bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constructions in Cognitive Sociolinguistics
Authors: Hollmann Willem B.
Published: February 2014

This chapter explores some of the ways in which cognitive linguists have interfaced with sociolinguistics in order to enrich and refine their analyses. It describes cognitive linguistic research on English and Dutch where the analysis benefits from taking a broader, social perspective than is usual for cognitive linguists. Furthermore, it discusses work on Lancashire dialect to illustrate some ways in which a cognitive perspective can be used to actually feed back into sociolinguistic theory and practice. The chapter also stresses the need for greater dialogue between construction grammarians and sociolinguistics in order to achieve a psychologically and socially plausible account of linguistic variation.
Ethnicity and Identity
Authors: Waller Richard
Published: February 2014

Historians have been concerned with questions of identity and ethnicity in Africa for some time. This chapter provides a survey of both the history and the historiography of ethnicity. It begins with a discussion of tribe in the colonial era: how ethnicity was fashioned, by whom, and for what purposes; and how the claims of local ethnicities conflicted with the vision of a larger national community. It then surveys and critiques the historiography, from early primordialist views to later instrumental and constructivist approaches to the topic. Finally, it looks at the making of community and identity in the long term, tracing its precolonial roots and suggesting new directions that the study of community and identity might take. While its primary focus is on ethnicity, the chapter also looks at the construction of other identities—urban, religious, and gendered—and at alternative embodiments of memory and belonging—in landscape, enactment, and spirituality.
Work and Migration
Authors: Osborn Emily Lynn
Published: February 2014

This chapter assesses major trends in the historiography on work and migration in the twentieth century. It argues that four methodologies dominate this literature: what can be called the ‘primitivist’ interpretation, followed by the modernist, Marxist, social history approaches. Analysis of representative works and major themes from each of these genres reveals that capitalism, colonialism, and local practice figure centrally in all, although the explanatory weight each is granted varies considerably. In its consideration of the history and historiography of work and migration, the chapter points to exemplary new studies and promising future directions. It also discusses scholarly blind spots, in particular the tendency of historians to treat the history of work as the history of wage labour, which has created a bias in the literature towards male employees who work in industry, mines, and railways.
Indigenous African Religions
Authors: Baum Robert
Published: February 2014

This chapter focuses on the history of religions created by African communities and which have relied primarily on the inspiration of prophets, mediums, and elders, rather than on sacred texts. Anthropologists, colonial administrators, and missionaries dominated the study of indigenous African religions until the 1970s and relatively few studies emphasized historical approaches. This reflects long-standing Western assumptions about Africa as a place without history or religions, as well as the paucity of written documents about African religious history. The chapter begins with E. E. Evans-Pritchard’s historical analysis of Nuer prophetism, and examines the role of the Atlantic slave trade as a catalyst for religious change, the role of indigenous religions in resistance to colonial conquest, and the ways in which they changed in response to colonial occupation. It examines forms of witchcraft, constructions of gender, and new challenges to indigenous African religions during the postcolonial era.
Women and Gender
Authors: Cooper Barbara
Published: February 2014

The nineteenth and twentieth centuries were a period of turbulence and change in Africa; men and women navigated that turbulence in part by redefining gender. Power in African societies has historically been linked to seniority determined by age, sexuality, reproductive capacity, spiritual aptitude, physical strength, and wealth. Individuals have acted to reshape their horizons of possibility by jockeying for seniority through shifting means over time. Flows of ideas, peoples, cultures, and goods introduced new constructions of gender that have been adapted and transformed in the African context, generating new avenues of manœuvre through courts, schooling, and markets. No single credible narrative of either ascension or decline can be told about women’s experiences in the history of modern Africa because what it has meant to be a woman has been constantly renegotiated. Male bodies and masculinity have shifted in meaning and potential as well.
Introduction African Histories
Authors: Reid Richard , Parker John
Published: February 2014

This chapter provides an introduction to Africa, and to the volume. Following a survey of the continent’s physical and cultural terrain, the chapter explores the position of Africa in discussions of ‘the modern’, and in relation to global history. The core concern of this introductory overview is to trace the intellectual roots of the idea of ‘Africa’ as well as the continent’s ever-growing historiography. The chapter concludes with a summary of the structure, aims and ethos of the collection itself.
Canonical Affordances
Authors: Costall Alan , Richards Ann
Published: February 2014

Psychologists have had very little to say about things. Things are one thing, people are another. There is now, however, a growing recognition of the importance of things within human psychology. But, in cognitive theory, the meanings of things are usually radically subjectivized. ‘Their’ meanings are really ‘our’ meanings that we mentally project upon them. James Gibson’s concept of affordances was an attempt to avoid subject–object dualism by defining the meanings of things-what we can do with them-as properties of the object but defined relative to the agent. Critics have rightly objected that Gibson himself, nevertheless, overly objectified or reified affordances. Yet the affordances of many objects in the human world are objective, or, better, impersonal. The present chapter, however, is concerned with such ‘canonical affordances’-the things that things are for. But, as it argues, this kind of ‘objectivity’ must itself be understood in relation to other objects and events, and other people.
Notes to the Soundtrack of Source Code
Authors: Buhler James
Published: February 2014

This article appears in the Oxford Handbook of Sound and Image in Digital Media edited by Carol Vernallis, Amy Herzog, and John Richardson. This article develops several detailed scene analyses of Duncan Jones’s Source Code (2011), with special attention given to the work of the soundtrack in the opening and closing sections of the film. These analyses focus on locating the mythical constructions that underlie the film, on the relation of these mythic constructions to the capitalist system on which the film industry depends, and on evaluating the efficacy of music and sound in supporting these mythic constructions.
The Road to Walking
Authors: Adolph Karen E. , Robinson Scott R.
Published: February 2014

Learning to walk is one of the great achievements in human development. An aim of this chapter is to describe the developmental progression of locomotion, ranging from the spontaneous leg kicks of fetuses to the seemingly superhuman abilities of Tarahumaran endurance runners. Our chief aim, however, is to use the development of walking as an exemplar and metaphor for understanding development more broadly. The century-old study of the ontogeny of walking—from the classic descriptions of motor milestones to the modern recognition of the importance of experience in all forms of locomotion—provides one of the clearest, empirically based illustrations of the pragmatic and theoretical issues, methodological advances and conceptual pitfalls, and general principles and processes of development that is available to psychology.
Sociocultural Contexts of Development
Authors: Gauvain Mary
Published: February 2014

This chapter describes the mutually defining and supportive relations between psychological development and the sociocultural contexts in which development occurs. It begins with the historical and functional basis of these relations offered by evolutionary psychology. Then the chapter discusses sociocultural contexts and why they are important for understanding development. Two contexts are highlighted: (1) social interaction that conveys cultural knowledge and ways of thinking to children and (2) participation in everyday activities, cultural practices, and cultural tools that embody the goals, and means to reach these goals, that are valued in the culture. The chapter aims to demonstrate how studying the sociocultural contexts of development provides unique and valuable insight into psychological growth.
Environmental dependence of star formation law in the disk and center of IC 342
Authors: Pan Hsi-An , Kuno Nario , Hirota Akihiko
Published: February 2014

The Kennicutt–Schmidt (K–S) law in IC 342 is examined using the 12CO-to-H2 conversion factor (XCO,v), which depends on the metallicity and CO intensity. Additionally, an optically thin 13CO (1–0) is also independently used to analyze the K–S law. XCO,v is two to three times lower than the galactic standard XCO in the galactic center and approximately two times higher than XCO at the disk. The surface densities of molecular gas ($\Sigma_{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$) derived from 12CO and 13CO are consistent with the environment in a high-$\Sigma _{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$ region. By comparing the K–S law in the disk and the central regions of IC 342, we found that the power law index of the K–S law (N) increases toward the central region. Furthermore, the dependence of N on $\Sigma _{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$ is observed. Specifically, N increases with $\Sigma _{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$. The derived N in this work and previous observations are consistent with the implication that star formation is likely triggered by gravitational instability in the disk (low-$\Sigma _{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$ region) of IC 342 and both gravitational instability and cloud–cloud collisions in the central region (high-$\Sigma _{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$ regime). In addition, the increasing N toward the high-$\Sigma _{\mathrm{H_{2}}}$ domain also matches the theoretical prediction regarding the properties of giant molecular clouds. The results of IC 342 are supported by the same analysis of other nearby galaxies.
Biological Control of Wheat Root Diseases by the CLP-Producing Strain Pseudomonas fluorescens HC1-07
Authors: Yang Ming-Ming , Wen Shan-Shan , Mavrodi Dmitri V. , Mavrodi Olga V. , von Wettstein Diter , Thomashow Linda S. , Guo Jian-Hua , Weller David M.
Published: February 2014

Pseudomonas fluorescens HC1-07, previously isolated from the phyllosphere of wheat grown in Hebei province, China, suppresses the soilborne disease of wheat take-all, caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. We report here that strain HC1-07 also suppresses Rhizoctonia root rot of wheat caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-8. Strain HC1-07 produced a cyclic lipopeptide (CLP) with a molecular weight of 1,126.42 based on analysis by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Extracted CLP inhibited the growth of G. graminis var. tritici and R. solani in vitro. To determine the role of this CLP in biological control, plasposon mutagenesis was used to generate two nonproducing mutants, HC1-07viscB and HC1-07prtR2. Analysis of regions flanking plasposon insertions in HC1-07prtR2 and HC1-07viscB revealed that the inactivated genes were similar to prtR and viscB, respectively, of the well-described biocontrol strain P. fluorescens SBW25 that produces the CLP viscosin. Both genes in HC1-07 were required for the production of the viscosin-like CLP. The two mutants were less inhibitory to G. graminis var. tritici and R. solani in vitro and reduced in ability to suppress take-all. HC1-07viscB but not HC-07prtR2 was reduced in ability to suppress Rhizoctonia root rot. In addition to CLP production, prtR also played a role in protease production.
Investigating speciation in face of polyploidization: what can we learn from approximate Bayesian computation approach?
Authors: Roux Camille , Pannell John R.
Published: February 2014

Despite its importance in the diversification of many eucaryote clades, particularly plants, detailed genomic analysis of polyploid species is still in its infancy, with published analysis of only a handful of model species to date. Fundamental questions concerning the origin of polyploid lineages (e.g., auto- vs. allopolyploidy) and the extent to which polyploid genomes display disomic vs. polysomic vs. heterosomic inheritance are poorly resolved for most polyploids, not least because they have hitherto required detailed karyotypic analysis or the analysis of allele segregation at multiple loci in pedigrees or artificial crosses, which are often not practical for non-model species. However, the increasing availability of sequence data for non-model species now presents an opportunity to apply established approaches for the evolutionary analysis of genomic data to polyploid species complexes. Here, we ask whether approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), applied to sequence data produced by next-generation sequencing technologies from polyploid taxa, allows correct inference of the evolutionary and demographic history of polyploid lineages and their close relatives. We use simulations to investigate how the number of sampled individuals, the number of surveyed loci and their length affect the accuracy and precision of evolutionary and demographic inferences by ABC, including the mode of polyploidisation, mode of inheritance of polyploid taxa, the relative timing of genome duplication and speciation, and effective populations sizes of contributing lineages. We also apply the ABC framework we develop to sequence data from diploid and polyploidy species of the plant genusCapsella, for which we infer an allopolyploid origin for tetraC. bursa-pastoris≈ 90,000 years ago. In general, our results indicate that ABC is a promising and powerful method for uncovering the origin and subsequent evolution of polyploid species.
Psychosocial and physical activity behaviour among adults with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Ada Suet Ying
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to get information on the background, demographic data and the lifestyle of adults with intellectual disability in Hong Kong shelter workshop; to get information on physical activity behaviour and psychosocial behaviour of adults with intellectual disability in Hong Kong sheltered workshop; to assess the concurrent validity and reliability of the baseline interview questionnaire (BIQ-C); and a trial run to test the feasibility on running a larger scale of study in future.

Design/methodology/approach

– Psychosocial behaviour was assessed by BIQ-C (Heller et al., 2006) with sub-scale self-efficacy, outcome expectation, barrier to exercise; and physical activity assessment by pedometers. The participants completed the BIQ-C with an interviewer on fifth day morning before started work. Both step counts were collected and activity data were recorded in a log book separately during working hours and non-working hours on each four consecutive weekdays.

Findings

– The percentage of obesity was serious among adults with intellectual disability in HK, especially on women; and adults with intellectual disability had more walking step counts in non-working time compared with that at working time, which was considered “low active” (5,000-7,499 step per day) in physical activity level. Besides, both male and female participants had high outcome expectation, barrier to exercise and low self-efficacy. Results showed that BIQ-C was valid and reliable as an outcome measure to be used for intellectual disability.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample represented adults with mild to moderate intellectual disability which were based on a centre supervisor
'
s confirmation, and then subjects were randomly selected to participate. The results were based on mild to moderate grade participants wearing pedometer for four consecutive days, for those who were unable to wear the pedometer by themselves were excluded from this study (severe intellectual disability). Moreover, the results only reflect the number of steps during weekdays, there was no data on weekends.

Practical implications

– Assessment tools are valid and reliable among adults with intellectual disability in Hong Kong. Study showed that running a larger scale of intervention is possible and feasible in sheltered workshop.

Originality/value

– There is relatively little information on the physical activity patterns and psychosocial behaviour of workers with intellectual disability in Hong Kong, intervention may help understanding and promote health in this population.
Mentoring relationships among managerial and professional women in Turkey
Authors: Koyuncu Mustafa , J. Burke Ronald , Alayoglu Nihat , Wolpin Jacob
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– Although qualified women are still underrepresented at ranks of senior management in all countries, considerable progress has been made in identifying work experiences associated with career success and advancement. The studies of mentor relationships in North America have shown that women receiving more functions from their mentors reported benefits such as greater job and career satisfaction, and female mentors provided more psychosocial functions than did male mentors. The present study examined antecedents and consequences of mentor relationships in a sample of managerial and professional women working for a large organization in Turkey. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from 192 women managers and professionals using anonymously completed questionnaires.

Findings

– The following results were obtained: having a mentor relationship had little impact on work outcomes, female and male mentors generally provided the same mentor functions, and mentor functions had little impact on work outcomes.

Practical implications

– Highlights the potential role of both organizational and societal values in mentoring programs.

Originality/value

– These findings are at odds with previously reported results obtained in Anglo-Saxon countries. Possible explanations for the failure to find previously reported benefits of mentoring are offered.
A 3-D analytic eddy current model for a finite width conductive plate
Authors: Paul Subhra , Z. Bird Jonathan
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– A 3-D analytic modeling technique for calculating the eddy current distribution, force and power loss in a conductive plate of finite width and thickness is presented. The derived equations are expressed in a general form so that any magnetic source can be utilized. The model assumes the length of the conductive plate is large and the thickness of the plate is thin but not negligible. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The conducting and non-conducting regions are formulated in terms of decoupled magnetic vector potential components. In order to accurately compute the eddy current fields and forces the source field only needs to be applied on the surface of the conducting plate. The primary focus is on reducing the eddy current computational time.

Findings

– The accuracy of the presented approach is verified by utilizing a magnetic rotor that has both a rotational and translational motion. The proposed method is computationally efficient and its accuracy is validated using the finite element method.

Research limitations/implications

– The conducting plate thickness is assumed to be thin (but not negligible), and this enables the field interaction through the edge of the plate to be neglected. The lateral force is not calculated in the proposed approach.

Practical implications

– The calculation procedure presented is computationally fast and therefore this can enable the 3-D eddy current forces to be computed in near real-time.

Originality/value

– This paper presents a fully 3-D analytic based eddy current formlation for computing the eddy current fields and forces in a conducting plate of finite thickness and finite width. The modeling approach is shown to be computationally accurate and relatively fast.
Magnetic separation of magnetic activated carbons for water treatment and reuse
Authors: Caterina Borghi Chiara , Akiyama Yoko , Fabbri Massimo , Nishijima Shigehiro , Luigi Ribani Pier
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is the study of the magnetic separation of pollutants from water by means of a magnetic filter. A magnetic activated carbons nanometric powder that combines the well-known pollutants absorbent capacity of activated carbons with the magnetic properties of magnetite (Fe3O4) is used.

Design/methodology/approach

– The considered magnetic filter is made of stainless steel spheres, magnetized by an external flux density field provided by permanent magnets. Flux density and fluid velocity fields are evaluated using volume integral equation method. The modelling of the particles trajectories inside the filter allows calculating its capture efficiency.

Findings

– The results of the model are tested on the experimental data obtained using two different setups. A removal of the powder larger than 90 percent is achieved in both cases. The pollutant removal efficiency is checked on surfactants (water diluted). Their adsorption on magnetic activated carbons leads to residual concentration below the limit for the reuse in agriculture (according to the Italian legislation) for all the tested surfactants.

Originality/value

– The proposed process combines efficiently a physico-chemical phase of adsorption and a magnetic phase of filtration due to the particular properties of magnetic activated carbons.
Improving the performances of triangular microstrip antenna with multilayered configuration
Authors: Barkat Ouarda
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– An improved analytical model is presented to investigate the scattering properties of high Tc superconducting triangular antennas in multilayered configuration. The spectral method is used to study the scattering properties of superconducting triangular antennas. Galerkin method is used in the resolution of the electric field integral equation. The boundary condition for the electric field was used to derive an integral equation for the electric current. To validate the theoretical results, a study has been performed for perfectly conducting triangular patch on a single layer, with air gap, and cover layer. The computed data are found to be in good agreement. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A spectral domain approach has been used for the numerical calculation of the characteristics of a high Tc superconducting microstrip antenna with an air gap and cover layer. Initially, the authors use an integral method of moment which enabled them to exploit the spectral tensor of green. The resolution of the integral equations of the electric field by the procedure of Galerkin makes it possible to lead to a system of equations homogenous. The authors have calculated the frequency of resonance and the radiation pattern of antenna.

Findings

– The properties of the HTSTMA structure were stable at temperatures slightly lower than the critical temperature. Also computations show that the air separation can be adjusted to have the maximum operating frequency of the superconducting microstrip antenna. On the other hand, the bandwidth increases monotonically with increasing the air gap width. Therefore, HTS materials do offer efficiency improvements for antenna systems that can accommodate the added constraints of the superconducting environment. The calculated results have been compared with measured one available in the literature and excellent agreement has been found.

Originality/value

– To the best of the authors' knowledge, this subject has not been reported in the open literature; the only published results on the analysis of perfectly conducting triangular microstrip antennas.
Computer-based modeling of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets induction heating
Authors: Alexeevich Prakht Vladimir , Alexandrovich Dmitrievskii Vladimir , Nikitich Sarapulov Fedor , Aleksandrovich Dmitrievskii Anton , Ramazanovich Safin Nail
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– Nowadays, various software is available for simulating physical processes in induction heating. The software is often limited in its ability to simulate the billet movement, sometimes assuming uniform distribution of voltages on the inductor winding, uniformity of the physical properties of the billet, etc. The mathematical model of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets described in this paper takes into account the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution in the inductor turns. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research methodology is based on FEM analysis of the coupled problem, including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations, using Comsol 3.5a software.

Findings

– The electromagnetic and temperature field in the billet and the voltage distribution on the winding turns have been calculated. The phase distribution in the billet has been predicted. Significant interaction of the nonuniformity of the supply voltage distribution, the billet's movement, the billet phase heterogeneity and side effect on the ends of the inductor have been shown.

Practical implications

– The results received can be used for designing the induction heating unit for moving cylindrical billets made from ferromagnetic material and improving their characteristics.

Originality/value

– Investigation of moving cylindrical ferromagnetic billets induction heating can be done by numerical solving the coupled problem including the electromagnetic and thermal boundary problem with additional algebraic equations for the supply voltage distribution.
Stochastic models for the evaluation of magnetisation faults
Authors: Offermann Peter , Hameyer Kay
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The introduction of stochastic deviations due to production faults into the finite element (FE) simulation of electrical machines requires suitable error-model. These models should describe the occurring deviations from the ideal case. Permanent magnets, which can be used as rotor excitations in synchronous machines (PMSM), are one out of many possible sources for the aforementioned stochastic production variations. Fitting measured magnet variations to simulation models with the aim of describing the occurring production deviations, however, poses a problem due to two reasons: to begin with, only data of measured flux-densities are available. Second, a solution of the inverse problem is required to obtain data about changes inside the magnet. This paper, therefore, presents two solutions to this problem.

Design/methodology/approach

– Two error-models, one based on knowledge about the magnetisation process, the other one built upon principal component analysis, are presented. Both models are evaluated by parametrising them, using a set of measured flux-density data from magnets. Afterwards, each model's applicability and reproduction quality is assessed.

Findings

– Both models still have some drawbacks. While the first model seems to be too coarse grained for certain variations, the second model lacks applicability for a high reproduction quality.

Originality/value

– The comparison of both methods reveals guidelines, which methodology should be applied for predicting which variations. Furthermore, solutions are shown, how to mitigate the problems of the two presented models.
Thermo inductive nondestructive testing method applied to CFRP
Authors: Kien Bui Huu , Wasselynck Guillaume , Trichet Didier , Fouladgar Javad , Ramdane Brahim , Berthiau Gérard
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– In this paper, a thermo inductive nondestructing testing (NDT) modeling applied to carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite is presented. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A multi-scale approach is used to calculate the electromagnetic and thermal field distribution.

Findings

– The temperature perturbation due to the presence of flaws can be detected at the surface of the composite by an infrared camera.

Originality/value

– The developed 3D thermomagnetic model can be used to study the efficiency of the thermal inductive method for different kind of flaws, inductors and frequencies.
A split-step-scheme-based precise integration time domain method for solving wave equation
Authors: Liu Qi , Ma Xikui , Bai Zhongming , Zhuansun Xu
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to present a modified precise integration time domain (PITD) method for the numerical solution of 2D scalar wave equation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The split step (SS) scheme is applied to factorize the conventional PITD calculation into two sub-steps procedures and then field components can be updated along one spatial direction only in each sub-step. The perfectly matched layer (PML) absorber is extended to this method for modeling open region problems by using the stretched coordinate approach.

Findings

– It is shown that this method requires less computation time and storage space in comparison with the conventional PITD method, yet maintains the numerical stability despite using large time steps.

Research limitations/implications

– The WE-PITD method requires the divergence free region, which may be a limit on its usage. Hence, there is a challenge of using this technique in the 3D problems.

Originality/value

– Based on the SS scheme, the PITD method is used to solve the scale wave equation rather than Maxwell's equations, leading to a significant reduction in the computation time and memory usage.
Simplified analysis of iron loss in three-phase transformer considering rotating loss
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Yanli , Xie Dexin , Bai Baodong
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– A simplified method for calculating iron loss of three-phase transformer is proposed in this paper. The rotating iron loss measured from 2-D vector magnetic property measurement system of gain-oriented silicon steel sheet can be taken into account in this method. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The finite element analysis formulation is combined with the magnetic reluctivity model expressed by diagonal tensor for 2-D nonlinear and anisotropic magnetic problem, while the iron loss is computed in terms of the interpolation of rotational loss curves measured under various loci of controlled magnetic flux density B.

Findings

– The iron loss of three-phase transformer is obtained by the proposed method. And the calculating iron loss is verified with experimental results.

Originality/value

– The method presented in this paper enables the iron loss of three-phase transformer to be more accurately calculated and more easily applied, considering the rotational iron loss.
Studies on numerical methodologies for inverse problems and optimizations in China
Authors: Yang Shiyou , Ho S.L. , Yao Yingying , Liu Lei , Wu Lie
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential challenges in developing numerical methodologies for inverse problems and optimizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Summarizing previous research results mainly contributed by two research groups of Zhejiang University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Findings

– Computational intelligence plays an essential role in studying inverse problems and optimizations.

Originality/value

– An up-to-date review on the current status of numerical methodologies, especially computational intelligences, for inverse problems and optimizations contributed by Chinese researchers.
Induced voltage analysis of superconducting fault current limiter
Authors: Wang Zhigao , Wang Shuhong , Qiu Jie , Gong Weizhi , Zhang Jingyin
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– Saturated core type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) can effectively limit the short-circuit current in power system. However, the high induced voltage will occur between the terminals of DC superconducting bias winding caused by the variation of magnetic flux linked by DC winding due to the increasing short-circuit current. The DC source may be damaged. Thus, the induced voltage should be considered in DC winding design. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Three-dimensional finite element method coupled with electric circuit.

Findings

– The short-circuit current flowing through AC windings and induced voltage of DC winding are analyzed by using three-dimensional finite element method coupled with electric circuit for a 220-kV three-phase SFCL. Several circuit elements, such as a capacitor connected with DC winding in parallel, an additional short-circuit winding wound around DC core column and an energy-released piezoresistor, are, respectively, used for induced voltage reduction. These methods aim to save magnetic coupled energy in DC winding, or oppose the variation of magnetic flux, or limit the voltage of DC winding by using a resistor with low resistance.

Originality/value

– The different methods for reduction of induced voltage of superconducting DC winding are studied and discussed. The decreased induced voltage may benefit the safety of superconducting DC winding and the source.
Multi-dipole modeling of XLPE cable for electromagnetic field studies in large power systems
Authors: Barzegaran Mohammadreza , A. Mohammed Osama
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– In this paper, modeling of the XLPE cable for electromagnetic signature study at a far distance is proposed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Due to the very small ratio of the dimensions of cables to the dimensions of the whole system, using actual geometry of the cables with all layers in this study causes deformation of the cable's model. Therefore, multi-dipole modeling is used for modeling the cables.

Findings

– This model includes specific voltages and currents in lines and nodes, respectively. Radiated electric and magnetic fields at a far distance are selected as the index of appropriateness of the model.

Originality/value

– In order to investigate the accuracy of the model, various configuration of the cable is studied. Additionally, coupling of the cable with an electrical machine is investigated. They all show that the equivalent models can be used in place of the actual model for signature studies.
Improving efficiency for post-disaster transitional housing in Indonesia
Authors: Yau Nie-Jia , Tsai Ming-Kuan , Nurma Yulita Eryani
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– Natural hazards occur frequently in Indonesia. When post-disaster recovery is prolonged and complicated, it is necessary to provide accommodations for homeless refugees in disaster areas. Since a transitional housing solution includes planning, design and execution phases, the design phase implements the decisions made in the planning phase and also affects the results of the execution phase. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assist communities to effectively deal with various processes during the design phase involving transitional housing solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on eight factors associated with “building back better” and ten principles of transitional housing, the paper identified three problems in the design phase: inappropriate selection of settlement sites, improper representation of housing facilities and ineffective scheduling of construction projects. To resolve these problems, this study integrated a geographic information system (GIS), three-dimensional (3D) building models and construction project management tools to assess settlement sites, confirm housing facilities and configure construction projects, respectively.

Findings

– After this study tested conventional methods (e.g. paper-based maps, drawings, reports) and the proposed approach, the results revealed that communities can appropriately determine settlement sites based on the GIS. The 3D building models enabled the communities to understand the external and internal layouts of housing facilities. Through construction project management, the communities could consider construction activities immediately when preparing the execution phase for transitional housing solutions.

Originality/value

– This study offers a useful reference for similar applications in post-disaster reconstruction and management.
Perception of delayed environmental risks: beyond time discounting
Authors: Liu Yang , Xie Charlene , She Shengxiang
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this research is to explore the effect of time delay on the perception of environmental risks beyond time discounting, and thus provide a reference for effective communication related to environment and environmental risks.

Design/methodology/approach

– Ten risk scenarios across four time delay conditions were designed. Computer program randomly presented different risk scenarios to student subjects. Risk perception was measured through equivalent certain loss elicited by bi-section method. In all, 50 students from Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School participated in the experiment.

Findings

– Time delay makes the subjects optimistic toward environmental risk with the exclusion of time discounting. The more distant in time the occurrence of an environmental risk, the less in intensity subjects will perceive it as a severe threat. Also, there is a noticeable difference in environmental risk perception between males and females.

Research limitations/implications

– This tentative research focusses on exploring the existence of time delay effect on environmental risk perception. Only student subjects are recruited for this research. Future studies are needed to extend the population to people of different backgrounds in order to generalize the finding.

Practical implications

– Current ethical appeal of zero social discount rate is unlikely to be effective. Time delay effect in people's environmental risk perception should be acknowledged. Such an acknowledgement is the basis of trust in risk communication. Communication effort needs to address this time delay effect to make people alert to long-term environmental risks, and eventually change their environmental behaviors.

Originality/value

– The explorative research represents the first attempt to investigate the effect of time delay on environmental risk perception when time discounting is excluded. It suggests a new direction to understand public optimism toward delayed environmental risks, and reluctance to take proactive actions, and thus offers a new insight into related communication efforts.
Developing a HospiSE scale for hospital service excellence
Authors: Ho Voon Boo , Abdullah Firdaus , Lee Nagarajah , Kueh Karen
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– This empirical survey research aims to identify the dimensions of service excellence culture for hospitals. Ultimately, a measurement tool was developed for hospital service excellence (i.e. HospiSE scale).

Design/methodology/approach

– The survey research involved qualitative and quantitative approaches in the scale development process. The structured questionnaire was carefully designed after literature review and focus groups discussions. The respondents were employees from the public and private hospitals in Malaysia. A total of 1,558 usable questionnaires were used for the quantitative analysis. The HospiSE scale was empirically tested for reliability and validity through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses.

Findings

– This measurement-oriented research had identified three dimensions of service excellence culture for hospitals, namely: employee orientation, patient orientation and competitor orientation. The multi-dimensional measure consists of 21 items.

Research limitations/implications

– Longitudinal research is required to provide evidence of the causal effects of HospiSE on employee satisfaction and loyalty. The HospiSE scale also requires further verification and refinement.

Practical implications

– The parsimonious scale can serve as a strategic and practical measure to evaluate and manage service excellence culture at hospitals. Reliable and valid information can be obtained for fast and cost-effective diagnosis of the service culture for continuous improvement.

Social implications

– The new scale is expected to be an important diagnostic to understand and measure service excellence culture at hospitals. The patients and society at large will benefit from the improved hospital service management.

Originality/value

– The multi-item measurement tool is new and it can provide insights into service management, resource allocation and human resource management for excellent hospital service. The measurement development process is contextualized for the hospital services.
Optimization of reliability and maintenance of liquefaction system on FLNG terminals using Markov modelling
Authors: Gowid Samer , Dixon Roger , Ghani Saud
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to optimize system redundancy and maintenance intervals of a propane pre-cooled mixed refrigerant (C3MR) liquefaction process on floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) export platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The reliability modeling is based on the time-dependent Markov approach. Four different system options are studied, with various degree of redundancy. Failures in the liquefaction system usually lead to shutdown the whole LNG production plant. The associated shutdown cost is compared with the cost of introducing redundancy and the cost of onboard maintenance. To ensure a high profitability, a model for maintenance optimization is utilized and applied to the main unit of the C3MR liquefaction system to minimize the onboard maintenance cost.

Findings

– The results indicated that the introduction of a second liquefaction system (as a standby unit) is the best option for liquefaction plant in terms of reliability and cost. This will substantially reduce the unavailability from 14.7 to 2.19 percent of the total operational hours. Based on the presented system configuration, the annual system profit will increase by 180 million USD if the redundancy is implemented on FLNG export ships. The optimum maintenance intervals of major process components are also calculated to minimize the total cost of maintenance.

Originality/value

– The originality of this paper lies within the context in investigating the reliability of the C3MR liquefaction system on LNG floating export terminals using Markov modeling for the first time.
Occasionally open, always an experience: limiting store hours
Authors: Jean Miller Nancy , Yan Ruoh-Nan , Calamari Sage
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– The study aims to understand the new retail phenomenon of limited store hours. Specifically, the study explores the viability of the retail operation and how the owners of those businesses strategically compensate for fewer hours of operation (e.g. four days a month).

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative, multiple-case study was conducted via interviews with six female owners of women's apparel/accessory or home furnishings shops, both independent and franchised operations. The duration of interviews ranged from 45 to 90 minutes. Transcripts were analysed using constant comparative methods.

Findings

– Ten major themes emerged from the interview data. Data supported the three propositions involving connections between lower pricing strategy and limited store hours, consumers' shopping flexibility and limited store hours, and relationship marketing practices and limited store hours.

Research limitations/implications

– Findings are drawn primarily from data provided by female owners of stores selling apparel/accessory or home furnishing products in one region of the USA. Future research is encouraged to examine a variety of retail product categories, level of open store hours and locations, and customers' perspectives about this type of businesses.

Practical implications

– Retail operations with limited hours were deemed cost effective and thus provide entrepreneurial opportunities that allow balance between work and home life.

Originality/value

– Scant research has investigated the phenomenon of businesses that are open limited store hours, though much has been written from the traditional business model in which the retail operation is open nearly around the clock. This exploratory study reveals the feasibility and personal benefits of operating a limited hour shop.
Curating research data: the potential roles of libraries and information professionals
Authors: Jørn Nielsen Hans , Hjørland Birger
Published: February 2014

Purpose

– A key issue in the literature about research libraries concerns their potential role in managing research data. The aim of this paper is to study the arguments for and against associating this task with libraries and the impact such an association would have on information professionals, and consider the competitors to libraries in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper considers the nature of data and discusses data typologies, the kinds of data contained within databases and the implications of criticisms of the data-information-knowledge (DIK) hierarchy. It outlines the many competing agencies in the data curation field and describes their relationships to different kinds of data.

Findings

– Many data are organically connected to the activities of large, domain-specific organizations; as such, it might be difficult for research libraries to assume a leadership role in curating data. It seems more likely that the qualifications of information professionals will come to be needed in such organizations and that the functions of research libraries will shift toward giving greater prevalence to their role as specialists in scholarly communication. In some cases, however, research libraries may be the best place to select, keep, organize and use research data. To prepare for this task, research libraries should be actively involved in domain-specific analytic studies of their respective domains.

Originality/value

– This paper offers a theoretical analysis and clarification of the problems of data curating from the perspective of research libraries.