bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceived social norms, psychological capital and entrepreneurial intention among undergraduate students in Bukavu
Authors: Ephrem Akilimali Ndatabaye , Namatovu Rebecca , Basalirwa Edith Mwebaza
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Entrepreneurship is important for economic growth, through its role in the provision of employment. In the recent past, a number of African universities have developed entrepreneurship education courses to facilitate the growing demand for entrepreneurs in the market. An immediate outcome anticipated from entrepreneurship education is to increase entrepreneurial intention (EI) among the participants. Unfortunately, most of the entrepreneurship education in developing economies has not been linked to an increase in the EI of students. This paper thus proposes that it is when students possess high levels of psychological capital and perceive positive social norms that entrepreneurship education will lead to positive EI. The purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between perceived social norms (PSN), psychological capital and EI of university students.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire on a random sample of 196 final year entrepreneurship and business management students, from three universities in Bukavu (East of DRC). Structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The paper provides four main findings. First, PSN and psychological capital have a positive significant effect on EI. Second, PSN contribute more to this effect than psychological capital. Third, PSN make a positive and significant effect on psychological capital. Lastly, psychological capital positively mediates the relationship between PSN and EI.

Research limitations/implications

This study could have benefited from a qualitative approach to have a more in-depth explanation of these relationships. The study is conducted amongst students who operate in a controlled environment. This may not reflect the actual behavior of entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

This work provides cues of what entrepreneurship educators should consider as they recruit and train students. Specifically, the study highlights the importance of students’ psychological capital and positive social norms in transforming entrepreneurial education into intention.

Originality/value

This study adds value to knowledge by highlighting the mediating role of psychological capital on the relationship between PSN and EI.
The ethos and transformational nature of professional studies
Authors: Fergusson Lee , Van Der Laan Luke , White Craig , Balfour June
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the work-based learning (WBL) ethos of a professional studies doctoral program, a higher degree by research program implemented in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a preliminary case study of one higher degree by research program and two doctoral candidates participating in the program to explore the ethos and outcomes of the program.

Findings

The program has sought to develop a different type of higher education ethos, one characterized by an open-door communications policy, a critical friend philosophy, an emphasis on teamwork, pro tem supervision and a new model for doctoral supervision, self-designed work-based projects, self-directed research programs and the development of professional identity.

Originality/value

The characteristics and contributions of WBL programs at the doctoral level have been well documented in the academic literature, but the unique ethos, if there is one, of such programs has yet to be fully examined. This study goes some of the way to answering the question of whether such programs have a unique ethos and if so what are its features and how might it contribute to student development.
Numerical study and POD snapshot analysis of flow characteristics for pulsating turbulent opposing jets
Authors: H. Bagheri Morteza , Esmailpour Kazem , Hoseinalipour Seyyed Mostafa , Mujumdar Arun S.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the coherent structures of pulsed opposing jets by large eddy simulation (LES) model and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) snapshot method. Flow pulsation as an active flow control method is considered for the enhancement of transport phenomena in impinging jets. The effect of flow pulsation parameters such as pulsation signal shape and frequency on the vortical coherent structures, the energy content of primary modes and their variation are studied numerically.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, flow field of turbulent pulsating opposing jets has been simulated using LES. The result of the simulation in different time steps (snapshots) are stored and POD is applied on the snapshots. In this study, the POD method and calculation of spatial modes has been done using OpenFOAM, and time coefficients have been calculated using a MATLAB code.

Findings

The results of this study show that the flow excitation has a great effect on the coherent structure formation and the energy containment of fundamental modes of the flow. When the flow was excited by a harmonic sinusoidal or step function, the turbulent kinetic energy accumulated in the set of primary modes. On the other hand, the pulsed opposing jets had more regularity compared to the steady jets. The shapes, patterns and energy values of dominant modes depended on the inlet pulsation signal. An increase in pulsation frequency leads to an augmentation in energy content of the primary modes.

Research limitations/implications

The predictions may be extended to include various pulsation conditions such as: various amplitudes, Reynolds number and aspect ratio.

Practical implications

The results of this study are a valuable source of information for active control of transport phenomena in opposing jet configurations which is used in different industrial applications such as cooling, combustion, reactors, heating and drying processes.

Originality/value

In this study, the coherent structures and energy content of primary modes was studied for the first time by LES model and POD snapshot method and a comprehensive discussion on numerical results is provided.
A recommended closed-loop assessment of learning outcomes process for hospitality programs
Authors: Reich Allen Z. , Collins Galen R. , DeFranco Agnes L. , Pieper Suzanne L.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Because of the increasingly higher expectations of accrediting organizations, calls for greater accountability from state governments, and students’ demand for an education that prepares them for a career, most hospitality programs are now required to have an effective assessment of learning outcomes process. The increasing popularity of the assessment of learning outcomes process is viewed as highly positive because it can be considered as best practices in higher education. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This is Part 1 of a two-part article that provides an overview of the justifications for implementing an assessment of learning outcomes process, the steps that were developed by two hospitality programs and the experiences of the two programs during implementation of the seven steps. Part 1 includes foundational principles of the process and the first three of the seven steps.

Findings

The steps in a closed-loop assessment of learning outcomes process are relatively detailed; however, because of changes in expectations of stakeholders and the requirements of accreditors, they are now mandatory for most hospitality programs. Therefore, the choice is not whether to implement them, but when to implement them. From a competitive standpoint, it is to the program’s advantage to begin as soon as possible. Another factor to consider is that the implementation of an effective closed-loop assessment of learning outcomes process will take several years to complete.

Originality/value

This paper is presenting a critical view of one of, if not the most important concepts in higher education, the closed-loop assessment of learning outcomes process. Hopefully, the information on the process that is provided and the experiences of the two programs can shorten the learning curve for other hospitality programs.
The effect of government regulations on continuance intention of in-store proximity mobile payment services
Authors: Verma Surabhi , Chaurasia Sushil S. , Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This study proposed and tested three comprehensive models of the usage intention of proximity mobile payment services after a government regulation, by integrating the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the norm-activation model (NAM). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of moral norms, merchant pro-activeness and perceived government regulation (demonetisation) on users’ continuance intention of proximity mobile payment services.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 387 users of proximity mobile payment services in India were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. This study was carried out with shoppers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and New Delhi because of the diverse and large population of these cities.

Findings

The results of this study indicated that: integrating the variables of NAM into the original TPB model enhanced the prediction effect; perceived demonetisation regulation exerted a direct determinant effect as well as moderate effect on continuance usage intention of mobile payment services; also, extended TPB model with perceived demonetisation regulation as moderator could satisfactorily predict the continuance usage intention.

Research limitations/implications

The results provided insightful evidence for the government and policymakers to outline more effective mandatory regulation policies.

Originality/value

This investigation attempts to enhance the theoretical understanding of the antecedents of in-store proximity mobile payment services after government regulation (demonetisation) in India.
Computer vision for automatic detection and classification of fabric defect employing deep learning algorithm
Authors: Jeyaraj Pandia Rajan , Samuel Nadar Edward Rajan
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the design and development of computer-aided fabric defect detection and classification employing advanced learning algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

To make a fast and effective classification of fabric defect, the authors have considered a characteristic of texture, namely its colour. A deep convolutional neural network is formed to learn from the training phase of various defect data sets. In the testing phase, the authors have utilised a learning feature for defect classification.

Findings

The improvement in the defect classification accuracy has been achieved by employing deep learning algorithm. The authors have tested the defect classification accuracy on six different fabric materials and have obtained an average accuracy of 96.55 per cent with 96.4 per cent sensitivity and 0.94 success rate.

Practical implications

The authors had evaluated the method by using 20 different data sets collected from different raw fabrics. Also, the authors have tested the algorithm in standard data set provided by Ministry of Textile. In the testing task, the authors have obtained an average accuracy of 94.85 per cent, with six defects being successfully recognised by the proposed algorithm.

Originality/value

The quantitative value of performance index shows the effectiveness of developed classification algorithm. Moreover, the computational time for different fabric processing was presented to verify the computational range of proposed algorithm with the conventional fabric processing techniques. Hence, this proposed computer vision-based fabric defects detection system is used for an accurate defect detection and computer-aided analysis system.
Impact of patients’ safety rights and medical errors on the patients’ security feeling: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abedi Ghasem , Mahmoodi Ghahraman , Malekzadeh Roya , Khodaei Zeinab , Siraneh Belete Yibeltal , Hasanpoor Edris
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The regulation defines patients’ rights as a reflection of fundamental human rights in the field of medicine and incorporates all elements of patients’ rights accepted in international texts. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between patients’ safety, medical errors and patients’ safety rights with patients’ security feeling in selected hospitals of Mazandaran Province, Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in selected hospitals of Mazandaran Province in public, social and private hospitals in 2016. In total, 1,083 patients were randomly selected for the study. The developed tool (questionnaire) was used for data collection. Questionnaire validity was verified through experts and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s α coefficient (95 percent). Data were analyzed through multiple regressions by SPSS software (version 21).

Findings

The findings of this paper showed that the mean (standard deviation) medical error, patient’s safety, patient’s rights and patient’s security feeling were 2.50±0.61, 2.22±0.67, 2.11±0.68 and 2.73±0.63, respectively. Correlation testing results showed that medical error, patient’s safety and patient’s rights simultaneously had a significant relation with patient’s security feeling in the selected hospitals (p<0.05).

Originality/value

A simultaneous correlation between patient’s safety, patient’s rights and medical errors with patient’s security feeling in social security hospitals was higher than other hospitals. Hence, the authorities and officials of hospitals and healthcare centers were advised to make effective attempts to perceive the patient’s safety, medical errors and patient’s rights to improve the patient’s security feeling and calmness and also to make better decisions to promote the healthcare and therapeutic services.
The Burwood Academy: incorporating the principles of the independent living paradigm into rehabilitation research
Authors: Bourke John , Nunnerley Joanne , Snell Deborah , Sinnott Jerram Anne
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The independent living (IL) movement is a social movement but also an analytic paradigm which can be used to inform and shape rehabilitation research and practice. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the principles of DeJong’s IL paradigm have been used to develop a guiding framework for the Burwood Academy, a rehabilitation and disability research organisation in New Zealand. The Burwood Academy drew on the consumer empowerment principles inherent in DeJong’s IL paradigm, whereby the person learns to take control of the rehabilitation process, on which to promote consumer empowerment in all of the Academy’s endeavours.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports on three investigative phases of work: a stakeholder dialogue, a narrative review and a benchmarking exercise that collectively enabled the development of a working framework based on DeJong’s IL paradigm.

Findings

This paper highlights pragmatic strategies that are used to better promote consumer inclusion in the research process, build researcher capacity among consumers and clinicians, and promote knowledge translation through a range of tertiary and clinical education forums.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study identified numerous ways to promote consumer empowerment in research. Future research is needed to explore the effectiveness of the proposed framework further.

Practical implications

This paper suggests potential avenues to address the complexities of promoting the role of the “expert consumer” imbedded in clinical environments where this is not usually a priority in training and practice of health professionals.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study more pragmatic ways to promote consumer empowerment in both clinical and research settings.
Exploring links between witnessed and instigated workplace incivility
Authors: Holm Kristoffer , Torkelson Eva , Bäckström Martin
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how witnessing workplace incivility from coworkers and supervisors relates to instigating incivility toward others. A further aim was to investigate if witnessed incivility is indirectly related to instigated incivility via perceived stress and low job satisfaction. An additional aim was to study if control, social support and job embeddedness moderate the relationships between witnessed and instigated incivility.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 978 individuals, sourced from a Swedish trade union, completed an online questionnaire.

Findings

The results showed that witnessed incivility, mainly from coworkers but also from supervisors, was related to instigated incivility. Although witnessed incivility was related to both perceived stress and low job satisfaction, witnessed incivility was not linked to instigated incivility via perceived stress or low job satisfaction. In addition, the results showed that participants who had witnessed coworker incivility and at the same time perceived high levels of control, social support (from coworkers) or job embeddedness on average reported higher levels of instigated incivility. Similarly, participants who had witnessed supervisor incivility and at the same time perceived high levels of control, social support (from coworkers and supervisors) or job embeddedness on average reported higher levels of instigated incivility.

Originality/value

The findings expand the literature on bystander workplace incivility and highlight the importance of including experienced psychosocial work factors in models of incivility.
Research on decision-making of autonomous vehicle following based on reinforcement learning method
Authors: Gao Hongbo , Shi Guanya , Wang Kelong , Xie Guotao , Liu Yuchao
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Over the past decades, there has been significant research effort dedicated to the development of autonomous vehicles. The decision-making system, which is responsible for driving safety, is one of the most important technologies for autonomous vehicles. The purpose of this study is the use of an intensive learning method combined with car-following data by a driving simulator to obtain an explanatory learning following algorithm and establish an anthropomorphic car-following model.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposed car-following method based on reinforcement learning for autonomous vehicles decision-making. An approximator is used to approximate the value function by determining state space, action space and state transition relationship. A gradient descent method is used to solve the parameter.

Findings

The effect of car-following on certain driving styles is initially achieved through the simulation of step conditions. The effect of car-following initially proves that the reinforcement learning system is more adaptive to car following and that it has certain explanatory and stability based on the explicit calculation of R.

Originality/value

The simulation results show that the car-following method based on reinforcement learning for autonomous vehicle decision-making realizes reliable car-following decision-making and has the advantages of simple sample, small amount of data, simple algorithm and good robustness.
Towards structure–agency integrative theories for information access disparity
Authors: Yu Liangzhi
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Based on the assumption that information access disparity is a highly complex phenomenon demanding integrative explications that heed both structure and agency, the purpose of this paper is to outline the theoretical background against which endeavours to develop such explanations can be planned.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a close reading of: existing explanations of information access disparity; research of other library and information science (LIS) issues that have demonstrated conscious attempts to bridge structure and agency; and cross-disciplinary integrative theories that have served as foundations for LIS research. Explanatory power of the first and applicability of the latter two are critically assessed; lessons for future research are drawn.

Findings

The examination shows that efforts to develop integrative theories for information access disparity are emerging but remain indistinct; integrative frameworks for other LIS phenomena exist but are developed primarily by adopting concepts from cross-disciplinary theories and are, therefore, both enabled and constrained by them. It also shows that cross-disciplinary integrative theories contribute to LIS by exporting the general integrative theorising approach and a range of specific concepts but, owing to their limitations in dealing with information-specific issues, their adequacy for explaining information access disparity cannot be assumed.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that a promising way forward for developing integrative theories of information access disparity is to follow the general integrative approach, but to ground related concepts and propositions in empirical data alone, i.e., to begin the journey of integrative theorising theory-free.
Effective organisational change to achieve successful ITIL implementation
Authors: Blumberg Malcolm , Cater-Steel Aileen , Rajaeian Mohammad Mehdi , Soar Jeffrey
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Although an increasing number of organisations implement the Information Technology Infrastructure Library® (ITIL®) with the aim to improve provision of information technology services to their customers, a significant number of ITIL implementations do not achieve the expected outcomes. The organisational change strategies of organisations during ITIL implementation initiatives may have an effect on success, but empirical research on this topic is scarce. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiple case study methodology comprising successful ITIL implementations in eight large Australian organisations is used. A socio-technical systems approach represented by Leavitt’s Diamond is adopted as a lens to shed light on the attributes of effective organisational change strategies for successful ITIL implementation.

Findings

This paper identifies organisational change strategies employed by organisations that have effected a successful ITIL implementation. The authors identified that the ITIL implementation required changes to the four components of the socio-technical work system (STS) identified in Leavitt’s Diamond. Changes to one STS component affected other STS components when implementing ITIL; and that effort applied to the STS components did not need to be equal, but appropriate to the requirements of the ITIL implementation and the organisation.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size of eight ITIL implementation cases studied may limit the generalisation of findings.

Practical implications

This research provides IT service management researchers and ITIL practitioners, for the first time, information about organisational change strategies as applied to successful ITIL implementations.

Originality/value

This research has developed novel insights into organisational change strategies and ITIL implementation that had not previously been explored.
Non-conformance in apparels: exploring online fashion retail in India
Authors: Kaushik Vineet , Dhir Sanjay
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study, explore and rank the non-conforming factors in apparels purchased from e-shops.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by visiting and interacting people in colleges and through the structured online questionnaires (n=222). The exploratory factor analysis was performed using “R” software. Identified factors were ranked using AHP methodology; 12 experts from various fashion institutes participated in identifying the factors.

Findings

Based upon the results of the exploratory study, non-conforming factors such as “visual variation”, “functional inconvenience”, “cloth attribute variation”, “haptic variation”, “aesthetic variation” and “fit variation” were identified. The priority ranking of factors and sub-factors was done.

Research limitations/implications

The sample primarily comprised of the young adult population (19–27 years) and most of them were females (71.6 per cent). There can be other demographic factors. Research is limited to online apparel retailers. Advanced methods of prioritisation can be used.

Practical implications

The paper can be useful to online apparel retailers, vendors and manufacturers to understand the factors that may be important for improving their business.

Originality/value

There is no study that identifies the non-conformance factors related to online apparel retailing.
Co-creation: a B2C and B2B comparative analysis
Authors: D’Andrea Fernando Antonio Monteiro Christoph , Rigon Filipe , Almeida Ana Carolina Lopes de , Filomena Bertran da Silveira , Slongo Luiz Antonio
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to qualitatively analyze and compare people’s objectives when participating in two sets of co-creation initiatives – business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) – to what the theory in the field states about that participation.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach has been adopted; it uses laddering, a qualitative technique, in a novel manner through the analysis of an abstract product: the co-creation process.

Findings

Results in B2C point to a disconnection between the motivation of participants and what the theory suggests that should be expected from a co-creation agenda. In the B2B setting, the disconnections are much smaller.

Research limitations/implications

The research used small and narrow samples. Additionally, the research considers only the consumers’ perspective.

Practical implications

Considering the context in which they compete (industrial or consumer market), companies must come up with better selection criteria for co-creators and must be more specific in setting and pursuing the goals of the co-creation projects. By doing so, organizations can achieve more fruitful results in those innovation initiatives.

Originality/value

The present study is innovative in the use of laddering to understand not a product nor a service, but a process: co-creation. The study reveals that, despite the buzz about co-creation, practical examples suggest that this process may not be as fruitful or satisfying as the theories suggest.
Determinants of entrepreneurial intention among undergraduates in a Muslim community
Authors: Ezeh Precious C. , Nkamnebe Anayo D. , Omodafe Uzezi P.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

As part of the strategy to curb the rising unemployment among Nigerian undergraduates, entrepreneurship subjects were made compulsory in the curriculum of all the higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. The idea is to trigger strong desire for enterprise creation rather than remaining job seekers among the undergraduates upon graduation. Accordingly, this paper aims to determine predictors to entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Muslim community of Northern Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Theory of planned behaviour was extended to include compatibility and educational support. The model was empirically tested and was analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling technique on a sample of 312 higher institution students in Zamfara State.

Findings

The finding shows that entrepreneurial intention is taken as a function of educational support, compatibility and perceived behavioural control. The extended model has predictive relevance, and it explained 36 per cent of variance in entrepreneurial intention.

Originality/value

The inclusion of compatibility has a unique effect on this study; no study has tested the effects of compatibility in entrepreneurial intention. In addition, no study has been conducted in a core Muslim state in Northern Nigeria, where most of the economic policies are Islamic-driven and unemployment rate is relatively high. In addition, no study has been conducted in the context of necessity entrepreneurship using TPB.
The impact of multimarket contacts on bank stability in Vietnam
Authors: Le Tu DQ , Tran Son H. , Nguyen Liem T.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of multimarket contacts on bank stability in the Vietnamese banking system between 2006 and 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

The system generalized method of moments proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) is used to examine the relationship between multimarket contacts and bank stability.

Findings

The findings show that multimarket contacts among Vietnamese commercial banks improve bank stability. In addition, more x-efficient banks appear to be more stable. The same is true for banks with less holding liquid assets, for those with less excessive lending, for smaller banks, for those with the greater level of intermediation and for those with a higher level of foreign ownership. Listed banks are found to be less-risk taking than unlisted banks.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to examine the relationship between multimarket contacts and bank stability in an emerging market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Corporate social responsibility initiatives and its impact on social license: some empirical perspectives
Authors: Famiyeh Samuel , Asante-Darko Disraeli , Kwarteng Amoako , Gameti Daniel Komla , Asah Stephen Awuku
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the driving forces of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in organizations and how these social initiatives influence organizations’ “license to operate” using data from the Ghanaian business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used purposive sampling with a well-structured questionnaire as a data collection tool. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to study the driving forces of CSR initiatives in organizations and how these social initiatives influence their social license.

Findings

The findings indicate that CSR initiatives are driven by the normative, mimetic, investors and community pressures. The regulative pressure has no significant effect on CSR initiatives. The authors found no difference between the services and the manufacturing sectors as far as the results are concerned using multi-grouping analysis.

Research limitations/implications

From the results, the importance of normative, mimetic, investors and community pressures as the driving forces of CSR are established. The finding indicates that CSR demands by suppliers, customers the extent to which organizations perceive their competitors have benefited from initiating CSR are benefiting, the willingness of investors to invest in companies whose CSR activities are best and the opinion on the extent to which the District Assembly and the Chief Executive in the district, the Chiefs, the Churches, the Opinion leaders have significant impact on CSR initiatives.

Practical implications

The results indicate the need for suppliers and customers to continually demand from corporations to initiate CSR activities as organizations seem to respond to these pressures, and these initiatives are also likely to be mimicked by other organizations in the same industry to enable this drive the social responsibility agenda. Investors and community members are also encouraged to invest and accept, respectively, organizations with very good CSR records to send a signal to companies who see CSR as a cost instead of performance enhancement.

Originality/value

The work illustrates and provides some insights and builds on the literature in the area of CSR from a developing country’s environment. This is also one of the few works that investigate the driving forces of CSR and social license using the institutional theory based on data from the African business environment.
Public–private partnership as an innovative approach for sustainable tourism in Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Authors: Herrero Amo María Dolores , De Stefano M. Cristina
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The current tourism model based on luxury hotel resorts in the Gulf of Papagayo (Guanacaste, Costa Rica) is largely affecting the living condition of its nearby communities. This paper aims to discuss the importance of promoting public–private partnerships (PPPs) as innovative forms of governance to increase the sustainability of this tourism model.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the review of institutional documents and the PPP literature, this article critically maps each stage of the process to design PPPs for sustainable tourism, taking into account the case of Guanacaste. In this way, it offers a practical guideline to plan partnerships involving academia, public institutions and private partners in particular tourism sites.

Findings

The paper shows that the feasibility of a PPP in Guanacaste strongly depends on the alignment of partners’ local interests, on the adequacy of the partnership to the social and economic conditions of the context wherein it has to be carried out, and on the appropriation of results from partners.

Originality/value

This work combines a theoretical and practical perspective to understand the interactive process to be carried out to design PPPs in developing tourism destinations.
What is the host community perception of slum tourism in Colombia?
Authors: Herrero Amo María Dolores , Jayawardena Chandana (Chandi) , Laloum Gaultier Salomé
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to find answers to two research questions: What is the perception of the Moravia community on tourism in their neighbourhood? What are the conditions under which they can accept slum tourism?

Design/methodology/approach

The foundation of this paper was laid during a field trip to Medellin, Colombia, in March 2018. More than three weeks were spent in the neighbourhood of Moravia, one of Medellin’s “barrios” or slums, where a qualitative study was led. Semi-structured interviews with the local community were done around the neighbourhood.

Findings

The main finding of this research is the positive perception of slum tourism within the Moravia community. The researchers found that the locals are proud when outsiders visit to see their neighbourhood. The locals felt that, it breaks the prejudice surrounding their homes, and tourists are seen as spokespeople for the barrio. There are visible improvements made to the barrio owing to tourism. This research drew attention to the conditions under which this type of tourism can be accepted in the neighbourhood: community participation, interaction between hosts and tourists, education and respect of tourists and the visible improvements to the neighbourhood.

Originality/value

Slum tourism is an understudied topic in Colombia, especially in Medellin. By researching on the host perception on slum tourism, this paper contributes to literature on slum tourism from a new angle.
Learning on the job: Studying expertise in residential burglars using virtual environments*
Authors: Nee Claire , van Gelder Jean‐Louis , Otte Marco , Vernham Zarah , Meenaghan Amy
Published: May 2019

In this article, we describe a quasi‐experiment in which experienced incarcerated burglars (n = 56), other offenders (n = 50), and nonoffenders (n = 55) undertook a mock burglary within a virtual neighborhood. We draw from the cognitive psychology literature on expertise and apply it to offending behavior, demonstrating synergy with rational choice perspectives, yet extending them in several respects. Our principal goal was to carry out the first robust test of expertise in offenders by having these groups undertake a burglary in a fully fledged reenactment of a crime in a virtual environment. Our findings indicate that the virtual environment successfully reinstated the context of the crime showing clear differences in the decision making of burglars compared with other groups in ways commensurate with expertise in other behavioral domains. Specifically, burglars scoped the neighborhood more thoroughly, spent more time in the high‐value areas of the crime scene while traveling less distance there, and targeted different goods from the comparison groups. The level of detail in the data generated sheds new light on the cognitive processes and actions of burglars and how they “learn on the job.” Implications for criminal decision‐making perspectives and psychological theories of expertise are discussed.
Transcriptional networks in the human epididymis
Authors: Browne J. A. , Leir S‐H. , Yin S. , Harris A.
Published: May 2019

Background

The epithelial lining of the human epididymis is critical for sperm maturation. This process requires distinct specialized functions in the head, body, and tail of the duct. These region‐specific properties are maintained by distinct gene expression profiles which are governed by transcription factor networks, non‐coding RNAs, and other factors.

Materials and methods

We used genome‐wide protocols including DNase‐seq, RNA‐seq and ChIP‐seq to characterize open (active) chromatin, the transcriptome and occupancy of specific transcription factors (TFs) respectively, in caput, corpus, and cauda segments of adult human epididymis tissue and primary human epididymis epithelial (HEE) cell cultures derived from them. RNA‐seq following TF depletion or activation, combined with gene ontology analysis also determined TF targets.

Results

Among regional differentially expressed transcripts were epithelial‐selective transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs, and antiviral response genes. Caput‐enriched TFs included hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF1) and the androgen receptor (AR), both of which were also predicted to occupy cis‐regulatory elements identified as open chromatin in HEE cells. HNF1 targets were identified genome‐wide using ChIP‐seq, in HEE cells. Next, siRNA‐mediated depletion of HNF1 revealed a pivotal role for this TF in coordinating epithelial water and solute transport in caput epithelium. The importance of AR in HEE cells was shown by AR ChIP‐seq, and by RNA‐seq after synthetic androgen (R1881) treatment. AR has a distinct transcriptional program in the HEE cells and likely recruits different co‐factors (RUNX1 and CEBPβ) in comparison to those used in prostate epithelium.

Discussion and Conclusion

Our data identify many transcription factors that regulate the development and differentiation of HEE cells. Moreover, a comparison between immature and adult HEE cells showed key TFs in the transition to fully differentiated function of this epithelium. These data may help identify new targets to treat male infertility and have the potential to open new avenues for male contraception.
Buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance for “poppy husk” dependence: A retrospective study
Authors: Tikka Sai Krishna , Singh Lokesh Kumar , Mamidipalli Spoorthy Sai , Purushotham Ashwathnarayan , Suchandra K. Hari Hara
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Despite a significant number of patients dependent on “poppy husk” in India, they are poorly characterized. Moreover, scarce data is available with respect to their treatment.

Methods

A cohort of 148 patients with “poppy husk” dependence receiving substitution treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone were followed up for 4 years, using a retrospective chart‐based assessment. Baseline demographic and substance‐related characteristics were described. Retention rates (operationally redefined as “6 months of uninterrupted contact anytime during their visits”) over the next 4 years and their predictors were assessed.

Results

Mean age of onset of “poppy husk” use was found to be 27.51 years, and mean duration of dependence was 18.25 years. Mean amount of poppy husk consumed per month was 3.7 kg. Commonest reasons for initiating and quitting its use were enhancing work efficiency and lack of availability, respectively. Retention rates were 25%. Significant predictors of retention were age more than 40 years (OR = 2.295; 95%CI = 1.015‐5.19) and uninterrupted treatment duration for at least 1 month from first contact (for 1 month (OR = 5.625; 95%CI = 2.28‐13.89), for 3 months (OR = 10.96; 95%CI = 4.65‐25.85), and for 6 months (OR = 52.8; 95%CI:14.08‐197.98).

Discussion

Factors associated with occupation such as enhancing work efficiency and overcoming fatigue are related to use of “poppy husk.” While the amount of intake is considerably large among treatment seekers who are dependent on it, their dependence duration is longer and retention rates lower than those reported for patients with prescription and injectable opioid dependence. Specific strategies to tap patients less than 40 years and to target uninterrupted contact in initial phases of maintenance should be developed.
Rent/price ratio for English housing sub‐markets using matched sales and rental data
Authors: Clark Stephen , Lomax Nik
Published: May 2019

The ratio between the rental and sales values of residential properties are a much studied statistic in the field of real estate economics. When these values do not keep pace with each other, and in particular when the ratio is low, some commentators take this as an indication that there may be a housing bubble building. The ratios are also of interest to potential property investors. These ratios are commonly computed on aggregate statistics derived from the housing market and as such rarely provide any indication of sub‐market bubbles, that can occur with particular property types or regions of the country. In this study use is made of a data set from a property listings company that provides sales and, potentially, rental prices for the same properties within England. From the matching that takes place it is possible to calculate the rent/price ratio for individual properties. A regression model is then estimated to explain how the characteristics of the properties; the nature of their neighbourhood; and their location influence this ratio. The model consistently validates the hypothesis that the more desirable a property or affluent an area, the lower the rent/price ratio. It also begins to illustrate the range of “normal” rent/price ratios that may exist in housing sub‐markets. The regression model is then used to provide a map of the geographical distribution of the ratio for England for one property sub‐market.
A global assessment of primate responses to landscape structure
Authors: Galán‐Acedo Carmen , Arroyo‐Rodríguez Víctor , Cudney‐Valenzuela Sabine J. , Fahrig Lenore
Published: May 2019

Land‐use change modifies the spatial structure of terrestrial landscapes, potentially shaping the distribution, abundance and diversity of remaining species assemblages. Non‐human primates can be particularly vulnerable to landscape disturbances, but our understanding of this topic is far from complete. Here we reviewed all available studies on primates' responses to landscape structure. We found 34 studies of 71 primate species (24 genera and 10 families) that used a landscape approach. Most studies (82%) were from Neotropical forests, with howler monkeys being the most frequently studied taxon (56% of studies). All studies but one used a site‐landscape or a patch‐landscape study design, and frequently (34% of studies) measured landscape variables within a given radius from the edge of focal patches. Altogether, the 34 studies reported 188 responses to 17 landscape‐scale metrics. However, the majority of the studies (62%) quantified landscape predictors within a single spatial scale, potentially missing significant primate–landscape responses. To assess such responses accurately, landscape metrics need to be measured at the optimal scale, i.e. the spatial extent at which the primate–landscape relationship is strongest (so‐called ‘scale of effect’). Only 21% of studies calculated the scale of effect through multiscale approaches. Interestingly, the vast majority of studies that do not assess the scale of effect mainly reported null effects of landscape structure on primates, while most of the studies based on optimal scales found significant responses. These significant responses were primarily to landscape composition variables rather than landscape configuration variables. In particular, primates generally show positive responses to increasing forest cover, landscape quality indices and matrix permeability. By contrast, primates show weak responses to landscape configuration. In addition, half of the studies showing significant responses to landscape configuration metrics did not control for the effect of forest cover. As configuration metrics are often correlated with forest cover, this means that documented configuration effects may simply be driven by landscape‐scale forest loss. Our findings suggest that forest loss (not fragmentation) is a major threat to primates, and thus, preventing deforestation (e.g. through creation of reserves) and increasing forest cover through restoration is critically needed to mitigate the impact of land‐use change on our closest relatives. Increasing matrix functionality can also be critical, for instance by promoting anthropogenic land covers that are similar to primates' habitat.
Comparison of the ecology and evolution of plants with a generalist bird pollination system between continents and islands worldwide
Authors: Abrahamczyk Stefan
Published: May 2019

Thousands of plant species worldwide are dependent on birds for pollination. While the ecology and evolution of interactions between specialist nectarivorous birds and the plants they pollinate is relatively well understood, very little is known on pollination by generalist birds. The flower characters of this pollination syndrome are clearly defined but the geographical distribution patterns, habitat preferences and ecological factors driving the evolution of generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species have never been analysed. Herein I provide an overview, compare the distribution of character states for plants growing on continents with those occurring on oceanic islands and discuss the environmental factors driving the evolution of both groups. The ecological niches of generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species differ: on continents these plants mainly occur in habitats with pronounced climatic seasonality whereas on islands generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species mainly occur in evergreen forests. Further, on continents generalist‐bird‐pollinated plant species are mostly shrubs and other large woody species producing numerous flowers with a self‐incompatible reproductive system, while on islands they are mostly small shrubs producing fewer flowers and are self‐compatible. This difference in character states indicates that diverging ecological factors are likely to have driven the evolution of these groups: on continents, plants that evolved generalist bird pollination escape from pollinator groups that tend to maintain self‐pollination by installing feeding territories in single flowering trees or shrubs, such as social bees or specialist nectarivorous birds. This pattern is more pronounced in the New compared to the Old World. By contrast, on islands, plants evolved generalist bird pollination as an adaptation to birds as a reliable pollinator group, a pattern previously known from plants pollinated by specialist nectarivorous birds in tropical mountain ranges. Additionally, I discuss the evolutionary origins of bird pollination systems in comparison to systems involving specialist nectarivorous birds and reconstruct the bird pollination system of Hawaii, which may represent an intermediate between a specialist and generalist bird pollination system. I also discuss the interesting case of Australia, where it is difficult to distinguish between specialist and generalist bird pollination systems.