bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agricultural labour productivity and credit constraints: implications for consumption in rural Ghana
Authors: Issahaku Haruna , Mahama Ishaque , Addy–Morton Reginald
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of credit constraints on agricultural labour productivity as well as the impact of credit constraints and agricultural labour productivity on rural households' consumption in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the Ghana Living Standard Survey round six (GLSS 6) as the main source of data, which happens to be one of the most comprehensive household datasets in Ghana. Quantitative estimation techniques (namely: Endogenous Switching Regression and Two Stage Least Squares) are used to address possible endogeneity and selection into credit markets.

Findings

First, large households are prone to credit constraints while age (experience) and compliance with extension advice reduce credit constraints. Second, the determinants of agricultural labour productivity for both constrained and unconstrained households are age, sex, farm equipment, herbicide and farm size. Third, household size, education and livestock rearing influence agricultural labour productivity of constrained households. Fourth, credit constraints, irrespective of how they are measured, impede agricultural labour productivity while access to credit fosters labour productivity. Lastly, credit constraints robustly reduce consumption while agricultural labour productivity strongly enhances rural households' consumption.

Originality/value

The first contribution is that, unlike most previous studies, we do not focus on the widely used measure of productivity – output per unit land, but on agriculture labour productivity in particular. Secondly, unlike most previous studies which examine the effect of credit constraints either on productivity alone or consumption alone, our study examines the impact of credit constraints on both. Thirdly, unlike the existing literature which uses one or two measures of credit constraints, we use a wide range of measures of credit constraints – seven different measures of credit constraints. Lastly, our empirical strategy solves at least two critical econometric problems – sample selection bias and endogeneity.
Post-implementation challenges of fair value measurement (IFRS 13): some empirical evidence
Authors: Oyewo Babajide
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Consequent on the widespread of fair value (FV) accounting with the coming into effect of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 13, this study investigated the post-implementation challenges of FV measurement from the perspective of auditors in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection was through a structured-questionnaire administered on auditors from diverse audit firm backgrounds in terms of size, international affiliation and global presence. Statistical techniques such as cluster analysis, factor analysis and ANOVA were applied to analyse data obtained from 277 respondents.

Findings

It was observed that the severest challenge of FV measurement bothers on the paucity of information for valuation of items. The magnitude of the challenges of applying FV measurement in various industry sectors appears similar. Although audit firm attributes affect perception on the challenges, there is concurrence among auditors that manipulation of values of assets/liabilities with no market price during estimation, leveraging on non-availability of market information on assets/liabilities by managers to manipulate financial statements, inappropriateness/non-compliance of valuation methods with IFRS 13, and low level of awareness among preparers of financial reports are notable post-implementation challenges of FV measurement.

Practical implications

Considering that the adoption of IFRS 13 impliedly places responsibilities on countries applying the standard to develop institutional structures that facilitate the valuation of items using FV measurement, it seems the establishment of such apparatus may be a sine qua non for fully realising the socio-economic benefits of applying FV accounting.

Originality/value

The study contributes to knowledge by exposing the practical challenges of FV measurement and accounting estimates typical of a developing country that has fully implemented international accounting standards. Moreover, findings from this study could be compared with the result of investigations conducted in other jurisdictions to gain a deeper and wider insight into the challenges of FV measurement with a view to proffering solutions to the post-implementation challenges of IFRS 13.
Family financial socialization, financial information seeking behavior and financial literacy among youth
Authors: Pahlevan Sharif Saeed , Naghavi Navaz
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study examined the relationship between financial information seeking behavior and financial literacy, as well as the relationship between parents' teaching and behavior with financial information seeking behavior through the factors of the risk information seeking and processing model among youth.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 802 tertiary education students participated in this cross-sectional study. Using covariance-based structural equation modeling, the model was assessed and hypotheses were tested.

Findings

The results revealed that financial information seeking behavior contributed to youth's financial literacy. While parents' sound financial behavior was directly related to seeking financial information, both parents' financial teaching and behavior indirectly, through the risk information seeking process, encouraged youth to actively seek for financial information. Moreover, parents' financial socialization directly and also indirectly through the risk information seeking and processing model explained youth's financial information avoidance. Among the two parts of the risk information seeking and processing model, planned behavior factors played a more salient role than cognitive need for financial information.

Originality/value

This study extends the risk information seeking and processing model by integrating family financial socialization to the model and applies it in the context of consumers' financial behavior. The results improve our understanding of the social and psychological mechanism that drives consumers' financial literacy and decision-making.
Implications of self-managing teams for the HRM function
Authors: Renkema Maarten , Bos-Nehles Anna , Meijerink Jeroen
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Organisations increasingly implement self-managing teams (SMTs) to empower their employees. By drawing from the HRM process model and multilevel thinking, this paper explores how the HRM function changes in terms of actors and activities when introducing SMTs.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth, multilevel case study was conducted at a large healthcare organisation in The Netherlands, making use of 70 interviews, document analysis and observations.

Findings

The findings show that SMTs transform the HRM function by changing the responsibilities of teams, HRM professionals and line managers in the implementation of HRM activities. The analysis shows that many HRM responsibilities are devolved to SMTs, which are supported by the HRM department.

Research limitations/implications

These changes in the HRM function influence the HRM implementation process and provide all actors with new roles and activities. Based on these findings, this paper presents an inductive model of HRM implementation.

Practical implications

The findings help HRM practitioners to transform the HRM function when deciding to introduce SMTs.

Originality/value

This article is one of the first that empirically explores how the HRM function changes as a consequence of introducing SMTs. This is important because more and more organisations are adopting SMTs, while knowledge about the role of HRM is lacking.
Emotional state representation and detection method of users in library space based on body posture recognition
Authors: Wang Jingyi , Run Yuan , Shi Hongwei
Published: April 2020

Purpose

In the information commons (IC) space of library, it is very important to recognize the emotional state of users for better playing the role of IC. In view of this point, this paper aims to discuss the human expression of user emotion.

Design/methodology/approach

An emotional state recognition method based on body posture change under video monitoring is proposed. In this method, two parameters are proposed to represent the emotional state of users. Finally, the distribution of users’ overall emotional state is recognized.

Findings

It is found that the change of human posture reflects the emotional state of users to a certain extent. The spatial frequency of the user’s average body position change and per capita body position change can reflect the spatial distribution of individual and body position change, respectively.

Originality/value

The method in this paper can effectively overcome the inaccuracy of manual identification of video monitoring images, especially in the case of a large number of users and effectively help the construction of university library IC space and provide a basis for the setting of environmental parameters.
User-driven efforts in creating knowledge graph information system
Authors: Gardasevic Stanislava
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper presents the results of a qualitative study that involved students of an interdisciplinary PhD program. The study objective was to gather requirements to create a knowledge graph information system. The purpose of this study was to determine information-seeking practices and information needs of this community, to inform the functionalities of a proposed system, intended to help students with relevant resource discovery and decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

The study design included semi-structured interviews with eight members of the community, followed by a website usability study with the same student participants.

Findings

Two main information-seeking styles are recognized and reported through user personas of international and domestic (USA) students. The findings show that the useful information resides within the community and not so much on the program website. Students rely on peer communication, although they report lack of opportunities to connect. Students’ information needs and information seeking are dependent on their progress through the program, as well as their motivation and the projected timeline.

Practical implications

Considering the current information needs and practices, a knowledge graph hosting both information on social networks and the knowledge produced by the activities of the community members would be useful. By recording data on their activities (for example, collaboration with professors and coursework), students would reveal further useful system functionalities and facilitate transfer of tacit knowledge.

Originality/value

Aside from the practical value of this research that is directly influencing the design of a system, it contributes to the body of knowledge on interdisciplinary PhD programs.
A case study concerning the 5S lean technique in a scientific equipment manufacturing company
Authors: Gupta Shaman , Chandna Pankaj
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper's purpose is to help a scientific equipment company make use of the 5S tool on the shop floor so that the organization can become progressively beneficial and increasingly productive.

Design/methodology/approach

The organization has adopted a simple approach for making a suitable team for 5S tool implementation at the workplace. After that, they have used three types of data-collection methods so that these methods could help in the correct introduction of the 5S tool in the business workplace. They have also analysed the regression analysis with the genetic algorithm for the audit scores to predict the behaviour of 5S implementation in the coming weeks.

Findings

In this case study, it has been found after the suitable analysis that the 5S tool implementation has resulted in the overall benefits of the workplace. The major benefit achieved with the 5S tool is that the searching time for the tool in the workplace has been improved significantly. Also, the safety level is increased. The 5S audit has been carried out in the workplace and the audit score has been improved from the level of 6 scores (in week 1) to 72 score (in week 24).

Practical implications

5S tool has emerged as an incredible asset and it tends to be actualized in any of the ventures whether it is of a miniature, small, medium or large scale industry. The 5S tool can be applied horizontally at a large scale and it can be applied to almost all the workstations in the workplace.

Originality/value

The presented productions and contextual investigation for the 5S tool will be helpful and useful for all the analysts, experts and all other people who are worried about this subject of the 5S tool and its implementation in the organization.
Development of intelligent system for predicting MTR in EDC process using powder metallurgical tools
Authors: Mussada Eswara Krishna , Patowari P.K.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The current research work presents the application of fuzzy logic modeling for electric discharge coating (EDC) process for predicting the material transfer rate (MTR), which has the capability of producing thick and thin films on the conductive substrate material.

Design/methodology/approach

Thirty-two real-time experiments were conducted, and fuzzy rules were framed from the inference made from this experimental data. Validating experiments were carried out to check the feasibility of the developed model in prediction.

Findings

A fair agreement has been observed between experimental results and the outcomes of fuzzy model. This was supported by a goodness of fit value of 0.917. The values of adjusted R2 and standard error were 0.914 and 19.112, respectively.

Research limitations/implications

Current research deals with the prediction of MTR at various parameter grouping conditions, which majorly influence the response parameters. However, other parameters such as quality of the dielectric fluid, flushing pressure and purity of the electrode and work material and so on that influence the response parameters could be further investigated and stand as a future scope of the current work.

Practical implications

MTR is a response parameter that accounts the actual material transfer to the workpiece during the deposition process. This parameter supports/alters the hardness, adhesion, wear resistance and other mechanical properties of the work material. The current modeling work helps to take an optimum decision without conducting large number of experiments at the industrial scale. Due to the nature of fuzzy logic, this method has a potential advantage in dealing with real-time data for various industrial applications.

Originality/value

Developing a fuzzy model for EDC process is not yet addressed, and to attain the economic objective of the process, optimal deposition conditions must be determined, which help the industries to reduce the operation costs. The current study outcomes substantiate the effectiveness of the fuzzy logic in decision-making and prediction of response parameters.
A critical approach to humanizing pedagogies in online teaching and learning
Authors: Mehta Rohit , Aguilera Earl
Published: April 2020

Purpose

In this paper, the authors draw on theories of critical pedagogy to interrogate recent trends in online education scholarship, calling for more humanizing pedagogies. By using vignettes from their own teaching experiences, the paper illustrates tensions between autonomous and ideological visions of humanizing approaches, particularly how they apply to issues of inclusion in online teaching and learning.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on critical theory to interrogate the framings of humanizing online teaching. Sharing three illustrative vignettes from their own reflexive teaching practice, the authors demonstrate how a critically framed approach to humanizing digital pedagogies can promote the design and enactment of more inclusive learning environments across online contexts.

Findings

Based on the pedagogical cases presented, the authors demonstrate (1) how methods promoted in autonomous models of humanizing pedagogy can present challenges for inclusive design, (2) how participatory media production activities can still intersect with issues of racialization, and (3) how humanizing pedagogical commitments by individual instructors can be constrained by material, structural, and institutional realities.

Practical implications

While critical framings of pedagogy necessarily resist prescriptive recommendations, the authors conclude the article by underscoring the importance of critically interrogating the ideological dimensions of humanizing pedagogies, the need to grapple with social inequities even as educational contexts are increasingly digitized; the importance of considering structural issues of power and privilege that produce and constrain pedagogical possibilities.

Originality/value

The authors offer a critical framing of humanizing pedagogies in online education that runs counter to the often-autonomous framings of these approaches, highlighting issues of power, privilege, and ideology that can be overlooked in online educational contexts, especially at the level of institutional, instructional design and support.
How policy configurations matter: a critical look into pro-natal policy in South Korea based on a gender and family framework
Authors: Lee Kun , Zaidi Asghar
Published: April 2020

Purpose

South Korea has shown ultra-low fertility since the 2000s despite a massive expansion of pro-natal policies. The purpose of this research is to analyse institutional and socio-cultural configurations surrounding Korea's pro-natal policy and provide implications as to why the comprehensive packages have not produced intended outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study assumes institutional complementarities, suggesting that the effectiveness of policy depends on various support factors. Drawing out insights from the framework of de-familisation, the authors construct a gender and family framework to analyse the pro-natal policy configurations in Korea.

Findings

Labour market policies in Korea have explicitly aimed to support dual-earner couples and protect women's employment status after childbirth. However, the dualistic labour market and remaining female-caregiver norms lead to the polarisation of couples into dual earners and male breadwinners. In family policy, the government has rapidly increased affordable childcare services, but widespread distrust in private services and generous birth-related cash benefits formulate a tension between de-familisation and continued familisation. Other welfare programmes that attach welfare rights to marital status also prolong female-caregiver norms in institutional arrangements. The findings suggest that the ambivalence between recent policy developments and the existing arrangements can limit the effectiveness of the policy packages.

Originality/value

The framework based on institutional complementarities addresses the limitations of previous studies concentrating on the statistical testing of individual policy effects. A similar approach can be applied to other countries showing major policy efforts but producing unsatisfactory outcomes.
Perceptions of MOOCs among Indian State University students and teachers
Authors: Kundu Arnab , Bej Tripti
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study was inspired by the emergence of Massive Open Online Courses (henceforth MOOCs) as an e-learning trend of recent times, attracting huge enrollment across the globe. Studies revealed that MOOCs had been getting extensive attention by educational circles in India, but whether its acceptability is limited only among learning communities of country’s top-notch universities like Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), and among Central Universities; or it has attracted equally the learners of State Universities spreading across every nook and corner of this huge country is yet to be studied. These State Universities virtually uphold the country’s higher education sector by catering learning ambitions of largest number of students. The present study investigated the penetration of MOOCs among students and teachers of State Universities in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative survey was conducted taking 10 reputed State Universities and 480 respondents (400 were students, and 80 were teachers) as samples. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were also conducted among 25 respondent students and teachers. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency and percentages, as well as inferential statistics, such as Likert scale and analysis of variance, were employed in analyzing the study.

Findings

The findings revealed that MOOCs have been successful in meeting the learning goals of the learners and teachers of these State Universities complementing their traditional learning environment at universities and by providing them a constant scope for re-skill and up-skill; still, participation in MOOCs is low, especially among females due to lack of awareness, inadequate infrastructure, and resultant poor completion rate.

Practical implications

The current study is going to be helpful to the Indian policy makers and all concerned in creating a healthy atmosphere for making MOOCs accessible to students and thereby leveraging its potential to increase the quality of higher education across country as it exhibits a clear picture of the current state of its penetration, problems and possibilities among teachers and students of State Universities that conforms the largest section of Indian intelligentsia. The findings can be used to compare perceptions of students' and teachers' from other developing countries also.

Originality/value

This study is the reporting of an original survey conducted in India and the write up is based on the analysis and findings of the survey results.
Tracing theory diffusion: a text mining and citation-based analysis of TAM
Authors: Wang Fang , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Theory is a kind of condensed human knowledge. This paper is to examine the mechanism of interdisciplinary diffusion of theoretical knowledge by tracing the diffusion of a representative theory, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the full-scale dataset of Web of Science (WoS), the citations of Davis's original work about TAM were analysed and the interdisciplinary diffusion paths of TAM were delineated, a supervised machine learning method was used to extract theory incidents, and a content analysis was used to categorize the patterns of theory evolution.

Findings

It is found that the diffusion of a theory is intertwined with its evolution. In the process, the role that a participating discipline play is related to its knowledge distance from the original disciplines of TAM. With the distance increases, the capacity to support theory development and innovation weakens, while that to assume analytical tools for practical problems increases. During the diffusion, a theory evolves into new extensions in four theoretical construction patterns, elaboration, proliferation, competition and integration.

Research limitations/implications

The study does not only deepen the understanding of the trajectory of a theory but also enriches the research of knowledge diffusion and innovation.

Originality/value

The study elaborates the relationship between theory diffusion and theory development, reveals the roles of the participating disciplines played in theory diffusion and vice versa, interprets four patterns of theory evolution and uses text mining technique to extract theory incidents, which makes up for the shortcomings of citation analysis and content analysis used in previous studies.
Systems change in UK HEIs: how do culture, management, users and systems align?
Authors: Skoumpopoulou Dimitra , Robson Andrew
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to assess the implementation of integrated information systems in UK higher education institutions (HEIs) via multiple internal stakeholders.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach analyses the implementation strategy of two HEIs and assesses the impact of new systems on working practices. This involves interviews with various stakeholder groups from the HEIs, capturing 35 interviews.

Findings

Results indicate that growth of alternative power bases emerge within both HEIs, as well as new roles and responsibilities for administrative staff, and different working practices for academics. Varying levels of importance are given to people and culture, management support, user involvement and clarity of communication and systems' requirements at project pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation stages.

Practical implications

This study provides lessons of HEIs planning to undertake significant change by implementing integrated information systems. Challenges emerge around fit, complexity, training, communication and consultation. Benefits gained and emerging challenges show some commonality between the two case HEIs, pointing the way forward for other “large” (student number determined) HEIs embarking on similar change.

Originality/value

The UK HEI sector is experiencing major change emphasising cost reduction and operational efficiency. Understanding challenges relating to significant systems change in complex settings with varying stakeholder demands has considerable sectoral value.
Intersections between policy and institutions: a focus on enterprise growth in Swaziland
Authors: Urban Boris , Dlamini Zethu
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Public policy supported by effective institutions is one of the key strategies for promoting entrepreneurial activities. However, the problem is that an enabling environment that supports entrepreneurship is often lacking in several African countries. The aim of this article is to deepen our understanding of the mix of policy and institutional factors which create an enabling environment for enterprise growth in Swaziland.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data are sourced from 200 enterprises across Swaziland's main regions and hypotheses are statistically tested using correlational and regression analyses.

Findings

Results show that a mix of different institutional and state support factors such as access to markets, education and training, access to finance, contract enforcement, regulations and business support programmes all have a significant and positive impact on enterprise growth.

Research limitations/implications

Study implications relate to the need for specific and targeted policy interventions required to foster an enabling environment in order to stimulate enterprise growth in Swaziland.

Originality/value

Empirical investigations on enterprise growth in under-researched developing market contexts, such as Swaziland, are important since in many developing and emerging markets small enterprises are at the epicentre of the economy Moreover, this study adds to the stream of research highlighting that the application of institutional theory provides a detailed theoretical understanding of the actors and the process by which enterprise policy is formulated.
Effectiveness of business leadership in the Eurasian context: empirical evidence from Kazakhstan
Authors: Mahmood Monowar , Uddin Md. Aftab , Ostrovskiy Alexandr , Orazalin Nurlan
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Based on the tenets of the conservation of resources (COR) theory, this study investigated the influence of different leadership styles on organizational performance in the context of a Eurasian country (i.e. Kazakhstan). It further examined the moderating role of corporate culture in the leadership-organizational performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the quantitative survey method, the study collected data from 321 managerial employees working in local and multinational corporations in Kazakhstan. The collected data were analysed using SPSS software, and factor analysis, path analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted to validate the hypotheses. Furthermore, structural equation modelling was developed to assess the moderating effects of the variables.

Findings

The findings reveal that among different leadership styles, transformational, transactional and paternal leadership have higher influences on organizational performance. Among different corporate cultures, clan culture appears to have higher moderating effects on the leadership-organizational performance relationship. The moderating role of corporate culture on the leadership influence-organizational performance relationship supports the “resource caravan” effects of the composition model theory.

Research implications

Based on the premises of the COR theory, this study suggests developing multiple leadership competencies among managerial employees to be more effective in any given organizational or country context. As a result of the inclusiveness of multiple competencies, the study further suggests the consideration of an “integrated leadership approach” in the Eurasian context. Consistent with the national cultural syndrome, and as preferred by employees, managers could focus on developing a clan or group culture to strengthen their influencing power on employees.

Originality/value

The study adopts the COR theory by considering leadership competencies as unique resources of individual managers, which suggests the development of an “integrated leadership approach” for better management development and improved organizational performance. Furthermore, the study contributes by validating the applicability of the “conservation of resources” and the “composition model” theories in leadership studies.
Demonetization move in India: a conceptual study
Authors: Jain Deepa , Thakur K.S. , Dash Manoj Kumar
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the real causes of demonetization drive and the future path created by the drive.

Design/methodology/approach

The study started with a conceptual understanding of the demonetization drive in India and ended with a future impact analysis. For exploring the concept, the authors reviewed various articles, government and corporate reports as well as studies published in newspaper and available online.

Findings

The study revealed that demonetization is a success in terms of cashless path created to eradicate corruption but a failure in terms of disruption caused in the economy. Thus, appropriate measures could be taken by government to make this daunting step successful in the long run.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited only to demonetization concept based on secondary data. Future work may be done keeping in view more empirical data to know the effectiveness of the demonetization drive along with other parameters.

Originality/value

To the best of researchers’ knowledge, no study tried to uncover the strong reasons behind the demonetization move. The study extends the literature by exploring the real causes and impacts of the demonetization drive through a conceptual lens.
Service research: progress toward interdisciplinary collaboration
Authors: Hult G. Tomas M. , Walkowiak Travis A. , Beck Jonathan M.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to promote a broadened view of service research and to demonstrate a path for integrating interdisciplinary perspectives with services marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

Two major streams of service literature are reviewed, highlighting key conceptual developments in each. Through synthesis of prior literature, a research framework and agenda are developed.

Findings

The findings indicate that major service research areas have been extensively explored, yet service literature is fragmented on key concepts. This can make it challenging to collaborate across disciplines. This work develops a framework for integrating concepts across disciplines to foster more impactful work.

Originality/value

This work presents a unique framework for integrating interdisciplinary perspectives with services marketing. Moreover, a research agenda for the specific purpose of promoting collaboration across disciplines is presented.
Anti-corrosive potential ofCyperus rotundusas a viable corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in sulphuric acid
Authors: Anitha Rajan , Nusrath Unnisa Chan Basha , Hemapriya Venkatesan , Mohana Roopan Selvaraj , Chitra Subramanian , Chung Ill-Min , Kim Seung-Hyun , Mayakrishnan Prabakaran
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Over the past decade, plant extracts are ultimate green candidatures to substitute the expensive and noxious synthetic corrosion inhibitors. In this regard, this study aims to focus on evaluating anti-corrosion properties of green inhibitorCyperus rotundus(C. rotundus), a perennial herb found throughout India.

Design/methodology/approach

The biocompatible components present inC. rotundusextract was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis. The corrosion inhibitory effect ofC. rotunduswas assessed by impedance, polarization and surface morphometric study [atomic force microscopy (AFM)]. Density functional theory (DFT) study was carried using DFT/B3LYP, and basis set used for calculations was 6-31G (d, p) using Gaussian 03 program package.

Findings

Predominant components such as octadecanoicacid, ethylester,n-hexadecanoic acid, pentanoicacid-4-oxoethyl ester, cyclotrisiloxane, hexamethyl, cyclotetrasiloxane and octamethyl were identified from the extract ofC. rotundus. Impedance study demonstrated that the addition of inhibitor reduces the double-layer capacitance and increases the charge transfer resistance. Furthermore, polarization studies indicated that the extract ofC. rotundusacted as a mixed-type inhibitor with decrease in corrosion current density with increase in concentration. AFM study evinced the formation of inhibitor film on mild steel surface. The donor–acceptor interactions of active sites of predominant phytoconstituents were substantiated by computational analysis (DFT).

Originality/value

This paper deals with the inhibition effect of extract ofC. rotunduson mild steel in 0.5M H2SO4.C. rotundushas a capability to adsorb on the metal surface, thus hindering corrosion.
Financial risk-taking related to individual risk preference, social comparison and competition
Authors: Gärling Tommy , Fang Dawei , Holmen Martin , Michaelsen Patrik
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how social comparison and motivation to compete account for elevated risk-taking in fund management corroborated by asset market experiments when performance depends on rank-based incentives.

Design/methodology/approach

In two laboratory experiments, university students (n1 = 240/n2 = 120) make choices between risky and certain outcomes of hypothetical sums of money. Both experiments investigate in which direction risky choices in an individual condition (individual risk preference) are shifted when participants compare their performance to another participant's performance (social comparison), being instructed or not to outperform the other (incentive to compete).

Findings

In the absence of incentives to compete, participants tend to minimize the differences between expected outcomes to themselves and to the other, but when provided with incentives to compete, they tend to maximize these differences. An independent additional increase in risk-taking is observed when participants are provided with incentives to compete.

Originality/value

Original findings include that social comparison does not evoke motivation to compete unless incentives are offered and that increases in risk-taking depend both on what the other chooses and the incentives.
Responses of tundra plant community carbon flux to experimental warming, dominant species removal and elevation
Authors: Sundqvist Maja K. , Sanders Nathan J. , Dorrepaal Ellen , Lindén Elin , Metcalfe Daniel B. , Newman Gregory S. , Olofsson Johan , Wardle David A. , Classen Aimée T.
Published: April 2020

Rising temperatures can influence ecosystem processes both directly and indirectly, through effects on plant species and communities. An improved understanding of direct versus indirect effects of warming on ecosystem processes is needed for robust predictions of the impacts of climate change on terrestrial ecosystem carbon (C) dynamics.

To explore potential direct and indirect effects of warming on C dynamics in arctic tundra heath, we established a warming (open top chambers) and dominant plant species (Empetrum hermaphroditum Hagerup) removal experiment at a high and low elevation site. We measured the individual and interactive effects of warming, dominant species removal and elevation on plant species cover, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), leaf area index (LAI), temperature, soil moisture and instantaneous net ecosystem CO2 exchange.

We hypothesized that ecosystems would be stronger CO2 sinks at the low elevation site, and that warming and species removal would weaken the CO2 sink because warming should increase ecosystem respiration (ER) and species removal should reduce gross primary productivity (GPP). Furthermore, we hypothesized that warming and species removal would have the greatest impact on processes at the high elevation where site temperature should be most limiting and dominant species may buffer the overall community to environmental stress more compared to the low elevation site where plants are more likely to compete with the dominant species.

The instantaneous CO2 flux, which reflected a weak CO2 sink, was similar at both elevations. Neither experimental warming nor dominant species removal significantly changed GPP or instantaneous net ecosystem CO2 exchange even though species removal significantly reduced ER, NDVI and LAI.

Our results show that even the loss of dominant plant species may not result in significant landscape‐scale responses of net ecosystem CO2 exchange to warming. They also show that NDVI and LAI may be limited in their ability to predict changes in GPP in these tundra heaths systems. Our study highlights the need for more detailed vegetation analyses and ground‐truthed measurements in order to accurately predict direct and indirect impacts of climatic change on ecosystem C dynamics.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
A mechanistic and empirically supported lightning risk model for forest trees
Authors: Gora Evan M. , Muller‐Landau Helene C. , Burchfield Jeffrey C. , Bitzer Phillip M. , Hubbell Stephen P. , Yanoviak Stephen P.
Published: April 2020

Tree death due to lightning influences tropical forest carbon cycling and tree community dynamics. However, the distribution of lightning damage among trees in forests remains poorly understood.

We developed models to predict direct and secondary lightning damage to trees based on tree size, crown exposure and local forest structure. We parameterized these models using data on the locations of lightning strikes and censuses of tree damage in strike zones, combined with drone‐based maps of tree crowns and censuses of all trees within a 50‐ha forest dynamics plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama.

The likelihood of a direct strike to a tree increased with larger exposed crown area and higher relative canopy position (emergent > canopy >>> subcanopy), whereas the likelihood of secondary lightning damage increased with tree diameter and proximity to neighbouring trees. The predicted frequency of lightning damage in this mature forest was greater for tree species with larger average diameters.

These patterns suggest that lightning influences forest structure and the global carbon budget by non‐randomly damaging large trees. Moreover, these models provide a framework for investigating the ecological and evolutionary consequences of lightning disturbance in tropical forests.

Synthesis. Our findings indicate that the distribution of lightning damage is stochastic at large spatial grain and relatively deterministic at smaller spatial grain (<15 m). Lightning is more likely to directly strike taller trees with large crowns and secondarily damage large neighbouring trees that are closest to the directly struck tree. The results provide a framework for understanding how lightning can affect forest structure, forest dynamics and carbon cycling. The resulting lightning risk model will facilitate informed investigations into the effects of lightning in tropical forests.
Relationship between plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 gene alterations and fibrosis in peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Onur Cura Duygu , Yildiz Serkan , Ataman Esra , Ersan Sibel , Tanrisev Mehmet , Ulgenalp Ayfer , Camsari Taner , Ercal Derya
Published: April 2020

Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is a pathological change that occurs mostly long‐term peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, as a result of triggering the inflammatory response. Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) is an important molecule featured in the development of fibrosis. It has been shown in literature that PAI‐1 gene alterations are associated with fibrosis in many tissues and organs. However, PAI‐1 gene alterations in long‐term PD patients have not yet been investigated. In this study, PAI‐1 4G/5G polymorphism was examined by reverse hybridization, and all coding exons of the PAI‐1 gene were examined by sequence analysis to provide treatment modification in patients with predisposition before fibrosis develops. The patients were divided into two groups according to ultrafiltration failure test and duration of PD treatment: those with suspected PF or a high probability of developing PF (36%) and those with a low probability of developing PF (64%). There was no significant difference between the two groups in findings such as peritoneal equilibration test (PET), Kt/V, the content of the PD solution used, peritonitis, and PAI‐1 4G/5G polymorphism (P > .05). A total of eight gene alterations (rs2227660, rs2227668, rs2854233, rs41281004, rs61553169, rs368413856, rs2227684) were detected by sequence analysis, one of which was exonic (rs6092). When the genotype distributions of these variants were examined, no significant difference was found between the two groups. PAI‐1 gene changes were not detected in patients with the probability of developing PF. There is a need for further studies involving other molecules responsible for predisposing to PF with larger patient populations in patients undergoing long‐term PD treatment.
Assessment of effective conservation of the Sichuan takin by giant panda reserves through functional zoning
Authors: GAO Haiyang , GUAN Tianpei , ZHU Di , LI Wenwen , ZHOU Fangyi , ZHAO Ding , LI Changlin , ZHANG Li
Published: April 2020

The flagship species conservation strategy is widely practiced in nature reserves. However, few studies have quantitatively explored whether the current functional zoning adequately conserves the habitats of other species. To examine this problem, we selected the Tangjiahe, Xuebaoding, and Wanglang national nature reserves in southwest China and tested the protective efficiency of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reserves on a local herbivore—Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana) in functional zoning. We predicted that the habitat distribution of the Sichuan takin with Maxent and habitat suitability would be classified as very low, low, moderately, or highly suitable. We calculated the percentage of each type of habitat class across the core, buffer, and experimental zones in these reserves and introduced an economic index present value index to further assess the efficacy of the functional zoning in conserving the habitat of Sichuan takin. Our findings indicate that suitable habitat distributions of Sichuan takin are multicore and influenced by diverse variables in different nature reserves. The percentage of moderately suitable and highly suitable habitat in the core zone is 69% and 54% in Tangjiahe, 76% and 75% in Wanglang, and 47% and 28% in Xuebaoding, respectively. The present value index of moderately and highly suitable habitat is 1.01 and 0.79 (Tangjiahe), 0.87 and 0.86 (Wanglang), 0.76 and 0.44 (Xuebaoding), respectively. The efficiency of functional zoning on Sichuan takin seems lower than imagined in giant panda reserves, and species that have important impacts on local ecosystem need further estimation and greater focus.
Cross‐sectional Analysis of Emergency Department and Acute Care Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Venkatesh Arjun K. , Mei Hao , Shuling Liu , D’Onofrio Gail , Rothenberg Craig , Lin Zhenqiu , Krumholz Harlan M.
Published: April 2020

Background

We sought to develop a claims‐based definition of unscheduled care to describe the use and role of the emergency department (ED) in providing unscheduled care to vulnerable older adult populations.

Methods

This study was a cross‐sectional analysis of national 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries included in the 2012 Chronic Condition Warehouse data set. We measured three outcomes: the number of ED visits per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries, the proportion of all unscheduled ED and office‐based visits occurring in the ED and the number of ED and non‐ED unscheduled visits adjusting for risk factors. Each outcome was estimated for vulnerable subpopulations of Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs), dual eligibility, hospice enrollment, and skilled nursing facility use.

Results

A total of 10,717,786 Medicare beneficiaries were included with 33,696,461 potentially unscheduled care visits of which 5,192,235 (15%) occurred in the ED, 364,334 (1.1%) in facility‐based urgent care, and 31,570,113 (84%) in ambulatory office settings. In regression analyses each subpopulation was more likely to visit the ED for unscheduled care services than the reference population of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 to 80. Dual‐eligible beneficiaries demonstrated higher ED visit rates and lower non‐ED visit rates for unscheduled care. The subpopulation with MCCs uses both the ED and the non‐ED setting for unscheduled care more so than any other group.

Conclusions

Medicare beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable subpopulations, disproportionately visit the ED in comparison to physician offices for unscheduled care. Efforts to improve care coordination, measure quality, or reform payment to influence ED visitation should acknowledge these patterns and the unique availability of acute care services in the ED.
The current state of bariatric endoscopy
Authors: McCarty Thomas R. , Thompson Christopher C.
Published: April 2020

A variety of endoscopic bariatric and metabolic treatments (EBMTs) have been developed in recent years to combat the growing prevalence of obesity in the United States (US) and worldwide. This manuscript reviews the current state of bariatric endoscopy, detailing all US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved EBMTs including space‐occupying intragastric balloons (IGBs), aspiration therapy, and endoscopic tissue apposition devices. Additionally, this review describes non‐FDA approved treatments including additional IGBs, endoluminal bypass liners, duodenal mucosal resurfacing, and endoscopically placed anastomosis devices.