bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of annual rainfall on dengue incidence in the Indian state of Rajasthan
Authors: Salam Nasir
Published: September 2018

Dengue has become a major public health problem in the last few decades with India contributing significantly to the overall disease burden. Most of the cases of Dengue from India are reported during Monsoon season. The vector population of dengue is affected by seasonal rainfall, temperature and humidity fluctuations. Rajasthan is northwestern state of India, which has shown several dengue outbreaks in the past. In this paper we have tried to analyze the effects of annual cumulative rainfall on Dengue incidence in one of the largest and severely affected states of India. Retrospective data for Dengue incidence and Rainfall for the state of Rajasthan was collected and Pearson’s coefficient correlation was calculated as a measure of association between the variables. Our results indicate that annual cumulative rainfall shows a strong positive correlation with dengue incidence in the state of Rajasthan. Such analyses have the potential to inform public health official about the control and preparedness for vector control during monsoon season. This is the first study from the Indian state of Rajasthan to assess the impact of annual rainfall on dengue incidence, which has seen several dengue outbreaks in the past.
Successes and failures of the live-attenuated influenza vaccine, can we do better?
Authors: Matrajt Laura , Halloran M. Elizabeth , Antia Rustom
Published: September 2018

Live-attenuated vaccines are usually highly effective against many acute viral infections. However, the effective- ness of the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) can vary widely, ranging from 0% effectiveness in some studies done in the United States to 50% in studies done in Europe. The reasons for these discrepancies remain largely unclear. In this paper we use mathematical models to explore how the efficacy of LAIV is affected by the degree of mismatch with the currently circulating influenza strain and interference with pre-existing immunity. The model incorporates two key antigenic distances - the distance between pre-existing immunity and the currently circulating strain as well as the LAIV strain. Our models show that a LAIV that is matched with the currently circulating strain is likely to have only modest efficacy. Our results suggest that the efficacy of the vaccine would be increased (optimized) if, rather than being matched to the circulating strain, it is antigenically slightly further from pre-existing immunity compared with the circulating strain. The models also suggest two regimes in which LAIV that is matched to circulating strains may provide effective protection. The first is in children before they have built immunity from circulating strains. The second is in response to novel strains (such as antigenic shifts) which are at substantial antigenic distance from previously circulating strains. Our models provide an explanation for the variation in vaccine effectiveness, both between children and adults as well as between studies of vaccine effectiveness observed during the 2014-15 influenza season in different countries.
Atomic force microscopy visualizes mobility of photosynthetic proteins in grana thylakoid membranes
Authors: Onoa Bibiana , Fukuda Shingo , Iwai Masakazu , Bustamante Carlos , Niyogi Krishna K.
Published: September 2018

Thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts contain photosynthetic protein complexes that convert light energy into chemical energy. Photosynthetic protein complexes are considered to undergo structural reorganization to maintain the efficiency of photochemical reactions. A detailed description of the mobility of photosynthetic complexes in real-time is necessary to understand how macromolecular organization of the membrane is altered by environmental fluctuations. Here, we used high-speed atomic force microscopy to visualize and characterize the in situ mobility of individual protein complexes in grana thylakoid membranes isolated from Spinacia oleracea. Our observations reveal that these membranes can harbor complexes with at least two distinctive classes of mobility. A large fraction of grana membranes contained proteins with quasi-static mobility, exhibiting molecular displacements smaller than 10 nm2. In the remaining fraction, the protein mobility is variable with molecular displacements of up to 100 nm2. This visualization at high-spatiotemporal resolution enabled us to estimate an average diffusion coefficient of ∼1 nm2 s-1. Interestingly, both confined and Brownian diffusion models could describe the protein mobility of the second group of membranes. We also provide the first direct evidence of rotational diffusion of photosynthetic complexes. The rotational diffusion of photosynthetic complexes could be an adaptive response to the high protein density in the membrane to guarantee the efficiency of electron transfer reactions. This characterization of the mobility of individual photosynthetic complexes in grana membranes establishes a foundation that could be adapted to study the dynamics of the complexes inside the intact and photosynthetically functional thylakoid membranes to be able to understand its structural responses to diverse environmental fluctuations.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

We characterized the dynamics of individual photosynthetic protein complexes in grana thylakoid membranes from Spinacia oleracea by high-speed atomic microscopy (HS-AFM). Direct visualization at high spatiotemporal resolution unveils that the mobility of photosynthetic proteins is heterogeneous but governed by the confinement effect imposed by the high protein density in the thylakoid membrane. The photosynthetic complexes display rotational diffusion, which might be a consequence of the crowded environment in the membrane and a mechanism to sustain an efficient electron transfer chain.
Connecting surveillance and population-level influenza incidence
Authors: Cope Robert C. , Ross Joshua V. , Chilver Monique , Stocks Nigel P. , Mitchell Lewis
Published: September 2018

There is substantial interest in estimating and forecasting influenza incidence. Surveillance of influenza is challenging as one needs to demarcate influenza from other respiratory viruses, and due to asymptomatic infections. To circumvent these challenges, surveillance data often targets influenza-like-illness, or uses context-specific normalisations such as test positivity or per-consultation rates. Specifically, influenza incidence itself is not reported. We propose a framework to estimate population-level influenza incidence, and its associated uncertainty, using surveillance data and hierarchical observation processes. This new framework, and forecasting and forecast assessment methods, are demonstrated for three Australian states over 2016 and 2017. The framework allows for comparison within and between seasons in which surveillance effort has varied. Implementing this framework would improve influenza surveillance and forecasting globally, and could be applied to other diseases for which surveillance is difficult.
An Empirical Demonstration of Unsupervised Machine Learning in Species Delimitation
Authors: Derkarabetian Shahan , Castillo Stephanie , Koo Peter K. , Ovchinnikov Sergey , Hedin Marshal
Published: September 2018

One major challenge to delimiting species with genetic data is successfully differentiating species divergences from population structure, with some current methods biased towards overestimating species numbers. Many fields of science are now utilizing machine learning (ML) approaches, and in systematics and evolutionary biology, supervised ML algorithms have recently been incorporated to infer species boundaries. However, these methods require the creation of training data with associated labels. Unsupervised ML, on the other hand, uses the inherent structure in data and hence does not require any user-specified training labels, thus providing a more objective approach to species delimitation. In the context of integrative taxonomy, we demonstrate the utility of three unsupervised ML approaches, specifically random forests, variational autoencoders, and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding, for species delimitation utilizing a short-range endemic harvestman taxon (Laniatores,Metanonychus). First, we combine mitochondrial data with examination of male genitalic morphology to identify a priori species hypotheses. Then we use single nucleotide polymorphism data derived from sequence capture of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) to test the efficacy of unsupervised ML algorithms in successfully identifying a priori species, comparing results to commonly used genetic approaches. Finally, we use two validation methods to assess a priori species hypotheses using UCE data. We find that unsupervised ML approaches successfully cluster samples according to species level divergences and not to high levels of population structure, while standard model-based validation methods over-split species, in some instances suggesting that all sampled individuals are distinct species. Moreover, unsupervised ML approaches offer the benefits of better data visualization in two-dimensional space and the ability to accommodate various data types. We argue that ML methods may be better suited for species delimitation relative to currently used model-based validation methods, and that species delimitation in a truly integrative framework provides more robust final species hypotheses relative to separating delimitation into distinct “discovery” and “validation” phases. Unsupervised ML is a powerful analytical approach that can be incorporated into many aspects of systematic biology, including species delimitation. Based on results of our empirical dataset, we make several taxonomic changes including description of a new species.
Integrin alpha11 is an Osteolectin receptor and is required for the maintenance of adult skeletal bone mass
Authors: Shen Bo , Vardy Kristy , Hughes Payton , Tasdogan Alpaslan , Zhao Zhiyu , Crane Genevieve , Morrison Sean J.
Published: September 2018

We previously discovered a new osteogenic growth factor that is required to maintain adult skeletal bone mass, Osteolectin/Clec11a. Osteolectin acts on Leptin Receptor+(LepR+) skeletal stem cells and other osteogenic progenitors in bone marrow to promote their differentiation into osteoblasts. Here we identity a receptor for Osteolectin, α11 integrin, which is expressed by LepR+cells and osteoblasts. α11β1 integrin binds Osteolectin with nanomolar affinity and is required for the osteogenic response to Osteolectin. Deletion ofItga11(which encodes α11) from mouse and human bone marrow stromal cells impaired osteogenic differentiation and blocked their response to Osteolectin. LikeOsteolectindeficient mice,Lepr-cre;Itga11fl/flmice appeared grossly normal but exhibited reduced osteogenesis and accelerated bone loss during aging. Osteolectin binding to α11β1 promoted Wnt pathway activation, which was necessary for the osteogenic response to Osteolectin. This reveals a new mechanism for maintenance of adult bone mass: Wnt pathway activation by Osteolectin/α11β1 signaling.
Trained-feature specific offline learning in an orientation detection task
Authors: Tamaki Masako , Wang Zhiyan , Watanabe Takeo , Sasaki Yuka
Published: September 2018

It has been suggested that sleep provides additional enhancement of visual perceptual learning (VPL) acquired before sleep, termed offline performance gains. A majority of the studies that found offline performance gains of VPL used discrimination tasks including the texture discrimination task (TDT). This makes it questionable whether offline performance gains on VPL are generalized to other visual tasks. The present study examined whether a Gabor orientation detection task, which is a standard task in VPL, shows offline performance gains. In Experiment 1, we investigated whether sleep leads to offline performance gains on the task. Subjects were trained with the Gabor orientation detection task, and re-tested it after a 12-hr interval that included either nightly sleep or only wakefulness. We found that performance on the task improved to a significantly greater degree after the interval that included sleep and wakefulness than the interval including wakefulness alone. In addition, offline performance gains were specific to the trained orientation. In Experiment 2, we tested whether offline performance gains occur by a nap. Also, we tested whether spontaneous sigma activity in early visual areas during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, previously implicated in offline performance gains of TDT, was associated with offline performance gains of the task. A different group of subjects had a nap with polysomnography. The subjects were trained with the task before the nap and re-tested after the nap. The performance of the task improved significantly after the nap only on the trained orientation. Sigma activity in the trained region of early visual areas during NREM sleep was significantly larger than in the untrained region, in correlation with offline performance gains. These aspects were also found with VPL of TDT. The results of the present study demonstrate that offline performance gains are not specific to a discrimination task such as TDT, and can be generalized to other forms of VPL tasks, along with trained-feature specificity. Moreover, the present results also suggest that sigma activity in the trained region of early visual areas plays an important role in offline performance gains of VPL of detection as well as discrimination tasks.
Age-dependent visualization of neural progenitor cells within the rostral migratory stream via MRI and endogenously labeled micron-sized iron oxide particles
Authors: Shuboni-Mulligan Dorela D. , Chakravarty Shatadru , Mallett Christiane L. , Wolf Alexander M. , Forton Stacey , Shapiro Erik M.
Published: September 2018

The subventricular zone (SVZ) is one of the primary sources for rodent neural progenitor cells (NPC), however, aging greatly impacts the substructure of the region and rate of new cell birth. To determine if age impacts the rate of in vivo migration within animals, we examined the rostral migratory stream (RMS) of animals across 12 days using an established MRI technique. To visualize NPCs, we injected micron sized particles of iron oxide (MPIO) into the lateral ventricle to endogenously label cells within the SVZ, which then appeared as hypo-intensive spots within MR images. Our in vivo MRI data showed that the rate of migration was significantly different between all ages examined, with decreases in the distance traveled as age progressed. The total number of iron oxide labeled cells within the olfactory bulb on day 12, decrease significantly when compared across ages in ex vivo high-resolution scans. We also, for the first time, demonstrated the endogenous labeling of cells within the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus. Here too, there was a significant decrease in the number of labeled cells within the structure across age. Histology of the NPCs verified the decrease in labeling of cells with doublecortin (DCX) as age progressed for both regions. The dramatic reduction of labeling in NPCs within the SVZ and DG observed with MRI, demonstrates the importance of understanding the impact of age on the relationship of NPC and disease.
Optimal control of acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Sharp Jesse A , Browning Alexander P , Mapder Tarunendu , Burrage Kevin , Simpson Matthew J
Published: September 2018

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a blood cancer affecting haematopoietic stem cells. AML is routinely treated with chemotherapy, and so it is of great interest to develop optimal chemotherapy treatment strategies. In this work, we incorporate an immune response into a stem cell model of AML, since we find that previous models lacking an immune response are inappropriate for deriving optimal control strategies. Using optimal control theory, we produce continuous controls and bang-bang controls, corresponding to a range of objectives and parameter choices. Through example calculations, we provide a practical approach to applying optimal control using Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle. In particular, we describe and explore factors that have a profound influence on numerical convergence. We find that the convergence behaviour is sensitive to the method of control updating, the nature of the control, and to the relative weighting of terms in the objective function. All codes we use to implement optimal control are made available.
The buoyant cell density ofCryptococcus neoformansis affected by capsule size
Authors: Vij Raghav , Cordero Radames J.B. , Casadevall Arturo
Published: September 2018

Cryptococcus neoformansis an environmental pathogenic fungus with a worldwide geographical distribution that is responsible for hundreds of thousands human cryptococcosis cases each year. During infection, the yeast undergoes a morphological transformation involving capsular enlargement that increases microbial volume. To understand the factors that play a role in environmental dispersal ofC. neoformansandC. gatiiwe evaluated the buoyant cell density ofCryptococcususing Percoll isopycnic gradients. We found differences in the buoyant cell density of strains belonging toC. neoformansandC. gattispecies complexes. The buoyant cell density ofC. neoformansstrains varied depending on growth medium conditions. In minimal medium, the cryptococcal capsule made a major contribution to the buoyant cell density such that cells with larger capsules had lower density than those with smaller capsules. Removing the capsule, both by chemical or mechanical methods, decreased theC. neoformanscell density. Melanization of theC. neoformanscell wall, which also contributes to virulence, produced a small but consistent increase in cell density.C. neoformanssedimented much slower in seawater as its density approached the density of water. Our results suggest a new function for the capsule whereby it can function as a flotation device to facilitate transport and dispersion in aqueous fluids.
Crystal structure ofmeso-3,3′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(2-phenyl-2,3,5,6-tetrahydro-4H-1,3-thiazin-4-one)
Authors: Yennawar Hemant P. , Moyer Quentin J. , Silverberg Lee J.
Published: September 2018

The crystal structure of the title compound –meso-C26H24N2O2S2with two stereocenters – has half the molecule in the asymmetric unit with the other half generated by a crystallographic center of inversion. The thiazine ring is in a conformation that is between half-chair and envelope [θ = 52.51 (17)°]. The phenyl ring on the 2-carbon atom of the thiazine ring is pseudo-axial. The central phenyl ring of the molecule is close to orthogonal to the phenyl rings on either side with an angle of 76.85 (11)° between those planes. In the crystal, pairwise, weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds between the central phenyl ring and the oxygen atoms of neighboring molecules result in continuous strips propagating along thea-axis direction. Hydrophobic interactions of the C—H...π type are also observed.
Workplace discipline for an employee’s resilience at Indian bank
Authors: Singh Lata Bajpai , Singh Anita
Published: September 2018

Subject area

Human resource management, Employee relations, Strategic human resource management.

Study level/applicability

The given case study is to be used by graduate and post-graduate students of Management in the courses of Human Resource Management & Employee Relations. The case may also be used for the discussions on the concepts such as discipline, disciplinary enquiry, grievance settlement procedure, workplace counseling and strategic human resource management.

Case overview

The given case study is hypothetical in nature and meant for academic purpose and classroom teaching. In the given case study, the authors present a grievance settlement mechanism of a banking sector organization. The case study is about a grievance and its settlement of a sales executive in the branch office through the involvement of other senior officials at the workplace. The case study is useful to understand the significance of disciplinary issues, grievance settlement and domestic enquiry and counseling at the workplace.

Expected learning outcomes

The learning objective of the case is to make students understand the significance and various aspects of employee relations at the workplace. It aims at making students familiar with the requirement of discipline, focus on grievance settlement procedure and conducting disciplinary inquiry. The case study further has purpose to make students learn about the importance of counseling and be familiar with steps in counseling for handling real-life situations in their career.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS 6: Human Resource Management.
Two-phase analysis of interface level fluctuation in continuous casting mold with electromagnetic stirring
Authors: Maurya Ambrish , Jha Pradeep Kumar
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This investigation aims to analyze the steel-flux interface level fluctuation because of electromagnetic stirring and its process parameters in a continuous casting billet mold.

Design/methodology/approach

An un-coupled numerical model for electromagnetic field generation and a coupled numerical model of electromagnetic field and two-phase fluid flow have been developed. The two-phase fluid flow has been modeled using volume of fluid method, in which externally generated time-varying electromagnetic field is coupled and analyzed using magnetohydrodynamic method. Top surface standing wave stability criteria are used to study the criticality of interface stability.

Findings

Results show that application electromagnetic field for stirring increases the interface level fluctuation, specifically at the mold corners and near the submerged entry nozzle. The increase in current intensity and stirrer width barely affect the interface level. However, interface level fluctuation increases considerably with increase in frequency. Using stability criteria, it is found that at 20 Hz frequency, the ratio of height to wavelength of interface wave increases much above the critical value. The iso-surface of the interface level shows that at 20 Hz frequency, mold flux gets entrapped into the liquid steel.

Practical implications

The model may be used during optimization of in-mold electromagnetic stirrer to avoid mold flux entrapment and control the cast quality.

Originality/value

The study of mold level fluctuation in the presence of in-mold electromagnetic stirrer has rarely been reported. The criticality of stirrer process parameters on level fluctuation has not been yet reported. This study lacks in experimental validation; however, the findings will be much useful for the steelmakers to reduce the casting defects.
Labor relations and new generation employees
Authors: Xiong Wei , Wang Tao
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Feelings about conflict in labor relations are determined by both the objective conditions surrounding the dimension of labor relations and their subjective evaluation. This study aims to examine features of the subjective evaluation factors in labor relations for new generation employees born in the post-1980s, transitional China, and to explore the conflict reduction strategies in labor relations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study designed items and a scale to measure employees’ subjective evaluation bias regarding labor relations, and conducted a survey of 1,500 employees in 80 Chinese enterprises. It conducted a principal components analysis of the subjective evaluation biases, and a covariance analysis to explore differences in the common factors between employees of two generations. Comparing the subjective bias with the objective status of labor relations, as well as with employers’ expectations, this study analyzed the feelings toward conflict and conflict management strategies.

Findings

There are eight common factors in the subjective evaluation bias toward labor relations, four of which show significant differences between employees of two generations. Employers should study these differences, and apply conflict reduction measures to manage labor relations.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to propose the concept of a subjective evaluation bias regarding labor relations, and examine the common factors and features among new generation employees. It establishes a model for feelings toward conflict through four combinations of the subjective preferences and objective status dimensions. This study offers new insights for reducing workplace conflict.
Use of internet as health information resource by community pharmacists in Nigeria
Authors: Anasi Stella Ngozi , Lawal Folasade Olufunke , Paul-Ozieh Abiola
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The internet has become one of the most commonly used sources for medical and health information. Research that explored the extent to which Nigerian community pharmacists use internet resources for patient care is limited. This study aims to examine the extent to which community pharmacists use the internet for professional practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using a questionnaire which was completed by 115 community pharmacists using convenience sampling technique. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Findings

The results revealed that community pharmacists use a variety of online resources, although only about 25 per cent or less use each of the online resources. The critical challenges that hinder their use of the internet were inadequate power supply, lack of funds to procure personal internet facilities, among others. There is significant relative contribution of demographic variables (gender, age, educational qualification and number of years in professional practice) on frequency of internet use among community pharmacists.

Practical implications

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos Chapter, should organize continuing professional education for their members to expose them to online resources and emerging trends in professional practice. The community pharmacist should also address the problem of inadequate communication with patients by stepping up communication with the patients about their drug therapy not only through the conventional media but also through internet facilities such as email, WhatsApp and so on.

Originality/value

This study examined the extent to which community pharmacists use the internet for professional activities. This study also empirically investigated the significant relative contribution of demographic variables (gender, age, educational qualification and number of years in professional practice) on the frequency of internet use among community pharmacists.
Physical-internet-enabled auction logistics in perishable supply chain trading
Authors: Kong Xiangtianrui , Huang G.Q. , Luo Hao , Yen Benjamin P.C.
Published: September 2018

Purpose

While significant efforts have been made to study auction and logistics theories in the context of perishable supply chain trading (PSCT) over the last few years, the consensus has not yet been reached on how best to examine the impact of physical-internet-enabled auction logistics (AL) decisions and processes on dynamic perishable products transactions. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by investigating the existing situations and identifying future opportunities for both academic and industrial communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The relevant literature was sort out along with three dimensions, namely auction mechanism, level of decision and coordination. The methods of field investigation and focus group discussion were also used to explore the factors influencing AL performance.

Findings

A number of key findings presented. First, there is an emerging paradigm shift from offline auction to online auction. Robust and resilient AL are needed to fulfill the massive number of orders from different channels while considering dynamic decisions. Second, three-level decisions in AL have been explicitly classified and defined. Various mathematical techniques used in literaturevis-à-visthe contexts of AL were mapped. Third, a coordination mechanism that dynamically balances trade-off between logistics efficiency and transaction price was discussed. Lastly, several opportunities for future research were distinguished with coherent connection of research domains and open questions.

Originality/value

This paper not only summaries key themes of current research dimensions, but also indicates existing deficiencies and potential research directions. The findings can be used as the basis for future research in PSCT and related topics.
Touching and traveling on 3D augmented tangible maps for learning geography
Authors: Palaigeorgiou George , Karakostas Anastasios , Skenteridou Kyriaki
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Tangible physical maps which are enhanced by new digital forms of interaction can become an invaluable asset for learning geography in an embodied way. The purpose of this work is to evaluate an interactive augmented three-dimensional (3D) tangible map on which students interact and travel with their fingers.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 58 fourth-grade students from eight elementary schools participated in the study. The participants played with the FingerTrips environment in 24 sessions and in groups of two or three. Each session lasted for about 20-25 min. After completing the interactive game, the students answered a questionnaire concerning their attitudes toward the tangible environment and participated in a short interview.

Findings

Students’ responses revealed that FingerTrips managed to transform the experience of meeting new places, understanding spatial relations and learning geography. Students supported that such an approach is closer to their interactive experiences and expectations, and exploits embodied learning affordances to achieve enjoyable learning. Students identified their finger-based trips as an effective and intriguing static haptic guidance that helped them learn more effectively.

Originality/value

The specific approach has two distinctive characteristics. First, a new interaction style on the map is suggested, the use of trips with fingers. Students have to follow predefined engraved paths on the 3D terrain to sense distances and changes in altitude and “touch” the topology asked to understand and explore. Second, it is examined whether a low fidelity interactive 3D terrain, which can be easily reconstructed and reprogrammed by primary school students, can become a useful canvas for learning geography.
Valuing sustainable change in the built environment
Authors: Higham Anthony , Barlow Catherine , Bichard Erik , Richards Adam
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to assess the strengths and weaknesses of sustainable return on investment (SuROI) to determine it suitability as a means through which social value can be predicted in line with public procurement directives and the Social Value Act, whilst at the same time as fitting the developer’s business model and CSR commitments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a multi-case design, findings from a comprehensive evaluation of three major housing-led mixed-use regeneration developments are presented. The three case study locations were selected on the basis of the developer’s strong commitment to place-making and social sustainability. Together with a strong strategic desire to reposition their organisation away from the traditional business as usual profit-led model.

Findings

Whilst the social return on investment methodology is applicable to the charity sector, its use in the built environment is highly questionable. When applying the model to the mixed-use housing projects, the authors identified a number of technical limitations to the model, inter alia a lack of suitable proxies and especially proxies relating to the built environment for the valuation of identified outcomes; the use of monetisation as a evaluating measure which did not support some of the more abstract or softer benefits identified; problems collecting, identifying and evaluating data to inform the model given the complexity and scale of the project; and significant time and expense associated with the valuation and finally the inability to benchmark the report on completion. These findings have implications for the social housing providers and local authorities looking to use SuROI to evaluate potential built environment projects.

Originality/value

The paper offers unique insights into the viability of using existing social value measurement methodologies. The paper identifies the significant limitations associated with the SuROI methodology.
Service capacity coordination in IT services supply chain
Authors: Prasad Sanjay Kumar , Shankar Ravi
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate capacity coordination in services supply chain (SSC). It provides discussion and application of various contracts in a two-stage single period SSC.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper considers a two-stage serial supply chain with demand uncertainty and price insensitivity. A model is developed to represent a global IT SSC incorporating services specific factors like over-capacity cost and higher degree of substitution resulting in flexibility to meet unplanned demand. At first, centralized and competitive solutions of the model are studied. Then, the paper studies coordination in this supply chain using some of widely used contract templates.

Findings

This paper finds several key insights for the researchers and practitioners in this area around adverse impact of over-capacity cost on demand, positive effect of delivery team’s exposure to market on contracting terms and better understanding of efficient frontiers for selected contracting mechanism.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has limited its analysis to three key and most widely used contracts and made assumptions about risk-neutrality of the firms. Future research can study other contracting templates and/or relax for the model as laid out in this paper.

Practical implications

An automated software agent can be built leveraging the closed form equations developed here to help decide on optimal capacity investment and devise coordinating contracts.

Originality/value

This paper established that because of higher degree of substitution, perishability and non-trivial over-capacity cost, SSC behave bit differently than the physical goods supply chain and coordination of participating firms needs to be studied in a services specific context for improving system-wide performance.
A new holistic conceptual framework for layout performance assessment
Authors: Sagnak Muhittin , Ada Erhan , Kazancoglu Yigit
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Performance assessment of layouts requires a systematic approach because of its multi-objective nature. The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to the performance assessment of layout designs.

Design/methodology/approach

A layout performance assessment framework is proposed, grounded on a literature review. Then, the causal relationships and prioritization of the sub-criteria are analyzed by fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory technique in an elevator and escalator-manufacturing firm.

Findings

An integrated holistic performance assessment framework, specifically, the 7 criteria, 19 sub-criteria and 112 measures, are studied in this model which represents causal relationships and prioritization of sub-criteria.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed framework can be generalized, because an integrative framework can be used in future empirical studies to analyze performance of layout design. However, the causal relationships and prioritization among sub-criteria are analyzed based on the needs and capabilities of the individual company; therefore, the results of the causal relationships are company specific.

Practical implications

With this framework, the companies may assess their current layout’s performance, may analyze causal relationships and prioritization of sub-criteria.

Originality/value

There are very few models or frameworks regarding the performance assessment of layout designs. In this paper, a new conceptual holistic framework was proposed as three-dimensional hierarchy, which includes the main criteria, sub-criteria and the measures, respectively. Cost, flow, flexibility, surrounding environment, environment quality, time and characteristics are identified as the main criteria for the layout design performance assessment. In addition, cause-effect relationships, which will be the base for improvement of the performance, are found.
The development of a government cash forecasting model
Authors: Iskandar Iskandar , Willett Roger , Xu Shuxiang
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Government cash forecasting is central to achieving effective government cash management but research in this area is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to address this shortcoming by developing a government cash forecasting model with an accuracy acceptable to the cash manager in emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows “top-down” approach to develop a government cash forecasting model. It uses the Indonesian Government expenditure data from 2008 to 2015 as an illustration. The study utilises ARIMA, neural network and hybrid models to investigate the best procedure for predicting government expenditure.

Findings

The results show that the best method to build a government cash forecasting model is subject to forecasting performance measurement tool and the data used.

Research limitations/implications

The study uses the data from one government only as its sample, which may limit the ability to generalise the results to a wider population.

Originality/value

This paper is novel in developing a government cash forecasting model in the context of emerging economies.
Building R&D capability in subsidiaries – conceptualization of a process perspective
Authors: Lagerström Katarina , Schweizer Roger , Jakobsson Johan
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature discussing the internationalization of research and development (R&D) among multinational companies by proposing a process description to capture the development of local R&D capabilities in subsidiaries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build the conceptualization not only on the prevailing literature on resource management, subsidiary evolution and subsidiary initiatives, but also on empirical observations.

Findings

A process in four phases is distinguished to describe the evolution of R&D capabilities in subsidiaries: the identification of an opportunity in the host country that triggers the establishment of local R&D capabilities; the gathering of support – from the host country and from MNC internally – and resources; the bundling of the resources to build capabilities; and finally the leveraging of the capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

By offering a conceptualization of the process through which subsidiaries build R&D capabilities, the authors contribute to the literature on R&D internationalization that hitherto has neglected the central role played by subsidiaries and the fact that a subsidiary needs to develop and manage resources and capabilities to change its R&D related role and/or mandate within the MNC.

Originality/value

By providing a process perspective on MNCs internationalization of R&D focussing on the development and management of R&D capabilities at subsidiaries, the paper adds a more dynamic dimension to the previously rather static view on R&D internationalization.
Attitudes to meatless meals
Authors: Mackenzie Myra , Shanahan Laura
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Adopting meat reduction strategies within the UK is fundamental to limiting environmental damage and achieving public health benefits. This paper aims to compare the attitudes to adopting meat reduction strategies within the general population and people with a link to agriculture to understand attitudes to meat reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional self-administered questionnaires were disseminated using online fora, community groups and by attending agricultural marts. Questionnaire development was informed by current literature, and structured around four theoretical domains: knowledge, social/cultural influences, beliefs about consequences and intentions to change and a food frequency questionnaire for meat consumption. Inclusion criteria were people > 18 years, living in the North East of Scotland. In total, 470 adult participants, from within the North East of Scotland, were recruited. The study population was divided into two groups, individuals with a link to the agricultural economy (n = 174) and the general public (n = 296).

Findings

The general public group were more willing than the agricultural community to adopt meatless meals (or were doing so) [55.1% (n = 162) vs 28.1% (n = 49), p < 0.001]. Barriers to change included habit, limited choice when eating out, resistance of family members, lack of information, income related to meat consumption and the status of meat within a meal. Men were less likely to choose meatless meals than women (23.8%, n = 36, vs 55.1%, n = 176, p < 0.001).

Originality/value

Meat reduction strategies should be tailored appropriately to population groups, with an understanding of social and political drivers, and further studies investigating barriers within the agricultural economy are warranted.
Effects of the management control system in unethical behaviors
Authors: Klein Luciana , Beuren Ilse Maria , Dal Vesco Delci
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This study investigates which dimensions of the management control system (MCS) increase the perception of organizational justice and reduce unethical behavior in the perception of managers. The purpose of this paper is to validate the theoretical model of the study of Langevin and Mendoza (2012), testing the theoretical hypotheses formulated by the authors.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was performed in companies listed among the Best and Largest of Exame Magazine, and the sample is composed of 102 respondents of the research, which consists of 41 assertions.

Findings

The results of the structural equation modeling show that the definition of objectives increases the perception of procedural justice, but the same was not observed regarding the remuneration of the managers. Likewise, disregarding aspects that are uncontrollable by managers in performance evaluation does not lead to the perception of procedural and distributive justice. However, feedback quality leads to the understanding that the MCS is fair. Perception of procedural and distributive justice was also observed in the use of multiple measures of performance by the company.

Research limitations/implications

Other factors that have not been investigated may interfere with and contribute to the reduction of unethical behavior (budget slack and data manipulation).

Originality/value

The only variable that interferes in the reduction of unethical behavior is feedback quality. The non-confirmation of all the hypotheses instigates the replication of the research in other contexts for empirical validation of the theoretical model of Langevin and Mendoza (2012).
Antecedents and consequences of impulse buying: a meta-analytic study
Authors: Santini Fernando De Oliveira , Ladeira Wagner Junior , Vieira Valter Afonso , Araujo Clécio Falcão , Sampaio Claudio Hoffmann
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to distinguish between various types of antecedents and consequences of impulse buying. The authors tested it using a meta-analytical approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined 12 databases and analyzed 178 relationships in 100 articles. For the quantitative data analysis, the authors used the coefficient of correlation r as a metric to measure the effect size of the studied scope variables.

Findings

The findings of this meta-analysis demonstrated significant relation of antecedents and consequences of the impulse buying behavior, such as consumer impulsiveness (r = 0.464), materialistic consumption (r = 0.344), purchase pleasure (r = 0.270), hedonic value (r = 0.311), income (r = 0.703), gender (r = 0.150), age (r = −0.062), store atmosphere (r = 0.166), decision-making (r = 0.703) and positive emotions (r = 0.323).

Research limitations/implications

This meta-analysis reviewed relationships found worldwide in the literature, expanding and improving the current knowledge. The meta-analysis identified ways that research on impulse buying is lacking and presented suggestions for the elaboration of new studies to allow future researchers to better define their agendas.

Practical implications

This meta-analysis brings important questions, such as impulse buying behavior is associated not only with consumer impulsiveness but also with materialistic consumption.

Originality/value

This research tested the impact of the antecedents and consequences of impulse buying and presented important results through this meta-analytical review. This meta-analysis contributes to the marketing literature, with a set of empirical generalizations, including relationship coefficients and calculated fail-safe numbers.
Building inclusive communities: teens with disabilities in libraries
Authors: Grassi Renee
Published: September 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide concrete best practices to frontlines young adult and teen librarians for building positive, effective and welcoming relationships with young adults with disabilities at the library. The scope of this paper will include customer service strategies for working with young adults with disabilities. It will also feature strategies for making existing teen programming more accessible to young adults with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

By using the author’s professional library experience and citing other published works, this paper will present customer service strategies for librarians and library staff. It will share strategies for leading programs for and with teens with disabilities and will also address working with parents and caregivers of teens with disabilities.

Findings

This paper recommends specific strategies, so teen librarians are better equipped to provide inclusive customer service to teens with disabilities in libraries. These strategies are as follows: speak directly to the teen, consider communication and language, develop a rapport, respect their privacy, respect and encourage independence, think person-centered, invite their input, invite them to programs, be their advocate and give them permission to be teens. In addition, this paper shares various techniques for working with parents and caregivers, as developing positive relationships with parents is integral to cultivating positive relationships with teens.

Originality/value

Because of teen’s unique developmental, social and emotional needs, librarians require a specific set of competencies for positive engagement. Unless librarians have a background in accessibility or experience with someone with disabilities, they are inadequately prepared to address the needs of this population, specifically regarding customer service to teens with disabilities. This paper aims to build capacity of librarians by expanding knowledge and skills for working with teens with disabilities. As a result, librarians will be able to increase their competency and be equipped with concrete customer service tools. Librarians will be motivated to improve the accessibility of their libraries.