bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigating the online social network development through the Five Cs Model of Similarity
Authors: Vătămănescu Elena-Mădălina , Andrei Andreia Gabriela , Pînzaru Florina 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of five dimensions of similarity (i.e. condition similarity, context similarity, catalyst similarity, consequence similarity and connection similarity) on Facebook social networks development.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 245 Romanian college students. SmartPLS 3 statistical software for partial least squares structural equation modeling was chosen as the most adequate technique for the assessment of models with both composites and reflective constructs.FindingsMore than 52 percent of the variance in social network development was explained by the advanced similarity model. Each dimension had a positive effect on Facebook social networks development, the highest influences being exerted by condition similarity, context similarity and consequence similarity.Research limitations/implicationsThe current approach is substantively based on the homophily paradigm in explaining social network development. Future research would benefit from comparing and contrasting complementary theories (e.g. the rational self-interest paradigm, the social exchange or dependency theories) with the current findings. Also, the research is tributary to a convenience-based sample of Romanian college students which limits the generalization of the results to other cultural contexts and, thus, invites further research initiatives to test the model in different settings.Social implicationsSimilarity attributes and mechanisms consistently determine the dynamics of online social networks, a fact which should be investigated in depth in terms of the impact of new technologies among young people.Originality/valueThis study is among the first research initiatives to approach similarity structures and processes within an integrative framework and to conduct the empirical analysis beyond US-centric samples.
Bridging planned conservation and community empowerment: Portuguese case studies
Authors: Ferreira Teresa Cunha 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
In the present-day context of a sharp decrease in economic and ecological resources, planned conservation and community empowerment are key strategies for sustainable heritage management, because of their cost effectiveness, increased preservation of authenticity and socially development. However, there are still very few practical implementations, so the purpose of this paper is to present applied research to real case studies, as well as to demonstrate that preventive-planned conservation is increasingly successful when linked with the empowerment of local communities and users.

Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a methodology that focuses on two complementary aspects: planned conservation (material component) – undertaken directly on buildings, through inspection, monitoring, maintenance and repair activities; community empowerment (intangible component) – afforded indirectly to users, through participatory strategies and training in prevention, maintenance and use.

Findings
Based on an estimation of costs, this paper suggests that preventive-planned conservation strategies (pre-damage) can be one-third cheaper than the reactive and interventionist approach (post-damage). Moreover, this study also develops innovative ICT tools for the planned conservation of the built heritage, namely a specifically designed computer software/App (“MPlan”) that can be used to compile maintenance plans.

Originality/value
The case studies are among the first applications of preventive-planned conservation strategies to the built heritage in Portugal. Different types of case studies are provided to better illustrate the methodological approach adopted and the results obtained. Special attention is given to the Romanesque Route, a cultural itinerary with 58 monuments (monasteries, churches, bridges, towers and a castle). illustrated manuals contribute to the empowerment of local communities and users.
Driving for successful change processes in healthcare by putting staff at the wheel
Authors: Erlingsdottir Gudbjörg , Ersson Anders , Borell Jonas , Rydenfält Christofer 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe five salient factors that emerge in two successful change processes in healthcare. Organizational changes in healthcare are often characterized by problems and solutions that have been formulated by higher levels of management. This top-down management approach has not been well received by the professional community. As a result, improvement processes are frequently abandoned, resulting in disrupted and dysfunctional organizations. This paper presents two successful change processes where managerial leadership was used to coach the change processes by distributing mandates and resources. After being managerially initiated, both processes were driven by local agency, decisions, planning and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach
The data in the paper derive from two qualitative case studies. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations and document studies. The cases are presented as process descriptions covering the different phases of the change processes. The focus in the studies is on the roles and interactions of the actors involved, the type of leadership and the distribution of agency.

Findings
Five factors emerged as paramount to the successful change processes in the two cases: local ownership of problems; a coached process where management initiates the change process and the problem recognition, and then lets the staff define the problems, formulate solutions and drive necessary changes; distributed leadership directed at enabling and supporting the staff’s intentions and long-term self-leadership; mutually formulated norms and values that serve as a unifying force for the staff; and generous time allocation and planning, which allows the process to take time, and creates room for reevaluation. The authors also noted that in both cases, reorganization into multi-professional teams lent stability and endurance to the completed changes.

Originality/value
The research shows how management can initiate and support successful change processes that are staff driven and characterized by local agency, decisions, planning and engagement. Empirical descriptions of successful change processes are rare, which is why the description of such processes in this research increases the value of the paper.
Importance of destination marketing on image and familiarity
Authors: Hahm Jeeyeon (Jeannie) , Severt Kimberly 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the image and familiarity of Alabama as a tourism destination. More specifically, this study examined the difference in perceptions between visitors and non-visitors using quantitative and qualitative data to identify strengths and weaknesses of the image of Alabama.

Design/methodology/approach
This was a quantitative study with some qualitative aspects to it. This study examined both prior visitors and non-visitors of the state to compare their familiarity, image, and visit intentions. Data were collected online and analyzed using t-tests and importance-performance analysis.

Findings
The qualitative results revealed the predominant difference between people who have visited Alabama (visitors) and those who had never visited (non-visitors) was their image or lack of image of Alabama. Non-visitors had no image or characteristic that came to mind when asked about their image of Alabama, while people who had visited noted beaches the most positive image.

Originality/value
To date, the image of Alabama as a tourism destination has never been explored in academic research. This study has strong implications for destination marketing organizations of the state of Alabama.
Wholesale-retail pricing strategies under market risk and uncertain demand in supply chain using evolutionary game theory
Authors: Hafezalkotob Ashkan , Mahmoudi Reza , Hajisami Elham , Wee Hui Ming 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
Nowadays, uncertainty in market demand poses considerable risk to the retailers that supply the market. On the other hand, the risk-averse behaviors of retailers toward risk may have evolved over time. Considering a supply chain including a manufacturer and a population of retailers, the authors intend to investigate how the population of retailers tends to evolve toward risk-averse behavior. Moreover, this study aims to evaluate the effects of wholesale-retail price of manufacturer on evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) of the retailers.

Design/methodology/approach
Due to market uncertainty, a supply chain with a population of risk-averse and risk-neutral retailers was investigated. The wholesale pricing strategy is determined by a manufacturer acting as a leader, while retailers who make order quantity decisions act as followers. An integrated Cournot duopoly equilibrium and evolutionary game theory (EGT) approach has been used to model this situation.

Findings
A numerical real-world case study using Iran Khodro Company is analyzed by applying the proposed EGT approach. The study provides managerial insights to the manufacturer as well as retailers in developing their strategies. Results showed that risk behavior of retailers significantly affects optimal wholesale/retail price, profits and ESS. In the long term, the retailers tend to have a risk-neutral behavior to gain more profit. In the short term, if a retailer choses risk-averse strategy, in the long term, it will change its strategy to obtain more profit and remain in the competitive market.

Originality/value
The contributions in this research are fourfold. First, ESS concept to investigate the risk-averse or risk-neutral attitudes of the retailers was used. Second, the uncertain risk behavior of the competing retailers was considered. Third, the effect of varying wholesale pricing was investigated. Fourth, the equilibrium wholesale and retail prices have been obtained by considering uncertainty demand and risk.
Heuristic algorithms for the Internet shopping optimization problem with price sensitivity discounts
Authors: Józefczyk Jerzy , Ławrynowicz Mirosław 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
Rapid advancements in internet technology have made it possible to develop electronic commerce in general and internet shopping in particular. Easy access to a vast number of existing internet stores enables buyers to customize their shopping processes to minimize the total purchase cost. This paper aims to investigate a novel internet shopping problem, which consists of the diversification of a given list of products to buy among many stores and to use discounts offered by the stores.

Design/methodology/approach
The adequate discrete optimization problem referred to as internet shopping optimization problem with price sensitivity discounts (ISOPwD) is investigated, which turned out to be strongly nondeterministic polynomial (NS)-hard. Two heuristic solution algorithms have been derived using the tabu search (TS) and the simulated annealing (SA) metaheuristics for having a solution in a reasonable time. The algorithms have been assessed via computational experiments, and they have been compared with another algorithm known from the literature that has been elaborated for a simpler version of ISOPwD.

Findings
The conducted evaluation has shown the advantage of both heuristic algorithms on the algorithm known from the literature. Moreover, the TS-based algorithm outperformed the other one in terms of the total cost incurred by customers and the computational time.

Research limitations/implications
The special primary piecewise linear discounting function is only taken into account. Other possible discounts connected, for example, with bundles of products and (or) coupons are not considered.

Practical implications
The elaborated algorithms can be recommended for internet shopping providers who want to introduce the ability to search a cost-optimized set of products in their databases or for applications that combine offers from various online retailers, e.g. internet price comparison services and auction sites.

Originality/value
The novelty of considered ISOPwD, in comparison with similar problems discussed in the literature, deals with an arbitrary number of purchased products, the possibility to buy an identical product in different stores and the consideration of the weight, the amount and the availability of goods as parameters of ISOPwD.
The impact of ISO quality management systems on primary and secondary schools in Spain
Authors: Arribas Díaz Jorge Antonio , Martínez-Mediano Catalina 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the application of quality management systems (QMS) based on international standards of quality in education (ISO 9001:2008) and ascertain the influence of this quality model on primary and secondary schools in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach
The study was conducted in 26 publicly funded, private schools in Spain. The research design was a three-phase, mixed-methods evaluation. In all, 809 teachers answered the main survey questionnaire in Phase 3, which was validated through expert reviews and exploratory factor analysis against two theoretically derived dimensions of quality. The total scores of the two dimensions demonstrated Cronbach’s alpha reliability estimate > 0.95. A discriminant function analysis was applied next to compare three groups of schools based on teachers’ QMS ratings, using students’ achievement and other school quality indicators as predictors.

Findings
The QMS model was perceived to have contributed to improvements in documentation and management through evaluation, continuous improvement processes, the schools’ external image, management of resources and user satisfaction levels. Some of the improvements lasted over time. The schools rated as “high” by teachers on QMS implementation levels had better educational outcomes, as well as user perception and satisfaction levels, as compared to schools rated as “low”. Drawbacks of the QMS model were perceived as high bureaucratic workloads and a top–down management culture.

Practical implications
The findings suggest that ISO standards of QMS can be adopted in primary and secondary education institutions successfully, and that they are suitable for improving schools and educational systems overall.

Originality/value
The study’s originality lies in the demonstrated outcomes of the QMS approach, originally created for industrial environments, in a large Spanish primary and secondary education institution using a three-phase, mixed-methods design.
A philosophical discussion of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research in social science
Authors: Baškarada Saša , Koronios Andy 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
Much of the contemporary methodological literature tends to be self-referential and frequently ignorant of the breadth and depth of philosophical assumptions underpinning various methodological positions. Without a clear understanding of the philosophical underpinnings, logically deriving applicable validity criteria becomes very difficult (if not impossible). As a result, the purpose of this paper is to present a critical review of historical and more recent philosophical arguments for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research in social science.

Design/methodology/approach
A targeted review of seminal philosophy of science papers dealing with ontological and epistemological assumptions of, and relation between, natural and social science.

Findings
The paper highlights the link between ontological/epistemological assumptions and methodological choices in social science. Key differences between the natural and social science are discussed and situated within the main paradigms.

Originality/value
The paper draws attention to a range of difficulties associated with the adoption of the natural sciences and the related positivist approaches as a role model for work in the social sciences. Unique contributions of interpretive and critical approaches are highlighted. The paper may be of value to scholars who are interested in the historical context of the still-ongoing qualitative-quantitative debate.
Fabrication and performance evaluation of two multi-layer passive micromixers
Authors: Chen Xueye , Shen Jienan , Hu Zengliang 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to provide a micromixer for achieving effective mixing of two liquids. The mixing of two liquids is difficult to achieve in microfluidic chips because they cannot form turbulence at small dimensions and velocities.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, four kinds of passive micromixers based on splitting–recombination and chaotic convection are compared. First, a better E-shape mixing unit based on the previous F-shape mixing unit has been designed. Then, the E-shape mixing units are further combined to form three micromixers (i.e. E-mixer, SESM and FESM).FindingsFinally, the mixing experimental results show that the mixing indexes of E-mixer, SESM and FESM are more than those of F-mixer when the Reynolds number range is from 0.5 to 100. And at Re = 15, the lowest mixing index of E-mixer is 71%, which is the highest of the four micromixers.Originality/valueAt Re = 80, the highest mixing index of F-mixer and E-mixer is 92 and 94 per cent, respectively, and then it begins to decrease. But the mixing index of SESM and FESM remains close to 100 per cent.
A review on in-tire sensor systems for tire-road interaction studies
Authors: Xiong Yi , Yang Xiaoguang 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
The aim of this paper is threefold: first, to review the technological state of the art on tire sensor systems; second, to summarize basic methodologies and explore the potential of tire sensing for intelligent vehicle developments and third, to address challenges in the development of tire sensing systems and inspire future research in this field.

Design/methodology/approach
Nowadays, automotive industry is moving toward an intelligent and autonomous driving era with the assistance of sensing technology development, whereas tire-road conditions sensing and utilization are of great interest from the point of view of vehicle dynamics control, vehicle safety and vehicle performance evaluation.

Findings
Tire sensing is an emerging technology whereby sensor systems are installed on the tire to provide fundamental insights into tire-road interactions for ground vehicles and wheel robots. In the past two decades, tire sensing systems based on various sensor types have been proposed to offer the possibility to investigate tire-road interactions.

Originality/value
Instrumenting the tire with sensors, especially accelerometers and optical sensors, can sense the tire-road interactions and enhance the vehicle performance. The harsh environment inside tire cavity requires reliable, accurate, low weight, modularized and inexpensive sensors. Challenges, such as the data transmission, power management, lack of physics-based tire models need to be solved before the tire sensor becomes commercially viable for production vehicles.
Sensing with terahertz radiation: a review of recent progress
Authors: Bogue Robert 
Published: January 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to provide a technical insight into a selection of recent developments and applications involving terahertz sensing technology.

Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction, the first part of this paper considers a selection of research activities involving terahertz radiation sources and detectors. The second part seeks to illustrate how the technology is exerting a commercial impact and discusses a number of product developments and applications.

Findings
Terahertz sensing is a rapidly developing field and a strong body of research seeks to develop sources and detectors with enhanced features which often exploit novel materials, phenomena and technologies. Commercialisation is gathering pace, and a growing number of companies are producing terahertz sensing and imaging products which are finding a diversity of applications.

Originality/value
This provides details of recent research, product developments and applications involving terahertz sensing technology.
Characteristics of destination image: visitors and non-visitors’ images of London
Authors: Stylidis Dimitrios , Cherifi Barbora 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThis paper aims to explore the characteristics (i.e. complex, specific) of destination image as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.Design/methodology/approachOverall, 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Czech and Greek visitors and non-visitors to London, the UK. From the 21 interviews in each country, 11 conducted with visitors and 10 with non-visitors to London.FindingsA number of characteristics of the image of London were identified that differed across visitors and non-visitors, irrespective of respondents’ nationality, including accuracy, specificity, completeness and complexity.Research limitations/implicationsThe characteristics of image of different types of destinations (i.e. rural, seaside resorts) need to be assessed in the future, as this paper focused on a well-known urban destination.Practical implicationsThis paper provides support for effective and innovative solutions to place marketing and branding of tourist destinations. For example, greater complexity and more specific images should be used to attract the repeating visitors market.Originality/valueThe paper’s originality lies in providing a better understanding of the characteristics of destination image, as perceived by visitors and non-visitors to a tourist place.
Increased interleukin‐36γ expression in skin and sera of patients with atopic dermatitis and mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome
Authors: Otobe Sayaka , Sugaya Makoto , Nakajima Rina , Oka Tomonori , Takahashi Naomi , Kabasawa Miyoko , Miyagaki Tomomitsu , Asano Yoshihide , Sato Shinichi 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInterleukin (IL)‐36γ is expressed by keratinocytes and functions as a key initiator of inflammation in the skin. IL‐36γ expression is enhanced by tumor necrosis factor‐α and IL‐17A, having a strong association with psoriasis. In this study, we examined the role of IL‐36γ in atopic dermatitis (AD) and mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sézary syndrome (SS). Serum levels of IL‐36γ in AD patients and MF/SS patients were elevated compared with those of healthy controls. Importantly, serum IL‐36γ levels in AD patients positively correlated with Eczema Area and Severity Index and those of MF/SS patients positively correlated with serum soluble IL‐2 receptor levels. IL‐36γ mRNA levels in AD skin and MF/SS skin were significantly higher than those of normal skin. IL‐36γ mRNA levels in MF/SS skin positively correlated with IL‐17A mRNA levels. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that IL‐36γ was highly expressed in keratinocytes in lesional skin of AD and MF/SS. Taken together, our study demonstrated that IL‐36γ expression was increased in sera and skin of patients with AD and MF/SS as was reported in psoriatic patients.