bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grammatical number elicits SNARC and MARC effects as a function of task demands
Authors: Roettger Timo B. , Domahs Frank
Published: November 2014

Despite the robustness of the spatial–numerical association of response codes (SNARC) and linguistic markedness of response codes (MARC) effect, the mechanisms that underlie these effects are still under debate. In this paper, we investigate the extraction of quantity information from German number words and nouns inflected for singular and plural using two alternative forced choice paradigms. These paradigms are applied to different tasks to investigate how access to quantity representation is modulated by task demands. In Experiment 1, we replicated previous SNARC findings for number words—that is, a relative left-hand advantage for words denoting small numbers and a right-hand advantage for words denoting large numbers in semantic tasks (parity decision and quantity comparison). No SNARC effect was obtained for surface or lexical processing tasks (font categorization and lexical decision). In Experiment 2, we found that German words inflected for singular had a relative left-hand advantage, and German words inflected for plural a relative right-hand advantage, showing a SNARC-like effect for grammatical number. The effect interfered, however, with a MARC-like effect based on the markedness asymmetry of singulars and plurals. These two effects appear to be dissociated by response latency rather than task demands, with MARC being more pronounced in early responses and SNARC being more pronounced in late responses. The present findings shed light on the relationship of conceptual number and grammatical number and constrain current accounts of the SNARC and MARC effects.
The impact of training sequence and between-category similarity on unsupervised induction
Authors: Clapper John P.
Published: November 2014

Studies of supervised categorization often show better learning when examples are presented in random alternation rather than massed by category, but such interleaving impairs learning in unsupervised tasks. The exemplar comparison hypothesis explains this result by assuming that people in unsupervised tasks discover generalizations about categories by comparing individual examples, and that interleaving increases the difficulty of such within-category comparisons. The category invention hypothesis explains the interleaving effect by assuming that people are more likely to merge or aggregate potentially separable categories when they are interleaved, and this initial failure to recognize separate categories then acts as an effective barrier to further learning. The present experiments show that the interleaving effect depends on the similarity or alignability of the presented categories. This result provides evidence in favour of the category invention hypothesis, which expects that highly dissimilar (nonalignable) categories will resist aggregation and hence will not be affected by interleaving. The nonmonotonic pattern of learning, and the interaction between sequence and similarity, observed in the alignable conditions of Experiment 3 were also consistent with category invention, but not with exemplar comparison. Implications are discussed for real-world learning, especially the relationship between exposure and learning and between supervised and unsupervised learning.
Risk of Cross Transmission with Point-of-Care Ultrasound System: Effect of a Glass-Sealed Control Panel on Microbial Contamination
Authors: Mekontso Dessap Armand , Jansen Chloe , Boissier Florence , Razazi Keyvan , de Prost Nicolas , Michaud Gaël , Cizeau Florence , Ducellier David , Abid Shariq , Decousser Jean-Winoc , Brun-Buisson Christian
Published: November 2014

Contamination of a point-of-care ultrasound system (POCUS) mainly involved electrocardiography accessories and included pathogenic microorganisms. The use of a glass-sealed control panel significantly facilitated its cleaning and reduced its bacterial contamination compared with a standard control panel. Overall hand hygiene compliance during examinations with POCUS was poor.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(12):1539–1542
Laws of rare events for deterministic and random dynamical systems
Authors: Aytaç Hale , Freitas Jorge , Vaienti Sandro
Published: November 2014

The object of this paper is twofold. From one side we study the dichotomy, in terms of the Extremal Index of the possible Extreme Value Laws, when the rare events are centred around periodic or non-periodic points. Then we build a general theory of Extreme Value Laws for randomly perturbed dynamical systems. We also address, in both situations, the convergence of Rare Events Point Processes. Decay of correlations against

L
1

L^1

observables will play a central role in our investigations.
Liver Biopsy in Children
Authors: Dezsőfi Antal , Baumann Ulrich , Dhawan Anil , Durmaz Ozlem , Fischler Björn , Hadzic Nedim , Hierro Loreto , Lacaille Florence , McLin Valérie A. , Nobili Valerio , Socha Piotr , Vajro Pietro , Knisely Alexander S.
Published: November 2014

Liver biopsy (LB) is still the criterion standard procedure for obtaining liver tissue for histopathological examination and a valuable tool in the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of many parenchymal liver diseases. The aim of this position paper is to summarise the present practice of paediatric LB and make recommendations about its performance. Although histological evaluation of the liver is important in assessing prognosis and exploring treatment, noninvasive techniques (ie, imaging, laboratory markers) may replace use of liver histology. The indications for LB are changing as present knowledge of aetiologies, pathomechanism, and therapeutic options in paediatric liver disease is evolving. Adult and paediatric literature was reviewed to assess the existing clinical practice of LB with focus on the technique, indications, risk of complications, and contraindications in paediatrics. This position paper presents types of LB, indications, complications, contraindications, and an essential checklist for paediatric LB.
The price of correlation risk: evidence from Chinese stock market
Authors: Deng Yiwen , Liu Chen , Zheng Zhenlong
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study how the market correlation changes in Chinese stock market and how the market correlation affects stock returns.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors first examine the relationship between the market correlation and the market return. Then, the authors run formal multiple regressions to see whether correlation risk is priced in security returns.

Findings

– The authors find that market correlation increases when the market index falls down. Though market correlation risk is partly influenced by macroeconomic shocks, volatility risk, liquidity risk and higher moment risk, market correlation contains unique information that measures the benefit investors gain from diversification strategies. The market correlation risk is negatively priced. This conclusion remains valid even if the authors have considered the influence of other risk factors and the impact of conditional information.

Research limitations/implications

– Subjected to the limited history of the Chinese stock market, the authors cannot use more accurate and specific empirical methodology to fulfill the empirical research. And this renders further study.

Originality/value

– This research provides empirical evidence in a new data sample and it sheds lights on correlation strategies for institutional investors in China.
The influence of the market power of Chinese commercial banks on efficiency and stability
Authors: Wang Xiangning , Zeng Xianming , Zhang Zhiyang
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to estimate the cost and profit efficiency (PE) of Chinese commercial banks in the last ten years and investigate how market power affects bank efficiency and stability.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper builds a stochastic frontier analysis model to evaluate the cost and PE of commercial banks. The paper then uses a Lerner index and Z-index to represent market power and stability, respectively. In addition, the paper empirically analyzes the relationship between market power and bank efficiency, stability in the last ten years.

Findings

– The results show that the efficiency of banks on the Chinese mainland increased during the study period, but is still lower than that of banks in Hong Kong; moreover, the efficiency of four state-owned commercial banks is lower than that of medium and small banks. Market power has a negative relationship with efficiency while its relationship with stability varies among Chinese banks.

Research limitations/implications

– The results imply that the promotion of financial liberalization and banking reform to introduce an appropriate competition mechanism has had a positive effect on the efficiency and stability of Chinese commercial banks.

Practical implications

– Thus, the paper will contribute to deepen reform and opening up the banking sector in China.

Social implications

– The healthy development of banking can enhance the ability of banks to withstand financial risks, to promote the harmonious development of society.

Originality/value

– The paper estimates the cost and PE of Chinese commercial banks using SFA model and investigates how market power affects bank efficiency and stability. The study design has a certain novelty, where Lerner index and Z index are used, respectively, to measure market power and stability and management efficiency of commercial banks is investigated from two aspects – PE and cost efficiency – by the translog cost function, instead of Douglas production function. In addition, the paper tries to put some of Hong Kong banks included in the study sample, and has a certain reference value.
Multi-period investment decision problem based on time consistent generalized convex risk measure and extremum scenarios
Authors: Yang Li , Chen Zhiping , Hu Qianhui
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– To help investors find an investment policy with strong competitiveness, the purpose of this paper is to construct a multi-period investment decision model with practicality and superior performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a suitable multi-period risk measure to construct a multi-period portfolio selection model, where target returns at intermediate periods and market frictions are taken into account simultaneously. An efficient scenario tree generation approach is proposed in order to transform the complex multi-period portfolio selection problem into a tractable one.

Findings

– Numerical results show the new scenario tree generation algorithms are stable and can further reduce the tree size. With the scenario tree generated by the new scenario tree generation approach, the optimal investment strategy obtained under the multi-period investment decision model has more superior performance and robustness than the corresponding optimal investment strategy obtained under the single period investment model or the multi-period investment model only paying attention to the terminal cash flow.

Research limitations/implications

– The new risk measure and multi-period investment decision models can stimulate readers to find even better models and to efficiently solve realistic multi-period portfolio selection problems.

Practical implications

– The empirical results show the superior performance and robustness of optimal investment strategy obtained with the new models. What's more important, the empirical analyses tell readers how different market frictions affect the performance of optimal portfolios, which can guide them to efficiently solve real multi-period investment decision problems in practice.

Originality/value

– The paper first derives the concrete structure of the time consistent generalized convex multi-period risk measure, then constructs a multi-period portfolio selection model based on the new multi-period risk measure, and proposes a new extremum scenario tree generation algorithm. The authors construct a realistic multi-period investment decision model. Furthermore, using the proposed scenario tree generation algorithm, the authors transform the established stochastic investment decision model into a deterministic optimization problem, which can provide optimal investment decisions with robustness and superior performance.
CGIJ review
Authors: MacVane Fiona
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the content of the current issue of CGIJ.

Design/methodology/approach

– This review is prepared by the review editor to highlight key points within each article.

Findings

– Enables readers to scan content and select articles of most interest or relevance to their needs.

Originality/value

– CGIJ is the only Emerald health journal providing this service to its readers.
Attitudes of law university library users towards the use of Web OPAC in Karnataka
Authors: Naik Devendra , Nikam Khaiser
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of two law university libraries in the Karnataka state of southern India and their web-based online public access catalogue (web OPAC). Results from a survey of library users’ attitudes towards the use of the web OPAC, methods adopted to learn how to use the web OPAC, guidance sought to use the web OPAC and the extent of use of the web OPAC search facilities in select law school libraries in Karnataka are reported.

Design/methodology/approach

– To study the users’ attitudes towards the use of the web OPAC in law university libraries in Karnataka, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 300 users, including Bachelor Of Legislative Law students, Master of Laws students, research scholars and teaching staff. The sample population was chosen using the convenience sample method, and the researcher received 256 completed and usable questionnaires. A five-point Likert scale was used in the research questionnaire. Typical statistical tests such as mean and standard deviation were applied for the purpose of accuracy.

Findings

– The results of the survey indicated that 92.1 per cent of respondents were using the web OPAC. Most of the web OPAC users strongly agreed that they learned to use the web OPAC from a library orientation programme. It was found that there are positive attitudes towards the web OPAC search facility. The survey also found that the web OPAC search page has not given satisfactory guidance to web OPAC users.

Practical implications

– This research paper produces findings of relevance to any academic library to develop and implement a user-friendly web OPAC service.

Originality/value

– There have been no previous published research studies of the web OPAC and users’ attitudes in the law university libraries in Karnataka state.
On maximum achievable speeds for field solvers
Authors: Löhner Rainald , D. Baum Joseph
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Prompted by the empirical evidence that achievable flow solver speeds for large problems are limited by what appears to be a time of the order of O(0.1) sec/timestep regardless of the number of cores used, the purpose of this paper is to identify why this phenomenon occurs.

Design/methodology/approach

– A series of timing studies, as well as in-depth analysis of memory and inter-processors transfer requirements were carried out for a typical field solver. The results were analyzed and compared to the expected performance.

Findings

– The analysis shows that at present flow speeds per core are already limited by the achievable transfer rate to RAM. For smaller domains/larger number of processors, the limiting speed of CFD solvers is given by the MPI communication network.

Research limitations/implications

– This implies that at present, there is a “limiting useful size” for domains, and that there is a lower limit for the time it takes to update a flowfield.

Practical implications

– For practical calculations this implies that the time required for running large-scale problems will not decrease markedly once these applications migrate to machines with hundreds of thousands of cores.

Originality/value

– This is the first time such a finding has been reported in this context.
Accurate analytical/numerical solution of the heat conduction equation
Authors: Campo Antonio , J. Salazar Abraham , J. Celentano Diego , Raydan Marcos
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to address a novel method for solving parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) in general, wherein the heat conduction equation constitutes an important particular case. The new method, appropriately named the Improved Transversal Method of Lines (ITMOL), is inspired in the Transversal Method of Lines (TMOL), with strong insight from the method of separation of variables.

Design/methodology/approach

– The essence of ITMOL revolves around an exponential variation of the dependent variable in the parabolic PDE for the evaluation of the time derivative. As will be demonstrated later, this key step is responsible for improving the accuracy of ITMOL over its predecessor TMOL. Throughout the paper, the theoretical properties of ITMOL, such as consistency, stability, convergence and accuracy are analyzed in depth. In addition, ITMOL has proven to be unconditionally stable in the Fourier sense.

Findings

– In a case study, the 1-D heat conduction equation for a large plate with symmetric Dirichlet boundary conditions is transformed into a nonlinear ordinary differential equation by means of ITMOL. The numerical solution of the resulting differential equation is straightforward and brings forth a nearly zero truncation error over the entire time domain, which is practically nonexistent.

Originality/value

– Accurate levels of the analytical/numerical solution of the 1-D heat conduction equation by ITMOL are easily established in the entire time domain.
Hartmann Newtonian radiating MHD flow for a rotating vertical porous channel immersed in a Darcian Porous Regime
Authors: Ahmed Sahin , J. Chamkha Ali
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop and correct the problem studied by Makinde and Mhone (2005) to a rotating vertical porous channel immersed in a Darcian porous regime in presence of a strong transverse magnetic filled and with the application of thermal radiation. In this investigation, the fluid is considered to be of viscous, electrically conducting, Newtonian and radiating and is optically thin with a relatively low density. Excellent agreement is obtained for exact solutions with those of previously published works.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this investigation, a closed form analytical method based on the complex notations for the velocity, temperature and the pressure is developed to solve the governing coupled, non-linear partial differential equations. The accuracy and effectiveness of the method are demonstrated.

Findings

– Interestingly observed that, the Lorentizian body force is not act as a drag force as in conventional MHD flows, but as an aiding body force and this will serve to accelerate the flow and boost the primary velocities. Due to the large rotation of the channel, the primary velocities are become flattered and shift towards the walls of the channel. With a rise in Darcian drag force, flow velocity and shear stress are found to reduce. Moreover, increasing thermal radiation and rotation of the channel strongly depress the shear stress, and maximum flow reversal, i.e. back flow is observed due to large Darcian resistance, thermal radiation and rotation.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis is valid for unsteady, two-dimensional laminar flow of an optically thick no-gray gas, electrically conducting, and Newtonian fluid past an isothermal vertical surface adjacent to the Darcian regime with variable surface temperature. An extension to three-dimensional flow case is left for future work.

Practical implications

– Practical interest of such study includes applications in magnetic control of molten iron flow in the steel industry, liquid metal cooling in nuclear reactors, magnetic suppression of molten semi-conducting materials and meteorology and in many branches of engineering and science. It is well known that the effect of thermal radiation is important in space technology and high-temperature processes. Thermal radiation also plays an important role in controlling heat transfer process in polymer processing industry.

Originality/value

– The paper presents useful conclusions with the help of graphical results obtained from studying exact solutions based on complex notations for Darcian drag force, rotation of the channel and conduction-radiation heat transfer interaction by unsteady rotational flow in a vertical porous channel embedded in a Darcian porous regime under the application hydromagnetic force. The results of this study may be of interest to engineers for heat transfer augmentation and drag reduction in heat exchangers as well as MHD boundary layer control of re-entry vehicles, etc.
Numerical analysis on propagation characteristics of methane/air explosion in elbow pipe and pipe network
Authors: Ma Qiuju , Zhang Qi , Chen Jiachen
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study propagation characteristics of methane explosion in the pipe network and analyze the propagation laws of methane explosion wave along the elbow pipe and pipe network.

Design/methodology/approach

– Numerical simulation using software package AutoReaGas, a finite-volume computational code for fluid dynamics suitable for gas explosion and blast problems, is adopted to simulate the propagation characteristics of methane explosion and the property of flow field in complex structures.

Findings

– Due to reflection effects of corners of elbow pipe, the peak overpressures at corner locations in the elbow pipe go about two times higher than that in the straight pipe. In the parallel pipe network, the peak overpressure increases significantly at the intersection point, while the flame speed decreases at the junction. All these indicate that pipe corners and bifurcations could substantially enhance explosion partly which can bring more severe damage at the corner area. The explosion violence is strengthened after flames and blast waves are superimposed, such that equipments and people in these areas need special strengthening protection.

Originality/value

– The numerical results presented in this paper may provide some useful guidance for the design of the underground laneway structures and to take protective measures at corners and bifurcations in coal mines.
Non-similar solutions for mixed convection along a wedge embedded in a porous medium saturated by a non-Newtonian nanofluid
Authors: J. Chamkha Ali , Rashad M. , Subba Reddy Gorla Rama
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a boundary layer analysis for the mixed convection past a vertical wedge in a porous medium saturated with a power law type non-Newtonian nanofluid. Numerical results for friction factor, surface heat transfer rate and mass transfer rate have been presented for parametric variations of the buoyancy ratio parameter Nr, Brownian motion parameter Nb, thermophoresis parameter Nt, Lewis number Le and the power law exponent n. The dependency of the friction factor, surface heat transfer rate (Nusselt number) and mass transfer rate on these parameters has been discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

– This general non-linear problem cannot be solved in closed form and, therefore, a numerical solution is necessary to describe the physics of the problem. An implicit, tri-diagonal finite-difference method has proven to be adequate and sufficiently accurate for the solution of this kind of problems. Therefore, it is adopted in the present study. Variable step sizes were used. The convergence criterion employed in this study is based on the difference between the current and the previous iterations. When this difference reached 10−5 for all the points in the η directions, the solution was assumed to be converged, and the iteration process was terminated.

Findings

– The results indicate that as the buoyancy ratio parameter (Nr) and thermophoresis parameter (Nt) increase, the friction factor increases whereas the heat transfer rate (Nusselt number) and mass transfer rate (Sherwood number) decrease. As the Brownian motion parameter (Nb) increases, the friction factor and surface mass transfer rates increase whereas the surface heat transfer rate decreases. As Le increases, mass transfer rates increase. As the power law exponent n increases, the heat and mass transfer rates increase.

Research limitations/implications

– The analysis is valid for natural convection dominated regime. The combined forced and natural convection dominated regimes will be reported in a future work.

Practical implications

– The approach used is useful in optimizing the porous media heat transfer problems in geothermal energy recovery, crude oil extraction, ground water pollution, thermal energy storage and flow through filtering media.

Originality/value

– The results of the study may be of some interest to the researchers of the field of porous media heat transfer. Porous foam and microchannel heat sinks used for electronic cooling are optimized utilizing the porous medium. The utilization of nanofluids for cooling of microchannel heat sinks requires understanding of fundamentals of nanofluid convection in porous media.
Fishing for the impacts of climate change in the marine sector: a case study
Authors: van Putten Ingrid , Metcalf Sarah , Frusher Stewart , Marshall Nadine , Tull Malcolm
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims, using a case study-based research approach, to investigate the role of climate and non-climate drivers in shaping three commercial marine sectors: fishing, aquaculture and marine tourism. Essential elements of climate change research include taking a whole of systems approach, which entails a socio-ecological perspective, and considering climate challenges alongside other challenges faced by resource users.

Design/methodology/approach

– The analysis is based on information gained using in-depth semi-structured interviews in a coastal community in southeast Australia. Even though climate drivers differ, the economic sectors of this community are representative of many similar coastal communities around Australia.

Findings

– Results show that at a community level, people involved in, or associated with, marine sectors are aware of climate change impacts on the marine environment. Even though many may not see it as a pressing issue, the potential effect of climate change on business profitability was recognised. Both the profitability of commercial fishing and aquaculture (oysters) was affected through mostly a downward pressure on product price, while marine tourism profitability was mainly affected through changes in the number of visitors.

Research limitations/implications

– A case study approach is inherently case study-specific – although generalities from complex system representation, built on local survey respondent observation and knowledge of the combined and linked physical–biological-, social-, economic- and governance drivers. This study shows the importance of a holistic approach; yet, researchers must also consider all community sectors and cross-regional investigations to avoid future resource conflicts.

Practical implications

– A number of positive impacts from climate-driven change, mainly from windfall economic benefits of geographically relocated species, were reported for commercial- and charter fishing. However, no positive impacts were reported for the aquaculture- and dive sector. In the aquaculture sector, climate drivers were of great significance in industry participation, while participation in commercial fishing was mainly driven by socio-economic factors.

Social implications

– To ensure the combined marine sectors retain a viable component of coastal communities’ economic focus, there is a need to understand what drives participation in the marine sector, and what the role of climate change is in this. To fully understand the ramifications of climate change in the marine environment, it is essential to understand its impacts across all marine sectors.

Originality/value

– Combining the different domains with climate drivers allows for identification and assessment of targeted adaptation needs and opportunities and sets up a comprehensive approach to determine future adaptation pathways.
Climate change as a challenge to China’s insurance industry
Authors: Xu Xian
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the risks caused by recent climate change in China and their effects on the insurance industry. China has experienced more extreme events (floods, droughts and storms) in recent years than ever before, causing the insurance industry to pay increasing attention to the negative consequences of climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper reports on the frequency and severity of extreme risks caused by climate change. It examines what Chinese insurers are doing to address climate change risks and discusses opportunities for expanding their role in providing relief against natural disasters.

Findings

– Being professional risk managers, Chinese insurance companies need to identify and assess the impacts of climate change to play a more prominent role in a market offering great future opportunity.

Originality/value

– The Chinese insurance industry has not been actively involved in the management of increasing risks due to climate change. This paper will discuss the reason for this limited involvement and the ways for the insurance industry to overcome obstacles, enabling it to capitalize on future opportunities.
Climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation assessment
Authors: Metternicht Graciela , Sabelli Andrea , Spensley Jason
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a new framework for climate change vulnerability, impact and adaptation (VIA) assessment. Greater attention has been given in recent years to the importance of conducting climate change VIA assessment prior to, or as part of, climate change adaptation strategies and projects. A VIA assessment provides decision-makers and project developers with information on the location and causes of vulnerability based on local knowledge and scientific data, so that effective adaptation responses that are targeted and site-specific can be designed. A challenge facing practitioners in this field is the lack of clear methodologies or agreed frameworks on how to conduct a VIA assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents a VIA methodological framework that has been developed through three sub-regional pilot assessments on vulnerability and impacts of climate change, as part of the Regional Gateway for Technology Transfer and Action on Climate Change in Latin America and The Caribbean.

Findings

– While it is recognized that methodologies and tools may differ depending on the unique local context of the study area and sector under analysis, there are key components that every assessment needs to consider.

Originality/value

– The framework proposed can assist practitioners to deliver outputs from VIAs that are holistic, and provide the most appropriate type of information required for effective, context-specific adaptation responses.
Voltage control strategy for an uncertain mobile robot
Authors: Mehdi Fateh Mohammad , Asghar Arab Ali
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The uncertainty and nonlinearity are the challenging problems for the control of a nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot. To overcome these problems, many valuable methods have been proposed by using two control loops namely the kinematic control and the torque control so far. In majority of the proposed approaches the dynamics of actuators is omitted for simplicity in the control design. This drawback degrades the control performance in high-velocity tracking control. On the other hand, to guarantee stability and overcome uncertainties, the control methods become computationally extensive and may be impractical due to using all states. The purpose of this paper is to design a simple controller with guaranteed stability for overcoming the nonlinearity, uncertainty and actuator dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

– The control design includes two control loops, the kinematic control loop and the novel dynamic control loop. The dynamic control loop uses the voltage control strategy instead of the torque control strategy. Feedbacks of the robot orientation, robot position, robot linear and angular velocity, and motor currents are given to the control system.

Findings

– To improve the precision, the dynamics of motors are taken into account. The most important advantages of the proposed control law is that it is free from the robot dynamics, thereby the controller is simple, fast response and robust with ignorable tracking error. The control approach is verified by stability analysis. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed control applied on an uncertain nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot driven by permanent magnet dc motors. A comparison with an adaptive sliding-mode dynamic control approach confirms the superiority of the proposed approach in terms of precision, simplicity of design and computations.

Originality/value

– The originality of the paper is to present a new control design for an uncertain nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot by using voltage control strategy in replace of the torque control strategy. In addition, a novel state-space model of electrically driven nonholonomic wheeled mobile robot in the workspace is presented.
Vehicle identification by improved stacking via kernel principal component regression
Authors: Zhang Bailing , Pan Hao
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Many applications in intelligent transportation demand accurate categorization of vehicles. The purpose of this paper is to propose a working image-based vehicle classification system. The first component vehicle detection is implemented by applying Dalal and Triggs's histograms of oriented gradients features and linear support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The second component vehicle classification, which is the emphasis of this paper, is accomplished by an improved stacked generalization. As an effective ensemble learning strategy, stacked generalization has been proposed to combine multiple models using the concept of a meta-learner. However, it was found that the well-known meta-learning scheme multi-response linear regression (MLR) for stacked generalization performs poorly on the vehicle classification.

Design/methodology/approach

– A new meta-learner is then proposed based on kernel principal component regression (KPCR). The stacked generalization scheme consists of a heterogeneous classifier ensemble with seven base classifiers, i.e. linear discriminant classifier, fuzzy k-nearest neighbor, logistic regression, Parzen classifier, Gaussian mixture model, multiple layer perceptron and SVM.

Findings

– Experimental results using more than 2,500 images from four types of vehicles (bus, light truck, car and van) demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The improved stacked generalization produced consistently better results when compared to any of the single base classifier used and four other beta learning algorithms, including MLR, majority voting, logistic regression and decision template.

Originality/value

– With the seven base classifiers, the KPCR-based stacking offers a performance of 96 percent accuracy and 95 percent κ coefficient, thus exhibiting promising potentials for real-world applications.
New stabilization conditions for continuous fuzzy models using their discretized forms
Authors: Ameni Ellouze , Ksantini Mohamed , Lauber Jimmy , Delmotte François , Chtourou Mohamed
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to deal with the stabilization of the continuous-time Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy models by using their discretized models.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this case, a discrete model is obtained from the discretization of the continuous TS fuzzy model. The gains obtained from a non-parallel distributed compensation controller ensuring the stabilization of the discrete model are used to check if the discrete control law used in the continuous time without any zero-order hold can stabilize the continuous TS model.

Findings

– This method is compared to another published method.

Originality/value

– Therefore, the originality of this paper consists in the fusion of the two continuous and discrete cases to obtain new stabilization conditions in the continuous case. Simulation examples show the interest of the proposed approach.
Supervisor or counsellor? – Emotional boundary work in supervision
Authors: Strandler Ola , Johansson Thomas , Wisker Gina , Claesson Silwa
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this article was to focus on how supervisors relate to and handle the emotional work involved in the supervision process. These emotional issues are related to changes in the academic system, such as an increasing emphasis on efficacy and quality assurance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Interviews with supervisors are discussed using a theoretical framework built on the concepts of emotional boundary work and feeling rules. A narrative approach was used to make connections between individual stories and the institutional level of the academic system.

Findings

– The findings show how emotions challenge and condition supervision, and how the micro-processes of supervision and the wider university systems are tightly connected. A paradox is illuminated where emotional aspects are both recognized as an important feature of supervision and as a threat, which could affect it in the context of regulation and increasing demands on efficiency.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that a mediating role of supervisors and emotional boundary work needs to be considered in supervision, which demands certain amount of flexibility in regulations. Also, the risks of associating supervision with private issues are acknowledged.

Originality/value

– The findings suggest that supervision is a highly emotional process, and that supervisors, on the one hand, tend to downplay the emotional side of this process, but on the other hand, are well aware of the complexity of the supervision process and its demands on them. Although supervisor–student interactions have become more regulated, they also include more attention to human interactions, feelings and emotional boundary work.
Mentor-protégé fit
Authors: L. Baker Vicki , J. Pifer Meghan , A. Griffin Kimberly
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this conceptual paper is to explore Mentor-protégé fit as important to the selection and development of successful doctoral student–faculty mentoring relationships. We suggest that the student–faculty relationship in doctoral education is an additional and previously untested type of Mentor-protégé fit.

Design/methodology/approach

– Generated from an existing framework of identity in the academy, we explore how three types of identity (professional, relational, personal) may influence students’ fit assessments as they seek to initiate and develop relationships.

Findings

– We offer propositions for research to further explore the potential application of the proposed framework to knowledge generation about the doctoral student experience.

Originality/value

– While the research about doctoral education has considered all three aspects of students’ identities individually, it has not explicated the ways in which these intersecting identities relate to students’ needs and expectations related to mentoring, their choices related to mentor selection, or the effectiveness and outcomes of mentoring relationships in fostering success and satisfaction.
Young people online and the social value of privacy
Authors: Steeves Valerie , Regan Priscilla
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework to contextualize young people’s lived experiences of privacy and invasion online. Social negotiations in the construction of privacy boundaries are theorized to be dependent on individual preferences, abilities and context-dependent social meanings.

Design/methodology/approach

– Empirical findings of three related Ottawa-based studies dealing with young people’s online privacy are used to examine the benefits of online publicity, what online privacy means to young people and the social importance of privacy. Earlier philosophical discussions of privacy and identity, as well as current scholarship, are drawn on to suggest that privacy is an inherently social practice that enables social actors to navigate the boundary between self/other and between being closed/open to social interaction.

Findings

– Four understandings of privacy’s value are developed in concordance with recent privacy literature and our own empirical data: privacy as contextual, relational, performative and dialectical.

Social implications

– A more holistic approach is necessary to understand young people’s privacy negotiations. Adopting such an approach can help re-establish an ability to address the ways in which privacy boundaries are negotiated and to challenge surveillance schemes and their social consequences.

Originality/value

– Findings imply that privacy policy should focus on creating conditions that support negotiations that are transparent and equitable. Additionally, policy-makers must begin to critically evaluate the ways in which surveillance interferes with the developmental need of young people to build relationships of trust with each other and also with adults.
Perceptions of ethics in IS: how age can affect awareness
Authors: Helen Wilford Sara , Jacqueline Wakunuma Kutoma
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This aim of this paper was to highlight the awareness of ethical issues across the group of information systems (IS) professionals from a range of geographical regions.

Design/methodology/approach

– An initial survey was conducted that informed in-depth interviews with 26 IS professionals from across the globe. The study identified that around 70 per cent of the sample were over 50 years old. This provided an opportunity to consider age-related differences in perception regarding ethical awareness of both current and emerging technologies.

Findings

– The project revealed that the more mature IS professionals had a significantly higher level of awareness and perceived understanding regarding the importance of ethical issues than the younger IS professionals.

Research limitations/implications

– The research was limited to IS professionals and so the findings do not generalise further. Future research would be beneficial to find out if the higher level of ethical awareness is also evident across older people in general or whether it is specific to technology professionals.

Practical implications

– IS professionals need to be exposed to high standards and expectations of ethical behaviour from senior colleagues, as well as embedding this within technical education.

Social implications

– Caution with regards to youth culture and youthitisation of the workforce needs to be exerted to avoid rash decision-making and short-termism, which could undermine progress and development. A change in the view of employers to older workers will also require a change in attitudes across Western society, particularly as demographics continue to skew towards an aging population.

Originality/value

– This paper provides new insight into the ethical awareness of older employees and goes some way to dispel the myths surrounding stereotypes of older workers as being fearful of technology and resistant to change.
Allowing digital piracy for strategic benefits to businesses
Authors: Herjanto Halimin , S. Gaur Sanjaya , Saransomrurtai Chayanin , Hock Quik Wee
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the digital piracy literature and present the positive impacts of digital piracy and its benefit to businesses. A great deal of the literature discusses the consequences of digital piracy, but, in most cases, the focus is on the negative consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors draw on both the theoretical and empirical academic literature on digital piracy so as to analyze the ways in which digital piracy positively contributes to digital businesses.

Findings

– The paper provides information on the positive consequences of digital piracy and demonstrates that the benefits include product diffusion, network externality, innovation, cost reduction, an effective promotional and publicity vehicle, and technology standardization.

Originality/value

– This paper investigates potential benefits of digital piracy and provides insights which may offer a fuller picture of the consequences of digital piracy.
Cross promotion of web references in print ads
Authors: Lepkowska-White Elzbieta , Parsons Amy , Ceylan Aylin
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine whether advertisers attempt to engage consumers with online information presented in print advertisements by investigating whether they respond to consumers’ motives for using advertisements and whether these engagement practices have improved over time. By creating connections among different advertising channels, marketers strive to be more effective in building brand equity, online traffic and sales.

Design/methodology/approach

– The Uses and Gratification theory is utilized as the framework to content analyze the content and presentation of web references in 2,613 advertisements from 2008 and 2,159 advertisements from 2012. Chi-square analysis is used to compare the content of web references in both time periods.

Findings

– Even though past literature suggests that consumers use media and advertising to satisfy a variety of informational, personal identity, social and entertainment needs, advertisers respond with mostly ineffective and generic informational web references that fail to address those needs.

Research limitations/implications

– The study suggests that advertisers may have difficulty adopting the new advertising paradigm which identifies customers as active respondents of advertising. Web references analyzed in this study do not address consumers’ motives for advertisement use.

Practical implications

– Advertisers have not been effectively utilizing cross-promotion when it comes to directing traffic from print advertisements to Web sites. More attention and resources should be given to cross-promotion to ensure effective coordination between media types.

Originality/value

– This study questions advertisers’ current approach toward cross-promotion. Findings help advertisers evaluate and develop better practices to encourage consumer engagement with web references placed in print advertisements to drive traffic to online stores.