bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cross-border quality assurance: case study of Hong Kong and Macao
Authors: Fearnside Robert , Chung Kathy 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to set out the experience of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) in carrying out cross-border quality assurance (QA) in Macao.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on case studies of two very different QA exercises conducted by HKCAAVQ in Macao in 2015 and 2016. The first was a program accreditation conducted as part of a pilot of the external QA standards and process developed by the Macao Government’s Tertiary Education Services Office (GAES) for potential use by all higher education institutions (HEIs) in Macao. The second was a learning program review (LPR) conducted by HKCAAVQ following a request by a HEI in Macao using QA standards and processes developed by HKCAAVQ.

Findings
The key findings from the case studies are that an agency engaging in cross-border QA needs to have a clear rationale for their engagement, ensure that they are “fit-for-purpose” in terms of the context of the employing jurisdiction and the expectations of their HEIs and have a clear understanding of the relevant legal framework.

Originality/value
Cross-border QA is likely to grow in importance and activity in the coming years. The example of Macao provides a useful reference point for governments, HEIs and external quality assurance agency considering engaging in cross-border QA activities.
Understanding regionalisation in Philippine higher education
Authors: Albia Joclarisse Espiritu , Chan Sheng-Ju 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
Regionalisation in education has gained increased interest and importance because of the increasing collaborations among neighbouring nations. Definitions of the term vary, and more so the regionalisation practices and initiatives of higher educational institutions. In the Philippines, the emphasis on regionalisation has become even more pronounced with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration Vision. This vision of the ASEAN is geared towards enhancing regional collaboration and the creation of an ASEAN identity and puts education at the forefront, considering it as a strategic objective to achieve the region’s development agenda of economic, social and cultural growth. It becomes of paramount importance then to examine how regionalisation in education is understood by university constituents, its manifestations in terms of institutional activities and especially, how the ASEAN Integration shapes these initiatives and constructions of regionalisation. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a multiple case study design that looked at three higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines, this study found that regionalisation is associated and interchanged with internationalisation in terms of purpose, goal and activities, but is differentiated in dimensions of geographical location and orientation.

Findings
Institutional initiatives pertaining to regionalisation were largely functional and mostly open and soft collaborations. The ASEAN Integration creates an ASEAN-centric consciousness, and functions as an opportunity for expanding partnerships, institutional niches and programmatic initiatives; and for legitimising regionalisation and internationalisation goals.

Originality/value
These definitions and approaches to regionalisation have significant policy implications as HEIs strive to respond to the challenges of the Integration.
Improving backdrivability in preoperative manual manipulability of minimally invasive surgery robot
Authors: Zou Shuizhong , Pan Bo , Fu Yili , Guo Shuixiang 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a control algorithm to improve the backdrivability performance of minimally invasive surgical robotic arms, so that precise manual manipulations of robotic arms can be performed in the preoperative operation.

Design/methodology/approach
First, the flexible-joint dynamic model of the 3-degree of freedom remote center motion (RCM) mechanisms of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) robot is derived and its dynamic parameters and friction parameters are identified. Next, the angular velocities and angular accelerations of joints are estimated in real time by the designed Kalman filter. Finally, a control algorithm based on Kalman filter is proposed to enhance the backdrivability of RCM mechanisms by compensating for the internally generated gravitational, frictional and inertial resistances experienced during the positioning and orientating.

Findings
The parameter identification for RCM mechanisms can be experimentally evaluated from comparison between the measured torques and the reconstructed torques. The accuracy and convergence of the real-time estimation of angular velocity and acceleration of the joint by the designed Kalman filter can be verified from corresponding simulation experiments. Manual adjustment experiments and animal experiments validate the effectiveness of the proposed backdrivability control algorithm.

Research limitations/implications
The backdrivability control algorithm presented in this paper is a universal method to enhance the manual operation performance of robots, which can be used not only in the medical robot preoperative manual manipulation but also in robot haptic interaction, industrial robot direct teaching and active rehabilitation training of rehabilitation robot and so on.

Originality/value
Compared with other backdrivability design methods, the proposed algorithm achieves good backdrivability for RCM mechanisms without using force sensors and accelerometers. In addition, this paper presents a new static friction compensation approach for a joint moving with very low velocity.
State estimation of a robot joint by a novel nonlinear tracking differentiator
Authors: Tu Xiao , Zhou Yunfei , Zhao Pu , Cheng Xin 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
This paper aims to present a method for improving the state estimation of a robot in the presence of noise measurement, which can improve the performance of the robot controller.

Design/methodology/approach
In this work, a novel nonlinear tracking differentiator (NTD) was formulated to solve the problems of phase lag, low stability and amplitude attenuation faced by traditional tracking differentiators, which can be used for the state estimation of a robot. Based on the user-defined function stu() with linear and nonlinear characteristics, the authors establish a new acceleration function of NTD and confirm its global asymptotic stability by using the Lyapunov method and the system equivalence method. Phase plane analysis shows that the origin is its stable nodal point or focus point and uncovers the basic constraint conditions for parameter regulation. In addition, the convergence property and robustness performance against noises are studied by describing function method.

Findings
Comparative simulations, robot state estimation experiments and joint trajectory tracking experiments have indicated that NTD proposed integrates tracking rapidness, accuracy and transitional stability and has high approximation and filtering effects on generalized derivatives of the signal, which contribute to an excellent performance of robot controller in stability and response speed in practice.

Originality/value
The main contribution of this paper lies in the design of a novel NTD, which successfully improves the state estimation of a robot joint in noisy surroundings, the tracking performance of robot controller and the stability of the system.
Institutional forces on Australian halal meat supply chain (AHMSC) operations
Authors: Zulfakar Mohd Hafiz , Chan Caroline , Jie Ferry 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of institutional forces in shaping the operations of halal meat supply chain in Australia, one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of halal meat. This research examines how the halal meat production requirements are fulfilled and maintained throughout the supply chain in a non-Muslim-majority country.

Design/methodology/approach
The research uses a single-case study approach and uses semi-structured interviews as the primary method of data collection. It considers the perspectives of various stakeholder groups in the Australian halal meat supply chain (AHMSC). In all, 31 participants have participated in this research.

Findings
The findings show that institutional forces, especially which come through coercive forces, do affect and shape the overall operations of the AHMSC in particularly the way the stakeholders act within the supply chain, particularly in their role in ensuring the protection of halal status or halal integrity of the meat.

Practical implications
This paper suggests that the integrity of halal meat supply chain management operations in a non-Muslim-majority environment can be protected with heavy involvement from the relevant authorities, i.e. the federal government agency and the halal certifiers. With the implementation of specific halal meat production policy, i.e. Australian Government Authorised Halal Program, all parties dealing with the halal meat production for export purpose are obliged to fulfil the religious and food safety requirements, thus providing the necessary assurance for halal meat consumers, especially from the Muslim communities.

Originality/value
This paper is one of the first to provide insights of halal meat supply chain operations in a non-Muslim-majority environment. This paper also took in account various stakeholder groups that were involved directly with halal meat supply chain operations in Australia rather than focusing on a single stakeholder group which gives a better understanding of the whole supply chain operations.
Determinants of halal purchasing intentions: evidences from UK
Authors: Elseidi Reham I. 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
This study aims to explore the perceptions of Arabian Muslim consumers about halal food products and to investigate their behaviour towards halal-labelled food products in UK mainstream supermarkets using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). The role of Islamic religiosity and consumers’ confidence regarding the halal logo as moderating factors is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data were collected through distributed 400 questionnaires in Scotland, mainly to Muslim consumers who come from different Arabian countries and are currently living in Scotland.

Findings
The results show that the TPB is a valid model for predicting Muslim consumers’ intention to purchase halal-labelled food products. The findings reveal that for consumers with high and low Islamic religiosity, subjective norms are the most influential determinants of their intention to purchase halal-labelled food products.

Research limitations/implications
Limitations include the focus on only Arabian Muslim consumers within an ethnic minority population living in Scotland, and the use of convenience and snowball sampling.

Practical implications
The findings could be useful for halal industry food makers to better serve their customers through sophisticated marketing strategies.

Originality/value
This study extends understanding of consumers’ halal-labelled food purchasing behaviour using TPB to determining the rationales for purchasing halal foods from mainstream UK supermarkets. Unlike others studies, this study used Islamic religiosity instead of self-identity (being a Muslim) as a moderating factor.
Australia’s cognitive, affective and conative destination image: an Emirati tourist perspective
Authors: Michael Noela , James Reynold , Michael Ian 
Published: December 2017

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand the destination image perceptions about Australia – a Western culture country – as held by the rapidly increasing, high spending, culturally dissimilar new segment of travellers, the Emiratis[1] from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Design/methodology/approachA qualitative methodology was used to understand the cognitive, affective and conative images of Australia. A structured categorisation matrix was used to analyse the data so that only aspects fitting the matrix were selected.FindingsWithin the cognitive variable, Australia was found to be pleasant, family oriented, a fun place, laid back and the local people friendly. From an affective factor perspective, Australia was seen as being exciting, because of the variety of activities available for these tourists. Exciting was expressed by words like fantastic, amazing and extreme experience. In terms of the conative variable most of the Emirati tourists expressed strong feelings to go back to Australia and to even re-visit with friends. They also mentioned that they would recommend Australia to family and friends.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this study was that our sample comprised informants mainly from the Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two largest Emirates of the nation. The study offers destination marketing organisations’ (DMOs) insights into Emirati travellers’ perceptions about Australia, which would benefit destination marketing.Originality/valueThis study examines the under researched area of how Australia – with its liberal Western culture – could be better marketed to the growing numbers of culturally conservative, high spending Emirati outbound tourists from the officially Islamic UAE, and also more generally to the socio-culturally homogeneous Gulf Cooperation Council region that the UAE is part of. Whilst destination image is an intensively analysed topic within the realm of tourism research, and reportedly a powerful influence on destination choice, the extant literature on how Australia is perceived as a travel destination by Emiratis is scant. For DMO’s attempting to attract wealthy Emirati tourists into Australia, this research is valuable and timely, as several Emiratis are seeking newer travel destinations away from the Western hemisphere, where the general anti-Arab/Islamic sentiments are currently quite strong.
UK Governance: From Overloading to Freeloading
Authors: Woodward Richard 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe UK's ongoing political turbulence has prompted a reprise of debates from the 1970s when many concluded the country was ungovernable. Then, the most influential diagnosis conceptualised the UK's governance problem as one of ‘overloading’ caused by the electorate's excessive expectations. This article argues that these accounts overlooked another phenomenon besieging UK governance during this period. This phenomenon was freeloading: the withering of government capacity deriving from the ability of actors to enjoy the benefits of citizenship without altogether contributing to the cost. In the interim, these problems have become endemic, not least because of the unspoken but discernible policy of successive governments to turn the UK into a tax haven. High‐profile scandals involving prominent individuals and corporations, plus the failure to clamp down on them have reinforced the perception that the UK's political system is geared towards the rich and the powerful at the expense of the marginalised majority.
Molecular mechanisms and physiological relevance of RGK proteins in the heart
Authors: Meza U. , Beqollari D. , Bannister R. A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe primary route of Ca2+ entry into cardiac myocytes is via 1,4‐dihydropyridine‐sensitive, voltage‐gated L‐type Ca2+ channels. Ca2+ influx through these channels influences duration of action potential and engages excitation‐contraction (EC) coupling in both the atria and the myocardium. Members of the RGK (Rad, Rem, Rem2 and Gem/Kir) family of small GTP‐binding proteins are potent, endogenously expressed inhibitors of cardiac L‐type channels. Although much work has focused on the molecular mechanisms by which RGK proteins inhibit the CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 L‐type channel isoforms that expressed in the heart, their impact on greater cardiac function is only beginning to come into focus. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding the influence of RGK proteins on normal cardiac physiology and the pathological consequences of aberrant RGK activity.
Scaling up Integrated Early Childhood Development programs: lessons from four countries
Authors: Pérez‐Escamilla R. , Cavallera V. , Tomlinson M. , Dua T. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundThere is still limited knowledge regarding the translation of early child development (ECD) knowledge into effective policies and large‐scale programmes. A variety of frameworks that outline the key steps in scaling up exist, but we argue that taking a complex adaptive systems (CAS) approach assists in understanding the complex, dynamic processes that result in programmes being taken to scale.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to examine the process of scaling up four major country‐level ECD programmes through the application of a CAS framework.MethodsNine key informants with a deep knowledge of how each ECD programme was established and brought to scale were interviewed via Skype or phone by using open‐ended interviews. The interviews were tape recorded and then transcribed verbatim for subsequent coding by using CAS domains. The coding and integration of the results to identify unique and common CAS scaling up features across the case studies involved an iterative process of reaching consensus.ResultsThe scaling up of all four programmes behaved as a CAS including as follows: (i) positive feedback loops (five themes) and negative feedback loops (two themes); (ii) scale‐free networks (two themes); (iii) phase transitions (four themes); (iv) path dependence (two themes); and (v) emergent behaviour (six themes). Five additional themes were identified for sustainability, which was repeatedly mentioned as an important consideration when deciding how to scale up programmes.ConclusionsCAS analysis is likely to improve our understanding of how effective ECD programmes become scaled up. Prospective CAS implementation research is needed to continue advancing the knowledge in the field.
Alterations in ventricular pumping in patients with atrial septal defect at rest, during dobutamine stress and after defect closure
Authors: Stephensen Sigurdur S. , Ostenfeld Ellen , Steding‐Ehrenborg Katarina , Thilén Ulf , Heiberg Einar , Arheden Hakan , Carlsson Marcus 
Published: December 2017

SummaryBackgroundRegional ventricular pumping mechanisms in patients with volume‐loaded right ventricles (RV) are altered, but the cause is unknown. The aim was to determine whether these changes in ventricular pumping mechanisms are influenced by the RV dilatation itself or the aetiology behind it.MethodsSeventeen patients with atrial septal defects (ASD) and 10 healthy controls underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at rest and during dobutamine/atropine stress. Sixteen patients underwent transcutaneous ASD closure. Follow‐up CMR at rest was performed the following day. Thirty patients with RV overload due to pulmonary regurgitation (PR) underwent CMR at rest. Cine images were used to measure left ventricular (LV) and RV volumes as well as septal, longitudinal and lateral contributions to LV and RV stroke volume (SV).ResultsAt rest, septal contribution to LVSV was lower in ASD patients than controls (−1% versus 7%, P<0·05), but there was no difference in longitudinal or lateral contribution to SV. Patients with PR had lower longitudinal contribution to RV with increased lateral and septal contribution. During dobutamine stress, longitudinal contribution to LV and RVSV decreased and lateral contribution increased for ASD patients and controls. The day after ASD closure, septal contribution to LVSV was 6%, longitudinal contribution had increased for RVSV (P<0·05) and decreased for LVSV (P<0·01).ConclusionPumping mechanisms in patients with RV volume overload depend on the aetiology for the RV dilation and not the size of the RV.
Risky sex behaviours among college students: The psychosocial profile
Authors: Dolphin Louise , Fitzgerald Amanda , Dooley Barbara 
Published: December 2017

AimsRisky sex behaviours among college students are a growing public health concern. However, few studies have profiled these behaviours using a large range of psychosocial correlates.MethodsParticipants were 6874 undergraduate and postgraduate students (64.7% female, age range 17‐25 years, M = 20.43 years, SD = 1.86 years) drawn from 13 higher‐level institutions in Ireland.ResultsRegarding prevalence, 75% of the sample report that they have been, or are currently sexually active. Of this sexually active cohort (n = 5111), 27.2% report early sexual initiation, 29.5% report 5 or more lifetime sexual partners and 12.1% report 2 or more sexual partners in the past 3 months. In addition, 47.7% of students report inconsistent condom use and 39.5% report inconsistent use of other contraceptive methods in the past 3 months. Using multivariate logistic regression analyses, significant correlates of risky sex behaviour are identified across 5 groups of psychosocial predictors (demographic, sexuality and relationships, substance use, mental well‐being and personal resources). Differences between males and females and between different sexual orientations are highlighted.ConclusionsSuggestions are made for sexual education and intervention programs to specifically target subgroups of the student population.
Deep Structure of the Human Affectional System: Introduction to Interpersonal Acceptance–Rejection Theory
Authors: Rohner Ronald P. , Lansford Jennifer E. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractInterpersonal acceptance–rejection theory (IPARTheory) proposes that across cultures and other sociodemographic groups, interpersonal acceptance and rejection consistently predict the psychological and behavioral adjustment of children and adults (Rohner, 1986, 2004). The goals of this article are to provide a description of the major tenets of IPARTheory, summarize findings from empirical tests of the theory, and suggest future directions tied to the other articles in this special collection as well as for the field moving forward.