bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical study of thermal comfort and energy efficiency about electrically heated footwear under a cold environment
Authors: Su Yun , Wang Hui , Liu Guangju , Wang Yunyi , Liu Jianlin , Tian Miao 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThe paper aims to reveal the relationship among energy efficiency, thermal comfort and thermal regulation of electrically heated footwear and to investigate influencing factors on the energy efficiency and thermal comfort.Design/methodology/approachA finite volume model was proposed to simulate the two-dimensional heat transfer in electrically heated footwear (EHF) under an extremely cold condition. The model domain consists of three-layer footwear materials, a heating pad, a sock material, an air gap and skin tissues. Model predictions were verified by experimental data from cold-contact exposure. Then the influencing factors on the energy efficiency and thermal comfort were investigated through parametric analysis.FindingsThe paper demonstrated that the skin temperature control (STC) mode provided superior thermal comfort compared to the heating pad temperature control (HPTC) mode. However, the energy efficiency for the HPTC mode with a heating temperature of 38 °C was 18% higher than the STC mode. The energy efficiency of EHF while reaching the state of thermal comfort was strongly determined by the arrangement and connection of heating elements, heating temperature, thickness and thermal conductivity of footwear materials.Originality/valueThe findings obtained in this paper can be used to engineer the EHF that provides optimal thermal comfort and energy efficiency in cold environments.
EYE-YOLO: a multi-spatial pyramid pooling and Focal-EIOU loss inspired tiny YOLOv7 for fundus eye disease detection
Authors: Kumar Akhil , Dhanalakshmi R. 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThe purpose of this work is to present an approach for autonomous detection of eye disease in fundus images. Furthermore, this work presents an improved variant of the Tiny YOLOv7 model developed specifically for eye disease detection. The model proposed in this work is a highly useful tool for the development of applications for autonomous detection of eye diseases in fundus images that can help and assist ophthalmologists.Design/methodology/approachThe approach adopted to carry out this work is twofold. Firstly, a richly annotated dataset consisting of eye disease classes, namely, cataract, glaucoma, retinal disease and normal eye, was created. Secondly, an improved variant of the Tiny YOLOv7 model was developed and proposed as EYE-YOLO. The proposed EYE-YOLO model has been developed by integrating multi-spatial pyramid pooling in the feature extraction network and Focal-EIOU loss in the detection network of the Tiny YOLOv7 model. Moreover, at run time, the mosaic augmentation strategy has been utilized with the proposed model to achieve benchmark results. Further, evaluations have been carried out for performance metrics, namely, precision, recall, F1 Score, average precision (AP) and mean average precision (mAP).FindingsThe proposed EYE-YOLO achieved 28% higher precision, 18% higher recall, 24% higher F1 Score and 30.81% higher mAP than the Tiny YOLOv7 model. Moreover, in terms of AP for each class of the employed dataset, it achieved 9.74% higher AP for cataract, 27.73% higher AP for glaucoma, 72.50% higher AP for retina disease and 13.26% higher AP for normal eye. In comparison to the state-of-the-art Tiny YOLOv5, Tiny YOLOv6 and Tiny YOLOv8 models, the proposed EYE-YOLO achieved 6–23.32% higher mAP.Originality/valueThis work addresses the problem of eye disease recognition as a bounding box regression and detection problem. Whereas, the work in the related research is largely based on eye disease classification. The other highlight of this work is to propose a richly annotated dataset for different eye diseases useful for training deep learning-based object detectors. The major highlight of this work lies in the proposal of an improved variant of the Tiny YOLOv7 model focusing on eye disease detection. The proposed modifications in the Tiny YOLOv7 aided the proposed model in achieving better results as compared to the state-of-the-art Tiny YOLOv8 and YOLOv8 Nano.
Availability analysis of imperfect repairable system subject to inspection
Authors: Gupta Ritu , Kumar Sudeep 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis work examines a repairable machining system’s reliability by considering multiple failure scenarios, including individual component failures, hardware and software malfunctions, failures resulting from shared causes and failures caused by human error. When a system is susceptible to several modes of failure, the primary goal is to forecast availability and other reliability metrics as well as to calculate the expected profit of the repairable machining system.Design/methodology/approachThe process of recovering after a system failure involves inspecting the system and fixing any malfunctions that may have occurred. The repair procedures for all kinds of faults are taken to follow a general distribution to represent real-time circumstances. We develop a non-Markovian stochastic model representing different system states that reveal working, failed, degraded, repair and delayed repair states. Laplace transformation and the supplementary variable technique are used to assess the transient states of the system.FindingsAnalytical expressions for system performance indices such as availability, reliability and cost-benefit analysis are derived. The transient probabilities when the system experiences in different states such as failed, degraded and delayed states are computed. The results obtained are validated using Mathematica software by performing a numerical illustration on setting default values of unknown parameters. This ensures the accuracy and reliability indices of the analytical predictions.Originality/valueBy methodically examining the system in its several states, we will be able to spot possible problems and offer efficient fixes for recovery. The system administrators would check to see if a minor or major repair is needed, or if a replacement is occasionally taken into consideration to prevent recurring repairs.
Relationship between profitability and financial factors of hospitals after a period of austerity and health care reforms: evidence from Greece
Authors: Terzoudis Stelios , Kontodimopoulos Nikolaos , Fanourgiakis John 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThe reduction of government expenditure in the healthcare system, the difficulty of finding new sources of funding and the reduction in disposable income per capita are the most important problems of the healthcare system in Greece over the last decade. Therefore, studying the profitability of health structures is a crucial factor in making decisions about their solvency and corporate sustainability. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of economic liquidity, debt and business size on profitability for the Greek general hospitals (GHs) during the period 2016–2018.Design/methodology/approachFinancial statements (balance sheets and income statements) of 84 general hospitals (GHs), 52 public and 32 private, over a three-year period (2016–2018), were analyzed. Spearman’s Rs correlation was carried out on two samples.FindingsThe results revealed that there is a positive relationship between the investigated determinants (liquidity, size) and profitability for both public and private GHs. It was also shown that debt has a negative effect on profitability only for private GHs.Practical implicationsIncreasing the turnover of private hospitals through interventions such as expanding private health insurance and adopting modern financial management techniques in public hospitals would have a positive effect both on profitability and the efficient use of limited resources.Originality/valueThese results, in conjunction with the findings of the low profitability of private hospitals and the excess liquidity of public hospitals, can shape the appropriate framework to guide hospital administrators and government policymakers.
Nature and nurture: the enabling role of low-status professionals' jurisdiction for micro-institutional change in professional organizations
Authors: Lai Xiuping , Zhang Wenhong , Zhao Yapu 
Published: June 2024

PurposeChanges in regulation systems make professional organizations more likely to undergo rapid, profound and radical change. The issue of how micro-institutional change in professional organizations can be carried out is somewhat ignored.Design/methodology/approachWe conducted a process study of a primary hospital in China to trace a pathway through which low-status professionals successfully proceed with radical change at the micro-level.FindingsWe present a model involving three strategies that, reconfiguring jurisdictional boundaries in combination, activate low-status professionals' long-standing implicit jurisdictions: expertise redefinition, value reorientation and promotion.Research limitations/implicationsOur study contributes to understanding how low-status professionals reconcile needs for change with contradictions from the core attributes and ambiguities of professional work. Rather than mixed practices enhancing the role of dominant professions, a desire to separate jurisdiction space opens up the access of newly dominant experts.Originality/valueChanges in the regulation system make professional organizations more likely to undergo rapid, profound and radical change. The issue of how micro-institutional change in professional organizations can be carried out is somewhat ignored.
Managerial relevance of moderating and mediating variables/effects in management research
Authors: Logman Marc 
Published: June 2024

PurposeBeing clear and specific on what moderating and/or mediating variables are included and what effects are observed in academic research helps the reader to better understand the academic research context and results. But in terms of managerial relevance, it is also important to do this in a way that it provides descriptive, goal and operational relevance to decision makers in practice, depending on the type of intended research. This article wants to provide “a question-based step-by-step guide” on how to make the analysis of moderating/mediating variables and their observed effects more managerially relevant.Design/methodology/approachBased on a critical review of the literature, important criteria of managerial relevance are confronted with important aspects of theory building with respect to mediating and moderating effects, leading to best-practice insights and recommendations. Moreover, exemplary articles are used to illustrate these findings.FindingsThe insights and step-by-step recommendations assist the academic researcher in making choices when analyzing moderators and mediators, by not only taking a theoretical perspective, but also a managerial (relevance) perspective. Adding moderators/mediators may for instance challenge the “core logic of managerial practice” (in terms of thinking and decision making), even if it does not change the “core logic of a theory” as such. In the other direction, academics (and their theory) may be challenged by practitioners, in the way they define moderators/mediators and their levels. The steps in this article relate to aspects such as measurability, controllability and role of moderators and mediators in managerial problem and decision contexts. In case of multiple moderating and/or mediating variables, the decision architecture for managers becomes more complex, especially when the effects are countervailing/opposite. Multiple studies in this article illustrate that in that case, making optimal decisions becomes a “balancing” act for managers/decision makers and may even challenge their common beliefs (e.g. linear thinking).Originality/valueThe guidelines on managerial relevance of moderating and/or mediating variables and their effects can be used by academic researchers and editors of academic journals, pursuing not only academic rigor, but also managerial relevance. Besides being a guide for managerially relevant output, it also helps in determining for which questions in the research process, input from practitioners or at least insights from practice (e.g. through sources such as business magazines and portals) may be needed. The guidelines may also be used for teaching purposes, complementing more theoretical articles that mainly focus on methodological/statistical issues of moderating/mediating variables and their effects.
Does voluntarism work for the workplace inclusion of individuals with disabilities in a country with limited equality structures?
Authors: Palalar Alkan Deniz , Kamasak Rifat , Ozbilgin Mustafa 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThe study explores measures designed explicitly to manage people with disabilities in a context where diversity interventions are incorporated voluntarily. Furthermore, it examines global organizations’ approaches to marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities, in a context where there is an explicit lack of state regulation on diversity measures.Design/methodology/approachAn abductive approach was adopted for the exploratory nature, which sought to understand how global organizations in a developing country utilize diversity management mechanisms to manage people with disabilities.FindingsThe findings reveal that human resources departments of international organizations operating in a neoliberal environment demonstrate two distinct perspectives for individuals with disabilities: (i) inclusiveness due to legal pressures and (ii) social exclusion.Originality/valueWe explored global organizations’ approaches to marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities, in the context of an explicit lack of state regulation on diversity measures and showed that the absence of coercive regulation leads to voluntary actions with adverse consequences. The paper expands theories that critique the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in untamed neoliberal contexts and explains how the responsibilization of institutional actors could enhance what is practical and possible for the workplace inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Without such institutional responsibilization, our findings reveal that disability inclusion is left to the limited prospects of the market rationales to the extent of bottom-line utility.
The negative spillover effect of sandwich-generation caregiving on employees’ job satisfaction: does work time matter?
Authors: Shi Jiaming , Jiang Chaoxin 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the effect of sandwich-generation caregiving (caregiving for elders and children simultaneously) on employed caregivers’ job satisfaction when compared with non-sandwich caregiving patterns of no caregiving, children-only caregiving and elders-only caregiving. This study also aims to explore whether depression mediates this effect and whether three types of caregivers-friendly work time (less work-time length, less nonstandard work-time schedule and more work-time autonomy) buffer these direct and indirect effects.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 7,571 Chinese employees is chosen from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies through a multistage stratified sampling design.FindingsAfter controlling for employees’ sociodemographic, work and other caregiving characteristics, this study finds that sandwich-generation caregiving is indeed more likely to negatively affect employees’ job satisfaction when compared with no caregiving and elders-only caregiving, but to the same extent as children-only caregiving. This study also suggests that the effect of sandwich-generation caregiving on job satisfaction is mediated by employees’ depression and that three types of caregiver-friendly work time help to weaken the negative effects on employees’ depression and job satisfaction.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the negative spillover effect and its mechanisms of caregiving on employees’ job satisfaction through focusing on a special caregivers group: employed sandwich-generation caregivers. These results shed light on the importance of extending caregiver studies to the workplace and provide implications for organization managers and human resources practitioners to design caregiver-friendly workplace policies to maintain employed caregivers’ work-family balance.
Exploring the future of tourism: a qualitative study on the integration of robotics in North Cyprus hospitality and destination development
Authors: Irani Foad 
Published: June 2024

PurposeThis study aims to examine the variables that may influence the acceptance and adoption of robot-assisted services by various stakeholders in the tourist industry, namely in hotels.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilized a qualitative research approach to investigate what may influence the acceptance and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies in hotels in North Cyprus. Participants were selected for the study based on certain criteria using a referral sampling method.FindingsThe author have identified five core themes. (1) “Insufficient awareness;” (2) “Inadequate knowledge to operate robot-assisted services;” (3) “Limited budget;” (4) “Adherence to traditional management approaches” and (5) “Absence of incentives from tourism authorities.” This study establishes the foundation for future research and strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the readiness of the hotel industry in North Cyprus to integrate robot-assisted services.Practical implicationsThis research has practical consequences for hotel management employees in North Cyprus. The results may serve as guides for hotel stakeholders to enhance their understanding of the importance of innovation and establishing a competitive advantage in the rapidly growing hospitality business by identifying the pros and cons of adopting AI-driven technology.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, there have been few studies examining the viewpoints of managerial employees in North Cyprus hotels on the implementation of robot-assisted services. The authors examined several managerial employees in hotels to determine factors that might affect the adoption of AI-driven technology. The results are valuable for future research in the context of hotels in North Cyprus.
Temporal and spatial dynamics within the fungal microbiome of grape fermentation
Authors: Onetto Cristobal A. , Ward Chris M. , Van Den Heuvel Steven , Hale Laura , Cuijvers Kathleen , Borneman Anthony R. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractOver 6 years, we conducted an extensive survey of spontaneous grape fermentations, examining 3105 fungal microbiomes across 14 distinct grape‐growing regions. Our investigation into the biodiversity of these fermentations revealed that a small number of highly abundant genera form the core of the initial grape juice microbiome. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the region of origin had the most significant impact on microbial diversity patterns. We also discovered that certain taxa were consistently associated with specific geographical locations and grape varieties, although these taxa represented only a minor portion of the overall diversity in our dataset. Through unsupervised clustering and dimensionality reduction analysis, we identified three unique community types, each exhibiting variations in the abundance of key genera. When we projected these genera onto global branches, it suggested that microbiomes transition between these three broad community types. We further investigated the microbial community composition throughout the fermentation process. Our observations indicated that the initial microbial community composition could predict the diversity during the early stages of fermentation. Notably, Hanseniaspora uvarum emerged as the primary non‐Saccharomyces species within this large collection of samples.
Catechins and caffeine absorption, and antioxidant activity of tea‐macerated wine in a Caco‐2 intestinal cell culture model
Authors: Liang Zijian , Leonard William , Zhang Pangzhen , Zeng Xin‐An , Fang Zhongxiang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractA novel style of flavored wine was developed via infusion of either black tea or green tea into Chardonnay wine. The bioaccessibility and bioavailability of phenolic substances in green/black tea‐infused Chardonnay wine were investigated. Catechin, caffeine, and epicatechin gallate, originating from the tea, displayed high absorption rates with apparent permeability coefficient values above 10 × 10−6 cm/s in a human Caco‐2 intestinal cell model. A paracellular pathway was proposed to drive the transport of catechin and epicatechin gallate, while the possible transport pathway of caffeine is passive transcellular diffusion route. Co‐supplementation of flavonoids of quercetin or naringenin (20 µM) could further enhance the uptake of catechin and epicatechin gallate, but reduce the absorption of caffeine. Great in vitro and cellular antioxidant capacities were witnessed in the tea‐macerated wine samples. The wine samples also neutralized the negative impact of tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (25 µM) on glutathione S‐transferase and glutathione levels, apoptosis induction, and intracellular malondialdehyde levels. RNA sequencing with limma method revealed a total of 1473 and 406 differentially expressed genes in the 21‐day‐old Caco‐2 intestinal cells treated with the green and black tea‐macerated wines for 5 h respectively, indicating metabolic changes in the cells from the different wines.
Intertwin discordance of aldosterone levels in amniotic fluid with placental anastomoses in monochorionic twins: Insight into the pathophysiology of twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Takano Mayumi , Tachihara Mayu , Kamiya Mio , Kotaki Hikari , Shimabukuro Makiko , Nagasaki Sumito , Nakata Masahiko 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntroductionOur objective was to investigate the association between the presence of placental anastomoses and intertwin differences in renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone activation in monochorionic twins using amniotic fluid aldosterone (AF‐ALD) levels. In addition, this study also examined the association between AF‐ALD and the ALD levels in the umbilical cord blood (UCB‐ALD) in monochorionic twins.Material and MethodsThis prospective study included monochorionic diamniotic (MD) twin pregnancies that were not complicated by twin‐to‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) at delivery. Amniotic fluid and umbilical cord vein blood samples were collected from each twin at delivery, and the ALD levels were measured subsequently. The MD twins were divided into two groups: those with placental anastomoses and those without anastomoses owing to fetoscopic laser surgery. The differences in the AF‐ALD levels between the larger and smaller twins were analyzed.ResultsThe AF‐ALD levels showed a strong and significant positive correlation with UCB‐ALD levels in 131 MD twins (r = 0.804, p < 0.001). Intertwin differences were examined in 41 and 28 pairs of MD twins with and without placental anastomoses, respectively. The AF‐ALD levels in the smaller twins were significantly higher than those in the larger twins among the pairs of MD twins with placental anastomoses (p = 0.003); however, no statistically significant intertwin differences were observed among the twins without placental anastomoses (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe AF‐ALD levels reflect the UCB‐ALD levels in MD twins. The presence of placental anastomoses led to intertwin discordance in the ALD levels in MD twins even uncomplicated with TTTS. It was considered that monochorionic twins have this clinical background, and it leads to the development of TTTS.