bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual differences in reading comprehension and off-task thought relate to perceptually-coupled and decoupled cognition
Authors: Zhang Meichao , Savill Nicola , Margulies Daniel S. , Smallwood Jonathan , Jefferies Elizabeth
Published: August 2018

Although the default mode network (DMN) is associated with off-task states, recent evidence shows it can support tasks. This raises the question of how DMN activity can be both beneficial and detrimental to task performance. The decoupling hypothesis proposes that these opposing states occur because DMN supports modes of cognition driven by external input, as well as retrieval states unrelated to input. To test this account, we capitalised on the fact that during reading, regions in DMN are thought to represent the meaning of words through their coupling with visual cortex; the absence of visual coupling should occur when the attention drifts off from the text. We examined individual differences in reading comprehension and off-task thought while participants read an expository text in the laboratory, and related variation in these measures to (i) the neural response during reading in the scanner (Experiment 1), and (ii) patterns of intrinsic connectivity measured in the absence of a task (Experiment 2). The responsiveness of a region of DMN in middle temporal gyrus (MTG) to orthographic inputs during reading predicted good comprehension, while intrinsic decoupling of the same site from visual cortex at rest predicted more frequent off-task thought. In addition, good comprehension was associated with greater intrinsic connectivity between MTG and medial prefrontal regions also within DMN, demonstrating that DMN coupling can support task performance, not only off-task states. These findings indicate that the opposing roles of DMN in cognition reflect its capacity to support both perceptually-coupled and decoupled cognition.
A Bayesian Two-Way Latent Structure Model for Genomic Data Integration Reveals Few Pan-Genomic Cluster Subtypes in a Breast Cancer Cohort
Authors: Swanson David M. , Lien Tonje , Bergholtz Helga , Sørlie Therese , Frigessi Arnoldo
Published: August 2018

Motivation

Unsupervised clustering is important in disease subtyping, among having other genomic applications. As genomic data has become more multifaceted, how to cluster across data sources for more precise subtyping is an ever more important area of research. Many of the methods proposed so far, including iCluster and Cluster of Cluster Assignments, make an unreasonble assumption of a common clustering across all data sources, and those that do not are fewer and tend to be computationally intensive.

Results

We propose a Bayesian parametric model for integrative, unsupervised clustering across data sources. In our two-way latent structure model, samples are clustered in relation to each specific data source, distinguishing it from methods like Cluster of Cluster Assignments and iCluster, but cluster labels have across-dataset meaning, allowing cluster information to be shared between data sources. A common scaling across data sources is not required, and inference is obtained by a Gibbs Sampler, which we improve with a warm start strategy and modified density functions to robustify and speed convergence. Posterior interpretation allows for inference on common clusterings occurring among subsets of data sources. An interesting statistical formulation of the model results in sampling from closed-form posteriors despite incorporation of a complex latent structure. We fit the model with Gaussian and more general densities, which influences the degree of across-dataset cluster label sharing. Uniquely among integrative clustering models, our formulation makes no nestedness assumptions of samples across data sources so that a sample missing data from one genomic source can be clustered according to its existing data sources.

We apply our model to a Norwegian breast cancer cohort of ductal carcinoma in-situ and invasive tumors, comprised of somatic copy-number alteration, methylation and expression datasets. We find enrichment in the Her2 subtype and ductal carcinoma among those observations exhibiting greater cluster correspondence across expression and CNA data. In general, there are few pan-genomic clusterings, suggesting that models assuming a common clustering across genomic data sources might yield misleading results.

Implementation and Availability

The model is implemented in an R package called twl (“two-way latent”), available on CRAN. Data for analysis is available within the R package.

Contact

david.swanson@medisin.uio.no

Supplementary Material

Appendices are available online and include additional Breast Cancer subtyping analysis and model runs, comparison with leading integrative clustering methods, fully general statistical formulation and description of improvements of the Gibbs sampler.
Physico-chemical characteristics and sensory evaluation of wheat bread partially substituted with sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) flour
Authors: Mitiku Demelash Hailu , Abera Solomon , Bussa Nugusse , Abera Tilahun
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of partial substitution of wheat flour with sweet potato flour on the nutrient composition and sensory properties of bread.

Design/methodology/approach

Sweet potato flour was blended with wheat flour at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 percent levels of substitution for bread production. Proximate, minerals and antinutritional factors of the breads were investigated using AOAC methods. Sensory evaluation was carried out by a panel of 50 consumers. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated by Tukey’s comparison test at p <0.05. Results were reported as mean ± SD.

Findings

The nutritional and sensory quality of bread made from wheat flour supplemented with sweet potato flour at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 percent was investigated. Blending of sweet potato flour with wheat flour had significantly decreased the protein content (4.76–7.78 percent) while the ash (1.35–3.07 percent), crude fiber (0.24–1.03), carbohydrate contents (88.39–90.45 percent), iron, zinc, phosphorus and vitamin A contents were significantly increased ( p<0.05) with increasing sweet potato flour in the formulations. The tannin and phytate contents of the composite breads were low. Sensory evaluation of the breads revealed a mild reduction of the bread’s general acceptability with increase in the substitution level by sweet potato flour.

Originality/value

This study showed that the wheat flour used in making breads could be substituted with up to 15 percent sweet potato flour without compromising its nutritional quality, with only a mild reduction in sensory quality.
Food, nutrient, and energy waste among school students
Authors: Kowalewska Maria Teresa , Kołłajtis-Dołowy Anna
Published: August 2018

Purpose

According to a study by European Commission, 88m tons of food waste are generated per year, of which 46.5m tons are wasted by households. Households still remain the main source of food waste (53 percent). The purpose of this paper is to estimate households’ food waste and wastage-related losses of energy and nutrients among middle school students as well as assess educational intervention regarding food waste prevention.

Design/methodology/approach

The study included 555 students from 11 schools in Poland. The study was conducted using the survey questionnaire and the three-day record of food waste. The interventional group filled a questionnaire before and after of education as well as after three months of intervention.

Findings

Students waste 23 g of food per day. The most wasted products are: potatoes, bread, fruits and vegetable as well as meet and ham. Energy losses from leftovers are less than 1–10 percent. Losses of nutritional value along with wastages were the highest for vitamin C, but also for dietary fiber, potassium and folate. Food waste education was nearly twice as strong in study group with films intervention, than those who received only a leaflet for parents.

Research limitations/implications

Middle school students are responsible for households’ food waste and contribute to energy and nutrition losses. Educational intervention is more effective, while using multimedia methods and need to be continued.

Practical implications

The paper is a scientific study and addressed to the scientific audience. However, due to the problem of households’ food waste, general public could be also interested.

Social implications

Food waste is an element of waste management. Studying the scale of food waste and waste related behavior can help to better understand causes of food waste. The search for ways to limit food waste, through education address to young people, can be an effective method of prevention of waste. The UN has established 17 new development goals for the years 2015–2030 (United Nations, 2015). One of them (Goal 12) is focused on ensuring sustainable consumption and production. It means halving food waste at the retail and consumer levels and food losses at the production and post-harvest stages by 2030.

Originality/value

There are few publications available about food waste including energy and nutrients waste. This study shows the scale of household waste, the quantity and type of wasted products and causes of disposal. Also, the way of handling with food waste at homes was examined. It is also important to draw attention to the responsibility of young people in wasting food, which was examined in the paper.
Male Korean workers eating out at dinner
Authors: Kim So-young , Kang Minji
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the nutritional quality of dinnertime meals eaten out of home (OH) vs those eaten at home by male Korean workers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study included 1,634 male Korean workers aged between 19 and 64 years among 15,508 individuals who participated in a 24-hour dietary recall through the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to 2014. The study participants were classified and analyzed according to the place where dinner had been prepared: out-of-home group (OHG) (n=659) and at-home group (AHG) (n=975).

Findings

Young male white-collar workers who are unmarried with a higher level of education and income were more likely to eat OH at dinner. The OHG consumed more energy, fat, and sodium, but less carbohydrate at dinner than the AHG. The contribution of dinner to daily energy and macronutrient intakes, except for carbohydrate, was higher in the OHG. Additionally, the study results suggested that the OHG was less likely to consume a traditional Korean meal at dinner. Overall, the nutritional quality of dinnertime meals eaten OH had greater potential to lead to negative effects on nutrition and health.

Originality/value

This study highlights OH eating among male Korean workers as an important arena in which strategies for healthier eating can be deployed when establishing worksite health promotion or related national nutrition policies.
Prediction of texture in different beef cuts applying image analysis technique
Authors: Pieniazek Facundo , Roa Andino Agustina , Messina Valeria
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Measuring texture parameters are time consuming and expensive; it is necessary to develop an efficient and rapid method to evaluate them. Image analysis can be a useful tool. The purpose of this paper is to predict texture parameters in different beef cuts applying image analysis techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Texture parameters were analyzed by instrumental, image analysis techniques and by Warner–Bratzler shear force.

Findings

Significant differences (p<0.05) were obtained for image and instrumental texture features. Higher amount of porous were observed in freeze dried samples of beef cuts from Gluteus Medius and semintendinosus muscles. A linear trend with a linear correlation was applied for instrumental and image texture. High correlations were found between image and instrumental texture features. Instrumental parameters showed a positive correlation with image texture feature.

Originality/value

This research suggests that the addition of image texture features improves the accuracy to predict texture parameter. The prediction of quality parameters can be performed easily with a computer by recognizing attributes within an image.
Effects of CCL inorganic filler on hole performance in PCB drilling process
Authors: Du Cuiming , Xing Yanxia , Hao Liangpeng , Hu Peng , Chai Songgang
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate and document the effects of copper-clad laminate (CCL) inorganic filler on the hole performance in printed circuit boards drilling process.

Design/methodology/approach

Drilling of brittle laminates can result in hole cracking, layer-to-layer delamination and drill-bit wear and tool breakage. Adding large amount of fillers not only shortens the life of the drilling tool but also affects the drilling properties significantly regarding hole quality. This paper introduces the influence of filler content, type, hardness, particle size and the compounding method in the manufacture of the CCL on the drilling performance.

Findings

The filler content, filler type, hardness of filler, particle size of filler and the compounding method used for the filler have a great influence on the drilling properties of CCL. The higher the filler content, the larger the particle size and the more the hardness of the filler, the worse the drilling properties. The combination of hard particles like silica with softer particles can improve the drilling performance of CCL.

Originality/value

The paper describes what affects the drilling performance of CCL and how this knowledge can be used to design CCL with good drilling performance.
Analyzing prediction market trading behaviour to select Delphi-experts
Authors: Kloker Simon , Klatt Frederik , Höffer Jan , Weinhardt Christof
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The selection of experts for Delphi studies is crucial for the quality of the forecast results and the information taken into account. In the past, this has usually been done by selecting participants according to their reputation, although this approach is questionable in terms of reaching the most knowledgeable participants having new, relevant and valid information. In this context, this paper aims to propose to operate a prediction market alongside Delphi studies and select participants based on their trading behaviour in the market for the Delphi study.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on more than three years of historical prediction market trading data, the authors verify attributes that indicate insightful trades, as previously discussed in the finance literature, by using regression and classification trees.

Findings

The paper contributes attributes of trading behaviour that are theoretically derived from literature and potentially related to informed traders. These are tested and evaluated on historical prediction market data. Especially, the trading volume, the spread at the moment of trading and the market maker attribute seem to predict informed traders the best.

Originality/value

Algorithms based on identified attributes can be used to objectify the selection of experts for Delphi studies with potential gains in terms of the amount of information considered.
Improving weekend review for trauma and elective orthopaedic patients in the post-operative period
Authors: Khoury Alexandra , Jones Mark , Buckle Christopher , Williamson Mark , Slater Guy
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Weekend surgery carries higher mortality than weekday surgery, with complications most commonly arising within the first 48 hours. There is a reduced ability to identify complications at the weekend, with early signs going undetected in the absence of thorough early patient review, particularly in the elderly with multiple co-morbidities. Weekend working practices vary amongst UK hospitals and specialties. The weekend effect has been a prominent feature in the literature over the past decade. The purpose of this paper is to identify the number of patients undergoing weekend surgery who receive a Day 1 post-operative review and improve this outcome by implementing an effective change.

Design/methodology/approach

It was observed that not all patients undergoing surgery on a Friday or Saturday at the authors’ District General Hospital were receiving Day 1 post-operative review by a clinician. A retrospective audit was carried out to identify percentage of patients reviewed on post-operative Day 1 at the weekend. A change in handover practice was implemented before re-audit.

Findings

In Phase 1, 54 per cent of patients received Day 1 post-operative reviews at the weekend against a set standard of 100 per cent. A simple change to handover practice was implemented to improve patient safety in the immediate post-operative period resulting in 96 per cent of patients reviewed on Day 1 post-operatively at re-audit.

Originality/value

This study confirms that simple changes in handover practices can produce effective and translatable improvements to weekend working. This further contributes to the body of literature that acknowledges the existence of a weekend effect, but aims to evolve weekend working practices to accommodate improvement within current staffing and resource availability by maximising efficiency and communication.
Does poverty lead to crime? Evidence from the United States of America
Authors: Imran Mohammed , Hosen Mosharrof , Chowdhury Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Economic hardship and crime is always a debatable issue in the political economy literature. Some authors define poverty leads to crime some are completely opposite. The purpose of this paper is to find out the impact of poverty on crime in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Using time series data of USA over the period from 1965 to 2016, this study applies autoregressive distributed lag approach to identify the effect of poverty on crime.

Findings

The outcomes confirm a positive co-integrating relationship between poverty and property crime. It can be argued that poverty ultimately leads property crime in long run in the USA. However, unemployment and GDP exhibit neither long-run nor short-run relationship with property crime and they are not cointegrated for the calculated period.

Research limitations/implications

The subject of this paper helps to explain and analyze the nexus between poverty and crime in the USA.

Practical implications

Government and policymakers should focus more on poverty rather than unemployment alone to control property crime.

Originality/value

This study attempts to identify the consequences of economic hardship and poverty on the crime in the advanced economy like USA.
Poverty and technical efficiency in presence of heterogeneity in household behaviours
Authors: Islam Md. Sariful , Haider Mohammed Ziaul
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between poverty and technical efficiency (TE) of paddy farmers in presence of their heterogeneous selling behaviours. This paper explains how such behavioural heterogeneity affects this relationship in south-western Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

Translog production frontier model was used to estimate TE since it fitted the data set better. On the other hand, poverty indices were constructed by using P-αmethod. Then, multinomial logit models examined the existence of heterogeneous selling behaviours. It revealed adequate evidences in favour of behavioural heterogeneity. Finally, the authors employed a series of two stage instrumental variable regression models to relate poverty and TE with and without considering the behavioural heterogeneity.

Findings

The study finds that around 18, 39 and 44 per cent of households exhibit autarkic, non-wholesaling and wholesaling behaviour, respectively. Market failure due to transaction cost and credit constraints leads to emergence of such heterogeneity. Across these heterogeneous behaviours, impact of improving TE on poverty status significantly differs. Without controlling behavioural heterogeneity, TE significantly improves the poverty status of the rural farm households. However, scenario is changed after controlling this heterogeneity. After behavioural segregations, TE improves poverty status only for wholesalers. In contrary to prior expectation, it worsens the poverty situation for both autarkic and non-wholesaling households. Simultaneous failure in both credit and product market for these households might be the plausible reason behind this heterodox finding. Credit market failure compels these households to borrow from local money lenders with costlier terms. This effort might improve their TE. But, product market failure makes their additional production due to improved TE unsold. Thus, repayment of credit directly reduces their consumption expenditure. Therefore, an effort to improve TE might increase prevalence and depth of poverty when market failure exists. Henceforth, the improvement of TE appears as an effective policy instrument only when households exhibit wholesaling behaviour.

Originality/value

The earlier studies show the relationship between TE and poverty status but did not account behavioural heterogeneity. The authors attempt to overcome this shortcoming and show how market failure induced behavioural heterogeneity affects the effectiveness of TE on improving poverty status of farm households.
Child labor and family structure: the role of divorce
Authors: de Mesquita Shirley Pereira , de Farias Souza Wallace Patrick Santos
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of family structure on child labor by comparing children of nuclear families headed by the father with children of single-mother families headed by the divorced mother.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses data from Brazilian urban areas provided by the Brazilian Demographic Census of 2010. The empirical approach consists of the estimation of three treatment effect models: the Average Treatment Effect, IV Treatment Effect and Two-Stage Estimator proposed by Lewbel (2012).

Findings

The main findings show that children of single-mother families headed by divorced mothers are more likely to work, compared to children living with both parents. This paper found evidence of a direct effect of family structure parents’ determinant on child participation in labor. The main hypothesis is that the absence of the father paired with exposure to family stress arising from marital dissolution is an indicator toward child labor.

Practical implications

This study implies that in order to combat child labor effectively, it is important to understand deeply its several causes and consider ruptures in family structure, such as divorce, as one of these factors. In addition, location and family’s characteristics also play a role on the decision of child labor. For instance, boys living at metropolis areas have less chance to work. Family’s head education and non-work income affects positively the child well-being by reducing the probability of child labor. On the other hand, the number of siblings increases the chance of child labor. Finally, the results of this study suggest policies to raise awareness among parents about the negative effects of child labor on children during both childhood and adulthood, and that social policies need to act beyond legislation and enforcement, but including family mobilization.

Originality/value

This paper estimates the impact of family structure on child labor using an empirical approach to deal with the endogeneity problem of the treatment.
The effect of boronizing heat treatment on the slurry erosion of AISI 5117
Authors: Abdelrhman Yasser , Abouel-Kasem Ahmed , Emara Karam , Ahmed Shemy
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the relationship between the slurry erosion and one of the case hardening treatments, i.e. boronizing in this study, for AISI-5117 steel alloy. AISI-5117 steel alloy was used because of its variety applications in the field of submarine equipment. Most of the slurry erosion factors such as velocity, impact angle and mechanism of erosion were studied at different impact angles.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, the samples were prepared and subjected to the boronizing treatment in controlled atmosphere. By using a slurry erosion test-rig, all experiments for studying the slurry erosion factors were carried out. Moreover, the studied specimens were investigated via scanning electron microscope, optical microscope and X-ray diffraction to study the erosion mechanism in the different conditions.

Findings

It was expected that the boronization of the AISI-5117 steel would increase its slurry erosion resistance due to its positive impact on the surface hardness. However, the results observed show the opposite, where the boronization of AISI-5117 steel decreased its slurry erosion resistance as implied by the increase of the mass loss percentage at all impact angles.

Originality/value

This research, for the first time, exhibits the effect of boronizing treatment on the slurry erosion in different impact factors accompanied by the erosion mechanism at each impact angle.
A closed-form contact model for gas face seals during the opened operation
Authors: Hu Songtao , Brunetiere Noel , Huang Weifeng , Shi Xi , Peng Zhike , Liu Xiangfeng , Wang Yuming
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Face contact has a strong impact on the service life of non-contacting gas face seals; the current research which mainly focuses on the face contact had appeared during the startup or shutdown operation. This paper aims to present a closed-form contact model of a gas face seal during the opened operation.

Design/methodology/approach

Referring to the axial rub-impact model of rotor dynamics, a closed-form contact model is developed under a nonparallel plane contact condition that corresponds to the local face contact of sealing rings arising from some disturbances during the opened operation. The closed-form contact model and a direct numerical contact model are performed on Gaussian surfaces to compare the contact behavior.

Findings

The closed-form contact model is in a good agreement with the direct numerical contact model. However, the closed-form contact model cannot involve the influence of grooves on the sealing ends. The error is eliminated in some other types of gas face seals such as coned gas face seals. Besides non-contacting face seals, the closed-form model can be applied to the axial rub impact of rotor dynamics.

Originality value

A closed-form contact model of a gas face seal is established during the opened operation. The closed-form contact model is validated by a direct numerical contact model. The closed-form contact model also suits for axial rub-impact of rotor dynamics.
Social media privacy concerns: trusting beliefs and risk beliefs
Authors: Koohang Alex , Paliszkiewicz Joanna , Goluchowski Jerzy
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a research model that examines social media privacy concerns (SMPC) in relation to users’ trusting beliefs and risk beliefs.

Design/methodology/approach

An instrument with eight constructs (SMPC: collection, SMPC: secondary usage, SMPC: errors, SMPC: improper access, SMPC: control, SMPC: awareness, trusting beliefs and risk beliefs) was developed and administered to subjects from a mid-sized university in the USA. Collected data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results showed that three of the six SMPC (i.e. secondary usage, improper access and awareness) were negatively and significantly associated with users’ trusting beliefs. In addition, three of the six SMPC (i.e. collection, errors and improper access) were positively and significantly associated with users’ risk beliefs.

Practical implications

Practical implications were aimed at the social media sites to design simple and straightforward privacy policy statements that are easy to understand; to safeguard users’ online privacy behaviors; and to develop mechanisms to protect personal information.

Originality/value

This study enhances the literature by contributing to a generalized knowledge of SMPC of users as they relate to their trusting beliefs and risk beliefs.
Deal proneness and national culture: evidence from the USA, Thailand and Kenya
Authors: Sharma Dheeraj , Singh Satyendra
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Culture is one of the critical variables in explaining consumer behavior and consumer response to external stimuli. The purpose of this paper is to delineate the relationship between deal proneness and culture. Specifically, this paper examines the relationship between Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, namely, power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity and uncertainty avoidance, and deal proneness. Additionally, the role of store image as a moderator between culture and deal proneness is explored. Finally, the paper offers prescriptive and descriptive insights for marketers to consider cultural perspectives when promoting products internationally. A clear understanding of cultural influences on deal proneness will allow marketers to target specific customer segments more accurately.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from consumers in shopping malls in USA, Thailand, and Kenya. The authors analyzed the data using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The authors found that societies with a high femininity index are more likely to respond to deals than masculine societies. An inverse relationship between the Power Distance Index (PDI) and deal proneness may exist, suggesting that societies with a high PDI may be less deal prone. The authors found that individualism index is positively related to deal proneness, and thus societies with a low individualism index should be more deal prone. Finally, individuals in high uncertainty avoidance countries are expected to exhibit low deal prone tendencies.

Research limitations/implications

The study utilized a sample from cities. Consequently, future studies may attempt to validate the relationship posited in this study by utilizing non-urban data. Additionally, the authors look at stores in a mall. Thus, there is a possibility of interaction between mall image and store image. It may be useful to validate the findings of this study by using data from stand alone stores and also examine the interaction effect of mall image and store image on the deal proneness in a given culture.

Practical implications

This study suggests that appropriate store selection for offering deals can possibly augment the effectiveness of deal-based promotions. Specifically, choice of store can alter the context, and thus the perception of the value proposition could increase, which in turn is likely to increase the acceptance of deal-based promotion.

Originality/value

Although several researchers have also examined differences in consumer behavior across cultures yet it appears that there is no direct study that examines the effects of cultural differences on deal proneness using data from three countries (USA, Thailand, and Kenya) which are diverse on all dimensions of national culture. This paper examines the influence of national culture on individual’s propensity to exhibit deal proneness. Furthermore, the paper examines the role of store image on the relationship between national culture and deal proneness.
Digitalization and its influence on business model innovation
Authors: Rachinger Michael , Rauter Romana , Müller Christiana , Vorraber Wolfgang , Schirgi Eva
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Increased digitalization has influenced various business activities including companies’ business models (BMs) by enabling various new forms of cooperation between companies and leading to new product and service offerings as well as new forms of company relationships with customers and employees. At the same time, this digitalization has put pressure on companies to reflect on their current strategy and explore new business opportunities systematically and at early stages. While research on digitalization in the context of BMs is now gaining increased attention, a research gap still exists in this field since the number of empirical insights is limited. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative empirical data collected from 12 key informants working in two distinctive industries, the media and automotive industries, were collected. An investigation was carried out to examine the differences and similarities among how digitalization influences a company’s value creation, proposition and capture, as well as how firms cope with challenges presented by increased digitalization.

Findings

The findings of the study show that, whilst digitalization is generally considered to be important, the value proposition itself as also the position in the value network determine the perceived available options for business model innovation (BMI) by digitalization. Moreover, the organizational capacities and employee competences were identified as future challenges that will be faced by both industries.

Originality/value

The findings of this study have revealed that representatives of the media and automotive industries perceive both the pressures and opportunities of digitalization regarding BMI; its application and exploitation, however, remain challenging. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical insights in the context of digitalization and BMI.
Building maps: GIS and student engagement
Authors: McGinn Emily , Duever Meagan
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to detail the use of ESRs ArcMap in the undergraduate history classroom, as an example of pedagogical inquiry and as a method for integrating digital humanities (DH) tools and methods directly into humanities research and pedagogy.

Design/methodology/approach

This class is an example of pedagogical inquiry and a method for integrating DH tools and methods directly into humanities research and pedagogy.

Findings

With this approach, students see the immediate application of DH to traditional humanities objects of study and aid these in the pursuit of innovative research questions and methods.

Originality/value

The use of DH in traditional humanities classrooms as a central concept with experts from the libraries integrated into course design and project planning is unique and is a model that could be implemented at other institutions.
Evaluating indicators for international manufacturing network under circular economy
Authors: Mishra Shraddha , Singh Surya Prakash , Johansen John , Cheng Yang , Farooq Sami
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find the driving factors for effective and efficient management of international manufacturing network (IMN) which has become increasingly important due to the intensive competition existing in the manufacturing industry. This paper presents a magnified view of different constructs of IMN and identifies the qualitative factors which are broadly classified under different constructs like political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental.

Design/methodology/approach

Principal component analysis is applied to club identified factors into political, economic, social, technological and legal categories. PESTLE–SWOT approach is used to shortlist the identified factors using the elimination algorithm. Using analytical hierarchy process, weightages and rank of the identified factors are evaluated. Interpretive structural modeling is applied to understand inter-relationship among factors, and to analyze the driving power and dependence of the factors.

Findings

The results obtained from the above approaches are compared to identify most significant factors and the list of IMN enablers is presented using Venn Diagram. Government stability, Economic freedom, economic stability, environmental sustainability and raw material availability are coming out to be the driving factors across all techniques. Finally, the paper provides weights of the driving indicators common across all multi-criteria decision-making techniques considered.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed work provides significant information about the qualitative factors needed to be considered while designing and developing IMN. As identified by literature review and through expert opinions, not all 29 factors responsible for IMN development are crucial. Many factors are either interdependent or driven by others. The paper provides a useful analysis about the driving factors that need to be taken into account.

Originality/value

The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the IMN enablers. Furthermore, it provides managerial and theoretical implications to deal with the complexities encountered while establishing IMN.
Social studies without walls: engaging students in online collaboration across district lines
Authors: Freedman Eric B. , Willigan Lauren , Glading Randall , Rainville Kristin N.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Intercultural dialogue and collaboration are critical to social studies education. Yet over the past 30 years, schools in the USA have grown increasingly segregated by race and class. The purpose of this paper is to offer a possible response based in digital technology.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors describe a project called Classes Without Walls that links elementary schools in wealthy suburbs with those in impoverished urban centers. Students at the two schools engage in collaborative activities through online video conferencing.

Findings

The authors explore two sample lessons in depth: a virtual town tour and a social demographics scavenger hunt.

Originality/value

Such activities, they argue, can contribute toward cultural understanding and civic dialogue.
Reproductive effort and success of males in scramble‐competition polygyny: Evidence for trade‐offs between foraging and mate search
Authors: Foley Aaron M. , Hewitt David G. , DeYoung Randy W. , Schnupp Matthew J. , Hellickson Mickey W. , Lockwood Mitch A.
Published: August 2018

Patterns of male reproductive allocation provide insight into life‐history characteristics. The trade‐offs associated with resource and female group defence are well‐defined. However, less is understood about trade‐offs in species that practise scramble‐competition polygyny, where successful strategies may favour competitive mate‐searching rather than contest competition and fighting.

White‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) practise scramble‐competition polygyny where solitary males search for and assess receptivity of females scattered across the landscape. Physically mature males are expected to do most of the breeding because of the high energetic costs of reproduction and high social status. However, young males may collectively sire one‐third of offspring. To gain a better understanding of trade‐offs associated with scramble‐competition polygyny, we quantified metrics associated with reproductive effort and success.

We quantified changes in body mass of harvested males, energetic costs of locomotion based on movements of GPS radiocollared males and timing of reproduction via temporal genetic parentage assignments.

Young males (1.5 and 2.5 years old) sired offspring, but their mating success was mainly limited to peak rut, when most females were in oestrus. Furthermore, multiple paternity was common, indicating opportunistic reproduction. Reproductive effort, indexed by body mass loss, was highest in prime‐age males (5.5–6.5 years old). Surprisingly, young and postprime males also exhibited significant body mass loss, indicative of investment in reproductive effort. Movement rates increased twofold to fourfold during rut as a function of mate search activities, but cost of locomotion would cause only about one‐third of observed body mass loss. Because males are capital breeders, we infer most of body mass loss is due to reduced foraging.

In scramble‐competition polygyny, the repeated location of potential mates and assessment of their oestrous status appear to be important constituents of male mating strategies. Therefore, mating success may be influenced by time management and spatial memory, and not based solely on social dominance. Thus, reproductive effort should be greater for individuals capable of reducing time foraging. For those that cannot, opportunistic mating opportunities may arise when operative adult sex ratios are low. Our analyses reveal valuable insight into the trade‐offs associated with scramble‐competition polygyny.
Landscape configuration, organic management, and within‐field position drive functional diversity of spiders and carabids
Authors: Gallé Róbert , Happe Anne‐Kathrin , Baillod Aliette Bosem , Tscharntke Teja , Batáry Péter
Published: August 2018

Agricultural management intensity and landscape heterogeneity act as the main drivers of biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes while also determining ecosystem services. The trait‐based functional diversity approach offers a way to assess changes in community functionality across agroecosystems. We focused on carabids and spiders, because they are an important component of crop field biodiversity and have significant biological control potential.

We assessed the effect of small‐ vs. large‐scale agricultural landscapes, organic farming, and within‐field position on functional diversity of spiders and carabids. We sampled pairs of organic and conventional winter wheat fields in small‐scale agricultural landscapes (former West Germany) and in neighbouring large‐scale agricultural landscapes (former East Germany). We sampled arthropods with funnel traps in transects at field edges, field interiors (15 m from edge), and field centres.

The gradient from field edges towards the centres played an important role: spider body size decreased; ballooning ability increased, and hunting strategy switched from active hunters to more web‐builders—presumably, due to higher microhabitat stability in the field centre. Higher trait diversity of spiders in field edges suggested higher biocontrol potential in small‐scale agriculture. In contrast, carabid feeding switched from herbivores to carnivores, presumably due to higher pest densities inside crop fields. Furthermore, small‐scale agricultural landscapes and organic management supported larger, i.e., less dispersive carabids.

Synthesis and applications. In our research, spiders were more sensitive to edge effects and less sensitive to management and landscape composition than carabids. Smaller fields and longer edges, as well as organic management increase carabid functional diversity, which may increase resilience to environmental change. Since many spider species are confined to field edges, the effect of within‐field position on functional diversity is more important in small‐scale agricultural landscapes with more edge habitat than in large‐scale agricultural landscapes. Our findings suggest that European Union policy should acknowledge the high benefits of small‐scale agriculture for the functional role of major predators such as spiders and carabid beetles, as the benefits are equal to those from a conversion to organic agriculture.
Clinical observation of recombinant human endostatin in treating relapsed refractory multiple myeloma
Authors: Huang Hao , Liu Yang , Lin Quan‐de , Liu Yu‐zhang , Liu Li‐na , Zhang Qing‐lan , Yu Feng‐kuan , Song Yong‐ping , Fang Bai‐jun
Published: August 2018

Recombinant human endostatin (rhES) can inhibit multiple myeloma, while its clinical efficacy in treating relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) has not been assessed. One hundred and eleven RRMM patients were treated with four different regimens: combination of VD (velcade+dexamethasone) and rhES (n = 25), Thalidomide (Tha) and VD (VTD, n = 22) combination, rhES and conventional chemotherapy combination (n = 32), and combination of conventional chemotherapy and Tha (n = 32). Significant differences were found in progression‐free survival (PFS) between rhES combination groups and conventional chemotherapy combination groups. No statistical difference was found in overall response rate, overall survival or incidences of adverse effects. The combination of rhES with VD or conventional chemotherapy is active in patients with RRMM and prolongs the PFS to improve the quality of life.
Effects of seed hydration memory on initial growth under water deficit of cactus from two populations that occur in different ecosystems in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Lima Ayslan T. , Meiado Marcos V.
Published: August 2018

Discontinuity during the rehydration process of seeds that germinate in arid and semi‐arid ecosystems leads to the occurrence of hydration and dehydration cycles (HD cycles). HD cycles play an important role in the persistence and dynamics of plants in these ecosystems. Pilosocereus catingicola subsp. salvadorensis is a cactus that occurs in different ecosystems of northeast Brazil. This species is submitted to different environmental conditions, such as irregularity of soil water availability. This factor directly influences seed production, germination and establishment of new individuals in these ecosystems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of HD cycles on the initial growth of P. catingicola subsp. salvadorensis seedlings from different ecosystems under water‐deficit conditions. Seeds collected in two different ecosystems were submitted to 0, 1, 2 and 3 HD cycles and seedlings from these seeds were submitted to water‐deficit treatments. HD cycles had effects not only during germination, but also in the initial growth and establishment of seedlings. Seeds from different populations had distinct responses to HD cycles and water‐deficit treatments. These effects, as acquisition of a greater tolerance of water deficit, were differentiated between populations of the same species that are established in different ecosystems. The effects of HD cycles interfere directly with seedling recruitment dynamics and the maintenance of these populations.
The Role of Innovation in Farm Economic Sustainability: Generalised Propensity Score Evidence from Irish Dairy Farms
Authors: Läpple Doris , Thorne Fiona
Published: August 2018

We assess the impact of innovation on Irish dairy farm economic sustainability by focusing on profitability, productivity of land and market orientation. A generalised propensity score method is applied to a representative sample of 342 Irish dairy farms. Our empirical findings reveal that innovation increases economic sustainability, but not in a linear way. More specifically, economic gains depend on the level of innovation. Small efforts to increase innovation can lead to economic gains of over €200 per hectare. The results also reveal that innovative farmers can achieve higher economic gains by further innovation. Overall, our findings support the current focus of the Irish extension system on fostering the uptake of innovative technologies and practices in order to achieve an economically sustainable expansion of the dairy sector.