bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crystal structure analysis of ethyl 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-4-methylsulfanyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylate
Authors: Surya Prakash Rao H. , Gunasundari Ramalingam , Muthukumaran Jayaraman
Published: July 2020

In the title compound, C24H23N3O3S, the dihedral angle between the fused pyrazole and pyridine rings is 1.76 (7)°. The benzene and methoxy phenyl rings make dihedral angles of 44.8 (5) and 63.86 (5)°, respectively, with the pyrazolo[3,4-b] pyridine moiety. An intramolecular short S...O contact [3.215 (2) Å] is observed. The crystal packing features C—H...π interactions.
Crystal structures of two heterotrimetallic dysprosium–manganese–sodium 12-metallacrown-4 complexes with the bridging ligands 3-hydroxybenzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate
Authors: Manickas Elizabeth C. , Zeller Matthias , Zaleski Curtis M.
Published: July 2020

The syntheses and crystal structures for the compounds tetra-μ-aqua-tetrakis{2-[azanidylene(oxido)methyl]phenolato}tetrakis(μ2-3-hydroxybenzoato)dysprosium(III)tetramanganese(III)sodium(I) N,N-dimethylacetamide decasolvate, [DyMn4Na(C7H5O3)4(C7H4NO2)4(H2O)4]·10C4H9NO or [DyIIINa(4-OHben)4{12-MCMn(III)N(shi)-4}(H2O)4]·10DMA, 1, and tetra-μ-aqua-tetrakis{2-[azanidylene(oxido)methyl]phenolato}tetrakis(μ2-3-hydroxybenzoato)dysprosium(III)tetramanganese(III)sodium(I) N,N-dimethylformamide tetrasolvate, [DyMn4Na(C7H5O3)4(C7H4NO2)4(H2O)4]·4C3H7NO or [DyIIINa(3-OHben)4{12-MCMn(III)N(shi)-4}(H2O)4]·4DMF, 2, and where MC is metallacrown, shi3− is salicylhydroximate, 3-OHben is 3-hydroxybenzoate, DMA is N,N-dimethylacetamide, 4-OHben is 4-hydroxybenzoate, and DMF is N,N-dimethylformamide, are reported. For both 1 and 2, the macrocyclic metallacrown consists of an [MnIII—N—O] ring repeat unit, and the domed metallacrown captures two ions in the central cavity: a DyIII ion on the convex side of the metallacrown and an Na+ ion the concave side. The MnIII ions are six-coordinate with an elongated tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry. Both the DyIII and Na+ ions are eight-coordinate. The DyIII ions possess a square-antiprismatic geometry, while the Na+ ions have a distorted biaugmented trigonal–prismatic geometry. Four 3-hydroxybenzoate or 4-hydroxybenzoate ligands bridge each MnIII ion to the central DyIII ion. For 1, whole-molecule disorder is observed for the main molecule, excluding only the DyIII and Na+ ions, and the occupancy ratio refined to 0.8018 (14):0.1982 (14). Three DMA molecules were refined as disordered with two in general positions by an approximate 180° rotation and the third disordered twice by general disorder as well as by an exact 180° rotation about a twofold axis that bisects it. The occupancy ratios refined to 0.496 (8):0.504 (8), 0.608 (9):0.392 (9), and 2×0.275 (7):2×0.225 (7), respectively. For 2, segments of the metallacrown are disordered including the DyIII ion, one of the Mn ions, two of the Mn-bound 4-hydroxybenzoate ligands, the Mn-bridging salicylhydroximate ligand, and portions of the remaining three shi3− ligands. The occupancy ratio for the metallacrown disorder refined to 0.849 (9):0.151 (9). Two DMF solvent molecules are also disordered, each over two orientations. The disorder ratios refined to 0.64 (3):0.36 (3) and to 0.51 (2):0.49 (2), respectively. For 2, the crystal under investigation was refined as a non-merohedric twin by a 90° rotation around the real a axis [twin ratio 0.9182 (8):0.0818 (8)].
A light burden: cultural discourse of light in Japan
Authors: Hui Lok Hang
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper explores the sensory experiences and cultural meanings of light in Japan in relation to Japanese changing lighting practices. It demonstrates that these sensory experiences and cultural meanings form an integral part of social life in Japan.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a blended approach that combines historical research and ethnographic data in the research on the meanings of light. The findings are presented in three parts. Two of them describe the social history of light, and the third draws on ethnographic data collected in suburban Japan.

Findings

The findings suggest that light in Japan has maintained a close symbolic connection with certain positive values despite the changing lighting practices. For example, light is related to cleanliness in early historical records on candle-making. In post-war Japan, new light metaphors such as “bright family” were invented to accommodate new aspirations for modernity and progress. In the latest development, the moral dimension of light is emphasised. This is evident in the concerns on being seen as a “bright person”, a person with a cheerful personality. Light in this way is related to the sensory experience of feeling a “social weight”, the pressure for one to act according to social norms.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to our anthropological understandings of light. It also provides a local case study of Japan, supported by original ethnographic research conducted by the author.
Readiness for information security of teachers as a function of their personality traits and their assessment of threats
Authors: Aharony Noa , Bouhnik Dan , Reich Nurit
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study examines the impact of personality traits on the degree of challenge experienced by individuals with respect to the threat on their information, the evaluation of their self-efficacy to secure the information and hence, their readiness to secure information.

Design/methodology/approach

The study's population consisted of 157 teachers from various educational institutions across Israel. We used five questionnaires to gather data.

Findings

Findings reveal a link between participants' personality traits, situation evaluation indicators and their readiness to secure information. Further, the greater subjects' information security awareness and familiarity with information security concepts, the better their application of the tools for securing information will be.

Originality/value

The importance of this research lies primarily in that it highlights the importance of individual differences while dealing with information security awareness. The findings constitute a theoretical and empirical basis for building tools toward guiding teachers to protect their information, as well as for devising educational and pedagogic programs for making a cultural change.
A stakeholder theory approach to creating value in higher education institutions
Authors: Langrafe Taiguara de Freitas , Barakat Simone Ruchdi , Stocker Fabricio , Boaventura Joao Maurício Gama
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically verify whether the development of improved relationships between higher education institutions (HEIs) and their stakeholders based on the principles of stakeholder theory creates more value.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods involve a quantitative approach, with the data collection being carried out through a survey of 88 heads of HEIs in Brazil. The paper uses the Spearman’s correlation coefficient to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings reinforce the arguments found in the stakeholder theory literature, in which relationships are based on the following principles: knowledge and information sharing, mutual trust, involvement in the decision-makin g process and alignment of stakeholders’ interests in the strategic planning process, all of which create more value for organizations.

Practical implications

This study seeks to improve the knowledge of stakeholder theory in relation to HEIs. It identifies the stakeholder relationships that create the most value and have the potential to generate a sustainable competitive advantage. The results can help managers to improve their relationships with stakeholders and may encourage the implementation of practices and policies that consider stakeholders’ influence on the strategic direction of HEIs.

Social implications

The studies present a social contribution by evidencing the importance of the development of best practices, processes and strategies in the management of educational institutions, which are important actors in the development of society.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is that it empirically tests the principles of stakeholder theory and their relationships with value creation for organizations in the higher education context. Whilst stakeholder theory has been explored in multiples contexts, there is a lack of studies addressing stakeholder management in HEIs.
Board of directors network centrality and environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance
Authors: Harjoto Maretno Agus , Wang Yan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Drawing from social capital, social network theory of stakeholder influence and stakeholder management, the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between board network centrality and firms’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using social network analysis, the authors construct five board network centrality, namely, degree centrality (the number of connections), closeness centrality (distance among firms), eigenvector centrality (the quality of connections), betweenness centrality (how often a firm sits between two other firms) and the information centrality (the speed and reliability of information), as measures of board access for social capital and timely information.

Findings

Using a sample of non-financial firms listed in the UK FTSE 350 index from 2007 to 2018, the authors find that board networks, measured by degree, closeness, eigenvector, betweenness and information centrality, has positive influence on firms’ ESG performance. Furthermore, the findings show that there is a non-linear relationship between board networks and ESG performance, and this relationship is stronger in the sectors where firms that have high product market concentration and high percentage of women board members.

Originality/value

This study unveils that strong board network centrality brings higher social (reputational) capital and information advantages to the firm to effectively, timely and accurately deal with the pressures from stakeholders (stakeholder management), which leads to better ESG performance.
Geometrically nonlinear analysis by the generalized finite element method
Authors: Gomes Lorena Leocádio , Barros Felicio Bruzzi , Penna Samuel Silva , Pitangueira Roque Luiz da Silva
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the capabilities of the generalized finite element method (GFEM) under the context of the geometrically nonlinear analysis. The effect of large displacements and deformations, typical of such analysis, induces a significant distortion of the element mesh, penalizing the quality of the standard finite element method approximation. The main concern here is to identify how the enrichment strategy from GFEM, that usually makes this method less susceptible to the mesh distortion, may be used under the total and updated Lagrangian formulations.

Design/methodology/approach

An existing computational environment that allows linear and nonlinear analysis, has been used to implement the analysis with geometric nonlinearity by GFEM, using different polynomial enrichments.

Findings

The geometrically nonlinear analysis using total and updated Lagrangian formulations are considered in GFEM. Classical problems are numerically simulated and the accuracy and robustness of the GFEM are highlighted.

Originality/value

This study shows a novel study about GFEM analysis using a complete polynomial space to enrich the approximation of the geometrically nonlinear analysis adopting the total and updated Lagrangian formulations. This strategy guarantees the good precision of the analysis for higher level of mesh distortion in the case of the total Lagrangian formulation. On the other hand, in the updated Lagrangian approach, the need of updating the degrees of freedom during the incremental and iterative solution are for the first time identified and discussed here.
Systematic analysis of PPP research in construction journals: from 2009 to 2019
Authors: Zhang Yan-Chun , Luo Wu-Zan , Shan Ming , Pan Dong-Wen , Mu Wen-Jie
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The aims of this study are to conduct a systematic review of public–private partnership (PPP) studies published from 2009 to 2019, to compare the results with Ke et al. (2009) who reviewed the PPP literature published from 1998 to 2008, and to trace the evolution of the PPP knowledge in the past two decades. This study also presents the possible directions that the PPP research may go towards in the future, arguably.

Design/methodology/approach

This study carried out a top journal-based search to identify the quality PPP articles published from 2009 to 2019. A total of 12 top-tier construction journals were systematically searched in the database of web of science (WOS), from which 279 PPP articles were identified for review.

Findings

The number of the identified articles, the titles of the journals, institutions, the most cited papers, and prevalent research methods were analyzed and compared. The existing PPP studies in construction journals were classified into seven streams. Through analysis of the PPP research status and gaps, five future research directions were revealed.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the current body of knowledge by revealing the research trend of PPP from 2009 to 2019. It presents the change of PPP development trend in the past decade through comparison with Ke et al. (2009). It also reveals the major research streams and points out the directions that the PPP research may go towards in the future. Moreover, this study is helpful to the practice as well. It can enhance the practitioners' understanding of the PPP development in the past decade. In addition, it identified the research institutions contributing the most in the area of PPP, which may serve as valuable reference for practitioners to locate the best institutions for consultancy or collaboration.
Minority group favoritism in service encounters
Authors: Palmeira Mauricio , Sharifi Shahin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate consumer reactions to minority retail employees. The paper argues that despite the persistence of racism and homophobia in society, the vast majority of the population is strongly against these forms of discrimination. Because of the profound negativity of such behavior, the study hypothesizes that consumers will be motivated to see themselves unequivocally as individuals free of prejudice. As a result, rather than treating all people equally, the study proposes that consumers will overcompensate and exhibit favoritism toward a retail employee when the latter is a member of a minority group.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents ten studies in which participants evaluated employees who were a member of a minority or majority group. Studies 1a–1d use sexual orientation to contrast reactions to majority or minority bank managers in four countries (USÀ, Germany, Italy and South Korea), whereas Studies 1e and 1f use ethnicity (White vs Black) to examine the same question (UK and Canada). Study 1g offers a single-paper meta-analysis, testing the robustness of the observed effect. Studies 2 and 3 examine the roles of political ideology and its associated values, and Study 4 examines choice of an advisor in an online, but consequential setting.

Findings

Across several contexts and countries, the study finds a consistent pro-minority bias in evaluations of service employees. The study show that, in the USA, this bias is prevalent among liberals, but not among conservatives. This difference in the impact of political ideology is explained by adherence to traditionalism.

Research limitations/implications

This paper investigates consumer reactions to gays and Blacks and do not test for consumer reactions to other minority groups. Regarding employees’ sexual orientation, the findings of this study are limited to gay men only.

Practical implications

To elicit favorable evaluations from customers, managers may consider the match between employees’ sexual orientation or ethnicity and consumers’ liberal beliefs. In particular, managers may want to hire people from those minority groups in areas known for their liberal values. On the other hand, the findings suggest that managers should not worry about their new recruits’ sexual orientation and ethnicity in conservative areas, because the results suggest that conservatives show no favoritism toward employees in response to their group status.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first paper in marketing investigating consumer reactions to employees who belong to minority groups. The study reports a pro-minority bias that holds across samples and countries, thereby attesting to the population validity of the hypotheses. Further, the study identifies boundary conditions of the effect of employees’ group status by identifying managerially relevant moderators (i.e. political ideology and traditionalism).
When do frontline service employees feel more grateful?
Authors: Qi Ji “Miracle” , Wang Sijun , Koerber, Jr Michael A.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Drawing from the social exchange theory, the job demands-resources theory and the employee–organization relationship framework, this article aims to investigate underlying mechanisms through which organizational resources impact frontline service employees’ (FLEs) core service performance and customer-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB).

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted based on a multi-source data from 211 employee–customer pairs, with structural equation modeling used to test hypotheses.

Findings

FLE felt gratitude toward the firm fully mediates the impacts of supervisory guidance and employee-oriented relationship investment in influencing employees’ service performance and customer-oriented OCB. The study further finds that when the perceived job autonomy is low, providing supervisory guidance is more effective in eliciting employee gratitude than employee-oriented relationship investments. In contrast, when the perceived job autonomy is high, employee-oriented relationship investment elicits higher employee gratitude than supervisory guidance.

Research limitations/implications

First, as cross-sectional pair data were used to test the proposed hypotheses, a stronger case might be made for the use of longitudinal data. Second, the current study uses a large variety of industries to study the phenomenon of employee gratitude and customer-oriented performance. Third, given recent globalization trends, it is increasingly important for researchers to address how the knowledge gained within an US context is applicable on a global scale. Finally, the two types of organizational resources included in the study are both positive resources.

Practical implications

The findings offer insights about how firms can strategically invest organizational resources to favorably influence FLE gratitude and customer outcomes as well as how job autonomy plays a role in leveraging the impacts of those resources.

Originality/value

This study is one of the few to advance our understanding of how FLE felt gratitude serves as an intervening mechanism through which functional and social resources invested by service organizations lead to desirable customer outcomes. In addition, this study explores the moderating role of FLE perceived job autonomy, suggesting the contingent nature of organizational resources in affecting customer-oriented FLE behaviors, which was rarely attended in previous research.
Learning organization and organizational citizenship behaviour in West Malaysia: moderating role of team-oriented culture
Authors: Yin Yin Lau Patricia , Park Sunyoung , McLean Gary N.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between having a learning organization (LO) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), and the moderating role of team-oriented culture on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using 516 respondents from diverse industries in West Malaysia, the authors tested the psychometric properties of the three variables.

Findings

LO positively influenced OCB. Team-oriented culture moderated the relationship between having a LO and OCB.

Originality/value

This study helps explain how to achieve a LO in a context of high power distance and collectivist culture such as Malaysia. This study also highlights the importance of the anticipated synergistic effects of a LO and team-oriented culture in promoting OCB.
Research on faculty and staff for constructing the “double first-class” universities based on Grey–AHP comprehensive evaluation model
Authors: Sun Jihong
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In order to improve the competitiveness of the “double first-class” university in China, it is essential to conduct a rational, scientific study of the current status of the staff to ensure its long-term development.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the grey analytic hierarchy process (Grey–AHP), this paper evaluates the situation of faculty and staff, hereby, analyzes the initiative and enthusiasm of faculty and staff in the construction of “double first-class universities”

Findings

The index weights of the main factors are similar, which indicate the development of teaching staff in higher education depends mainly on the role of full-time teachers, doctors and master's guidance teachers and non-teaching staff.

Originality/value

While the other literature emphasized scientific output, this article enlightened the important role of faculty and staff in the construction of ‘first-class' universities, which contributes to the study of development of China's high education in a new perspective.
Thermo-mechanical memory responses of biological viscoelastic tissue with variable thermal material properties
Authors: Ezzat Magdy A.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In the present paper, the new concept of “memory dependent derivative” in the Pennes’ bioheat transfer and heat-induced mechanical response in human living tissue with variable thermal conductivity and rheological properties of the volume is considered.

Design/methodology/approach

A problem of cancerous layered with arbitrary thickness is considered and solved analytically by Kirchhoff and Laplace transformation. The analytical expressions for temperature, displacement and stress are obtained in the Laplace transform domain. The inversion technique for Laplace transforms is carried out using a numerical technique based on Fourier series expansions.

Findings

Comparisons are made with the results anticipated through the coupled and generalized theories. The influence of variable thermal, volume materials properties and time-delay parameters for all the regarded fields for different forms of kernel functions is examined.

Originality/value

The results indicate that the thermal conductivity and volume relaxation parameters and MDD parameter play a major role in all considered distributions. This dissertation is an attempt to provide a theoretical thermo-viscoelastic structure to help researchers understand the complex thermo-mechanical processes present in thermal therapies.
The hidden side of sub-supplier firms' sustainability – an empirical analysis
Authors: Nath Shobod Deba , Eweje Gabriel , Sajjad Aymen
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how sub-suppliers decouple the implementation of sustainable supply management practices in supply chains, and what institutional logics permit these suppliers to do so.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a qualitative design, we conducted 23 in-depth semi-structured interviews with owners and managers of apparel sub-suppliers. To corroborate research findings, the views of owners and managers were triangulated by further interviewing 18 key representatives of wide-ranging institutional actors.

Findings

The findings suggest that owners and managers of sub-suppliers use two decoupling responses: (1) consensual strategy to compromise sustainability requirements (2) concealment strategy. In addition, this paper identifies multiple institutional types of conflicting logics: instrumental logic, legitimacy logic complexity and gaps in normative logic, which interplay amongst sub-suppliers whereby permit to decouple the implementation of supply management practices.

Research limitations/implications

While the current paper provides an early contribution from the perspectives of second-tier and third-tier suppliers, future research could be extended to include further upstream sub-suppliers and downstream tiers including the end consumers.

Practical implications

It is important for brand-owning retailers and first-tier suppliers to predict sub-suppliers' decoupling behaviour and conflicts for supply management practices implementation since they may present potential vulnerability for buyers and lead suppliers.

Originality/value

This study extends the application of institutional theory and contributes to the literature on extended suppliers' supply management practices in a developing country context, which is an under-researched area.
Teaching with social media: evidence-based strategies for making remote higher education less remote
Authors: Greenhow Christine , Galvin Sarah
Published: July 2020

Purpose

As higher education moves to formats that are not face-to-face classes in the wake of a global pandemic, educators need research-based guidelines to inform instructional planning and implementation. This study aims to provide recommendations for teaching with social media, as a complement and enhancement to traditional online teaching approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on reviews of the research literature and the authors’ own experiences in studying and integrating social media into remote teaching and learning in university settings.

Findings

Learning environments that blend asynchronous online elements, where students can go at their own pace, on their own time, have some choice over their learning and are regularly and meaningfully engaging with other students, their teacher and the subject matter are most successful for student learning. Social media, with its affordances for personal profiling, relationship-building, content creation and socializing, when thoughtfully integrated into an online education plan, can help students and teachers stay connected while apart, enhance students’ engagement and make remote learning seem less remote.

Practical implications

The paper includes instructional guidelines for instructors and instructional designers in various post-secondary settings who seek to integrate social media as part of their strategy for remote higher education.

Originality/value

This study fulfills an identified need for pragmatic approaches to online higher education using social media.
Forecasting residential natural gas consumption in Egypt
Authors: Ismail Mohamed Ali , Abd El-Metaal Eman Mahmoud
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to obtain accurate forecasts of the hourly residential natural gas consumption, in Egypt, taken into consideration the volatile multiple seasonal nature of the gas series. This matter helps in both minimizing the cost of energy and maintaining the reliability of the Egyptian power system as well.

Design/methodology/approach

Double seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average-generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model is used to obtain accurate forecasts of the hourly Egyptian gas consumption series. This model captures both daily and weekly seasonal patterns apparent in the series as well as the volatility of the series.

Findings

Using the mean absolute percentage error to check the forecasting accuracy of the model, it is proved that the produced outcomes are accurate. Therefore, the proposed model could be recommended for forecasting the Egyptian natural gas consumption.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research lies in the ingenuity of using time series models that accommodate both daily and weekly seasonal patterns, which have not been taken into consideration before, in addition to the series volatility to forecast hourly consumption of natural gas in Egypt.
Knowledge transfer for frugal innovation: where do entrepreneurial universities stand?
Authors: Fischer Bruno , Guerrero Maribel , Guimón José , Schaeffer Paola Rücker
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Frugal innovation has gained prominence based on its potential contribution to sustainable development and the new opportunities that it offers to low-income customers. This paper aims to analyse the strategic knowledge transfer practices implemented by an entrepreneurial university for fostering frugal innovations within an emerging economy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a case study methodological approach. The selected case was the University of Campinas (Unicamp), one of the leading universities in Brazil in terms of research quality and technology transfer. The study built upon 14 interviews with key informants and secondary sources of data (official and public documents).

Findings

The findings highlight the multidimensional dynamics of frugal innovations arising from university–industry relationships. Key dimensions considered include the internal capabilities of universities to foster frugal innovations and connect them to markets, the surrounding innovation ecosystems in which the university is embedded and the overarching institutional framework.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis of strategic management practices for frugal innovation requires an evolutionary perspective, but the findings lacked sufficient longitudinal information for a formal evaluation. Also, as our empirical analysis is based on an in-depth case study of one university, further validation in other contexts would be necessary.

Practical implications

This study offers new insights regarding the effectiveness of university-business collaboration partnerships for developing frugal innovations in emerging economies. Policymakers should promote societal programs enhancing the active participation of all agents involved in the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. University managers should understand the challenges and the opportunities behind the adoption of an inclusive and societal orientation.

Social implications

By adopting frugal innovation practices, universities can enhance their contribution of meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Originality/value

The literature on frugal innovation has emphasized the importance of networking between different types of firms, NGOs and governments, but the role of universities in frugal innovation remains mostly unexplored. This study addresses this gap by exploring how entrepreneurial universities participate in frugal innovations to meet societal challenges.
Discerning payment patterns in Bitcoin from ransomware attacks
Authors: Turner Adam B. , McCombie Stephen , Uhlmann Allon J.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate available forensic data on the Bitcoin blockchain to identify typical transaction patterns of ransomware attacks. Specifically, the authors explore how distinct these patterns are and their potential value for intelligence exploitation in support of countering ransomware attacks.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors created an analytic framework – the Ransomware–Bitcoin Intelligence–Forensic Continuum framework – to search for transaction patterns in the blockchain records from actual ransomware attacks. Data of a number of different ransomware Bitcoin addresses was extracted to populate the framework, via the WalletExplorer.com programming interface. This data was then assembled in a representation of the target network for pattern analysis on the input (cash-in) and output (cash-out) side of the ransomware seed addresses. Different graph algorithms were applied to these networks. The results were compared to a “control” network derived from a Bitcoin charity.

Findings

The findings show discernible patterns in the network relating to the input and output side of the ransomware graphs. However, these patterns are not easily distinguishable from those associated with the charity Bitcoin address on the input side. Nonetheless, the collection profile over time is more volatile than with the charity Bitcoin address. On the other hand, ransomware output patterns differ from those associated charity addresses, as the attacker cash-out tactics are quite different from the way charities mobilise their donations. We further argue that an application of graph machine learning provides a basis for future analysis and data refinement possibilities.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are evident in the sample size of data taken on ransomware campaigns and the “control” subject. Further analysis of additional ransomware campaigns and “control” subjects over time would help refine and validate the preliminary observations in this paper. Future research will also benefit from the application of more powerful computing resources and analytics platforms that scale with the amount of data being collected.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the maturity of the field by analysing ransomware-Bitcoin behaviour using the Ransomware–Bitcoin Intelligence–Forensic Continuum. By combining several different techniques to discerning patterns of ransomware activity on the Bitcoin network, it provides insight into whether a ransomware attack is occurring and could be used to trigger alerts to seek additional evidence of attack, or could corroborate other information in the system.
Creatively expanding research from work-based learning
Authors: Scott Deborah
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of creativity in work-based research and practice to yield deeper understanding of practice situations. Unexpected insights can lead one (or a team) to identify new approaches, tackling workplace issues differently, leading to unexpected outcomes of long-term impact.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on work conducted for a doctoral thesis, investigating the impact of work-based learning for recent masters graduates of a work-based learning programme. Fiction was incorporated into analysis of the data, creating play scripts to represent key aspects of the researcher's perceptions and interpretations for each participant.

Findings

Research participants experienced personal, professional and organisational impact, although there was considerable variability between individuals. Additionally, societal impact was wished for and/or effected. The approach to representation of analysis, which involved fictionalising participants' experiences, created a strong Thirdspace liminality. This appeared to deepen awareness and understanding.

Research limitations/implications

Such approaches can transform the researcher's perspective, prompting insights which lead to further adventure and development in work-based research and practice.

Practical implications

Managers and employees taking creative approaches in the workplace can prompt wide-ranging development and, with professional judgement, be constructive.

Social implications

Managers and employees taking creative approaches in the workplace can prompt wide-ranging development and, with professional judgement, be constructive.

Originality/value

The creation of play scripts, representing an interpretation of participants' stories about their work-based learning experience, is an innovative feature of this work.
Predictive analytics for blood glucose concentration: an empirical study using the tree-based ensemble approach
Authors: Liu Jiaming , Wang Liuan , Zhang Linan , Zhang Zeming , Zhang Sicheng
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The primary objective of this study was to recognize critical indicators in predicting blood glucose (BG) through data-driven methods and to compare the prediction performance of four tree-based ensemble models, i.e. bagging with tree regressors (bagging-decision tree [Bagging-DT]), AdaBoost with tree regressors (Adaboost-DT), random forest (RF) and gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT).

Design/methodology/approach

This study proposed a majority voting feature selection method by combining lasso regression with the Akaike information criterion (AIC) (LR-AIC), lasso regression with the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) (LR-BIC) and RF to select indicators with excellent predictive performance from initial 38 indicators in 5,642 samples. The selected features were deployed to build the tree-based ensemble models. The 10-fold cross-validation (CV) method was used to evaluate the performance of each ensemble model.

Findings

The results of feature selection indicated that age, corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (CHC), red blood cell volume distribution width (RBCVDW), red blood cell volume and leucocyte count are five most important clinical/physical indicators in BG prediction. Furthermore, this study also found that the GBDT ensemble model combined with the proposed majority voting feature selection method is better than other three models with respect to prediction performance and stability.

Practical implications

This study proposed a novel BG prediction framework for better predictive analytics in health care.

Social implications

This study incorporated medical background and machine learning technology to reduce diabetes morbidity and formulate precise medical schemes.

Originality/value

The majority voting feature selection method combined with the GBDT ensemble model provides an effective decision-making tool for predicting BG and detecting diabetes risk in advance.
How user-driven innovation and employee intrapreneurship promote platform enterprise performance
Authors: Wan Wenhai , Liu Longjun , Wang Xinxin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of user-driven innovation (UDI) and employee intrapreneurship (EI) on the innovation performance of platform enterprises through the mediating role of market intelligence responsiveness (MIR) and the moderating role of knowledge and information resource acquisition (KRA and IRA, respectively) between MIR and innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 167 platform enterprises in northern, eastern and southern China with survey questionnaires. Participants were mainly middle and senior managers with a comprehensive grasp of the enterprises' information.

Findings

The results indicated that both UDI and EI, particularly synergy, positively influenced the innovation performance of platform enterprises. Furthermore, higher innovation performance resulted from high congruence between UDI and EI, and the innovation performance of enterprises increased when UDI and EI shifted from being incongruent to congruent. Lastly, MIR played a mediating role in this relationship, and both KRA and IRA played a positive moderating role between MIR and innovation performance.

Practical implications

Platform enterprises should pay attention to external users and internal employees to achieve their development goals and establish tripartite cooperative relationships involving firms, employees and users. Enabling platform enterprises to develop continually and in a healthy way requires the integration and utilization of all types of resources.

Originality/value

This was an empirical study on the impact mechanism of employees and users on the innovation performance of platform enterprises in China.
The power of two-sided platforms to disseminate resistant innovations
Authors: Trabucchi Daniel , Buganza Tommaso
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Platforms have often been considered an excellent example of innovation with an incredibly fast diffusion rate due to network effects. Notwithstanding, in many cases, they match the definition of resistant innovations, requiring a significant change in the consumers' behavior that may slow down the process of diffusion. How can network effects be leveraged to disseminate resistant innovation based on a platform structure?

Design/methodology/approach

This research focuses on the car-sharing industry as a single case study, involving five different providers and two service aggregators operating in Milan, Italy.

Findings

First, this research shows how direct network externalities on the providers' side may play a vital role in the dissemination process, increasing the value perceived by the potential new entrants. Second, it shows how co-opetition dynamics, eventually encouraging multihoming phenomenon, may play – in the first phases of the diffusion process – a pivotal role to let the industry flourish.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to the growing literature on platforms and two-sided platform showing how this model may be applied more broadly to network businesses to understand competitive dynamics.

Practical implications

This study offers insights to managers and practitioners dealing with network services, showing the potential benefits of coopetitive strategies while facing the initial phases of the dissemination process.

Originality/value

This paper gets together resistant innovation, two-sided platforms and network effects offering novel insights on the dynamics of network services – such as the car-sharing – while giving fresh insights taking the perspective of the service providers.
Green manufacturing practices and sustainable performance among Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs: the explanatory link of green supply chain integration
Authors: Afum Ebenezer , Osei-Ahenkan Victoria Yaa , Agyabeng-Mensah Yaw , Amponsah Owusu Joseph , Kusi Lawrence Yaw , Ankomah Joseph
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the explanatory link of green supply chain integration (GSCI) between green manufacturing practices (GMPs) and sustainable performance (economic [EP], environmental [EnP] and social [SP] performances) by using data from an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

An explanatory research design was employed for the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 178 Ghanaian manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Hypotheses were formulated and tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results indicate that GMPs have a significant positive effect on sustainable performance (EP, EnP and SP). Again, GMPs have a significant positive effect on GSCI. Additionally, GSCI plays a mediating role between green manufacturing practices and sustainable performance.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, GSCI was compositely measured despite having three dimensions. Generalizing the findings is also not guaranteed since the sample constitutes Ghanaian manufacturing SMEs.

Practical implications

The results provide significant ramifications for managers of manufacturing SMEs within Ghana and those in other sub-Saharan African context. Based on the results, managers of manufacturing firms will have stronger backing to invest in GMPs, while at the same time establish strong ties with eco-oriented supply chain partners so as to achieve their sustainable performance goals.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature in the area of sustainability and triple bottom line by providing evidence from a fast growing industrialized and emerging country.
The construct of information privacy concerns in the Chinese cultural setting
Authors: Chen Xiaogang , Zhang Yuhui
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The significant cultural difference between China and Western countries, primarily the USA, suggests that it is necessary for researchers to take an emic approach to understand how the concept of privacy concerns is interpreted from the perspective of people from within the Chinese culture. However, all privacy concerns studies in the Chinese context have virtually adopted an etic approach. Therefore, this study aims to answer the following questions: What dimensions do privacy concerns encompass in the Chinese cultural context? What are the structural relationships among these dimensions? The authors answer these questions by conducting a mixed method research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first content analyzed Chinese news reports about information privacy and found that trading, management and awareness are relevant dimensions of privacy concerns. Further, the authors validated the three dimensions by surveying 185 Chinese consumers.

Findings

The data showed that Chinese consumers’ privacy concerns have a second-order factor structure, where the trading, management and awareness dimensions are first-order factors.

Originality/value

The results of this research contribute to the literature by developing the construct of privacy concerns that fits the context of Chinese culture and also point out possible managerial practices to mitigate Chinese consumers’ privacy concerns.
Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of food technical assistants toward hazard analysis critical control point in Isfahan, Iran
Authors: Ebdali Hadiseh , Sami Masoud , Bahreini Nimah , Esfandiari Zahra
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the levels of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of food technical assistants (FTAs) working in dairy processing plants (DPPs) with different grades of prerequisite programs (PRPs) checklist.

Design/methodology/approach

An observational cross-sectional study was carried out by using a self-administered questionnaire and interviewing 76 FTAs occupied in DPPs in the city of Isfahan, Iran.

Findings

Out of a total score of 100, the participants received scores for knowledge (79.5 ± 14.9), attitudes (75.2 ± 9.9) and practices (86 ± 11.6) referred to the principles of Hazard analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). It was found correlations between food safety knowledge and attitudes of FTAs (r = 0.38, p ≤ 0), knowledge and practices (r = 0.21, p = 0.03) and between attitudes and practices (r = 0.36, p ≤ 0). Moreover, there were also significant correlations between KAP scores and age (knowledge: r = 0.18, p = 0.06; attitude: r = 0.25, p = 0.01; practice: r = 0.22, p = 0.02) and KAP scores and job satisfaction level (knowledge: r = 0.27, p = 0. 01; attitude: r = 0.22, p = 0.02; practice: r = 0.27, p = 0). There was no significant correlation between educational background and KAP scores. Furthermore, no significant correlation was found in terms of gender.

Originality/value

Education of FTAs about food safety issues seems necessary. Such training should not only focus on theoretical aspects of knowledge but also be practical to foster positive attitudes toward food safety and promote practices among FTAs. Consideration to all principles of PRPs is recommended to implement food safety management system (FSMS) in food processing plants (FPPs).