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This paper deals with a problem of tactical planning of production activities. It considers the case of the world's largest phosphate production site, with several mines, several washing plants, and a drying plant, with transport of merchantable phosphate ores (MOs) by rail or pipeline. The tightening of product quality requirements by customers prevents from continuing to plan its production with the current rules. Currently, the plants are managed quite independently, source ores (SOs) are pre-assigned to the MOs for blending, and the MO production routings in the washing plants are predetermined. We propose a model that ensures flexibility in the production of MOs through the choice of dynamic blends and routings. Our approach goes beyond any pre-allocation of resources and aims at synchronising the flows of the washing plants. This specific problem of blending production and planning has not been addressed in the literature. Still, it is widely encountered in many mining industries and offers perspectives for the application of the approach proposed. Numerous tests show that this model ensures the quality constraints related to the composition of several chemical components, with a generalised use of the most economical routings while ensuring horizontal and vertical alignment of decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid chitosan-based nanocomposite was fabricated by chitin nanowhiskers coupled with silanized Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a polyelectrolyte membrane for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The morphological evaluations articulated that the magnetite nanoparticles were uniformly attached to the chitin nanowhiskers. After characterization of the synthesized nanowhiskers, they were incorporated into the chitosan, as a polycationic electrolyte, to investigate the performance of nanocomposite for DMFC applications. An external magnetic field was applied to the magnetic chitin nanowhiskers to induce alignment, and the effects of aligned nanowhiskers, as well as random ones, were also studied. The magnetic chitin nanowhiskers positively influenced the water uptake and proton conductivity due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between the surface functional groups of nanowhiskers and free water molecules. On the other hand, methanol permeation of the chitosan nanocomposites was reduced regarding the tortuous pathways and narrower transportation channels by the presence of nanowhiskers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bodywork applied to vocal technique is an increasingly used tool in teaching practice. However, there is little research that can provide evidence of its effectiveness. This research is an exploratory and descriptive case study that investigates the self-perception of 14 voice major students after receiving a bodywork program. The main objective is to analyze if a bodywork program designed for singers affects the emission and vocal quality and, therefore, may be a good pedagogical tool in voice education. The body-mind method applied is the Méthode de Libération de Cuirasse © (MLC). To conduct the intervention, the participants performed different vocal tasks and answered a questionnaire to reveal their perceptions in relation to vocal emission, body balance, frame of mind, and degree of well-being before and after each of the sessions of bodywork. Two months after the last session, a second questionnaire was administered and a free narrative of the lived experience of participants was collected for subsequent analysis and interpretation. Results showed more comfort when singing, greater harmonic richness, greater facility in the high register, and better breath control as well as an improvement in general well-being and state of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the importance of, and variations in, political alignment within African regimes. Political alignment is how leaders establish sufficient political support across elites: we posit that formal appointments are the primary way that leaders manipulate political coalitions in order to secure their collective authority and tenure. Appointments, individually and collectively, can take on multiple characteristics: they can create inclusive or exclusive coalitions, transactional or loyal support, volatile or stable elite networks. Appointment powers have greater salience since governments institutionalized and formalized in governance systems across democratic and autocratic states. Manipulating who holds and secures power at the subnational and national levels, rather than repressive control or state capacity, underpins the stability, security, and survival of modern African regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA rank test for Latin square data is derived. Forms are given for when there are no ties, for when ties occur and mid-ranks are used, and for when ties occur in general. These adjustments are akin to those for the Kruskal-Wallis, Friedman, and Durbin tests. Since substantial block effects may affect ranking, alignment is recommended. The ANOVA F test on the ranks, the rank transform test, is a competitor test. We designate this test, where the data are aligned before ranking, the FART test. The proposed test, implemented as a permutation test, is designated the permutation aligned RL test: the PARL. We also give an approximation to the sampling distribution using the χ2 distribution, and call this test the CARL. An indicative simulation study assuming the usual parametric model and testing the null hypothesis that the treatment parameter is zero shows that the CARL, PARL, FART, and the F test on the raw data all control their type I errors well and have comparable powers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article was to identify the embedded Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) in undergraduate business sustainability programs curricula. A purposive sample of 23 programs was analyzed. The sources of data were the secondary data published by the universities about the program curricula, together with the course descriptions. Course descriptions were analyzed. This study revealed that the most aligned SDG is goal 12: responsible consumption and production. The programs were clustered according to the sustainability dimensions of the embedded SDGs in three general clusters. The courses differed in their alignment with the SDGs. This is one of the few studies investigating the degree of alignment between the undergraduate curricula of business sustainability programs and the SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers, with various advantages including lightweight, low cost, flexibility and ease of processing, are popular choices for thermal management in flexible electronics, photovoltaics, fuel cells, etc. In this perspective, we review the recent progress of developing uniaxial thermally conductive polymers and three-dimensional polymers with high thermal conductivity, discuss new opportunities in applying machine learning methods to search for thermally conductive polymers, and finally point out current key challenges and future directions in simulations and experimental measurements. The useful insights in this perspective can guide the rational design of thermally conductive polymers for advanced thermal management. This paper delineates the advantages and recent progress of pristine polymers with high thermal conductivity and provides significant insights on future directions in the simulations and experimental measurements of thermally conductive pristine polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

America's allies have reacted differently to the uncertainty surrounding US global leadership and the return to hard power politics in the 2010s. Some allies have remained steadfast in their commitment to Washington, while others distanced themselves from the United States. Why is it so? This article develops an integrated argument that brings together different strands of the literature on alignment, to better make sense of cross-national and within-case variations in allies' strategic behavior. By examining three case studies from distinct regional contexts – Japan, Poland and Turkey – the paper shows that although these allies all shared concerns about the Obama and Trump administrations' security commitment, it was their differing perceptions of the threats posed by China and Russia's power that influenced their pursuit of either stronger alignment with the US security patron – through internal balancing for 'attractiveness' and internal hedging –, or increased strategic autonomy from Washington by pursuing hard hedging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efficacious repair of peripheral nerve injury is an unmet clinical need. The implantation of biomaterials containing neurotrophic drugs at the injury site could promote nerve regeneration and improve outcomes for patients. Materials & methods: Random and aligned electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds containing encapsulated tacrolimus were fabricated, and the gene expression profile of Schwann cells (SCs) cultured on the surface was elucidated. On aligned fibers, the morphology of SCs and primary rat neurons was investigated. Results: Both scaffold types exhibited sustained release of drug, and the gene expression of SCs was modulated by both nanofibrous topography and the presence of tacrolimus. Aligned fibers promoted the alignment of SCs and orientated outgrowth from neurons. Conclusion: Electrospun PCL scaffolds with tacrolimus hold promise for the repair of peripheral nerve injury. This article reports the production and testing of fibrous materials loaded with tacrolimus, a drug known to improve nerve regeneration, for the surgical repair of peripheral nerve injury. Materials were created with either a randomly orientated structure or an aligned structure that mimics the anatomy of native nerve, and both displayed long-term release of the loaded drug. Schwann cells, which are a critical cell type in nerve regeneration, were grown on the materials and their behaviour was positively influenced by the fibrous surfaces and/or the presence of tacrolimus. Neurons grown on the aligned materials demonstrated directional outgrowth, which may be also beneficial for increasing the rate of regeneration. These materials have the potential to improve outcomes of nerve repair for patients. Aligned tacrolimus-loaded polycaprolactone biomaterials for peripheral nerve repair modulate Schwann cell gene expression and promote directional outgrowth from primary neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article has investigated the friction behavior of a tribological system composed of a liquid crystal and polyimide. In this tribological system, ZrO2 and PMDA-ODA polyimide film used as a friction pair, and the liquid crystals used as lubricants including the single liquid crystal 5CB and the mixed liquid crystals LCs1 (5CB-5CEPO2), LCs2 (5CB-3CEPC3), LCs3 (5CB-2CEPPN), and conducted friction coefficient comparison experiments with n-hexadecane. It was found that the average friction coefficient of the LCs3 (90% 5CB + 10% 2CEPPN) is the smallest at the load of 5 N and the velocity of 200 rpm, which is 0.00113. Load and velocity selection experiments were investigated of LCs3, as well as polyimide film’s surface analysis including scanning electron microscope, white-light interference, polarization microscope, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectra. The results of the surface analysis indicated that some groups in the main chain and branch chain of the polyimide molecules are oriented parallel to the polyimide surface after rubbing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the construction industry context, misalignments in the supply chain pose significant challenges, hindering successful project delivery. To address these issues, blockchain technology emerges as a promising IT-based solution for achieving supply chain alignment. A conceptual model is developed based on the service-dominant logic theory that explores the impact of blockchain on supply chain alignment and co-created value outcomes within the Business-to-Business (B2B) construction context. Through a questionnaire-based approach, data were collected from 324 respondents in the global construction industry, which was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings demonstrate the positive impact of implementing blockchain technology on competency, behavioural, process, and expectations alignment among supply chain partners. These improvements in alignment collectively contribute to the realization of supply chain value outcomes. These results emphasize the importance of a comprehensive approach combining technology with alignment efforts to realize blockchain-enabled value co-creation in construction supply chain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has extensively discussed the incidence of exploration and exploitation capabilities on innovation. Theoretically, cultural factors are considered variables that benefit this relationship. However, this rationale has not been evaluated in previous research. The present study examines the moderating role of cultural factors in the relationship between exploration and radical innovation, as well as in the relationship between exploitation and incremental innovation. This was performed by means of Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), using Partial Least Squares (PLS), with data from 251 large Colombian firms that intensively use information and knowledge. The results hereof indicate that exploration and exploitation influence radical and incremental innovation, respectively. This is a novel finding on firms from developing countries, as it is a relationship that has been mainly studied in organisations from developed regions. It was also found that the cultural factor alignment strengthens the relationship between exploitation and incremental innovation. However, the cultural factor adaptability does not benefit the relationship between exploration and radical innovation. These results bridge the existing literature gap on how exploration/exploitation capabilities, cultural factors, and innovation behave as a whole. In addition, these findings are helpful in managerial terms, because they offer a better understanding of the ways in which firms can achieve innovation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents MoCoUTRL: a Momentum Contrastive Framework for Unsupervised Text Representation Learning. This model improves two aspects of recently popular contrastive learning algorithms in natural language processing (NLP). Firstly, MoCoUTRL employs multi-granularity semantic contrastive learning objectives, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the semantic features of samples. Secondly, MoCoUTRL uses a dynamic dictionary to act as the approximately ground-truth representation for each token, providing the pseudo labels for token-level contrastive learning. The MoCoUTRL can extend the use of pre-trained language models (PLM) and even large-scale language models (LLM) into a plug-and-play semantic feature extractor that can fuel multiple downstream tasks. Experimental results on several publicly available datasets and further theoretical analysis validate the effectiveness and interpretability of the proposed method in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing evolution and mutation of SARS-CoV2 pose a significant challenge to the development of effective medication, as genetic changes can render previously developed drugs ineffective. To address this issue, researchers are exploring various strategies to predict and assess the emergence of novel SARS-CoV2 strains through phylogenetic analysis and mutation prediction. In recent years, deep learning approaches have been applied to studying viruses, including SARS-CoV2, to improve our understanding of virus evolution, structure, categorization, and prediction. In this study, a novel deep learning approach is proposed to predict and assess SARS-CoV2 protein sequences. Specifically, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) is utilized to predict protein sequences from aligned input sequences, with a bioinformatics tool used to detect mutations. The deep learning model proposed in this study exhibits high accuracy in predicting several key SARS-CoV2 protein sequences, including spike, replicase, putative, ORF1a, and nucleocapsid. The study uses genome sequencing data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and demonstrates a 98% accuracy in predicting genomic sequences, with minimal changes observed in protein sequences. This study represents a significant improvement over previous research, which has focused only on predicting mutations in viral RNA sequences using datasets from other viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the concepts of consistency, this study contributes to the discussion of study programme plans and the links between curriculum elements. The main argument is that a universal requirement of consistency is taken for granted in study programme planning, even though critics have noted a need for closer scrutiny and debate. The literature attests that the consistency of programme plans between learning activities, defined learning outcomes and assessments are important for student learning. However, newer trends in education may require a new understanding of how learning environments work and alter our understanding of curriculum in higher education. Drawing on a qualitative analysis, the study displays varied curriculum logics in education planning. The findings indicate that we should expect the varying curriculum elements at play in study programme plans to be overlapping, competing and even contradicting, hence challenging our ideas of the perfect consistent curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran's 'Look East' policy entails more than relations with the People's Republic of China, India and the republics of Central Eurasia. Crucial to the Islamic Republic's eastward turn are recent overtures to Indonesia, which include not only diplomatic and economic initiatives but also joint military projects. Why Tehran has stepped up its efforts to align with Jakarta can be explained in terms of recent moves by the Arab Gulf states, most notably the United Arab Emirates, along with Iran's sympathy for Indonesia's long-standing commitment to non-alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates how peer observation programs can be designed to enhance faculty use of student-centered logic. Data include participants' self-reports (interviews) and 50 hours of recorded faculty-faculty dialogue. Findings suggest specific design features that may increase fluency in student-centered logic. The study may be useful to academic developers interested in helping faculty move beyond content-centered, lecture-based approaches to teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The similar characteristics of biomaterials to the extracellular matrix are essential for efficient tissue repair through dictating cell behaviors. But the scaffold fabrication with complex shapes and controlled alignment have proven to be a difficult task. Herein, a well-designed three-dimensional silk fibroin scaffold is fabricated through ice template technology. The effect of the silk fibroin protein concentration and the freezing temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of scaffolds are investigated systematically. Cells behavior mediated by the obtained silk fibroin scaffolds is detected. The results show that the protein concentration plays a vital role in microstructure and scaffold strength. A well-aligned scaffold can be obtained when silk fibroin solution is kept at 12 wt%, which holds the highest mechanical properties. The pore size can be further adjusted in the range of 5–80 µm by changing the freezing temperature from −60 to −196 °C. The well-oriented scaffold with the appropriate pore size of 10–20 µm has the best ability to guide cell alignment. The resulting scaffolds provide an excellent matrix to guide cells behaviors and have a potential application in tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid crystals (LCs), whose refractive index can be changed by light irradiation, can be used as photoresponsive optical materials. In this study, an LC viologen was proposed as a novel photoresponsive compound that induced a change in the alignment of LC molecules (mesogens). An extended viologen with an asymmetric core, that exhibits a low-order LC phase at room temperature, was mixed with the well-known nematic LC compound (5CB) to prepare homogeneously aligned films. The change in the alignment of the mesogens was successfully induced by triggering a one-electron reduction reaction of the viologen moieties by light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI) is a critical prerequisite to assessing change over time with intensive longitudinal data (ILD). For LMI testing with ILD, we propose cross-classified factor analysis (CCFA) to detect non-invariant item parameters and alignment optimization (AO) to detect non-invariant time points as a supplement to CCFA. In addition, we use a covariate in CCFA to identify a source of non-invariance. To evaluate the proposed models under unique features of ILD, such as autoregression (AR), we conducted a Monte Carlo simulation study. The results showed CCFA can be an excellent tool for ILD LMI testing regardless of simulation factors even when AR was misspecified and can identify a source of non-invariance using a covariate. AO can supplement CCFA to find non-invariant time points although AO requires a large number of persons. We provide detailed discussions and practical suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to ascertain the expectations and perceptions of engineering graduates regarding an engineering career in the world of work, and compare them to perspectives of academic leaders of the engineering disciplines in which these graduates studied. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study firstly entailed a quantitative survey of engineering graduates at a South African University during their graduation using a questionnaire and convenience sampling. Graduates' needs, aspirations, reason for pursuing engineering and their expectations of the workplace were determined and analysed using the Biggs' Study Motives and Strategies framework. The study thereafter attempted to ascertain the perspectives of academic leaders at the same university, drawing from their years of experience and liaison with industry partners. Academic leaders at the university were interviewed qualitatively. An interpretivist paradigm was considered using deductive thematic semantic analysis on various themes concerning their views on graduate and employer expectations, trends, training programmes, postgraduate study, outcomes and attributes. The study also drew upon findings by the university Quality Promotions and Assurance survey for further corroboration of findings. Key misalignments between graduates and academic leaders were identified and discussed. The main misalignments included guidance expectations, niche proficiencies and innovation expectations. Key causes included language barriers, lack of engineering drive, high workload and surface study strategies, and assessment changes. Recommendations for the university's role in mitigating many of the issues and mis-alignments were provided, along with recommendations for any possible future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Global Sport Management is the property of the Global Alliance of Marketing & Management Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human capital sourcing is a major determinant of firm effectiveness. We develop logic that favors a specialized sourcing strategy in which organizations emphasize one type of sourcing, focusing either on developing or acquiring human capital, as opposed to a balanced approach. We then identify characteristics and capabilities that lead firms to adopt one sourcing type over another. Additionally, we examine whether aligning sourcing decisions with organizational characteristics and capabilities relates to better performance. We use panel regression to examine how sourcing decisions ultimately impact performance. Results suggest that specialized sourcing relates to improved performance more strongly than does a balanced approach, that certain organizational capabilities are advantageous for specific types of sourcing, and that aligning sourcing strategy with organizational fit partially relates to greater organizational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Assessing libraries and library users and use: Proceedings of the 13th international conference Libraries in the Digital Age (LIDA) 16-20 June (pp. 21 - 32). http://ozk.unizd.hr/lida/files/LIDA 2014 Proceedings.pdf. Pinfield et al. ([39], p. 43, 46) reiterate the critical importance of "'softer' skills, such as ... relationship management and negotiation" and suggest academic libraries can build on their "strong consortial and partnership networks", but "Multi-professional collaborations within the library and partnerships beyond" will be crucial. Moving from transactional services to the relational model Throughout the 21st century, library thought leaders and sector-based organisations have been pushing libraries and librarians towards a more collaborative relational style of working that is both more personal and more social than traditional service models. Keywords: alignment; collaboration; partnership; relationship management; social capital EN alignment collaboration partnership relationship management social capital 1 10 10 04/07/23 20230101 NES 230101 Our profession is "Moving from collecting to connecting" (Kranich, Lotts, Nielsen, & Ward, [28], p, 285). [Extracted from the article]

This article scrutinizes the way the European Union's (EU) democracy aid corresponds to how "a just society" is negotiated among the Acholi – an ethnic group in Northern Uganda. Through document analysis of EU aid projects, qualitative interviews with project implementers and through secondary analysis of ethnographic literature, this article finds that EU democracy aid in Acholiland – through its emphasis on individual responsibility, entrepreneurship, and its exclusion of elders – selectively aligns with the life worlds of urban youths. Such approach, however, risks further antagonizing Acholi social cohesion. As such, this article points attention to the fact that democracy support will always intervene in a contentious debate on what is perceived as locally just and whom participates in such negotiation. When considering questions of how international democracy support could be improved, it is, therefore, necessary to first of all deconstruct the validity of one's underlying conceptions of what is a just political order, and secondly, to acknowledge that any reconstruction on the grounds of including a plurality of alternatives will always require a political intervention. Such considerations, it is argued, would open up the debate on improving EU democracy support to concerns of how such democracy support itself can become more democratic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated the language resources needed for communication in Vietnam's import/export services and the level of alignment with the associated English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course. To examine the communicative practices used in this workplace, the study employed methods of semi-structured interviews and a collection of 48 emails and eight phonecalls adopted to interact with customers. Similarly, semi-structured interviews and ESP teaching materials were administered to explore teachers' practices and the language input. The findings indicate an increasingly valuable variety of English as a lingua franca (ELF) which is identified in particular genres with different choices of registers and stylistic features adapted to communicative conditions in the fluid globalised workplace. Given the agility and unpredictability of work in a globalised setting, the analysis shows how the workers' mobile language repertoire is not tied to the criterion of linguistic accuracy, but rather favours the achievement of meaning and function. However, the adaptable, truncated 'good enough' language used in the workplace does not align with the lexicogrammatical focus of the ESP course. The study contributes to understandings of alignment in ESP curricula and materials redevelopment in times of globalisation and countries such as Vietnam where ELF is used for international interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to identify the microRNAs (miRNAs) expressed in the mammary tissue of a bubaline heifer. Small RNAs were isolated from the mammary gland tissue and enriched for miRNA fraction. The linker-ligated small RNAs were reverse transcribed to synthesize cDNA and amplified by PCR. The PCR products were ligated to the pGEM-T Easy vector; cloned into DH5 alpha cells and sequenced. Sequencing of 40 clones, randomly chosen from this library, produced 115 concatemerized short sequences. The short sequences were checked for their matches with the help of refseq_rna database, EST database (NCBI) and Ensembl. The analysis was performed for more than 90% identity with miRNAs across different species in miRBase. Alignment of putative small RNA sequences with the bovine genome was attempted in GenBank (NCBI) and Ensembl using BLAST. The small RNA sequences with a partial matches within the bovine genome and/or with flanking sequences (upstream or downstream) were analyzed for hairpin structures using the Mfold web server. Reverse complements were also assessed for the homology search. miRNA sequences showing only a partial match with already reported sequences were considered as a putative bubaline miRNAs. Six developmentally important putative miRNA precursors were identified from this study using cloning and sequencing followed by the Bioinformatics approach. This study will help in the elucidation of pathways involving miRNAs in bubaline species at the heifer stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has compounding effects on development, including direct and indirect impacts on food systems and human health. In the Pacific Islands region, the incidence of non-communicable diseases is among the highest in the world. Additionally, in policy documents, climate change features prominently among the issues most responsible for hindering development in the Pacific. Global discussions are now shifting towards a greater understanding and emphasis on the links between climate change, food systems, nutrition, health, and development. While these links are increasingly appreciated in research and practice, there is a need to understand which types of policy frameworks are best suited to address these issues in an integrated manner. This study was conducted by analyzing policy alignment and coherence in national level strategic planning instruments (policies, plans, and strategies) for two countries in the Pacific Islands region: Fiji and Vanuatu. Documents in the policy domains of development, agriculture, nutrition, health, and climate change were assessed to identify evidence of vertical (national to local), horizontal (between sectors), and integration across different thematic policy approaches (e.g. between economic development sustainable development approaches). By deconstructing the aims of different planning approaches and documents, and by mapping the relationships among them, it is possible to identify opportunities and gaps in the policy architecture that could be addressed in future planning cycles. The study identifies that policy alignment and coherence need to be explicitly addressed in the policy and planning design stage and included in monitoring and evaluation frameworks. The study also highlights the lag in the design and implementation of comprehensive food and nutrition security strategies in both countries and these lags can be linked to policy solutions for agriculture, health, and climate change. Key policy insights There is a need to explicitly consider policy alignment in the design stages of the policy cycle and set policy coherence as an explicit outcome to also be included in monitoring and evaluation frameworks. A lack of consideration of vertical, horizontal, and approach integration in planning and policy processes can lead to failures in the implementation of climate policy, thus delaying countries' efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Pacific Island countries have an opportunity to work towards use of policy frameworks that are able to provide comprehensive responses to the compounding effects of climate change on food systems, diets, health, and, more broadly, on development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States Congress in 1987 voted to enact the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) with the goal of encouraging U.S. businesses and other types of organizations to approach and deploy effective quality processes in the delivery of their products and services. The MBNQA provides a framework of internal assessment for companies to use in their planning and implementation of quality initiatives. Through this internal assessment process, company leadership gains a better understanding of the alignments/linkages within its operations to modify its processes for meeting or exceeding customer expectations and requirements. The purpose of the research is to examine the extent of the alignment between strategic planning processes and human resource processes. Eleven manufacturing companies were selected for a site visit. Each of these eleven companies represents a different industry sector, geographical location, and organizational size. A survey, documents search, and personal interviews were used to collect the data. The observations of the alignment between the two construct categories show mixed results and are dependent upon the specific statistical analysis used. Therefore, research questions R1 and R2 are not confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study models the alignment of supply chain complexity with product demand and design characteristics and formulates appropriate strategies to enhance supply chain alignment. An integrated theoretical framework linking all the three main constructs of supply chain complexity, namely, coordination, collaboration, and configuration, with product demand and design complexities is developed and empirically tested. Data were collected from a cross-industry sample of 273 Australian manufacturing firms and analysed using structural equation modelling. The results show that volatility of demand, product life cycle, and innovativeness directly impact on the complexity of supply chain collaboration. Product modularity, on the other hand, is more likely to indirectly influence supply chain collaboration through the mediating role of coordination. Higher complexity in product demand and design characteristics increases complexity in supply chain coordination and configuration while reducing complexity in supply chain collaboration. Based on the findings, a taxonomy is proposed to provide a reference frame for practitioners to formulate appropriate alignment strategies to manage or mitigate risk associated with growing supply chain complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reform efforts in developmental education have led to model-development of college literacy instruction without being informed by institution-specific investigations of whether, how, and to what extent new models align with the literacy rigors of next-level courses across pathways. Such work is essential to informing literacy programming at the college level. This manuscript describes a literacy curriculum audit approach that can be employed by faculty. This approach is a systematized method to determine what it means to be college-text ready based on the literacy demands, practices, and expectations in introductory-level general education and career technical education college courses. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2021.1971600. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates are chemically modified with bent-shaped molecules and influence of these surface immobilised molecules on the alignment of bulk liquid crystal (LC) samples has been investigated. Bent-core (BC) compounds containing a dimethylchlorosilane moiety at the end of a terminal alkyl chain and a lateral alkyl chain are successfully attached to transparent conducting ITO substrates in an end-on (ITO-BC-t) and side-on (ITO-BC-l) oriented fashion to create stable permanent self-assembled BC layers on the substrates. Surface functionalization is thoroughly characterised and aligning ability of these BC-modified ITO substrates for orientation of bulk LC sample is evaluated for nematic phase of both rod-like and BCLC samples. The BC-modified substrates are effective in aligning the rod-like compounds in vertical (ITO-BC-t), planar orientations (ITO-BC-l) and the BC compounds in homeotropic (ITO-BC-t) alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public development banks (PDBs) can accelerate SDGs implementation, by coupling their leverage capacity with systemic and cross-cutting 2030 Agenda alignment practices that catalyse real transformations in their behaviours and investments. This new research assesses how PDBs — from different sizes and geographies — have interpreted and are including sustainable development priorities in their day-to-day discussions, processes and operations. It shows that most PDBs have the interest and willingness to take the necessary steps to mainstream SDG priorities into their strategies and operations. Nonetheless, findings suggest that both strategic and operational endeavours are at the early stages of alignment. Identified innovative practices by PDBs leading the way, should now be shared among their peers in a view of harmonisation and coherence, as a crucial prerequisite to a scaled-up alignment. As for governments, shareholders and other stakeholders, they should also contribute to this alignment endeavour by an enhanced political backing and support to PDBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a 3D scanner to inspect a 3D print is becoming more significant as the spectrum of applications for fused filament fabrication expands. We use the tool path, which describes the 3D printing process, as the nominal data to evaluate the manufacturing errors. However, since the 3D print's coordinate system in the scan data is unknown, the 3D print must be aligned with the tool path before the nominal-actual comparison. Therefore, we present a novel alignment based on the 3D print's microstructure. The proposed method first estimates the build direction and then aligns the 3D print with the tool path along the build direction. Finally, each layer of the 3D print is aligned with its corresponding layer of the tool path in the horizontal direction. The alignment result can be confirmed through the slice view. In addition, the performance, extension, and applications of the proposed method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grounded in the knowledge of visual design and photography, this study examines the effects on viewers' purchase intention of two visual design techniques used with food items in food advertising – repetition and alignment. We propose cross-modal correspondences between visual appeal and taste perception as a psychological mechanism in viewers' visual information processing. Three studies were conducted to test the effects of the visual design principles and the proposed mediation of cross-modal correspondences. The findings of Study 1 and Study 2 reveal that repetition of food items enhanced viewers' likelihood of purchasing the presented food through cross-modal responses between vision and taste. The findings of Study 3 show that triangular alignment of repeated food items generated a higher level of aesthetic experience and influences purchase intention through serial mediating effects of visual appeal and taste perception. Overall, the results of the three studies confirm the proposed mediation of cross-modal correspondences between vision and taste when individuals process a food image. Theoretical and practical implications for food styling in marketing communication are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the passing performance of the diverging route of a turnout, a tentative idea of applying a superelevation transition on the guide curve is proposed. Based on the parameters of 1:42 turnout, the guide curve is modified with different combinations of horizontal alignment and superelevation. Superelevation is implemented by the way of decreasing the elevation of the inner rail. A multi-body dynamics model is devised to calculate the wheel-rail force, derailment coefficient and lateral stability coefficient under different velocities and curve conditions. By comparing the simulation results, it is concluded that the modification of guide curve, especially the application of superelevation, can optimise safety indices apparently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of grade-separated road and railway crossings can be complicated and time-consuming since the intersection point as well as the road and rail alignments should jointly optimize an objective such as minimum construction costs. Moreover, the design of grade-separated road and railway crossings should consider additional crossing constraints and possible revisions of the road alignments. However, research on alignment optimization with variable ends is scarce. In this article, a grade-separated road and railway crossing model is developed, the crossing point of which as well as both connection points with the road, are variable. Subsequently, by searching synchronously for the paths that connect different endpoints, a distance transform algorithm is applied. The effectiveness of the method is verified through a real-world case study. The results show that the proposed method can find various promising solutions that both satisfy multiple constraints and are considerable improvements on the designs produced by experienced human designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The angular distribution of the ions coming from Coulomb explosion following femtosecond ionisation of methyl iodide is studied in the spectral range of 600 to 1450 nm. Under these conditions, iodine and methyl fragment ions are generated, both via dissociative ionisation and via Coulomb explosion following the double ionisation of the parent ion. However, the dependence of the angular distribution of the fragment ions on the ionisation wavelength is completely different for those two mechanisms: dissociative ionisation fragments are being ejected with high anisotropy, irrespectively of the wavelength, while the angular distribution of the Coulomb explosion fragments changes from anisotropic, for an excitation wavelength close to 600 nm, to isotropic close to 950 nm, and remain isotropic up to 1450 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the school–work connection from the perspective of curriculum design. The aim was to uncover considerations underpinning the design of learning environments in vocational education. The research took place in the Netherlands. A focus group methodology was chosen to elicit designers' considerations, which generally remain largely implicit. These considerations concern the designable elements of learning environments: epistemic, spatial, temporal, and social elements. Design considerations were uncovered at each of the aggregation levels of a curriculum. At the macro-level, considerations referred to the connectivity between the contexts of school and work. Based on these considerations, different designs were chosen along the school–work continuum. At the meso-level, another continuum was found: the complexity in terms of practices involved in the learning environment. At the micro-level, concrete design considerations were revealed that designers take into account to strengthen the school–work connection. Thus, design considerations at three levels were made explicit. Moreover, the need for alignment between the designable elements and the curriculum levels became more apparent, leading to a deeper understanding of curriculum design for vocational education. This paper adds understanding of ways to strengthen the school–work connection and design future-proof vocational curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the use of laughter and smiling to manage (dis)affiliation during two types of disturbances in the interactional unfolding of classrooms: delayed and disaligning responses. The analysis reveals that the sequential position and embodied turn design are integral to understanding the (dis)affiliative work laughter and smiling do. Around delayed responses, a teacher and students smile and produce standalone laughter that orients to students not responding promptly in teacher-initiated sequences as well as to subsequent actions of the teacher. Following disaligning responses, students produce standalone laughter that orients affiliatively to the non-serious nature of disaligning turns. In contrast, the teacher's interpolated particles of aspiration and smile voice, while recognising the playfulness of disaligning turns, is more disaffiliative and precedes turns in which the teacher redirects the nature of the interaction seriously. Thus, the work that laughter does is not necessarily purely affiliative or disaffiliative but falls on a spectrum of (dis)affiliation. The analysis suggests that laughter and smiling are key resources in the management of sensitive moments in classroom interaction involving uncertainty, the mitigation of sensitive actions, and (dis)affiliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-Atlas™ is a new imaging technology intended to advance the state of the art in patient-specific instrumentation. It uses standard AP and lateral radiographs instead of CT or MRI scans to create 3D bone models, which can be used to perform pre-operative surgical planning and fabricate TKA personalized guides. The aim of this study was to validate X-Atlas™ and evaluate the accuracy of personalized guides created with this imaging technology. Its ability to predict implant size was also determined. The accuracy of the X-Atlas™ imaging technology was evaluated by comparing the landmarks of X-Atlas™ 3D Bone models to MRI-reconstructed bone models. The accuracy of PSI guides created with X-Atlas™ (X-PSI™ guides) was evaluated during a validation study (16 specimen knees) and a clinical study (50 patients; Health Canada #CSU2015-12K). Optical navigation was used to measure positioning accuracy. In addition, the ability of X-Atlas™ to predict implant size was assessed. The accuracy of the X-Atlas™ imaging technology was below 0.87 and 1.28 mm for the femoral and tibial landmarks, respectively. The accuracy of X-PSI™ guides to reproduce the pre-operative planned HKA was within ± 3° in 100% and 86.1% of cases, for the laboratory and clinical study respectively, which was significantly better than historical data for conventional instrumentation. X-Atlas™ was able to predict implant size to ± 1 size in 95.6% and 100%, for the femur and tibia component respectively. The X-Atlas™ imaging technology demonstrated excellent accuracy for reconstructing a 3D bone model. The results show that PSI guides created with X-Atlas™ (X-PSI™ guides) provide greater implant positioning accuracy than conventional instrumentation, without the requirement of advanced imaging. Furthermore, the X-Atlas™ imaging technology could effectively predict implant sizing, potentially reducing the number of instrument trays and improving surgical efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this preregistered study, we investigate whether themes conveyed by task partners' narratives reveal semantic relationships between objects that would otherwise be perceived as unrelated. Such ad-hoc formation of thematic relations should result in semantic interference when naming objects related to the theme in a blocked-cyclic naming paradigm. Participants watch pre-recorded videos of presumed partners narrating real-life events, and then name pictures either thematically related or unrelated to the narrative. Experiments 1 and 2 (N = 32 each) demonstrate semantic interference between objects related to the partner's narrative. Interestingly, this effect emerges only when unrelated pictures are named first. Interference is greatly attenuated, or even turns into facilitation when related pictures are named directly after the partner's narrative. Experiment 3 (N = 32) confirms that semantic context effects disappear when the objects cannot be related to the narrative. Our results demonstrate how flexible semantic processing adapts to context communicated by a task partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), the leading accreditation body for construction degree programs, formally approved new student learning outcome (SLO) based standards. As degree programs across the country begin to adopt these guidelines, it is important to assess the ability of these SLOs to address the needed knowledge base for new college graduates. This study is an attempt to gauge perceptions of ACCE’s Bachelor Degree SLOs and identify similarities and/or differences in both topic importance and cognition level recommendations between industry practitioners, faculty, and students. The data indicate that while there is strong alignment within each stakeholder group, there are few areas of agreement on topic importance between groups outside of the top and bottom ranking items. These include the highest importance being assigned to analyzing construction documents for planning and management of construction processes; and, the lowest importance generally being sustainable principles and surveying. The data also indicate that there is generally strong agreement between all stakeholders on the cognition levels for most SLOs. Lastly, the data reveal that there is no correlation between an SLO’s perceived importance and its expected cognition level – an indicator that there is no association between knowledge breadth and depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates a simple approach for controlling the pretilt angles of liquid crystals (LCs) using gelator-doped cells fabricated with homogeneously aligned substrates. The competition between the gelator-induced spontaneous vertical alignment and planar alignment layer coated on the substrates results in various pretilt angles of LCs. The LC pretilt angle can thus be controlled from a homeotropic to planar state by adjusting the anchoring energy of the planar alignment layer and gelator concentration used for doping. A no-bias pi cell with multistable property is demonstrated by utilizing the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CsPbBr3/SiO2 perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), which exhibit good stability in water, air, and light, are synthesised using the water-trigger method. Due to the interaction between the long alkyl ligands of the PQDs and the liquid crystal, the liquid-crystal molecules prefer to align perpendicular to the surface of the PQDs, which disturbs the liquid crystal order and decreases its clearing point. The effect of CsPbBr3/SiO2 PQDs on the electro-optical properties and physical parameters of a nematic liquid crystal are investigated. The dielectric anisotropy (Δε) and splay elastic constant (K11) decrease substantially with increasing concentration of PQDs. PQDs, which are doped into the liquid crystal, can effectively reduce the threshold voltage (Vth), which opens possibilities to reduce energy consumption in many optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with closure systems defined on groups such that the product of any two closed sets is again closed. The main objective of this paper is to show that if enough "small" subsets are closed, then all subsets are closed. It is shown that this is true for groups without any elements of order 2 provided all 2-element subsets are closed. The same holds for all Abelian groups with one exception: Boolean groups with the closed sets taken to be the cosets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a computational model for a discontinuous fibre composite manufacturing process. The alignment mechanism of this novel process, called the High Performance Discontinuous Fibre (HiPerDiF) method, involves highly coupled fluid–structure interactions. Fibres with a length on the order of a few millimetres are placed in a water suspension, sprayed between two parallel plates and deposited on a moving belt to make an aligned discontinuous fibre tape. This technology can be used as part of a composites recycling process to remanufacture reclaimed fibres into valuable recycled composite feedstock by ensuring a high level of alignment. This work aims to model the alignment mechanism using smoothed particle hydrodynamics in order to inform the design of the industrial machine. The results reveal the influence of jet angle and fibre length on the overall quality of fibre alignment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the proliferation of available electronic service channels for information systems (IS) users such as mobile or intranet services in companies, service interactions between IS users and IS professionals have become an increasingly important factor for organizational business-IT alignment. Despite the increasing relevance of such interactions, the implications of agreement or disagreement on the fulfillment of critical service quality factors for successful alignment and higher user satisfaction are far from being well understood. While prior research has extensively studied the question of matching different viewpoints on IS service quality in organizations, little or no attention has been paid to the role of perceptual congruence or incongruence in the dyadic relationship between IS professionals and users in forming user satisfaction with the IS function. Drawing on cognitive dissonance theory, prospect theory, and perceptual congruence research, this study examines survey responses from 169 matching pairs of IS professionals and users in different organizations and explains how perceptual fit patterns affect user satisfaction with the IS function. The paper demonstrates that perceptual congruence can, in and of itself, have an impact on user satisfaction, which goes beyond what was found before. Moreover, the results of the study reveal the relevance of nonlinear and asymmetric effect mechanisms arising from perceptual (in)congruence that may affect user satisfaction. This study extends our theoretical understanding of the role of perceptual alignment or misalignment on IS service quality factors in forming user satisfaction and lays the foundation for further study of the interplay between perceptions in the dyadic relationship between IS professionals and IS users. Managers who seek to encourage particular behaviors by the IS professionals or IS users may use the results of this study to reconcile the often troubled business-IT relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting metro gauge is very important for the safe operation of the subway. In this study, we design a low-cost metro tunnel mobile scanning system (MDS-TJ-1), which integrates a laser profile scanner with an inertial measure unit and an odometer to provide positioning and attitude parameters of the trajectory. The Lagrange interpolation is used to accomplish the time unification of different sensors. A dynamic alignment scheme for profile scanner is proposed based on the designed plane reflector target with high reflectivity. The error accumulation of the odometer is corrected by recognising the tunnel longitudinal joints, and finish the multi-source data fusion. The horizontal ray method is developed to process the metro gauge inspection. The experiment results show that the alignment accuracy of scanner is within 8 mm, the inner coincidence of the point cloud is within 3 cm, and the average error of the gauge inspection is 7.8 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper challenges 'the myth' of the demise of Arab nationalism after the Arab–Israeli War in 1967 that appears in the scholarship of international relations of the Middle East (IRME). I argue instead that Arab nationalism plays a constitutive role in ideologically linking the issue of Bahrain's post-colonial state sovereignty and foreign policy on alignment, showing its political salience after 1967 in what I call 'the Juffair dilemma': the Al Khalifa regime's dilemma in aligning with the US after Bahrain's formal independence. Drawing on Antonio Gramsci's 'national-popular collective will' to re-conceptualise Arab nationalism, the paper further argues that the impact of Arab nationalism on Bahrain's alignment was revealed through a political struggle between the Al Khalifa regime and the Bahraini New Arab Left, corresponding to wider regional and international anti-imperialist movements in the context of the Cold War. This struggle manifested Arab nationalism as a non-collective will, in which ideological disconnections existed between 'the people' and the regime, in Bahrain. It then created the context where the issue of alignment was related to the contestation of sovereignty and the Palestinian question, which was the source of the Al Khalifa regime's dilemma in making alignment with the US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]