bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Slime mould imitates transport networks in China
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew , Yang Xin-She , Zhao Yu-Xin 
Published: August 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to study the slime mould Physarum polycephalum

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper proceeds by representing major urban areas of China by oat flakes, inoculating the slime mould in Beijing, waiting till the slime mould colonises all urban areas, or colonises some and cease further propagation, and analysing the protoplasmic networks formed and comparing with man-made motorway network and planar proximity graphs. Findings

Findings
– Laboratory experiments found that P. polycephalum

Originality/value
– The paper demonstrated the strong component of transport system built by slime mould of P. polycephalum
Logistics salience impact on logistics capabilities and performance
Authors: Ralston Peter M. , Grawe Scott J. , Daugherty Patricia J. 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this manuscript is to assess the impact of logistics salience on logistics capabilities and performance. Specifically, the impact of logistics salience on logistics innovativeness and logistics service differentiation is measured along with logistics innovativeness and logistics service differentiation effect on logistics performance.Design/methodology/approachConclusions were drawn from survey data gathered from logistics and supply chain managers at US firms. Structural equation modelling was utilized to measure the statistical significance of the hypothesized model paths with all findings meeting the basic requirements of interpretation.FindingsThe results suggest that logistics salience positively impacts both logistics innovativeness and logistics service differentiation. Logistics innovativeness and logistics service differentiation both positively influence logistics performance. These findings give credence to the resource based view of the firm which states that resources lead to capabilities which leads to performance.Research limitations/implicationsConclusions based on the study's results highlight the importance of logistics within firms and indicate that the function must be made salient throughout the firm to further capitalize on the benefits of logistics. These benefits include enhanced logistics capabilities and their eventual impact on logistics performance.Originality/valueUsing the resource based view of the firm as the theoretical framework, the manuscript supports the notion that logistics salience is an important resource for firms looking to provide differentiated services and innovative logistics operations to their customers.
Correlates of poverty in Fiji
Authors: Gounder Neelesh 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper uses household survey data to model the correlates of household consumption and poverty in Fiji. A multivariate empirical analysis is conducted to ascertain those household and community characteristics that correlate with household welfare and poverty. In particular, the results will show how a particular characteristic will affect household poverty conditional on the level of other characteristics that are also potential determinants of poverty.Design/methodology/approachThe key approach in this paper is similar to Mukherjee and Benson and is based on ordinary least squares (OLS) modeling of the natural logarithm of total per capita consumption of households, which serves as the household welfare indicator, against a set of exogenous determinants such as household and community characteristics. For robustness checks, a probit regression is also estimated with the probability of a household being in poverty as the dependent variable and an identical set of independent variables used in the OLS regression.FindingsThe results show that higher levels of education, supporting agricultural growth policies in rural areas and reallocation of labour into the formal sector of the economy will prove effective in reducing poverty at the household level. These results can have important policy implications for design and implementation of poverty reduction policies.Originality/valueEmpirical studies on the determinants of household consumption and poverty are non‐existent in Fiji. This thus is the first study which attempts to model the determinants of poverty at the household level and is the major contribution of this paper.
Experimental approach to assessing actual wine purchase behavior
Authors: Barber Nelson A. , Taylor D. Christopher 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe use of intentions to forecast behavior follows from the assumption that intentions are a strong indicator of an individual's actual purchase behavior. Yet most studies found the relationship between intent and actual behavior varies considerably. The purpose of this study was to explore how marketers should combine expressed measures of intention with other available data to forecast the probability of purchase and thus to set pricing decisions.Design/methodology/approachThrough a two‐stage approach, this study measured consumer psychographics and expressed purchase intention to predict actual purchase behavior using an online survey, the Vickrey auction method, and logistic regression.FindingsThe results found that individuals' attitudes and intentions are strong predictors of actual behavior. However, of particular interest are lower‐purchase‐intention individuals, who acted in line with their expressed willingness to pay more than individuals with higher purchase intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was restricted to the investigation of one product. The model should be tested with different styles of wine products purchased on a regular basis.Practical implicationsMost product positioning research focuses on individuals who express high levels of purchase intention, positive attitudes, and positive values. However, basing a wine product's pricing on a high‐purchase‐intention group may lead to an overpriced product and a lack of follow‐through on the part of consumers.Originality/valueResults suggest a new method to approach purchase intention using a combination of actual purchase data and survey data.
The impact of expert opinion in consumer perception of wines
Authors: Chocarro Raquel , Cortiñas Mónica 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the way in which consumers integrate experts' opinions into their own evaluations of a selection of red wines.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conduct an experiment to measure the influence of experts' opinions in relation to the complexity of the information, the level of consensus between different experts, and the consumer's level of category knowledge.FindingsConfirmation is found for the effect of received information on consumers' product evaluations. Variation is found in relation to the consumer's level of category knowledge. Expert ratings have a stronger influence on individuals with low knowledge of the wine category than on those with high knowledge. The level of consensus between experts and the complexity of the information in this case have no effect on the impact of their opinions.Originality/valueThis paper takes a deeper look into the effect of “weak‐tie” personal information sources, particularly the opinions of experts regarding wine. Scientific research into the effect of expert judgments on consumer perceptions is still scant and businesses also need to assess the factors underlying its impact, given that the influence of expert judgment can be as crucial as quality to a product's success. The main feature that distinguishes this paper from the previous literature is that it integrates all three moderating effects in a single experiment: level of expert consensus, the complexity of the information provided and the prior knowledge of the consumer.
Estimating internet users: an evidence-based alternative in the absence of survey data
Authors: Lucas Gunaratne Roshanthi , Samarajiva Rohan 
Published: August 2013

Purpose–There are significant shortcomings in the current method of estimating the indicator “Proportion of internet users” by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in countries where demand-side data are unavailable. In the absence of demand-side surveys, governments calculate the proportion of internet users on the basis of the number of subscriptions and a multiplier, which leads to arbitrary values. Errors in such base indicators ripple through the system, causing significant errors in composite indicators, and should be minimised. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new evidence-based methodology, in the absence of demand-side surveys, to estimate the proportion of individuals using the internet.Design/methodology/approach–This study found the drivers of internet use to be income and education. A regression analysis was conducted between internet users per 100 in countries that employed demand-side surveys and a new index based on the income and education components of the Human Development Index (HDI).Findings–The regression analysis showed a strong correlation between the proportion of internet users in a country and the new income and education index. Using these data, a new methodology was developed that creates incentives for governments to conduct demand-side surveys and reduce the errors yielded by the previous methodology.Social implications–It is proposed that this evidence-based estimation method be used by the ITU in the absence of demand-side surveys, instead of arbitrary multipliers applied to estimated subscription numbers provided by governments. If governments believe that their national circumstances justify higher numbers, they can conduct demand-side surveys.Originality/value–This paper explores the possibility of using the readily available HDI data to define a new index that will provide a more accurate estimate of the proportion of individuals using the internet.
ICT access and usage among informal businesses in Africa
Authors: Deen-Swarray Mariama , Moyo Mpho , Stork Christoph 
Published: August 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the extent to which informal businesses employ information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their daily activities and the challenges they face in making use of ICTs.

Design/methodology/approach
– The study uses nationally representative data for informal businesses in residential and semi-residential areas, as defined by national census sample frames for nine African countries.

Findings
– The results show that mobile phones remain the most commonly used ICT among informal businesses, while the use of other ICTs, such as fixed-line telephones, computers and the internet remains negligible. Businesses were found to communicate more with their suppliers than with their customers via mobile phone. The lack of use of the different kinds of ICTs was attributed to issues around need, affordability, availability and access.

Research limitations/implications
– The data are not representative of formal businesses.

Practical implications
– There is little money to be wasted on gadgetry in the informal sector and only technologies that add value (i.e. bring in money in the short term) will be used. There is the need to be concerned about creating a business environment that allows informal businesses that have the skills and ambition to grow and become formal and sustainable. ICTs, in particular the mobile phone and mobile internet, have the potential to facilitate this. ICTs may allow for a deepening of the distribution and procurement channels of businesses. Doing business over distance could become more affordable through the mobile phone and mobile money.

Social implications
– Policy makers have many choices in addressing affordability and access to ICTs in the informal sector, ranging from introducing competition and removing import duties on prepaid airtime, to supporting mobile application development for informal businesses in general.

Originality/value
– This paper uses primary data that allow a better understanding of informal businesses and their use of and access to ICTs. It adds to the literature on the informal sector in which Africa's poor find their livelihood and from which base the formal economy operates.
Centrist television in the democratic South Africa: policymakers fail to answer the regional/local question, 1990-2011
Authors: Armstrong Chris 
Published: August 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore the disconnect between policy intent and policy implementation in relation to regional/local (sub-national) TV deliverables in South Africa between 1990 and 2011, and evaluate the impact of this disconnect in pursuit of public interest objectives.

Design/methodology/approach
– The article is based on a research case study in which data extracted from policy documents and interviews were qualitatively analysed via the Kingdon “policy streams” framework and the Feintuck and Varney public interest media regulation framework.

Findings
– It was found that ruptures in deliberative policymaking, and policy implementation missteps, undermined sub-national TV delivery and, in turn, undermined pursuit of the public interest.

Originality/value
– By combining a political science conceptual framework with a media policy conceptual framework, the article provides unique insights into South African TV policymaking in the early democratic era.
Mobilising upland Filipino youth to serve as infomediaries
Authors: A. Manalo IV Jaime 
Published: August 2013

Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to operationalise infomediaries in an agricultural context, specifically upland rice farming. Infomediaries are people who facilitate access to information and communication technologies (ICTs). This offers a socially grounded solution to the nagging issue of the digital divide.Design/methodology/approach–This research is predominantly qualitative. The methods used were time transects, mobility mapping, photovoice, individual and key informant interviews. In total, 38 farmers' children from the upland communities in the provinces of Albay and Aurora participated in this research. Theoretically, this paper aims to contribute to literature on ICT 2.0.Findings–The participants showed strong desire to help their parents on the rice farm, directly or indirectly. They had varying levels of proficiency in using ICTs. Average weekly expenditure on purchasing prepaid mobile phone credits was US$1.50. Evidence of mobile addiction (sending more than 200 text messages daily) was noted. Their youth's intimate relationship with ICTs increases hope that they can serve as infomediaries for their farmer-parents.Research limitations/implications–This research is anchored on giving context-specific solutions to ICT issues. Transferability is emphasised over generalisability.Practical implications–Based on the mobility maps of the participants, their respective schools can serve as the nuclei for agricultural extension. The schools serve as their convergence point. This offers an alternative to the difficulty of individually visiting the farmers in the area, which is confounded by the scarcity of agricultural technologists tasked to do the job.Originality/value–The paper offers an alternative extension mode, drawn from the intimate relationship between young people and ICTs. This is a welcome initiative, particularly because such initiatives to engage youth in agriculture, directly or indirectly, remain scarce. The ideas forwarded in this paper will benefit agricultural agencies in the Philippines and other developing countries.
Research on detection of welding penetration state during robotic GTAW process based on audible arc sound
Authors: Lv Na , Xu Yanling , Zhong Jiyong , Chen Huabin , Wang Jifeng , Chen Shanben 
Published: August 2013

PurposePenetration state is one of the most important factors for judging the quality of a gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) joint. The purpose of this paper is to identify and classify the penetration state and welding quality through the features of arc sound signal during robotic GTAW process.Design/methodology/approachThis paper tried to make a foundation work to achieve on‐line monitoring of penetration state to weld pool through arc sound signal. The statistic features of arc sound under different penetration states like partial penetration, full penetration and excessive penetration were extracted and analysed, and wavelet packet analysis was used to extract frequency energy at different frequency bands. The prediction models were established by artificial neural networks based on different features combination.FindingsThe experiment results demonstrated that each feature in time and frequency domain could react the penetration behaviour, arc sound in different frequency band had different performance at different penetration states and the prediction model established by 23 features in time domain and frequency domain got the best prediction effect to recognize different penetration states and welding quality through arc sound signal.Originality/valueThis paper tried to make a foundation work to achieve identifying penetration state and welding quality through the features of arc sound signal during robotic GTAW process. A total of 23 features in time domain and frequency domain were extracted at different penetration states. And energy at different frequency bands was proved to be an effective factor for identifying different penetration states. Finally, a prediction model built by 23 features was proved to have the best prediction effect of welding quality.
Optimal trajectory planning for industrial robots using harmony search algorithm
Authors: Chen Youdong , Yan Liang , Wei Hongxing , Wang Tianmiao 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThis paper aims to present a technique for optimal trajectory planning of industrial robots that applies a new harmony search (HS) algorithm.Design/methodology/approachThe new HS optimization algorithm adds one more operation to the original HS algorithm. The objective function to be minimized is the trajectory execution time subject to kinematical and mechanical constraints. The trajectory is built by quintic B‐spline curves and cubic B‐spline curves.FindingsSimulation experiments have been undertaken using a 6‐DOF robot QH165. The results show that the proposed technique is valid and that the trajectory obtained using quintic B‐spline curves is smoother than the trajectory using cubic B‐spline curves.Originality/valueThe proposed new HS algorithm is more efficient than the sequential quadratic programming method (SQP) and the original HS method. The proposed technique is applicable to any industrial robot and yields smooth and time‐optimal trajectories.
A method for integrating ethics into the design of robots
Authors: van Wynsberghe Aimee 
Published: August 2013

PurposeWith the rapid and pervasive introduction of robots into human environments, ethics scholars along with roboticists are asking how ethics can be applied to the discipline of robotics. The purpose of this paper is to provide a concrete example of incorporating ethics into the design process of a robot in healthcare.Design/methodology/approachThe approach for including ethics in the design process of care robots used in this paper is called the Care‐Centered Value Sensitive Design (CCVSD) approach. The CCVSD approach presented here provides both an outline of the components demanding ethical attention as well as a step‐by‐step manner in which such considerations may proceed in a prospective manner throughout the design process of a robot. This begins from the moment of idea generation and continues throughout the design of various prototypes. In this paper, this approach's utility and prospective methodology are illustrated by proposing a novel care robot, the “wee‐bot”, for the collection and testing of urine samples in a hospital context.FindingsThe results of applying the CCVSD approach inspired the design of a novel robot for the testing of urine in pediatric oncology patients – the “wee‐bot” robot – and showed that it is possible to successfully incorporate ethics into the design of a care robot by exploring and prescribing design requirements. In other words, the use of the CCVSD approach allowed for the translation of ethical values into technical design requirements as was shown in this paper.Practical implicationsThis paper provides a practical solution to the question of how to incorporate ethics into the design of robots and bridges the gap between the work of roboticists and robot ethicists so that they may work together in the design of a novel care robot.Social implicationsIn providing a solution to the issue of how to address ethical issues in the design of robots, the aim is to mitigate issues of societal concern regarding the design, development and implementation of robots in healthcare.Originality/valueThis paper is the first and only presentation of a concrete prospective methodology for including ethics into the design of robots. While the example given here is tailored to the healthcare context, the approach can be adjusted to fit another context and/or robot design.
Environmental consciousness, its antecedents and behavioural outcomes
Authors: Sharma Kavita , Bansal Monika 
Published: August 2013

PurposeThe paper attempts to investigate the term “environmental consciousness” and identify the underlying components of environmental consciousness and its antecedents. Also, to propose the framework explaining the linkage between environmental consciousness, its antecedents, components, and behavioral outcome, and also the variables, if any, that may intervene between environmental consciousness and environmentally conscious consumer behavior.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews extant literature to bring conceptual clarity to the term environmental consciousness and its linkages with the related variables.FindingsEnvironmental consciousness – a mental state variable – is found distinct from its antecedents and associated behaviors. It is a multi‐dimensional construct varying from low general level to high product‐specific level.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides understanding for the term environmental consciousness and its relation with other variables and thus leaves the wide scope for research in the future.Practical implicationsThe extent to which green marketing efforts can gainfully be taken to the market and given a required scale depends upon environmental consciousness of the consumers. According to levels of environmental consciousness, green consumer segments are obtained and “greener” consumer segments can be targeted to induce pro‐environmental purchase behavior.Social implicationsThe proposed model in the study would allow the green marketers to support the whole idea of environment protection through appropriate marketing strategies.Originality/valueBased on extant review of literature, the paper proposes the term environmental consciousness as a mental state variable, which is distinct from its antecedents and behavioural outcomes.