bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
From Cellular Attractor Selection to Adaptive Signal Control for Traffic Networks
Authors: Tian Daxin , Zhou Jianshan , Sheng Zhengguo , Wang Yunpeng , Ma Jianming 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe management of varying traffic flows essentially depends on signal controls at intersections. However, design an optimal control that considers the dynamic nature of a traffic network and coordinates all intersections simultaneously in a centralized manner is computationally challenging. Inspired by the stable gene expressions of Escherichia coli in response to environmental changes, we explore the robustness and adaptability performance of signalized intersections by incorporating a biological mechanism in their control policies, specifically, the evolution of each intersection is induced by the dynamics governing an adaptive attractor selection in cells. We employ a mathematical model to capture such biological attractor selection and derive a generic, adaptive and distributed control algorithm which is capable of dynamically adapting signal operations for the entire dynamical traffic network. We show that the proposed scheme based on attractor selection can not only promote the balance of traffic loads on each link of the network but also allows the global network to accommodate dynamical traffic demands. Our work demonstrates the potential of bio-inspired intelligence emerging from cells and provides a deep understanding of adaptive attractor selection-based control formation that is useful to support the designs of adaptive optimization and control in other domains.
Linguistic Masking Release in School-Age Children and Adults
Authors: Calandruccio Lauren , Leibold Lori J. , Buss Emily 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
This study assessed if 6- to 8-year-old children benefit from a language mismatch between target and masker speech for sentence recognition in a 2-talker masker.

Method

English sentence recognition was evaluated for English monolingual children (ages 6–8 years,
n
= 15) and adults (
n
= 15) in an English 2-talker and a Spanish 2-talker masker. A regression analysis with subject as a random variable was used to test the fixed effect of listener group and masker language and the interaction of these two effects.

Results
Thresholds were approximately 5 dB higher for children than for adults in both maskers. However, children and adults benefited to the same degree from a mismatch between the target and masker language with approximately 3 dB lower thresholds in the Spanish than the English masker.

Conclusions
Results suggest that children are able to take advantage of linguistic differences between English and Spanish speech maskers to the same degree as adults. Yet, overall worse performance for children may indicate general cognitive immaturity compared with adults, perhaps causing children to be less efficient when combining glimpses of degraded speech information into a meaningful sentence.
Design of a low‐voltage op‐amp‐less ASDM to linearise VCO‐ADC
Authors: Babaie‐Fishani A. , Rombouts P. 
Published: March 2016

A very simple asynchronous sigma delta modulator design for linearisation of VCO ADC's is presented. The circuit only consists of a passive feedback filter and a Schmitt Trigger. By proper sizing, the non‐linearity error can be reduced to well below 0.12% for input signals that go almost rail‐to‐rail. The design has been manufactured in the low power version of TSMC 65 nm technology and was measured at a 1 V power supply.
Exploring decision making style as a predictor of team effectiveness
Authors: Verma Neha , Rangnekar Santosh N , Barua Mukesh Kumar 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to perform organizational team effectiveness analysis and to find out whether decision-making style (DMS) has any association with team effectiveness. Which style most significantly affects the team effectiveness and how this predictive association can be used to improve existing teams as well as to build new effective teams?Design/methodology/approach– The sample includes 231 sample responses of executives from Indian Manufacturing Organizations from both public and private sectors. Two standardized questionnaires are used for data collection. Mainly, SPSS v20.0 was used for data analysis and hypotheses testing. AMOS v20.0 was used for testing the research model based on the supported hypotheses.Findings– Rational DMS is mostly endorsed by the Indian executives. Not all DMSs but rational and avoidant styles independently and interactively are the significant predictors of team effectiveness.Research limitations/implications– The survey method of data collection, cross-sectional research design and consideration of particular DMSs and team effectiveness frameworks are the main limitations of this study. Theoretical as well as practical implications are vested in the results.Practical implications– The study bears significant practical implications for the respondents, practitioners, professionals and academicians in the field of team working. Management development and training activities may be directed based on the findings.Social implications– The study suggests socially acceptable and practicable decision-making behaviors in organizations. It highlights suggestions for improving team effectiveness (TE). Hence, certain social implications are also there.Originality/value– The edge in this research over the previous studies is that earlier scholars, who examined member traits’ impact on TE, did not considered DMS as a predictor of TE. Certain researchers appealed for diagnosing the standard variable to measure the member style. This research is, therefore, unique in its kind as it is a pioneering effort to study the DMS in relation to team effectiveness. The focus on sample of Indian manufacturing executives also bears importance. Moreover, unlike other researches, it focuses on DMS rather than the decision-making process itself.
Public private partnerships and value creation: the role of relationship dynamics
Authors: Panda Debadutta Kumar 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this study is to investigate on what is value and value creation in Public–private partnerships (PPPs)? How coordination and trust among project partners is created in PPPs? In which way coordination and trust among project partners are related to organizational governance and success? How risk management is related to the success or failure of PPP project implementation? How organizational attributes can influence the PPP project implementation?

Design/methodology/approach
– This study was conducted using qualitative research method. In all, 3 Indian PPPs were selected in the first phase, and then, 26 respondents were randomly chosen from the selected PPPs. One-to-one personal discussion was conducted with each respondents using predetermined set of questions. The responses were transcribed, and similar ideas were clustered together across the thematic research questions and themes. Subsequently, interlinking of themes and ideas was done through inductive reasoning and represented in the form of a causal relationship.

Findings
– The study found that the importance of trust and confidence among project partners; organizational attributes (system, structure and style, process) of partner organizations; and the risk reduction and control in the PPP project company have influenced the relationship dynamics among project partners.

Originality/value
– This study encourages future researchers to empirically test the possibility of existence of mediating and moderating effects in the link between value creation and contract management in PPPs. A structural framework was derived, which is expected to provide momentum for theoretical exploration and empirical verification.
Is it social marketing? The benchmarks meet the social marketing indicator
Authors: Wettstein Dominic , Suggs L. Suzanne 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– This paper aims to describe the comparison of two tools in assessing social marketing campaigns.Design/methodology/approach– Using data collected from the campaign planners of 31 alcohol misuse prevention campaigns, two tools were compared; the Social Marketing Indicator (SMI) and Andreasen’s Benchmark Criteria.Findings– In the case of the benchmarks, 26 per cent of the campaigns fulfilled four or more criteria and no criterion was fulfilled by more than 70 per cent. The main differences between current practices and social marketing are the often-missing segmentation and an explicit exchange. The SMI found a lower degree of resemblance between current practices and social marketing. In this case, the major differences lie in the use of behavioral theory and the absence of an exchange.Research limitations/implications– The SMI allows a more precise description of an intervention. This represents an advantage, as a campaign’s resemblance to social marketing can be reported by directly pointing out the process steps that make the difference. This is important for understanding the research evidence base in social marketing.Practical implications– Although the benchmark criteria are based on a conceptual approach, the SMI is built around a core procedure. The SMI can thus help program planners from the onset of a project to make sure they do social marketing as it is defined.Originality/value– This is the first empirical test comparing a new tool against the well-established, frequently critiqued, Benchmark Criteria, in gauging “social marketing” practice in health campaigns.
Instilling affective commitment: insights on what makes knowledge workers want to stay
Authors: Jayasingam Sharmila , Govindasamy Muhiniswari , Garib Singh Sharan Kaur 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– This study aims to examine factors that may influence affective organizational commitment among knowledge workers. The five final factors considered in this study include knowledge-sharing culture, autonomy, workplace value identity, promotion practices and, finally, management support. Gender was included as the moderator for the aforementioned relationships.Design/methodology/approach– A sample of 522 knowledge workers from manufacturing, retail and service sector anonymously completed a structured questionnaire that included measures of the variables of this study. Hierarchical regression was used to test the hypotheses.Findings– The findings provide evidence on the possible factors that organizations need to focus on and improvise to ensure the “want to remain in the organization” sentiment is enhanced among knowledge workers. Workplace value identity and knowledge-sharing culture were identified as the pertinent factors in influencing affective commitment. Gender was found to moderate the relationship between unfair promotion practice, knowledge-sharing culture and affective commitment.Research limitations/implications– One obvious limitation is that the sample of this study is sourced from a pool of knowledge workers. This limits our ability to conduct a comparative analysis with non-knowledge workers. Hence, future research could expand the model of this study to compare these relationships among knowledge and non-knowledge worker.Practical implications– Understanding the impact of these factors in a knowledge-based context helps firms prioritize and focus on important factors that can improve the level of affective commitment among knowledge workers. Doing so facilitates knowledge retention and prevents loss of knowledge.Originality/value– From a knowledge-based view, this paper identified factors that play an important role in retaining knowledge workers through enhanced affective commitment. With the changing workforce, the findings of this study show how knowledge-sharing culture and achievement orientation dominate affective commitment in a knowledge-based context.
Development of a financial literacy model for university students
Authors: Potrich Ani Caroline Grigion , Vieira Kelmara Mendes , Mendes-Da-Silva Wesley 
Published: March 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to build and compare models that assess university students’ financial literacy. Financial literacy, understood as the mastery of a set of knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, has assumed a fundamental role in allowing and enabling people to make responsible decisions as they strive to attain financial wellbeing. To this end, models that integrate financial knowledge, behavior and attitude are integrated. The models are subsequently estimated, and many comparative tests are performed.Design/methodology/approach– The study investigated a random sample of 534 university students attending public and private universities in southern Brazil. The choice of scale was based on consideration of the best adjustment for the Brazilian context, appropriate translation and content validation. For an analysis of the collected data, structural equation modeling was employed using two strategies.Findings– The findings indicate that, in the model estimation stage, the scales for behavior and attitude have been reduced. Among all of the models estimated, the best adjusted model indicates that financial knowledge and financial attitude have positive impacts on financial behavior.Research limitations/implications– The results are not generalizable to the wider population; to enable such generalization, different profiles should be researched using a larger sample. In practical terms, the financial behavior of Brazilian university students expresses the ability to establish long-term aims and saving aimed at future acquisitions and unexpected spending. This behavior is directly influenced by basic and advanced questions of financial knowledge and also by the importance attributed to attitude by establishing aims, control of spending and financial reserves.Originality/value– This paper describes a pioneer study with respect to modeling financial literacy in Brazil. This topic can be improved as the need for rigorous evaluation of financial literacy grows at the same speed as the creation of more complex financial products.
User difficulties working with a business classification scheme: a case study
Authors: Ifould Peta , Joseph Pauline 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to provide a unique perspective into user difficulties working with the functional business classification scheme (BCS) to register, search and retrieve corporate information at the Western Australia Police (WA Police).

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper is a single case study. Questionnaire and interview data were collected and analysed from a sample of ten EDRMS users on their perspectives of working with the BCS. An interpretive analysis methodology was used, and inductive reasoning was used for thematic analysis and sense making of the textual data from the transcripts.

Findings
– Although the research participants were confident working with the BCS, they reported difficulties finding an appropriate folder that matched the information to be classified and deciding where to file the information. Participants reported that the design and structure of the BCS and training were identified as areas needing improvement.

Research limitations/implications
– Paradigm shifts in the record-keeping role from the professional to the user may have some bearing on the difficulties users face when dealing with their record-keeping responsibilities. The participants provided comments and suggestions for how to make the BCS more user-friendly, more meaningful and more aligned to the business processes of the users that are practicable and workable solutions for the records professionals to implement.

Practical implications
– This paper provides a unique user perspective of a BCS, their difficulties working with it and how these difficulties can be resolved in a government organisation.

Originality/value
– This paper provides a unique user perspective of a BCS, their difficulties working with it and how these difficulties can be resolved in a government organisation.
Examining factors affecting the adoption and usage of document workflow management system (DWMS) using the UTAUT model
Authors: Mosweu Olefhile , Bwalya Kelvin , Mutshewa Athulang 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– Public sector organisations in the developing world contexts have hugely invested in procuring information management systems such as the electronic document and records management system (EDRMS). The procurement and implementation of these systems come at a huge cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, most of these systems remain white elephants due to reluctance by the anticipated users to adopt and use them in their information management endeavours. This study aims to understand Action Officers’ perceptions of, adoption and/or usage of the document workflow management system (DWMS) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Botswana. The DWMS is one type of EDRMS.

Design/methodology/approach
– The survey uses a questionnaire distributed in Gaborone, Botswana to gather data on the perceptions of anticipated users of the DWMS. The study used a modified form of UTAUT as a theoretical lens to explore user’s perception on the adoption and use of DWMS at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Botswana. The population of the study was 68. A total of 53 (86.89 per cent) out of 61 users of DWMS were purposively sampled and responded to the questionnaire. The rest took part in interviews.

Findings
– Negative attitudes to computers, computer anxiety, the complexity of DWMS and its incompatibility to current working practices influences Action and Records Officers’ unwillingness to adopt and use the DWMS.

Research limitations/implications
– This study was limited to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)’s Department of Corporate Services, so its findings cannot be statistically generalized to the MTI as a whole. Another limitation relates to the secretive nature of staff in some government departments which lead them to provide partial information related to the study. Finally, the additional technology adoption factors discovered from interviews (i.e. computer anxiety, incompatibility of DWMS to current work practices, negative attitudes to system use and complexity of the system) have not been empirically tested to ascertain their validity. This provides an opportunity for a future study to empirically test the said additional factors.

Practical implications
– To mitigate the lower DWMS adoption and usage, robust change management and communication were identified as some of the critical factors that should be considered. The identified factors may be used in drafting a model to aid the implementation of DWMS in Botswana or in a contextually similar environment in the developing world.

Originality/value
– This study provides empirical evidence from an original study.
Procurement records compliance, effective risk management and records management performance
Authors: Tumuhairwe Ronald , Ahimbisibwe Arthur 
Published: March 2016

Purpose
– Procurement records are critical for the effective execution of the procurement process and have been applied as tools to measure compliance and performance of Public Procuring and Disposing Entities (PDEs) by the regulating authority in Uganda – the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA). However, the state of records in various Ugandan PDEs depicts poor records management. This situation has adversely affected the effective creation, usage and storage of public procurement records. This compromises the value and importance of records within the procurement process, with most documents being unavailable and unreliable. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between procurement records compliance, effective risk management and records management performance in Ugandan PDEs.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study adopted a quantitative research design and used a cross-sectional survey. The researchers developed a questionnaire on the study constructs of procurement records compliance, effective risk management and records management performance using measurement scales derived from previous empirical studies which were modified to suit the current study.

Findings
– The results indicate quantitative evidence of significant positive relationships between procurement records compliance, effective risk management and records management performance. Findings also reveal that procurement records compliance and effective risk management are significant predictors of record management performance. The results also suggest that effective risk management has a stronger influence on records management performance than that on procurement records compliance.

Research limitations/implications
– The study context is sub-Saharan Africa, and the findings are, therefore, limited to that context; they reflect existing knowledge in other contexts. The use of a standard questionnaire limited the ability to collect views about information outside the questions asked. The study was only cross-sectional, and the study variables could not be analyzed over a long time. Common methods bias remains a potential threat; future studies should use different source data.

Practical implications
– Custodians of procurement records, that is, procurement officers, records officers and accounting officers for Ugandan PDEs need to pay special attention to prevailing records laws and policies to minimize risks associated with the poor management of records, as well as improve performance in the management of records creation, storage, retrieval, access and the preservation of vital records.

Originality/value
– The study contributes to an important area which has not been given attention in the context of sub-Saharan Africa, especially Uganda where there is a difficulty of linking the value of records management to business processes due to a lack of quantitative evidence.
Anti‐signal recognition particle antibody‐positive polymyositis in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome showing various types of annular erythema: Positive correlation between the activities of annular erythema and myositis
Authors: Kabuto Miho , Fujimoto Noriki , Hamaguchi Yasuhito , Tanaka Toshihiro 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAnnular erythema with Sjögren's syndrome (AESS) is occasionally found, especially in Asian patients, which is classified into three types. We present a case of Sjögren's syndrome showing various types of AESS with anti‐signal recognition particle antibody‐positive polymyositis. We successfully treated the eruption and myositis with a low dose of prednisolone. Every onset of annular erythema coincided with elevation of serum creatine kinase levels, which suggests the correlation between the activities of annular erythema and polymyositis.