bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of feed form and delivery method on feed microbiology and growth performance in grow-finisher pigs
Authors: O’Meara Fiona M , Gardiner Gillian E , O’Doherty John V , Lawlor Peadar G
Published: January 2020

There is no generally accepted optimal feed form and delivery method for feeding finisher pigs. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of feed form (meal and pellet) and delivery method (liquid, dry, and wet/dry) on feed microbiology and growth, gain-to-feed ratio (G:F), and carcass quality of finisher pigs. Two batches of pigs were used, each with six pen replicates per treatment. In each batch 216 pigs (32.7 kg; ± 0.48 SE) housed in same-sex (entire male or female) pens of six pigs per pen were on treatment for ~62 d prior to slaughter. The experiment was a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two factors for diet form (meal and pellets) and three factors for feed delivery (dry, wet/dry, liquid). The treatments were 1) meal from dry feeder, 2) meal from wet/dry feeder, 3) meal from liquid system, 4) pellet from dry feeder, 5) pellet from wet/dry feeder, and 6) pellet from liquid system. Pig growth performance was determined, blood samples collected at slaughter for hematological analysis and microbiological and proximate analysis of feed performed. A significant feed form × delivery interaction was found for G:F. During the overall period G:F was 0.446, 0.433, 0.423, 0.474, 0.459, and 0.418 g/g (SE = 0.0080; P < 0.01) for treatments 1 through 6, respectively. When feed was pelleted, G:F was improved when feed delivery was dry or wet/dry compared to meal but when the delivery was liquid, pelleting did not affect G:F. There were no interactive effects for overall average daily gain (ADG). Overall ADG was 1,114 and 1,156 g/d (SE = 16.9; P < 0.01) for pigs fed diets in meal and pellet form, respectively and 1,080, 1,114, and 1,210 g/d (SE = 18.4; P < 0.001) for dry-, wet/dry-, and liquid-fed pigs, respectively. Carcass weight was 76.6 and 79.0 kg (SE = 0.55; P < 0.001) for pigs fed in meal and pellet form, respectively, while it was 74.7, 77.3, and 81.5 kg (SE = 0.60; P < 0.001) for pigs delivered dry, wet/dry, and liquid diets, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria (P < 0.05) and yeast (P < 0.01) counts in troughs were greater for the liquid than the dry diet in both meal and pelleted form. There was also evidence of lysine degradation in the liquid diet but this did not impact pig growth. Feeding the diet in pelleted vs. meal form led to lower hemoglobin and greater white blood cell and neutrophil counts (P < 0.05). To conclude, wet/dry feeding of a pelleted diet is recommended to maximize growth rate while optimizing G:F in grow-finisher pigs.
Breast Lesions in Women Aged Younger than 30 Years: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management
Authors: Clark Haley R , Merchant Kanwal A , Omar Lena A , Compton Lindsay M , Hayes Jody C
Published: January 2020

Women aged younger than 30 years frequently present with palpable breast lesions, breast pain, and nipple discharge. Diagnostic work-up often results in benign findings, including a variety of benign solid masses, infectious or inflammatory conditions, pregnancy- or lactation-related abnormalities, and normal variants. While rare, breast cancer can occur within this demographic, and it is often more advanced and aggressive than in older women. Other rare tumors can present within this patient demographic, including primary sarcoma of the breast and granular cell tumors. A knowledge of the clinical presentation, diagnostic approach, and management of this spectrum of pathologic entities is crucial to ensure optimal and cost-effective care within this patient demographic.
Adaptive rank-reduction method for seismic data reconstruction
Authors: Wu Juan , Bai Min
Published: January 2020

Seismic data reconstruction plays an important role in the whole seismic data processing and imaging workflow, especially for those data that are acquired from severe field environment and are missing a large portion of the reflection signals. The rank-reduction method is considered to be a very effective method for interpolating data that are of small curvature, e.g. the post-stack data. However, when the data are more complicated, the rank-reduction method may fail to achieve acceptable performance. A useful strategy is to use local windows to process the data so that the data in each local window satisfy the plane-wave assumption of the rank-reduction method. However, the rank in each window requires a careful selection. Traditional methods select a global rank for all windows. We have proposed an automatic algorithm to select the rank in each processing window. The energy ratio between two consecutive singular values is chosen as the criterion to define the optimal rank. We apply this strategy to seismic data interpolation and use both synthetic and field data examples to demonstrate its potential in practical applications.
Culture-specific Evidence before Internationalized Criminal Courts
Authors: Cheah W L
Published: January 2020

As commentators press the International Criminal Court and other internationalized criminal courts to adopt a more sensitive approach to culture-specific evidence when determining individual criminal responsibility, this article argues that important lessons may be obtained from Asian jurisdictions where courts have discussed and assessed such evidence. The Asian examples studied here highlight the possibilities and challenges of having courts consider culture-specific evidence. By comparing judicial experiences, this article also shows that a more sensitive judicial approach to culture-specific evidence may be cultivated if attention is given not only to the cultural knowledge of judges, but also the court’s broader legal architecture, the position of the accused, and judicial identity.
Intermediary liability for trade mark infringement in India: the Louboutin case
Authors: Panwar Aklovya , Gehlot Ashwini
Published: January 2020

Christian Louboutin SAS v Nakul Bajaj and Ors, CS (COMM) 344/2018, Delhi High Court (Prathiba M Singh J), 2 November 2018

In Christian Louboutin SAS v Nakul Bajaj and Ors, the Delhi High Court has given for the first time an indispensable ruling to clarify the responsibility and liability of online intermediaries for trade mark infringement. In a subsequent judgment in L’Oreal v Brandworld & Anr (CS(COMM) 980/2016, Prathiba M Singh J, 12 November 2018), the same court has confirmed the approach taken in Louboutin.
Reassessing Potential for Exotic Larch in Northern United States
Authors: Maass David I , Irland Lloyd C , Anderson James L , Laustsen Kenneth M , Greenwood Michael S , Roth Brian E
Published: January 2020

Abstract

Field measurements of operational plantations and research plots demonstrate that growth rates of exotic larches in unmanaged stands can exceed 12 m3 per hectare per year in Maine and elsewhere. This paper briefly reviews the recent history of exotic larch (Larix decidua, L. kaempferi, and L. × marschlinsii) in northeastern United States and Canada. Stands can be commercially thinned as early as 15 years; further thinnings add to significant volume accumulation, based on stand table projections. Genetic development of the hybrid (L. × marschlinsii) could yield additional volume. Even at current low stumpage values, exotic larch plantations offer positive returns at realistic discount rates. In map form, we report a current inventory of known trials and operational plantings across the Northern United States, including adjacent Canada.
International migration management in the age of artificial intelligence
Authors: Beduschi Ana
Published: January 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise the way states and international organisations seek to manage international migration. AI is gradually going to be used to perform tasks, including identity checks, border security and control, and analysis of data about visa and asylum applicants. To an extent, this is already a reality in some countries such as Canada, which uses algorithmic decision-making in immigration and asylum determination, and Germany, which has piloted projects using technologies such as face and dialect recognition for decision-making in asylum determination processes. The article’s central hypothesis is that AI technology can affect international migration management in three different dimensions: (1) by deepening the existing asymmetries between states on the international plane; (2) by modernising states’ and international organisations’ traditional practices; and (3) by reinforcing the contemporary calls for more evidence-based migration management and border security. The article examines each of these three hypotheses and reflects on the main challenges of using AI solutions for international migration management. It draws on legal, political and technology-facing academic literature, examining the current trends in technological developments and investigating the consequences that these can have for international migration. Most particularly, the article contributes to the current debate about the future of international migration management, informing policymakers in this area of growing importance and fast development.
From hydrogen to helium: the spectral evolution of white dwarfs as evidence for convective mixing
Authors: Cunningham Tim , Tremblay Pier-Emmanuel , Gentile Fusillo Nicola Pietro , Hollands Mark , Cukanovaite Elena
Published: January 2020

We present a study of the hypothesis that white dwarfs undergo a spectral change from hydrogen- to helium-dominated atmospheres using a volume-limited photometric sample drawn from the Gaia-DR2 catalogue, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), and the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). We exploit the strength of the Balmer jump in hydrogen-atmosphere DA white dwarfs to separate them from helium-dominated objects in SDSS colour space. Across the effective temperature range from 20 000 to 9000 K, we find that 22 per cent of white dwarfs will undergo a spectral change, with no spectral evolution being ruled out at 5σ. The most likely explanation is that the increase in He-rich objects is caused by the convective mixing of DA stars with thin hydrogen layers, in which helium is dredged up from deeper layers by a surface hydrogen convection zone. The rate of change in the fraction of He-rich objects as a function of temperature, coupled with a recent grid of 3D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of convective DA white dwarfs – which include the full overshoot region – lead to a discussion on the distribution of total hydrogen mass in white dwarfs. We find that 60 per cent of white dwarfs must have a hydrogen mass larger than MH/MWD = 10−10, another 25 per cent have masses in the range MH/MWD = 10−14–10−10, and 15 per cent have less hydrogen than MH/MWD = 10−14. These results have implications for white dwarf asteroseismology, stellar evolution through the asymptotic giant branch and accretion of planetesimals on to white dwarfs.
Converging shock waves in a Van der Waals gas of variable density
Authors: Chauhan Antim , Arora Rajan , Tomar Amit
Published: January 2020

The converging problem of cylindrically or spherically symmetric strong shock wave collapsing at the axis/centre of symmetry, is studied in a non-ideal inhomogeneous gaseous medium. Here, we assume that the undisturbed medium is spatially variable and the density of a gas is decreasing towards the axis/centre according to a power law. In the present work, we have used the perturbation technique to the implosion problem and obtained a global solution that also admits Guderley’s asymptotic solution in a very good agreement which holds only in the vicinity of the axis/centre of implosion. The similarity exponents together with their corresponding amplitudes are determined by expanding the flow parameters in powers of time. We also refined the leading similarity exponents near the axis/centre of convergence. We compared our calculated results with the already existing results and found them in good agreements up to two decimal places. Shock position and flow parameters are analysed graphically with respect to the variation of values of different parameters. It is observed that an increase in the density variation index, adiabatic exponent and Van der Waals excluded volume, causes the time of shock collapse to decrease due to which the shock acceleration gets increased and shock reaches the axis/centre much faster.
Diffusion of Being Pivotal and Immoral Outcomes
Authors: Falk A , Neuber T , Szech N
Published: January 2020

We study how the diffusion of being pivotal affects immoral outcomes. In our main experiment, subjects decide about agreeing to kill mice and receiving money versus objecting to the killing and foregoing the monetary amount. In a baseline condition, subjects decide individually about the life of one mouse. In the main treatment, subjects are organized into groups of eight and decide simultaneously. Eight mice are killed if at least one subject opts for killing. The fraction of subjects agreeing to kill is significantly higher in the main condition compared with the baseline condition. In a second experiment, we run the same baseline and main conditions but use a charity context and additionally study sequential decision-making. We replicate our finding from the mouse paradigm. We further show that the observed effects increase with experience, i.e., when we repeat the experiment for a second time. For both experiments, we elicit beliefs about being pivotal, which we validate in a treatment with non-involved observers. We show that beliefs are a main driver of our results.
Trust of “after us” in the Italian system and the American trust “for special needs”
Authors: Amore Giuliana
Published: January 2020

This article aims to investigate differences and affinities between the Italian trust after us and the trust for special needs in common law systems, with regard to both subjective and objective requirements and to the regulation.
Barriers to engagement in implementation science research: a national survey
Authors: Stevens Elizabeth R , Shelley Donna , Boden-Albala Bernadette
Published: January 2020

Low levels of engagement in implementation science (IS) among health researchers is a multifaceted issue. With the aim of guiding efforts to increase engagement in IS research, we sought to identify barriers to engagement in IS within the health research community. We performed an online survey of health researchers in the United States in 2018. Basic science researchers were excluded from the sample. IS engagement was measured by self-reported conduct of or collaboration on an IS study in the past 5 years. Potential barriers tested were (a) knowledge and awareness of IS, (b) attitudes about IS research, (c) career benefits of IS, (d) research community support, and (e) research leadership support. We performed simple logistic regressions and tested multivariable logistic regression models of researcher characteristics and potential barriers as predictors of IS engagement. Of the 1,767 health researchers, 49.7% indicated they engaged in an implementation study. Being able to define IS (aOR 3.42, 95%CI 2.68–4.36, p < .001) and having attended IS training (aOR 3.77, 95%CI 2.96–4.81, p < .001) were associated with engaging in IS research. Among other potential barriers tested, perceptions that engaging in IS would not be good for their career (aOR 0.29, 95%CI 0.2–0.41, p < .001) was strongly associated with decreased engagement in IS research. Efforts to increase researcher familiarity with IS methods and foster support for IS within research communities, along with decreasing barriers to funding and publishing, are likely to be most effective for increasing engagement in IS research.
Optimal memory-aware backpropagation of deep join networks
Authors: Beaumont Olivier , Herrmann Julien , Pallez (Aupy) Guillaume , Shilova Alena
Published: January 2020

Deep learning training memory needs can prevent the user from considering large models and large batch sizes. In this work, we propose to use techniques from memory-aware scheduling and automatic differentiation (AD) to execute a backpropagation graph with a bounded memory requirement at the cost of extra recomputations. The case of a single homogeneous chain, i.e. the case of a network whose stages are all identical and form a chain, is well understood and optimal solutions have been proposed in the AD literature. The networks encountered in practice in the context of deep learning are much more diverse, both in terms of shape and heterogeneity. In this work, we define the class of backpropagation graphs, and extend those on which one can compute in polynomial time a solution that minimizes the total number of recomputations. In particular, we consider join graphs which correspond to models such as siamese or cross-modal networks.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science’.
Preparing sparse solvers for exascale computing
Authors: Anzt Hartwig , Boman Erik , Falgout Rob , Ghysels Pieter , Heroux Michael , Li Xiaoye , Curfman McInnes Lois , Tran Mills Richard , Rajamanickam Sivasankaran , Rupp Karl , Smith Barry , Yamazaki Ichitaro , Meier Yang Ulrike
Published: January 2020

Sparse solvers provide essential functionality for a wide variety of scientific applications. Highly parallel sparse solvers are essential for continuing advances in high-fidelity, multi-physics and multi-scale simulations, especially as we target exascale platforms. This paper describes the challenges, strategies and progress of the US Department of Energy Exascale Computing project towards providing sparse solvers for exascale computing platforms. We address the demands of systems with thousands of high-performance node devices where exposing concurrency, hiding latency and creating alternative algorithms become essential. The efforts described here are works in progress, highlighting current success and upcoming challenges.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science’.
The future of computing beyond Moore’s Law
Authors: Shalf John
Published: January 2020

Moore’s Law is a techno-economic model that has enabled the information technology industry to double the performance and functionality of digital electronics roughly every 2 years within a fixed cost, power and area. Advances in silicon lithography have enabled this exponential miniaturization of electronics, but, as transistors reach atomic scale and fabrication costs continue to rise, the classical technological driver that has underpinned Moore’s Law for 50 years is failing and is anticipated to flatten by 2025. This article provides an updated view of what a post-exascale system will look like and the challenges ahead, based on our most recent understanding of technology roadmaps. It also discusses the tapering of historical improvements, and how it affects options available to continue scaling of successors to the first exascale machine. Lastly, this article covers the many different opportunities and strategies available to continue computing performance improvements in the absence of historical technology drivers.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science’.
Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science
Authors: Dongarra Jack , Grigori Laura , Higham Nicholas J.
Published: January 2020

A number of features of today’s high-performance computers make it challenging to exploit these machines fully for computational science. These include increasing core counts but stagnant clock frequencies; the high cost of data movement; use of accelerators (GPUs, FPGAs, coprocessors), making architectures increasingly heterogeneous; and multi- ple precisions of floating-point arithmetic, including half-precision. Moreover, as well as maximizing speed and accuracy, minimizing energy consumption is an important criterion. New generations of algorithms are needed to tackle these challenges. We discuss some approaches that we can take to develop numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science, with a view to exploiting the next generation of supercomputers.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Numerical algorithms for high-performance computational science’.
Narrative of a versatile and adept species Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Kivisaar Maia
Published: January 2020

Pseudomonas putidais a fast-growing bacterium found mostly in temperate soil and water habitats. The metabolic versatility ofP. putidamakes this organism attractive for biotechnological applications such as biodegradation of environmental pollutants and synthesis of added-value chemicals (biocatalysis). This organism has been extensively studied in respect to various stress responses, mechanisms of genetic plasticity and transcriptional regulation of catabolic genes.P. putidais able to colonize the surface of living organisms, but is generally considered to be of low virulence. A number ofP. putidastrains are able to promote plant growth. The aim of this review is to give historical overview of the discovery of the speciesP. putidaand isolation and characterization ofP. putidastrains displaying potential for biotechnological applications. This review also discusses some major findings inP. putidaresearch encompassing regulation of catabolic operons, stress-tolerance mechanisms and mechanisms affecting evolvability of bacteria under conditions of environmental stress.
Phages actively challenge niche communities in the Antarctic soils
Authors: Bezuidt Oliver K.I , Lebre Pedro Humberto , Pierneef Rian , León-Sobrino Carlos , Adriaenssens Evelien M. , Cowan Don A. , Van de Peer Yves , Makhalanyane Thulani P.
Published: January 2020

By modulating the structure, diversity and trophic outputs of microbial communities, phages play crucial roles in many biomes. In oligotrophic polar deserts, the effects of katabatic winds, constrained nutrients and low water availability are known to limit microbial activity. Although phages may substantially govern trophic interactions in cold deserts, relatively little is known regarding the precise ecological mechanisms. Here, we provide the first evidence of widespread antiphage innate immunity in Antarctic environments using metagenomic sequence data from hypolith communities as model systems. In particular, immunity systems such as DISARM and BREX are shown to be dominant systems in these communities. Additionally, we show a direct correlation between the CRISPR-cas adaptive immunity and the metavirome of hypolith communities, suggesting the existence of dynamic hostphage interactions. In addition to providing the first exploration of immune systems in cold deserts, our results suggest that phages actively challenge niche communities in Antarctic polar deserts. We provide evidence suggesting that the regulatory role played by phages in this system is an important determinant of bacterial host interactions in this environment.

Importance

In Antarctic environments, the combination of both abiotic and biotic stressors results in simple trophic levels dominated by microbiomes. Although the past two decades have revealed substantial insights regarding the diversity and structure of microbiomes, we lack mechanistic insights regarding community interactions and how phages may affect these. By providing the first evidence of widespread antiphage innate immunity, we shed light on phage-host dynamics in Antarctic niche communities. Our analyses reveal several antiphage defense systems including DISARM and BREX, which appear to dominate in cold desert niche communities. In contrast, our analyses revealed that genes, which encode antiphage adaptive immunity were under-represented in these communities suggesting lower infection frequencies in cold edaphic environments. We propose that by actively challenging niche communities, phages play crucial roles in the diversification of Antarctic communities.
Dissecting endothelial to haematopoietic stem cell transition by single-cell transcriptomic and functional analyses
Authors: Hou Siyuan , Li Zongcheng , Zheng Xiaona , Gao Yun , Dong Ji , Ni Yanli , Wang Xiaobo , Li Yunqiao , Ding Xiaochen , Chang Zhilin , Li Shuaili , Hu Yuqiong , Fan Xiaoying , Hou Yu , Wen Lu , Liu Bing , Tang Fuchou , Lan Yu
Published: January 2020

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in adults are believed to be born from hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) in mid-gestational mouse embryos. Due to rare and transient nature, the HSC-competent ECs have never been stringently identified and accurately captured, let alone their genuine vasculature precursors. Here, we firstly used high-precision single-cell transcriptomics to unbiasedly examine relevant EC populations at continuous developmental stages and transcriptomically identified putative HSC-primed HECs. Combining computational prediction and in vivo functional validation, we precisely captured HSC-competent HECs by newly constructed Neurl3-EGFP reporter mouse model, and realized enrichment further by surface marker combination. Surprisingly, endothelial-haematopoietic bi-potential was rarely but reliably witnessed in culture of single HECs. Noteworthy, primitive vascular ECs experienced two-step fate choices to become HSC-primed HECs, resolving several previously observed contradictions. Taken together, comprehensive understanding of endothelial evolutions and molecular programs underlying HSC-primed HEC specification in vivo will facilitate future investigations directing HSC production in vitro.
Super-resolution visualization of distinct stalled and broken replication fork structures
Authors: Whelan Donna R. , Lee Wei Ting C. , Marks Frances , Kong Yu Tina , Yin Yandong , Rothenberg Eli
Published: January 2020

Endogenous genotoxic stress occurs in healthy cells due to competition between DNA replication machinery, and transcription and topographic relaxation processes. This causes replication fork (RF) stalling and regression, which can further collapse to form single-ended double strand breaks (seDSBs). To avoid mutagenesis, these breaks require repair via Homologous Recombination (HR). Here we apply multicolor single molecule super resolution microscopy to visualize individual RFs under mild stress from the trapping of Topoisomerase I cleavage complexes, a damage induction which closely mimics endogenous replicative stress. We identify RAD51 and RAD52, alongside RECQ1, as the first responder proteins to stalled but unbroken forks, whereas Ku and MRE11 are initially recruited to seDSBs. Ku loads directly onto the DSB end whereas MRE11 associates with nascent DNA away from the break, and both proteins colocalize contemporaneously with a single seDSB. We are thus able to discern closely related RF stress motifs and their repair pathwaysin vivo,uncovering mechanistic insights into the nature of RF damage and repair.
An analysis of China’s reforms on mortgaging and transacting rural land use rights and entrepreneurial activity
Authors: Peng Yanling , Kong Rong
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the economic relationship with recent changes in China’s land use policy and rural development through innovation and entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The first issue of economic importance is in understanding the market value of land use rights (LUR) transactions. To examine this, the authors build an argument around the idea of economic and marginal rents from Ricardo. The second issue relates to the extent by which deepening the rural financial landscape by allowing the mortgaging of LUR will promote and advance much needed entrepreneurial activity. To explore this issue, the authors draw on Schumpeter. The empirical contribution is based on a survey of 1,465 farm households in Gansu, Henan, Shaanxi and Shandong provinces.

Findings

In an endogenous Two-Stage Least Squares model, the authors find a positive and significant relationship between a willingness to mortgage LUR and entrepreneurship, which suggest that the new policy may well meet that objective. However, the authors do not find that entrepreneurs alone will have a willingness to mortgage LUR; non-entrepreneurs – traditional farmer types – would also be willing to mortgage LUR, but with a caveat that either group already has a disposition or demand for credit.

Originality/value

The value of the analysis is to provide an evidence to understand the market value of LUR transactions and to study the relationship between mortgage of LUR and entrepreneurial activity.
Dynamic scheduling model for the construction industry
Authors: Fahmy Amer , Hassan Tarek , Bassioni Hesham , McCaffer Ronald
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Basic project control through traditional methods is not sufficient to manage the majority of real-time events in most construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to propose a Dynamic Scheduling (DS) model that utilizes multi-objective optimization of cost, time, resources and cash flow, throughout project construction.

Design/methodology/approach

Upon reviewing the topic of DS, a worldwide internet survey with 364 respondents was conducted to define end-user requirements. The model was formulated and solution algorithms discussed. Verification was reported using predefined problem sets and a real-life case. Validation was performed via feedback from industry experts.

Findings

The need for multi-objective dynamic software optimization of construction schedules and the ability to choose among a set of optimal alternatives were highlighted. Model verification through well-known test cases and a real-life project case study showed that the model successfully achieved the required dynamic functionality whether under the small solved example or under the complex case study. The model was validated for practicality, optimization of various DS schedule quality gates, ease of use and software integration with contemporary project management practices.

Practical implications

Optimized real-time scheduling can provide better resources management including labor utilization and cost efficiency. Furthermore, DS contributes to optimum materials procurement, thus minimizing waste.

Social implications

Optimized real-time scheduling can provide better resources management including labor utilization and cost efficiency. Furthermore, DS contributes to optimum materials procurement, thus minimizing waste.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates the importance of DS in construction, identifies the user needs and overviews the development, verification and validation of a model that supports the generation of high-quality schedules beneficial to large-scale projects.
To buy or to borrow? Evaluating the cost of an eBook in TalTech library
Authors: Kont Kate-Riin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out how much the purchasing and lending of individual electronic books really cost. Additionally, this paper investigates which kind of approach would be cheaper and less time-consuming for library staff as well as library patrons – purchase or short-term loan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) Library. This is the only university library in Estonia where the Ebook Central platform is adapted on a large scale. For background information, all statistical data of expenditures and average prices of purchases and short-term loans during April 2013 and December 2018 were calculated and analysed. Through a case study, the time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) method was used – all activities related to acquisition and lending of eBooks were identified, recorded in detail and analysed. More specifically, the study concerned eBooks offered in the Ebook Central platform and covered purchasing and short-term loan processes, such as receipt of order request, communication with the patron (if necessary) making a purchase or short-term loan, and feedback to the patron.

Findings

While analysing the results, it appeared there are many additional activities libraries can avoid during the eBook short-term loan process compared to purchasing. As a normality in TalTech library, purchase is always followed by a cataloguing process which increases the time and cost of this process in turn. On the basis of the current study, it can be said that short-term loan is a cheaper way to use eBooks; many activities related to the short-term loan of eBooks take remarkably less staff time and financial resources than eBooks acquisition/purchasing activities. When analysing the literature reviewed as well as collected statistical data, the problem may arise when the decision-maker librarian is not experienced, professional or long-sighted enough to understand the future behaviour of the patron or the usage of the specific eBook. When the usage reaches a certain point, it becomes an indicator of continuing future usage and so it makes sense to purchase the eBook, as the library pays no further charges once an eBook is owned.

Originality/value

Most studies reviewed by the author are based on the statistical data collected about expenditure, costs, usage, cost-per-use, etc. of short-term loans and purchases. While acquisitions costs, average cost per acquired item per year and cost per usage are easy to identify, it has been difficult to measure associated costs of acquisition, cataloging and circulation. The TDABC methodology seems to be one of the best tools for understanding cost behaviour and refining a cost system for university libraries. Based on the information known to the author, there is no study carried out using the TDABC methodology for analysing costs of eBook programmes.
Transfer characteristics of the MCR-WPT system using two series transmitting coils
Authors: Liu Suqi , Liu Yuping
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The impedance compensation approaches have been adopted to achieve the maximum output power and transfer efficiency in many magnetic coupling resonance wireless power transfer projects. However, it remains a challenge to obtain the constant output power and transfer efficiency in a fixed-frequency mode during variations in transfer distance and orientation of the coils. In this paper, using two series transmitting coils to achieve the constant output power and transfer efficiency is used.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the circuit model is established and transfer characteristics are studied. Second, using the two series transmitting coils to achieve the constant output power and transfer efficiency is investigated. Finally, the experimental system is designed; it can optimize the transfer performances by itself; the constant output power and transfer efficiency are achieved in the fixed-frequency mode.

Findings

When the receiving coil moves between the two series transmitting coils, the tolerance of the output power and transfer efficiency is less than 5 per cent.

Research limitations/implications

When a receiving coil is placed between the two series transmitting coils, there are space limits. The receiving coil only shifts between the two transmitting coils.

Practical implications

However, the rail guide vehicle may achieve constant output power and transfer efficiency when it moves on the rail guide. So, this topology may provide a practical solution.

Originality/value

In this research, the three-coil MCR-WPT system including two series transmitting coils is presented. In a fixed-frequency mode, the constant output power and transfer efficiency is achieved in experiments during variations in transfer distance and orientation of the coils. The fluctuation of the output power and transfer efficiency is less than 5 per cent.
Laser micro-machined 28 GHz broad band single feed microstrip antenna for 5G mm-wave applications
Authors: Jose Melvin C. , Sankararajan Radha , B.S. Sreeja , Pratap Kumar Pratap Kumar
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a laser micro-machined 4 × 4 elements microstrip array antenna suitable for 5 G millimeter wave (mm-wave) applications. Each patch element of the array is excited with same amplitude and phase that is achieved with proper novel impedance matching stub. The proposed antenna achieves a simulated gain of 13.15 dBi and a measured return loss of −24.80 dB at 28.73 GHz with a total bandwidth of 7.48 GHz. The designed antenna is directional with a directivity of 15.1 dBi at 28.73 GHz, whereas fabricated on a low cost FR4 substrate with a substrate thickness of 0.074 λ mm. The antenna is realized with an aperture size of 2.24λ × 3.26λ.

Design/methodology/approach

The antenna structure starts from the design of single element called unit cell. The single element is designed using the transmission line model equations of a rectangular patch. To design a 28 GHz microstrip patch antenna, a dielectric material with lower permittivity and having thickness (h) less than 1 mm is required. This specification gives better gain and efficiency by reducing surface waves and mutual coupling between elements. The inset width is optimized to achieve the minimum reflection coefficient (S11). The single element has been arranged with a minimum spacing of λ/2 (5.3571 mm) in an H plane and E plane. It is connected using the microstrip lines with proper impedance matching. The four 2 × 2-sub array cell subsystems are connected with a corporate feed together formed the 4 × 4-array cell. Rectangular planar array method is used to arrange the elements in the 4 × 4 array cell.

Findings

The design concept is simple which includes the combination of corporate feed and insect feed. It is compact in size and easy to fabricate. The bandwidth of fabricated prototype antenna array is achieved as 7.48 GHz from 24.98 GHz to 32.46 GHz. The mutual coupling is very less though the antenna array is placed with minimum spacing between adjacent elements. This is because of the microstrip feeding structure with minimum phase shift. The gain can be further enhanced with increasing number of array element and proper designing of feed line. Owing to the advantages of low profile, wide bandwidth and high gain, the designed array will be potentially useful in 5 G wireless communications.

Originality/value

The measured antenna offers bandwidth 7.48 GHz (24.98 GHz-32.46 GHz) with centered frequency 28.73 GHz. The agreement between simulated and measured results is good. The VSWR is observed 0.32 < 2, offers good impedance matching and low mutual coupling. It gives better E-Field and H-field radiation patterns of the 4 × 4 array antenna structure at 28 GHz. The total gain of 13.14 dBi is achieved at the center frequency. The total efficiency of 63.42 per cent is achieved with FR4 substrate.
Firm size and workplace learning processes: a study of the restaurant sector
Authors: Bishop Daniel
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper asks how workplace learning environments change as firm size increases, and how employees respond to this. In doing so, it looks beyond an exclusive focus on formal training and incorporates more informal, work-based learning processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a comparative, qualitative research design, using semi-structured interviews with an under-researched group of workers – waiting for staff in restaurants. The data were collected from six restaurants of different sizes.

Findings

As formally instituted human resource development (HRD) structures expand as firm size increases are more extensive in larger firms, this leaves less room for individual choice and agency in shaping the learning process. This does not inevitably constrain or enhance workplace learning, and can be experienced either negatively or positively by employees, depending on their previous working and learning experiences.

Research limitations/implications

Future research on HRD and workplace learning should acknowledge both formal and informal learning processes and the interaction between them – particularly in small and growing firms. Insights are drawn from the sociomaterial perspective help the authors to conceptualise this formality and informality. Research is needed in a wider range of sectors.

Practical implications

There are implications for managers in small, growing firms, in terms of how they maintain space for informal learning as formal HRD structures expand, and how they support learners who may struggle in less structured learning environments.

Originality/value

The paper extends current understanding of how the workplace learning environment – beyond a narrow focus on “training” – changes as firm size increases.
Trust in takaful agents: antecedents and consequences
Authors: Shukor Syadiyah Abdul
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explain factors contributing towards the development of trust in takaful agents and its consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 182 completed survey questionnaires have been collected. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling analysis are used to analyse the data.

Findings

The result indicates that clients’ trust in takaful agents is influenced by the agents’ communication and expertise as well as the image of the takaful operator represented by them. Also, trust in takaful agents affects clients’ loyalty and intention to continue service with the existing agent.

Practical implications

This paper makes contributions by briefly discussing several recommendations to increase clients’ trust in takaful agents.

Originality/value

This research paper is related to takaful agent–client relationships and can be used to formulate appropriate marketing strategies for building stronger relationships.
Short-term Sharīʿah-compliant Islamic liquidity management instruments to sustain Islamic banking
Authors: Muneeza Aishath
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure of the Islamic treasury bills issued by the Central Bank of Maldives, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) for the benefit of those jurisdictions that aspire to introduce short term Islamic liquidity management instruments.

Design/methodology/approach

This is exploratory research where the experience of the author in structuring the Islamic liquidity management instruments discussed in the paper.

Findings

It is evident from the discussions of this paper that innovation is the key to structure Sharīʿah-compliant short term liquidity management instruments. The example of Maldives has proved that there is a need to amend the laws of the country to facilitate Central banks to deal with Sharīʿah-compliant instruments.

Originality/value

It is hoped that this research has shed light on the importance of having the proper Sharīʿah-compliant liquidity management instruments for sustainable development of Islamic banking and how jurisdictions have practically made this possible. The Islamic money market has developed gradually and there is a need to innovate novel and competitive instruments and further research is required to be conducted on this.
Islamic business ethics and practices of Islamic banks
Authors: Musa Muhammad Adli , Sukor Mohd Edil Abd , Ismail Mohd Nazari , Elias Muhd Ramadhan Fitri
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the perception of Islamic bank employees in Malaysia and selected Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, namely, Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, on various issues related to Islamic business ethics and the practices of the Islamic banks at which they work.

Design/methodology/approach

The required data to determine Islamic bank employees’ ethical perceptions is sourced from 144 completed survey questionnaires and interviews with 12 Islamic bank senior executives. Islamic model of normative business ethics is used to measure the relationship between attitudes and behaviours of employees and the ethical practices of Islamic banks.

Findings

Results show that the Islamic bank personnel working in Malaysia and the GCC perceived that their banks conform to Islamic ethical norms in business. These banks were seen to be concerned with their impact on society, and ethics prevailed over profit-maximisation. The findings also suggest that despite being less regulated compared to Malaysia, Islamic bank personnel in GCC had a better impression of the ethical standard practised in their institutions compared to the feedback given by their Malaysian counterparts. Additionally, this research also proves that, in general, there is a positive correlation between attitudes and behaviours of employees and the ethical practices of Islamic banks.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is that the respondents were not selected randomly but rather through a convenient sampling of personal contacts. Despite the inherent limitation of the sampling method because of the constraints of time and resources, the large number of respondents from 12 different banks are representative of the Islamic bank employees in Malaysia and the GCC.

Practical implications

The findings may serve as a useful input for Islamic financial institutions in improving their practices to conform with Islamic ethical norms.

Originality/value

The topic of Islamic business ethics and the practices of Islamic banks have not been fully understood by its stakeholders. This paper aims to give insights on how far Islamic bank business practices in Muslim majority societies fit with the prescribed business framework in Islam and its contributing value for both the organization and employees.
Assessing the impact of entrepreneurial skills development on self-employment practices amongst Egyptian and Bahraini accounting students in public and private universities
Authors: Reyad Sameh , Badawi Sherine , Hamdan Allam
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper examines the development of entrepreneurial skills amongst accounting students in public and private universities and its impact on career pathways, including self-employment. Also, the paper explores what skills have an effect on self-employment intentions.

Design/Methodology/approach

This study uses a quantitative approach to measure the entrepreneurial skills developed by accounting students in business schools and whether these skills direct them to choose to start their own business. A questionnaire was developed and a sample of 583 Egyptian and Bahraini accounting students was used.

Findings

The study concludes that in private universities, there is no difference in the development of entrepreneurial skills and subsequent self-employment practices between students in Egypt and Bahrain. When it comes to public universities, students in Bahrain develop better entrepreneurial skills and subsequent self-employment practices than students in Egypt. In addition, private universities are better than public universities in representing the relationship between entrepreneurial skills and self-employment practices.

Originality/value

This study and its conclusions fill a gap in the literature in comparing public and private universities to highlight the relationship between developing accounting students’ entrepreneurial skills and their self-employment practices. This study is the first to compare universities in Egypt and the Kingdom of Bahrain.