bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strategic management of public relations in Kuwait
Authors: Almutairi Talal M. , Sriramesh Krishnamurthy 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to help enrich the body of knowledge of public relations by exploring the status of the practice in Kuwait. Using the generic principles of public relations, a well-known theoretical framework in the field, we study the three major types of organizations: government agencies, nonprofits and corporations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors gathered data using a self-administered survey and qualitative interviews. In total, 250 questionnaires were distributed (both printed and electronic) to employees working in public relations departments in all sectors and received 66 completed responses for a response rate of 26%. In addition, the first author conducted nine elite interviews with a chief executive officer (CEO) of a non-profit organization, a CEO of public relations (PR) agency, four directors of PR department in the private sector and three directors of the PR department in governmental organizations.FindingsThe results indicate that the press-agentry and technical functions dominate PR practice in the country. However, there appears to be a slow momentum for more specialized PR practitioners, who can assist their organizations in coming up with strategies and thus help organizational effectiveness. PR in Kuwait continues to suffer reputationally including the assumption that someone with no relevant knowledge or experience can be employed and succeed.Originality/valueTo the authors knowledge, this is the to study the present some of the generic principles of PR in Kuwait. Therefore, this paper contributes to the PR in Kuwait body of knowledge and provides the generic principles of PR in a new cultural context to test its applicability.
The mental health status of faculty members and students as the contemporary and future health system providers
Authors: Zarezadeh Yadolah , Mohamadi-Bolbanabad Amjad , Safari Hossein , Azadnia Arian , Piroozi Bakhtiar 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
Health is one of the most basic human rights. The mental health of contemporary and future health services providers is of great significance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mental health of the faculty members and students of Kurdistan University of medical sciences

Design/methodology/approach
This was an analytical-descriptive and cross-sectional study, which was conducted using the Census method on 249 faculty members and proportionately by using random sampling on 347 students in 2019. Data were collected using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire. Data analysis was done via SPSS 24 software by using statistical tests such as T-test and one-way ANOVA.

Findings
The mean values (standard deviation) of the total score of mental health among students and faculty members were 27.43 (14.37) and 20.17 (11.37), respectively. In total, 57.2% of students and 31% of faculty members had symptoms of mental disorder. The highest mean score among faculty members and students was observed on the subscale of “social dysfunction.” There was a significant relationship between the mental health of students and where they study and the mental health of faculty members and type of faculty member with the faculty in which they work (p < 0.05).

Originality/value
The prevalence of mental disorders’ symptoms among faculty members and students of Kurdistan University of medical sciences was high, and it must be considered by policymakers and managers of the health system to plan appropriate interventions.
Differential effects of information technology on competitive positioning
Authors: Bayer Michael , Haug Anders , Hvam Lars 
Published: September 2020

PurposeInformation technology (IT), combined with complementary resources, can contribute to companies' competitive positioning. However, to assess the contribution of IT to value with respect to the contribution of complementary resources, it is crucial to understand the means by which IT creates value.Design/methodology/approachThis paper synthesizes empirical research on the inherent capabilities of IT and their moderating role to build an integrative model.FindingsWe found that IT creates value through three inherent capabilities: transactional, exchange and codification capabilities. These capabilities can be regarded as moderators of the relationship between IT and competitive advantage. This moderating role of IT in competitive positioning is illustrated by examples from previous empirical publications.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper contributes to IT business value (ITBV) literature by developing an integrative model that (1) conceptualizes an aspect of IT value creation, which, thus far, has received only limited attention (namely, inherent capabilities) and (2) illustrates the moderating role of these capabilities in competitive positioning.Practical implicationsInherent capabilities provide the theoretical foundation for a nuanced understanding of IT contribution with respect to complementary resources. This understanding may support IT executives in deriving adequate measurements and, thus, account for the differential effects of IT.Originality/valueCompared to the literature, the proposed model represents a more coherent and holistic perspective of ITBV. Thus, the model may constitute a foundation for future ITBV research and promote more detailed analytic perspectives of ITBV.
Value creation attempts via photographs in sustainability reporting: a legitimacy theory perspective
Authors: Ali Irshad , Lodhia Sumit , Narayan Anil K. 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the use of legitimacy strategies via the usage of photographic disclosures in sustainability reporting as an attempt towards creating value.Design/methodology/approachThis study used visual content analysis to identify disclosure trends and value creation themes from sustainability-related photographs in the annual and sustainability reports of Fonterra Co-operative Group over a ten-year period. The findings were interpreted using legitimacy theory.FindingsThe findings show a significant increase in the usage of photographs to legitimise and reinforce the organisation’s sustainability messages. The photographs are dominated by images signalling to stakeholders’ positive sustainability messages, as a systematic method for managing stakeholder expectations to maintain, gain and even repair legitimacy. A majority of photographs have supporting textual narrative, which could be construed as an attempt by the company to make their sustainability messages explicit and provide greater legitimacy of activities and performance with the ultimate aim of enhancing organisational value.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes towards an in-depth understanding of attempts at seeking legitimacy and creating organisational value through the systematic usage of photographic disclosures in sustainability reporting.Practical implicationsThis study has the potential to inform stakeholders on linkages between sustainability photographs, value creation and legitimacy. It can help inform and assist report preparers, designers and users on the potential of photographs as a substantive medium to manage legitimacy in sustainability reporting.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the scant literature on the growing use of photographs as a value adding apparatus in sustainability reporting. This paper also extends the applicability of legitimacy theory to visual disclosure and suggests that legitimacy can be systematically sought to create value.
Situational antecedents to organizational identification and the role of supervisor support
Authors: Valle Matthew , Andrews Martha C. , Kacmar K. Michele 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of procedural justice, training opportunities and innovation on job satisfaction and affiliation commitment via the mediating effect of organizational identification. The authors also explored the moderating role of satisfaction with supervisor on the relationship between the antecedents and organizational identification as well as its moderating effect on the mediational chain.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors used structural equation modeling techniques, using MPLUS 7.4, to analyze data collected from 247 full-time employees who were recruited by undergraduate students attending a private university in the Southeast region of the USA.

Findings
Results demonstrated that the indirect effects for procedural justice and training opportunities as predictors were significant, while none of the paths for innovation as a predictor were significant. Satisfaction with supervisor moderated the relationships between procedural justice and organizational identification and innovation and organizational identification.

Originality/value
This research expands the nomological network concerning antecedents and consequences of organizational identification. It also explores the role of satisfaction with one’s supervisor, as this can affect identification with the organization. This research provides support for the notion that stronger employee–organization relationships lead to positive individual and organizational outcomes.
Creative problem-solving techniques, paradigm shift and team performance
Authors: Proctor Tony 
Published: September 2020

Purpose
This paper aims to consider why creative problem-solving techniques may not always produce useful results and sets out to explain why this might be and what steps should be taken to avoid it happening. The paper provides an understanding of how different creative problem-solving techniques are best suited to gaining insights into problems requiring different degrees of paradigm shift. It argues that team members’ personalities and thinking styles and team composition should be taken into account when using the techniques. It examines the role the facilitator plays in planning and conducting the ideation process.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides simple illustrations of some of the creative problem-solving techniques. It reviews relevant literature and argues how individual differences of team members along with team composition can influence team performance in using the creative problem-solving techniques.

Findings
Personality, thinking styles and learning styles are relevant to the effective use of creative problem-solving techniques. Team composition, team motivation and mood factors should also be taken into account. The facilitator is key in ensuring the efficacy of the problem-solving process.

Originality/value
This paper will be helpful to academics who study creative problem-solving as well as informing management practitioners and trainers about the procedures and potential pitfalls to avoid.
Banking services for SMEs' internationalization: evaluating customer satisfaction
Authors: Formisano Vincenzo , Moretta Tartaglione Andrea , Fedele Maria , Cavacece Ylenia 
Published: September 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the quality of banking services provided in support of small- and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) internationalization from the customers' perspective.Design/methodology/approachCustomer satisfaction of 50 Italian SMEs with the banking services provided for international activities has been evaluated by adopting the Kano model's continuous and discrete analyses.FindingsResults show which banking services provided for business internationalization are necessary to satisfy customers' expectations, which services customers like having and dislike not having and which services are unexpected by customers creating a high increase in satisfaction when provided.Research limitations/implicationsThis work shows the value of the Kano model in evaluating the non-linear relationship between customer satisfaction and quality of banking services for the international activities of companies. The main limitation of this work is the limited geographical context of the investigation.Practical implicationsThis research suggests banks to transform their role in the relationship with SMEs from mere financiers to active partners committed to their growth abroad by offering a wide range of services not just financial, but also counselling and care professional, thus achieving mutual benefits.Originality/valuePrevious works on banking services and business internationalization are focussed on the transaction costs, information asymmetries and the impact of online banking. This work advances available knowledge by analysing the customer's point of view, evaluating the satisfaction of SMEs which, although more dependent on banks for their expansion abroad than large listed companies, are mostly ignored by literature.
Laminar Flame Characteristics of Sequential Two-Stage Combustion of Premixed Methane/Air Flames
Authors: Duva Berk Can , Wang Yen-Cheng , Chance Lauren Elizabeth , Toulson Elisa 
Published: September 2020

AbstractDue to their high load flexibility and air-quality benefits, axial (sequential) stage combustion systems have become more popular among ground-based power gas turbine combustors. However, inert combustion residuals passing from the initial stage onto the secondary stage affects the reactivity and stability of the flame in the second stage of the combustor. The present study investigates laminar flame characteristics of the combustion within the second stage of a sequential combustor. The method of constant pressure for spherically expanding flames was employed to obtain laminar burning velocities (LBV) and burned gas Markstein lengths (Lb) of premixed methane/air mixtures diluted using flue gas at 3 bar and 423 K. Combustion residuals were imitated using a 19.01% H2O + 9.50% CO2 +71.49% N2 mixture by volume, while tested dilution ratios were 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Experimental results showed that the LBV was decreased by 18–23%, 36–42%, and 50–52% with additions of 5%, 10%, and 15% combustion products, respectively. As the dilution and equivalence ratios increased, the Lb values increased slightly, suggesting that the stability and stretch of the CH4/air flames increased at these conditions. Numerical results were obtained from CHEMKIN using the GRI-Mech 3.0, USC Mech II, San Diego, HP-Mech, NUI Galway, and AramcoMech 1.3 mechanisms. The GRI-Mech 3.0 and HP-Mech performed best, with an average of 2% and 3% difference between numerical and experimental LBVs, respectively. The thermal-diffusion, dilution, and chemical effects of inert postcombustion gases on the LBV were found using numerical results. The dilution effect was primarily responsible, accounting for 79–84% of the LBV reduction.
Nonlinear Radiation and Variable Viscosity Effects on Free Convection of a Power-Law Nanofluid Over a Truncated Cone in Porous Media With Zero Nanoparticles Flux and Internal Heat Generation
Authors: Huang Chuo-Jeng , Yih Kuo-Ann 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
This study used numerical analysis to investigate the effects of nonlinear radiation and variable viscosity on free convection of a power-law nanofluid over a vertical truncated cone in porous media with Rosseland diffusion approximation considering zero nanoparticles flux and internal heat generation. The internal heat generation is of an exponential decaying form and the viscosity of the fluid is assumed to follow Reynolds viscosity model. The surface boundary conditions of vertical truncated cone is maintained at the uniform wall temperature (UWT) and the zero nanoparticle flux (ZNF) to cause the results to be more realistic and useful. The nanofluid model considered the effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis. The nonsimilar governing equations are obtained by using a suitable coordinate transformation and then solved by Keller box method (KBM). Comparisons with previously published work obtained good agreement. Graphical and tabular presentations of numerical data for the dimensionless temperature profile and the local Nusselt number were presented for main parameters: dimensionless streamwise coordinate, thermophoresis parameter, Lewis number, radiation parameter, surface temperature parameter, viscosity parameter, power-law index of the non-Newtonian fluid, and internal heat generation coefficient. The local Nusselt number increased when the following parameters were increased: radiation parameter, surface temperature parameter, viscosity parameter, power-law index of the non-Newtonian fluid, and dimensionless streamwise coordinate. In contrast, the local Nusselt number decreased when the following parameters were increased: internal heat generation coefficient, thermophoresis parameter, and Lewis number. Besides, the physical aspects of the problem are discussed in details.
Quantifying the Importance of Solar Soft Costs: A New Method to Apply Sensitivity Analysis to a Value Function
Authors: Syal Sita M. , MacDonald Erin F. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
This paper presents a new approach to build a decision model for government funding agencies, such as the US Department of Energy (DOE) solar office, to evaluate solar research funding strategies. High solar project costs—including technology costs, such as modules, and soft costs, such as permitting—currently hinder many installations; project cost reduction could lead to a lower project levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and, in turn, higher installation rates. Government research funding is a crucial driver to solar industry growth and potential cost reduction; however, DOE solar funding has not historically aligned with the industry priorities for LCOE reduction. Solar technology has received significantly higher research funding from the DOE compared to soft costs. Increased research funding to soft cost programs could spur needed innovation and accelerate cost reduction for the industry. To this end, we build a cost model to calculate the LCOE of a utility-scale solar development using technology and soft costs and conduct a sensitivity analysis to quantify how the inputs influence the LCOE. Using these results, we develop a multi-attribute value function and evaluate six funding strategies as possible alternatives. We find the strategy based on current DOE allocations results in the lowest calculated value and the strategy that prioritizes soft cost results in the highest calculated value, suggesting alternative ways for the DOE solar office to prioritize research funding and potentially spur future cost reduction.
A Computational Model for the Analysis of the Static Forced Performance of Self-Equalizing Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings
Authors: Koosha Rasool , San Andrés Luis 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
While failure analyses in the archival literature report thrust collar misalignment as a major cause of collapse in oil lubricated thrust bearings (TB), a self-equalizing tilting pad thrust bearing (TPTB) improves operation reliability by adjusting its pads to account for thrust collar tilt. This paper describes a kinematics model for the equalizing mechanism integrated into an existing thermo-elastohydrodynamic (TEHD) analysis tool to deliver load performance predictions for self-equalizing TPTBs. The analysis considers the actual leveling plates geometric model as obtained from a solids modeling commercial software and accounts for the sliding friction forces acting at the contact points of the leveling plates and the rolling friction at their pivots. Further, a Hertz contact analysis model uses the predicted forces to deliver a peak pressure and deformation over the contact area between the leveling plates. Next, this paper presents predictions for an example self-equalizing TPTB operating with a thrust collar static misalignment φ = 0.01 deg. The bearing 126 mm in outer diameter has six pads, operates at 4 krpm (26 m/s maximum surface speed) and under a specific load/pad ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 MPa. Compared to a nonequalizing TPTB, a self-equalizing TPTB operates with up to 50% larger minimum film thickness and about ½ largest elastic deformation. Friction forces acting at the contact points of the leveling plates show a significant effect on the performance of the pad leveling system as they reduce the film clearance and increase a pad peak pressure. Predictions from the Hertz contact analysis agree with those from a commercial finite element analysis tool and show a significantly large peak pressure at the contact points of the leveling plates (&gt; 0.9 GPa) when the bearing supports a 3 MPa/pad specific load. This paper stresses the importance of conducting a comprehensive multiple-pad analysis to accurately evaluate the performance and reliable operation of self-equalizing TPTBs.
Fatigue Characterization of SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites in Combustion Environment
Authors: Panakarajupally Ragav P. , El Rassi Joseph , Manigandan K. , Morscher Gregory N. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Fatigue behavior of woven melt infiltrated (MI) SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) was investigated under a tension–tension fatigue condition in a combustion environment. A special experimental facility is designed to subject the CMCs under simultaneous mechanical and combustion conditions which is more representative of some conditions experienced by the hot section components of a jet engine. The MI SiC/SiC CMCs considered in this study consists of a SiC matrix densified with liquid Si infiltration, BN interphase, and reinforced with two different fibers, namely, Hi–Nicalon type S and Tyranno SA fibers. A high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) gun is used to create the representative combustion condition and a horizontal hydraulic MTS machine to apply the mechanical loading. Several fatigue tests were conducted at different stress levels with a stress ratio of 0.1, frequency of 1 Hz, and the specimen surface temperature at 1200 °C. Similar tests were conducted in an isothermal furnace condition at 1200 °C for comparison. Electrical resistance (ER) was used to monitor the tests. A reduction in the fatigue life was observed for the two MI systems under combustion conditions in comparison to the isothermal furnace condition at the same applied stress level. This is attributed to the presence of harsh combustion environment present in the burner rig. ER showed some promising results in monitoring the temperature and detecting damage in the specimen. Runout condition was set as 24 H (86400 cycles) in burner rig and 100 H (360000 cycles) in furnace environment. Specimens that achieved the runout condition were subsequently tested under monotonic tension testing at room temperature after cooldown to evaluate the residual properties. Residual strength results showed a significant strength reduction in both the furnace and burner rig environments. Post-test microscopy was conducted on the fracture surfaces of the failed specimens to understand the oxidation behavior and damage mechanisms.