bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
sEMG-based shoulder-elbow composite motion pattern recognition and control methods for upper limb rehabilitation robot
Authors: Zhang Xiufeng , Dai Jitao , Li Xia , Li Huizi , Fu Huiqun , Pan Guoxin , Zhang Ning , Yang Rong , Xu Jianguang
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a signal acquisition system of surface electromyography (sEMG) and use the characteristics of (sEMG) signal to interference action pattern.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a fusion method based on combining the coefficient of AR model and wavelet coefficient. It improves the recognition rate of the target action. To overcome the slow convergence speed and local optimum in standard BP network, the study presents a BP algorithm which combine with LM algorithm and PSO algorithm, and it improves the convergence speed and the recognition rate of the target action.

Findings

Experiments verify the effectiveness of the system from two aspects the target motion recognition rate and the corresponding reaction speed of the robotic system.

Originality/value

The study developed a signal acquisition system of sEMG and used the characteristics of (sEMG) signal to interference action pattern. The myoelectricity integral values are presented to determine the starting point and end point of target movement, which is more effective than using single sample point amplitude method.
Structural change and poverty elimination
Authors: Lin Justin Yifu
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The United Nations adopted 17 goals for sustainable development, which has been known as the 17 SDGs. Knowing how to achieve these goals will be very important for many countries. The first of the 17 is no poverty. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how to realize no poverty in UN’s SDGs by focusing on structural changes based on the New Structural Economics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explains the relationship between structural changes and people’ s income in both rural and urban areas, and then introduces how to eliminate poverty from a New Structural Economics’ perspective. Finally, it discusses what to do to make these changes a reality.

Findings

To reduce and eventually eliminate poverty, increasing personal income becomes the first step. From national perspective, structural changes are related to an income increase. In rural and urban areas alike, the structural changes will usually be accompanied by new technologies and job opportunities, which will help people improve their incomes.

Originality/value

This paper explains relationship between structural changes and poverty elimination. How to increase people’s income is also discussed according to New Structural Economics. This paper’s findings may well be valuable for research on poverty elimination in the future.
How entrepreneurial learning impacts one’s intention towards entrepreneurship
Authors: Zhang Feng , Wei Liqun , Sun Hongyi , Tung Lo Choi
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Although entrepreneurial learning is widely believed as an important factor in shaping one’s entrepreneurial intention, research finds little consistent results on the direct effect of entrepreneurial learning on one’s entrepreneurial intention. To solve the conflicted effects of entrepreneurial learning, the purpose of this paper is to explore how entrepreneurial learning may impact individual entrepreneurial intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the authors proposed and tested on a three mediating effect model, in which entrepreneurial learning is associated with entrepreneurial intention through attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control toward entrepreneurship. Moreover, the moderating role of prior exposure to entrepreneurship was proposed and tested. Based on a sample of 200 university students who have taken entrepreneurial courses in Hong Kong, the hierarchical regressions and moderated mediation tests were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The authors find that the positive relationship between entrepreneurial learning and entrepreneurial intention is significantly mediated by attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control toward entrepreneurship; and the mediating effects of entrepreneurial learning on entrepreneurial intention via attitudes and perceived behavioral control respectively, is moderated by exposure to entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

Contributing to the literature of entrepreneurship education, this study identifies individuals who exposed to the same entrepreneurship education may perform differently in entrepreneurial learning. The findings also help us to better understand the mechanism through which and under which context one’s entrepreneurial learning may enhance his/her entrepreneurial intention.
Community participation framework for post-disaster resettlement and its practical application in Pakistan
Authors: Jamshed Ali , Rana Irfan Ahmad , Khan Masood Ali , Agarwal Nikhil , Ali Ahsan , Ostwal Mayank
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a practical framework for community participation in post-disaster resettlement.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework has been tested in two model villages (MVs) of Punjab, Pakistan. Primary data were collected through household surveys, focus group discussions and expert interviews. A survey with 67 households was conducted for obtaining qualitative data regarding community participation in post-disaster resettlement.

Findings

The first MV (Ittehad MV) was resettled by the local NGO, and the second (Basti Meera Mullan) by the provincial government. Results indicate that community participation significantly varied in selected MVs. NGOs have achieved positive realizations due to effective community involvement in resettlement efforts, whereas the governmental approach lacked in proactive community participation.

Practical implications

This framework can be used for other disasters, by refining and incorporating disaster relevant components. This research will be highly useful for disaster managers, private developers and NGOs engaged in resettling disaster-affected population.

Social implications

The proposed framework can help disaster-affected communities to resettle according to their terms. This can only be attained if affected communities will proactively participate in resettlement planning process.

Originality/value

This original framework is exclusively designed to attain sustainability for post-disaster settlement through community participation.
Development and customization of in-house developed OCR and its evaluation
Authors: S. Rajeswari , Magapu Sai Baba
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a text extraction tool for scanned documents that would extract text and build the keywords corpus and key phrases corpus for the document without manual intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

For text extraction from scanned documents, a Web-based optical character recognition (OCR) tool was developed. OCR is a well-established technology, so to develop the OCR, Microsoft Office document imaging tools were used. To account for the commonly encountered problem of skew being introduced, a method to detect and correct the skew introduced in the scanned documents was developed and integrated with the tool. The OCR tool was customized to build keywords and key phrases corpus for every document.

Findings

The developed tool was evaluated using a 100 document corpus to test the various properties of OCR. The tool had above 99 per cent word read accuracy for text only image documents. The customization of the OCR was tested with samples of Microfiches, sample of Journal pages from back volumes and samples from newspaper clips and the results are discussed in the summary. The tool was found to be useful for text extraction and processing.

Social implications

The scanned documents are converted to keywords and key phrases corpus. The tool could be used to build metadata for scanned documents without manual intervention.

Originality/value

The tool is used to convert unstructured data (in the form of image documents) to structured data (the document is converted into keywords, and key phrases database). In addition, the image document is converted to editable and searchable document.
Considering online consumer reviews to predict movie box-office performance between the years 2009 and 2014 in the US
Authors: Hu Ya-Han , Shiau Wen-Ming , Shih Sheng-Pao , Chen Cho-Ju
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to combine basic movie information factors, external factors and review factors, to predict box-office performance and identify the most crucial factor of influence for box-office performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Five movie genres and first-week movie reviews found on IMDb were collected. The movie reviews were quantified using sentiment analysis tools SentiStrength and Stanford CoreNLP, in which quantified data were combined with basic movie information and external environment factors to predict movie box-office performance. A movie box-office performance prediction model was then developed using data mining (DM) technologies with M5 model trees (M5P), linear regression (LR) and support vector regression (SVR), after which movie box-office performance predictions were made.

Findings

The results of this paper showed that the inclusion of movie reviews generated more accurate prediction results. Concerning movie review-related factors, the one that exhibited the greatest effect on box-office performance was the number of movie reviews made, whereas movie review content only displayed an effect on box-office performance for specific movie genres.

Research limitations/implications

Because this paper collected movie data from the IMDb, the data were limited and primarily consisted of movies released in the USA; data pertaining to less popular movies or those released outside of the USA were, thus, insufficient.

Practical implications

This paper helps to verify whether the consideration of the features extracted from movie reviews can improve the performance of movie box-office.

Originality/value

Through various DM technologies, this paper shows that movie reviews enhanced the accuracy of box-office performance predictions and the content of movie reviews has an effect on box-office performance.
Quality-time-complexity universal intelligence measurement
Authors: Liu Jing , Pan Zhiwen , Xu Jingce , Liang Bing , Chen Yiqiang , Ji Wen
Published: October 2018

Purpose

With the development of machine learning techniques, the artificial intelligence systems such as crowd networks are becoming more autonomous and smart. Therefore, there is a growing demand for developing a universal intelligence measurement so that the intelligence of artificial intelligence systems can be evaluated. This paper aims to propose a more formalized and accurate machine intelligence measurement method.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a quality–time–complexity universal intelligence measurement method to measure the intelligence of agents.

Findings

By observing the interaction process between the agent and the environment, we abstract three major factors for intelligence measure as quality, time and complexity of environment.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a calculable universal intelligent measure method through considering more than two factors and the correlations between factors which are involved in an intelligent measurement.
Positioning of wine tourism websites across different country winescapes
Authors: Cassar Mario , Caruana Albert , Vella Joseph
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which wine tour-operating companies are successfully using their websites to communicate persuasive and meaningful differences to customers in their quest to clearly position their product offering.

Design/methodology/approach

Text data are collected from 250 websites that promote wine tourism in five different countries’ winescapes. Lexical, regression and hierarchical clustering analyses are used.

Findings

Lexical analysis using DICTION can distinguish among websites from different countries’ winescapes, and French wines obtain the best mean review scores from customers, while US, Napa Valley, websites obtain the lowest scores. DICTION dimensions allow for meaningful clusters and can also predict TripAdvisor’s mean review scores.

Practical implications

There is a need to pay better attention in the development of website content and the critical role that both syntax and semantics can play in facilitating the use of a firm’s website, specifically in terms of clear positioning.

Originality/value

The study uses lexical analyses of website narratives to understand the current positioning of firms.
Tool wear in dry turning and wet turning with non-toxic cutting fluid
Authors: Ozimina Dariusz , Madej Monika , Kowalczyk Joanna , Ozimina Ewa , Plaza Stanislaw
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to determine the properties of a new non-toxic cutting fluid and compared with cutting fluid based on mineral oil.

Design/methodology/approach

The tool wear was measured under dry and wet cutting conditions. The non-toxic cutting fluid was compared with cutting fluid based on mineral oil. The experiments were carried out using CTX 310 ECO numerical control lathe. The wear of the cutting tools was measured by means of stereo zoom microscopy (SX80), while the elements were identified through scanning electron microscopy (JSM 7100F). The workpiece surface texture was studied using a Talysurf CCI Lite non-contact 3D profiler. The contact wetting angle was established with a KSV CAM 100 tester.

Findings

The non-toxic cutting fluid has reached comparable coefficient of friction with a coolant containing mineral oil. The use of the non-toxic cutting fluid with low foaming tendency resulted in lower wear.

Practical implications

Machining processes require that cutting fluids be applied to reduce the tool wear and improve the quality of the workpiece surface. Cutting fluids serve numerous purposes such as they act as coolants and lubricants, remove chips and temporarily prevent corrosion of the product.

Originality/value

The investigations discussed in this paper have contributed to the development of non-toxic and environmentally friendly manufacturing because of the use of cutting fluid containing zinc aspartate and its comparison with commonly used cutting fluid.
The perceptually-inspired model of tactile texture sensor based on the inverse-magnetostrictive effect
Authors: Wan Lili , Wang Bowen , Wang Xiaodong , Huang Wenmei , Weng Ling
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an output model to extract surface microstructure characteristics of different objects, so as to predict the response of the output voltage obtained from tactile texture sensor.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is based on the consideration of the inverse-magnetostrictive effect, the flexure mode, the linear constitutive equations and the strain principle.

Findings

This research predicts and investigates the effect of the texture properties on the tactile texture sensor output characteristics.

Originality/value

The surface texture characteristic is regarded to be important information to evaluate and recognize the object.
Institutions and firm growth in a transitional and post-conflict economy of Kosovo
Authors: Krasniqi Besnik , Branch David
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The quality of institutions matters for firm growth. Yet, there is a research gap in controlling for moderating effect of size on institutions and firm growth in transitional context and especially in post-conflict economies. Building on institutional theory, this research aims to explore the influence of different types of institutional variables (taxes, corruption, administrative, finance and other barriers) on the growth of firms in Kosovo, while controlling for the firm size moderating effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses linear regression analysis based on a survey with 451 owner-managers of growing small firms in the post-conflict economy of Kosovo.

Findings

Corruption and administrative burden are crucial factors that influence firm growth. Corruption is found to have a negative effect, and when moderated by the size of the firm, it becomes positive, suggesting that larger firms make use of informal institutions and create links with public officials to manage institutional deficiencies. This size interaction with administrative barrier variables becomes positive. Other control variables (export status, separation of ownership and control, membership in business association) suggest that managerial-level variables have a positive impact on firm growth. The human capital variable specifically indicates that companies compensate for a deficiency in formal education by providing additional training for employees and their managers.

Research limitations/implications

Future research based on qualitative research can contribute to a greater understanding of how larger firms use resources to overcome barriers, and to align their business strategies in the weak post-conflict environments.

Originality/value

This research extends current understanding of how institutional variables interact with firm size and impact firm growth. It also provides implications for policymakers and entrepreneurs/managers for improving the growth of SMEs, and for aligning firms with the institutional environment in post-conflict countries.
The effect of ownership composition on earnings management: evidence for the Mexican stock exchange
Authors: San Martin Reyna Juan Manuel
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between different types of shareholders that command share ownership, family, institutions or external blockholders and earnings management. In addition, it examines the effect of company size on earnings management.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample includes 67 companies listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange for the period 2005-2015. The sample composition is quite industry-balanced. A cross-sectional version of the Jones model (1991) is to measure the earnings management. The GMM (generalized method of moments) model is also estimated.

Findings

The results show that family and institutional ownership reduce the earnings management, but the impact is different depending on the company size.

Research limitations/implications

The results show that there is a clear relationship between increasing participation of family and institutional investors and a reduction in earnings management. This is consistent with the literature that establishes that ownership is an effective regulatory mechanism that limits earnings management through closer supervision and involvement in management.

Practical/implications

For companies’ corporate governance and regulatory authorities, the results of this study may serve to improve the decision-making.

Originality/value

This study shows that ownership structure can provide corporate governance in Mexican listed companies with different monitoring and control capacities to influence companies’ strategies, particularly in relation to the discretion of earnings management.
Judicial corruption: the case of Nigeria
Authors: Das Vasudev
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to diagnostically explore the phenomenon of judicial corruption in Nigeria, its causative factors and generate strategies such as sonic therapeutic intervention, among others, that would facilitate an amelioration of the situation. The judiciary which is supposed to be last hope of justice for the Nigerian citizenry has been proven beyond reasonable doubt to have been infected with the virus of corruption, and therefore, an urgent call for action to rectify the situation is imperative.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a qualitative approach rooted in case study tradition.

Findings

The findings showed that power and testosterone, cheating proclivity, family pressure, qualitative passion and ignorance, low self-control, inordinate kleptocratic desire, unrestrained mind and sensory modalities, phenomenological mindset and identity crisis as endogenous contributive factors of judicial corruption in Nigeria.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the study stemmed from the fact that inasmuch as a perception of corruption and corruption are cultural phenomena, the study results cannot be generalizable.

Practical implications

The practical implication of the research is rooted in the fact that the Nigerian judiciary can gain from the study results and recommendation(s) if implemented without fear or favor for the overall renewal of the judiciary and the nation at large.

Social implications

The study is geared toward ameliorating the Nigerian corrupt judiciary or repositioning the judiciary on its pivotal dignity, and hence, its social implication cannot be overemphasized inasmuch as a positive social change would prevail if the study results and recommendation(s) are aligned with and implemented.

Originality/value

Inquiry on judicial corruption through the lens of qualitative research with Nigeria as a case study is highly understudied, and hence, this research fills the gap in the financial crime literature.
Viewing organised crime and terrorist organisations through the financial threats they pose to society
Authors: Ren Thomas
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there is a meaningful difference, viewed from a financial perspective, in distinguishing between organised crime and terrorist organisations, with regard to the control and mitigation of the threats that they pose to society.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses conceptual models obtained from enterprise theory and economics, as well as criminology, and makes use of case studies through the application of these models.

Findings

The paper finds that when viewed from a financial perspective, there is no meaningful difference in distinguishing between the groups because many have undergone processes of convergence and transformation, such that they assume each other’s operational and motivational characteristics. However, the answer also depends on how precisely one defines each type of illicit group as well as the transitions they undergo.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is that it applies two separate models on interactions between organised crime and terrorist organisations, the terror–crime continuum and interaction spectrum, to real life situations. After assessing their validity for more recent examples of such illicit groups, it then provides a balanced argument as to distinguishing between organised crime and terrorism. One limitation towards the paper’s originality, however, is that it draws mainly from pre-existing literature.
The prevalence of mental health difficulties in a sample of prisoners in Trinidadian prisons referred for anger management
Authors: Rose John , Hutchinson Gerard , Willner Paul , Bastick Tony
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the prevalence of mental health disorder symptoms in a sample of prisoners in Trinidadian prisons who volunteered to attend anger management groups.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted using the 90-item Symptom Check-List revised (SCL-90-R) which was administered to prisoners in groups within the prison system. In total 132 prisoners (about 9 per cent of the prison population) completed the measure. The effect sizes of prisoners’ similarities to a psychiatric inpatient group and their differences from a non-patient group were used to identify symptoms most indicative of pathology in these prisoners.

Findings

The results on the SCL-90-R indicate that this group of prisoners (77.3 per cent male) had scores of psychiatric symptomatology that were much closer to a psychiatric inpatient population rather than to a general community population.

Practical implications

These results suggest there may be unmet psychiatric need among the population served by the prison services in Trinidad. It is not known how this sample differs from the general prison population. However, the unmet psychiatric need in this specific population suggests that a greater mental health focus in health services within prisons is to be considered to meet these needs.

Originality/value

These data suggest that there are significant mental health issues for some prisoners in Trinidad and possibly more generally in similar prison systems within the Caribbean and this may have significant implications for the treatment of prisoners and the delivery of mental health services in these prisons.
Social competencies and the sociomoral reflectiveness of imprisoned fraudsters
Authors: Krokoszinski Lars , Westenberger Adrian , Hosser Daniela
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Although fraud is widespread, little remains known about the specific psychological characteristics of fraudsters that can be used in prevention or treatment. The purpose of this paper is therefore to examine the socio-emotional competencies and moral judgement abilities of convicted fraudsters in comparison with other groups of offenders.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation included imprisoned face-to-face fraudsters (n=11), imprisoned violent offenders (n=10) and non-offenders who had completed the Emotional Competence Questionnaire and the Sociomoral Reflection Measure.

Findings

Fraudsters displayed a significantly higher capacity to recognise emotions in others compared with the other two groups. In addition, there were no differences in socio-emotional skills between the groups. In terms of moral judgement ability, fraudsters and non-offenders demonstrated a level of a mature moral judgement. The moral judgement abilities of the violent offenders were significantly lower.

Practical implications

Therapeutic work with fraudsters should focus on the awareness and sense of responsibility for fellow human beings having regard to their specific self-image and justification schemes. For prevention, an adoption of a structural orientation of work processes, that is, geared more towards teamwork is recommended. Moreover, a positive impact of unethical management on the risk of fraud offenses is pointed out.

Originality/value

This paper follows an innovative methodological approach by examining the socio-emotional competencies and moral judgement abilities of convicted fraudsters and has implications for risk management both therapeutically and organisationally.
Framework for enhancing online working-together relations
Authors: Abu Kashef Mousa , Ginige Athula , Hol Ana
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to develop a framework of working-together relations and investigate ways to enhance working-together relations among people, organisations, communities and neighbourhoods using working-together applications. Today, people in communities, neighbourhoods and constituencies often work together in a coalition of public, private and non-profit institutions. The technology used today has enabled new forms of communications and collaboration. The rapid growth of mobile technologies and interactive, collaborative applications based on Web technologies has enabled the development of new approaches to derive and share organisational and local knowledge. Not all of these applications have succeeded; after a certain time, users tend to stop using online applications that do not assist them in developing collaborative practices with their team members.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand the essential characteristics of a successful online application that effectively supports people to work together, the authors undertook an inductive analysis of related literature and existing social media application.

Findings

By combining and categorising the findings, it was possible to articulate the characteristics associated with four identified categories of working-together relations: networking, coordination, cooperation and collaboration. The study also identified essential activities that are performed in each working-together category and the factors that enable successful working-together relations: trust, risk and rewards.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies will look into how applications could be further enhanced, so that, for example, an application that is currently classified as “coordination” could be improved and the required characteristics of “collaboration” could be met.

Practical implications

It is expected that the framework derived will assist in the design of successful online applications to support different categories of working-together relations.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is a new framework that can now be used to identify how effective an existing application can be in assisting the working-together relations.
Tourists’ views on Islamic spiritual tours (case study: Yazd, Iran)
Authors: Bahadori Seyed Reza , Torabi Farsani Neda , Shafiei Zahed
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Spiritual tourism is a niche tourism studied under cultural tourism. Religious events play an important role in attracting spiritual tourists. This paper aims to highlight the introduction of Yazd city (Iran) as a new spiritual tourism destination with emphasis on Shiite religious events and rituals. This research has the following three major purposes to assess the motivation of international tourists for participating in spiritual tours, examine the attitude of tourists towards spiritual tourism activities and investigate the effect on international tourists’ perceptions and views of spiritual tours organized in the Muharram and Ashura events.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in Yazd, Iran. Data for this study were collected through a questionnaire which was distributed in organized spiritual tours during the Muharram and Ashura events. A quantitative method was used and the data were analyzed using SPSS tools.

Findings

On the basis of the results of this study, it can be concluded that international tourists are interested in spiritual tourism activities and attractions in Yazd city, and spiritual tours can be a strategy against Islamophobia.

Originality/value

This research paper investigated the attitude of tourists to spiritual tourism activities and the effect on international tourists’ perceptions and views of spiritual tours organized in the Muharram and Ashura as the most important events in Shiite culture.
Scientific collaboration networks in Pakistan and their impact on institutional research performance
Authors: Sabah Fahad , Hassan Saeed-Ul , Muazzam Amina , Iqbal Sehrish , Soroya Saira Hanif , Sarwar Raheem
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the scientific collaboration of institutions and its impact on institutional research performance in terms of productivity and quality. The researchers examined the local and international collaborations that have a great impact on institutional performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Collaboration dependence measure was used to investigate the impact of an institution on external information. Based on this information, the authors used “index of gain in impact through collaboration” to find the impact of collaborated publications in institutional research performance. Bibliographic data between 1996 and 2010 retrieved from Scopus were used to conduct current study. The authors carried out the case study of top institutes of Pakistan in terms of publication count to elaborate the difference between high performing institutions and those who gain disproportionally in terms of perceived quality of their output because of local or international collaboration.

Findings

The results showed that the collaboration of developing countries institutes on international level had a great impact on institutional performance and they gain more benefit than local collaboration. Altogether, the scientific collaboration has a positive impact on institutional performance as measured by the cumulative source normalized impact per paper of their publications. The findings could also help researchers to find out appropriate collaboration partners.

Originality/value

This study has revealed some salient characteristics of collaboration in academic research. It becomes apparent that collaboration intensity is not uniform, but in general, the average quality of scientific production is the variable that most often correlates positively with the collaboration intensity of universities.
How organizational constraints affect nurses’ decision in triage assessment performances
Authors: Cannavacciuolo Lorella , Ippolito Adelaide , Ponsiglione Cristina , Rossi Gaetano , Zollo Giuseppe
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the performances of decision-making process of emergency department’s nurses involved in the triage level assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a case study in two public hospitals in the South of Italy. The authors administered 25 clinical cases to nurses responsible of priority code assignment in the triage station. The authors simulated the attribution of the priority levels, and through a semi-structured questionnaire, the authors collected data and information about the cognitive process adopted for the final choice.

Findings

The quantitative and qualitative data allowed the authors to verify that there is an impact of the organizational context on heuristics used in the decision-making process.

Research limitations/implications

The research limitations are that empirical data have been collected only in two emergency departments.

Practical implications

The practical implications of this paper are that organizations for improving business performances must consider the judgements are often the results of heuristics embedded in a specific structure of social and physical environment, according with the “ecological view” of rationality.

Originality/value

The authors’ methodological approach contributes to analyze the performances of the triage process, verifying if the eventual errors are linked to individual or organizational factors, but above all how organizational constraints influence decision-making processes in organizations and, consequently, business performances.
Adequacy of dairy product intake among children in Kuwait using a short dietary assessment questionnaire
Authors: Alkazemi Dalal Usamah Zaid , Saleh Asma
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the consumption of dairy products in Kuwaiti children, and develop and validate a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to measure dairy product consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was based on a sample of child–parent dyads (n= 150). A dietary assessment questionnaire on local dairy products consumed by preschool and preadolescent children was developed. Serving and portion sizes were evaluated on the basis of the guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Academy of Pediatrics to calculate median intake levels of three age groups (3-5, 6-8 and 9-11 years).

Findings

All children met or exceeded the recommended daily servings of dairy products for their age and sex. Dairy product intake was often from processed dairy including milk-based desserts, flavored milk and cheese. Compared to boys, girls consumed more yogurt (15.5 per cent vs 14.2 per cent,p= 0.001) and milk-based desserts (15.5 vs 14.3,p= 0.001). In boys, flavored milk contributed more to the total dairy intake than in girls, especially in 6-8-year-olds (21.8 per cent vs 18.9 per cent,p= 0.021). Weight status was not associated with dairy product intake in either sex.

Originality/value

This is the first study that quantifies dairy product consumption in Kuwaiti children and provides insight into sex-specific trends in dairy product selection. The findings of this study may help in investigating relationships between dairy product consumption in children and disease risk factors, and are important for the development of local dietary guidelines for children.
On the mechanical response of multilayered pentamode lattices equipped with hinged and rigid nodes
Authors: Amendola Ada , Mascolo Ida , Benzoni Gianmario
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to review recent literature results on the mechanical response of confined pentamode structures behaving either in the stretching-dominated or the bending-dominated regimes.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyzed structures consist of multilayer systems formed by pentamode lattices alternated with stiffening plates and are equipped with rigid or hinged connections.

Findings

It is shown that such structures are able to carry unidirectional compressive loads with sufficiently high stiffness, while showing markedly low stiffness against shear loads. In particular, their shear stiffness may approach zero in the stretching-dominated regime.

Originality/value

The presented results highlight the high engineering potential of laminated pentamode metamaterials as novel isolation devices to be used for the protection of buildings against shear waves.
Housing conditions and non-communicable diseases among older adults in Ireland
Authors: Gibney Sarah , Ward Mark , Shannon Sinead
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Housing quality across the life course is an important health determinant. The purpose of this paper is to profile the current housing conditions of older adults in Ireland, and to investigate the association between housing conditions and heating problems and two types of non-communicable diseases: respiratory health problems and bone and joint conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are from the Healthy and Positive Ageing Initiative Age-friendly Cities and Counties Survey, a random-sample, population representative survey of 10,540 adults aged 55 and older collected in 2015–2016. Mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between poor housing (leaks, rot and damp) and poor heating (unable to keep the home adequately warm) and the likelihood of having a respiratory health problem or a bone or joint condition. Results are reported as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Findings

Overall, 10.2 per cent had poor housing and 10.4 per cent had poor heating. Poor housing and poor heating were strongly associated with respiratory health problems and there was a strong association between poor housing and bone and joint conditions. These associations were not explained by health behaviours or socio-demographic characteristics.

Originality/value

Despite a number of publicly funded schemes available to assist in upgrading and maintaining housing, a considerable number of adults aged 55 years and older continue to report problems which are associated with an increased likelihood of respiratory health problem and bone and joint conditions and present a considerable threat to healthy ageing in place.
Layerwise monitoring of electron beam melting via backscatter electron detection
Authors: Arnold Christopher , Pobel Christoph , Osmanlic Fuad , Körner Carolin
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the introduction and validation of a new technique for process monitoring during electron beam melting (EBM).

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a backscatter electron detector inside the building chamber is used for image acquisition during EBM process. By systematic variation of process parameters, the ability of displaying different topographies, especially pores, is investigated. The results are evaluated in terms of porosity and compared with optical microscopy and X-ray computed tomography.

Findings

The method is capable of detecting major flaws (e.g. pores) and gives information about the quality of the resulting component.

Originality/value

Image acquisition by evaluating backscatter electrons during EBM process is a new approach in process monitoring which avoids disadvantages restricting previously investigated techniques.
A study on material-process interaction and optimization for VAT-photopolymerization processes
Authors: Aznarte Garcia Elisa , Qureshi Ahmed Jawad , Ayranci Cagri
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present an investigation of material-process interaction of VAT-photopolymerization processes. The aim of the research is to evaluate the effect of different printing factors on the tensile properties, such as elastic modulus, of 3D printed specimens.

Design/methodology/approach

To perform this study, Design of Experiments is used by the use of Taguchi’s techniques. The relationship between each factor and the elastic modulus, ultimate tensile stress and strain at break is obtained. Furthermore, the total print time is analyzed with respect to the obtained properties.

Findings

The study indicates that part orientation, exposure time to the UV light and layer thickness are the most important factors affecting the investigated properties. At the same time, it was found that the highest mechanical properties can be obtained with the shortest printing times. A comprehensive list of factors available on the slicing software and other factors, like the orientation of the part or its position, is investigated. Future studies including post curing and chemical characteristics based on the obtained results are necessary.

Originality/value

As a result of this research, it is outlined that using design for additive manufacturing for vat-photopolymerization, especially on DLP processes, 3D printing methods can be stablished. Furthermore, it outlines the possibility of tailoring mechanical properties of printed parts as a function of print parameters and print time. Considering the limited amount of information available in the open literature, the results presented in this paper are of great interest for researchers in the field of VAT-photopolymerization.
An overview of human activity recognition based on smartphone
Authors: Yuan Guan , Wang Zhaohui , Meng Fanrong , Yan Qiuyan , Xia Shixiong
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Currently, ubiquitous smartphones embedded with various sensors provide a convenient way to collect raw sequence data. These data bridges the gap between human activity and multiple sensors. Human activity recognition has been widely used in quite a lot of aspects in our daily life, such as medical security, personal safety, living assistance and so on.

Design/methodology/approach

To provide an overview, the authors survey and summarize some important technologies and involved key issues of human activity recognition, including activity categorization, feature engineering as well as typical algorithms presented in recent years. In this paper, the authors first introduce the character of embedded sensors and dsiscuss their features, as well as survey some data labeling strategies to get ground truth label. Then, following the process of human activity recognition, the authors discuss the methods and techniques of raw data preprocessing and feature extraction, and summarize some popular algorithms used in model training and activity recognizing. Third, they introduce some interesting application scenarios of human activity recognition and provide some available data sets as ground truth data to validate proposed algorithms.

Findings

The authors summarize their viewpoints on human activity recognition, discuss the main challenges and point out some potential research directions.

Originality/value

It is hoped that this work will serve as the steppingstone for those interested in advancing human activity recognition.
Revisiting the relationship between corporate governance and corporate social and environmental disclosure practices in Pakistan
Authors: Ashfaq Khurram , Rui Zhang
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to revisit the corporate social and environmental disclosure (CSED) practices of Pakistani companies using unique CSED index which measures the CSED through three dimensions such as theme, news type and nature of information. In addition, the effect of board composition, ownership structure and corporate characteristics on CSED was tested through performing multiple regression analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, data were collected from annual reports of top 120 companies’ selected based on market capitalization for three years period of 2013-2015.

Findings

Based on the descriptive statistics, the results found that overall level of CSED in Pakistan is moderate. However considering CSED using three dimensions, the results demonstrate that highest level of disclosure on the basis of theme is reported in terms of human resource category as compared to other categories where, as in terms of news type and nature of information, analysis shows that companies in Pakistan feel resistant to disclose bad news, monetary and non-monetary aspect of CSED information. Using multiple regression analysis, the results found that all the variables have hypothesized relationship with CSED except government and institutional ownership. The variables such as chairman as non-executive director, board diversity, appointment of independent director as audit committee chairman, CSR committee, industry type and firm size are found to have significant influence on the CSED practices in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

These results imply that the CSED phenomenon is still lacking behind. Under individual categories of CSED, descriptive statistics found that environment is still not a matter of concern for companies operating in Pakistan. In addition, the results demonstrate that CSED practices are only performed by very few companies in Pakistan based on standard deviation. In addition, appointment of non-executive and independent director as chairman of board and audit committee and representation of foreigners on the board should be encouraged in order to improve CSED practices in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the existing literature in developing country like Pakistan through using unique CSED index and also making comparison of financial versus non-financial sectors. The author suggests that regulatory authorities in Pakistan must take reasonable steps to make the company’s operations environment-friendly.
The impact of existence of royal family directors on corporate social responsibility reporting: a servant leadership perspective
Authors: Alazzani Abdulsamad , Aljanadi Yaseen , Shreim Obeid
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Drawing on servant leadership theory, this study aims to investigate whether the presence of royal family members on boards of directors impacts corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

CSR scores from a Bloomberg database are used and royal family data are collected from annual reports. The required analyses to test the hypotheses of this study have been performed.

Findings

The findings demonstrate a positive relationship between the presence of royal family directors and CSR reporting.

Originality/value

This study seeks to contribute to the literature on servant leadership theory and CSR by highlighting the impact of royal family directors on CSR reporting. This study may also contribute to an understanding of royal family leadership as a predictor of CSR reporting.