bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“This theatre is a part of me” contrasting brand attitude and brand attachment as drivers of audience behaviour
Authors: Baumgarth Carsten
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of brand attitude and brand attachment on different categories of visitors’ behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper adapts a model from the classical brand research on the cultural sector. This model is tested by a visitor survey for an independent theatre and the soft modelling approach PLS.

Findings

– Brand attitude and brand attachment explain similar simple types of consumer behaviour in the cultural and arts context. However, most difficult visitors’ behaviour like volunteering or demonstration is only explained by brand attachment.

Practical implications

– Cultural manager should consider brand attachment as an additional construct in classical visitor surveys. Furthermore, cultural manager should develop and implement measures for increasing the brand attachment via a higher level of brand identification and brand prominence.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first research, which integrates the construct brand attachment in the cultural sector. Furthermore, the distinction between different categories of visitors’ behaviour is new and fruitful for further brand research in the cultural sector. Finally, the discussed measures for improving the brand attachment opens directions for further research.
Star quality: celebrity casting in London West End theatres
Authors: Caldwell Niall , Nicholson Kathryn
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the practice of casting celebrity performers in London West End theatres. The paper uses the literature on celebrity to explore the impact that casting a celebrity has on the London theatre audience.

Design/methodology/approach

– The pervasiveness of celebrity culture forms the background and starting point for this research. In the first phase, theatre managers, directors and producers were interviewed to explore their views on the practice of celebrity casting. In the second phase, an audience survey was conducted. The approach taken is exploratory and is intended to illuminate the conditions under which a successful celebrity-focused strategy can be constructed.

Findings

– A distinction between fame and celebrity was drawn by both theatre professionals and audiences, with celebrity status being seen as something that is created by media exposure and being in the public eye. This is in contrast to fame, which is earned by being famous for something, or some achievement. Theatre audiences are more likely to be attracted by celebrities who have theatrical expertise and not by someone known simply through film, television or the all-pervasive gossip columns. Celebrities with a background in theatre and film were seen to strongly draw audiences to the theatre, as opposed to those with a background in reality TV shows, search-for-a-star shows or for being half of a famous couple.

Originality/value

– The paper is focused on the theatre and makes an original contribution to the current discussion of the power wielded by celebrities. It is the first empirical research on this aspect of the theatre business. Its contribution lies in understanding audience members’ interpretation and understanding of celebrity to ascertain the extent to which they perceive celebrities as credible to perform theatre. This is based on a differentiation between their mediated fame and expertise. It is helpful and useful information for producers when deciding whether or not to cast a celebrity and to which audiences that the celebrity might appeal.
Firm characteristics, distress risk and average stock returns
Authors: Simlai Prodosh
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the empirical relationship between firm-level characteristics and the variability of the average portfolio returns of distressed firms. The cross-sectional role of momentum in the market mispricing of distressed firms is evaluated. Distress risk associated with size and book-to-market ratio is also disentangled.

Design/methodology/approach

– All of NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ stocks between January 1972 and December 2008 are used, and the individual and joint role of firm characteristics are studied in detail. Using a measure of distressed stocks based on Campbell, Hilscher and Szilagyi (CHS, 2008), new findings on how stock return anomalies are related to the interactions between firm characteristics and financial distress risk are provided.

Findings

– The findings show that the size and value effects are not due to distress risk. Also, contrary to the existing empirical evidence, momentum does not proxy for distress risk. Furthermore, in the cross-sectional analysis, momentum subsumes the effect of size risk, and book-to-market acts as an independent state variable.

Research limitations/implications

– The exposition of the paper is limited in many directions. To measure the extent of financial distress, only the model of CHS (2008) is used. As the level of distress is the key input in the paper, it would be interesting to use some other measure of distress, such as Z-score and O-score in the sample.

Practical implications

– Collectively, the pricing results in this paper help to foster a better understanding of the nature of distressed stocks, and the identification of distress risk premium. It will help scholars and investment professionals to make robust portfolio management decisions.

Originality/value

– Overall, this paper investigates an important research direction that can potentially shed new light on our understanding of the risk–return relationship of financially distressed stocks. The individual effect of momentum on the variability of the distressed firm’s average returns is highlighted. A formal cross-sectional test of the relationship between distress risk and firm characteristics that include momentum is presented. None of them is quite known in the existing literature.
Market-to-book ratio and conditional conservatism: firms’ voluntary expensing of employee stock options
Authors: Wakil Gulraze
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the relationship between firms’ decisions to expense employee stock options (ESOs) under the voluntary period of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123 (SFAS 123) and their market-to-book (MTB-1) ratio and conditional conservatism. Conservatism is chosen because, even though expensing of ESOs is a conservative accounting treatment, it is not obvious how the decision would be related to the MTB-1 ratio and conditional conservatism, particularly because the MTB-1 is a long-run measure of conservatism and the decision to voluntarily expense is examined over two years. The setting provides a unique opportunity to assess how two major proxies of conservatism are related.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using firms listed in the S&P 1500 index, firms that expensed ESOs are compared to firms that disclosed only in the financial statements. The main comparison uses a logistic regression.

Findings

– During the period when expensing ESOs was voluntary, SFAS 123, the MTB-1 ratio was negatively associated with ESO expense recognition, but conditional conservatism was positively associated with ESO expense recognition. The former is attributed to incentives of conservatism and the latter to the tenet of conservatism tending to reduce income.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings add to the literature/controversy on the negative relationship between the MTB-1 ratio and conditional conservatism. More important, they support using more than one measure of conservatism in studies that involve accounting conservatism. A limitation is that the findings are specific to voluntary ESO expense recognition.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine how conservatism affects the choice to recognize an item on the financial statements or disclosure only. In addition, the study shows that firms were willing to incur real costs from their financial reporting.
Communicating GHG mitigating food consumption in-store
Authors: Ekelund Lena , Hunter Erik , Spendrup Sara , Tjärnemo Heléne
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Current food consumption patterns contribute negatively to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change. Positioned at the interface between producers and consumers, retailers have the potential to reduce this problem through informing their customers on the consequences of their actions. The purpose of this paper is to understand the variety of ways European retailers go about informing their customers on the linkage between food choice and climate change as well as which actions they advocate in-store to reduce the problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– In-store walkthroughs lasting between 40 minutes and 1.5 hours were carried out at 30 grocery stores in five European countries to identify climate mitigating communications. The observations targeted any message produced and transmitted by the retailer where links between food and climate change were drawn.

Findings

– The diversity in climate mitigating food communication we expected to find across Europe did not materialize. Only four out of the 30 retailers visited transmitted to their customers any information showing a direct link between food consumption and climate change. Indirectly, the authors found some retailers communicating food choices believed to lead to GHG reduction without linking them to climate change. Finally the authors found several retailers communicating what the authors argue are ambiguous messages to their customers where sustainability issues were confounded with climate ones. The dearth of climate mitigating food communications reveals the complexity in informing customers on such issues but also a possible lack of interest on the part of both parties.

Originality/value

– This research contributes empirically to knowledge of how retailers communicate climate mitigating food consumption to consumers.
Exploring consumer motivations towards buying local fresh food products
Authors: Arsil Poppy , Li Elton , Bruwer Johan , Lyons Graham
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how consumers from a developing country background such as Indonesia make local fresh food decisions for daily eating.

Design/methodology/approach

– The use of the means-end chain approach is utilized as a measure of attributes, consequences and values of locally produced products.

Findings

– For Javanese ethnic group in Indonesia, “save money” and “health benefits” are identified views that motivate consumers purchasing their local foods.

Research limitations/implications

– Although investigating the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia, the results of this study cannot be generalized to all Indonesian consumers and a larger sample needs to be studied to generalize the results to the wider population of Indonesia.

Practical implications

– It is better for the Government to promote local food policies that is based on identified motivations of consumers. “Save money” and “health benefits” themes can be used as the central messages for the development of advertising strategies.

Originality/value

– This study identifies the Javanese motivations for buying local foods and examines the motivation differences between rural and urban locations. This is providing views for the Government and individual businesses use to.
Preparing Emirati students to meet the English language requirements for higher education: a pilot study
Authors: Gitsaki Christina , A. Robby Matthew , Bourini Ahmad
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report on an applied research project that was conceived in response to the low number of Emirati high school graduates entering directly into undergraduate programmes in higher education institutions mainly due to lack of adequate academic English proficiency. Performing well in international standardised testing such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is of primary importance in preparing non-English speaking learners for higher education delivered through the medium of English.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three hundred ninety-one secondary education Emirati students were involved in an intervention study. The study was cross-sectional, and it used a pre/post-design to measure change and impact on the students’ IELTS scores with comparisons between different experimental groups by gender, region and overall. Additional attitudinal data were collected using a survey with students, teachers and principals involved in the intervention programme.

Findings

– Results showed a statistically significant and educationally meaningful pre/post-improvement for the students who attended the IELTS preparation programme and a positive attitude towards the intervention programme.

Research limitations/implications

– A limitation of the study is that it used a quasi-experimental design with some threats to the validity of the design, so some caution is suggested in drawing conclusions which are too strong.

Originality/value

– This project is the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirated as it endeavoured to raise secondary education Emirati students’ awareness of the knowledge and skills involved in succeeding in the IELTS exam and provided evidence of the kind of programme that could have a positive impact on student learning.
Modelling of small CFRP aerostructure parts for X-ray imaging simulation
Authors: Bliznakova Kristina , Kamarianakis Zacharias , Dermitzakis Aris , Bliznakov Zhivko , Buliev Ivan , Pallikarakis Nicolas
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a realistic computational model of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures dedicated for in-silico investigations of the use of X-ray-based imaging techniques as non-destructive testing (NDT) of CFRP parts.

Design/methodology/approach

– CFRPs contain layers of carbon-fibres bundles within resin. Bundles’ orientation in the different layers is arranged with respect to each other at a well-defined primary direction. In the model, the bundle was simulated as a circular cylinder. The resulted model is a stack of layers of unidirectional bundles having orientation of 0°/90°/45°/−45°. Two CFRP structures were modelled: a flat CFRP part and a real shaped CFRP clip. A porous layer and non-carbon fibres were inserted within each model, respectively. X-ray projection images were generated with a dedicated simulation programme. Three setups were investigated: radiography, tomosynthesis and cone-beam CT (CBCT).

Findings

– Results showed that porosity and non-carbon fibres were visible with all X-ray-based techniques. Tomosynthesis and CBCT, however, provide higher quality image of defects.

Practical implications

– The CFRP computational model is a valuable tool in design, testing and optimization phase of X-ray-based imaging techniques for use in NDT of composite materials. Simulated images are generated within a short time; thus results from virtual optimization and testing are obtained very fast and at low cost.

Originality/value

– An innovative computational model of CFRP structures, dedicated for X-ray imaging simulations, has been developed. The model is characterized by simplicity in its creation and realistic visual appearance of the produced X-ray images.
Design, analysis and optimization of thin walled semi-monocoque wing structures using different structural idealization in the preliminary design phase
Authors: Dababneh Odeh , Kayran Altan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– In modeling an aircraft wing, structural idealizations are often employed in hand calculations to simplify the structural analysis. In real applications of structural design, analysis and optimization, finite element methods are used because of the complexity of the geometry, combined and complex loading conditions. The purpose of this paper is to give a comprehensive study on the effect of using different structural idealizations on the design, analysis and optimization of thin walled semi-monocoque wing structures in the preliminary design phase.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the design part of the paper, wing structures are designed by employing two different structural idealizations that are typically used in the preliminary design phase. In the structural analysis part, finite element analysis of one of the designed wing configurations is performed using six different one and two dimensional finite element pairs which are typically used to model the sub-elements of semi-monocoque wing structures. Finally in the optimization part, wing structure is optimized for minimum weight by using finite element models which have the same six different finite element pairs used in the analysis phase.

Findings

– Based on the results presented in the paper, it is concluded that with the simplified methods, preliminary sizing of the wing configurations can be performed with enough confidence as long as the simplified method based designs are also optimized iteratively, which is what is practiced in the design phase of this study.

Originality/value

– This research aims at investigating the effect of using different one and two dimensional element pairs on the final analyzed and optimized configurations of the wing structure, and conclusions are inferred with regard to the sensitivity of the optimized wing configurations with respect to the choice of different element types in the finite element model.
Implementation of glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot driven by double flexible rope
Authors: Jin-gang Jiang , Yong-de Zhang , Shu Zhang
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to implement a glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot driven by a double flexible rope, so as to replace manual cleaning. The glass-curtain-wall, because of its excellent daylighting performance, damp-proofing characteristics, heat insulation properties and aesthetics, is widely used in modern city buildings. For glass-curtain-wall buildings, regular cleaning of the glass-curtain-wall is necessary to ensure that the surface of the building appears clean and tidy, which in turn contributes toward preserving the overall aesthetic appearance of the city. Currently, the primary method of cleaning glass curtain walls is manual cleaning by workers on a suspended platform.

Design/methodology/approach

– The mechanical structure of the proposed glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot driven by a double flexible rope is inspired by the way a spider moves by pulling its silk draglines in the air. For self-locking protection and increased rope friction, the robot’s moving section includes a worm reducer and multislot master–slave roller. The cleaning section comprises a water tank, control valve, shower nozzle and brush. The wall adsorbing section is realized by a double rotor. The workspace of the robot is analyzed. Flexible rope winding and unreeling control of the cleaning robot is deduced. The force of the cleaning robot when the double rotor is working is analyzed and calculated. The prototype of the glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot model driven by a double flexible rope is established, and experiments wherein the robot moves along a preset track, as well as cleaning experiments, are performed.

Findings

– The prototype of the glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot model driven by a double flexible rope can move along the preset track, satisfy the design functions and clean effectively. The experimental results verify the validity and practicality of the robot.

Research limitations/implications

– The implication of this research is that a glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot model driven by a double flexible rope fulfills the movement strategy and drive-type requirements for cleaning glass curtain walls. The limitation of this research is that it is difficult to implement rapid cleaning.

Originality/value

– The traditional method of manual cleaning by workers on a suspended platform will be changed after the glass-curtain-wall cleaning robot is manufactured, and the advent of this cleaning robot for the low- and mid-rise buildings will reduce the cost of cleaning buildings, improve the working environment and enhance production efficiency.
Step-exchange strategy for balance control of a walking biped under a lateral impact
Authors: Kim Yeoun-Jae , Lee Joon-Yong , Lee Ju-Jang
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a step-exchange strategy for balance control of a walking biped robot when a lateral impact acts suddenly. A step-out strategy has been recently proposed for balance control when an unknown lateral force acts to a biped robot during walking. This step-out strategy causes a robot to absorb the impact kinetic energy and efficiently maintain balance without falling down. Nevertheless, it was found that the previous strategies have drawbacks that the two foots should always be on the ground (double-support mode) after being balanced and the authors think it is difficult to continue walking after being balanced. Unlike the existing balance strategies, the proposed step-exchange strategy is to not only maintain balance but also to lift one leg in the air (single-support mode) after being balanced so that it is easy for a biped robot to keep walking after being balanced.

Design/methodology/approach

– In the proposed step-exchange strategy, forward Newton–Euler equation, angular momentum and energy conservation equation were derived. Hill-climbing algorithm is utilized for numerically finding a solution. To verify the proposed strategy, a biped robot by Open Dynamics Engine was stimulated, and experiments with a real biped robot (LRH-1) were also conducted.

Findings

– The proposed step-exchange strategy enables a walking biped robot under a lateral impact to keep balance and to keep a single-support mode after exchanging a leg. It is helpful for a biped robot to continue walking without any stop. It is found that the proposed step-exchange strategy can be applicable for maintaining balance even if a biped robot is moving. Even though this proposal seems immature yet, it is the first attempt to exchange the supporting foot itself. This strategy is very straightforward and intuitive because humans are also likely to exchange their supporting foot onto the opposite side when an unexpected force is acting.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed step-exchange strategy described in this paper can be applicable in the situation when the external force is applied in the +Y direction, the left leg is the swing leg and the right leg is the stance leg, or it can also be applicable in the situation when the external force is applied in −Y direction, the right leg is the swing leg and the left leg is the stance leg (Figure 2 for ±Y force direction). If an impact force acts to the side of the swing leg, the other step-exchange strategy is needed. The authors are studying this issue as a future work.

Originality/value

– The authors have originated the proposed step-exchange strategy for balance control of a walking biped robot under lateral impact. The strategy is genuine and superior in comparison with the state-of-the-art strategy because not only can a biped robot be balanced but it can also easily continue walking by using the step-exchange strategy.
A distance error based industrial robot kinematic calibration method
Authors: Zhenhua Wang , Hui Xu , Guodong Chen , Rongchuan Sun , Sun Lining
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a distance accuracy-based industrial robot kinematic calibration model. Nowadays, the repeatability of the industrial robot is high, while the absolute positioning accuracy and distance accuracy are low. Many factors affect the absolute positioning accuracy and distance accuracy, and the calibration method of the industrial robot is an important factor. When the traditional calibration methods are applied on the industrial robot, the accumulative error will be involved according to the transformation between the measurement coordinate and the robot base coordinate.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this manuscript, a distance accuracy-based industrial robot kinematic calibration model is proposed. First, a simplified kinematic model of the robot by using the modified Denavit–Hartenberg (MDH) method is introduced, then the proposed distance error-based calibration model is presented; the experiment is set up in the next section.

Findings

– The experimental results show that the proposed calibration model based on MDH and distance error can improve the distance accuracy and absolute position accuracy dramatically.

Originality/value

– The proposed calibration model based on MDH and distance error can improve the distance accuracy and absolute position accuracy dramatically.
Active interaction control applied to a lower limb rehabilitation robot by using EMG recognition and impedance model
Authors: Meng Wei , Liu Quan , Zhou Zude , Ai Qingsong
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a seamless active interaction control method integrating electromyography (EMG)-triggered assistance and the adaptive impedance control scheme for parallel robot-assisted lower limb rehabilitation and training.

Design/methodology/approach

– An active interaction control strategy based on EMG motion recognition and adaptive impedance model is implemented on a six-degrees of freedom parallel robot for lower limb rehabilitation. The autoregressive coefficients of EMG signals integrating with a support vector machine classifier are utilized to predict the movement intention and trigger the robot assistance. An adaptive impedance controller is adopted to influence the robot velocity during the exercise, and in the meantime, the user’s muscle activity level is evaluated online and the robot impedance is adapted in accordance with the recovery conditions.

Findings

– Experiments on healthy subjects demonstrated that the proposed method was able to drive the robot according to the user’s intention, and the robot impedance can be updated with the muscle conditions. Within the movement sessions, there was a distinct increase in the muscle activity levels for all subjects with the active mode in comparison to the EMG-triggered mode.

Originality/value

– Both users’ movement intention and voluntary participation are considered, not only triggering the robot when people attempt to move but also changing the robot movement in accordance with user’s efforts. The impedance model here responds directly to velocity changes, and thus allows the exercise along a physiological trajectory. Moreover, the muscle activity level depends on both the normalized EMG signals and the weight coefficients of involved muscles.
The Pransky interview: Professor Moshe Shoham, Founder of Mazor Robotics and Microbot Medical
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to present a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of the Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experience of a prominent, robotic industry engineer-turned entrepreneur regarding the evolution, commercialization and challenges of bringing a technological invention to market.

Design/methodology/approach

– The interviewee is Professor Moshe Shoham, Director of the Robotics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. Professor Shoham is also the Founder of Mazor Robotics Ltd. and the co-founder of Microbot Medical. As a pioneer of new and developing fields in medical robotics, Shoham describes his major advancements and innovative approaches.

Findings

– Professor Moshe Shoham has BSc in Aeronautical Engineering, MSc and DSc in Mechanical Engineering from Technion, where he has been teaching for the past nearly 30 years, and is currently the Tamara and Harry Handelsman Academic Chair in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The Technion is renowned for the ingenuity of its graduates, who comprise 70 per cent of Israel’s founders and managers of high-tech industries, making Israel the greatest concentration of high-tech start-up companies anywhere outside of Silicon Valley, California, USA. Along with Technion’s expert faculty, students and facilities, Professor Shoham founded Mazor Robotics in 2001 and co-founded Microbot Medical Ltd. in 2010.

Originality/value

– Professor Shoham, a worldwide acclaimed authority in the field of robotics whose life work is dedicated to developing technologies that improve patient care, is the inventor of the first commercially available mechanical guidance system for spine surgery, the Mazor Robotics Renaissance™ Guidance System. He is also the visionary and creator of the unprecedented Microbot ViRob, an Autonomous Advancing Micro Robot, <1 mm in diameter, which has the ability to crawl within cavities/lumens, allowing physicians to target a disease site with exquisite precision. His latest work includes a revolutionary swimming Micro Robot and the new Mazor Renaissance® Brain Surgery. Professor Shoham holds 30 patents and more than a dozen awards, including the recent prestigious 2013 Thomas A. Edison Patent Award and the election into the National Academy of Engineering.
Encouraging collaborative entrepreneurship in developing countries: the current challenges and a research agenda
Authors: Ratten Vanessa
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the current challenges of collaborative entrepreneurship in developing countries. By focusing on developing countries, a research agenda is proposed that considers how collaborative entrepreneurship differs depending on a country’s level of economic and social development.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review was conducted on entrepreneurship in developing countries to evaluate the financial and non-financial reasons for collaborative entrepreneurship.

Findings

– The analysis of current challenges faced by entrepreneurs in developing countries finds that there are a number of different types of collaborative entrepreneurship conducted. These include cultural collaboration, government attitudes and society benefits, community innovations and collaborative capabilities.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the literature on developing countries by highlighting the collaborative entrepreneurial approach utilized by individuals, businesses and governments to succeed in the competitive global marketplace.
China’s trans-regional entrepreneurship
Authors: Song Lin , Winkler Christoph
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to analyze the supply (technology, education, labour, unemployment and real estate development) and demand (fiscal revenue and resident income) factors that influence regional entrepreneurial activity in China. Entrepreneurship develops at a rapid pace in China with significant differences among the country’s regions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Statistics of 31 Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2010 were collected, and an econometric model of the panel data was established.

Findings

– Empirical results show that technology and employment positively impact on regional entrepreneurial activity. A subsequent analysis comparing data from 2005-2008 to 2009-2010 showed that different variables on regional entrepreneurship weaken during a period of financial crisis, with technology remaining as the only significant variable across all models. Finally, the study summarizes China’s entrepreneurial activity as primarily supply-driven.

Research limitations/implications

– This study is limited by the data sources and index design, which may not fully capture all influences on regional entrepreneurship to determine whether an inflection point or other interaction mechanisms exist.

Practical implications

– The study demonstrates a differential emphasis on the impact of economic supply factors in a developing economy to positively affect entrepreneurial activities and sustained economic growth at the regional level. Conversely, it can be inferred that increased government spending during an economic crisis positively influences regional entrepreneurial activities.

Originality/value

– The study contributes toward the development of a theoretical framework that emphasizes the relationship between entrepreneurial activities and its regional supply and demand factors. The overall model and findings highlight technology’s importance on the development of innovation clusters that spur industrial agglomeration.
How small-medium enterprises leverage intangibles during recessions. Evidence from the Italian clothing industry
Authors: Cucculelli Marco , Bettinelli Cristina , Renoldi Angelo
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on how investments in research and development (R&D) and advertising affect the performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during recessions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Contingency theory is applied to a data set of 376 Italian clothing SMEs during the period 2000-2010 to test whether investment in R&D and advertising impacts financial performance differently when contingent factors (such as market share, financial leverage and business model change) are taken into account.

Findings

– Empirical results confirm that market share and leverage moderate the effects of investments in R&D and advertising (i.e. intangibles) on performance, and also that changes in business models are an important contingent factor that explains performance. Specifically, the paper ascertains that a novelty-centered business model, together with investments in intangibles, positively affects performance during recessions.

Originality/value

– This study offers an input to the debate on how SMEs develop and sustain their competitive advantage during the recession. It contributes to existent theory by showing whether and how contingencies, such as a firm's market share and leverage, moderate the relationship between performance and investments in R&D and advertising in SMEs. Second, it addresses the call for additional data “about the strategic effects of business models and how they influence the positioning of firms in their competitive environment” (Amit and Zott, 2008, p. 20) by introducing business model change/innovation as a new contingency factor and by empirically testing its effects on “objective measures of firm performance” (Bocket al., 2012, p. 301).
Leader driven organizational adaptation
Authors: Seah Melody , Hsieh Ming-Huei , Huang Hsiu-Ying
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– Earlier research has identified adaptive leadership strategies and organizational culture as two key factors that influence a firm's adaptive capabilities. However, little is known about how leadership and organizational culture affect each other. Nor do the authors know how the combined effects of adaptive leadership and culture facilitates organizational adaptation over time. The purpose of this paper is to address this gap by using a co-evolutionary perspective to enhance the understanding of this phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected through informant interviews, observations and archival material.

Findings

– Study findings reveal that leaders can enhance organizational adaptability by creating an appropriate context to guide the co-evolutionary interactions between their leadership strategies, organizational culture and employees towards the ongoing achievement of firm goals.

Originality/value

– The study enhances the understanding of how leaders facilitate organizational adaptability, especially in a family business context.
Contamination profile on typical printed circuit board assemblies vs soldering process
Authors: Conseil Helene , Stendahl Jellesen Morten , Ambat Rajan
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to analyse typical printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) processed by reflow, wave or selective wave soldering for typical levels of process-related residues, resulting from a specific or combination of soldering processes. Typical solder flux residue distribution pattern, composition and concentration are profiled and reported. The effect of such contaminants on conformal coating was tested.

Design/methodology/approach

– Presence of localized flux residues was visualized using a commercial residue reliability assessment testing gel test and chemical structure was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, while the concentration was measured using ion chromatography, and the electrical properties of the extracts were determined by measuring the leak current using a twin platinum electrode set-up. Localized extraction of residue was carried out using a commercial critical contamination control extraction system.

Findings

– Results clearly show that the amount and distribution of flux residues are a function of the soldering process, and the level can be reduced by an appropriate cleaning. Selective soldering process generates significantly higher levels of residues compared to the wave and reflow process. For conformal coated PCBAs, the contamination levels generated from the tested wave and selective soldering process are found to be enough to generate blisters under exposure to high humidity levels.

Originality/value

– Although it is generally known that different soldering processes can introduce contamination on the PCBA surface, compromising its cleanliness, no systematic work is reported investigating the relative levels of residue introduced by various soldering processes and its effect on corrosion reliability.
Comparing 2D and 3D numerical simulation results of gas flow velocity in convection reflow oven
Authors: Illés Balázs
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to compare and study two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics simulation results of gas flow velocity in a convection reflow oven and show the differences of the different modeling aspects. With the spread of finer surface-mounted devices, it is important to understand convection reflow soldering technology more deeply.

Design/methodology/approach

– Convection reflow ovens are divided into zones. Every zone contains an upper and a lower nozzle-matrix. The gas flow velocity field is one of the most important parameters of the local heat transfer in the oven. It is not possible to examine the gas flow field with classical experimental methods due to the extreme circumstances in the reflow oven. Therefore, numerical simulations are necessary.

Findings

– The heat transfer changes highly along the moving direction of the assembly, and it is nearly homogeneous along the traverse direction of the zones. The gas flow velocity values of the 2D model are too high due to the geometrical distortions of the 2D model. On the other hand, the calculated flow field of the 2D model is more accurate than in the 3D model due to the finer mesh.

Research limitations/implications

– Investigating the effects of tall components on a printed wiring board inside the gas flow field and further analysis of the mesh size effect on the models.

Practical implications

– The presented results can be useful during the design of a simulation study in a reflow oven (or in similar processes).

Originality/value

– The presented results provide a completely novel approach from the aspect of 2D and 3D simulations of a convection reflow oven. The results also reveal the heat transfer differences.
Comparing the reliability and intermetallic layer of solder joints prepared with infrared and vapour phase soldering
Authors: Krammer Olivér
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare the reliability and intermetallic layer (IML) of solder joints prepared with infrared (IR) and vapour phase (VP) soldering. The reliability of 0603-sized resistors’ solder joints formed with IR and VP soldering was investigated. The IML of the joints was analysed based on image processing algorithm automatically.

Design/methodology/approach

– For the reliability analyses, the ageing method was a highly accelerated stress test (HAST) with +105°C maximum temperature, fully saturated (100 per cent) relative humidity at +0.5 atm overpressure. The joints were characterised based on the thickness of their IML and on their shear strength in as-reflowed stage, and after 400, 800, 1,200, 1,600 and 2,000 hours of HAST. An image processing algorithm was developed to measure the thickness of the IMLs on cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images automatically.

Findings

– The increase of the IML thickness is lower in the case of HAST ageing compared to other methods. The thickness increment of the Cu6Sn5 layer was higher for IR and lower for VP soldering; the Cu3Sn layer cannot be inspected even after 2,000 hours of HAST ageing. The results of shear strength measurements show better reliability for VP soldered joints.

Practical implications

– The developed image processing method is applicable to obtain quantitative results about the IMLs in an effective fast way.

Originality/value

– There is a lack of information in the literature regarding the reliability comparison of solder joints formed with VP and conventional reflow processes. Thus, we performed research about the lifetime of solder joints formed with VP and IR reflow method.
Failure analysis on electrolytic Ni/Au surface finish of PCB used for wire bonding and soldering
Authors: Chen Fei-Jun , Yan Shi , Yang Zhen-Guo
Published: September 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to address two kinds of printed circuit board (PCB) failures with electrolytic Ni/Au as the surface finish. One was the weak bondability of gold wires to Ni/Au pads and the other was “dull gold” and weak solder wettability, which both caused great loss for the PCB manufacturer.

Design/methodology/approach

– The failure samples were studied and analyzed in terms of macro- and micro-morphology of the surface finish, its element composition and thickness by various characterization techniques, such as three-dimensional stereo microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectrum.

Findings

– Then the causes of the two failures were both found to be the inadequate thickness of gold deposit and other surface finish defects, but these causes played different roles in either failure or the mechanisms differ. Finally, their failure mechanisms were discussed and corresponding countermeasures were put forward for prevention.

Practical implications

– This study not only addresses a practical failure problem but also provides some clues to a better and further understanding of the effect of PCB process and management on its quality and reliability in manufacturing practice.

Originality/value

– It sheds light on how the thickness and quality of surface finish affects its wire bonding and soldering performances.
Ant–caterpillar antagonism at the community level: interhabitat variation of tritrophic interactions in a neotropical savanna
Authors: Sendoya Sebastián F. , Oliveira Paulo S.
Published: September 2014

Ant foraging on foliage can substantially affect how phytophagous insects use host plants and represents a high predation risk for caterpillars, which are important folivores. Ant–plant–herbivore interactions are especially pervasive in cerrado savanna due to continuous ant visitation to liquid food sources on foliage (extrafloral nectaries, insect honeydew). While searching for liquid rewards on plants, aggressive ants frequently attack or kill insect herbivores, decreasing their numbers.

Because ants vary in diet and aggressiveness, their effect on herbivores also varies. Additionally, the differential occurrence of ant attractants (plant and insect exudates) on foliage produces variable levels of ant foraging within local floras and among localities. Here, we investigate how variation of ant communities and of traits among host plant species (presence or absence of ant attractants) can change the effect of carnivores (predatory ants) on herbivore communities (caterpillars) in a cerrado savanna landscape.

We sampled caterpillars and foliage‐foraging ants in four cerrado localities (70–460 km apart). We found that: (i) caterpillar infestation was negatively related with ant visitation to plants; (ii) this relationship depended on local ant abundance and species composition, and on local preference by ants for plants with liquid attractants; (iii) this was not related to local plant richness or plant size; (iv) the relationship between the presence of ant attractants and caterpillar abundance varied among sites from negative to neutral; and (v) caterpillars feeding on plants with ant attractants are more resistant to ant predation than those feeding on plants lacking attractants.

Liquid food on foliage mediates host plant quality for lepidopterans by promoting generalized ant–caterpillar antagonism. Our study in cerrado shows that the negative effects of generalist predatory ants on herbivores are detectable at a community level, affecting patterns of abundance and host plant use by lepidopterans.

The magnitude of ant‐induced effects on caterpillar occurrence across the cerrado landscape may depend on how ants use plants locally and how they respond to liquid food on plants at different habitats. This study enhances the relevance of plant–ant and ant–herbivore interactions in cerrado and highlights the importance of a tritrophic perspective in this ant‐rich environment.
Complex bacterial diversity in the white biofilms of the Catacombs of St. Callixtus in Rome evidenced by different investigation strategies
Authors: Krakova Lucia , De Leo Filomena , Bruno Laura , Pangallo Domenico , Urzì Clara
Published: September 2014

Roman Catacombs are affected by different kinds of biofilms that were extensively investigated in the last 14 years. In particular, the areas far from the lamps are often covered by white biofilms of different extension, consistency and nature. The aim of this paper is to describe the profile of the microbial community present in two areas of the Ocean's Cubiculum (CSC13), characterized by similar alterations described as white biofilms, by using a multistep approach that included direct microscopy observations, culture‐dependent and culture‐independent methodologies through the extraction of DNA and RNA directly from the sampled areas. In addition to this, we extracted the DNA directly from the Petri dishes containing R2A and B4 media after incubation and growth of bacteria. Our results evidenced that a complex bacterial community (mainly constituted by filamentous Actinobacteria, as well as Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) colonizes the two different white biofilms, and its detection, quantitative and qualitative, could be revealed only by different approaches, each method giving different information that only partially overlap.