bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gauge theories and quantum gravity in a finite interval of time on a compact space manifold
Authors: Anselmi Damiano
Published: January 2024

We study gauge theories and quantum gravity diagrammatically in a finite interval of time τ, on a compact space manifold Ω. The initial, final, and boundary conditions are formulated in gauge invariant and general covariant ways by means of purely virtual extensions of the theories, which allow us to “trivialize” the local symmetries and switch to invariant fields (the invariant metric tensor, invariant quark, and gluon fields, etc.). The evolution operator U(tf,ti) is worked out for arbitrary initial and final states, as well as general boundary conditions on ∂Ω. We show that U(tf,ti) is well defined and diagrammatically unitary for every τ=tf−ti<∞. The formulation is extended to include purely virtual particles. In quantum gravity, where the cosmological constant ΛC challenges the definition of an S matrix, the results allow us to prove unitarity at τ<∞. We work out the frequencies and eigenfunctions in some explicit examples, including Yang-Mills theory on the finite cylinder.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Wave motions due to a point source pulsating and advancing at forward speed parallel to a semi-infinite ice sheet
Authors: Li Z. F. , Wu G. X. , Shi Y. Y.
Published: January 2024

The Green function, or the wave motion due to a point source pulsating and advancing at constant forward speed along a semi-infinite ice sheet in finite water depth is investigated, based on the linear velocity potential theory for fluid flow and thin elastic plate model for the ice sheet. The result is highly relevant to the ship motions near marginal seas. The ice edge is assumed to be free, or zero bending moment and shear-force conditions are used, while other edge conditions can be similarly considered. The Green function G is derived first through the Fourier transform along the direction of forward speed and then by the Wiener-Hopf technique along the transverse direction across both the free surface and ice sheet. The result shows that in the ice-covered domain, G can be decomposed into three parts. The first one is that upper ocean surface is fully covered by an ice sheet, and the second and third ones are due to the free surface and ice edge. Similarly, in the free-surface domain, G contains the component corresponding to that the upper water surface is fully free, while the second and third ones are due to the ice sheet and ice edge. In both domains, the latter two are due to the interactions of the free-surface wave and ice sheet deflection, which leads to the major complication. In-depth investigations are made for each part of G, and aim to shed some light on the nature of the wave motions induced by a ship advancing along a semi-infinite ice sheet at constant forward speed.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Measuring Nonlocal Brane Order with Error-Corrected Quantum Gas Microscopes
Authors: Hur Junhyeok , Lee Wonjun , Kwon Kiryang , Huh SeungJung , Cho Gil Young , Choi Jae-yoon
Published: January 2024

Exotic quantum many-body states, such as Haldane and spin liquid phases, can exhibit remarkable features like fractional excitations and non-Abelian statistics and offer new understandings of quantum entanglement in many-body quantum systems. These phases are classified by nonlocal correlators that can be directly measured in atomic analog quantum simulating platforms, such as optical lattices and Rydberg atom arrays. However, characterizing these phases in large systems is experimentally challenging because they are sensitive to local errors like atom loss, which suppress its signals exponentially. Additionally, protocols for systematically identifying and mitigating uncorrelated errors in analog quantum simulators are lacking. Here, we address these challenges by developing an error-correction method for large-scale neutral atom quantum simulators using optical lattices. Our error-correction method can distinguish correlated particle-hole pairs from uncorrelated holes in the Mott insulator. After removing the uncorrelated errors, we observe a dramatic improvement in the nonlocal parity correlator and find the perimeter scaling law. Furthermore, the error model provides a statistical estimation of fluctuations in site occupation, from which we measure the generalized brane correlator and confirm that it can be an order parameter for Mott insulators in two dimensions. Our work provides a promising avenue for investigating and characterizing exotic phases of matters in large-scale quantum simulators.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
What’s in a name (political risk)? A review of political risk and foreign investment decisions
Authors: DeGhetto Kaitlyn
Published: January 2024

Purpose

There is an extensive research stream devoted to evaluating host country political risk as it relates to foreign investment decisions, and in today’s geopolitical climate, this type of risk is becoming increasingly salient to business leaders. Despite notable advancements related to understanding the importance of government-related risk, inconsistent conceptualizations and findings remain. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to offer a comprehensive overview of how host country political risk has been conceptualized, measured and studied in relation to multinational enterprises' (MNEs’) investment decisions. After reviewing the relevant literature, five major aspects of non-violent (government type, public corruption, leadership change) and violent (armed conflict, terrorism) political risk were identified. The organization and review of each aspect of political risk provide insights on fruitful directions for future research, which are discussed.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify research articles on political risk and foreign investment, 13 leading management and international business journals were searched using relevant keywords (January 2000 to January 2023). Moreover, reviewing articles from these journals led to locating and reviewing additional relevant articles that the authors cited. Keyword searches were also conducted on Google Scholar and Web of Science in an effort to identify relevant articles outside of the 13 targeted journals.

Findings

Both violent and non-violent aspects of host country political risk have been studied in relation to MNEs' investment decisions. Specifically, five major aspects of host country political risk were identified (government type, public corruption, leadership change, armed conflict and terrorism). Although the general consensus is that risk related to the government often creates obstacles for MNEs, conceptualizations, measures and findings in prior research are not uniform.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of host country political risk and foreign investment. In doing so, the aspects of political risk are identified, organized and overviewed.
Enterprise education in undergraduate business programmes advances students' negotiating competence and self-confidence
Authors: Enstroem Rickard , Benson Lyle
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Business graduates’ enterprising capability augments their work readiness, transforming them into professionals capable of driving successful outcomes. At the core lie self-confidence and negotiating competence. However, embedding enterprise education and developing assessments to evidence learning is challenging. This study aims to offer a blueprint for establishing enterprise learning in the classroom and investigating the effectiveness of cultivating negotiating competence and self-confidence.

Design/methodology/approach

Modelled on Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, students engage in in-class and real-life negotiations, assessing self-confidence using a scale founded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Open-ended reflections are also submitted. Quantitative data is analysed through multiple linear regression, while quantitative and qualitative data triangulation substantiates enterprise learning in negotiating competence and self-confidence.

Findings

Students’ reflections show that low self-confidence poses an initial barrier in negotiations, overcome with successive engagements. Quantitative analysis uncovers response-shift biases, with female and male students overestimating initial self-confidence levels. The gender and difference score type interaction reveals a more pronounced bias among female students starting from a lower baseline than male students, implying a more substantial self-confidence improvement for female students. These findings challenge traditional assumptions about gender differences in negotiations and emphasize the need for nuanced perspectives.

Originality/value

Enterprising capability is pivotal for business professionals. This study highlights the advancement of negotiating competence and self-confidence. It contributes uniquely to the development of enterprise education pedagogy. Focusing on nuanced gender differences challenges prevailing assumptions, providing a perspective to the discourse on negotiating competence and self-confidence in management training.
Livelihood vulnerability of Borana pastoralists to climate change and variability in Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Gatew Shetie , Guyo Nura
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study results and recommendations will have a paramount significance for policymakers, policy advocates, development planners and practitioners who may be in need of such information for reconsideration, evaluation and inclusion into their respective development and humanitarian programming and operational strategies. Above all, the study result has further provided the local community with viable adaptation strategies to climate-induced changes in the study area.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted to measure the livelihood vulnerability of Borana pastoralists to climate change and variability in southern Ethiopia. Pastoralists’ households were sampled using multistage sampling techniques. A total of 27 socio-economic and biophysical indicators were used to reflect vulnerability components: adaptive capacity, exposure and sensitivity. Principal component analysis was used to develop weights for indicators and to produce livelihood vulnerability index to classify households according to their level of vulnerability. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify the determinants of vulnerability to climate-induced stresses.

Findings

The results showed that 24.4% of households were highly vulnerable, 60.3% were moderately vulnerable and 15.3% of households were less vulnerable to climate-induced stresses. Factor estimates of the logistic model further revealed that early warning information, bush encroachment, coping strategy, temperature, drought frequency, provision of humanitarian services and food shortage during the normal season of the year have a significant influence on vulnerability in the study area.

Social implications

The study’s results and recommendations will be of great significance to policymakers, development planners, and practitioners who require such information for reconsideration, evaluation, and inclusion in their respective development and humanitarian program and operational strategies. Most importantly, the study’s findings have provided the local community with practical adaptation strategies to climate-induced changes in the study area.

Originality/value

The study explored pastoralist perception of climate change and variability and measured the livelihood vulnerability of pastoralists’ households to climate change and variability and finally investigated viable adaptation and coping strategies in the study area.
Web-based visualization and rendering of aerial LiDAR point cloud for urban flood simulation
Authors: Saifi Sanjay , Anandakumar Ramiya M.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

In an era overshadowed by the alarming consequences of climate change and the escalating peril of recurring floods for communities worldwide, the significance of proficient disaster risk management has reached unprecedented levels. The successful implementation of disaster risk management necessitates the ability to make informed decisions. To this end, the utilization of three-dimensional (3D) visualization and Web-based rendering offers decision-makers the opportunity to engage with interactive data representations. This study aims to focus on Thiruvananthapuram, India, where the analysis of flooding caused by the Karamana River aims to furnish valuable insights for facilitating well-informed decision-making in the realm of disaster management.

Design/methodology/approach

This work introduces a systematic procedure for evaluating the influence of flooding on 3D building models through the utilization of Web-based visualization and rendering techniques. To ensure precision, aerial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data is used to generate accurate 3D building models in CityGML format, adhering to the standards set by the Open Geospatial Consortium. By using one-meter digital elevation models derived from LiDAR data, flood simulations are conducted to analyze flow patterns at different discharge levels. The integration of 3D building maps with geographic information system (GIS)-based vector maps and a flood risk map enables the assessment of the extent of inundation. To facilitate visualization and querying tasks, a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) is developed.

Findings

The efficiency of comprehensive 3D building maps in evaluating flood consequences in Thiruvananthapuram has been established by the research. By merging with GIS-based vector maps and a flood risk map, it becomes possible to scrutinize the extent of inundation and the affected structures. Furthermore, the Web-based GUI facilitates interactive data exploration, visualization and querying, thereby assisting in decision-making.

Originality/value

The study introduces an innovative approach that merges LiDAR data, 3D building mapping, flood simulation and Web-based visualization, which can be advantageous for decision-makers in disaster risk management and may have practical use in various regions and urban areas.
Intersectional entrepreneurship: the burden of contextual embeddedness beyond the business
Authors: Yamamura Sakura , Lassalle Paul
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to shed new light on the contextual embeddedness of intersectional entrepreneurs, i.e. entrepreneurs situated at the intersection of multiple marginalized diversity attributes, beyond simply business strategies and decisions. Taking an emic perspective on everyday practices as intersectional entrepreneurs, it uncovers neglected dimensions of the contextuality of intersectional discriminations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study presents qualitative data analysis results of in-depth narrative interviews with six intersectional entrepreneurs, all LGBTIQA* entrepreneurs with further diversity dimensions. It provides an emic view of intersectional entrepreneurs, in their everyday lives and the contexts, in which they develop their businesses.

Findings

Intersectional entrepreneurs face different burdens induced by social structures along the entrepreneurial process. While access to the niche market is more difficult and they lack community support, their realization of intersectional discrimination is crucial for the development of business strategies. Simultaneously, intersectional entrepreneurs use their specific diversity attributes to develop their business, yet this proximity of their identity and the business contents has severe consequences for their mental state. Intersectional entrepreneurs adjust to the balance of opportunity and vulnerability.

Originality/value

As intersectional entrepreneurs are barred from conventional institutional support and also have limited access to resources from their respective social networks, there is an urgency to provide specific support for such entrepreneurs.
Achieving professional qualifications using micro-credentials: a case of small packages and big challenges in higher education
Authors: Raj Rohit , Singh Arpit , Kumar Vimal , Verma Pratima
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study examined the factors impeding the implementation of micro-credentials and accepting it as a credible source of earning professional qualifications and certifications necessary for pursuing higher education or other career goals.

Design/methodology/approach

The factors were identified by reflecting on the recent literature and Internet resources coupled with in-depth brainstorming with experts in the field of micro-credentials including educators, learners and employers. Two ranking methods, namely Preference Ranking for Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE) and multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis (MOORA), are used together to rank the major challenges.

Findings

The results of this study present that lack of clear definitions, ambiguous course descriptions, lack of accreditation and quality assurance, unclear remuneration policies, lack of coordination between learning hours and learning outcomes, the inadequate volume of learning, and lack of acceptance by individuals and organizations are the top-ranked and the most significant barriers in the implementation of micro-credentials.

Research limitations/implications

The findings can be used by educational institutions, organizations and policymakers to better understand the issues and develop strategies to address them, making micro-credentials a more recognized form of education and qualifications.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to identify the primary factors influencing the implementation of micro-credentials from the educators', students' and employers' perspectives and to prioritize those using ranking methods such as PROMETHEE and MOORA.
Antecedents of internal reputation and its consequences on organizational outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: Lee Ling Hooi , Abdullah Zulhamri
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Organizational reputation has come to the forefront amidst today’s increasingly competitive business environment. While the perspectives of external stakeholders continue to generate research attention among reputation scholars, perceptions of internal stakeholders like employees deserve similar or more focus due to their ability to sway external organizational reputation. Thoroughly understanding organizational variables that precede internal reputation perceptions among employees and the ensuing consequences enables effective reputation management measures. This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework that outlines the antecedents and consequences of the internal reputation concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 review protocol was applied. Around 24 journal articles were drawn from the Web of Science and Scopus databases and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

The review revealed 31 constructs related to the internal reputation concept, which were categorized into seven main themes, and a comprehensive framework was developed. Future research recommendations include the need to expand the study’s parameters, adopt a different research method and target varied contexts to achieve a more exhaustive systematic literature review on internal reputation.

Research limitations/implications

This study attempts to contribute to the understanding of the internal reputation concept, theories and reputation management practices through its findings.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first known systematic literature review of the internal reputation concept, which could provide practical guidance to professionals in internal reputation management and academic guidance for future research in internal reputation.
How social media promotes impulsive buying: examining the role of customer inspiration
Authors: Yang Pianpian , Sheng Hong , Yang Congcong , Feng Yuanyue
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This research examines the underlying psychological process of customers' impulsive buying on social media through the lens of customer inspiration. Drawing on the customer inspiration theory, it identifies the factors influencing customer inspiration on social media from three perspectives: source characteristics, platform characteristics and personal characteristics, which subsequently lead to impulsive buying. Since the conceptualization of source credibility includes three mostly reported components: attractiveness, expertise and trustworthiness, it further contrasts the effects of three dimensions of source credibility on customer inspiration.

Design/methodology/approach

A structural equation model of customers' impulsive buying on social media was developed through the lens of customer inspiration. An online survey with 625 participants was conducted to test the hypotheses, and the partial least squares (PLS3) method was used.

Findings

This research found that source credibility, social presence and customer innovativeness are antecedents of customer inspiration on social media, which positively influence the inspired-by state of the customers, which impacts the inspired-to state and further leads to impulsive buying. By comparing the three dimensions of source credibility, the authors found that attractiveness and expertise positively affect the inspired-by state, while trustworthiness has no significant effect.

Originality/value

This research establishes the link between impulsive buying and customer inspiration, which provides a new psychological perspective to understand impulsive buying. In addition, it investigates the source characteristics of customer inspiration by comparing the effect of three dimensions of source credibility on customer inspiration, which provides the first evidence for connecting customer inspiration and source credibility.
The national-level potential of Zakat and its integration into the fiscal framework: sector-specific insights from the economy of Bangladesh
Authors: Hassan M. Kabir , Khan M. Zakir Hossain , Miah Mohammad Ayub , Islam Md. Karimul
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Zakat, one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, holds the potential to significantly contribute to fiscal consolidation, particularly in developing nations. However, the national-level potential of Zakat often remains unexplored. This study aims to explore the potential of national-level Zakat and the opportunity to integrate it into the fiscal framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This study estimates Zakat’s potential on national financial and economic components. The components include bank deposits, shares and securities, pensions (provident fund), industrial production and trade services, mining resources, Ushr on agro-crops and forestry, Ushr on livestock, Ushr on fishery, gross domestic product (GDP), national budget and national revenue. The study gathers data, ranging from FY2000 to FY2018, on national economic sectors from reliable secondary sources. The net value (NV) of each indicator is calculated as NV = TV − LA, where NV is the wage-adjusted net value after deducting the living adjustment (LA) value from the sectoral total. The proposed LA value, approximately 20%, is suggested to be deducted from the total sectoral value of each sector (excluding specific industries with preadjusted wages), equating to the Nisab value.

Findings

It is estimated that the aggregate potential of Zakat in Bangladesh was US$9,749m in FY2018, compared to US$809m in FY2000, revealing the value is 3.77% of GDP and 21% of the national fiscal budget. In FY2018, the service sector was the largest contributor (30%), followed by bank deposits (23%). Pension funds made minimal contributions, whereas shares and bonds, as well as the manufacturing sector, each made a 10% contribution to the estimated Zakat potential. Zakat on agriculture output accounted for 15% of the total. The aggregate potential Zakat in FY2018 was 12% higher than that in FY2000.

Originality/value

The paper highlights a novel contribution through its nuanced analysis of sector-specific Zakat on macrolevel data and its implications within the fiscal framework. The results suggest that Zakat has substantial potential to impact fiscal dynamics, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to recognize the national-level Zakat for development plans such as the five-year plan. The study suggests piloting a central and independent national body to study the feasibility of national-level Zakat collection and its utilization in the fiscal budget. It will help the government reduce the burden of external debt and deficit budget and, instead, will promote revenue collection in collaboration with the National Board of Revenue.
FTESO-adaptive neural network based safety control for a quadrotor UAV under multiple disturbances: algorithm and experiments
Authors: Cai Xin , Zhu Xiaozhou , Yao Wen
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Quadrotors have been applied in various fields. However, because the quadrotor is subject to multiple disturbances, consisting of external disturbances, actuator faults and parameter uncertainties, it is difficult to control the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to achieve high-precision tracking performance. This paper aims to design a safety controller that uses observer and neural network method to improve the tracking performance of UAV under multiple disturbances. The experiments prove that this method is effective.

Design/methodology/approach

First, to actively estimate and compensate the synthetic uncertainties of the system, a finite-time extended state observer is investigated, and the disturbances are transformed into the extended state of the system for estimation. Second, an adaptive neural network controller that does not accurately require the dynamic model knowledge is designed based on the estimated value, where the weights of the neural network can be dynamically adjusted by the adaptive law. Furthermore, the finite-time bounded convergence of the proposed observer and the stability of the system are proved through homogeneous theory and Lyapunov method.

Findings

The figure-“8” climbing flight simulation and real flight experiments illustrate that the proposed safety control strategy has good tracking performance.

Originality/value

This paper proposes the safety control structure of the UAV, which combines the extended state observer with the neural network method. Numerical simulation results and actual flight experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Triangle codes and tracer lights based absolute positioning method for terminal visual docking of autonomous underwater vehicles
Authors: Zhang Zhuoyu , Zhong Lijia , Lin Mingwei , Lin Ri , Li Dejun
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Docking technology plays a crucial role in enabling long-duration operations of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Visual positioning solutions alone are susceptible to abnormal drift values due to the challenging underwater optical imaging environment. When an AUV approaches the docking station, the absolute positioning method fails if the AUV captures an insufficient number of tracers. This study aims to to provide a more stable absolute position visual positioning method for underwater terminal visual docking.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a six-degree-of-freedom positioning method for AUV terminal visual docking, which uses lights and triangle codes. The authors use an extended Kalman filter to fuse the visual calculation results with inertial measurement unit data. Moreover, this paper proposes a triangle code recognition and positioning algorithm.

Findings

The authors conducted a simulation experiment to compare the underwater positioning performance of triangle codes, AprilTag and Aruco. The results demonstrate that the implemented triangular code reduces the running time by over 70% compared to the other two codes, and also exhibits a longer recognition distance in turbid environments. Subsequent experiments were carried out in Qingjiang Lake, Hubei Province, China, which further confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed positioning algorithm.

Originality/value

This fusion approach effectively mitigates abnormal drift errors stemming from visual positioning and cumulative errors resulting from inertial navigation. The authors also propose a triangle code recognition and positioning algorithm as a supplementary approach to overcome the limitations of tracer light positioning beacons.
Shared workspace design: elements of analysis for a healthy work experience
Authors: Baykal Uluoz Ebru , Inalhan Göksenin
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to propose and provide an overview of a model analysis that considers the main spatial design attributes that influence and produce the most relevant salutogenic outcomes. These results are essential for a healthy work experience, especially in shared workspaces.

Design/methodology/approach

This study departs from the theoretical contributions of the salutogenic approach, principles from supportive design theory, psychosocial supportive design and the environmental demands and resources model. After a scoping literature review covering different fields of workspace design, environmental psychology and evidence-based design of health-care facilities, a conceptual analysis is done on a proposed understanding of work, health and environmental relations to overview spatial attributes that enhance specific salutogenic and well-being-promoting outcomes needed for a healthy work experience.

Findings

The model of analysis, as a theoretical element that helps create methodological tools, combined with the application of a post occupancy evaluation, is thought to assist architects, designers, workspace owners and stakeholders in their new designs or to evaluate existing ones.

Originality/value

Studies on defining spatial attributes and their intended salutogenic outcomes have been formally done in health-care facilities. However, applying this idea to shared workspaces is something new and is expected to contribute to their design and evaluation, especially if the notion of environmental demands and resources is complemented.
Economic analysis of institutional factors influencing the entrepreneurial level of young adults in Poland. Evidence from conjoint experiment
Authors: Borządek Julia Maria
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This article aims at contributing to the literature using conjoint experiment methods for political economic problems. The author measures the stated willingness of young adults to start an enterprise in hypothetical realities described by different levels of six institutional factors pertaining to the business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducts the “forced-choice” conjoint experiment on a sample of 200 young Polish students. This analysis allows for the verification of the expectations concerning the differences in the respondents' stated preferences relating to the potential obstacles to their entrepreneurial inclinations. The author estimates the average marginal component effects (AMCEs) and the marginal means (MMs).

Findings

Evidence is provided that the institutional factors are not similarly significant to the stated entrepreneurial preferences of Polish young adults. Legal certainty and economic freedom are the attributes of the most notable effect on respondents' feelings about perceived entrepreneurial barriers; however, the results vary across the subgroups.

Practical implications

The study results provide a tentative perspective on the Polish young adults' feelings about institutions as a potential obstacle to their entrepreneurial inclinations. The employment of conjoint methodology lays the groundwork for scholars studying the entrepreneurial environment, legal institutions and current public mood of different social groups.

Originality/value

This study is a unique attempt to answer political economic questions concerning entrepreneurial institutions in Poland through the implementation of a comprehensive market research method. In addition, the author indicates a specific set of six institutional factors as well as define a distinct group of young adults.
Proximal versus distal temporal orientation in an infinite game: lessons from the 1892 Homestead Massacre
Authors: Taylor Erik
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Working conditions, pay rates and the rights of workers to collectively negotiate have become important points of discussions in recent years, with support for unions and union applications rising to levels long unseen in America. In many instances, though, companies have responded aggressively. This is not the first time such a dynamic has played out in American business. This study aims to take a fresh look at one of America’s most prominent historical disputes between labor and ownership – the Homestead Massacre of 1892 – to glean lessons from that conflict that remain relevant to today’s business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts game theory and the principles of repeated interaction to assess how differing discount factors led to differences in time orientations between the workers and the Carnegie company. These differing time orientations affected both the strategy each side deployed in the negotiations and the payoffs received by the parties. Letters, contemporary news reports and histories of the events leading up to and immediately following the 1892 Homestead Massacre are qualitatively analyzed with a genealogical pragmatic approach.

Findings

Differences in temporal orientation between management and workers exacerbated the conflict, with the workers adopting a more cooperative stance and distal time orientation, while the Carnegie company negotiated with a proximal time orientation and played to “win” a game that, in fact, could not be fully won or lost given its infinitely repeating nature. The result was a short-term victory for the Carnegie company but with long-term negative consequences that highlight the suboptimal outcome the company achieved by playing a proximal strategy in an infinite game.

Originality/value

Although the incident at Homestead is a well-studied labor dispute, many of the themes that preceded the incident have resurfaced in the modern work context. This work, by adopting game theory as an analytical framework, provides new insights into management mistakes that led to the labor conflict and lessons for what present-day managers can do to avoid exacerbating labor strife.
Cognitive dissonance and auditor professional skepticism
Authors: Adikaram Ruwan , Higgs Julia
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to demonstrate how pressures (incentives) in the audit environment can lower audit quality because of a breakdown between professionally skeptical (PS) judgment (risk assessment) and PS action (testing).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a Qualtrics-based experiment with attitude change as a proxy measure of cognitive dissonance (CD). The authors analyze the results using a one-way independent between-group ANOVA with post hoc tests and t-tests.

Findings

The authors find that auditors experience CD when they fail to take appropriate high PS action (audit tests) that are in line with high PS judgment (risk assessments). The motivational force to reduce CD drives auditors to revise their assessments upward (rank higher), lower diagnostic audit tests (PS actions) and lower risk assessments (PS judgments). This leads to lower overall professional skepticism, and hence lower audit quality.

Originality/value

This investigation provides an empirical investigation of Nelson’s (2009) model of professional skepticism and demonstrates a specific mechanism for how incentives in the audit environment lower audit quality. Based on the findings, treatments to enhance audit quality can benefit by strengthening the critical link between PS judgments (risk assessments) and PS actions (audit tests).
Industry momentum and trading volume: evidence from China
Authors: Wang Kun , Wu Xu
Published: January 2024

Purpose

As the world's largest emerging market, the evidence of momentum effect in China is also mixed. Meanwhile, prior studies mainly examined individual stock momentum in China, with little concern for industry momentum and its relationship with trading volume. The motivation of this study is to investigate industry momentum in China and examine whether trading volume can enhance its profitability.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the authors test the existence of industry momentum in China; secondly, the authors test the correlation between trading volume and momentum returns using the double ranking method; finally, the authors test whether trading volume enhances the momentum returns using Fama–French five-factor model.

Findings

The authors find that there is a significant industry momentum effect in China, and the momentum returns jointly come from winner and loser portfolios. The intervals between the formation and holding periods have an impact on the performance of momentum portfolios. In terms of trading volume, the authors find that high-volume industries have industry momentum effects while low-volume industries do not. The industry momentum strategies achieve higher excess returns in high-volume industries.

Practical implications

Prior literature found higher momentum returns in low-volume stocks in China, but the research in this study suggests that implementing an industry momentum strategy in low-volume industries will miss out on higher returns or even bring losses, and instead the investors should invest in high-volume industries to get the best performance.

Originality/value

This study extends existing research by focusing on industry momentum and its relationship with trading volume in the Chinese stock market and finds an interesting relationship between industry momentum returns and trading volume, which is different from related studies.
A risk-aware reference trajectory resampling method for quadrotor tracking accuracy improvement
Authors: Zhang Kaizheng , Di Jian , Wang Jiulong , Wang Xinghu , Ji Haibo
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Many existing trajectory optimization algorithms use parameters like maximum velocity or acceleration to formulate constraints. Due to the ignoring of the quadrotor actual tracking capability, the generated trajectories may not be suitable for tracking control. The purpose of this paper is to design an online adjustment algorithm to improve the overall quadrotor trajectory tracking performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a reference trajectory resampling layer (RTRL) to dynamically adjust the reference signals according to the current tracking status and future tracking risks. First, the authors design a risk-aware tracking monitor that uses the Frenét tracking errors and the curvature and torsion of the reference trajectory to evaluate tracking risks. Then, the authors propose an online adjusting algorithm by using the time scaling method.

Findings

The proposed RTRL is shown to be effective in improving the quadrotor trajectory tracking accuracy by both simulation and experiment results.

Originality/value

Infeasible reference trajectories may cause serious accidents for autonomous quadrotors. The results of this paper can improve the safety of autonomous quadrotor in application.
Experimental and numerical study of in-plane uniaxial compression response of PU foam filled aluminum arrowhead auxetic honeycomb
Authors: Wu Chunfu , Ye Guorui , Zhao Yonghong , Ye Baowen , Wang Tao , Wang Liangmo , Zhang Zeming
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Auxetics metamaterials show high performance in their specific characteristics, while the absolute stiffness and strength are much weaker due to substantial porosity. This paper aims to propose a novel auxetic honeycomb structure manufactured using selective laser melting and study the enhanced mechanical performance when subjected to in-plane compression loading.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel composite structure was designed and fabricated on the basis of an arrowhead auxetic honeycomb and filled with polyurethane foam. The deformation mechanism and mechanical responses of the structure with different structural parameters were investigated experimentally and numerically. With the verified simulation models, the effects of parameters on compression strength and energy absorption characteristics were further discussed through parametric analysis.

Findings

A good agreement was achieved between the experimental and simulation results, showing an evidently enhanced compression strength and energy absorption capacity. The interaction between the auxetic honeycomb and foam reveals to exploit a reinforcement effect on the compression performance. The parametric analysis indicates that the composite with smaller included angel and higher foam density exhibits higher plateau stress and better specific energy absorption, while increasing strut thickness is undesirable for high energy absorption efficiency.

Originality/value

The results of this study served to demonstrate an enhanced mechanical performance for the foam filled auxetic honeycomb, which is expected to be exploited with applications in aerospace, automobile, civil engineering and protective devices. The findings of this study can provide numerical and experimental references for the design of structural parameters.
Negotiating dignity and social justice in community food access spaces
Authors: Schweitzer Julie , Mix Tamara L. , Esquibel Jimmy J.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how key stakeholders and recipients of local food access programs operate strategically to meet individual and community food needs, enhance experiences of dignity and promote social justice. The study of a fragmented community food system highlights the connections between micro and meso dimensions of food access, illustrating how people work around food system limitations to access food.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative in-depth interviews with food assistance managers, workers, volunteers and recipients, this study examines the period before the implementation of a centralized community-based food access initiative in a mid-sized, rural Oklahoma college town with a high rate of food insecurity. This study asks: What are community members’ experiences in a fragmented food assistance system? In what ways do individuals use everyday resistance and workarounds to actively promote experiences of dignity and social justice in food access spaces?

Findings

Those involved in sites of community food access build important networks to share information and engage in negotiation and trade to gain access to useful food resources. As forms of everyday resistance, such practices encourage co-construction of dignity and social justice in stigmatized spaces.

Originality/value

This research contributes to literature examining micro- and meso-level community dynamics that inform agency, dignity and social justice in community food access approaches.
Estimating the excess of interests paid by consumers when applying an upper rate. The case of Spain
Authors: Cruz Rambaud Salvador , Ortega Perals Paula
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The framework of this paper is financial mathematics and, more specifically, the control of data fraud and manipulation with their subsequent economic effects, namely, in financial markets. The purpose of this paper is to calculate the global loss or gain, which supposes, for the borrower, a change of the interest rate while the contracted loan is in force or, in another case, the loan has finished.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this work has been, in the first place, a review of the existing literature on the topic of manipulability and abusiveness of the loan interest rates applied by banks; in the second place, the introduction of a mathematical-financial analysis to calculate the interests paid in excess; and, finally, the compilation of several sentences issued on the application of the so-called mortgage loan reference index (MLRI) to mortgage loans in Spain.

Findings

There are three main contributions in this paper. First, the calculation of the interests paid in excess in the amortization of mortgage loans referenced to an overvalued interest rate. Second, an empirical application shows the amount to be refunded to a Spanish consumer when amortizing his/her mortgage loan referenced to the MLRI instead of the Euro InterBank Offered Rate (EURIBOR). Third, consideration has been made to the effects and the possible solutions to the legal problems arising from this type of contract.

Research limitations/implications

This research is a useful tool capable of implementing the financial calculation needed to find out overpaid interests in mortgage loans and to execute the sentences dealing with this topic. However, a limitation of this study is the lack of enough sentences on mortgage loans referenced to the MLRI to get some additional information about the number of borrowers affected by these legal sentences and the amount refunded by the financial institutions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first time that deviations in the payment of interests have been calculated when amortizing a mortgage.
Thank you, government! Your support facilitated my intention to use mobile payment in the new normal era
Authors: Ling Pick-Soon , Lim Xin-Jean , Wong Lim-Jin , Lee Kelvin Yong Ming
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the key determinants predicting users’ behavioural intention (BI) in adopting mobile payment (m-payment) in the new normal era.

Design/methodology/approach

The mobile technology acceptance model (MTAM) was extended through attitudes, perceived trust, perceived risk and personal innovativeness (PI) with government support (GS) functioning as a moderator. A total of 245 valid responses were gathered from Malaysian m-payment users with purposive sampling and subsequently evaluated through partial least square-structural equation modelling.

Findings

Mobile usefulness and PI significantly predicted user BI to use m-payment. Based on the moderation analysis, GS strengthened attitude-based impacts on BI towards m-payment adoption.

Practical implications

The empirical outcomes provide stakeholders with pivotal implications to develop holistic policies and strategies that potentially catalyse m-payment usage in the new normal era.

Originality/value

This research expands the current body of knowledge by assessing the factors impacting m-payment usage intention in the new normal era. The four aforementioned MTAM elements and GS (moderator) were recommended to boost model workability and offer novel evidence from a distinct viewpoint.