bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X-ray rocking curve imaging on large arrays of extremely tall SiGe microcrystals epitaxial on Si
Authors: Meduňa Mojmír , Caha Ondřej , Choumas Emanuil , Bressan Franco , von Känel Hans
Published: June 2021

This work investigates layers of densely spaced SiGe microcrystals epitaxially formed on patterned Si and grown up to extreme heights of 40 and 100 µm using the rocking curve imaging technique with standard laboratory equipment and a 2D X-ray pixel detector. As the crystalline tilt varied both within the epitaxial SiGe layers and inside the individual microcrystals, it was possible to obtain real-space 2D maps of the local lattice bending and distortion across the complete SiGe surface. These X-ray maps, showing the variation of crystalline quality along the sample surface, were compared with optical and scanning electron microscopy images. Knowing the distribution of the X-ray diffraction peak intensity, peak position and peak width immediately yields the crystal lattice bending locally present in the samples as a result of the thermal processes arising during the growth. The results found here by a macroscopic-scale imaging technique reveal that the array of large microcrystals, which tend to fuse at a certain height, forms domains limited by cracks during cooling after the growth. The domains are characterized by uniform lattice bending and their boundaries are observed as higher distortion of the crystal structure. The effect of concave thermal lattice bending inside the microcrystal array is in excellent agreement with the results previously presented on a microscopic scale using scanning nanodiffraction.
Supply chain performance for a traditional shipbuilding industry in Indonesia
Authors: Praharsi Yugowati , Jami'in Mohammad Abu , Suhardjito Gaguk , Reong Samuel , Wee Hui Ming
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Study in supply chain performance research on the shipbuilding industry is lacking. The purpose of this research is to study and provide guidelines to improve the performance of traditional shipbuilding supply chains in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops an empirical study gathered from a traditional shipbuilding industry, its suppliers, and customers. This study consists of three sections: the traditional shipbuilding industry, the suppliers, and the individual supplier scores. The internal and external performances in this study are measured using Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) metrics. The SCOR model identifies five performance measurement attributes, including reliability, flexibility, responsiveness, cost and assets. Instead of using “responsiveness,” this study applies the schedule performance index, and supplements “cost” with the cost performance index in order to accurately reflect the traditional shipbuilding supply chains processes.

Findings

By analyzing SCOR metrics in the traditional shipbuilding industry, it has been found that the ideal shipbuilding supply chain metrics are order fulfillment, flexibility, asset turnover and total supply chain costs. The lowest performance metric value in the traditional shipbuilding industry is the cost of goods. Some improvements are proposed to lower the high cost of ship building. An integrated economic ordering system in collaboration with all the suppliers is one of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of the traditional shipbuilding supply chains. The implementation of SCOR metrics enables management to identify the critical issues to improve.

Research limitations/implications

The study applies SCOR metrics to improve the traditional shipbuilding supply chains performance. The study is limited because the data collected are based on one shipbuilding industry only.

Originality/value

To the author's knowledge, this is the first empirical analysis on the implementation of SCOR metrics to the traditional shipbuilding industry. The analysis to improve the traditional shipbuilding supply chains performance can provide managerial insights to other industries.
Investigating the causes preventing the fulfillment of construction contract requirements
Authors: Fatayer Fadi A. , Issa Amjad Z. , Abunemeh Mohammed , Dwikat Mohammed A.M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Construction contractors in Palestine, as in many other developing countries, suffer from many problems. One of their main problems is their inability to meet contractual requirements, such as completing projects within time, at the agreed cost and to the desired quality. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the causes of the non-fulfillment of contractual requirements in three different types of projects: building, road and electro-mechanical projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Two methods were adopted to collect the data – qualitative and quantitative. In total, 65 causes were identified from the literature and qualitative semi-structured interviews with professional experts. These causes were classified into five categories: managerial, financial, contractor capabilities, regulations and laws and political. In the quantitative approach, a questionnaire was developed and then distributed to 50 professional experts: 20 building experts, 15 road experts and 15 experts in electro-mechanical projects. A five-point Likert scale was used to assess the importance, from the perspective of the subject matter experts, of the causes that had been identified. About 35 responses, which represent a combined response rate of 70%, were received. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, with the mean, standard deviation and degree of importance for each of the identified causes being determined, and the SPSS software platform used to rank them.

Findings

The results reveal that the most important reasons why contractors did not fulfill their contractual requirements in building projects were that contracts were awarded to the contractor offering the lowest price, and the profit margin was low because of intense competition among contractors. In road projects, the most important causes were the poor estimation of the equipment required and a lack of standardized conditions in the construction sector, while in electro-mechanical projects, the most important causes were the inability of the contractor to estimate the cost of the project accurately because of unclear bid documents and a lack of contractor capital.

Originality/value

The results of this study will be useful to stakeholders and Palestinian contractor unions. They can be disseminated to give guidance so that contractors can avoid these problems in future construction projects and enhance their compliance with contractual requirements. Moreover, knowing about these causes may lead to the reduction of conflicts and disputes between contractual parties (owners and contractors), which in turn will be reflected in the work quality and reputation of contractors.
The impact of stereotyped perceptions of entrepreneurship and gender-role orientation on Slovak women’s entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Adamus Magdalena , Čavojová Vladimíra , Šrol Jakub
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how congruence between the image of a successful entrepreneur and one’s own gender-role orientation affects entrepreneurial intentions (EI).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 552 working-age adults (49.5% women) answered questions on gender-role orientation, perception of a successful entrepreneur, EI, antecedents of EI (perceived behavioural control (PBC), subjective norm (SN), attitude towards entrepreneurship), entrepreneurial self-efficacy and risk aversion.

Findings

Women reported a lower EI than men, and both male and female participants perceived successful entrepreneurs as masculine. In the final model, biological sex did not predict EIs. Rather, it was associated with the extent to which participants felt they resembled successful entrepreneurs, which, in turn, predicted greater levels of PBC, SNs and attitudes towards entrepreneurship, as well as greater EI.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first to study joint impacts of biological sex, gender and congruence on EIs.
Ready or not? Nascent entrepreneurs’ actions and the acquisition of external financing
Authors: Warhuus Jan P. , Frid Casey J. , Gartner William B.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study offers empirical evidence from a nationally representative panel dataset of nascent entrepreneurs (PSED-II) regarding when external financing is acquired and how certain factors affect this timing during the cumulative process of nascent entrepreneurs taking actions toward establishing an operational entity. By assessing the relationship between the external financing event and the cumulative set of actions that nascent entrepreneurs undertake to create new businesses, we improve our understanding of how the timing of acquiring external financing affects organizational survival and growth.

Design/methodology/approach

We apply nonparametric and semiparametric survival analysis techniques to a nationally representative panel dataset of nascent entrepreneurs. This ascertains the probability of an external financing event at any given moment in time and a set of startup conditions that we hypothesize will affect this timing. First, we use Kaplan–Meier analysis to explore when external financing occurs during new business creation. We then use discrete-time survival analysis to investigate whether certain startup conditions affect when external financing occurs. Finally, we conduct a test of independence to examine the external financing event relative to other startup activities completed during new business creation.

Findings

Nascent entrepreneurs tend to acquire external funding relatively late in the new venture startup process – on average, about two-thirds of the way from conceiving of the idea and becoming operational. They tend to take actions that are less resource-demanding early in the startup process to build their organizations to a fundable stage. Net worth tends to speed up the acquisition of external funding as wealthy entrepreneurs tend to ask for funding earlier in the process. Finally, entrepreneurs in capital-intensive industries do not seem to get outside funding before entrepreneurs in other industries.

Originality/value

This study is unique in three ways. First, we investigate the timing of the highly important external financing event. Timing is critical in unpacking and making sense of the very early stages of a new business and in guiding entrepreneurs and students about when to do what. Second, we do so in a subsample of preoperational, nascent, funded entrepreneurs derived from a nationally representative panel dataset of startup attempts. Third, our findings provide a counter-intuitive yet systematic understanding of organizational emergence and very early-stage financing.
Corporate risk-taking with long-term, short-term and subordinate credit ratings
Authors: Parnes Dror
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study empirically examines, from the first quarter of 1981 until the fourth quarter of 2017, the relations across customary domestic issuer credit ratings (long-term, short-term and subordinate) and three popular corporate risk-taking measurements (the variability of operating profitability, net profitability, and research and development expenses).

Design/methodology/approach

The author deploys categorical regressions and robustness tests with control variables, interaction terms, fixed effect variables, lag variables and delta variables.

Findings

The author documents that both short-term and subordinate domestic credit ratings are key determinants of the volatility of operating profitability. The author also identifies long-term credit ratings as secondary factors, yet they do affect broader corporate risk-taking behavioral features (along all three measurements). Furthermore, the author finds that the higher (lower) the credit ratings assigned, i.e. the superior (inferior) the credit quality externally judged, the more (less) overall risk firms tend to undertake.

Originality/value

It is the first research to examine both the inclusive influence and the granular effects of credit ratings on corporate risk-taking (CRT) behavior. It is also the only enquiry to inspect the specific relationships along three types of domestic issuer credit ratings: long-term, short-term and subordinate ratings.
Beauty matters: reducing bounce rate by aesthetics of experience product portal page
Authors: Wang Xueqing , Li Yang , Cai Zhao , Liu Hefu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of experience product portal page aesthetics on bounce rate.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected data from an online shop selling original design furniture on Taobao.com. It employed deep learning algorithm and manual coding to operationalize image and text aesthetics.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that text aesthetics has a U-shaped relationship with bounce rate, whereas the relationship between image aesthetics and bounce rate is insignificant. Moreover, the U-shaped relationship between text aesthetics and bounce rate is weakened by image aesthetics.

Originality/value

This study addresses an important but understudied topic – the bounce rate of experience products in the context of e-commerce. Although the high bounce rate has increasingly gained attention from practitioners, there remains a scarcity of research that addresses the effect of product portal page aesthetics in the specific context of experience products. The authors theorize product portal page aesthetics as the design elements of an e-commerce website and deeply analyzed the role of product portal page aesthetics by classifying it into text aesthetics and image aesthetics. The authors’ findings provide implications for online sellers and platforms to effectively design product profile pages to reduce the bounce rate.
Self-protective motion planning for mobile manipulators in a dynamic door-closing workspace
Authors: Liu Chuande , Gao Bingtuan , Yu Chuang , Tapus Adriana
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Many work conditions require manipulators to open cabinet doors and then gain access to the desired workspace. However, after opening, the unlocked doors can easily close, interrupt a task and potentially break the operating end-effectors. This paper aims to address a manipulator's behavior planning problem for responding to a dynamic workspace released by door opening.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic model of the restricted workspace released by an unlocked door is established. As a whole system to treat, the interactions between the workspace and robot are analyzed by using a partially observable Markov decision process. A self-protective policy decision executed as a belief tree is proposed. To respond to the policy, this study has designed three types of actions: stay on guard in the workspace, using an elbow joint to defense the door and linear escape out of the workspace for self-protection by observing collision risk levels to trigger them. Finally, this study proposes self-protective motion controllers based on risk time optimization to act to the planned actions.

Findings

The elbow defense could balance robotic safety and work efficiency by interrupting the end-effector's work and using the elbow joint to prevent the door-closing in an active collision way. Compared with the stay and escape action, the advantage of the elbow defense is having a predictable performance to quick callback the interrupted work after the risk was relieved.

Originality/value

This work provides guidance for the safe operation of a class of robot operations and the upgrade of motion planning.
Towards a framework for ethical innovation in children’s social care
Authors: Hampson Martha , Goldsmith Carlie , Lefevre Michelle
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Substantial government investment has accelerated innovation activity in children’s social care in England over the past decade. Ethical concerns emerge when innovation seems to be propelled by a drive for efficiency and over-reliance on process output indicators, as well as, or even instead of, improving the lives of children, families and societies. No ethical framework exists at present to act as a check on such drivers. This paper reviews the literature with the aim of considering how best to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on a review of innovation in children’s social care, conducted as part of an Economic and Social Research Council-funded project exploring innovation in services for young people exposed to extra-familial risk and harm.

Findings

This study proposes a new conception of “trustworthy innovation” for the sector that holds innovation in children’s social care to the standards and principles of the code of ethics for social work. This study offers an ethical framework, informed by the interdisciplinary school of organisational ethics, to operationalise this extended definition; the analytic framework guides policymakers and the practice sector to question at every stage of the innovation process whether a particular model is ethically appropriate, as well as practically feasible within a specific context. Implications for local decision-making and national policy are set out, alongside questions raised for future research.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to offer an ethical framework for innovation in children's social care. The conception of “trustworthy innovation” offers a guide to policymakers and the practice sector, which they can use to ethically test every stage of the innovation process and make decisions about whether a particular model is ethically appropriate, as well as practically feasible within a specific context.
Reap the resilience, stop wearing the worry: exploring the role of resilience enhancing practices in organizational outcomes
Authors: Samo Asif Hussain , Shaikh Najia , Ibrahim Iqra , Ali Ahsan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically test the impact of resilience-enhancing human resource practices on job satisfaction and organizational commitment with the mediating role of employee resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

With a quantitative approach, structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesis. Data was collected with a survey method from 326 bankers of Pakistan. Data was diagnosed with all reliability and validity tests and significance was tested with bootstrapping. Smart-PLS software was used.

Findings

Results revealed that there is a partial mediating impact of employee resilience in the relationship of resilience-enhancing human resource practice and job satisfaction. For resilience-enhancing human resource practice and organizational commitment, employee resilience plays a partial mediating role.

Research limitations/implications

This study is confined to bankers only and a limited sample is used. However, it significantly provides a contextual base for further theoretical development in the research of employee resilience.

Practical implications

This paper recommends the banking sector of Pakistan for paying extra heed toward resilience-enhancing human resource practices, as it only augments much-needed resilience among employees but also ultimately results in greater job satisfaction and commitment.

Originality/value

This study is the first of the kind in the banking sector of Pakistan to explore resilience-enhancing practices.
Should I suggest this YouTube clip? The impact of UGC source credibility on eWOM and purchase intention
Authors: Muda Mazzini , Hamzah Muhammad Iskandar
Published: June 2021

Purpose

In spite of the increasing organic and interactive marketing activities over social media, a general understanding of the source credibility of voluntary user-generated content (UGC) is still limited. In line with the social identity theory, this paper examines the effects of consumers' perceived source credibility of UGC in YouTube videos on their attitudes and behavioral intentions. Additionally, source homophily theory is included to predict the antecedent of source credibility.

Design/methodology/approach

Three hundred and seventy two Generation Y respondents were interviewed using snowball sampling. Data were analyzed with component-based structural equation modeling technique of partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

Findings confirmed that perceived source credibility indirectly affects purchase intention (PI) and electronic word-of-mouth via attitude toward UGC. Besides, perceived source credibility mediates the effect of perceived source homophily on attitude toward UGC.

Practical implications

Since today's consumers have begun to trust and rely more on UGC than company-generated content on social media when making purchase decisions, companies may reconsider democratizing certain aspects of their branding strategies. Firms may fine-tune their marketing communication budgets – not only just by sponsoring public figures and celebrities but also by nurturing coproductive engagements with independent content creators who are ordinary consumers. Endowed with their imposing credibility, these micro-influencers and prosumers have high potentials to be uplifted to brand ambassadors.

Originality/value

While consumers' purchase outcome can be measured easily using metrics and analytics, the roles of source homophily in stages leading up to the purchase is still elusive. Drawing on the rich theoretical basis of source homophily may help researchers to understand not only how credibility and attitude are related to PI but also how this nexus generates positive word of mouth among UGC followers within the social media circles.
Reconnecting the space of tourism and citizenship: the case of tourists’ hubris
Authors: Tomassini Lucia , Schreurs Leanne , Cavagnaro Elena
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The rapid growth of tourism prior to the COVID-19 pandemic prompts the need for critical reflection of tourism’s “local-global” responsibility in the wake of that pandemic. Conceptually driven by the ancient Greek notion of hubris, this study reflects on the perception of tourists as actors disconnected from citizens’ necessities, safety and well-being. In so doing we develop further knowledge on the relationship between the spaces of tourism and citizenship and how this might build a sustainable future-proof tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected daily for two weeks via three Google Alert queries set to mine Italian online news media contents immediately after the Italian Government’s adoption of mobility restrictions due to COVID-19. This study uses a thematic narrative analysis to examine the contents related to tourists during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Findings

The exploratory findings reveal how tourists are largely presented as taking over the space of local residents and, by breaking the rules set by national and local authorities, as disregarding those residents’ safety and well-being. Hence, they appear disconnected from any sense of belonging to a local or global community, and from a space to which they owe a duty of care.

Originality/value

By framing tourists as hubristic subjects ontologically belonging to a neoliberal leisure space disentangled from the citizenship space, this study establishes a novel theoretical grounding from which a sustainable future-proof tourism that is rooted in citizenship space can be rethought.
Modelling the leadership characteristics for organizational readiness: a context of lean implementation in healthcare
Authors: Patri Rojalin , Suresh M. , Prasad Rajiv
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the leadership characteristics that make a health-care organization ready for lean implementation, analyse the interdependence among them and determine the rank of each characteristic based on their influence in the overall phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

The leadership characteristics were identified through a review followed by an expert interview. Then, total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) was used to analyse the interdependence and determine the rank, driving power and dependence of each characteristic.

Findings

The results suggest that modesty is the most crucial leadership characteristic that makes a health-care organization ready for the successful incorporation of lean practices. Apart from that, attributes such as transparency, accountability, a leader’s ability to empower the employees and communication play a significant role in making the change management programme impactful and effective. A leader’s team building capacity was found to be the dependent characteristic and was ranked the last in the overall phenomenon.

Research limitations/implications

Though this study throws light on various leadership dispositions that prepare a health-care organization to become a lean, it is still not an exhaustive exploration to be generalized. Because the leadership characteristics required for successful lean implementation may vary from one organization to the other depending on the purpose, intensity and priority of the implementation programme, these parameters along with the complexity of the scenario would determine what other leadership characteristics need to be included in the model to make it more robust and holistic.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study lies in capturing the leadership characteristics for organizational readiness in the health-care sector and using the TISM approach to identify the critical characteristics in the context of lean implementation in hospitals.
The mediating role of blockchain technology in improvement of knowledge sharing for supply chain management
Authors: philsoophian Maryam , Akhavan Peyman , Namvar Morteza
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Sharing knowledge with business partners is a challenging issue as firms need to share their valuable know-how assets with individuals or other companies out of their organizational boundaries. As supply chain management (SCM) deals with various stakeholders, firms face difficulties with privacy and ownership when they share their know-how with suppliers or business partners. This study introduces blockchain technology as a mediator in improving knowledge sharing (KS) practices in supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The data have been collected from surveys with 116 experts working in blockchain start-ups and organizations, and the authors used structural equation modeling for its analysis.

Findings

The results show that two features of blockchain technology, namely transparency and security, have the highest impacts on mediating knowledge sharing impacts on supply chain performance. The authors’ findings also highlight that among the performance metrics of SCM, speed is highly improved when blockchain technology is used for knowledge sharing. Their study provides guidance for managers on how to improve SCM performance through KS, which is empowered by a blockchain system.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings help organizations to improve supply chain actions, improve innovation, enhance competitive advantage and increase the speed of relationships in the supply chain. The research also contributes literature by analyzing the key factors showing how knowledge sharing structure may be improved by blockchain technology which would be helpful for both academics and practitioners.
Structural and mechanical properties of a-axis AlN thin films growth using reactive RF magnetron sputtering plasma
Authors: Bakri Anis Suhaili , Nayan Nafarizal , Soon Chin Fhong , Ahmad Mohd Khairul , Abu Bakar Ahmad Shuhaimi , Abd Majid Wan Haliza , Raship Nur Amaliyana
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to report the influence of sputtering plasma deposition time on the structural and mechanical properties of the a-axis oriented aluminium nitride (AlN) thin films.

Design/methodology/approach

The AlN films were prepared using RF magnetron sputtering plasma on a silicon substrate without any external heating with various deposition times. The films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope (AFM) and nanoindentation techniques.

Findings

The XRD results show that the AlN thin films are highly oriented along the (100) AlN plane at various deposition times indicating the a-axis preferred orientation. All the AlN thin films exhibit hexagonal AlN with a wurtzite structure. The hardness and Young’s modulus of AlN thin films with various deposition times were measured using a nanoindenter. The measured hardness of the AlN films on Si was in the range of 14.1 to 14.7 GPa. The surface roughness and the grain size measured using the AFM revealed that both are dependent on the deposition times.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work lies with a comparison of hardness and Young’s modulus result obtained at different sputtering deposition temperature. This study also provides the relation of AlN thin films’ crystallinity with the hardness of the deposited films.
Emotional capability: the missing link between information technology capabilities and innovation performanceCapacidad emocional: el vínculo perdido entre capacidades de tecnologías de la información y desempeño innovadorCapacidade emocional: O elo perdido entre as capacidades das tecnologias da informação e o desempenho inovador
Authors: Arias-Pérez José , Alegre Joaquin , Villar Cristina
Published: June 2021

Purpose

There has been a great interest in the literature in understanding the incidence of information technology capabilities (ITC) on innovation performance (IP). Recently, it has been proven that this relationship is mediated by organizational factors requiring an additional effort in terms of information processing in a rational and analytical manner, including strategic market orientation and absorptive capacity; however, the role of emotions in this discussion has not been widely addressed. A scenario in which emotions are inhibited, in particular, emotional capability (EC), prevents the activation of other forms of cognition relating to intuition, experience and empathy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the mediating effect of EC on the relationship between ITC and IP.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyzed the statistical significance of the indirect effects through structural equations.

Findings

The results show the existence of partial mediation of EC. Therefore, it is evidenced that less rational constructs, such as EC, serve as a bridge between ITC and IP, on account of the improvement in information processing, the level of information technology (IT) use and virtual communication.

Originality/value

This finding is quite significant because it forces innovation researchers and practitioners to reconsider the prevailing study perspective that explores only analytical mediators, which implies an additional effort in terms of rational processing of information. All this because there is a risk of accentuating the cognitive overload and increasing the levels of stress that lead employees to stop receiving and using information provided by IT services, which compromises the possibility of obtaining better results in innovation.
Herbal dietary interventions for weight loss among regularly exercising women in Turkey
Authors: Ors Elif Didem , Goktas Zeynep
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Obesity is a chronic disease that is conjoined with increased mortality. Parallel to rising obesity rates, herbal dietary interventions to lose weight are also increasing. The purpose of this study is to assess and evaluate the use of herbal dietary interventions for weight loss among regularly exercising women.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 545 regularly exercising women (aged 19–64 years) were recruited from several local sports centers. A questionnaire form to evaluate demographic characteristics, nutritional habits and herbal dietary intervention habits was administered by a trained dietitian. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height, fat mass, total body water and fat free mass were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis device.

Findings

A total of 244 participants (44.8%) used herbal dietary interventions for weight loss within the last year. The most commonly used herbal dietary interventions were green tea (59.4%), lemon juice (27%), herbal tea mix (20.9%) and cinnamon powder (17.6%), respectively. Of the 244 women who used herbal dietary interventions for weight loss, 42.2% claimed that by using these products they experienced weight loss. Herbal dietary interventions were significantly higher among women with obesity (61.9%) than women with a healthy weight (37.5%). The use of herbal supplements increased among women who consider themselves as being overweight (p< 0.001). Furthermore, herbal dietary interventions decreased with more frequent attempts for a weight-loss diet (p< 0.001).

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents a first attempt at assessing the use of herbal dietary supplements for weight loss among regularly exercising Turkish women. With the increase of body mass index and body perception being as overweight, herbal dietary interventions were also increased. In particular, women with obesity (61.9%) used more herbal dietary interventions than women with healthy weight (37.5%). Moreover, women with an overweight body perception used more herbal supplements than those who thought they had a healthy body weight.
National memory institutions' social media policies and risk management: a content analysis
Authors: Liew Chern Li
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Among the current discourses around social media risk management (SMRM) is whether institutions perceive social media (SM) as more of an opportunity to be embraced and regulated, or a risk to be avoided or mitigated, how this is reflected in their policies and how institutional stance reflects their regulation and management of SM use and practices. There is currently no scholarly literature that addresses these for the memory sector where SM use has proliferated. This research aims to address this gap by putting a focus on national memory institutions (MIs), whose strategies and operations are often governed by a public/civic mandate.

Design/methodology/approach

This research involves a comprehensive literature review and a content analysis. The review includes studies that have analysed institutional SM policies in other sectors. The review informs our content analysis both in terms of approaches and in terms of identifying areas for comparisons. Following an initial scoping review and a close inspection, a sample of eight policies of national MIs were included in the content analysis.

Findings

The content analysis led to the identification of 8 core themes and 36 sub-themes. The main themes are concerned with account management, audience management, rules for use, protecting institutional interests, legal considerations, the purpose of the policy, nature of postings and referencing information. Also emerged from the findings are a few gaps that we expect will provide a platform for further discourses with regard to the potentially complex role SM policies have in MIs and the broader cultural heritage sector in relation to their public/civic mandates.

Originality/value

This is the first close SM policy analysis for the memory sector focusing on national MIs. This research contributes insights into how national-level MIs tend to frame the opportunities and the risk of SM use, the ways in which they govern SM usage and their different approaches to SMRM. The findings have implications for SM policy development and implementations, and further iterations of SM policies in the memory sector.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-09-2020-0421
Employee competence development in corporate volunteering
Authors: Glińska-Neweś Aldona , Hatami Akram , Hermes Jan , Keränen Anne , Ulkuniemi Pauliina
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how employee competences can be developed through corporate volunteering (CV). Specifically, this study focuses on diversity of volunteering studies categorized according to the type of beneficiaries and intensity of volunteer contact with them. The study examines how the beneficiary-employee relation influences the development of employee competences in CV projects.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative empirical study, interview data collected in Poland about the perceived effects of CV projects on employee competences was used.

Findings

The findings suggest that to understand the competences generated in CV, attention needs to be paid to the nature of the volunteering study itself. The study proposes four different logics of competence development in CV, based on the type of the beneficiary and contact with them.

Research limitations/implications

The study builds on managers’ perceptions of competence development. For a holistic understanding, future research should include employees’ perceptions of the process. Also, more research is needed regarding national and organizational settings as factors in competence development through CV.

Practical implications

The study suggests how companies could best engage in volunteering programs and improve existing ones to make them more beneficial for all parties involved.

Social implications

The findings build the better business case for CV and other corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, i.e. they deliver rationales for business engagement in this regard.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the conceptual understanding of CSR activities by presenting four logics of competence development in CV.
Free fatty acid influenced corrosion inhibition mechanisms of some inedible plants seeds oils on low alloyed medium-carbon steel in H2SO4
Authors: Adesusi Olanrewaju Moses , Adetunji Olayide Rasaq , Erinle Tunji John , Okediran Iliyasu Kayode , Akinpelu Olumide Olufunso , Ipadeola Samuel Oluyemi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms of low alloyed medium-carbon steel (LAMCS) corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4 inhibited by seeds oils of rubber (SOR), Neem (SON) and Jatropha (SOJ) containing varying degree of free fatty acid (FFA).

Design/methodology/approach

Specific gravity, acid values and FFA compositions of oils were determined. Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are techniques used to investigate the corrosion inhibition mechanisms with evaluated Gibbs free energy of adsorption.

Findings

Corrosion inhibition efficiencies of oils reached values >99% as obtained from PDP and EIS. Protective oxide layer was formed on LAMCS consequent on containment of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups in the FFA of SOR, SON and SOJ, respectively. The SOR and SOJ are found to be mixed inhibitors, whereas SON behaved as anodic inhibitor. Mechanism of adsorption of SOR was synergistic between physisorption and chemisorption, while SON and SOJ exhibited physisorption. SEM micrographs images showed that uninhibited sample exhibited thicker mass of corrosion products. Formation of protective oxide layer was confirmed by XRD diffractograms.

Practical implications

This study has shown that the need for modification of vegetable seed oils containing FFA is unnecessary as the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups of the FFA contained in the respective oil were found to be the center of adsorption of the oils on the steel surface. Hence, cost and by-products associated with modification of oils used as corrosion inhibitors are eliminated.

Originality/value

SOR, which has the highest percentage FFA, was found to be the most influential on the corrosion inhibition mechanism of LAMCS, specifically within 0.01–0.02 g/mL concentration. FFA contained in the respective seed oil aided formation of protective oxide layer at interface between H2SO4 and LAMCS, relative to amount composed.
Identification potential epigenetic biomarkers of a human immunodeficiency virus/tuberculosis co‐infection based on weighted gene co‐expression network analysis
Authors: Xu Shaohua , Yuan Huicheng , Li Ling , Bai Feng , Yang Kai , Zhao Liangcun
Published: June 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common opportunistic infections and a leading cause of death in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, conventional diagnostic tools have several limitations. The aim of this study was to screen key DNA methylated cytosine‐phosphate‐guanine dinucleotide (CpG) islands (CGIs) to identify potential diagnosis biomarkers in HIV mono‐infected patients and HIV/TB co‐infected patients based on a network analysis. The GSE50835 DNA methylation microarray data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially methylated CpG islands analysis, weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression were performed in 19 HIV mono‐infected patients and 20 HIV/TB co‐infected patients. In total, 1950 differentially methylated CpG islands were identified, and weighted co‐methylation network construction and module preservation revealed one network module that can distinguish the HIV/TB co‐infected patients from the HIV mono‐infected patients. Based on the LASSO logistic regression, an eight‐methylated CpG island diagnosis model was established that can accurately distinguish HIV/TB co‐infected patients from HIV mono‐infected patients with a sensitivity of 87.2%, a specificity of 88.7%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.948. Alteration in the eight‐DNA methylated CpG sites might be involved in the pathology of an HIV/TB co‐infection and could be used as potential diagnosis biomarkers in HIV/TB co‐infected patients.
Exploring the potential for plant translocations to adapt to a warming world
Authors: Dalrymple Sarah E. , Winder Richard , Campbell Elizabeth M.
Published: June 2021

Anthropogenic climate warming is undisputed and yet, there is much that is unknown regarding biological impacts of changing temperature and precipitation, and the management options presented as solutions to biodiversity losses—such as translocations of plants and seeds—are often controversial.

This Special Focus presents five new studies and two recently published articles in Journal of Ecology and Ecological Solutions and Evidence that analyse the use of existing plant translocations, assess the potential to use translocations to offset past declines and future population losses, and articulate the need to involve a broader range of stakeholders in the use of translocations.

Our recommendations include improving the monitoring of plant translocations; harnessing existing translocations to form a global monitoring array for climate change impacts on biological diversity and strengthening research–practice linkages improving data sharing and broadening the stakeholders involved in translocations.

Synthesis. Further study of translocations and integration of information from translocation projects holds the opportunity to provide a wealth of new knowledge and improved ways to counter climate change impacts on biological diversity and ecosystems.
Nondestructive discrimination of red silk single fibers using total reflection X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry and synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry
Authors: Komatsu Hibiki , Takahara Hikari , Matsuda Wataru , Nishiwaki Yoshinori
Published: June 2021

In a strangulation case, when a necktie is used as a murder weapon, the dyed silk single fiber becomes an important evidence sample to solve the crime. Dyed silk single fibers contain elements, such as Cr and Co, which are obtained from dyeing using metal mordants. Currently, there are no nondestructive and sufficiently sensitive elementary analytical methods for the forensic analysis of single fibers. Therefore, in this study, eight commercially available red silk samples were collected and used for total reflection X‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) and synchrotron radiation X‐ray fluorescence (SR‐XRF) spectrometry. Benchtop TXRF detected both S in the silk protein and Cl and Ca, which are elements absorbed from the environment by silkworms, but also Cr, which is a dyeing derivative for metal mordants. The presence of Cr and Zn, in addition to the Zn/Cr signal intensity ratios, was reported to be particularly useful identifiers. In SR‐XRF, the presence of Cr, Co, Zn, and Br and the Zn/Cr signal intensity ratios were reported to be useful discriminating indicators. In this study, the nondestructive discrimination capabilities of TXRF and SR‐XRF measurements for the samples were found to be 85.7% and 100%, respectively. Therefore, we propose a combination of TXRF and SR‐XRF as a new nondestructive single fiber identification method for forensic science. Moreover, if partial destruction of a single fiber is allowed, the observation of the cross section and micro‐Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy measurements is useful for identifying red silk fibers.
Unintentional paediatric iron poisoning: A retrospective case series
Authors: Crofton Andrew K , Harris Keith , Wylie Carol , Isoardi Katherine Z
Published: June 2021

Objective

Iron poisoning is a historically important cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality. In recent decades, public health measures have considerably reduced paediatric iron exposures. We investigated unintentional paediatric iron poisoning in children with the aim of developing an assessment approach specific for this group.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study of unintentional iron poisoning in children (<7 years old) referred to either a state‐wide poisons information service or a tertiary clinical toxicology unit from 1 January 2015 to 16 February 2020. Patients were identified from prospective databases maintained by both services, and data were extracted from these in addition to the medical record.

Results

There were 54 children included in the study (29 [54%] male; median age 2 years (range 8 months to 4 years). The median suspected dose of elemental iron ingested was 72 mg/kg (IQR 41–140 mg/kg). Seventeen (31%) children were symptomatic. There were no cases of severe toxicity. Children symptomatic with gastrointestinal toxicity had a median suspected dose ingested of 60 mg/kg (IQR 38–150 mg/kg) that was similar to asymptomatic children (81 mg/kg [IQR 41–143 mg/kg], P = 0.809). The median peak iron concentration was 49 μmol/L (IQR 13.5–67.5 μmol/L, range 4–75 μmol/L). Symptomatic children had a significantly higher median peak serum iron concentration of 66 μmol/L (IQR 54–68 μmol/L) compared to 12 μmol/L (IQR 9–15 μmol/L) in asymptomatic children (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Unintentional paediatric iron poisoning is uncommon and largely benign. Suspected dose ingested is a poor predictor of toxicity. Targeting investigations and interventions to symptomatic children should reduce unnecessary assessment and management while still safely managing the exposure.