bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large irreversible non-180° domain switching after poling treatment in Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 films
Authors: Ehara Yoshitaka , Yasui Shintaro , Oikawa Takahiro , Shiraishi Takahisa , Oshima Naoya , Yamada Tomoaki , Imai Yasuhiko , Sakata Osami , Funakubo Hiroshi
Published: May 2016

(111¯)/(111)-oriented rhombohedral Pb(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 films with different domain fractions were epitaxially grown on various single crystals. The volume fraction of (111)-polar-axis oriented domains in as-deposited films, Vpol.(as-depo.), was controlled by selecting a single crystal substrate with a different thermal expansion coefficient. Applying an electric field, referred to as “poling treatment”, resulted in irreversible non-180° domain switching from the (111¯)-oriented domain (non-polar-axis) to the (111)-oriented domain (polar-axis), which was observed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Remanent polarization (Pr) values were higher than those estimated using the proportional relationship with Vpol.(as-depo.). However, the experimental Pr values were in good agreement with the values estimated using the volume fraction of (111)-oriented domains after applying the poling treatment. In rhombohedral Pb(Zr0.65Ti0.35)O3 films, 30%−50% of the (111¯)-oriented domains switched irreversibly to (111)-oriented domains as a result of the poling treatment. The present results show that the domain structures of films may change dramatically after the poling process, and both before and after the poling state should be characterized in order to interpret polarization and piezoelectric behaviors. This study helps to clarify the ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 films after poling treatment.
Tunneling magnetoresistance of silicon chains
Authors: Matsuura Yukihito
Published: May 2016

The tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) of a silicon chain sandwiched between nickel electrodes was examined by using first-principles density functional theory. The relative orientation of the magnetization in a parallel-alignment (PA) configuration of two nickel electrodes enhanced the current with a bias less than 0.4 V compared with that in an antiparallel-alignment configuration. Consequently, the silicon chain-nickel electrodes yielded good TMR characteristics. In addition, there was polarized spin current in the PA configuration. The spin polarization of sulfur atoms functioning as a linking bridge between the chain and nickel electrode played an important role in the magnetic effects of the electric current. Moreover, the hybridization of the sulfur 3p orbital and σ-conjugated silicon 3p orbital contributed to increasing the total current.
Numerical study of the intrinsic recombination carriers lifetime in extended short-wavelength infrared detector materials: A comparison between InGaAs and HgCdTe
Authors: Wen Hanqing , Bellotti Enrico
Published: May 2016

Intrinsic carrier lifetime due to radiative and Auger recombination in HgCdTe and strained InGaAs has been computed in the extended short-wavelength infrared (ESWIR) spectrum from 1.7 μm to 2.7 μm. Using the Green's function theory, both direct and phonon-assisted indirect Auger recombination rates as well as the radiative recombination rates are calculated for different cutoff wavelengths at 300 K with full band structures of the materials. In order to properly model the full band structures of strained InGaAs, an empirical pseudo-potential model for the alloy is fitted using the virtual crystal approximation with spin-orbit coupling included. The results showed that for InxGa1−xAs grown on InP substrate, the compressive strain, which presents in the film when the cutoff wavelength is longer than 1.7 μm, leads to decrease of Auger recombination rate and increase of radiative recombination rate. Since the dominant intrinsic recombination mechanism in this spectral range is radiative recombination, the overall intrinsic carrier lifetime in the strained InGaAs alloys is shorter than that in the relaxed material. When compared to the relaxed HgCdTe, both relaxed and compressively strained InGaAs alloys show shorter intrinsic carrier lifetime at the same cutoff wavelength in room temperature which confirms the potential advantage of HgCdTe as wide-band infrared detector material. While HgCdTe offers superior performance, ultimately the material of choice for ESWIR application will also depend on material quality and cost.
Transverse thermoelectric effect of asymmetrically doped Bi-Sb-Te compounds
Authors: Huang Hung-Hsien , Lu Meng-Pei , Liao Chien-Neng
Published: May 2016

The transverse thermoelectric effect is generally found in a material system with anisotropic electrical/thermal properties. Herein, we reported a simple way of forming thermoelectric anisotropy in a single piece of Bi-Sb-Te compound by partial doping of Ag elements. A transverse Seebeck effect is experimentally observed on an asymmetrically doped Bi-Sb-Te pellet with an effective Seebeck coefficient of 216 ± 4 μV/K. A two-dimensional distribution of electrical potential and temperatures in the pellet is modeled numerically. The size dependence of thermoelectric power and electrical resistance for asymmetrically doped Bi-Sb-Te compounds is also investigated.
Design of high-gain, wideband antenna using microwave hyperbolic metasurface
Authors: Zhao Yan
Published: May 2016

In this work, we apply hyperbolic metasurfaces (HMSs) to design high-gain and wideband antennas. It is shown that HMSs formed by a single layer of split-ring resonators (SRRs) can be excited to generate highly directive beams. In particular, we suggest two types of the SRR-HMS: a capacitively loaded SRR (CLSRR)-HMS and a substrate-backed double SRR (DSRR)-HMS. Both configurations ensure that the periodicity of the structures is sufficiently small for satisfying the effective medium theory. For the antenna design, we propose a two-layer-stacked configuration for the 2.4 GHz frequency band based on the DSRR-HMS excited by a folded monopole. Measurement results confirm numerical simulations and demonstrate that an antenna gain of more than 5 dBi can be obtained for the frequency range of 2.1 - 2.6 GHz, with a maximum gain of 7.8 dBi at 2.4 GHz.
Membrane lipid profile of in vitro-produced embryos is affected by vitrification but not by long-term dietary supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids for oocyte donor beef heifers
Authors: Leão Beatriz C. S. , Rocha-Frigoni Nathália A. S. , Nogueira Ériklis , Cabral Elaine C. , Ferreira Christina R. , Eberlin Marcos N. , Accorsi Mônica F. , Neves Thiago V. , Mingoti Gisele Z.
Published: May 2016

Dietary rumen-protected polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) rich in linoleic acid (LA) may affect embryo yield, and LA can modulate the molecular mechanisms of lipid uptake in bovine blastocysts produced in vitro. In embryos, membrane lipids, such as phosphatidylcholines (PCs) and sphingomyelins (SMs), affect cryopreservation success. The aim of the present study was to evaluate embryonic developmental rates after the IVF of oocytes retrieved from Nellore heifers fed for approximately 90 days with rumen-protected PUFAs rich in LA. In addition, we evaluated embryo cryotolerance and the membrane structure lipid composition using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry of fresh and vitrified embryos. Embryo development to the blastocyst stage (mean 43.2%) and embryo survival after vitrification and warming (mean 79.3%) were unaffected by diet. The relative abundance of one lipid species (PC ether (PCe; 38:2, which means that this lipid has 38 carbon atoms and 2 double bonds in the fatty acyl residues) was increased after PUFAs supplementation. However, 10 ions were affected by cryopreservation; ions consistent with PC 32:0, PC 34:1, SM 24:1, PC 40:6 or PC 42:9, PC plasmalogen (PCp) 44:10 or PC 42:7, triacylglycerol (TAG) 54:9 and a not assigned ion (m/z 833.2) were lower in blastocysts that survived to the cryopreservation process compared with fresh blastocysts, whereas the abundance of the ions PC 36:3 or PC 34:0, PCe 38:2 or PC 36:6 and PC 36:5 or PCe 38:1 were increased after cryopreservation. Thus, the results demonstrate that the mass spectrometry profiles of PC, SM and TAG species differ significantly in bovine blastocysts upon cryopreservation. Because the lipid ion abundances of fresh and vitrified–warmed embryos were distinct, they can be used as potential markers of post-cryopreservation embryonic survival.
Osmoregulatory inositol transporter SMIT1 modulates electrical activity by adjusting PI(4,5)P2levels
Authors: Dai Gucan , Yu Haijie , Kruse Martin , Traynor-Kaplan Alexis , Hille Bertil
Published: May 2016

Significance

Cells living in variable environments evolve ways to adapt to altered extracellular conditions. During hypertonic stress, the expression of several human osmolyte transporters increases, thereby accumulating more osmolytes and elevating intracellular osmolarity. We focused on one of these osmolytes, myo-inositol, which is also the precursor of membrane phosphoinositide lipids. We found that intracellular accumulation of myo-inositol via its transporter SMIT1 is able to increase phosphoinositide levels and thereby modulate the activities of phosphoinositide-dependent ion channels. We provide evidence for a previously unidentified connection between the extracellular osmotic changes and the electrical properties of excitable cells. Our findings may help elucidate mechanisms underlying several diseases characterized by either perturbed myo-inositol levels or increased extracellular tonicity.
Heike Folsch: Peeling back the layers
Authors: Jordan Shawn
Published: May 2016

Folsch’s work sits at the intersection of membrane trafficking and epithelial polarity.
Interactions between CAP Agricultural and Agri‐Environmental Subsidies and Their Effects on the Uptake of Organic Farming
Authors: Jaime Mónica M. , Coria Jessica , Liu Xiangping
Published: May 2016

We analyze the effects of the interactions that the two pillars of the European Union Common Agricultural Policy—market support and rural development—have on farmers' uptake of organic farming practices. Special attention is given to the 2003 reform, which substantially altered the relative importance of the two types of support by decoupling direct agricultural payments from the production of a specific crop. In our empirical analysis we study the case of Sweden, making use of the variation in the timing of farmers' decisions regarding participation in support programs. We estimate a dynamic non‐linear unobserved effects probit model to account for unobserved individual heterogeneity and state dependence. Our results indicate the existence of a negative effect of the market support system in place when organic farming techniques were adopted before the 2003 reform. However, this effect is reversed by the introduction of decoupling. Furthermore, the effects of support differ between certified and non‐certified organic production: both pillars have significant effects on non‐certified organic farming, whereas certified organic farming is exclusively driven by agro‐environmental subsidies.
Complex heatmaps reveal patterns and correlations in multidimensional genomic data
Authors: Gu Zuguang , Eils Roland , Schlesner Matthias
Published: May 2016

Summary: Parallel heatmaps with carefully designed annotation graphics are powerful for efficient visualization of patterns and relationships among high dimensional genomic data. Here we present the ComplexHeatmap package that provides rich functionalities for customizing heatmaps, arranging multiple parallel heatmaps and including user-defined annotation graphics. We demonstrate the power of ComplexHeatmap to easily reveal patterns and correlations among multiple sources of information with four real-world datasets.

Availability and Implementation: The ComplexHeatmap package and documentation are freely available from the Bioconductor project: http://www.bioconductor.org/packages/devel/bioc/html/ComplexHeatmap.html.

Contact:  m.schlesner@dkfz.de

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Identifying and Managing Root Rot of Pulses on the Northern Great Plains
Authors: Gossen Bruce D. , Conner Robert L. , Chang Kan-Fa , Pasche Julie S. , McLaren Debra L. , Henriquez Maria A. , Chatterton Syama , Hwang Sheau-Fang
Published: May 2016

Pulse crops (annual grain legumes such as field pea, lentil, dry bean, and chickpea) have become an important component of the cropping system in the northern Great Plains of North America over the last three decades. In many areas, the intensity of damping-off, seedling blight, root rot, and premature ripening of pulse crops is increasing, resulting in reduction in stand establishment and yield. This review provides a brief description of the important pathogens that make up the root rot complex and summarizes root rot management on pulses in the region. Initially, several specific Fusarium spp., a range of Pythium spp., and Rhizoctonia solani were identified as important components of the root rot disease complex. Molecular approaches have recently been used to identify the importance of Aphanomyces euteiches on pulses, and to demonstrate that year-to-year changes in precipitation and temperature have an important effect on pathogen prevalence. Progress has been made on management of root rot, but more IPM tools are required to provide effective disease management. Seed-treatment fungicides can reduce damping-off and seedling blight for many of the pathogens in this disease complex, but complex cocktails of active ingredients are required to protect seedlings from the pathogen complex present in most commercial fields. Partial resistance against many of the pathogens in the complex has been identified, but is not yet available in commercial cultivars. Cultural practices, especially diversified cropping rotations and early, shallow seeding, have been shown to have an important role in root rot management. Biocontrol agents may also have potential over the long term. Improved methods being developed to identify and quantify the pathogen inoculum in individual fields may help producers avoid high-risk fields and select IPM packages that enhance yield stability.
Hot flashes: emerging cardiovascular risk factors in recent and late postmenopause and their association with higher blood pressure
Authors: Silveira Juliano S. , Clapauch Ruth , Souza Maria das Graças C. de , Bouskela Eliete
Published: May 2016

Objective:

The aim of the study was to compare the endothelial function of symptomatic (self-reported hot flashes >3 on a scale of 0-10) versus asymptomatic (≤3) women in different postmenopause stages, and to examine if the association between hot flashes and endothelial function was independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors observed during the analysis.

Methods:

Noninvasive venous occlusion plethysmography within two groups: recent (recent postmenopause [RPM], <10 y, n = 63) and late (late postmenopause [LPM], ≥10 y, n = 67) postmenopause.

Results:

Symptomatic women showed lower forearm blood flow and lower percentage increment of it during the reactive hyperemia response; higher systolic (P < 0.0001 in RPM and P = 0.0008 in LPM) and diastolic (P = 0.0005 in RPM and P = 0.0219 in LPM) blood pressure; highest score for perimenopausal hot flashes (P = 0.0007 in RPM and P < 0.0001 in LPM), longer duration of prior oral contraceptive use (P = 0.009 in RPM and P = 0.0253 in LPM), and higher current sleep disorders (P < 0.0001 in RPM and P = 0.0281 in LPM) compared with asymptomatic ones. In the LPM group, symptomatic women also had higher prevalence of previous hypertension diagnosis (P = 0.0092). During multivariate analysis, blood flow during the reactive hyperemia response was associated with hot flashes after adjusting for age, body mass index, and systolic blood pressure (odds ratio 0.55 [0.36-0.84] in RPM and odds ratio 0.7 [0.5-0.97] in LPM).

Conclusions:

In both phases, recent and late post menopause, hot flashes were associated with endothelial dysfunction and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but the relationship between hot flashes and endothelial dysfunction was independent of blood pressure.
Administrative Challenges to the Integration of Oral Health With Primary Care
Authors: Norwood Connor W. , Maxey Hannah L. , Randolph Courtney , Gano Laura , Kochhar Komal
Published: May 2016

Inadequate access to preventive oral health services contributes to oral health disparities and is a major public health concern in the United States. Federally Qualified Health Centers play a critical role in improving access to care for populations affected by oral health disparities but face a number of administrative challenges associated with implementation of oral health integration models. We conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis with health care executives to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of successful oral health integration in Federally Qualified Health Centers. Four themes were identified: (1) culture of health care organizations; (2) operations and administration; (3) finance; and (4) workforce.
Predictors of Out-of-ACO Care in the Medicare Shared Savings Program
Authors: Han Maria A. , Clarke Robin , Ettner Susan L. , Steers William Neil , Leng Mei , Mangione Carol M.
Published: May 2016

Importance:

Patients treated outside of their Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) accountable care organization (ACO) likely benefit less from the ACO’s integration of care. Consequently, the MSSP’s open-network design may preclude ACOs from improving value in care.

Objectives:

Quantify out-of-ACO care in a single urban ACO and examine associations between patient-level predictors and out-of-ACO expenditures.

Research Design:

Secondary data analysis using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ACO Program Claim and Claim Line Feed dataset (dates of service January 1, 2013–December 31, 2013). Two-part modeling was used to examine associations between patient-level predictors and likelihood and level of out-of-ACO expenditures.

Subjects:

Patients were included if they were prospectively assigned to the MSSP in 2013. Patients were excluded if they declined to share data with the ACO, were not retrospectively confirmed to be in the ACO, or had missing data on covariates. Analytic sample included 11,922 patients.

Measures:

Total out-of-ACO expenditures and out-of-ACO expenditures by place of service.

Results:

Of total expenditures, 32.9% were paid to out-of-ACO providers, and 89.8% of beneficiaries had out-of-ACO expenditures. The presence of almost all medical comorbidities increased out-of-ACO expenditures ($800–$3000 per comorbidity) across the study population. Racial/ethnic minority groups spent between $1076 and $1422 less outside of the ACO than white patients, which was driven by less out-of-ACO outpatient office expenditures ($417–$517 less for each racial/ethnic minority group).

Conclusions:

Out-of-ACO expenditures represented a significant portion of expenditures for the study population. Medically complex patients spent more outside of the ACO and represent an important population to study further.
Increased Risk of Burnout for Physicians and Nurses Involved in a Patient Safety Incident
Authors: Van Gerven Eva , Vander Elst Tinne , Vandenbroeck Sofie , Dierickx Sigrid , Euwema Martin , Sermeus Walter , De Witte Hans , Godderis Lode , Vanhaecht Kris
Published: May 2016

Background:

Human errors occur everywhere, including in health care. Not only the patient, but also the involved health professional is affected (ie, the “second victim”).

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence of health care professionals being personally involved in a patient safety incident (PSI), as well as the relationship of involvement and degree of harm with problematic medication use, excessive alcohol consumption, risk of burnout, work-home interference (WHI), and turnover intentions.

Research Design:

Multilevel path analyses were conducted to analyze cross-sectional survey data from 37 Belgian hospitals.

Subjects:

A total of 5788 nurses (79.4%) and physicians (20.6%) in 26 acute and 11 psychiatric hospitals were included.

Measures:

“Involvement in a patient safety incident during the prior 6 months,” “degree of harm,” and 5 outcomes were measured using self-report scales.

Results:

Nine percent of the total sample had been involved in a PSI during the prior 6 months. Involvement in a PSI was related to a greater risk of burnout (β=0.40, OR=2.07), to problematic medication use (β=0.33, OR=1.84), to greater WHI (β=0.24), and to more turnover intentions (β=0.22). Harm to the patient was a predictor of problematic medication use (β=0.14, OR=1.56), risk of burnout (β=0.16, OR=1.62), and WHI (β=0.19).

Conclusions:

Second victims experience significant negative outcomes in the aftermath of a PSI. An appropriate organizational response should be provided to mitigate the negative effects.
Parents' Perspectives on “Keeping Their Children Safe” in the Hospital
Authors: Rosenberg Rebecca E. , Rosenfeld Peri , Williams Emily , Silber Beth , Schlucter Juliette , Deng Stella , Geraghty Gail , Sullivan-Bolyai Susan
Published: May 2016

This study explored parents' perspectives regarding their involvement in safety for their hospitalized children. We employed qualitative description and semistructured interviews of parents of children in an urban tertiary hospital ward. Content analysis revealed 4 parent themes: risks to child safety and comfort, hospital role as a protector, participation in safety varies by individual and organizational factors, and balancing safety with “speaking up” interpersonal risks. We suggest key concepts to incorporate into staff education and family engagement/safety programs to develop effective partnerships between clinicians and parents.
Transcranial brain stimulation: closing the loop between brain and stimulation
Authors: Karabanov Anke , Thielscher Axel , Siebner Hartwig Roman
Published: May 2016

Purpose of review

To discuss recent strategies for boosting the efficacy of noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation to improve human brain function.

Recent findings

Recent research exposed substantial intra- and inter-individual variability in response to plasticity-inducing transcranial brain stimulation. Trait-related and state-related determinants contribute to this variability, challenging the standard approach to apply stimulation in a rigid, one-size-fits-all fashion. Several strategies have been identified to reduce variability and maximize the plasticity-inducing effects of noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation. Priming interventions or paired associative stimulation can be used to ‘standardize’ the brain-state and hereby, homogenize the group response to stimulation. Neuroanatomical and neurochemical profiling based on magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy can capture trait-related and state-related variability. Fluctuations in brain-states can be traced online with functional brain imaging and inform the timing or other settings of transcranial brain stimulation. State-informed open-loop stimulation is aligned to the expression of a predefined brain state, according to prespecified rules. In contrast, adaptive closed-loop stimulation dynamically adjusts stimulation settings based on the occurrence of stimulation-induced state changes.

Approaches that take into account trait-related and state-related determinants of stimulation-induced plasticity bear considerable potential to establish noninvasive transcranial brain stimulation as interventional therapeutic tool.
Gender discrimination and job characteristics
Authors: Dubbelt Lonneke , Rispens Sonja , Demerouti Evangelia
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between gender discrimination and the perceived job demands and job resources of women and men. This is important because it may provide insight into what factors contribute to women’s disadvantaged position at work.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two cross-sectional studies were conducted, Study 1 in a male-dominated organization and Study 2 in a gender-balanced organization.

Findings

– The results showed that in both organizations, gender discrimination was positively associated with women’s job demands and negatively associated with their job resources. Additionally, in the male-dominated organization the perceived gender discrimination was also negatively associated with men’s job resources. Overall, the results were more consistent across the two organizations for women’s job resources.

Originality/value

– This paper links gender literature with the job demands-resources model to translate gender discrimination into quantifiable job characteristics and may provide alternative explanations for previous found gender differences in well-being and career success.
Development and validation of a work motive measurement scale
Authors: Liu Yu-Shan , Wohlsdorf Arendt Susan
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a measurement scale to assess work motives for hospitality employees utilizing McClelland’s theory of needs as the theoretical underpinning.

Design/methodology/approach

Both qualitative and quantitative methods were applied to achieve the study purpose. First, individual interviews were conducted to explore employee work motives and develop work motive scale items. Second, data from a self-administered paper questionnaire, completed by 388 respondents, were used to validate the developed scale.

Findings

Four themes were identified which reflect employees’ perspectives of hospitality jobs and culture: the job itself, need for affiliation, need for achievement and need for power. The developed scale, consisting of 22 items, was found to be reliable and valid in assessing work motives.

Research limitations/implications

The majority of participants were entry-level employees; therefore, the developed scale may not be useful when assessing work motives of individuals not in front-line positions. Future research could extend the measurement model to investigate work motives of individuals in managerial positions. In addition, future research could assess work motives as antecedents of employee organizational behaviors and attitudes.

Practical implications

The developed scale could be used as a selection tool to assess applicants’ work motives, thereby assisting employers in making effective hiring decisions.

Originality/value

This study contributes a new reliable and valid measurement scale developed specifically to address the unique work motives desirable for individuals seeking employment in the hospitality industry.
The impact of other group members on tourists’ travel experiences
Authors: Yin Cheng-Yue , Poon Patrick
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of other group members on the travel experiences of Chinese tourists participating in domestic package tours.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the critical incident technique, usable responses were obtained from 253 tourists regarding the influence of other group members on their travel experiences in the same group package tour (GPT).

Findings

The results show that the travel experiences of Chinese tourists on a domestic package tour are affected by three general factors, namely, appearance, behaviors, and language of other group members.

Research limitations/implications

This research mainly involves samples of young tourists. The findings may not be able to generalize to elderly tourists. Future studies may involve samples from various age cohorts.

Practical implications

The findings offer new insights and directions for GPT operators and tour guides to improve tourism management and tourist experiences.

Social implications

This study contributes to tourism literature about customer-to-customer interaction by identifying the major categories of other customers’ characteristics or behaviors that may positively or negatively influence a GPT tourist’s travel experience.

Originality/value

This study enriches the existing literature by investigating the attributes of other group members that may affect the travel experiences of a domestic GPT participant. Tourism firms can formulate better strategies and staff training to enhance tourists’ travel experiences.
An integrated model of festival revisit intentions
Authors: Choo Hyungsuk , Ahn Kwangho , F. Petrick James
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the determinants of current visitors’ festival revisit intentions. The concepts of festival quality and satisfaction were adapted and integrated with the theory of planned behavior (TPB) from social psychology to theorize a model of festival revisit intentions. In addition, given the importance of social characteristics in festival visiting behavior, the relative impacts of three modes of social influences (i.e. subjective norms, group norms and social identity) were investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Statistical analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling to examine the hypothesized relationships with the data collected onsite during the Nonsan Strawberry Festival, held in Nonsan, South Korea. The eleven constructs were incorporated into the structural model to examine the hypothesized relationships among the latent factors.

Findings

Results of the analyses indicated that the proposed model had an acceptable fit to the empirical data. The overall explanatory power of the model had an R2 of 84 per cent for revisit intention and an R2 of 60 per cent for satisfaction. Satisfaction was found to be the strongest predictor of visitors’ revisit intensions, followed by social identity, subjective norms and group norms.

Research limitations/implications

This study developed an integrated model to explain festival visitors’ revisit intentions by adopting not only visitors’ personal evaluation of the festival experience and but also a series of social influences.

Practical implications

Based on the results, festival managers should allocate their marketing resources for the festival program, environment and souvenirs to increase the visitors’ perception of quality. Particular attention should also be given to visitor groups and their travel companions’ influences on their intentions to revisit the festival.

Originality/value

The incorporation of festival quality and satisfaction and TPB extended with additional social influence variables provided a model with a theoretical basis to explain festival revisit intentions. This approach may provide an initial blueprint for further investigation of other theoretical revisit models.
Blood-borne viral co-infections among human immunodeficiency virus-infected inmates
Authors: Pontali Emanuele , Bobbio Nicoletta , Zaccardi Marilena , Urciuoli Renato
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the prevalence of HBV and/or HCV co-infection among HIV-infected inmates entering the correctional facility.

Design/methodology/approach

– Prospective collection of data of HIV-infected inmates entered the institution over a ten-year period.

Findings

– During study period 365 consecutive different inmates were evaluated. HCV co-infection was observed in more than 80 per cent of the tested HIV-infected inmates, past HBV infection in 71.6 per cent and active HBV co-infection was detected in 7.1 per cent; triple coinfection (HIV, HCV and HBs-Ag positivity) was present in 6 per cent of the total.

Originality/value

– This study confirms high prevalence of co-infections among HIV-infected inmates. Testing for HBV and HCV in all HIV-infected inmates at entry in any correctional system is recommended to identify those in need of specific care and/or preventing interventions.
Hepatitis A immunity and region-of-origin in a Swiss prison
Authors: Getaz Laurent , Casillas Alejandra , Motamed Sandrine , Gaspoz Jean-Michel , Chappuis Francois , Wolff Hans
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The environmental and demographic characteristics of closed institutions, particularly prisons, precipitate morbidity during hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreaks. Given the high prevalence of chronic liver disease and other risk factors in the prison setting, the purpose of this paper is to examine HAV-immunity and its associated factors in this population.

Design/methodology/approach

– The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009: a serology screening for HAV IgG was carried out among 116 inmates in Switzerland’s largest pre-trial prison. Other participant characteristics were collected through a structured face-to-face questionnaire with a physician.

Findings

– In terms of significant demographics, Africa (53.5 percent) and the Balkans/Eastern Europe (36.2 percent) were the main regions of origin; a minority of inmates were from Western Europe (6.9 percent), Latin America (2.6 percent) or Asia (0.9 percent). The authors identified hepatitis A antibody-negative serology (lack of immunity) in five out of 116 prisoners (4.3 percent, 95 percent CI 1.4-9.7). Among participants of European origin alone, five out of 50 inmates were hepatitis A antibody-negative (10 percent, 95 percent CI 3.3-21.8), whereas the 66 inmates from other all continents were hepatitis A antibody-positive (immune) (p=0.026).

Originality/value

– In this prison population composed of mostly African migrants, hepatitis A immunity was high. This reaffirms that region of origin is highly associated with childhood immunity against HAV. HAV vaccination should take into account a patient’s area of origin and his/her risk factors for systemic complications, if ever infected. This targeted strategy would offer herd immunity, and seek out the most vulnerable individuals who are potentially at risk of new exposure in this precarious setting.
Flexible and soft robotic grippers: the key to new markets?
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to provide details of recent commercial and academic developments in flexible and soft grippers and considers their impact on emerging robotic markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an introduction, this paper first considers commercially available anthropomorphic robotic hands and soft grippers. It then discusses a selection of recent research activities and concludes with a brief discussion of the potential of these developments.

Findings

Anthropomorphic robotic hands, which seek to mimic the structure and capabilities of the human hand, together with a technologically diverse family of soft grippers have recently have been commercialised. Most are produced by companies which spun-out from academic establishments. A strong body of innovative research continues and involves a wide range of principles and technologies. These gripping technologies are expected to catalyse several new and emerging applications; the most important being in agile manufacturing, particularly when used with collaborative robots (cobots).

Originality/value

This paper provides details of recent developments and research into anthropomorphic hands and soft grippers and an insight into their applications.
Human-robot collaboration dynamic impact testing and calibration instrument for disposable robot safety artifacts
Authors: Dagalakis Nicholas G. , Yoo Jae-Myung , Oeste Thomas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is a description of DITCI, its drop loads and sensors, the impact tools, the robot dynamic impact safety artifacts, data analysis, and modeling of test results. The dynamic impact testing and calibration instrument (DITCI) is a simple instrument with a significant data collection and analysis capability that is used for the testing and calibration of biosimulant human tissue artifacts. These artifacts may be used to measure the severity of injuries caused in the case of a robot impact with a human.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we describe the DITCI adjustable impact and flexible foundation mechanism, which allows the selection of a variety of impact force levels and foundation stiffness. The instrument can accommodate arrays of a variety of sensors and impact tools, simulating both real manufacturing tools and the testing requirements of standards setting organizations.

Findings

A computer data acquisition system may collect a variety of impact motion, force and torque data, which are used to develop a variety of mathematical model representations of the artifacts. Finally, we describe the fabrication and testing of human abdomen soft tissue artifacts with embedded markers, used to display the severity of impact injury tissue deformation.

Research limitations/implications

DITCI and the use of biosimulant human tissue artifacts will permit a better understanding of the severity of injury, which will be caused in the case of a robot impact with a human, without the use of expensive cadaver parts. The limitations are set by the ability to build artifacts with material properties similar to those of various parts of the human body.

Practical implications

This technology will be particularly useful for small manufacturing companies that cannot afford the use of expensive instrumentation and technical consultants.

Social implications

Impact tests were performed at maximum impact force and average pressure levels that are below, at and above the levels recommended by a proposed International Organization for Standardization standard. These test results will be used to verify whether the adopted safety standards will protect interactive robots human operators for various robot tools and control modes.

Originality/value

Various research groups have used human subjects to collect data on pain induced by industrial robots. Unfortunately, human safety testing is not an option for human–robot collaboration in industrial applications every time there is a change of a tool or control program, so the use of biosimulant artifacts is expected to be a good alternative.
A generic walking pattern generation method for humanoid robot walking on the slopes
Authors: Guo Fayong , Mei Tao , Ceccarelli Marco , Zhao Ziyi , Li Tao , Zhao Jianghai
Published: May 2016

Purpose

Walking on inclined ground is an important ability for humanoid robots. In general, conventional strategies for walking on slopes lack technical analysis in, first, the waist posture with respect to actual robot and, second, the landing impact, which weakens the walking stability. The purpose of this paper is to propose a generic method for walking pattern generation considering these issues with the aim of enabling humanoid robot to walk dynamically on a slope.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a virtual ground method (VGM) is proposed to give a continuous and intuitive zero-moment point (ZMP) on slopes. Then, the dynamic motion equations are derived based on 2D and 3D models, respectively, by using VGM. Furthermore, the waist posture with respect to the actual robot is analyzed. Finally, a reformative linear inverted pendulum (LIP) named the asymmetric linear inverted pendulum (ALIP) is proposed to achieve stable and dynamical walking in any direction on a slope with lower landing impact.

Findings

Simulations and experiments are carried out using the DRC-XT humanoid robot platform with the aim of verifying the validity and feasibility of these new methods. ALIP with consideration of waist posture is practical in extending the ability of walking on slopes for humanoid robots.

Originality/value

A generic method called ALIP for humanoid robots walking on slopes is proposed. ALIP is based on LIP and several changes, including model analysis, motion equations and ZMP functions, are discussed.
Assessing the use of ICT systems and their impact on construction project performance in the Nigerian construction industry
Authors: Ikediashi Dubem Isaac , Ogwueleka Amaka Chinweude
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The use of information and communication technology (ICT) for business processes has witnessed exponential growth over the past two decades. This paper aims to explore the level of use of ICT infrastructure in the Nigerian construction industry and analyse the implications for construction management practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Using quantitative questionnaire survey, data from 148 respondents were analysed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics as well as multiple regression analysis.

Findings

Findings establish project managers, site managers and quantity surveyors as the primary users of ICT with regards to the variety of ICT devices in the Nigerian construction industry, while the foremen are the least users. Besides, word processing/accounting systems, electronic communication systems and project management systems are the three top rated in terms of frequency of use, while quality as well as cost impacts of ICT infrastructure use are established as the most important factors contributing to overall project performance.

Originality/value

The study establishes causal relationships between ICT infrastructure use and project performance within the context of Nigeria’s construction industry.
Multi-objective optimization of composite two-stage vibration isolation system for sensitive equipment
Authors: Huang Wei , Xu Jian , Zhu Dayong , Liu Cheng , Lu Jianwei , Lu Kunlin
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a novel strategy of optimal parameters configuration and placement for sensitive equipment.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, clamped thin plate is considered as the foundation form, and a novel composite system is proposed based on the two-stage isolation system. By means of the theory of mechanical four-pole connection, the displacement amplitude transmissibility from the thin plate to precision equipment is derived. For the purpose of performing optimal design of the composite system, a novel multi-objective idea is presented. Multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm is adopted as an optimization technique, which can achieve a global optimal solution (gbest), and selecting the desired solution from an equivalent Pareto set can be avoided. Maximum and variance of the four transmitted peak displacements are considered as the fitness functions simultaneously; the purpose is aimed at reducing the amplitude of the multi-peak isolation system, meanwhile pursuing a uniform vibration as far as possible. The optimization is mainly organized as a combination of parameter configuration and placement design, and the traversal search of discrete plate is performed in each iteration for the purpose of achieving the global optimum.

Findings

An important transmissibility based on the mechanical four-pole connection is derived, and a composite vibration isolation system is proposed, and a novel optimization problem is also defined here. This study reports a novel optimization strategy combined with artificial intelligence for parameters and placement design of precision equipment, which can promote the traditional view of two-stage vibration isolation.

Originality/value

Two-stage vibration isolation systems are widely applied to the vibration attenuation of precision equipment, but in these traditional designs, vibration participation of foundation is often ignored. In this paper, participation of foundation of equipment is considered, and a coherent new strategy for equipment isolation and foundation vibration is presented. This study shows a new vision of interdisciplinary including civil engineering, mechanical dynamics and computational science.
Exploring the relationship between CSR and innovation
Authors: Ratajczak Piotr , Szutowski Dawid
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The paper aims at summarizing the state of knowledge on the relationship between a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research relied on a systematic literature review with the use of SALSA (Search, AppraisaL, Synthesis, Analysis) and backwards-snowballing methods. The search encompassed one electronic database – Scopus. Finally, the set of papers analyzed amounted to 24 publications. The relationship between innovation and CSR reported in these papers were synthesized in the form of a mapping review.

Findings

The results indicated the lack of scientific consensus on many aspects of the relationship studied. CSR was assumed to influence innovation performance, and inversely, innovations were presumed to have an impact on the company’s CSR. However, the relation’s determinants were strongly diversified in the set of articles studied.

Research limitations/implications

The present paper omitted articles published in languages other than English. Also, it limited the papers studied to those published between January 2000 and August 2014 in journals listed on the Journal Citation Report. The paper contributes to the research by highlighting the most important research gaps and implications for further research.

Practical implications

The present paper constitutes an up-to-date summary on the studied relationship, which is important for practitioners in the management process.

Originality/value

According to the authors’ knowledge, no systematic reviews dedicated to the relationship between a company’s CSR and its innovation performance were made before. Thus, it fulfils an important research gap.
What are the drivers of sustainability reporting? A systematic review
Authors: Dienes Dominik , Sassen Remmer , Fischer Jasmin
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematise the research field of sustainability reporting. The authors contribute to closing this research gap and, on the basis of this systematisation, address the research question of what are the drivers of sustainability reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper systematically reviews existing studies and analyses drivers of sustainability reporting using a qualitative approach. The authors intend to demonstrate and discuss the wide range of approaches used in literature.

Findings

The review suggests that firm size, media visibility and ownership structure are the most important drivers of the disclosure of sustainability reports, while corporate governance only seems to have an influence on the existence of audit or sustainability committees. In contrast, other determinants such as profitability, capital structure, firm age or board composition as an indicator of corporate governance do not show a clear tendency.

Originality/value

The authors systemise the research field related to sustainability reporting to give an overview of the current research landscape that is not influenced by environmental or social reporting and discuss the identified determinants and the related variables. This results in a comprehensive report of what is known and unknown about the questions addressed in the systematic review.