bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phantom auditory perception (tinnitus) is characterised by stronger anticipatory auditory predictions
Authors: Partyka Marta , Demarchi Gianpaolo , Roesch Sebastian , Suess Nina , Sedley William , Schlee Winfried , Weisz Nathan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHow phantom perceptions arise and the factors that make individuals prone to such experiences are not well understood. An attractive phenomenon to study these questions is tinnitus, a very common auditory phantom perception which is not explained by hyperactivity in the auditory pathway alone. Our framework posits that a predisposition to developing (chronic) tinnitus is dependent on individual traits relating to the formation and utilization of sensory predictions. Predictions of auditory stimulus frequency (remote from tinnitus frequency) were studied using a paradigm parametrically modulating regularity (i.e. predictability) of tone sequences and applying decoding techniques on magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data. For processes likely linked to short-term memory, individuals with tinnitus showed an enhanced anticipatory prediction pattern associated with increasing sequence regularity. In contrast, individuals without tinnitus engaged the same processes following the onset of the to-be-decoded sound. We posit that this tendency to optimally anticipate static and changing auditory inputs may determine which individuals faced with persistent auditory pathway hyperactivity factor it into auditory predictions, and thus perceive it as tinnitus. While our study constitutes a first step relating vulnerability to tinnitus with predictive processing, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the predisposition model of tinnitus development.
Automatically generating assembly sequences with an ontology-based approach
Authors: Zhong Yanru , Jiang Chaohao , Qin Yuchu , Yang Guoyu , Huang Meifa , Luo Xiaonan 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present and develop an ontology-based approach for automatic generation of assembly sequences.

Design/methodology/approach
In this approach, an assembly sequence planning ontology is constructed to represent the structure and interrelationship of product geometry information and assembly process information. In the constructed ontology, certain reasoning rules are defined to describe the knowledge and experience. Based on the ontology with reasoning rules, the algorithm for automatically generating assembly sequences is designed and implemented.

Findings
The effectiveness of this approach is verified via applying it to generate the assembly sequences of a gear reducer.

Originality/value
The main contribution of the paper is presenting and developing an ontology-based approach for automatically generating assembly sequences. This approach can provide a feasible solution for the issue that mathematics-based assembly sequence generation approaches have great difficulty in explicitly representing assembly experience and knowledge.
Verifying the moderating role of satisfaction on service quality and students’ accomplishment in ODL perspective
Authors: Sembiring Maximus Gorky , Rahayu Gayuh 
Published: December 2019

PurposeService quality and satisfaction in the ODL setting related to students’ accomplishments (performance, loyalty and career) were reconsidered. It was aimed at exposing the moderating role of satisfaction on service quality and accomplishment. It was also of interest to scrutinize how, in what routines determinants engaged interdepended. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized an exploratory design. It was qualitatively identified first that service quality included tangible, empathy, assurance, reliability, responsiveness and referral factors. It preceded to satisfaction (perceived from academic, operational and managerial attitudes). Satisfaction led to accomplishment. Quantitatively, service quality, satisfaction and accomplishment were identified as independent, moderating, and dependent variables, respectively. Respondents, 500 Universitas Terbuka graduates, were randomly pursued to accumulate data by a survey. Methodically, importance-performance analysis (IPA) and customer-satisfaction index (CSI) were used to figure out satisfaction and their importance degree. Nine hypotheses were developed and examined using structural-equation modeling to visualize the loading factors.FindingsReplies from 163 respondents were completed. Seven of nine hypotheses were validated. It was distinguished that reliability influencing satisfaction, they were empathy, assurance and responsiveness; excluding tangible and referral. Satisfaction influenced performance, career, and loyalty. IPA-CSI analysis recognized 15 (of 21) attributes as the pillars of service quality.Originality/valueDespite the qualitative framework was improperly approved by quantitative procedure, they were methodically reliable. It was supported by the fact that nine cut-off values of goodness-of-fit requirements harmonized. Additional inquiry is therefore required to tail off variances by integrating a more appropriate approach, amplifying theoretical coverage, and/or extending population/sample size.
Supporting students to succeed in open and distance learning in the Open University of Sri Lanka and Universitas Terbuka Indonesia
Authors: Zuhairi Aminudin , Karthikeyan Navaratnasamy , Priyadarshana Saman Thushara 
Published: December 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal how support services for open and distance students are designed, developed and implemented to ensure successful learning to take place, with specific references to the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) and Universitas Terbuka (UT) Indonesia. Success in distance learning is one major challenge for open universities to respond to expectations of students and stakeholders. This study focuses on the strategies of student support services in OUSL and UT, investigating related factors including instructional design and development, learning engagement and motivation, policy and strategy in reducing dropouts, use of OER/MOOCs, and quality assurance.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative study was employed involving analyses of documents; interviews and focus group discussion with senior administrators, academic staff, students; and on-site observation in locations of teaching and learning.FindingsThis research is exploratory in nature. Findings of the study are expected to improve our understanding of student support in distance learning, in which analysis is based on good practices, challenges and rooms for improvement of both OUSL and UT.Practical implicationsFindings of this study reveal practices and lessons learnt that may be useful as reference to open universities, taking into considerations the fact that each open university has been established to address specific challenges in its own unique circumstances.Originality/valueThis research may be adopted as baseline framework for analysis of student support for open universities. Further in-depth study is needed to understand how various aspects of student support contribute to success in open and distance learning.
Has microcredit boosted poultry production in Ghana?
Authors: Agyemang Sylvester Amoako , Ratinger Tomáš , Ahado Samuel 
Published: December 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of microcredit on smallholder poultry production and its subsequent role on domestic protein and food supply.Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional farm-level data from 61 farmers with at least two years of microcredit access and 39 farmers without microcredit access in the Dormaa Municipality of Ghana collected in 2016 via semi-structured questionnaire were used. Using the propensity score matching, PSM, and data envelopment analyses approaches, the authors analysed the propensity of farmers’ taking microcredit and its effect on beneficiaries’ technical efficiency, productivity, profitability and domestic production of chicken and eggs, farm performance. The authors addressed selection biases with the PSM and answered the research question of whether farmers with microcredit access perform better than non-microcredit farmers.FindingsFarmers with high years of education, farming experience, technology and machinery as well as micro-savings and female farmers are more likely to take microcredit whereas large farm size reduces farmers’ propensity to take microcredit. Furthermore, farms with microcredit access were more technically efficient, productive and profitable than they would have been in the absence of microcredit.Practical implicationsThe paper can be useful to policymakers and microcredit institutions since it provides evidence of microeconomic impacts of microcredit on agricultural production and the determinants of farmers’ participation in microcredit.Originality/valueThe study helps to understand how access to credit can improve smallholders’ technology adoption, production efficiency and productivity and output thereby enhancing domestic food supply.
Can credit help small family farming? Evidence from Brazil
Authors: Maia Alexandre Gori , Eusébio Gabriela dos Santos , da Silveira Rodrigo Lanna Franco 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of a Brazilian rural credit program, The National Program for Strengthening Family Farming (PRONAF), on small family farming production.

Design/methodology/approach
The method is based on a quasi-experimental approach (propensity score matching) applied to 4.1m family farmers in Brazil.

Findings
Results show that farmers accessing PRONAF tended to be positively selected in terms of several observable characteristics, such as land size and agricultural practices. Moreover, PRONAF had positive and differentiated impacts on agricultural production. The impact was larger in the poorest region when compared to the regions characterized by intensive and commercial farming.

Research limitations/implications
The rural credit information was restricted to one crop year, making impossible to analyze the mid- and long-term impacts of the credit program on agricultural production.

Practical implications
The study provides some practical implications for policies of rural development. First, rural credit does matter for agricultural production of small family farmers. Nonetheless, since credit programs are large subsidized by the rest of the population, further studies are still needed the aggregate costs and benefits of these schemes. Results also revealed that PRONAF may have contributed to reduce regional inequalities, since the impact was larger in the poorest NE region.

Originality/value
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of how rural credit has impacted small-farm agricultural production, using large and representative data – the whole population of Brazilian family farmers.
Digitizing the intellectual output of Ghanaian universities
Authors: Dzandza Patience Emefa 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
With the emergence of ranking of universities by organizations, one major factor considered in the rankings is the intellectual output of the universities. For universities to remain part of the global academic competitive society, intellectual output of universities can no longer be stored on shelves in libraries. Academic libraries have engaged in digitization of the intellectual works of their institutions which is a core mandate of any academic library. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the state of digitization initiatives among university libraries in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was adopted. Nine top universities in Ghana were selected to participate in this study. Interviews were conducted with heads of libraries.

Findings
The findings of the study revealed that seven out of the nine libraries studied have embarked on some sort of digitization initiative, and all libraries studied are using the same digital asset management system (Dspace). Major challenges reported by the participants that are common to all the libraries studied are lack of adequate and modern equipment, lack of trained personnel and lack of cooperation from faculty members.

Originality/value
This study brought fore the initiatives undertaken by academic libraries in Ghana to establish and maintain institutional repositories (IRs) amidst a number of challenges. It is a major contribution to the literature from West Africa as not much literature on IR is found from this part of the world.
Assessment appraisal, disposal and transfer of neglected rangers’ diaries created from 1926 to 1930: case of the Kruger National Parks of South Africa
Authors: Netshakhuma Nkholedzeni Sidney 
Published: December 2019

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the appraisal, disposal and transfer of records of the Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers’ diaries processes from 1926 to 1930 with a view to recommend best practices.Design/methodology/approachThe paper applied a qualitative methodology through document analysis, interviews and observations as data collection instruments to analyse contents of rangers’ diaries. The population of the study comprised rangers, a records manager and a representative from the National Archives of South Africa (NARSSA), a member of South Africa National Parks’ management and a scientist from South African National Biodiversity Institute.FindingsThe key findings revealed that rangers’ diaries contain historical, scientific and cultural information. However, such information is not disseminated to society. Lack of systematic appraisal, arrangement of records led to a loss of institutional memories. The role of National Archives and Records Service of South Africa is not visible to provide guidelines on the preservation of rangers’ records.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to KNP ranger’s diaries created from 1926 to 1930 because it is the period of establishment of the national park and introduction of rangers’ programme.Practical implicationsThe findings are expected to be instrumental towards the preservation of rangers’ diaries within the park. Rangers’ diaries are also potentially of great biogeographical value in constituting a historical record of the plants and animals in a given area, their distribution and population changes, and the effects of human interventions such as game fences and artificially created waterholes, game culling and tourism, not to forget climate change.Social implicationsPreservation of ranger diaries may lead to documentation of records with historical, scientific and social value. Rangers’ diaries also form part of the national archival heritage of South Africa, as they bridge the gap of undocumented history of the rangers and national parks in South Africa.Originality/valueThis paper appears to be the first to research the assessment of the appraisal, disposal and transfer of rangers’ diaries created from 1926 to 1930.
Exploring employer attitude towards migrant workers
Authors: Farashah Ali Dehghanpour , Blomquist Tomas 
Published: December 2019

PurposeMigrants play an essential role in economic and societal outcomes of the host society, both as members of the workforce and as citizens. However, integration and finding employment after migration remain critical issues. The purpose of this paper is to employ an evidence-based quantitative approach to identify migrant workers’ most important qualifications from an employer perspective and to explore factors that influence employer perception of migrants.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses European Social Survey data that contain responses from managers in European countries in 2014 (n=2,828) and 2016 (n=3,014). Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling are used to analyse the data.FindingsFor managers, migrants’ commitment to the host country’s way of life is more important than their job skills, educational level and language proficiency. The effects of managers’ individual characteristics, including demographics, expectancies and personal values, on their general attitude towards migrants are also quantified.Practical implicationsThe study’s outcomes can assist migrants to develop the qualifications most valued by employers, and allow policymakers to integrate the organizational perspective into policies and initiatives for integration of migrant labour.Originality/valueThrough HR practices, organizations significantly affect migrants’ career outcomes. Yet research on migrant workers from an organizational and managerial perspective is limited. This study identifies migrant workers’ most important qualifications from an employer perspective. It also explores which individual characteristics most influence organizational decision-makers’ perception. Utilizing a cross-cultural and longitudinal data set provides a unique opportunity to generate generalizable findings.
An analysis of the implementation and continuity of WBL delivery evident in Capstone Projects in a private business college in the UK
Authors: Gerhardt Trevor 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
An analysis is conducted on the implementation of Capstone Projects (CAPP) at a private business college in the UK as part of their work-based learning (WBL) strategy. CAPP are introduced for the first time in this college in the Autumn semester of 2017. The purpose of this paper is to study the continuity and impact of WBL through the CAPP.

Design/methodology/approach
Comparative data of student experience were collected and analysed from online polls throughout the Autumn and following Summer semester webinar lectures and a content analysis of formative assessment work included in the final submissions.

Findings
Data indicated that recommended changes after the Autumn semester were only partially successful by the Summer semester and that the continuity of the key pedagogical strategies identified in the Autumn semester were still noticed and mentioned (implicitly and explicitly) in the following Summer semester. Data indicated that the CAPP was a rewarding challenge, that the process of using a webinar was an appreciated and effective process overall and that good supervision made a significant impact on the success of the process.

Research limitations/implications
The implication of the research is that it indicates student experience from the application of WBL in the CAPP process.

Practical implications
Key future recommendations addressing improvements were mainly focussed upon the programme administration.

Originality/value
The work adds to a minimal amount of research on WBL within CAPP in the UK and adds to the knowledge within the field of WBL.
Social interactivity as driver and digital technology as vehicle
Authors: Hayes Catherine , Graham Yitka 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of the integration of digital technology into a Pre-Registration Nursing degree programme. This process illuminated student perceptions of the impact of the digital technology platform on the context of work-based learning and also potential employability in the future.

Design/methodology/approach
Adopting design research as an overarching methodological approach for this study enabled application of the phenomena of complex curriculum justification, design and development to an observable context. In its rawest form, this was a pragmatic and relatively a theoretical approach, nevertheless underpinned by robust mixed-methods framework, incorporating anecdote circles. Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase approach to thematic analysis was adopted as a systematic, yet recursive, approach to inductive qualitative analysis.

Findings
Results of this pedagogical study were consistent with the stance that technology enhanced learning has a tangible impact on the socio-cognitive learning of students by providing a mechanism for engaging with decision making, problem solving and reflexive praxis. In particular, the Nurse Navigator System was perceived as a mechanism of enhancing the potential for the establishment of communities of practice in which the co-construction of meaningful knowledge about patient care could be established.

Research limitations/implications
This pedagogical study was context specific to the curriculum model operationalised at the University of Sunderland and as such the perceptions captured are not generalizable but rather provide an insight into student perceptions of the implementation of the digital technology in the context of work-based learning and also the perceived impact on employability that this might have in the future.

Practical implications
Pivotal to the success of this, though, is the capacity of clinical and academic staff who can facilitate this sufficiently well in practice and a period of preparation for students so that they can understand the distinction between cognitive, psychomotor and affective domain learning and the places and integration of each across an academic curriculum.

Social implications
The study revealed the concept of social interactivity for affective domain learning was impacted positively upon by the integration of technology enhanced learning (i.e. the Nurse Navigator System).

Originality/value
This pedagogical research provides a fundamentally unique consideration of the perceived potential impact of a digital technology platform to affective domain learning. Since this is imperative to the tacit knowledge nursing students gain during their education and training for this specific vocational and academic field this is of great value to educationalists in the nursing and allied health fields. The methodological approach adopted also has capacity for transferability to these professions.
Mixed convection and stability analysis of stagnation-point boundary layer flow and heat transfer of hybrid nanofluids over a vertical plate
Authors: Ghalambaz Mohammad , Roşca Natalia C. , Roşca Alin V. , Pop Ioan 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This study aims to study the mixed convection flow and heat transfer of Al2O3-Cu/water hybrid nanofluid over a vertical plate. Governing equations for conservation of mass, momentum and energy for the hybrid nanofluid over a vertical flat plate are introduced.

Design/methodology/approach
The similarity transformation approach is used to transform the set of partial differential equations into a set of non-dimensional ordinary differential equations. Finite-deference with collocation method is used to integrate the governing equations for the velocity and temperature profiles.

Findings
The results show that dual solutions exist for the case of opposing flow over the plate. Linear stability analysis was performed to identify a stable solution. The stability analysis shows that the lower branch of the solution is always unstable, while the upper branch of the solution is always stable. The results of boundary layer analysis are reported for the various volume fractions of composite nanoparticles and mixed convection parameter. The outcomes show that the composition of nanoparticles can notably influence the boundary layer flow and heat transfer profiles. It is also found that the trend of the variation of surface skin friction and heat transfer for each of the dual solution branches can be different. The critical values of the mixed convection parameter, λ, where the dual solution branches joint together, are also under the influence of the composition of hybrid nanoparticles. For instance, assuming a total volume fraction of 5 per cent for the mixture of Al2O3 and Cu nanoparticles, the critical value of mixing parameter of λ changes from −3.1940 to −3.2561 by changing the composition of nanofluids from Al2O3 (5 per cent) + Cu (0%) to Al2O3 (2.5%) + Cu (2.5 per cent).

Originality/value
The mixed convection stability analysis and heat transfer study of hybrid nanofluids for a stagnation-point boundary layer flow are addressed for the first time. The introduced hybrid nanofluid model and similarity solution are new and of interest in both mathematical and physical points of view.