bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non-iterative object detection methods in electrical tomography for robotic applications
Authors: Mühlbacher-Karrer Stephan , Padilha Leitzke Juliana , Faller Lisa-Marie , Zangl Hubert 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the usability of the non-iterative monotonicity approach for electrical capacitance tomography (ECT)-based object detection. This is of particular importance with respect to object detection in robotic applications.

Design/methodology/approach
With respect to the detection problem, the authors propose a precomputed threshold value for the exclusion test to speed up the algorithm. Furthermore, they show that the use of an inhomogeneous split-up strategy of the region of interest (ROI) improves the performance of the object detection.

Findings
The proposed split-up strategy enables to use the monotonicity approach for robotic applications, where the spatial placement of the electrodes is constrained to a planar geometry. Additionally, owing to the improvements in the exclusion tests, the selection of subregions in the ROI allows for avoiding self-detection. Furthermore, the computational costs of the algorithm are reduced owing to the use of a predefined threshold, while the detection capabilities are not significantly influenced.

Originality/value
The presented simulation results show that the adapted split-up strategies for the ROI improve significantly the detection performance in comparison to the traditional ROI split-up strategy. Thus, the monotonicity approach becomes applicable for ECT-based object detection for applications, where only a reduced number of electrodes with constrained spatial placement can be used, such as in robotics.
Frequency dependent resistance calculation of multiple conductors
Authors: Župan Tomislav , Trkulja Bojan 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a method for calculating frequency-dependent resistance when multiple current-carrying conductors are present.

Design/methodology/approach
Analytical and numerical formulations are presented. Both skin- and proximity-effects are considered in the numerical approach, whereas only skin-effect can be taken into account in analytical equations. The calculation is done using a self-developed integral equation-based field solver. The results are benchmarked using professional software based on the finite element method (FEM).

Findings
Results from the numerical approach are in agreement with FEM-based software throughout the whole frequency range. Analytical formulations yield unsatisfactory results in higher frequency range. When multiple conductors are mutually relatively close, the proximity-effect has an impact on effective resistance and has to be taken into account.

Research limitations/implications
The methodology is presented using axially symmetrical conductors. However, the same procedure can be developed for straight conductors as well.

Practical implications
Presented fast and stable procedure can be used in most electromagnetic devices when frequency-dependent resistance needs to be precisely determined.

Originality/value
The value of the presented numerical methodology lies in its ability to take both skin- and proximity-effects into account. As conductors are densely packed in most electromagnetic devices, both effects influence the effective resistance. The method can be easily implemented using a self-developed solver and yields satisfactory results.
Rigorous time-domain analysis of statistically oriented graphene sheet fluctuations
Authors: Papadimopoulos Athanasios N. , Amanatiadis Stamatios A. , Kantartzis Nikolaos V. , Zygiridis Theodoros T. , Tsiboukis Theodoros D. 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
Important statistical variations are likely to appear in the propagation of surface plasmon polariton waves atop the surface of graphene sheets, degrading the expected performance of real-life THz applications. This paper aims to introduce an efficient numerical algorithm that is able to accurately and rapidly predict the influence of material-based uncertainties for diverse graphene configurations.

Design/methodology/approach
Initially, the surface conductivity of graphene is described at the far infrared spectrum and the uncertainties of its main parameters, namely, the chemical potential and the relaxation time, on the propagation properties of the surface waves are investigated, unveiling a considerable impact. Furthermore, the demanding two-dimensional material is numerically modeled as a surface boundary through a frequency-dependent finite-difference time-domain scheme, while a robust stochastic realization is accordingly developed.

Findings
The mean value and standard deviation of the propagating surface waves are extracted through a single-pass simulation in contrast to the laborious Monte Carlo technique, proving the accomplished high efficiency. Moreover, numerical results, including graphene’s surface current density and electric field distribution, indicate the notable precision, stability and convergence of the new graphene-based stochastic time-domain method in terms of the mean value and the order of magnitude of the standard deviation.

Originality/value
The combined uncertainties of the main parameters in graphene layers are modeled through a high-performance stochastic numerical algorithm, based on the finite-difference time-domain method. The significant accuracy of the numerical results, compared to the cumbersome Monte Carlo analysis, renders the featured technique a flexible computational tool that is able to enhance the design of graphene THz devices due to the uncertainty prediction.
Cannabis and psychosis: the impact of polydrug use
Authors: Shevlin Mark , McElroy Eoin , Murphy Jamie , Hyland Philip , Vallieres Frédérique , Elklit Ask , Christoffersen Mogens 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
While research has consistently identified an association between cannabis use and psychosis, few studies have examined this relationship in a polydrug context (i.e. combining cannabis with other illicit substances). The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach
The present study sought to examine the association between recreational drug use (cannabis only vs polydrug) and psychotic disorders. Analysis was conducted on a large, representative survey of young Danish people aged 24 (n=4,718). Participants completed self-report measures of lifetime drug use and this information was linked to the Danish psychiatric registry system.

Findings
Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between drug use (no drug use, cannabis only, cannabis and other drug) and ICD-10 psychotic disorders, while controlling for gender and parental history of psychosis. Compared with no drug use, the use of cannabis only did not increase the risk of psychosis while the odds ratio for cannabis and other drug were statistically significant.

Research limitations/implications
Psychosis risk may be associated with the cumulative effect of polydrug use.

Practical implications
Cannabis use may be a proxy for other drug use in research studies.

Originality/value
This study is innovative as it uses linked self-report and administrative data for a large sample. Administrative data were used to as an objective mental health status indicator.
Heroin-induced toxic leukoencephalopathy – “chasing the dragon” in South Africa
Authors: Schutte Clara Maria , Sasikumar Sunayna , Nchoe Keorapetse , Kakaza Mandisa , Ueckermann Veronica , Van der Meyden Cornelius H. 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
In South Africa, many illicit drugs have only recently been introduced and drug-related complications are often new to treating physicians. Heroin-induced leukoencephalopathy has been reported elsewhere in patients who inhale heated heroin vapors, a method known as “chasing the dragon.” The purpose of this paper is to present two patients, known to have inhaled heroin a few weeks prior to presenting with progressive neurological deficits.

Design/methodology/approach
Case presentations: two young males presented independently within eight weeks of one another with progressive slurring of speech, incoordination and weakness of the limbs over a period of two to three weeks. Both were known heroin addicts, and were known to one another, and both had inhaled heroin prior to the onset of symptoms.

Findings
The patients presented with a pancerebellar syndrome with marked bilateral upper motor neuron signs. CT scans showed diffuse symmetrical hypodense lesions involving the cerebral and cerebellar white matter with normal CSF. Both patients deteriorated neurologically, became cardiovascularly unstable and demised. Postmortem in one of the patients showed a prominent spongiform leukoencephalopathy consistent with reports of heroin-inhalation injury to the brain.

Research limitations/implications
Toxic leukoencephalopathy due to heroin vapor inhalation was first described in the Netherlands in 1982. It has not been reported to occur with other modes of heroin use; an unknown toxin contained in heroin pyrolysate which forms when heroin is heated, may be causative. Brain MRI typically shows diffuse, symmetrical white matter hyperintensities on T2 and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences in the cerebellum, posterior cerebrum and posterior limbs of the internal capsule with a posterior-anterior gradient. Pathologically, spongiform degeneration with relative sparing of subcortical U-fibers is seen. No treatment has been proven effective, but antioxidants and Vitamin E may be beneficial. Mortality is high at 23-48 percent.

Practical implications
This report emphasizes that spongiform leukoencephalopathy as a rare consequence of inhaling heroin vapors does occur in South Africa and clinicians should consider this disorder in their differential diagnosis of acutely developing leukoencephalopathy.

Social implications
An awareness program regarding this grave condition is planned.

Originality/value
The cardiovascular complications of patients inhaling heroin vapor has not been highlighted previously. These are the first patients from Africa described with this condition. A toxic component appears likely.
Gender-specific human capital: identification and quantifying its wage effects
Authors: Tverdostup Maryna , Paas Tiiu 
Published: July 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to better understand the possible reasons behind gender pay disparities, focussing on the unique features of male and female human capital and their wage returns. Despite increasing convergence of male and female human capital attainments, substantial differences remain. Extraction of human capital components non-overlapping across genders provides more profound explanation of the unexplained wage gap of men and women.Design/methodology/approachStarting with the non-parametric matching-based decomposition technique, the authors extend the pay gap estimation framework and focus on males and females having no counterpart in a set of characteristics within the opposite gender. The authors identify gender-unique human capital in terms of differences in distribution of individual characteristics across men and women and gender-specific combination of human capital characteristics. Wage returns to gender-specific profiles are evaluated applying wage regression on both full distribution of earnings and wage quantiles. The research relies on the Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) database for Estonia, which incorporates both formal education and cognitive skill records.FindingsThe study identifies sets of characteristics and competencies exclusive for both genders, proving that male and female profiles cannot be directly compared. The results suggest that men possess high individual and combined abilities in numeracy and problem solving in technology-rich environment, not always reached by females. This potentiates men’s higher earnings in spite of their generally lower formal educational attainments. Wage gap analysis over the full distribution of earnings shows even larger “glass ceiling” effect for females, possessing woman-specific human capital.Originality/valueThe authors raise a research from a novel perspective towards a role of human capital in gender wage inequality. Instead of usual reference to observable gaps in male and female characteristics, the authors identify the gender-specific human capital profiles, to a large extent non-reached by the opposite gender. Analysed associations between gender-specific characteristics and earnings provide an insight to possible effects of gender-unique human capital on a male-female wage disparity.
Business cooperatives: when does sharing become a drawback?
Authors: Roux Benoît , Plé Loïc 
Published: July 2017

PurposeCooperatives are relatively understudied compared with investor-owned companies, yet their economic impact makes them important to consider. This study is to focus on business cooperatives that gather firms or entrepreneurs that share the same social and economic motivations and need to ally to grow. The positive and negative consequences of membership on the members’ business models are detailed. Insights to address and prevent the detrimental influences of membership on members’ business model are provided.Design/methodology/approachThis conceptual study relies on several business cases to suggest that cooperative membership comes with positive and detrimental consequences for the three dimensions of members’ business models: their organization, resources and competences and value propositions (i.e. members’ offers).FindingsBecause organization, resources and competences, and value propositions are affected by membership in a cooperative, business members’ control over their own business models may diminish. This can offer positive consequences but may also be too constraining and harmful in the long term.Research limitations/implicationsOnly scant research has investigated the influence of cooperatives on members’ business models. Further studies could help firms and entrepreneurs maximize the advantages of their membership in cooperatives while limiting the detrimental consequences over time.Practical implicationsIf they are aware of the potential drawbacks of business cooperative membership, members can implement proactive efforts to avoid losing control of their business models.Originality/valuePrior literature mainly concentrates on how cooperatives work and develop. No prior study seems to have investigated the consequences of cooperatives’ membership on members’ business models.
Intellectual capital disclosures in an emerging economy: status and trends
Authors: Sharma Sarishma , Dharni Khushdeep 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the status and trend of intellectual capital disclosures by selected companies in India. Three categories of intellectual capital disclosures across six industry groups were measured. The relation of the three categories of disclosures, i.e. human capital, relational capital and structural capital disclosures with the measures of organisational performance such as sales, R&D, R&D intensity, net profit and export intensity has also been studied.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on National Industrial Classification 2008, six sectors, namely pharmaceutical, basic metals, industrial manufacturing, energy, financial services and information technology were included in the study and 20 companies were selected from each sector based on the availability of data from 2004-2005 to 2013-2014, thus, making a sample of 1,200 firm-years. For collecting the data, a list of keywords related to various dimensions of intellectual capital was prepared and the count of keywords was searched in the annual reports of the companies.

Findings
Significant and positive trend coefficients were found in the majority of the sectors. Analysis revealed that trend coefficients differed across various sectors indicating the presence of sector specificity. Results of trend analysis reveal that structural capital-related disclosures have stagnated in case of pharmaceutical sector after hitting the peak. Significant variations were found across sectors in terms of all three types of intellectual capital disclosures. Results of study empirically support the fact that intellectual capital disclosures tend to increase with size of the organisation.

Research limitations/implications
As data have been collected from annual reports of the companies, the accuracy of the findings is limited to the accuracy of the reported data.

Originality/value
The study is an original piece of work. This study provides an insight into the disclosure trend of intellectual capital in an emerging economy.
Enhancing radical innovation performance through intellectual capital components
Authors: Agostini Lara , Nosella Anna 
Published: July 2017

PurposeIn today’s knowledge economy the ability to innovate and develop new products is a key factor to sustain firm performance. Within this context, analysing the role of different components of intellectual capital (IC) becomes of foremost importance, as well as an under-investigated issue for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of human, organisational and relational capital (RC) on radical innovation performance (RIP), as well as to examine whether organisational capital (OC) and RC mediate the relationship between human capital (HC) and RIP and whether OC moderates the relationship between RC and RIP.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology consisted of a factor analysis and different regression models to test for mediation and moderation. The analyses are carried out on a sample of 150 micro firms and SMEs involved in the production of machinery or instruments and located in Italy.FindingsResults show that HC is directly associated to RIP, as well as OC and RC that totally mediate the relationship between HC and RIP. Moreover, OC positively moderates the relationship between RC and RIP.Originality/valueThis study is particularly interesting because it adopts an overarching perspective on IC testing the interplay between the different components of IC. In addition, it focusses on the SME context which is under-investigated as far as IC and performance measurement is concerned.
Balanced scorecard in higher education institutions
Authors: Reda Nigusse W. 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to highlight the congruence and roles of the balanced scorecard in the quality assurance practices in higher education institutions, and second, to propose a balanced scorecard model for higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive literature review was used to understand the balanced scorecard, quality assurance practice (System model) and characteristics of the higher education institutions.

Findings
Used appropriately, the philosophical tenets of the perspectives of the balanced scorecard seem to be congruent with the input, process and output dimensions of quality assurance practices. Thus, if the core functions of higher education are explicitly represented in each perspective, the balanced scorecard seems important for materializing the input, process and output dimensions of quality assurance in higher education institutions. It may help to track and measure the status of higher education institutions in each quality assurance dimension and ultimately help to align each dimension with the university’s vision.

Research limitations/implications
The paper relied on the description of previous literature. Therefore, as it did not depend on the empirical evidences, the conclusions derived in the paper are more argumentative.

Practical implications
The paper will add an input to the ongoing discussions on the applications of the balanced scorecard to higher education institutions. Moreover, the proposed model of the balanced scorecard may help higher education managers to assess the performances of higher education institutions and their academic disciplines according to their areas of excellence.

Originality/value
This paper attempts to undertake a literature review on the balanced scorecard and its roles to the quality assurance practices in higher education. In addition, the congruence between the balanced scorecard and the contemporary characteristics of the higher education institutions is also explored.
Accreditation of Viet Nam’s higher education
Authors: Nguyen Huu Cuong , Evers Colin , Marshall Stephen 
Published: July 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the development of Viet Nam’s approach to higher education quality assurance during the past dozen years since its establishment, focusing on the achievements and challenges.

Design/methodology/approach
This is a desktop analysis study. The paper analyses the policies and practices related to the development of Viet Nam’s higher education accreditation system by reviewing associated literature.

Findings
The research has found out that there are several achievements, including: the development of the accreditation framework; establishment of accrediting agencies; completion of almost universities’ self-assessment reports; implementation of external assessment exercise at some institutions, a few of which were awarded accreditation certificates. However, there remain a number of challenges related to the independence of the accrediting agencies, human resources, accreditation standards and criteria, institutions’ awareness about accreditation and the pace of accreditation implementation.

Research limitations/implications
The primary limitation of this study is the research methodology which merely relies on document analysis. It would be more credible if the findings could be triangulated with data taken from other sources such as interviews with key stakeholders.

Originality/value
On the basis of the analysis of achievements and challenges at both macro and micro levels, discussion and recommendations are made for future policy-making and management in the field of higher education accreditation.
Three‐year experience with interventional neuroradiology for management of cerebral aneurysms at a single Australian centre
Authors: McLaughlin Aden , Rice Hal , de Viliers Laetitia , Withers Teresa , Pearson David , Arnell Moira , Walters Kerin , Czuchwicki Sarah , Bulmer Andrew , Winearls James 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionOver the last decade interventional neuroradiology (NR) has become the mainstay of managing cerebral aneurysms. The aim of our study was to review our growing experiences with interventional NR and quantify morbidity and mortality associated with these procedures.MethodsThe electronic medical records of all patients admitted to the Gold Coast (University) Hospital Intensive Care Unit following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) or elective interventional NR management of cerebral aneurysms between January 2012 and December 2014 were retrieved. Primary outcomes of interest were death, thromboembolic and haemorrhagic events during hospital admission.ResultsOne hundred and fifty‐two patients underwent interventional NR procedures for cerebral aneurysms. This consisted of 92 (60.5%) elective cases and 60 (39.5%) emergency cases following SAH. The all‐cause mortality rate and the rate of thromboembolic and haemorrhagic events for the entire cohort were 5.9%, 11.2% and 7.2% respectively. Intra‐procedural complications occurred in 6.6% of the entire cohort. Median length of follow‐up was 448 days, with 91.6% of the entire cohort followed up. At follow‐up, 64.1% of patients had no neurological deficits, 29% had mild non‐specific deficits and 6.9% had significant disability.ConclusionsInterventional NR represents the primary treatment modality for all patients presenting to our service with cerebral aneurysm. Our results are encouraging and are comparable to published data in the international literature. Reducing the burden of thromboembolism in patients undergoing endovascular treatment of their aneurysmal disease is our main research focus currently, and we aim to improve outcomes for this patient group.