bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of monetary policy on house prices: case of Pakistan
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Akhtar Moin , Shafiq Muhammad , Rao Zia-Ur-Rehman
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of monetary policy on house prices in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses monthly time-series data of house prices, monetary policy, inflation and stock market index ranging from January 2011 to December 2016. All the series were checked for stationarity by using augmented Dickey–Fuller test, and lag length of 11 was decided on the basis of Schwert’z rule of thumb. Vector autoregressive (VAR) model was used because the series were not co-integrated.

Findings

The analysis revealed that monetary policy significantly affects house prices in Pakistan. Tight monetary policy results in lower house prices and vice versa. The relationship between monetary policy and house prices is unidirectional. The study also finds that higher inflation also leads to soaring house prices, but the variation in stock market index does not affect house prices.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, none of the existing studies explores the impact of monetary policy on house prices in Pakistan. The findings help investors and policy makers to understand the relationship between monetary policy and house prices to make better decisions.
“I buy green products, do you…?”
Authors: Jaini Azila , Quoquab Farzana , Mohammad Jihad , Hussin Nazimah
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In recent years, consumers are moving toward purchasing green cosmetics instead of chemical one. Plenty of cosmetics products are banned globally due to the usage of poisonous substances such as triphenyl phosphate and petroleum. As such, it is needed to shift the conventional purchase behavior to green purchase behavior (GPB) to reduce the negative impact on the environment and health. This study aims to investigate the factors that affect GPB in the context of cosmetics products purchase. Additionally, this study examines the moderating role of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in influencing such green behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used value-belief-norm (VBN) theory and elaboration likelihood model as a theoretical basis. By using judgmental sampling techniques, a total of 318 usable responses were gathered through online survey. The structural equation modeling approach using partial least square (SmartPLS, version 3.7) technique was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

Results reveal that altruistic value and hedonic value both positively affect pro-environmental beliefs, which eventually affect consumers’ personal norms. It is found that hedonic value has a greater influence on pro-environmental belief than altruistic value. Additionally, personal norm also exerts significant influence on GPB. Data also support the mediating role of pro-environmental belief and personal norm. Moreover, the multidimensional eWOM moderates the relationship between personal norm and GPB.

Practical implications

The findings from this study provide valuable insights for marketers, academicians and practitioners about the drivers of consumers’ green cosmetics purchase behavior. It will enable marketers to develop better strategies for the green market segment.

Social implications

The study findings also contribute to the social aspects by understanding consumers’ purchase behavior toward green cosmetics products. It ultimately promotes to consider a healthier lifestyle and to be concerned about environmental well-being.

Originality/value

This study is the first to introduce the eWOM as a moderator in the VBN theory. Moreover, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in the field by examining few new linkages; more specifically, considering pro-environmental belief as to the mediator between “hedonic value and personal norm,” as well as the mediating effect of personal norm in the relationship between “pro-environmental belief and GPB.” Moreover, this is a pioneer study to consider eWOM as a multidimensional construct rather than unidimensional, which is new in green marketing literature.
Reframing civil disobedience as a communicative action
Authors: Atilgan Hatice
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Civil disobedience is often defined as a public, conscientious, nonviolent act of breaking the law in an attempt to change an unjust policy or law. When applied to real-life situations, this widely accepted definition overlooks key features of civil disobedience and ignores civil acts that fundamentally challenge undemocratic institutions or the state and make socio-political changes possible. The purpose of this paper is to criticize and revise the conceptual, ethical and socio-political understandings of civil disobedience by integrating deliberative theory with some radical perspectives on civil disobedience.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper integrates and critically revises previous approaches to the justification and role of civil disobedience in democratic systems. Specifically, the ethical concerns about civil disobedience are discussed and the deliberative concept of civil disobedience is expanded as a form of political contestation by incorporating the socio-political aspects of civil disobedience. Although it is a conceptual discussion, the paper opted for an exploratory approach using empirically related examples to illustrate the theoretical discussion.

Findings

The paper provides a new perspective to the literature on civil disobedience. The critical review shows that the limited general understanding of civil disobedience conceptually is not useful to analyze various forms of civil disobedience.

Research limitations/implications

The reviewed literature is limited due to a limited space.

Practical implications

The paper includes practical implications for policymakers and authorities when evaluating and responding to civil actions more effectively and for members of civil movements and organizations when creating new forms of civil protest and effective responses to authorities.

Originality/value

This paper may be a modest first attempt to reframe the concept of civil disobedience by integrating deliberative democracy theory and some radical perspectives.
Effect of B2B advertising on firm’s market value: CSR as a strategic complement
Authors: Guo Shuojia , Hwang Seokyoun , Wang Chenglu
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the B2B advertising effect on firm’s market value and whether/how its effectiveness can be enhanced with corporate social responsibility (CSR) strengths.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose that CSR can be a strategic complement to advertising and reinforce the latter’s positive effect on a firm’s performance in two logics: signaling mechanism and defensive mechanism. Using the Kinder, Lydenberg, and Domini database and final data obtained from Compustat, the authors applied fixed effect regression analysis to test the interaction effect of advertising expense and CSR strengths on firms’ market performance as operationalized in Tobin’s Q.

Findings

The result confirms that CSR moderates the B2B advertising effect on a firm’s market value. More importantly, the authors find that internal CSR activities that are closely related to a firm’s core business, compared to external CSR activities, more significantly enhance the advertising effectiveness on a firm’s market value.

Practical implications

This research provides guidelines for B2B firms to better prioritize resource allocation to CSR practices for achieving a better financial outcome.

Originality/value

The current study on the joint effect of advertising and CSR has important theoretical and managerial implications, given both tools are commonly used by most B2B firms but not necessarily integrated into one corporate marketing strategy.
Effectiveness of tax reform on entrepreneurship
Authors: Ngwaba Chigozie Andy , Azizi SeyedSoroosh
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of tax reform on entrepreneurship in South Africa using repeated cross-sectional data from the World Bank.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a difference-in-difference estimation technique as well as contrasting periods before and after the tax reform. This contrast is achieved by examining individuals in the formal and informal sector and measuring the effectiveness of the reform on self-employment.

Findings

The results indicate that the tax reform had a positive and significant effect on the probability of becoming self-employed in South Africa and is robust across different econometric specifications.

Originality/value

The authors use individual-level data to measure the effectiveness of a tax reform policy on entrepreneurship. Utilizing the South African post-Apartheid tax reform as a natural experiment allows the authors to identify the effects of taxes on the choice of becoming self-employed.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals experience of mental health services - a systematic review
Authors: McNamara Geraldine , Wilson Charlotte
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals experience higher rates of mental health difficulties in comparison to their heterosexual counterparts (Meyer, 2003; Plöderl and Tremblay, 2015). This is in part due to the experience of homophobia and stigmatisation within society. This discrimination has also been perpetuated within the mental health field, where LGB individual’s sexuality has been pathologised. In response to this historical stigmatisation a number of policies have been created to develop ethical practice while working with this minority group (APA, 2012; BPS, 2019; HSE, 2009; PSI, 2015). The purpose of this paper is to capture the experience of LGB individuals within mental health services and examine if these guidelines are being adhered to.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a meta-narrative synthesis of 13 empirical papers, published between 1999 and 2019.

Findings

This study has found both negative and positive experiences of service users. The paper discusses major themes, implications for practice and directions for future research.

Originality/value

This is the first systematic review to look at the experiences of clients who have attended mental health services.
Coproduction and cost efficiency: a structured literature review
Authors: Garlatti Andrea , Fedele Paolo , Iacuzzi Silvia , Garlatti Costa Grazia
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Coproduction is both a recurrent way of organizing public services and a maturing academic field. The academic debate has analyzed several facets, but one deserves further analysis: its impact on the cost efficiency of public services. The purpose of this paper is to aim at systematizing the findings on the relationship between coproduction and cost efficiency and at developing insights for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a structured literature review (SLR), following the approach proposed by Massaro, Dumay and Guthrie. The SLR approach differs from traditional narrative reviews since, like other meta-analysis methods, it adopts a replicable and transparent process. At the same time, when compared to most common meta-analysis or systematic review logics, it is better suited to incorporate evidence from case studies and etnographies. This makes the method especially suited to public administration and management studies.

Findings

Results shed light on the nature of the academic literature relating coproduction to cost efficiency, on what type of costs are affected and how and on the meaningfulness of productivity measures when public services are co-produced.

Originality/value

In times of fiscal distress for many governments, the paper contributes to research and practice in systematically re-assessing the effects of coproduction on public budgets.
Conference report, International conference on digital transformation – 2019
Authors: Bakhshi Samar Iqbal , Rai Priya , Singh Akash
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper is a Conference Report (ICDT-2019) organized by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Punjab, India

Design/methodology/approach

The whole conference is articulated in the form of a Conference Report.

Findings

The conference provided an opportunity for participants to share ideas, reach some consensus, agree on differences of opinion and create a future action agenda. All the participants from all different backgrounds were able to bring new things to light and deliberate on contemporary issues related to knowledge trends and digital strategies that will lead to smart future.

Originality/value

The International Conference on Digital Transformation-2019 on the theme of “A Cognitive learning towards Artificial Intelligence” was convened by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Punjab, India during September 6-8, 2019 in Patiala, Punjab, India.
Lean product development and agile project management in the construction industry
Authors: Albuquerque Felipe , Torres Alvair Silveira , Berssaneti Fernando Tobal
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In recent years, innovative methodologies of product development such as lean product development (LPD) and agile project management (APM) have emerged. Even though previous research studies focused on these subjects, only few of them were focused on traditional industries, as civil construction. The purpose of this paper is to cover a part of this gap by estimating the potential of the application of these two new approaches (LPD and APM) in the construction industry, more specifically on the design stage.

Design/methodology/approach

For this, a case study has been conducted in order to understand if some of LPD and APM tools and practices had already been used, and also to evaluate the potential application of these new methodologies. Three Brazilian companies have been evaluated, all of them were exclusive executors of the design stage and presented distinct characteristics (size, structure, business model, etc.).

Findings

The results show that there is currently little adherence to LPD and APM practices within the companies studied. In terms of potential application of these new methodologies, the study has identified evidence regarding technical similarities between the reported cases and others mentioned in literature. However, the interviewees’ reception of these concepts was mostly pessimistic, showing considerable resistance to changes in the current process.

Originality/value

According to the analysis, the study identified that the main challenge/hampering to the implementation of these tools in the cases studied herein are the functional organizational structures, the customer–supplier relationships and the internal cultural resistance to change.
Compulsive buying among young adults: a behavioural segmentation
Authors: Maccarrone-Eaglen Agata , Schofield Peter
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to re-examine the characteristics of compulsive buying behaviour (CBB) based on a new improved screener. The study analyses young compulsive buyer attitudes, decision-making, product preferences, the impact of credit card use and post-purchase perspectives in relation to CBB severity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study takes a quantitative approach to the analysis of compulsive behaviour among young consumers, using data from a questionnaire survey and a large sample. A wide range of statistical procedures and structural equation modelling are used in the analysis.

Findings

The segmentation of compulsive buyers, on the basis of disorder severity, provides important insights into the asymmetrical between-group variation in anxiety levels, product preferences, feelings, attitudes and credit card impact and the within-group variability in daily compulsivity patterns and associated shopping behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

Although the overall used sample size is large, the subdivision of compulsive consumers into mild and severe categories resulted in a relatively small group of severely compulsive buyers; hence, further research is recommended to corroborate the findings from this study. In addition, this research does not address the disorder’s temporal dimension; therefore, future longitudinal studies should be undertaken to analyse the progression and characteristics of the disorder over time.

Practical implications

The significant differences between mild compulsive buyers and severely compulsive buyers make a significant contribution to counselling practitioners because of the different levels of support that should be offered in relation to the severity of the condition.

Originality/value

The study compares non-compulsive behaviour with occasionally compulsive, mildly compulsive and severely compulsive consumers using an improved screening tool. It identifies critical criteria that distinguish between mild and severe forms of the disorder, which have hitherto been neglected, yet represent key diagnostic and predictive factors, which can inform both early intervention and our understanding of CBB and its complexity.
Environmental and ecological correlates of avian field metabolic rate and water flux
Authors: Song Soorim , Beissinger Steven R.
Published: January 2020

The field metabolic rate (FMR) of an endothermic animal represents its energy expenditure in a natural environment, or its energy budget, and its field water flux (FWF) reflects the animal's water requirements.

We examined FMR of 103 species and FWF of 75 species of adult birds from direct field measurements using the doubly labelled water method, and used the phylogenetic generalized least squares method to conduct a phylogenetically informed, comprehensive analysis of the relationship between FMR, FWF and multiple environmental and biological variables.

Field metabolic rate was strongly positively associated with body mass with an allometric exponent of 0.66, and seabirds had lower FMR than terrestrial species. Birds consuming plant matter had lower FMR compared to omnivores, carnivores or nectarivores and low ambient temperature was associated with higher FMR. There was little evidence for phylogenetic covariance in FMR, even though previous studies identified a phylogenetic signal for basal metabolic rate. Life‐history traits, such as fecundity and migration, were also not strongly associated with FMR.

Field water flux was strongly positively associated with body mass with an allometric exponent of 0.61, and was strongly related to precipitation but not to temperature. Diet and habitat use had significant effects on FWF, with nectarivores and marine species exhibiting higher values than granivores and forest birds.

Thus, FMR and FWF are affected similarly by body size and differently by environmental temperature and precipitation, while the roles of diet, life‐history traits and habitat are more nuanced and generalities remain elusive.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Environmental filtering and convergent evolution determine the ecological specialization of subterranean spiders
Authors: Mammola Stefano , Arnedo Miquel A. , Fišer Cene , Cardoso Pedro , Dejanaz Andrea J. , Isaia Marco
Published: January 2020

Ecological specialization is an important mechanism enhancing species coexistence within a given community. Yet, unravelling the effect of multiple selective evolutionary and ecological factors leading the process of specialization remains a key challenge in ecology. Subterranean habitats provide highly replicated experimental arenas in which to disentangle the relative contribution of evolutionary history (convergent evolution vs. character displacement) and ecological setting (environmental filtering vs. competitive exclusion) in driving community assembly.

We tested alternative hypotheses about the emergence of ecological specialization using the radiation of a lineage of sheet‐weaver cave‐dwelling spiders as model system. We observed that at the local scale, a differential specialization to cave microhabitats generally parallels moderate levels of morphological similarity and close phylogenetic relatedness among species. Conversely, geographic distance contributed little in explaining microhabitat occupation, possibly mirroring a limited role of competitive exclusion. Yet, compared to non‐coexisting species, co‐occurring species adapted to different microhabitats showed lower morphological niche overlap (i.e. higher dissimilarity) and deeper genetic distance.

The framework here developed suggests that in the subterranean domain, habitat specialization is primarily driven by environmental filtering, secondarily by convergent evolution, and only marginally by character displacement or competitive exclusion. This pattern results in the establishment of replicated communities across geographical space, composed by ecologically equivalent species. Such process of community assembly well explains the numerous adaptive radiations observed in subterranean habitats, an eco‐evolutionary pattern well documented in oceanic islands or mountain summit communities.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Is Comparative Gentrification Possible? Sceptical Voices from Hong Kong
Authors: Ley David , Teo Sin Yih
Published: January 2020

This essay responds to a series of critical observations made in an intervention in this journal (vol. 41.3) concerning our earlier article on gentrification in Hong Kong (vol. 38.4). In the current rejoinder we bring this particular exchange to focus on the broader question of whether comparative gentrification research is even possible; a question that exemplifies the dualism in the literature between global urban theory and the emphasis inherent within comparative or regional urbanism. Our attempt to present an interpretation of urban transformation in Hong Kong that bridges this dualism was challenged by our critics on grounds that are similar to those identified by Jamie Peck in his 2015 analysis of a comparative urbanism that seeks to undercut global urban theory. We use this intervention to examine several of these arguments critically, and conclude by continuing to promote a comparative approach to the study of gentrification, dominated neither by planetary theory nor by regional specificity.
Development and Implementation of an Effective Blind Proficiency Testing Program
Authors: Pierce Michal L. , Cook Laura J.
Published: January 2020

Blind proficiency testing is ideal for testing crime laboratory personnel because the elements of analyst bias and anticipation are removed. However, sending proficiency tests through the laboratory system as real casework is difficult. The substantial challenges with preparing and administering blind tests may prevent laboratory managers from initiating blind testing. In 2015, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences committed to improving its crime laboratory’s proficiency testing program by adding blind tests. The goal was to test the whole system, from evidence receipt to report release. With careful planning, trial‐and‐error, and ongoing assessment of available resources, not only was the program proven to be feasible, but there was also clear understanding of how to optimize our program. In this article, we share our experiences, lessons learned, and program details to assist other forensic service providers with developing their own blind testing programs, which would ultimately lead to improved quality assurance.
Offender Characteristics and Behaviors in NonSexual Child Maltreatment
Authors: Park Jisun
Published: January 2020

Data on 552 child maltreatment cases in South Korea involving convictions, including child physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, were analyzed in order to compare 259 offenses committed by male offenders with 293 offenses committed by female offenders. Relative to cases involving female offenders, male offenders both had a higher number of criminal convictions and were more likely to have previously abused their victims. By contrast, female offenders were more likely to have had financial difficulties, while their victims were significantly younger compared to male offenders. Male offenders were more likely to strike the victim, either manually or with an instrument, particularly a blunt instrument, whereas female offenders were more likely to pinch or bite their victims. The findings can aid social workers and medical personnel in recognizing the signs of child maltreatment and identifying at‐risk children more effectively, helping to employ timely interventions and prevent the reoccurrence of child maltreatment.
Secondary‐prevention behaviour‐change strategy for high‐risk patients: Benefits for all classes of body mass index
Authors: Langston Keanne , Ross Lynda J. , Byrnes Angela , Hay Robin
Published: January 2020

Aim

Research is needed to support the long‐term benefits of lifestyle interventions for management of high‐risk patients with different BMI classifications. This prospective multicentre study assessed two‐year outcomes of hospital‐referred patients (BMI 25‐61 kg/m2) attending a dietitian‐led multidisciplinary Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Behaviour‐Change Program in group or individual formats in hospital outpatient settings.

Methods

Bodyweight, quality of life (Short Form‐12) and intuitive eating (Intuitive Eating Scale) data were collected at pre‐intervention, post‐intervention and 2 years. Outcomes were reported in BMI classes.

Results

At pre‐intervention (n = 493), 11% had pre‐obesity, 25% obesity class I, 30% obesity class II and 34% obesity class III. Characteristics of participants with available data at post‐intervention (n = 290) and 2 years (n = 178) were comparable (P > .05). Significant mean weight loss was seen at post‐intervention (−2.0 ± 0.4 kg, P < .001, n = 290) and 2 years (−4.3 ± 0.5 kg, P < .001, n = 178). All BMI classes had significant weight losses (P < .05). Participants with higher obesity (classes II and III) had greater improvements in mental quality of life (P < .05) and initial weight reductions (P < .05) than those with lower classes. However, those with obesity class I had the greatest long‐term weight reductions and significant improvements in physical quality of life at 2 years (P < .05). All BMI classes reported similar improvements in intuitive eating. No effect was found for differences in intervention format, duration or setting (P > .05).

Conclusions

The results support dietitian‐led multidisciplinary lifestyle interventions for multidisciplinary management of high‐risk patients of all BMI classes.
Clinical study of apatinib combined with EGFR‐TKI in the treatment of chronic progression after EGFR‐TKI treatment in non‐small cell lung cancer (ChiCTR1800019185)
Authors: Li Xin , Liu Minghui , Zhang Hongbing , Liu Hongyu , Chen Jun
Published: January 2020

This clinical trial (ChiCTR1800019185) is designed to be an open‐label, prospective, single‐center, single arm exploratory research study. The study will recruit non‐small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC) with slow progression after first‐line treatment with EGFR‐TKI drugs. Slow progression will be confirmed by the presence of serum carcinoembryonic antigen or imaging evaluation. The primary aim is to assess progression‐free survival after EGFR‐TKIs treatment combined with apatinib 250 mg once daily. The secondary objectives are to evaluate objective efficacy, disease control rates, quality of life, overall survival, and safety. From September 2018 to September 2020, under specific entry and discharge standards, we plan to enroll 38 eligible patients until the end of the study. We hope that our study will help to explore a new way of combining the small molecular inhibitors of antiangiogenesis with EGFR‐TKIs to overcome acquired drug resistance.
Maturing Out of Alcohol Use in Young Adulthood: Latent Class Growth Trajectories and Concurrent Young Adult Correlates
Authors: Windle Michael
Published: January 2020

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate intraindividual variation in “maturing out” of alcohol use by using latent class growth trajectories of alcohol use from adolescence (age 17 years) through young adulthood (age 33 years). We also modeled trajectory group differences with regard to concurrent, age‐relevant domains of substance use, health (e.g., physical health rating, sleep problems), interpersonal functioning (e.g., conflict with partner), and occupational functioning (e.g., intrinsic motivation).

Methods

Growth mixture modeling was used with a sample of 1,004 adolescents/young adults, and 3 trajectory groups were identified as follows: (i) a Normative Use group (n = 646) with low alcohol use remaining stable from adolescence to young adulthood; (ii) a Moderate Increase group (n = 300) with moderate alcohol use increasing slowly from adolescence to emergent adulthood (age 23 years) and then decreasing slightly from emergent adulthood to young adulthood (age 33 years); and (iii) a High Increase group (n = 58) with a high, increasing pattern of alcohol use from adolescence to emergent adulthood and then a small decrease in use from emergent adulthood to young adulthood.

Results

At age 33 years, trajectory groups differed, with High and Moderate Increase groups differing significantly from the Normative Use group in current alcohol and other substance use and other risk factors (e.g., friends' alcohol use). Furthermore, the High and Moderate Increase groups differed from the Normative Use group on indicators of health (poorer sleep and more sleep problems), social functioning (higher partner and work–family conflict), and occupational functioning (lower intrinsic work motivation).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that trajectory group membership in alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood is associated with the domains of substance use, health, and social and occupational functioning. Furthermore, the findings suggest that maturing out applies primarily to a subset of those individuals at moderate to higher levels of alcohol use.
Uniting generations: A research protocol examining the impacts of an intergenerational learning program on participants and organisations
Authors: Golenko Xanthe , Radford Katrina , Fitzgerald Janna Anneke , Vecchio Nerina , Cartmel Jennifer , Harris Neil
Published: January 2020

Economic, health and social issues associated with the ageing population and the disconnect between the generations call for novel approaches to care services. Intergenerational programs are known to enhance engagement between generations, improve health and well‐being and create a stronger sense of community. While the health and social benefits are well documented, little attention has been given to the operational aspects of intergenerational programs within care facilities. This paper describes the research protocol used to develop, implement and evaluate an intergenerational learning program for preschool‐aged children and older people attending care services. The research focuses on five key areas: (a) impact on older people and children; (b) intergenerational learning; (c) workforce development; (d) socio‐economic implications and costs; and (e) program fidelity and sustainability. Findings from this research are expected to contribute to building age‐friendly communities through the development of practical operational guidelines for intergenerational learning programs to be implemented more broadly across Australia.
Systemic mastocytosis and probable mast cell leukaemia in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: Phillips CA , Jaensch S , Hayward D
Published: January 2020

Background

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of mast cell neoplasia in a koala (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Case Report

An adult female koala was presented for rapidly deteriorating health and death of a pouch young. Significant weight loss was apparent despite supplemental feeding; the abdomen was distended; and the koala was weak and mentally depressed. Haematology revealed a significant mastocytosis with a concurrent population of atypical mononuclear cells. The koala was euthanised and tissues were collected for histology. Bone marrow, lymph node, lung, stomach and spleen exhibited significant infiltration by mast cells. Atypical round cells consistent with those identified in the peripheral blood were also identified in the marrow. A diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis and probable mast cell leukaemia was made. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical staining was not able to further characterise the atypical cell population, and the mast cells exhibited only weak staining with CD117.

Conclusion

The histological diagnosis, in this case, was systemic mastocytosis and myeloproliferative disease of uncertain origin. There was a dominant population of mast cells in the peripheral blood and marrow, and a population of circulating atypical mononuclear cells, appearing similar to mast cell leukaemia‐acute myeloid leukaemia in humans.
Migration, Ethnicity and Solidarity: ‘Multinational Workers’ in the Former Soviet Union
Authors: Morrison Claudio , Sacchetto Devi , Croucher Richard
Published: January 2020

We investigate migrant construction workers’ experiences in the Former Soviet Union, examining their attitudes to other ethno‐national groups, unions and collective action. Industrial relations and migration studies view migrant workers’ hypermobility and diversity, under conditions of low union coverage and rising nationalism, as potentially obstructing consciousness‐raising and mobilizing. Workers in our study faced union indifference, ethno‐national segregation and discrimination. However, managerial abuses, informality and contestation from below led to spontaneous mobilization. Lack of institutional channels to solve these disputes drove workers’ further mobility. Complex mobility trajectories and collective action translated into increased awareness of collective interests and rejection of nationalist ideologies. The outcome is ‘multinational workers’ potentially resistant to nation‐state politics and capital's logics but also aware of the value and usefulness of collective solidarities. Thus, previous arguments solely associating exit with individualistic attitudes, and post‐socialist legacies with workers’ quiescence present only partial pictures.
Learning from support workers: Can a dramatherapy group offer a community provision to support changes in care for people with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties?
Authors: Bourne Jane , Selman Matthew , Hackett Simon
Published: January 2020

Accessible summary

Dramatherapy groups are being used to help people with learning disabilities move from hospital back to their homes.

The staff who support people to attend the groups talked about their experiences.

The staff felt the groups help people stay well, build friendships and get support quickly if needed.

The staff felt that the groups were helpful for themselves too as they felt supported and learned new skills.

Background

The UK Government's Transforming Care Agenda for people with learning disabilities has struggled to meet its goals of reducing inpatient beds and building community‐based support. This article reports on the experiences of support staff who attended dramatherapy groups developed to assist transitions from an inpatient hospital and to prevent re‐admissions through post‐discharge support. The groups provide ongoing support and a place where relationships can be developed between supporter and those supported.

Materials and Methods

A focus group with a purposive sample of paid support staff. The data was synthesised using a thematic framework approach.

Results

Themes include: (a) new way of supporting and (b) hospital connection. The groups helped improve social interaction, friendship building, communication and self‐confidence. Additional benefits include the pooling of support and a connection with professionals that enables difficulties to be caught early.

Conclusions

Support workers valued these dramatherapy groups, recognising how the intervention enabled  people with learning disabilities to develop relationships and provide easy access to mental health professionals. Support staff also found benefits for themselves which included shared support and an increased understanding and insight into the people they support.
Increased intracellular survival of Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 in HIV‐1‐infected primary human macrophages is not associated with Salmonella hijacking the HIV compartment
Authors: Lê‐Bury G. , Deschamps C. , Kizilyaprak C. , Blanchard W. , Daraspe J. , Dumas A. , Gordon M.A. , Hinton J.C.D. , Humbel B.M. , Niedergang F.
Published: January 2020

Background

Non‐typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) causes a severe invasive syndrome (iNTS disease) described in HIV‐positive adults. The impact of HIV‐1 on Salmonella pathogenesis and the molecular basis for the differences between these bacteria and classical diarrhoeal S. Typhimurium remains unclear.

Results

Here, we show that iNTS‐associated S. Typhimurium Sequence Type 313 (ST313) bacteria show greater intracellular survival in primary human macrophages, compared with a ‘classical’ diarrhoeal S. Typhimurium ST19 isolate. The increased intracellular survival phenotype of ST313 is more pronounced in HIV‐infected macrophages. We explored the possibility that the bacteria take advantage of the HIV‐associated viral‐containing compartments created in human macrophages that have low pH. Confocal fluorescence microscopy and focussed ion beam‐scanning electron microscopy tomography showed that Salmonella did not co‐localise extensively with HIV‐positive compartments.

Conclusion

The capacity of ST313 bacteria to survive better than ST19 bacteria within primary human macrophages is enhanced in cells pre‐infected with HIV‐1. Our results indicate that the ST313 bacteria do not directly benefit from the niche created by the virus in HIV‐1‐infected macrophages, and that they might take advantage from a more globally modified host cell.

Significance

A better understanding of the interplay between HIV‐1 and Salmonella is important not only for these bacteria but also for other opportunistic pathogens.
Deciphering ecology from statistical artefacts: Competing influence of sample size, prevalence and habitat specialization on species distribution models and how small evaluation datasets can inflate metrics of performance
Authors: Hallman Tyler A. , Robinson William D.
Published: January 2020

Aim

Sample size and species characteristics, including prevalence and habitat specialization, can influence the predictive performance of species distribution models (SDMs). There is little agreement, however, on which metric of model performance to use. Here, we directly compare AUC and partial ROC as metrics of SDM performance through analyses on the effects of species traits and sample size on SDM performance.

Location

Three counties dominated by agricultural lands and coniferous forest in Oregon's Willamette Valley and Coast Range ecoregions.

Methods

We systematically reduced a large avian point count dataset to alter sample sizes of 22 species of songbird. We used boosted regression trees to run SDMs for each species, quantified habitat specialization, and used mixed effects models to compare the influence of sample size, prevalence, and habitat specialization on SDM performance, calculated as AUC and partial ROC, across species. We calculated AUC and partial ROC with subset and independent evaluation data separately to more comprehensively investigate differences in metrics.

Results

We found a positive quadratic effect of sample size and a strongly positive effect of habitat specialization on both metrics of model performance. We found a weak effect of prevalence on partial ROC and no effect in AUC. Contrary to expectations, when evaluated with a subset evaluation data, partial ROC was consistently highest in models with the smallest sample sizes. These small sample size models had correspondingly small sample sizes in subset evaluation datasets. Partial ROC evaluated with independent data and AUC evaluated with subset or independent data showed the expected positive correlation between sample size and model performance.

Main Conclusions

We found that small evaluation datasets can artificially inflate partial ROC. With literature recommended minimum SDM sample sizes as low as three, attention must be given to the effects of correspondingly low sample sizes in evaluation datasets.
The basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor TCF4 impacts brain architecture as well as neuronal morphology and differentiation
Authors: Schoof Melanie , Hellwig Malte , Harrison Luke , Holdhof Dörthe , Lauffer Marlen C. , Niesen Judith , Virdi Sanamjeet , Indenbirken Daniela , Schüller Ulrich
Published: January 2020

Germline mutations in the basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor 4 (TCF4) cause the Pitt–Hopkins syndrome (PTHS), a developmental disorder with severe intellectual disability. Here, we report findings from a new mouse model with a central nervous system‐specific truncation of Tcf4 leading to severe phenotypic abnormalities. Furthermore, it allows the study of a complete TCF4 knockout in adult mice, circumventing early postnatal lethality of previously published mouse models. Our data suggest that a TCF4 truncation results in an impaired hippocampal architecture affecting both the dentate gyrus as well as the cornu ammonis. In the cerebral cortex, loss of TCF4 generates a severe differentiation delay of neural precursors. Furthermore, neuronal morphology was critically affected with shortened apical dendrites and significantly increased branching of dendrites. Our data provide novel information about the role of Tcf4 in brain development and may help to understand the mechanisms leading to intellectual deficits observed in patients suffering from PTHS.
Selection of optimized features for fusion of palm print and finger knuckle‐based person authentication
Authors: Jaswal Gaurav , Poonia Ramesh Chandra
Published: January 2020

The impact of digital technology in biometrics is much more efficient at interpreting data than humans, which results in completely replacement of manual identification procedures in forensic science. Because the single modality‐based biometric frameworks limit performance in terms of accuracy and anti‐spoofing capabilities due to the presence of low quality data, therefore, information fusion of more than one biometric characteristic in pursuit of high recognition results can be beneficial. In this article, we present a multimodal biometric system based on information fusion of palm print and finger knuckle traits, which are least associated to any criminal investigation as evidence yet. The proposed multimodal biometric system might be useful to identify the suspects in case of physical beating or kidnapping and establish supportive scientific evidences, when no fingerprint or face information is present in photographs. The first step in our work is data preprocessing, in which region of interest of palm and finger knuckle images have been extracted. To minimize nonuniform illumination effects, we first normalize the detected circular palm or finger knuckle and then apply line ordinal pattern (LOP)‐based encoding scheme for texture enrichment. The nondecimated quaternion wavelet provides denser feature representation at multiple scales and orientations when extracted over proposed LOP encoding and increases the discrimination power of line and ridge features. To best of our knowledge, this first attempt is a combination of backtracking search algorithm and 2D2LDA has been employed to select the dominant palm and knuckle features for classification. The classifiers output for two modalities are combined at unsupervised rank level fusion rule through Borda count method, which shows an increase in performance in terms of recognition and verification, that is, 100% (correct recognition rate), 0.26% (equal error rate), 3.52 (discriminative index), and 1,262 m (speed).
Integrated management for sustainable cropping systems: Looking beyond the greenhouse balance at the field scale
Authors: Quemada Miguel , Lassaletta Luis , Leip Adrian , Jones Arwyn , Lugato Emanuele
Published: January 2020

Cover crops (CC) promote the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC), which provides multiple benefits to agro‐ecosystems. However, additional nitrogen (N) inputs into the soil could offset the CO2 mitigation potential due to increasing N2O emissions. Integrated management approaches use organic and synthetic fertilizers to maximize yields while minimizing impacts by crop sequencing adapted to local conditions. The goal of this work was to test whether integrated management, centered on CC adoption, has the potential to maximize SOC stocks without increasing the soil greenhouse gas (GHG) net flux and other agro‐environmental impacts such as nitrate leaching. To this purpose, we ran the DayCent bio‐geochemistry model on 8,554 soil sampling locations across the European Union. We found that soil N2O emissions could be limited with simple crop sequencing rules, such as switching from leguminous to grass CC when the GHG flux was positive (source). Additional reductions of synthetic fertilizers applications are possible through better accounting for N available in green manures and from mineralization of soil reservoirs while maintaining cash crop yields. Therefore, our results suggest that a CC integrated management approach can maximize the agro‐environmental performance of cropping systems while reducing environmental trade‐offs.
Predictability of species diversity by family diversity across global terrestrial animal taxa
Authors: Zou Yi , van der Werf Wopke , Liu Yunhui , Axmacher Jan Christoph
Published: January 2020

Aim

Although biodiversity is in sharp decline around the globe, collectiing precise information on changes in overall species richness remains extremely challenging. Efficient and reliable proxy methods are therefore needed, with the diversity of higher taxa representing one such potential proxy for species‐level diversity. Nonetheless, the stability of using this measure across different regions and animal taxa at the global scale has never been investigated thoroughly.

Location

Global.

Time period

Up to 2016.

Major taxa studied

Animalia.

Methods

We used a large global dataset containing published studies on diversity in the terrestrial Animalia to analyse the relationship between diversity at the family, genus and species level across different orders.

Results

Family and species diversity were positively correlated, with the strongest correlations in Diptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera. Correlations were slightly weaker in family–species than in genus–species relationships, whereas differences were stronger in observed richness than in diversity indices. Across all taxa, family–species correlations of Shannon diversity index values were independent of sample size, and they showed limited variation across biomes for the three orders containing sufficient case studies for this analysis. Based on the Shannon diversity index, the species diversity per site increased linearly with the increase in family diversity, with an average species : family diversity index ratio of 2.5, slightly lower than the ratio of 2.7 for observed species and family richness values.

Main conclusions

Our study confirmed that recording family‐level diversity can be a meaningful proxy for determining species‐level diversity patterns in biodiversity studies, and trade‐offs between identification costs and retained information content need to be considered when using higher taxon surrogacy.