bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agile manufacturing: a literature review and Pareto analysis
Authors: Kumar Rahul , Singh Kanwarpreet , Jain Sanjiv Kumar
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existing literature on agile manufacturing (AM) to pinpoint critical success factors (CSFs) affecting the successful implementation of agile manufacturing systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focused on empirical articles published in peer-reviewed journals from 1991 to 2019 (July). In total, 37 empirical studies were shortlisted for analysis as the reliability and validity of the constructs were critically tested using various statistical methods. Further, “Pareto analysis” tool was employed to sort and arrange the factors critical for smoother and effective implementation of AM, in descending order according to their frequency of occurrence.

Findings

The present work scrutinizes 37 research papers, resulting in 33 CSFs that affect AM implementation. Using Pareto analysis, 8 CSFs are regarded as “vital few,” which account for 82.66 percent of occurrence, and the remaining 25 CSFs are regarded as “useful many,” which account for 17.34 percent of occurrence. The managers must focus on successful deployment of “vital few” CSFs, as they are more critical in achieving business excellence through the successful implementation of AM, in comparison to other 25 “useful many” CSFs.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of authors, this work is the first attempt to employ Pareto analysis for critically analyzing a wide range of AM CSFs studies. The findings of this study will assist researchers and managers in AM implementation in a more smoother and effective way in manufacturing industries.
How does Weibo keep users hooked? A Weibo addictive behavior study based on netnography
Authors: He Heping , Liu Yanni , Zhou Zhimin
Published: October 2019

Purpose

With the rapid development of social media in the past few years, some dark aspects of usage have appeared, e.g., Weibo addiction. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to address the question of how Weibo keeps users hooked.

Design/methodology/approach

The study utilizes the netnography method to explore the symptoms of Weibo addiction and how it is formed.

Findings

First, some Weibo users have typical symptoms of addictive behavior, such as withdrawal, loss of control and general living problems; second, narcissism plays an important role in the process of Weibo addiction and has a stronger effect on content generation than content consumption; third, some users use Weibo as a means to alleviate anxiety, but they can then become more anxious owing to addiction; and fourth, the effect of comments has two sides – on the one hand, comments are one kind of feedback to posts, satisfying posters’ social needs, while on the other hand, a storytelling system consists of one post and its comments, upon which some Weibo users become more dependent.

Research limitations/implications

This research is only a preliminary, exploratory study. Therefore, care should be taken when interpreting these findings.

Practical implications

This study should help social media service providers and users to pay attention to the risk of social media addiction. Social media service providers should take social responsibility, design more user-oriented guidelines for marketing ethics and launch more responsible marketing activities. Users should enhance self-control and better balance social media use and offline real life.

Originality/value

Netnography has not been widely used as an addictive behavior research technique. This study is further bolstered because it has also noticed the difference of addiction mechanisms between addictive micro-bloggers and their followers.
Pattern of public debt and debt overhang among BRICS nations: an empirical analysis
Authors: Joy Justin , Panda Prasant Kumar
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the pattern of public debt in Brazil, Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in a comparative perspective. Besides, an attempt is made to verify the existence of debt overhang as suggested by Krugman (1988) among BRICS nations.

Design/methodology/approach

Annual panel data for BRICS for the period 1980-2016 has been used for the analysis. Percentage ratio method has been used to analyze the pattern of debt. Panel covariate augmented Dickey–Fuller (pCADF) test has been used to verify the time series properties of the variable, while panel cointegration test of Pedroni (1999) is used to check the existence of any co-integrating vector among the variables. Panel Granger causality test is used to check the causality between the variables.

Findings

Co-integration result suggests that there exists a strong long-run equilibrium relationship between debt service, domestic savings, capital formation and economic growth of BRICS nations. From Granger causality test, it is observed that domestic savings and capital formation are Granger caused by debt servicing. The coefficients from fully modified ordinary least squares measure a negative impact of debt service on gross capital formation and gross domestic saving. This suggests that the payment for debt service affects capital formation and gross domestic savings adversely. Thus, it gives primary signals for debt overhang effect in BRICS nations.

Practical implications

Allowing debt service to negatively affect the investment and potential investment will result in slowdown or stagnation in economic growth in the long run, so strategies need to be taken in BRICS nations to check the adverse effects of rising level of debt-service-payment-to-gross national income ratio on domestic savings and capital formation. BRICS nations need to reduce their debt service payment by undertaking appropriate strategy of debt overhaul and fiscal management so that domestic savings and capital formation in the country will not be adversely affected. Besides, BRICS nations need to take measures to augment its domestic savings and capital formations.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no published works have analyzed the pattern of public debt for BRICS (major developing nations). Debt servicing is also not checked for BRICS in recent papers, considering overhang approach.
Halal versus Hipster: the struggle for Sydney road and the culture of complaint
Authors: Shaw Michael
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Sydney road in Melbourne is a multicultural experiment where Hipster youth culture contests the street space with a variety of immigrants from the Middle East and Indian subcontinent who consumer Halal food. This paper explores the relationship between these through an examination of their respective cuisines and negative online restaurant reviews. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of conflict as it expresses itself in this way and to consider the wider political context in passing.

Design/methodology/approach

Google online restaurant reviews for all food outlets in the area were tabulated and then the percentage of negative reviews was calculated. Restaurants were split into categories by area and by ethnicity. The results were then discussed with reference to other research in this area.

Findings

Hipster, Middle Eastern Halal and pubs enjoyed the lowest levels of negative online reviews. Indian, Pakistani and chain restaurants had the highest levels of negative online reviews. This could be due to many undetermined causes.

Research limitations/implications

More powerful analytical tools were not used. Also, the text of the reviews was not examined or discussed.

Practical implications

Restaurants who attract larger percentages of negative reviews should try to improve their service offerings. This can be achieved by the standardisation of market offering.

Social implications

The local municipality, which is Moreland council should consider focussing on promoting and expanding this precinct and encouraging the emergence of several zones so that Islamic tourism and way of life can be facilitated.

Originality/value

This is a simple and interesting approach, which encapsulates the paradoxes and dynamics of the Australian attitude to multiculturalism by focusing on a single aspect of customer response in a consumption setting. As such it is an antidote to excessive theorising and empiricism. Readers will enjoy this study and may use the approach to guide their own choice of dining venues.
Green purchase intention
Authors: Naalchi Kashi Alireza
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to focus on what factors and variables affect the consumers’ intention to purchase green products and lead them to prefer green ecologic products to other products and choose to buy them.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, a total of 450 students from the Islamic Azad University of Yazd took part in this survey. The research method was applied in terms of purpose and in terms of analysis, it was of the scaling type. The data collection tool and sampling for the questionnaire were done randomly and to determine the sample, the Cochran formula was used. This study used the SPSS software to analyze the descriptive statistics (demographical factors) and through the software LISREL, the connection between the variables was investigated by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results indicated that environmental beliefs affect environmental concern and there must be a meaningful relationship between them. Also, the increase in environmental concern leads to an increase in the attitude to consuming green products, and finally, an increase in the consumers’ demand for purchasing green products. Furthermore, an increase in environmental concerns also increases positive emotions, which, in turn, increases the consumers’ will to purchase green products. Finally, there is a meaningful relationship between environmental concerns and negative emotion while there is no significant relation between was reported between negative emotions and the will to purchase.

Research limitations/implications

The tested model now uses purchase intention as a result variable instead of real purchase, and in practice, it will be difficult to develop a research framework in controlled real behavior.

Originality/value

Investigating the role of positive and negative emotions on the intention of purchasing green products helps marketing managers up to by correct identifying consumers’ emotions can designing appropriate strategies for encouraging them to use green products.
The future of national tourism organisations marketing functions – there is no future?
Authors: Hay Brian
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of two micro trends on the future marketing functions of national tourism organisations (NTOs): the increasing power of individuals and the irreverence of NTO’s current marketing functions.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a discussion of the literature driving the two identified micro-trends, a number of supportive sub-micro trends were also identified and explored.

Findings

The paper concludes that NTO’s have failed to recognise the growing distrust of monolithic organisations. NTO’s seem to be more concerned about their own survival, rather than providing a service to both their citizens and tourists. Also NTO’s have failed to acknowledge that tourists are much more confident in making their own decisions, based on marketing information from their own trusted “closed friendship groups”, rather than relying on NTO’s.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is based on a discussion of issues from only two micro-trends, but tourist decision-making processes may be more complex than suggested.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that in the near future there will be an increasing rejection of NTO’s marketing information, and in the longer term this may result in the demise of NTO’s. However, if NTO’s are to survive, it suggests two actions they could take to ensure their future relevance to both its citizens and tourists.

Social implications

Questioning whether national/state organisations always act in the best interests of its citizens, challenges the trust in NTO’s. The paper suggests that NTO’s recognise that their power relationships are more strongly linked to ideals of nationhood and endorsement by their international peers, rather than providing services to tourists.

Originality/value

This paper questions the implicate assumption that NTO’s should be a trusted source of marketing information. It suggests that NTO’s have failed to recognise the changing methods tourist use to help in their decision making.
Remapping the construct of paternalistic leadership
Authors: Lau Wai Kwan , Pham Loan N.T. , Nguyen Lam Dang
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to lay the necessary conceptual and empirical groundwork that advances knowledge about paternalistic leadership (PL). PL is reinterpreted as a leadership style consisting of authoritative, moral and benevolent leadership. The mediating role of trust is examined, and a formal, unified construct model of PL is suggested through evidence of construct validity.

Design/methodology/approach

An on-site survey was used to collect data from 312 full-time employees in nine organizations in China. Factor analysis, reliability and validity test, and an analysis of bivariate correlations were conducted.

Findings

The new construct of PL achieved a positive alignment and coherence among the three dimensions. Subordinates’ trust was found to be critical for paternalistic leaders to be perceived as effective leaders.

Research limitations/implications

Leadership and its effectiveness were examined only at the dyadic level. The levels of the supervisors and their effectiveness differ because some were from middle management, whereas others were from first line managers.

Practical implications

Trust is an important explanatory mechanism for the relationship between PL and employee performance, especially in China. It is a key factor that creates loyalty and builds a good relationship between leaders and subordinates.

Social implications

Trust signals a strong sense of sharing within the relationship. It induces positive emotional feelings in their leader by the subordinates and, therefore, taps into positive evaluations about the effectiveness of their leader.

Originality/value

This study developed the theoretical underpinnings and provided measurement instruments for PL. It offered a formal, unified construct model of PL.
Educational platform of region’s digital modernization in Industry 4.0
Authors: Grishina Elena N. , Lysova Elena A. , Lapteva Irina P. , Nagovitsyna Eleonora V.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to substantiate the importance of an educational platform for digital modernization of modern Russia’s regions in Industry 4.0 and to determine the functions and conceptual foundations of organization of regional market of educational services for execution of functions for stimulation of digital modernization of Russia’s regional economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the method of regression analysis for studying the influence of the indicators of adaptation of the market of educational services to the conditions of Industry 4.0 on efficiency of digital modernization of economy of the regions of the Volga Federal District of the Russian Federation as of late 2018-early 2019. The information and empirical basis of the paper is materials of the index “Digital Russia” of the Moscow School of Management “Skolkovo.”

Findings

It is determined that the market of educational services plays an important role in the process of transition of regions of modern Russia to Industry 4.0, performing two functions: training of personnel who are capable of working with digital technologies and training of personnel who are capable of creating new digital technologies at a region’s companies. As a result, the educational platform of digital modernization of the regional economy is formed. The developed conceptual foundations of an organization of the regional market of educational services for execution of its functions on stimulating the digital modernization of Russia’s regional economy allow for three variants of the process of training of personnel: within execution of the order of partner companies in a regional technological park, within participation of the region’s companies in a tender for training of personnel and within an independent initiation of the process of training of personnel by universities based on the results of digital marketing.

Originality/value

The offered authors’ recommendations ensure the following advantages during the creation and development of the educational platform of a region’s digital modernization in Industry 4.0: high marketing activity of universities, direct sequence of training of personnel and improved treatment of the effectiveness of regional universities as the ratio of efficiency in personnel training to expenditures, which stimulates competition between universities and maximization of effectiveness of educational platform of a region’s digital modernization in Industry 4.0.
Library instruction and information literacy 2018
Authors: Withorn Tessa , Caffrey Carolyn , Messer Kimmitt Joanna , Eslami Jillian , Andora Anthony , Clarke Maggie , Patch Nicole , Salinas Guajardo Karla , Lunsford Syann
Published: October 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present recently published resources on library instruction and information literacy providing an introductory overview and a selected annotated bibliography of publications covering all library types.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces and annotates English-language periodical articles, monographs, dissertations, reports and other materials on library instruction and information literacy published in 2018.

Findings

The paper provides a brief description of all 422 sources, and highlights sources that contain unique or significant scholarly contributions.

Originality/value

The information may be used by librarians and anyone interested as a quick reference to literature on library instruction and information literacy.
Corporate social responsibility investment, third-party assurance and firm performance in India
Authors: Oware Kofi Mintah , Mallikarjunappa Thathaiah
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has evolved since the nineteenth century and is becoming mandatory for firms. However, the association between CSR and financial performance remains fluid. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of third-party assurance (TPA) and the moderating effect of financial leverage in CSR – financial performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel and hierarchical regression models are used to analyse data covering 29 companies in the Indian stock market for the period, from 2010 to 2017.

Findings

The study shows that CSR has a positive association with financial performance (ROA (return on assets) and ROE (return on equity)) of listed firms in India. The second finding shows that TPA has a negative association with financial performance (ROA and ROE) and negatively mediate the association between CSR and financial performance (ROA and ROE). Further, the findings also show that financial leverage has a negative association with ROA but no association with ROE, and is unable to moderate the association between CSR and financial performance. Lastly, financial leverage has no association with TPA and unable to moderate the association between CSR and TPA.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of the study is limited to large firms submitting sustainability reports based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, and this criterion is likely to limit the generalisation of the findings.

Practical implications

Capital market investors look for new markets to invest, and CSR results show a positive return for equity investors, which may encourage capital market investments in a mandatory CSR environment. The mediating effect of TPA has the potential to force managers to undertake CSR activities, which leads to a user-friendly environment and improved social sustainability.

Originality/value

Previous studies show a mix association between CSR and financial performance. Nevertheless, some of the possible reasons for the mix association have not received scholarly attention. Hence, the role of the mediating effect of TPA and the moderating effect of financial leverage in CSR-financial performance relationship.
Leverage, investment, and recovery from a financial crisis: the role of debt overhang
Authors: Kuchler Andreas
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Private investment in advanced economies contracted sharply during the downturn that followed the global financial crisis. A substantial debt overhang has been one proposed explanation for this development. This paper evaluates the role of debt overhang for the slow recovery in investment in Denmark, a country in which levels of private debt rapidly increased before the crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on firm-level panel data, this paper evaluates the links between debt and investment dynamics for individual firms during the downturn that followed the global financial crisis.

Findings

High leverage contributed to a slow recovery in investment during the downturn that followed the financial crisis, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises. The effect cannot solely be attributed to mean reversion in investment.

Research limitations/implications

Results point to the existence of a separate leverage or “balance sheet” channel with implications for macroeconomic volatility and financial stability.

Practical implications

Macroprudential or microprudential measures to counteract the build-up of excess leverage during upswings may contribute to reducing macroeconomic volatility and improving financial stability.

Originality/value

In contrast to previous studies, the panel dimension of data is used to take mean reversion in investment into account. The large, nationally representative panel data set allows to assess the macroeconomic relevance of the results, as well as enables subsample splits which are used to gain insights into potential mechanisms through which debt overhang impacts investment.
“We want change”, but who’s we? How to transition cultural change in the digital era as a team
Authors: Berges Rafael Pablo , Kon Fabian
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The new digital world and the big corporations who have been around for more than 80, 100 or more years tend to be perceived as incompatible. This study aims to highlight how the key to a digital mindset is not the size of the company or the company’s track record, but an evolving organizational culture. This case outlines the strategy, tools and techniques to make cultural change and digital transformation possible.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors synthesize their organization’s ongoing transformation in the past two years, engaging every person at Galicia, from top management to all 6,000+ employees through workshops, especially designed meetings and internal communications campaigns to align the company’s goals and move forward together.

Findings

This case study pinpoints the key aspects that should be looked after when working on organizational culture and the main players and/or concepts that organizations should count on as allies for change.

Originality/value

This case provides concrete methods and good practices to create cultural change and employee engagement, regardless of the scale of the company, through first-hand learnings that can be applied in any organization.
Agritourism research: a perspective article
Authors: Barbieri Carla
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize the substantial descriptive, ontological and epistemological advances of agritourism research from its origins. It also envisions how agritourism spaces and research will develop in the next 75 years.

Design/methodology/approach

Building upon the existing literature and existing agriculture and tourism trends, this paper elucidates on the future of agritourism spaces and research.

Findings

Agritourism research has made substantial descriptive, ontological and epistemological advances to consolidate its scholarly significance as an object of study. Future agritourism will be a continuum ranging from ag-interpretation to ag-themed spaces. Future research efforts should address where agritourism, as a farm diversification strategy, ends along the educational–recreational continuum, and how can agritourism spaces better assist to negotiate societal growing dissonances emanated from the rural–urban gap.

Originality/value

This note envisions how agritourism spaces will evolve in the next 75 years, and thus the issues that future research should address, as a result of agricultural and tourism trends.
From WOM to aWOM – the evolution of unpaid influence: a perspective article
Authors: Williams Nigel L. , Ferdinand Nicole , Bustard John
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) natural language processing may see the emergence of algorithmic word of mouth (aWOM), content created and shared by automated tools. As AI tools improve, aWOM will increase in volume and sophistication, displacing eWOM as an influence on customer decision-making. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the socio technological trends that have encouraged the evolution of informal infulence strategies from WOM to aWOM.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the origins and path of development of influential customer communications from word of mouth (WOM) to electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and the emerging trend of aWOM. The growth of aWOM is theorized as a result of new developments in AI natural language processing tools along with autonomous distribution systems in the form of software robots and virtual assistants.

Findings

aWOM may become a dominant source of information for tourists, as it can support multimodal delivery of useful contextual information. Individuals, organizations and social media platforms will have to ensure that aWOM is developed and deployed responsibly and ethically.

Practical implications

aWOM may emerge as the dominant source of information for tourist decision-making, displacing WOM or eWOM. aWOM may also impact online opinion leaders, as they may be challenged by algorithmically generated content. aWOM tools may also generate content using sensors on personal devices, creating privacy and information security concerns if users did not give permission for such activities.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to theorize the emergence of aWOM as autonomous AI communication within the framework of unpaid influence or WOM. As customer engagement will increasingly occur in algorithmic environments that comprise person–machine interactions, aWOM will influence future tourism research and practice.
State variation in the characteristics of Medicare‐Medicaid dual enrollees: Implications for risk adjustment
Authors: Roberts Eric T. , Mellor Jennifer M. , McInerney Melissa , Sabik Lindsay M.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To examine between‐state differences in the socioeconomic and health characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries dually enrolled in Medicaid, focusing on characteristics not observable to or used by policy makers for risk adjustment.

Data Source

2010‐2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.

Study Design

Retrospective analyses of survey‐reported health and socioeconomic status (SES) measures among low‐income Medicare beneficiaries and low‐income dual enrollees. We used hierarchical linear regression models with state random effects to estimate the between‐state variation in respondent characteristics and linear models to compare the characteristics of dual enrollees by state Medicaid policies.

Principal Findings

Between‐state differences in health and socioeconomic risk among low‐income Medicare beneficiaries, as measured by the coefficient of variation, ranged from 17.5 percent for an index of socioeconomic risk to 20.3 percent for an index of health risk. Between‐state differences were comparable among the subset of low‐income beneficiaries dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Dual enrollees with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level were in better health and had higher SES in states that offered Medicaid to individuals with relatively higher incomes. Duals' average incomes were higher in states with Medically Needy programs.

Conclusions

Characteristics of dual enrollees differ substantially across states, reflecting differences in states' low‐income Medicare populations and Medicaid policies. Risk‐adjustment methods using dual enrollment to proxy for poor health and low SES should account for this state‐level heterogeneity.
DNA Purification Cell Lysis and Wash Step Modifications for Low‐Template DNA Sample Processing,
Authors: Menchhoff Sydney I. , Delacruz Milady T. , Hytinen Madison E. , Cox Jordan O. , Miller Marilyn T. , Dawson Cruz Tracey
Published: October 2019

As DNA technology becomes increasingly sensitive, forensic laboratories are receiving more low‐template DNA samples. These samples, already low in DNA content, become even more challenging to process as the available DNA becomes further reduced during the extraction step. In this study, two extraction modifications were tested to determine if the cause of DNA loss could be identified and mitigated. A double lysis technique was used to test for DNA loss in the sample collection substrate, and lysate eluates were re‐extracted to determine DNA loss from inefficient binding to the silica column. Both modifications showed DNA was lost at these steps. However, resulting STR profiles from these samples had fewer peaks and lower peak heights when compared to samples processed with no extraction modifications. Overall, the potential benefits of adding these extraction modifications for low‐template DNA sample processing are not enough to justify the risk associated with additional manipulation.
Against autonomy: How proposed solutions to the problems of living wills forgot its underlying principle
Authors: Mast Laurel
Published: October 2019

Significant criticisms have been raised regarding the ethical and psychological basis of living wills. Various solutions to address these criticisms have been advanced, such as the use of surrogate decision makers alone or data science‐driven algorithms. These proposals share a fundamental weakness: they focus on resolving the problems of living wills, and, in the process, lose sight of the underlying ethical principle of advance care planning, autonomy. By suggesting that the same sweeping solutions, without opportunities for choice, be applied to all, individual patients are treated as population‐level groups—as a theoretical patient who represents a population, not the specific patient crafting his or her individualized future care plans. Instead, advance care planning can be improved through a multimodal approach that both mitigates cognitive biases and allows for customization of the decision‐making process by allowing for the incorporation of a variety of methods of advance care planning.
‘Alive by default’: An exploration of Velleman’s unfair burdens argument against state sanctioned euthanasia
Authors: Symons Xavier , Chua Reginald
Published: October 2019

In this article we critically evaluate an argument against state‐sanctioned euthanasia made by David Velleman in his 1992 paper ‘Against the right to die’. In that article, Velleman argues that legalizing euthanasia is morally problematic as it will deprive eligible patients of the opportunity of staying ‘alive by default’. That is to say, those patients who are rendered eligible for euthanasia as a result of legislative reform will face the burden of having to justify their continued existence to their epistemic peers if they are to be perceived as ‘reasonable’. We discuss potential criticisms that could be made of the argument, and consider how a defender of the view might respond. Velleman’s argument is particularly interesting as it is a consequentialist argument against state‐sanctioned euthanasia, challenging the many consequentialist arguments that have been made in favour of legalizing the procedure. We conclude by suggesting that further research on the question of unfair burdens is important to adequately evaluating the potential harms of legalizing euthanasia for patients at the end of life.
Confronting Scale: A Strategy of Solidarity in Urban Social Movements, New York City and Beyond
Authors: Okechukwu Amaka
Published: October 2019

Emerging attention to the spatial dynamics of political contention points to the spatially situated nature of mobilization, and, in turn, how space is socially produced through collective action. Drawing from interviews and archival research, this article examines an urban university social movement organization and its relationship to a larger social movement network in an urban context. In response to university administrators’ adoption of neoliberal policy reform, student activists challenged sociospatial boundaries in their organizing across scale—in their university, the city, region, and across the nation. By adopting a strategy of solidarity, student activists collapsed the boundaries of the university and transformed it into a hub of Leftist social movement organizing for the city and beyond, redefining scale. Findings suggest that the development of urban social movement networks can be understood as a scalar strategy of solidarity for building social movement persistence and power. This social movement network emerged in response to market and State redefinition of urban meaning at the transition to the 21st century. This article illustrates how the sociospatial formation of urban social movement networks challenges the boundaries of contention.
Fournier's gangrene in patients with type 2 diabetes using second‐line antidiabetic medications
Authors: Petruski‐Ivleva Natalia , Schneeweiss Sebastian , Eapen Sara , Rajan Aditya , Jan Saira
Published: October 2019

Cases of a rare but serious infection called Fournier's gangrene have been reported with sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT‐2i). To evaluate the safety signal in a population of patients with type 2 diabetes, we used administrative claims data from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey from 2014 through 2017 to estimate incidence rates of Fournier's gangrene or necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum among patients treated with a second‐line antidiabetic drug. We found very low incidence rates of Fournier's gangrene or necrotizing fasciitis. While we found no indication of an increased risk among SGLT‐2i users compared with similar patients treated with other second‐line antidiabetic medications, the small number of events yielded wide confidence intervals.
Plant roots are more important than temperature in modulating carbon release in a limed acidic soil
Authors: Ahmad W. , Dijkstra F.A. , Dalal R.C. , Singh B.
Published: October 2019

Lime is a common amendment to overcome soil acidity in agricultural production systems. However, plant root effects on lime and soil carbon (C) dynamics in acidic soils under varied temperature remain largely unknown. We monitored root effects of soybean on the fate of lime applied to an acidic soil at 20 and 30°C in growth chambers. Soil respired CO2 was continuously trapped in columns without and with plants until the final stage of vegetative growth. Lime‐derived CO2 was separated from total respired CO2 based on δ13C measurements in CO2. Leaching was induced at early and late vegetative growth stages, and the leachates were analysed for dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic C (DIC) concentrations. Soil respiration significantly increased with lime addition at both temperatures (p < 0.001). The presence of soybean doubled the recovery of lime‐derived CO2‐C at 20°C at the early growth stage; however, by the end of the experiment, the contribution of lime‐derived CO2‐C to soil respiration was negligible in all treatments, indicating that the contribution of lime to soil respiration was shortlived. In contrast, DIC and DOC concentrations in leachates remained elevated with liming and were greater in the presence of soybean. We observed no main temperature effects and no interactive effects of temperature and soybean presence on lime‐derived CO2‐C, DIC and DOC. These results highlight the role of plant‐modulated processes in CO2 release and C leaching from lime in acidic soils, whereas an increase in temperature may be less important. Temperature and plant roots alter the rate of key processes controlling C dynamics in a limed acidic soil. Lime‐derived CO2‐C, DIC and DOC increased more in the presence of plants than with increased temperature. Root effects are more important than temperature for inorganic and organic carbon dynamics in limed acidic soils.
Versatility in a loud call: Dual affiliative and agonistic functions in the blue monkeyboom
Authors: Fuller James L. , Cords Marina
Published: October 2019

To investigate the selective agents that shape signals, we examined function (adaptive benefit to signaler) in theboomloud call by male blue monkeys. Using natural observation and playbacks in a wild population in Kenya, we characterizedboomfunction from conspecifics' behavioral responses and also variation in call usage relating to context and reproductive season.Boomsoccurred in several contexts and after varied stimuli, including falling branches, yet were strongly associated with intragroup activity and, in particular, affiliative interactions between callers and females. Males produced moreboomsduring the mating season and, congruently, when more females in their groups were sexually active. After hearingbooms, compared to no call, females spent more time near groupmates and the caller and were more likely to approach and have mating interactions with him. Males tended to move away after hearing aboom. In the aggregate, results indicate thatboomsachieve multiple functions relating to facilitating group cohesion, affiliative interactions, and mating opportunities, while also repelling rival males. An observed association with falling branches is puzzlingly distinct from these social functions. We explore the hypothesis thatboomsenable affiliative encounters by acting as signals of benign intent, and discuss the functional versatility of signals perceived by multiple receivers that vary in age, sex, and relationship to signalers.
Is social coordination during escape flights a general phenomenon in birds?
Authors: Lima Steven L. , Lee Jong Koo
Published: October 2019

Escape from predatory attack as a socially coordinated group is observed in many social animals, including birds, especially those in more open habitats where the group itself may be the only source of protection from an attacking predator. For many social birds, however, woody vegetative cover is the main refuge from attack, but such birds might nevertheless benefit from social coordination during escape flights to cover. Such benefits could reflect the confusion effect, selfish herd effect, or the simple dilution of risk. We examined this possibility of coordinated escape in mixed flocks of wintering passerellid sparrows (Passerellidae). These free‐living birds fed in a patch of food flanked on opposite sides by two refuges composed of woody cover. Under such conditions, coordination in escape behavior should be expressed as a tendency to escape together as a group to the same cover location. Such behavior, however, was not the rule. During spontaneous flushes to cover, a group of escaping birds stayed together only when one cover location was clearly closer than the other. With cover equidistant from the food patch, escaping flocks tended to split about evenly between cover locations. Birds in close proximity prior to an escape flight did not show enhanced escape coordination, nor did those feeding at significant distances from protective cover. Evidence of escape coordination was observed in small groups (two–four birds), but even in such groups, flock splitting during escape was generally the rule. Flock splitting during attacks might reflect some sort of strategic decision‐making process that lessens the risk of capture, but the most parsimonious explanation is that (all else equal) birds head for the nearest refuge, largely irrespective of the behavior of their flockmates. Our results thus provide little evidence of flock‐wide social coordination during escape flights in cover‐dependent birds.
Effects of sowing methods and seeding rates on growth and yield characteristics of phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides)
Authors: Tobisa Manabu , Nakano Yutaka
Published: October 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of sowing methods (broadcast or row sowing) and seeding rate (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 g/m2) on growth, yield characteristics, and forage quality of phasey bean (Macroptilium lathyroides (L.) Urb.) cv. “Murray”). Experiments were carried out in 2002 and 2003. Sowing method affected dry‐matter yield (DMY): broadcast sowing resulted in higher DMY than row sowing in 2002, and during the first harvest in 2003. Dry‐matter digestibility (DMD) and crude protein (CP) concentration were not influenced by the sowing method, except when DMD and CP of the broadcast sowing treatment increased as the plant weight increased. Contrary to expectation, seeding rate did not affect leaf area index, DMY, DMD, CP, digestible dry‐matter yield or CP yield. Even the lowest seeding rate did not influence the yield and forage quality of phasey bean, compared with the recommended higher seeding rate.
Restoration strategies for grasslands colonized by Asphodel‐dominant communities
Authors: Tesei Giulio , D’Ottavio Paride , Toderi Marco , Ottaviani Cecilia , Pesaresi Simone , Francioni Matteo , Trozzo Laura , Allegrezza Marina
Published: October 2019

Grassland habitats are particularly threatened in Europe, especially in marginal areas where funds and manpower for their conservative management are limited. Knowledge of the vegetation dynamics is crucial for the timeliness and economy of any conservation actions. However, there is a lack of studies on effective and rapid containment of tall rhizomatous geophytes, such as asphodel (Asphodelus macrocarpus Parl. subsp. macrocarpus), which are particularly active in the earliest stages of the natural vegetation succession. We present an interdisciplinary study carried out on an abandoned semi‐natural grassland (European Union habitat code 6210*) colonized by Asphodel within a Natura 2000 site in the central Apennines (Italy). This experimental trial lasted 4 years (2012–2015) and applied three different treatments (mowing with removal of cut material, mowing without removal of cut material and chopping), compared to the control (abandonment). The results highlight that the disturbance produced by biomass removal has positive effects on biodiversity. In particular, mowing (both with or without removal of cut material) provided better results for restoration of the grassland biodiversity, even over the short term. Chopping is not a viable alternative to mowing, especially because of the risk of eutrophication over time, and the consequent settlement and increase in nitrophilous species.
Significant chronic airway abnormalities in never‐smoking HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Besutti G , Santoro A , Scaglioni R , Neri S , Zona S , Malagoli A , Orlando G , Beghè B , Ligabue G , Torricelli P , Manfredini M , Pellacani G , Fabbri LM , Guaraldi G
Published: October 2019

Objectives

The aim of the study was to describe chronic lung disease in HIV‐infected never‐smokers by looking at clinical, structural and functional abnormalities.

Methods

This comparative cross‐sectional study included 159 HIV‐infected never‐smoking patients [mean (± standard deviation) age 54.6 ± 9.1 years; 13.2% female; 98.1% with undetectable viral load] and 75 nonmatched never‐smoking controls [mean (± standard deviation) age 52.6 ± 6.9 years; 46.7% female]. We examined calcium scoring computer tomography (CT) scans or chest CT scans, all with a lung‐dedicated algorithm reconstruction, to assess emphysema and airway disease (respiratory bronchiolitis and/or bronchial wall thickening), tested pulmonary function using spirometry, lung volumes and the diffusion lung capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO), and assessed respiratory symptoms using the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT).

Results

Twenty‐five (17.2%) of the HIV‐infected patients versus two (2.7%) of the controls had a CAT score > 10. Only 5% of the HIV‐infected patients showed FEV1% < 80%, and 25% had DLCO < 75% of the predicted value. Based on the CT scans, they had increased prevalences, compared with the controls, of airway disease (37% versus 7.9%, respectively) and emphysema (18% versus 4%, respectively), with more severe and more frequent centrilobular disease. After correction for age, sex and clinical factors, HIV infection was significantly associated with CAT > 10 [odds ratio (OR) 7.7], emphysema (OR 4), airway disease (OR 4.5) and DLCO < 75% of predicted (OR 4).

Conclusions

Although comparisons were limited by the different enrolment methods used for HIV‐infected patients and controls, the results suggest that never‐smoking HIV‐infected patients may present with chronic lung damage characterized by CT evidence of airway disease. A minority of them showed respiratory symptoms, without significant functional abnormalities.
Impact of a pharmacist-led education and follow-up service on anticoagulation control and safety outcomes at a tertiary hospital in China: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Liang Jia-Bi , Lao Cheng-Kin , Tian Lin , Yang Ying-Ying , Wu Hui-Min , Tong Henry Hoi-Yee , Chan Alexandre
Published: October 2019

Objectives

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led anticoagulation service on international normalised ratio (INR) control and other outcomes among patients receiving warfarin therapy at a tertiary hospital in Zhuhai, China.

Methods

In this randomised controlled trial, adult patients who were newly initiated on warfarin with intended treatment duration of at least 3 months were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to receive the pharmacist-led education and follow-up service (PEFS) or usual care (UC). Anticoagulation control was calculated as the proportions of time within the target INR range (TTR) and time within the expanded target range (TER).

Key findings

A total of 152 participants (77 in the PEFS group and 75 in the UC group) were included. Within 180 days after hospital discharge, the PEFS group spent more TER than the UC group (54.4% versus 42.0%; P = 0.024), whereas the difference in TTR did not reach statistical significance (35.9% versus 29.5%; P = 0.203). No major bleeding events were observed, and the cumulative incidences of major thromboembolic events (6.5% versus 9.3%) and mortality (1.3% versus 1.3%) were similar between the two groups (P> 0.05). At 30 days postdischarge, the PEFS group had better warfarin knowledge by answering 57.5% of questions correctly, compared with the UC group (43.0%) (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

The PEFS markedly enhanced anticoagulation control and warfarin knowledge but there was room for improvement. The expansion of pharmacists’ clinical role and the development of more effective education and follow-up strategies are warranted to optimise anticoagulation management services in China.