quality job search behavior.

Research limitations/implications

– There are two major limitations. First, while grounded in social-cognitive theory of self-regulation and conservation of resources (COR) theory, a cross-sectional research design limits determination of causality in the model of JSSE as a central social-cognitive mechanism explaining how justice impacts job search strategies. Second, some results may be conservative because social desirability may have restricted the range of negative responses.

Practical implications

– This study provides insights to individuals who are supporting job seekers (e.g. career counselors, coaches, employers, and social networks). Specifically, interventions aimed at reducing perceptions of injustice, increasing JSSE, and improving job search strategies and behavior may ameliorate the damaging impact of perceived injustice.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to examine perceived justice in the job search process using social-cognitive theory of self-regulation and COR theory. Moreover, we provide further validation to a relatively new and under-researched job search strategy typology by linking the strategies to the quantity and quality of job search behaviors.
The impacts of family-work conflict and social comparison standards on Chinese women faculties’ career expectation and success, moderating by self-efficacy
Authors: Cho Taejun , Ryu Kiung
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among self-efficacy, family-work conflict, social comparison standards, career expectation (CE), and career success through surveying the faculties of two major universities in Shandong Province, China.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected through online survey instruments returned by 147 university women faculties from the two major universities in the region.

Findings

– The results showed that: there was a significantly negative relationship between social comparison standards targeting to men and CE; self-efficacy was both impact statistically on family-work conflict and social comparison standards. This study found that the perceptions of CEs of Chinese women faculties were impacted by social comparison standards that could be directly perceived from men through observing and communicating with them. On the other hand, family-work conflict, which indirectly impacted on their CE, was not statistically significant, even though it significantly bothered them. Moreover, by investing the moderate effect of self-efficacy, it was a very important factor which helped them to develop their CEs.

Originality/value

– Since the higher self-efficacy group had higher CEs, increasing self-efficacy should be a prerequisite to help them develop their careers. Still, Chinese women faculties of two major universities in Shandong Province had low CE, high family-work conflict, and felt an inequality in career against men.
Barriers to the implementation of climate change adaptation in land use planning
Authors: Juhola Sirkku
Published: May 2016

Purpose

In the past 10 years, most countries and cities have published a national adaptation strategy that outlines the strategic approach to reduce the vulnerability to climate change and to adapt to the impacts of it. The existence of an adaptation strategy does not, however, equal implementation of adaptation and the fact that adaptation is taking place across multiple levels also poses new challenges to its efficient implementation. The literature on barriers of adaptation has been increasing rapidly, questioning whether there is a misconception that barriers to implementation can be solved at the local level.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses the implementation of adaptation strategies across multiple levels of governance by focusing on the land use planning in Finland. The case study examines the implementation of adaptation in the metropolitan region of Helsinki through a policy document analysis.

Findings

The conclusions highlight that there are barriers at the local level that emerge from the existing governance structures and cannot be solved by the local level alone. There needs to be a further recognition that coordination across levels of governance is a factor in overcoming barriers.

Originality/value

So far, there are very few studies that have analysed barriers in relation to the implementation of adaptation in a multi-level setting, and none in the land use sector, which is inherently hierarchical in nature.
The use of indigenous knowledge systems for short and long range rainfall prediction and farmers’ perceptions of science-based seasonal forecasts in Zimbabwe
Authors: Gwenzi Juliet , Mashonjowa Emmanuel , Mafongoya Paramu L. , Rwasoka Donald T. , Stigter Kees
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to document indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) used for short- and long-range rainfall prediction by small holder farmers in three communities of Guruve District, in north-eastern Zimbabwe. The study also investigated farmers’ perceptions of contemporary forecasts and the reliability of both IKS and contemporary forecasts.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected among small holder farmers in Guruve District using household interviews and focus group discussions in three wards in the district, grouped according to their agro-climate into high and low rainfall areas. To get an expert view of the issues, key informant interviews were held with key agricultural extension personnel and traditional leaders.

Findings

Results obtained showed show high dependence on IKS-based forecasts in the district. Over 80 per cent of the farmers used at least one form of IKS for short- and long-range forecasting, as they are easily understood and applicable to their local situations. Tree phenology, migration and behaviour of some bird species and insects, and observation of atmospheric phenomena were the common indicators used. Tree phenology was the most common with over 80 per cent of farmers using this indicator. While some respondents (60 per cent) viewed forecasts derived from IKS as more reliable than science-based forecasts, 69 per cent preferred an integration of the two methods.

Originality/value

The simplicity and location specificity of IKS-based forecasts makes them potentially useful to smallholder farmers, climate scientists and policymakers in tracking change in these areas for more effective climate change response strategies and policymaking.
Enhancing the foundations for theorising through bibliometric mapping
Authors: Sinkovics Noemi
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The “academic revolution” that has taken place over the past 50-60 years has brought about many opportunities, but also challenges, in the lives of academics. The “publish or perish” phenomenon can be seen as one manifestation of the heated competition among universities for talent and resources. The resulting increase in publications, the decrease in the time academics have to read them, together with editors’ call for more originality, innovation, and meaning in submitted manuscripts lead to two questions. What techniques can help researchers and PhD students to effectively and efficiently navigate through large bodies of literature? What tools and techniques can be used to enhance the foundations for theorising? The purpose of this paper is to answer these two interrelated questions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The abstracts of 410 peer-reviewed journal articles connected to ethics in (international) marketing research are explored with software tools. The freely available VOSviewer software is used to visualise the specified body of literature. NVivo is employed to go deeper and explore specific themes identified through VOSviewer.

Findings

– A total of 17 clusters were identified, representing the major themes in the selected body of literature. Additionally, a number of research avenues and research questions are presented.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis is based on the information provided in abstracts. Future research may wish to extend the analysis to full articles.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes by demonstrating how software tools such as VOSviewer and NVivo can be used to explore large bodies of literature and to experiment with research ideas to enhance the foundations for theorising.
Effect of controlling airflow in a solar chimney on thermal load in a built environment
Authors: Madhlopa Amos
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a wall-integrated solar chimney for passive ventilation of a building cavity. Ventilation is required to improve the circulation of air in the built environment. This can be achieved through natural or forced convection. Natural circulation can be driven by renewable energy, and so it promotes sustainable exploitation of energy resources. Solar energy is one of the promising renewable energy resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The chimney was designed to face the Equator on the wall of a room which required ventilation. Mean monthly daily heating and cooling loads of the room were computed with and without a solar chimney by using hourly meteorological data from nine different weather sites at low, medium and high latitudes. The chimney was implemented with and without airflow control, and simulated by using the ESP-r software.

Findings

Results show that the solar chimney with airflow control marginally reduced the heating load in the building envelope, with a similar effect being exhibited by the chimney with uncontrolled airflow. The cooling load was reduced by the controlled airflow at all the nine sites. In contrast, the uncontrolled airflow increased the cooling load at some sites. In addition, the chimney with airflow control reduced the annual total thermal load at all the sites, while the chimney with uncontrolled airflow raised the total thermal load at some locations.

Originality/value

The performance of solar chimneys designed with and without airflow control systems has been investigated under the same prevailing meteorological conditions at a given site. Findings show that controlling airflow in a solar chimney reduces the total thermal load in the built environment. This information can be applied in different parts of the world.
The impact of rework and organisational culture on project delivery
Authors: Oyewobi Luqman Oyekunle , Abiola-Falemu Ojo , Ibironke Olajide Timothy
Published: May 2016

Purpose

It is generally accepted that organisational culture is capable of influencing how project organisation performs. It can also impact on how people set individual goals and objectives, perform their roles, tasks and deploy resources to achieve set objectives. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of organisational culture on the occurrence of rework in Nigerian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted mixed method research using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to elicit information. Though, the result of the questionnaire survey was presented in this paper. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify which variables measured attributes of the same underlying proportions, while descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to establish the influence of organisational culture on rework.

Findings

The study identifies 14 factors as causes of rework from the result of factor analysis. The outcome also indicates that leadership style, success criteria and management style are important organisational culture dimensions. Poor management practices and lack of teamwork are found to be largely responsible for poor project delivery due to rework occurrence.

Practical/implications

The research will be of significant benefit to both the academic and industry practitioners. The result of the research will provide academics with useful insights into the influence of organisational culture on project delivery by undertaking future research to inform better understanding. The research will also provide practitioners with good understanding of how culture within their organisations can influence the performance of their subordinates or employees. Further research is encouraged to investigate the influence of management and leadership style on project delivery in the context of Nigeria.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to investigate the influence of organisational culture on occurrence of rework empirically in the Nigerian construction industry. There is paucity of research focusing on this area as it affects project delivery.
Development of an integrated bionic design system
Authors: Huang Jia-Yen , Siao Shih-Tian
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an integrated bionic optimal design system to assist engineers in bionic design tasks. In this age of ecological awareness and sustainability, engineers are increasingly applying bionics to their product designs. A recent surge of research on bionics has presented new opportunities and challenges. To deal with these challenges, an integrated design system equipped with the capabilities of conducting biologically inspired design, solving technical contradictions, optimizing design parameters and verifying design effectiveness is required.

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposes a two-level analysis to help decision makers conduct multi-faceted observation and assessment on conceptual bionic design. The contradictions incurred when transferring biological principals to engineering design are solved using BioTRIZ, and the conceptual design is then created. This study conducts computer-aided engineering analysis, incorporating the Taguchi method and TOPSIS method, to obtain the optimal design of bionic products.

Findings

The proposed design process focuses on improving the product structure instead of changing the materials, and thus, the authors are able to put the goals of saving energy, environmental protection and sustainability into practice.

Practical implications

Through the design and analysis processes, the authors prove that their designed bionic-fan can effectively enhance operational efficiency and reduce the aerodynamic noise. The system can provide a practical tool for engineers intending to accomplish complete designs and verifications using bionics.

Originality/value

Most existing design methodologies that have attempted to combine biology with engineering design have fallen short in their level of thoroughness. This study proposes a complete bionic design system by integrating the processes of bionic-inspired design, optimization and verification.
A financial framework for understanding macroeconomic cycles
Authors: Lewin Peter , Cachanosky Nicolas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

A comprehensive understanding business cycles needs to account not only for the allocation of resources over time but also for resource allocation across industries at any point in time. But to properly understand how these “time-distortions” take place and how the price mechanisms that drive them work, a clear and well-defined conceptualization of the “average length” of the structure of production is required. The authors use insights provided by Macaulay’s duration and Hicks’s average period to show that financial duration and related concepts have a direct connection to macroeconomic stability.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a theoretical and conceptual approach. It first presents the connection between average period of production and financial duration and then compares and applies this to macroeconomic business cycle theories.

Findings

This study points to important implications for macroeconomic policy. It not only claims that a low interest rate contributes to the creation of asset bubbles but also shows the market mechanism through which the real sector is affected. The application of financial concepts to macroeconomic cycles shows the price mechanism through which resources are allocated across industries.

Originality/value

The financial approach we offer to business cycles is fairly unexplored. As such, this paper offers a novel conceptual and theoretical framework for business cycles.
The support needs of learning disability nurse facilitators of sex offender treatment programmes: a discussion
Authors: Smith Keeley
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The role of the learning disability (LD) nurse has developed and expanded significantly within recent years, especially their responsibility for delivering a variety of specialist treatment programmes. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the facilitation of Sex Offender Treatment Programmes (SOTP) and the issues this raises in providing support for LD nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is an opinion paper and the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation or group with which the author is affiliated. The aims of this paper are: first, to explore the support needs of the LD nurse facilitators of SOTPs; second, to consider the practical implications of providing clinical supervision and support for LD nurse facilitators of SOTPs; and third, to highlight the need for further research in this area.

Findings

– This paper does not contain original research findings but offers a discussion of the support needs of the LD nurse who facilitate SOTP, concentrating on the specific themes of training, clinical supervision and support.

Practical implications

– Implications for clinical practice are identified and recommendations for further research are made.

Originality/value

– Whilst this is not the first consideration of the support needs of facilitators of SOTPs, it offers a contribution to the discussion of how best to support the LD nurse to continue to deliver the high quality, specialist care for people with learning disabilities.
Path analysis for proposed framework of SCM excellence in Indian manufacturing industry
Authors: Soni Gunjan , Kodali Rambabu
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– Several authors in extant literature have shown concern towards lacuna in availability of standard constructs in supply chain management (SCM). These standard constructs can represent pillars of SCM excellence. However, frameworks on SCM excellence unlike its contemporary fields are very few. Thus the purpose of this paper is to develop a path analysis for proposed framework of SCM excellence in Indian manufacturing industry proposed by Soni and Kodali (2014) using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and structural equation modelling (SEM).

Design/methodology/approach

– The ISM is performed on two exemplary cases of supply chain in Indian manufacturing industry. These cases were selected on the consideration of supply chain excellence index (SCEI), based on the results of an empirical study conducted by Soni and Kodali (2014) in Indian manufacturing industry. The focal manufacturing company which exhibited lowest and highest SCEI were selected as contenders for developing ISM. The relationships among pillars and constructs of SCM excellence framework are obtained from ISM, and later are subjected to statistical testing of model fit by using SEM. The input to SEM was the respondent’s data used in previous study.

Findings

– The major findings revealed that ISM based on focal company having highest SCEI, is statistically fit for SCM excellence framework, and finally the structural models of the constructs for each pillar of SCM excellence are also formed by using path analysis.

Originality/value

– The study offers a unique managerial approach for analysing the underlying relationships between pillars of SCM excellence. Researchers can use this study for developing frameworks in various realms of SCM excellence.
Assessment of hybrid Lean-Agile (Leagile) supply chain strategies
Authors: Rahiminezhad Galankashi Masoud , Helmi Syed Ahmad
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a new assessment tool for Leagility.

Design/methodology/approach

– This research was carried out to systematically propose the operational activities of Leagile supply chains (SCs) with regard to SC drivers. Particularly, SC logistic (facility, transportation and inventory) and cross-functional drivers (information, sourcing and pricing) were selected to classify all operational activities of Leagile SCs.

Findings

– This study proposed a new framework to evaluate the operational activities of Leagile SCs. Operational activities of Leagile supply chain strategy were determined and categorized with regard to SC drivers. These activities were ranked using an analytic hierarchy process and were then categorized using a cycle view of SC.

Originality/value

– This study contributed in proposing operational activities of Leagile SC based on its major drivers. The result of this study assist managers, scholars and practitioners to construct new Leagile SCs or assess their Leagility level.
Does good corporate governance enhance accruals quality during financial crises?
Authors: Aldamen Husam , Duncan Keith
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of corporate governance systems in enhancing earnings quality during the recent global financial crisis (GFC). The literature provides insight into the corporate governance–accruals quality relationship during periods of relative financial stability. However, little is known about periods of unexpected financial shocks such as the GFC.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 340 companies (1,020 firm years) listed on the ASX during 2007-2009. Factor analysis is used to compute corporate governance factors. Seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) is used to test the impact of pre-GFC corporate governance on accruals quality during the GFC.

Findings

Consistent with prior research, the findings suggest that good corporate governance is positively related to accruals quality before the GFC. More importantly, the impact of good governance intensifies during the GFC, where the mitigating role of governance is arguably under pressure. Furthermore, during the GFC, good corporate governance also affects the level of asset impairment.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides empirical evidence that the relationship between good corporate governance practices and accruals quality is amplified during the GFC. The results support the efforts of market regulators to improve the governance of companies and make them stronger during financial crises.

Originality/value

The study is an important addition to corporate governance research because it tests governance dynamics in a unique crisis period and establishes that corporate governance structures are effective when most needed.
BiCMOS Colpitts oscillator for vector-sum interpolators
Authors: George Deepa , Sinha Saurabh
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The demand for higher bandwidth has resulted in the development of mm-wave phased array systems. This paper aims to explore a technique that could be used to feed the individual antennas in a mm-wave phased array system with the appropriate phase shifted signal to achieve the required directivity. It presents differential Colpitts oscillators at 5 and 60 GHz that can provide differential output signals to the quadrature signal generators in the proposed phase shifter system.

Design/methodology/approach

The phase shifter system comprises a differential Colpitts voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and utilizes the vector-sum technique to generate the phase shifted signal. The differential VCO is connected in the common-collector configuration for the 5-GHz VCO, and is extended using a cascode transistor for the 60-GHz VCO for better stability at mm-wave. The vector sum is achieved using a variable gain amplifier (VGA) that combines the in-phase and quadrature phase signal, generated from oscillator output using hybrid Lange couplers. The devices were fabricated using IBM 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS process, and simulations were performed with a process design kit provided by the foundry.

Findings

The measured results of the 5-GHz and 60-GHz VCOs indicate that differential Colpitts VCO could generate oscillator output with good phase noise performance. The simulation results of the phase shifter system indicate that the generation of signals with phases from 0° to 360° in steps of 22.5° was achieved using the proposed approach. A Gilbert mixer topology was used for the VGA and the linearity was improved by a pre-distortion circuit implemented using an inverse tanh cell.

Originality/value

The measurement results indicate that differential Colpitts oscillator in common-collector configuration could be used to generate differential VCO signals for the vector-sum phase shifter. The simulation results of the proposed phase shifter system at mm-wave show that the phase shift could be realised at a total power consumption of 200 mW.
Optically-detected nonlinear oscillations of single crystal silicon MEMS accelerometers
Authors: Rafiee Peyman , Khatibi Golta , Solazzi Francesco
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to address the nonlinear oscillations of single-crystal silicon micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers subjected to mechanical excitation.

Methodology/approach

The nonlinear behavior was detected and analyzed by using experimental, analytical and numerical approaches. Piezoelectric shaker as a source of mechanical excitation and differential laser Doppler vibrometer in combination with a micro system analyzer were used in the experimental effort. Two types of devices considered included nonencapsulated samples and samples encapsulated in nitrogen gas compressed between two glasses. Numerical and analytical investigations were conducted to analyze the nonlinear response. A novel method has been suggested to calculate the nonlinear parameters. The obtained experimental, numerical and analytical results are in good agreement.

Findings

It has been found that the nonlinearity leads to a shift in frequencies and generates higher harmonics, but, most importantly, reveals new phenomena, such as the jump and instability of the vibration amplitudes and phases.

Originality/value

It has been shown that under the constant excitation force, the MEMS device can work in both linear and nonlinear regions. The role of the beat phenomenon has been also addressed and discussed. It has been found that the attributes of the nonlinear response are strongly dependent on the level and duration of the excitation. It is concluded that the nonlinear response of the systems is strongly dependent on the level of the excitation energy. It has been also concluded that larger quality factors are able to enhance dramatically the nonlinear effects and vice versa.
Hermetic capacitive pressure sensors for biomedical applications
Authors: Diaz-Alonso Daniela , Moreno-Moreno Mario , Zuñiga Carlos , Molina Joel , Calleja Wilfrido , Carlos Cisneros Juan , de Rivera Luis Niño , Ponomaryov Volodymir , Gil Felix , Guillen Angel , Rubio Efrain
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to purpose the new design and fabrication scheme of Touch Mode Capacitive Pressure Sensor (TMCPS), which can be used in a wireless integrated resistor, inductor and capacitor circuit for monitoring pressure in biomedical applications.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on the design, simulation and fabrication of dynamic capacitors, based on surface micromachining using polysilicon or aluminum films as the top electrode, both structural materials are capped with a 1.5 μm-thick polyimide film.

Findings

The design of microstructures using a composite model fits perfectly the preset mechanical behavior. After the full fabrication, the dynamic capacitors show complete mechanical flexibility and stability.

Originality/value

The novelty of the method presented in this study includes two important aspects: first, the capacitors are designed as a planar cavity within a rigid frame, where two walls contain channels which allow for the etching of the sacrificial material. Second, the electromechanical structures are designed using a composite model that includes a polyimide film capping for a precise pressure sensing, which also protects the internal cavity and, at the same time, provides full biocompatibility.