bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dopamine regulates the exploration-exploitation trade-off in rats
Authors: Cinotti François , Fresno Virginie , Aklil Nassim , Coutureau Etienne , Girard Benoît , Marchand Alain R. , Khamassi Mehdi
Published: November 2018

In a volatile environment where rewards are uncertain, successful performance requires a delicate balance between exploitation of the best option and exploration of alternative choices. It has theoretically been proposed that dopamine controls this exploration-exploitation trade-off, specifically that the higher the level of tonic dopamine, the more exploitation is favored. We demonstrate here that there is a formal relationship between the rescaling of dopamine positive reward prediction errors and the exploration-exploitation trade-off in simple non-stationary multi-armed bandit tasks. We further show in rats performing such a task that systemically antagonizing dopamine receptors greatly increases the number of random choices without affecting learning capacities. Simulations and comparison of a set of different computational models (an extended Q-learning model, a directed exploration model, and a meta-learning model) fitted on each individual confirm that, independently of the model, decreasing dopaminergic activity does not affect learning rate but is equivalent to an increase in exploration rate. This study shows that dopamine could adapt the exploration-exploitation trade-off in decision making when facing changing environmental contingencies.
A conserved motif of Porphyromonas Type IX secretion effectors C-terminal secretion signal specifies interactions with the PorKLMN core complex
Authors: Vincent Maxence S. , Chabalier Maïalène , Cascales Eric
Published: November 2018

The Type IX secretion system (T9SS) is a versatile protein transport apparatus restricted to the Bacteroidetes phylum. This multiprotein complex enables secretion of a wide range of effectors, such as protein toxins, filamentous adhesins, enzymes or S-layer subunits. Once translocated in the periplasm through the Sec pathway, recognition and secretion of these cargo proteins rely on a conserved C-terminal domain referred as CTD. However, the precise route followed by the CTD substrates from the periplasm to the cell exterior is yet to be determined. Here we define the interaction network of five different CTDs from the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis with the PorKLMN T9SS trans-envelope complex. We show that these five CTDs interact with the inner membrane-anchored PorM and the PorN periplasmic proteins. We further determine the contribution of the PorM IgG-like periplasmic domains and CTD conserved motifs for PorM-CTD complex formation. These results showed that all five CTDs interact with the core complex in a similar manner, suggesting a conserved mechanism of substrate selection in the periplasm. Our results thus establish a first model of the path followed by the CTD substrates through the T9SS.
RISC: robust integration of single-cell RNA-seq datasets with different extents of cell cluster overlap
Authors: Liu Yang , Wang Tao , Zheng Deyou
Published: November 2018

Single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) has remarkably advanced our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and dynamics in tissue development, diseases, and cancers. Integrated data analysis can often uncover molecular and cellular links among individual datasets and thus provide new biological insights, such as developmental relationship. Due to differences in experimental platforms and biological sample batches, the integration of multiple scRNA-seq datasets is challenging. To address this, we developed a novel computational method for robust integration of scRNA-seq (RISC) datasets using principal component regression (PCR). Because of the natural compatibility of eigenvectors between PCR model and dimension reduction, RISC can accurately integrate scRNA-seq datasets and avoid over-integration. Compared to existing software, RISC shows particular improvement in integrating datasets that contain cells of the same types (more accurately clusters) but at distinct functional states. To demonstrate the value of RISC in finding small groups of cells common between otherwise heterogenous datasets, we applied it to scRNA-seq datasets of normal and malignant cells and successfully identified small clusters of cells in healthy kidney tissues that may be related to the origin of renal tumors.
Association between strategic management accounting facets and organizational performance
Authors: Alamri Ahmad Mohammed
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an extensive conceptualization of strategic management accounting (SMA) facets, as well as to explore the impact of these facets on both financial and non-financial measures of organizational performance (OP).

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 435 accounting managers working in Saudi companies listed in the Saudi Stock Exchange. The study applies hierarchical regression analysis to test the association between SMA facets and OP.

Findings

The results show that SMA facets significantly affect OP, assessed in the two major categories of financial and non-financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

The dominance of companies listed in the Saudi Stock Exchange in the data set limits the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The present study supports the idea that companies can enhance their OP by adopting some facets of SMA such as the availability of appropriate structural arrangements, supportive resources, adequate information types and usages and good organizational climate.

Originality/value

The current study expands the conceptualization of SMA in light of organizational context as a set of facets to overcome the polarization found in the existing literature and explores their impact on OP, including non-financial performance, for which empirical evidence is still scant.
Difficulty in implementing continuous improvement – Rasch measurement analysis
Authors: Sanchez-Ruiz Lidia , Blanco Beatriz , Diaz Emma
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define a general and common construct in order to measure the level of difficulty companies experience when they implement continuous improvement (CI). Additionally, a rank of barriers is obtained together with a rank of companies.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the objective, first, a literature review is carried out to specify the domain of the construct; second, a sample of items is selected; third a survey is carried out in companies that have already implemented CI initiatives, the results being thus limited to this population; fourth, measures are purified by analysing the reliability and validity of the measurements, and finally results are obtained. The Rasch measurement theory will be used to provide a new perspective on a mature research topic.

Findings

It can be concluded that a new valid construct has been defined together with a rank of CI barriers, being lack of time the main barrier. A rank of companies is also obtained which is a first step in the development of future research studies.

Practical implications

Managers are provided with a better understanding of the barriers that can obstruct CI implementation. Thus, the rank of CI barriers guides managers through the most common and important obstacles so that they will be able to plan better CI strategies. In addition, the rank of companies allows each company to undertake a benchmarking exercise.

Originality/value

This work proposes a new way of analysing the difficulty in implementing CI as a continuum, rather than as independent barriers. From a theoretical point of view, it defines a new construct and offers a rank of CI barriers together with a rank of companies based on their level of difficulty when implementing CI initiatives. This is something new, as previous studies were mainly focussed on the items side. From a practical point of view, this study offers the surveyed companies the opportunity to see how they are positioned with respect to the other companies. Moreover, this rank of companies is the foundation on which to develop further studies with a practical orientation in the future.
Method for automatic key concepts extraction
Authors: Desul Sudarsana , N. Madurai Meenachi , Venkatesh Thejas , Gunta Vijitha , R. Gowtham , Sai Baba Magapu
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Ontology of a domain mainly consists of a set of concepts and their semantic relations. It is typically constructed and maintained by using ontology editors with substantial human intervention. It is desirable to perform the task automatically, which has led to the development of ontology learning techniques. One of the main challenges of ontology learning from the text is to identify key concepts from the documents. A wide range of techniques for key concept extraction have been proposed but are having the limitations of low accuracy, poor performance, not so flexible and applicability to a specific domain. The propose of this study is to explore a new method to extract key concepts and to apply them to literature in the nuclear domain.

Design/methodology/approach

In this article, a novel method for key concept extraction is proposed and applied to the documents from the nuclear domain. A hybrid approach was used, which includes a combination of domain, syntactic name entity knowledge and statistical based methods. The performance of the developed method has been evaluated from the data obtained using two out of three voting logic from three domain experts by using 120 documents retrieved from SCOPUS database.

Findings

The work reported pertains to extracting concepts from the set of selected documents and aids the search for documents relating to given concepts. The results of a case study indicated that the method developed has demonstrated better metrics than Text2Onto and CFinder. The method described has the capability of extracting valid key concepts from a set of candidates with long phrases.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is restricted to literature coming out in the English language and applied to the documents from nuclear domain. It has the potential to extend to other domains also.

Practical implications

The work carried out in the current study has the potential of leading to updating International Nuclear Information System thesaurus for ontology in the nuclear domain. This can lead to efficient search methods.

Originality/value

This work is the first attempt to automatically extract key concepts from the nuclear documents. The proposed approach will address and fix the most of the problems that are existed in the current methods and thereby increase the performance.
Unions and equality: 50 years on from the fight for fair pay at Dagenham
Authors: Kirton Gill
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review historical and contemporary union driven advances in gender and race equality within the movement and the workplace in order to show how far unions have come in the last 50 years, but also to identify continuing equality deficits.

Design/methodology/approach

As well as reviewing extant literature in order to provide historical background, the paper draws upon original analysis of the series of biennial TUC Equality Audits, the latest SERTUC equality survey and interviews with national union officers responsible for equality in large-, medium- and small-sized unions.

Findings

Over the last 50 years, unions have made considerable progress in representing women both in leadership and democratic structures as well as in the workplace bargaining and consultative arena. However, BAME members remain underrepresented in both domains. A hostile socio-economic/political context threatens to hinder further progress.

Research limitations/implications

It is quite clear that the authors cannot assess unions’ current record on equality by reference only to outcomes and benefits of big set-piece organisation, industry or sector negotiations. Future research could usefully explore in more depth unions’ qualitative contribution to workplace equality practices in context of challenges in the internal and external environments.

Practical implications

Unions need to step up commitment to integrating equality into the bargaining agenda. They also need to continue investing in campaigning activities and identify ways of making successful outcomes more visible within the union, to members and to non-unionised workers. Workplace unions need to develop strategies to confront the fact that strong equality policies do not necessarily translate into good workplace practices.

Originality/value

The paper provides a long-term evaluation of union progress on equality within the movement itself and the workplace.
Ownership-based asymmetries in training evaluation practices of call centres
Authors: Asadullah Muhammad Ali , Peretti Jean Marie , Derbel Walid , Rajhi Sarra
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying asymmetries in training evaluation practices of call centre (CC) firms based on their “in-house” and “subcontractor” ownership heterogeneity.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this qualitative inquiry were collected from key informants of 13 different CCs in Pakistan through semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The findings revealed various asymmetries in training evaluation practices among in-house and subcontractor CCs based on five different dimensions of two renowned training evaluation frameworks.

Practical implications

Training evaluation professionals can benefit from training evaluation methods identified in this study for measuring training evaluation practice and advancing future research.

Originality/value

This study has theoretically contributed to the existing research on firm heterogeneity and human resource management by focussing on training evaluation practices in CCs.
“We are still here”: the stories of Syrian academics in exile
Authors: Parkinson Tom , Zoubir Tarek , Abdullateef Shaher , Abedtalas Musallam , Alyamani Ghana , Al Ibrahim Ziad , Al Husni Majdi , Omar Fuad Alhaj , Hajhamoud Hamoud , Iboor Fadi , Allito Husam , Jenkins Michael , Rashwani Abdulkader , Sennou Adnan , Shaban Fateh
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to generate insight into the experiences of Syrian academics in exile in Turkey; and second, to explore approaches to collaboration and community building among academics in exile and with counterparts in the international academic community.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a hybrid visual-autobiographical narrative methodology, embedded within a large group process (LGP) design.

Findings

Findings are presented in two phases: the first phase presents a thematic analysis of narrative data, revealing the common and divergent experiences of 12 exiled academics. The second phase presents a reflective evaluation of undertaking the LGP and its implications for community building and sustaining Syrian academia in exile.

Research limitations/implications

While this is a qualitative study with a small participant group, and therefore does not provide a basis for statistical generalisation, it offers rich insight into Syrian academics’ lived experiences of exile, and into strategies implemented to support the Syrian academic community in exile.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications for academic development in the contexts of conflict and exile; community building among dispersed academic communities; educational interventions by international NGOs and the international academic community; and group process design.

Originality/value

The study makes an original contribution to the limited literature on post-2011 Syrian higher education by giving voice to a community of exiled academics, and by critically evaluating a strategic initiative for supporting and sustaining Syrian academia. This represents significant, transferable insight for comparable contexts.
Towards more interactive and sustainable food retailing
Authors: van Giesen Roxanne , Leenheer Jorna
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of digital displays to enhance consumers’ shopping experience and sustainable consumption by more specifically informing consumers on the origin and sustainability of products.

Design/methodology/approach

An experimental field study was conducted in the Supermarket of the Future at the World Expo where sustainability information was displayed on interactive screens. There were three experimental groups: supermarket visitors who were put in a sustainability mind-set, supermarket visitors without a sustainability mind-set activation and non-visitors.

Findings

Store visitors extensively used the interactive displays, they intent to behave more sustainable in the future, and act more sustainable outside the food domain. Sustainability information through digital displays thus triggers consumers to think more about environmental concerns. Consumers who were activated to process sustainability information before entering the supermarket, show increased interest in the innovative shopping concept. Strong evidence that the increased interest translates into more sustainable consumer choices in the supermarket itself is lacking.

Originality/value

The authors obtain insight in consumer use of sustainability information presented on interactive displays in a retail environment and how this in turn affects behaviour. The study reveals that consumers can successfully be motivated to become more sustainable through interactive displays.
Behavioural economics and social economics: opportunities for an expanded curriculum
Authors: Manning Paul
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The global financial crisis (GFC) has undermined the legitimacy of orthodox neo-classical economic assumptions, which nevertheless continue to frame the philosophical assumptions of teaching in business schools. The purpose of this paper is to make a case in favour of an expansion of the business school curriculum to incorporate behavioural economics. The paper will also contend that behavioural economics can be connected to social economics, as they are both heterodox in this study and analyse economic phenomenon outside of a neo-classical framework. The aim is to contribute to arguments for an expanded curriculum, beyond the framing assumptions of neo-classical rationalism. This paper will also support its case by reviewing behavioural economics to make the case that this literature can be connected to social economics. This assertion is based on shared connections, including the importance of Kantianism in behavioural economics and in social economics. These connections will be discussed as a common point of reference points, or ties that can serve to broker links between these two economic paradigms. Practical implications (if applicable) the GFC presents an opportunity to re-shape the business school curriculum to acknowledge the centrality of socio-economics and behavioural economics, and consequently to offer an alternative to the dominant ontological assumptions – taken from the economic understanding of rationality – that have previously underpinned business school pedagogy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an inter-disciplinary teaching case, which incorporates socio-economic and behavioural economics perspectives. The teaching case concerned a socio-economic understanding of corruption and white-collar crime. It was also inter-disciplinary to include inputs from business history and criminology. The teaching case developed an appreciation among students that corruption, white-collar crime and entrepreneurship can be analysed within a social economics and behavioural economics lens.

Findings

The teaching case example discussed an alternative socio-economic and behavioural economics understanding to core areas of the MBA curriculum with the potential to be included in other academic disciplines. This enabled students to apply a behavioural economic approach to white-collar crime. The findings derived from this case study are that behavioural economics has the potential to enhance the teaching of socio-economics.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is to apply behavioural economics to a socio-economic teaching case, in core subject areas of the MBA curriculum.
Hot oil carrying characteristic about hydrostatic bearing oil film of heavy vertical lathe in high speed
Authors: Zhang Yanqin , Kong Pengrui , Feng Yanan , Guo Lili
Published: November 2018

Purpose

To investigate the effects of hot oil carrying (HOC), the purpose of this paper is to present a new calculation method of oil film temperature which takes the effects into account and defines the factor of HOC.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on finite volume method, the paper studied the temperature characteristics in high speed and the condition of variable viscosity from the temperature field and flow field of the film, and the thermal rule of HOC is revealed. The theoretical values are in good agreement with the experimental results.

Findings

The results show that, for this structure of hydrostatic bearing, the phenomenon of HOC does not occur until the work speed is more than 10 r/min under any load condition. And it always happens in the total range of load, from 0 to 320 kN, when the speed is over 60 r/min. Moreover, the film temperature increases sharply, when the phenomenon happens in high speed, and the influence of the speed is greater than the effect of load on the temperature rise.

Originality/value

The results would help to increase the speed of CNC machine tools and the design on structure of the bearing in engineering practice.
Effect of behavior of oil–air lubrication flow on characteristic of point contact sliding wear
Authors: Liu Cong , Tong Baohong , Zhang Guotao , Wang Wei , Liu Kun , Xu Peimin
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the influence of oil–air lubrication flow behavior on point contact sliding wear characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Oil–air lubrication equations between point contact counterparts were established on the basis of volume of fluid model. The effects of oil supply and injection azimuth on oil-phase volume fraction and its pressure distribution were simulated with commercial software Fluent. Characteristics of point contact sliding wear were then tested with an MFT-3000 friction tester under oil–air lubrication condition. The influence of flow behavior on wear characteristic was investigated combined with numerical and experimental results. The wear mechanism was revealed using SEM, EDS and ferrography.

Findings

When air supply speed is constant, the oil-phase volume fraction increases with the increase in oil supply, which helps form continuous oil film and decrease the sliding wear evidently. The injection angle and distance considerably influence the oil–air flow behavior. When injecting at a certain distance and angle, the oil-phase volume fraction reaches its maximum, and the abrasion loss is minimal. Under the test conditions in this study, abrasive particles are mainly debris and a few spiral cuttings. The wear mechanism is abrasive wear.

Originality/value

The influence of the behavior of oil–air lubrication flow on the characteristic of point contact sliding wear is analyzed. This work provides guidance for the application of oil–air lubrication technology in point contact friction pairs.
An ageing well collaboration: opportunity or wicked problem
Authors: Hazelton Lois Marjorie , Gillin Laurence Murray , Kerr Fiona , Kitson Alison , Lindsay Noel
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Within the “wicked” concept of ageing, this paper aims to primarily model an integrated approach to identifying and evaluating opportunities that deliver innovative outcomes in Ageing Well Practice, Health and Economic Policy and Research Actions using a collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset. The strategic focus is on a “Boomer” (user)-driven and facilitated Network – that brings together health professionals, research specialists, technologists, ageing well providers, “encore” career specialists, life-style providers, community groups, wealth creation specialists and industry innovators to streamline the progression of identified concepts to valued users and markets and enhance the economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the unit of analysis for innovation, i.e. the “added-value” as perceived by the user and not simply a product or a technology, the identified “opportunity-outcome” will embed a new service concept or intervention, which embraces and promotes ageing well, independent living or resident-centred care in the community and delivers direct and indirect economic benefits.

Findings

The authors model a point of differentiation in facilitating existing ageing well policies in the community, through a focus on an integrated and multi-dimensional collaborative framework that can deliver user value and contributes to community and economic benefits.

Research limitations/implications

Generalising results without a commercial business case from this single strategic viewpoint requires caution. The positive outcomes from this innovation collaborative concept can be used to guide further policy development and business investment in ageing well needs.

Practical implications

Such an integrated innovation collaborative structure provides the capacity to identify ageing well opportunities, to contract enterprises, both SMEs’ and larger companies, for development of the opportunities into user-valued outcomes, to network venture resources and deliver these outcomes to a sustainable market of ageing well citizens.

Social implications

The Ageing Well Innovation collaborative framework identifies practical ways to integrate new concepts of ageing participation to be realised by the increasing number of “Boomers”. It provides a self-managing process for linking individuals, public and private parties to maximise information and ideas flow, and engagement of the skilled resources in the Boomer group.

Originality/value

The innovation collaborative structure proposed is not simply novel but is a targeted focus on entrepreneurship and innovation applied strategically to the needs of ageing boomers and community needs. The added-value is in the demonstrated enhancement to effective innovation outcomes in community ageing and the economy.
Family firms taking surprising risks: building success on conservative values
Authors: Lehrer Mark , Schmid Stefan
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore hidden wellsprings of risk-taking in family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The high tolerance for risk shown repeatedly by the famous family firm Hipp of Germany is documented. Three major risk-taking episodes at Hipp are examined.

Findings

Counterintuitively, conservative values were actually a major facilitator of risk-taking at Hipp.

Research limitations/implications

The ramifications for other family firms, especially in Germany’s so-calledMittelstand, are examined. An open question is whether the relevant scope of the foregoing analysis may be confined to national contexts like GermanMittelstandwith its highly developed sector of family firms.

Practical implications

Contrary to received wisdom, family firms with conservative values may actually have certain advantages in their capacity not only to assume certain types of risks but also to mitigate such risks. Especially the communitarian embeddedness of such values may provide a layer of risk mitigation.

Social implications

At least in some countries, such as Germany, family firms are indeed willing to engage in substantial risk-taking. With their approach of combining conservative values and risk-taking, they contribute to considerable wealth and societal development.

Originality/value

Conservatism in management and risk-taking propensity are usually thought of as antipodes. However, it is necessary to distinguish between conservatism (which usually equates to risk aversion) and conservative values (which, as shown, may be highly compatible with a willingness to engage and succeed in risky undertakings).
Risk factors associated with procuring university hostel facilities through build-operate-transfer model
Authors: Opawole Akintayo , Kajimo-Shakantu Kahilu , Alao Oluwaseyi Olalekan , Ogbaje Chinanu Patience
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The build-operate-transfer (BOT) model is fast becoming a sustainable tool for remedying the deficiencies of public financing of hostel facilities in Nigeria. Being a new concept in Nigeria, this study aims to assess clients’ organizations perspective of risk factors associated with BOT model with a view to providing information for their effective management.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative descriptive analysis was used, which was based on primary data obtained through questionnaire survey. The respondents included architects, engineers (structural/civil/mechanical/electrical), builders and quantity surveyors who were officials in the physical planning development and works departments of five sampled universities in the southwestern Nigeria who executed at least one BOT hostel project. A total number of 45 copies of questionnaire were administered, out of which 35 copies representing a response rate of 77.8 per cent were retrieved. Data analysis was undertaken using descriptive statistics: percentages, mean item score and relative importance index.

Findings

Severity of the risk factors specific to BOT model for hostel development was revealed. Besides, conceptual allocations and mitigation measures were suggested against each risk factor.

Practical implications

Private sector investor would find the results of this research useful in preparing robust BOT contract packages through the understanding of the nature of risk factors associated with the procurement model.

Originality/value

With limited evaluation of BOT in hostel facilities procurement, this study developed a simplified approach to management of risk factors associated with BOT model in the education sector.
Political CSR and legitimation via corporate foundation: a public management program
Authors: Bittar-Godinho Juliana Souza , Masiero Gilmar
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the political involvement of a corporate foundation (CF) though CSR under two perspectives: CF managers and the sponsor firm managers.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case with a Brazilian CF was conducted. Interviews with sponsor firms and foundations managers were combined with firms’ sustainability reports data and CF’s website information.

Findings

It was found that CF acts as an ambassador and can be a source of political legitimacy for their sponsor firm. They intermediate in governance challenges as the goals and working style of the CF, firms and municipalities can be sometimes antagonistic.

Research limitations/implications

The authors could not reach the municipalities officials and their perception of the Public Management Program (PMP).

Practical implications

The PMP creates personal and organizational relationships with public officials, a resource that can be employed to impact the political strategies of the sponsor firm.

Social implications

The authors also show how CF’s may help managers to deal with the typical Brazilian peculiarity of policy discontinuity in local governments.

Originality/value

This case study sheds light a new phenomenon: CF’s support on public management. It adds to the CSR and corporate political activities literature, the role of foundations as ambassadors of the relationship between the firm, government and society. They are not only filling gaps left by the State but are also dealing with local governments administrative deficiencies.
Financing sources and social development: an empirical analysis
Authors: Vidales María , García-Pérez Carmelo
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse, from an empirical point of view, the importance of each of the main sources of funding in developing countries (foreign direct investment, official development assistance, external debt and remittances) in achieving sustainable, social and inclusive development.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology followed to achieve this purpose is the construction of three econometric models. The general model incorporates as a dependent variable the Human Development Index (HDI) and, as explanatory variables, the four sources of funding indicated above, as well as three exogenous variables (human capital, corruption and natural resources). This model is complemented by two extensions that aim to analyse the behaviour of explanatory variables in reducing inequalities and improving each of the HDI components.

Findings

The results of the estimations of the econometric models show that foreign direct investment and remittances are the sources of funding with the greatest impact on achieving development. Moreover, official development assistance while not making a positive contribution to the achievement of development as a whole, could be adequate to reduce inequalities.

Originality/value

The added value of this paper consists in carrying out a joint analysis of these four sources of funding because previous researches focussed the attention on some of them, drawing partial conclusions. The conclusion of this study is that the four sources of funding analysed can be considered complementary to promote sustainable and inclusive development, although foreign direct investment has a much more important role.
The effect of anticorruption policies on social and political trust: a comparative approach
Authors: Radin Dagmar
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Corruption and anti-corruption are two often studied topics in social sciences today and often highly debated issues in both the national and international political arena. They are important in the context of democratization and democratic consolidation as they include the idea of a government that serves its citizens in a transparent manner, and tie with it notions of social and political trust. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between anti-corruption policies and social and political trust and hypothesizes that anti-corruption policies have a desired positive effect on social and political trust in settings with low and moderate levels of corruption, whereas they have no effect in highly corrupt settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses regression analysis and includes all world democracies (33) for which complete data are available for a period of nine years (2005-2014).

Findings

Results indicate that anti-corruption policies have the expected results on social trust: in low to moderately corrupt countries, the effect is positive, while it disappears in highly corrupt countries. There are no significant effects on political trust.

Research limitations/implications

While the results are mixed, they point to the importance of studying further the relationship.

Originality/value

This study is important because it questions the effect of anti-corruption policies that are assumed to have particular effects on corruption. It is also the first study to analyze the effect on such policies on social and political trust in democracies.
The Recovery House in Trieste: rational, participants, intervention as the “work”
Authors: Casadio Roberta , Marin Izabel Cristina , Thomé Thais , Mezzina Roberto , Baker Paul , Jenkins John , Pérez Patricia Martin , Pocobello Raffaella
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Too often people with complex mental health needs do not find their way out of the mental health system or find satisfactory solutions that enable them to live a full life. In 2015 the Mental Health Department (MHD) of Trieste established the Recovery House pilot project to address this concern. The paper aims to Investigate the project.

Design/methodology/approach

The Recovery House was co-created with and for people between 18 and 35 years old with diagnoses of psychosis and other complex mental health conditions. An integral part of the pilot was the organization of the “Recovery Community,” inspired by the Assembly model embraced by Franco Basaglia. The Recovery Community met regularly to both support and learn from the Recovery House and aimed to create a democratic and reflective space where power relationships, self-determination, responsibility and ownership by all the stakeholders, including family members, could be explored together.

Findings

Over a period of 31 months, four groups of people have successfully completed their residency at the Recovery House. In total, 89 percent of people who stayed at the Recovery House did so up to six months. After the period of staying at the Recovery House most of them moved to independent living or shared supported accommodation.

Originality/value

This initiative sheds light on the fact that democratic values, approaches and structures can improve both service functioning and the recovery outcomes for people with complex health needs. Further, the Recovery House has had a significant effect on the culture and practice of the MHD in adopting a comprehensive approach to emotional distress.
Challenges to Portuguese tourism – Restelo old man or Cristiano Ronaldo?
Authors: Machado Pedro
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the state of the art of the tourism sector in Portugal, identifying the main problems and some challenges and solutions for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

The main political decisions related to tourism were analyzed and related to the sector´s future performance.

Findings

Portugal has been elected the best leading destination of the world, but it is important to outline the strategies needed to retain the quality of life of Portuguese residents and to keep and improve the experience of the tourist. This could be achieved by promoting “Portugal as a whole” (“Portugal por Inteiro”), applying policies of cohesion – policies that promote the development of the entire country, from the interior to the coastline, from the north to the south and the islands.

Originality/value

This paper presents the perspective of the Center of Portugal Tourism Entity (Turismo Centro de Portugal) and how this tourist destination contributes to the national strategies outlined for the coming years.
Evolution of size‐dependent intraspecific competition predicts body size scaling of metabolic rate
Authors: Hin Vincent , de Roos André M.
Published: November 2018

Growth in body size is accompanied by changes in foraging capacity and metabolic costs, which lead to changes in competitive ability during ontogeny. The resulting size‐dependent competitive asymmetry influences population dynamics and community structure, but it is not clear whether natural selection leads to asymmetry in intraspecific competition.

We address this question by using a size‐structured consumer–resource model, in which the strength and direction of competitive asymmetry between different consumer individuals depends on the scaling of maximum ingestion and maintenance metabolism with consumer body size. We use adaptive dynamics to study selection on the scaling exponents of these processes.

Selection leads to an identical scaling of maximum ingestion and maintenance metabolism with consumer body size. Equal scaling exponents neutralize strong competitive differences within the consumer population, because all consumer individuals require the same amount of resources to cover maintenance requirements. Furthermore, the scaling exponents respond adaptively to changes in mortality such that biomass production through growth or reproduction increases in the life stage that is subject to increased mortality. Also, decreasing size at birth leads to increased investment in juvenile growth, while increasing maximum size leads to increased investment in post‐maturation growth and reproduction.

These results provide an explanation for observed variation in the ontogenetic scaling of metabolic rate with body size. Data of teleost fish are presented that support these predictions. However, selection towards equal scaling exponents is contradicted by empirical findings, which suggests that additional ecological complexity beyond this basic consumer–resource interaction is required to understand the evolution of size‐dependent asymmetry in intraspecific competition.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Fatal flaws in clinical decision making
Authors: Davis Sean S. , Babidge Wendy J. , McCulloch Glenn A. J. , Maddern Guy J.
Published: November 2018

Background

Clinical decision making is a core competency of surgical practice, involving a continuous and evolving process of data interpretation and evaluation. The aim of this article is twofold. First, to recognize patient deaths where a clinical incident arose following unsatisfactory clinical decision making, determining where in the clinical decision‐making process each failure occurred. Second, to discuss and explore individual incidents to provide lessons from which the surgical community can learn.

Methods

Using the Australian and New Zealand Audit of Surgical Mortality database, all deaths from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015 were analysed. All deaths in which the surgeon or assessor identified an aspect of patient management that was inadequate were recognized. Clinical incidents deemed by the assessor to be an area of concern or an adverse event were individually reviewed to determine if a clinical decision‐making incident (CDMI) occurred. CDMIs were categorized into various themes depending on the nature of the incident.

Results

A total of 3422 fully audited deaths occurred throughout the study period; from these cases, 226 individual CDMIs were identified. Decision to operate was the most commonly identified CDMI (n = 99, 43.8%), followed by diagnostic error (n = 49, 21.7%). The least common CDMI identified was inadequate post‐operative assessment (n = 14, 6.2%).

Conclusion

This paper demonstrates thought‐provoking examples of clinical decision‐making failure implicated in patient death. Clinical decision‐making failures most commonly occur around the decision to operate with increased discussion of complex cases possibly required. Further CDMI evaluation should be considered to complement more traditional methods of surgical mortality evaluation.
Inner ear and retrocochlear pathology on magnetic resonance imaging for sudden and progressive asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Baird Samantha M. , Nguyen Kevin , Bhatia Daman D. S. , Wei Benjamin P. C.
Published: November 2018

Background

In sudden and asymmetrical progressive sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required to evaluate retrocochlear pathology and, with recent advances in MRI techniques, inner ear pathology. Given the limited literature regarding inner ear pathology associated with SNHL, we aimed to assess the incidence of retrocochlear and inner ear pathology, and congenital malformation on MRI in sudden SNHL (SSNHL) and progressive SNHL.

Methods

A total of 987 acoustic neuroma (AN) protocol MRI internal acoustic meatus studies performed at our institution to investigate SNHL between January 2013 and December 2015 inclusive were identified. Following categorization for indication of SSNHL versus progressive asymmetrical SNHL, MRIs with retrocochlear or inner ear abnormality, congenital malformation or other otology‐related abnormality were identified, and further data were collected for these patients including patient demographics, associated symptomatology, management and outcomes.

Results

In SSNHL, aetiological abnormality on MRI was identified for 6.9% patients with AN present on 4% overall. 3.2% of MRIs for progressive asymmetrical SNHL identified a causative lesion with 2.3% of scans overall diagnosing AN. The incidence of congenital inner ear malformation on MRI in the setting of SSNHL and progressive asymmetrical SNHL are 1.7% and 0.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

This is the first retrospective study of inner ear MRI abnormalities in both SSNHL and progressive asymmetrical SNHL in Australia and one of the largest cohorts published in the literature to date. MRI must be performed in the setting of SNHL to ensure aforementioned and rarer causative lesions are identified.
Long‐term therapeutic effect of cell therapy on improvement in erectile function in a rat model with pelvic neurovascular injury
Authors: Gu Xin , Shi Hua , Matz Ethan , Zhong Liren , Long Ting , Clouse Cara , Li Wei , Chen Dong , Chung HyunChul , Murphy Sean , Yoo James , Lin Guiting , Lue Tom , Atala Anthony , Jackson John , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: November 2018

Objective

To determine the long‐term therapeutic effect amongst three human cell types on erectile function recovery in a rat model of dual neurovascular‐injury erectile dysfunction (NVED).

Materials and methods

A dual NVED model was established in athymic rats by crushing the bilateral cavernous nerves and ligating the bilateral internal pudendal neurovascular bundles. At the time of defect creation, three different types of human cell populations (2.5 × 106 cells/0.2 mL: umbilical vein endothelial cells, adipose‐derived stem cells, and amniotic fluid‐derived stem cells) were injected intracavernously into the penile tissue. Saline injection (0.2 mL) served as a control group. Erectile function and histomorphological analyses of penile tissues were assessed 12 weeks after defect creation and cell or saline injection.

Results

The ratio of intracavernous pressure to mean arterial pressure (functional indicator) was significantly higher in the cell therapy groups compared to the saline‐injected control group (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed more cells expressing biomarkers of endothelial, smooth muscle, and nerve cells within the penile tissue in the cell therapy groups when compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Cell therapy enhanced erectile function and ameliorated the histological changes 12 weeks after pelvic neurovascular injury in vivo, indicating that cell therapy may improve the long‐term outcomes in neurogenic, myogenic and vascular tissue regeneration in the treatment of NVED.