bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The competitive forces that shape Australian medical education
Authors: Mahat Marian
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Medical education is an evidence-driven professional field that operates in an increasingly regulated environment as compared to other fields within universities. The purpose of this paper is to establish the extent to which Porter’s five competitive forces framework (Porter, 2008) can drive the management of medical schools in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews with over 20 staff from 6 case study Australian medical schools, this paper explores Australian medical education, by looking at the current policy context, structure and interactions between organizations within the system.

Findings

The findings provide evidence that environmental forces affect the nature of competition in medical education, and that competitive advantage can be gained by medical schools from a sustained analysis of the industry in which they operate in. Consequently, it is possible to apply a pre-dominantly profit-oriented framework to higher education.

Research limitations/implications

As an industry facing increasing pressure toward marketization and competition, the findings provide sufficient evidence that an analysis of higher education as an industry is possible.

Practical implications

The findings provide evidence that strategic leadership and management in higher education should encompass greater levels of delegation and decision making at all levels. Effective leadership should focus on creating an inspiring vision of the future through a sustained analysis of the industry in which they operate.

Originality/value

The study has made a key contribution through an industry analysis of Australian medical education, which provide important implications for leadership and management in higher education. The study is of significant value to researchers as well as senior management in higher education.
A theoretical framework for managing intellectual capital in higher education
Authors: Iacoviello Giuseppina , Bruno Elena , Cappiello Antonella
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, through the preparation of a theoretical framework, the drivers able to highlight the relationships between universities and stakeholders in the area of higher education. It also intends to stress the importance of intellectual capital (IC) regarding its contribution to create the quality of higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The method, through the repetition of different “rounds” of interviews with questionnaires, tends therefore to create situations of comparison, verification and discussion of the different hypotheses prefigured, and then come to a convergence of both scenarios and dates of realization.

Findings

The paper provides a system of indicators for assessing the quality of relationships between stakeholders in the key processes of the universities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides a pilot model that needs further adjustments in itinere, based on rigorous empirical tests conducted to confer on it the characteristics of universal applicability within the university context.

Practical implications

The major contribution of the model is evident from the resulting interpretative process, which makes it possible to deduce, from the performance indicators, the strategies put in place by the university to achieve their goals, that is, to prepare any interventions for the optimization of the management of IC which can create the quality of higher education institution.

Originality/value

None of the models presented in the literature details the quality of the relationship between stakeholders in the key processes of the universities and therefore neither investigates the impact produced by them on the performance of the university nor on the way stakeholders perceive the usefulness of the knowledge transmitted or the level of customer satisfaction achieved, as indeed the most recent research on the subject envisages.
Exploring school principals’ personal identities in Cyprus from a values perspective
Authors: Kafa Antonios , Pashiardis Petros
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore a broader understanding of the role of Cypriot school principals’ personal identities, through a values system perspective, when exercising their leadership.

Design/methodology/approach

A multicase study methodology was followed with five school principals, representing five different leadership styles. In each case, an in-depth investigation of the school principal’s personal identity was undertaken. School principals’ personal values were explored during interviews, staff meetings and daily activities observations, as well as through the use of the think-aloud protocol method. This study utilized the Schwartz Theory of Basic Human Values, as well as the Pashiardis–Brauckmann Holistic Leadership Framework, as the guiding theoretical framework.

Findings

School principals’ personal identities in Cyprus seem to influence, to some extent, their daily leadership practice. However, particular factors associated with the context in which they live (social identity) and work (professional identity), seemed to be affecting the personal values embedded throughout their personal identities.

Research limitations/implications

Five school principals are not enough to make generalizations on the relationships between leadership styles and values. However, through this paper, the authors sought to provide examples on how school principals’ personal identities influence their leadership practice.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the important role and attention to school principals’ personal identities, beyond the core management and leadership courses. The findings also shed light on the importance of looking more closely at contextual elements “outside” and “inside” the school and to what extent these could influence school principals’ personal identities.

Originality/value

This paper offers insights into school principals’ personal identities, through a values system perspective, and how these personal identities influence their leadership practice.
School principals’ key experiences and changing management patterns
Authors: Klein Joseph , Ninio Racheli
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The literature indicates that sudden key experiences induce emotional and cognitive reactions strong enough to change perceptions and behavior over time. The purpose of this paper is to examine the question whether school principals undergo key experiences and whether these experiences are related to improvements in their work patterns and to professional empowerment beyond what could be attributable to the professional insights acquired through on-the-job experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative in-depth interviews of 15 public high school principals with 4–19 years of experience elicited information about the extent of their exposure to key experiences and any changes that occurred in their managerial thinking and functioning after having undergone these experiences.

Findings

All of the respondents implemented significant changes in their work after undergoing key experiences. The insights gained from key experiences had not been acquired through on-the-job experience. Nevertheless, the qualitative nature of this research does not allow for any conclusive findings about the causality of key experiences upon managerial changes among principals.

Practical implications

It may be possible to use the findings uncovered by this study and its conclusions regarding experiential learning acquired from key experiences by school principals to enrich managers in general.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that the process of school principals’ professional development involves a unique component and source of knowledge resulting from key experiences, and this phenomenon has not previously been investigated. This study’s findings about key experiences contribute to a deeper understanding of the process of professional development among principals.
Blended learning adoption: a case study of one of the oldest universities in Europe
Authors: Previtali Pietro , Scarozza Danila
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the determinants of blended learning adoption in universities by focusing on faculty’s satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology is based on a case study of one of the most ancient University in Europe. The authors administered a questionnaire to the professors that used blended technologies, and the authors conducted clinical interviews with some of the key people involved in the implementation process.

Findings

The paper allows to identify the main factors that impact on faculty’s satisfaction. Student-related issues seem to be the most important factors influencing faculty satisfaction, while instructor-related issues and especially institution-related issues definitely seem to be less important.

Research limitations/implications

The study is focused just on a single case study. Further researches could explore a wider application of this research approach to several universities and different countries.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first that analyzed blended learning adoption in historic universities.
Effectiveness of flipped classrooms
Authors: Maheshwari Prateek , Seth Nitin
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of the flipped classroom (FC) model over traditional lecture-based teaching. It also proposed a tool to measure students’ perception toward the flipped approach in context of Indian management education.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs an experimental research design to assess the effectiveness of the FC pedagogy over traditional teaching methods. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods are used in order to judge student engagement, content understanding, students’ perception and student academic performance. Experimental research design, along with survey research, is implemented in order to judge the students’ perception toward FCs.

Findings

The study proposes a six-dimensional tool to measure learning in an FC setting. These dimensions are as follows: students’ in-class involvement, comprehensive content understanding, students’ academic performance, students’ cognitive capabilities, collaborative learning environment and students’ inclination toward teaching and learning process. Results of this research are promising and encouraging toward the adoption of the FC model.

Research limitations/implications

The present research work is limited to assess the effectiveness of FC teaching for a management subject. Future studies may be carried out in other management subjects and other streams.

Practical implications

The present study provides several valuable insights for future researchers, academicians and management institutions. Although implementation of flipped approach leads to a collaborative learning environment and prepares students for self-learning, it also offers educationalists to remodel their teaching pedagogy as per students’ learning and understanding needs.

Originality/value

The research demonstrates the successful implementation of qualitative and quantitative research techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of FC model in context of management education in India.
Explaining the emergence of hedonic motivations in enterprise social networks and their impact on sustainable user engagement
Authors: Meske Christian , Junglas Iris , Stieglitz Stefan
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Enterprise social networks (ESNs) in organizations have become an increasingly important technology to support the exchange of information and knowledge. Many ESN projects fail due to insufficient engagement in the long run, leading to the high risk of sunk costs. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how hedonic motivations, along with normative motivations, play an important role in determining an employee’s intention to continuously participate in ESN. Based on the Four-Drive Model and hence borrowing from behavioral economics, it is investigated how such hedonic motivations emerge in organizational ESNs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is set within the context of a global enterprise of the logistics and courier industry. The authors first derived hypotheses from the Four-Drive Model to build the research model on the emergence of hedonic motivation. Then, the authors derived hypotheses from existing adoption literature regarding the impact of hedonic motivations and normative motivations on ESN use continuance. Following, a quantitative survey was conducted to test these hypotheses. In the study, structural equation modeling is applied, based on partial least squares.

Findings

The results show that the extent to which an ESN supports the drives to comprehend, acquire, bond and defend starkly influences an employee’s hedonic motivations. In addition, it is shown that hedonic motivations have a much stronger influence on use continuance than normative motivations.

Originality/value

Research on hedonic motivations in the work context is still underrepresented, in management science as well as information systems (IS) research. Hence, theoretical approaches to explain and predict the emergence of hedonic motivations in IS usage are missing. With the study, the authors will close this theoretical gap. The study contributes to IS research not only by evaluating the role of hedonic motivation for ESN usage, but also by providing an approach to explain key drivers behind it. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to empirically test the Four-Drive Model in a voluntary IS context, adding valuable knowledge about human behaviors in digital work environments.
Managing change, growth and transformation
Authors: Hong Paul C. , Kallarakal Tomy K. , Moina Mariam , Hopkins Margaret
Published: May 2019

Purpose

In view of dynamic and widespread economic transformation in emerging economies, managing organizational change and growth in this context deserves more research attention. The purpose of this paper is to examine how three organizations in different industries manage change, growth and transformation in their organizational ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted in-depth interviews with the leadership of three organizations in different economic sectors in India, a country representing an emerging economy. The authors also reviewed historical data from these organizations. Three case studies illustrating the evolution of these organizations were developed from the data collected.

Findings

Lessons and implications from the three case studies suggest the following key elements of effective organizational change mechanisms in an emerging economy: visionary entrepreneurial leadership; program quality excellence; scale growth and scope expansion; network capabilities; and sustainable stakeholders’ engagement. At the same time, this study also shows how these organizations manage change, growth and transformation in the context of a society with strong traditions and cultural norms.

Research limitations/implications

Results and conclusions may be limited by the fact that the study is based on three case studies. Additional studies from a variety of industries with large numbers of participants will be helpful in more fully understanding the ways in which change, growth and transformation can best be developed and deployed in different organizational settings.

Practical implications

The proposed model of organizational change in an emerging economy may assist organizational leadership in designing and sustaining their change efforts.

Social implications

This study highlights the role of visionary entrepreneurial leadership and the impact of organizational growth mechanisms on organizational value delivery capabilities and organizational reputation.

Originality/value

Lessons and implications of five growth steps of outstanding organizations in an emerging economy context provide valuable insight for organizational change, growth and transformation in other emerging contexts.
Motivation to transfer training in learning organizations
Authors: Islam Talat
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the role of resistance to change and self-efficacy (SE) on the relationship between learning culture and motivation to transfer training (MTT).

Design/methodology/approach

The study collected data from 412 faculty members of higher education institutions on the basis of multi-stage sampling technique. First, the population was divided into two strata. Second, universities were selected on a random basis and finally, respondents were selected on simple random basis.

Findings

The study used structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression techniques to test the hypotheses. The study found that in the presence of high SE and low resistance to change learning culture more likely to influence on MTT.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributed to cognitive theory, signaling theory and experimental learning theory and has implications for managers and academic policymakers.

Originality/value

The study is a novel attempt to examine the side by side role of learning culture, SE and learning transfer climate toward MTT.
The financial intelligence unit and money laundering control in Tanzania
Authors: Mniwasa Eugene E.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of the financial intelligence unit in Tanzania in fighting against money laundering and its predicate offences, examine its potential in controlling the problem and describe factors that undermine its efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The doctrinal research approach is used to analyse Tanzania’s anti-money laundering law and appraise its effectiveness in facilitating operations of the financial intelligence unit in fighting against money laundering and its predicate offences. The law-in-context approach is applied to interrogate the anti-money laundering law and describe non-law factors that impinge on the efficiency of Tanzania’s financial intelligence unit.

Findings

The law vests the financial intelligence unit with powers to perform a number of functions that are significant in fighting against money laundering and its predicate offences in Tanzania. The unit has been instrumental in curbing money laundering. The efficacy of this anti-money laundering agency, which is at its infancy stage, is emasculated by law-related, institutional and non-law factors. These factors undercut the potency of the agency.

Practical implications

There is a need for Tanzania to undertake policy, legislative and institutional reforms to augment the efficacy of the financial intelligence unit. The reforms should be implemented concurrently with other measures, which will enhance the country’s anti-money money laundering regime.

Originality/value

This paper applies the legal and non-law perspectives to evaluate the effectiveness of the financial intelligence unit as an essential component of Tanzania’s anti-money laundering regime. It proposes law-related and non-law approaches to augment the efficiency of the unit and the country’s anti-money laundering regime in general.
Tracing, freezing and confiscating the proceeds of crime in Cyprus
Authors: Pavlidis George , Satolias Konstantinos
Published: May 2019

Purpose

As a dynamic business and financial centre, the Republic of Cyprus is called upon to protect its economy and society from money laundering and criminal infiltration. To address these risks, the Republic of Cyprus has developed a comprehensive legal framework in compliance with the relevant international and EU standards. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the legislative tools for tracing, freezing and confiscating the proceeds of crime in the Republic of Cyprus with special reference to their strengths, weaknesses and compatibility with the relevant international and EU norms.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on legal scholarship, jurisprudence, reports and other open source data to analyse important legislative developments in Cyprus in the fields of tracing, freezing and confiscating the proceeds of crime.

Findings

The legislative developments that will be examined are Law 188(I)/2007, and its recent amendments which effectively target the proceeds of crime in Cyprus. Despite some weaknesses, the legislative provisions in Cyprus are compatible with international and EU norms on tracing, freezing and confiscation, while they promote international and EU cooperation in these domains.

Originality/value

Since the amendments of Law 188(I)/2007 came into force, this has been, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the first comprehensive study examining the strengths and weaknesses of the legislative framework on asset tracing, freezing and confiscation, as well as its compatibility with international and EU standards.
European antiquities trade: a refuge for money laundering and terrorism financing
Authors: Teichmann Fabian Maximilian Johannes
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate how criminals launder money in the antiquities trade in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis of 58 semi-structured expert interviews with both criminals and prevention experts and a quantitative survey of 184 compliance officers revealed the concrete techniques used to launder money in the European antiquities trade.

Findings

The antiquities market facilitates the placement, layering and integration of the transfer of assets to terrorist organizations. Most importantly, it is among the few profitable methods of laundering money.

Research limitations/implications

As the findings of the qualitative study are based on semi-standardized interviews, they are limited to the 58 interviewees’ perspectives.

Practical implications

The identification of concrete methods of money laundering and terrorism financing aims to provide compliance officers, law enforcement agencies and legislators with valuable insight into criminal activity.

Originality/value

While the existing literature focuses on organizations fighting money laundering and the financing of terrorism, this study instead describes how criminals avoid detection by taking into account prevention and criminal perspectives.
The viability of international anti-criminal finance frameworks
Authors: Fazlur Rahman Nurhannani
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to the effect of the growing informal financial sector (IFS) on the effectiveness of anti-criminal finance laws. Specifically, the growth of the IFS has been brought on by the unprecedented rise in refugee and migrant movement around the world. This paper will focus on how refugee smuggling in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkan region – and the consequent rise of the IFS – has affected the suitability of apply anti-money laundering and financial action task force frameworks in these countries.

Design/methodology/approach

It assesses the effectiveness of national and international legal documents on anti-criminal finance. It also uses data sets and analyses secondary and primary sources to estimate the size and importance of the IFS.

Findings

The exponential and rapid growth of the IFS has undermined efforts to prevent the financing of trafficking, terrorism, corruption and money-laundering. The present legal devices to address criminal finance has been wholly inadequate and counter-productive.

Research limitations/implications

There are limited reliable or accurate data available on the IFS, how much money goes through it or how important it is to criminal activities such as money laundering or terrorist finance. Without field-research, this study remains exploratory.

Practical implications

The growth of the IFS and migratory movement is a complex dilemma that must be accounted for when seeking to truly improve anti-criminal finance laws, especially in developing and transition countries.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates the importance of considering the IFS and migratory and refugee movements in creating legal instruments to combat financial crime. It also suggests a direction for future research.
Defining the antecedents of experience co-creation as applied to alternative consumption models
Authors: Schallehn Holger , Seuring Stefan , Strähle Jochen , Freise Matthias
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework of experience co-creation that captures the multi-dimensionality of this construct, as well as a research process for defining of the antecedents of experience co-creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework of experience co-creation was conceptualized by means of a literature review. Subsequently, this framework was used as the conceptual basis for a qualitative content analysis of 66 empirical papers investigating alternative consumption models (ACMs), such as renting, remanufacturing, and second-hand models.

Findings

The qualitative content analysis resulted in 12 categories related to the consumer and 9 related to the ACM offerings that represent the antecedents of experience co-creation. These categories provide evidence that, to a large extent, the developed conceptual framework allows one to capture the multi-dimensionality of the experience co-creation construct.

Research limitations/implications

This study underscores the understanding of experience co-creation as a function of the characteristics of the offering – which are, in turn, a function of the consumers’ motives as determined by their lifeworlds – as well as to service design as an iterative approach to finding, creating and refining service offerings.

Practical implications

The investigation of the antecedents of experience co-creation can enable service providers to determine significant consumer market conditions for forecasting the suitability and viability of their offerings and to adjust their service designs accordingly.

Originality/value

This paper provides a step toward the operationalization of the dimension-related experience co-creation construct and presents an approach to defining the antecedents of experience co-creation by considering different research perspectives that can enhance service design research.
On Christoffel roots for nondetached slowness surfaces
Authors: Bos Len , Slawinski Michael A. , Stanoev Theodore
Published: May 2019

The only restriction on the values of the elasticity parameters is the stability condition. Within this condition, we examine the Christoffel equation for nondetached qP slowness surfaces in transversely isotropic media. If the qP slowness surface is detached, each root of the solubility condition corresponds to a distinct smooth wavefront. If the qP slowness surface is nondetached, the roots are elliptical but do not correspond to distinct wavefronts; also, the qP and qSV slowness surfaces are not smooth.
Linking size spectrum, energy flux and trophic multifunctionality in soil food webs of tropical land‐use systems
Authors: Potapov Anton M. , Klarner Bernhard , Sandmann Dorothee , Widyastuti Rahayu , Scheu Stefan
Published: May 2019

Many ecosystem functions depend on the structure of food webs, which heavily relies on the body size spectrum of the community. Despite that, little is known on how the size spectrum of soil animals responds to agricultural practices in tropical land‐use systems and how these responses affect ecosystem functioning.

We studied land‐use‐induced changes in below‐ground communities in tropical lowland ecosystems in Sumatra (Jambi province, Indonesia), a hot spot of tropical rainforest conversion into rubber and oil palm plantations. The study included ca. 30,000 measured individuals from 33 high‐order taxa of meso‐ and macrofauna spanning eight orders of magnitude in body mass. Using individual body masses, we calculated the metabolism of trophic guilds and used food web models to calculate energy fluxes and infer ecosystem functions, such as decomposition, herbivory, primary and intraguild predation.

Land‐use change was associated with reduced abundance and taxonomic diversity of soil invertebrates, but strong increase in total biomass and moderate changes in total energy flux. These changes were due to increased biomass of large‐sized decomposers in soil, in particular earthworms, with their share in community metabolism increasing from 11% in rainforest to 59%–76% in jungle rubber, and rubber and oil palm plantations. Decomposition, that is the energy flux to decomposers, stayed unchanged, but herbivory, primary and intraguild predation decreased by an order of magnitude in plantation systems. Intraguild predation was very important, being responsible for 38% of the energy flux in rainforest according to our model.

Conversion of rainforest into monoculture plantations is associated by an uneven loss of size classes and trophic levels of soil invertebrates resulting in sequestration of energy in large‐sized primary consumers and restricted flux of energy to higher trophic levels. Pronounced differences between rainforest and jungle rubber reflect sensitivity of rainforest soil animal communities to moderate land‐use changes. Soil communities in plantation systems sustained high total energy flux despite reduced biodiversity. The high energy flux into large decomposers but low energy fluxes into other trophic guilds suggests that trophic multifunctionality of below‐ground communities is compromised in plantation systems.
Local forage fish abundance influences foraging effort and offspring condition in an endangered marine predator
Authors: Campbell Kate J. , Steinfurth Antje , Underhill Les G. , Coetzee Janet C. , Dyer Bruce M. , Ludynia Katrin , Makhado Azwianewi B. , Merkle Dagmar , Rademan Johan , Upfold Leshia , Sherley Richard B.
Published: May 2019

Understanding the functional relationship between marine predators and their prey is vital to inform ecosystem‐based management. However, collecting concurrent data on predator behaviour and their prey at relevant scales is challenging. Moreover, opportunities to study these relationships in the absence of industrial fishing are extremely rare.

We took advantage of an experimental fisheries closure to study how local prey abundance influences foraging success and chick condition of Endangered African penguins Spheniscus demersus in the Benguela ecosystem.

We tracked 75 chick‐provisioning penguins with GPS–time–depth devices, measured body condition of 569 chicks, quantified the diet of 83 breeding penguins and conducted 12 forage fish hydro‐acoustic surveys within a 20 km radius of Robben Island, South Africa, over three years (2011–2013). Commercial fishing for the penguins' main prey, sardine Sardinops sagax and anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, was prohibited within this 20 km radius during the study period.

Local forage fish abundance explained 60% of the variation in time spent diving for 14 penguins at sea within 2 days of a hydro‐acoustic survey. Penguin foraging effort (time spent diving, number of wiggles per trip, number of foraging dives and the maximum distance travelled) increased and offspring body condition decreased as forage fish abundance declined. In addition, quantile regression revealed that variation in foraging effort increased as prey abundance around the colony declined.

Policy implications. Our results demonstrate that local forage fish abundance influences seabird foraging and offspring fitness. They also highlight the potential for offspring condition and the mean–variance relationship in foraging behaviour to act as leading indicators of poor prey abundance. By rapidly indicating periods where forage resources are scarce, these metrics could help limit seabird fisheries competition and aid the implementation of dynamic ocean management.
Carbon use efficiency of mycorrhizal fungal mycelium increases during the growing season but decreases with forest age across a Pinus sylvestris chronosequence
Authors: Hagenbo Andreas , Hadden David , Clemmensen Karina E. , Grelle Achim , Manzoni Stefano , Mölder Meelis , Ekblad Alf , Fransson Petra
Published: May 2019

In boreal forest soils, mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi is pivotal for regulating soil carbon (C) cycling and storage. The carbon use efficiency (CUE), a key parameter in C cycling models, can inform on the partitioning of C between microbial biomass, and potential soil storage, and respiration. Here, we test the dependency of mycorrhizal mycelial CUE on stand age and seasonality in managed boreal forest stands.

Based on mycelial production and respiration estimates, derived from sequentially incubated ingrowth mesh bags, we estimated CUE on an ecosystem scale during a seasonal cycle and across a chronosequence of eight, 12‐ to 158‐year‐old, managed Pinus sylvestris forest stands characterized by decreasing pH and nitrogen (N) availability with increasing age. Mycelial respiration was related to total soil respiration, and by using eddy covariance flux measurements, primary production (GPP) was estimated in the 12‐ and 100‐year‐old forests, and related to mycelial respiration and CUE.

As hypothesized, mycelial CUE decreased significantly with increasing forest age by c. 65%, supposedly related to a shift in mycorrhizal community composition and a metabolic adjustment reducing their own biomass N demand with declining soil N availability. Furthermore, mycelial CUE increased by a factor of five over the growing season; from 0.03 in May to 0.15 in November, and we propose that the seasonal change in CUE is regulated by a decrease in photosynthate production and temperature. The respiratory contribution of mycorrhizal mycelium ranged from 14% to 26% of total soil respiration, and was on average 17% across all sites and occasions.

Synthesis. Carbon is retained more efficiently in mycorrhizal mycelium late in the growing season, when fungi have access to a more balanced C and nutrient supplies. Earlier in the growing season, at maximum host plant photosynthesis, when below‐ground C availability is high in relation to N, the fungi respire excess C resulting in lower mycelial carbon use efficiency (CUE). Additionally, C is retained less efficiently in mycorrhizal fungal biomass in older forest stands characterized by more nutrient depleted soils than younger forest stands.
Chinese economy in the new era
Authors: Lau Lawrence J.
Published: May 2019

The “new era”, a term introduced by President Xi Jinping, may also be identified as the Xi era, during which China will be transformed from a moderately well‐off to a strong and wealthy nation. In the new era, the Chinese Government will deepen economic reform, widen economic opening and enhance the quality of economic growth. / Our projections show that by 2020, Chinese real GDP per capita, in 2017 prices, will exceed US$10,000, an economic development milestone. By 2031, Chinese real GDP will surpass US real GDP (US$29.4 trillion vs US$29.3 trillion), making China the largest economy in the world. However, Chinese real GDP per capita will still lag behind the US significantly, amounting to only one‐quarter of that of the United States. By 2050, Chinese real GDP will reach US$82.6 trillion, compared to US$51.4 trillion for the United States. However, in terms of real GDP per capita, China will still lag significantly behind, at US$53,000, slightly less than the current level of US real GDP per capita, compared to US$134,000 for the United States.
Accounting of the German Statutory Pension Scheme: Balance Sheet, Cross‐Sectional Internal Rate of Return and Implicit Tax Rate
Authors: Metzger Christoph
Published: May 2019

We present a framework for accounting of the German statutory pension scheme and calculate a balance sheet for the period 2005–14. Estimating a funding ratio of about 90 per cent, we present some policy recommendations in order to restore balancing of assets and liabilities. Extending and applying the methodology proposed by Settergren and Mikula (2005), we additionally estimate the aggregate cross‐sectional internal rate of return of the German pension scheme over this period. We are able to show that these internal rates of return are mainly financed by increasing contributions and by increasing unfunded liabilities. Additionally, our analysis reveals that from an expenditure perspective, the major part of the internal rate of return results from changing longevity rather than other changes. We also estimate the implicit tax rates from a cross‐sectional perspective and find that they can mainly be interpreted as an ‘implicit wealth tax’ on pension wealth. Finally, we analyse the impact of demographic change on the balance sheet employing a population projection. While the pure demographic effect leads to a decreasing funding ratio during population ageing, the automatic balancing mechanisms of the German pension scheme lead to a significant overfunding in the long run from the accounting perspective adopted in the Swedish pension system.
The associations between query‐based and directed health information exchange with potentially avoidable use of health care services
Authors: Vest Joshua R. , Unruh Mark Aaron , Shapiro Jason S. , Casalino Lawrence P.
Published: May 2019

Objective

To quantify the impact of two approaches (directed and query‐based) to health information exchange (HIE) on potentially avoidable use of health care services.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Data on ambulatory care providers’ adoption of HIE were merged with Medicare fee‐for‐service claims from 2008 to 2014. Providers were from 13 counties in New York served by the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO).

Study Design

Linear regression models with provider and year fixed effects were used to estimate changes in the probability of utilization outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries attributed to providers adopting directed and/or query‐based HIE compared with beneficiaries attributed to providers who had not adopted HIE.

Data Collection

Providers’ HIE adoption status was determined through Rochester RHIO registration records. RHIO and claims data were linked via National Provider Identifiers.

Principal Findings

Query‐based HIE adoption was associated with a 0.2 percentage point reduction in the probability of an ambulatory care sensitive hospitalization and a 1.1 percentage point decrease in the likelihood of an unplanned readmission. Directed HIE adoption was not associated with any outcome.

Conclusions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) EHR certification criteria includes requirements for directed HIE, but not query‐based HIE. Pending further research, certification criteria should place equal weight on facilitating query‐based and directed exchange.
Diversity and seasonal variation of ground and understory spiders from a tropical mountain cloud forest
Authors: Campuzano Emmanuel F. , Ibarra‐Núñez Guillermo , Machkour‐M´Rabet Salima , Morón‐Ríos Alejandro , Jiménez María Luisa
Published: May 2019

We made intensive samplings to study the seasonal response of spiders across different forest strata (ground and understory) in a tropical mountain cloud forest from Mexico. We sampled spiders from ten plots in six sampling events during the dry and rainy season, to analyze their abundance, structure (distribution of abundance among species), diversity and the response of the five dominant species at each stratum. Results demonstrated that seasonal patterns of spider communities differed among strata, revealing a complex spatiotemporal dynamic. Abundance, structure, diversity of ground spiders, as well as the responses of four dominant species at this stratum, showed low seasonal variations. In contrast, a strong seasonal variation was observed for the understory assemblage, with lowest abundance and highest diversity in the rainy season, and different assemblage structures for each season. Seasonal patterns of each assemblage seem linked to the responses of their dominant species. We found high co‐occurrence among most of the ground dominant species with similar habitat use and with multivoltine patterns, contrasting with low co‐occurrence among most of the understory dominant species with similar habitat use and univoltine patterns. Our results showed that the spiders’ assemblages of tropical mountain cloud forest (opposed to what is found in temperate and boreal forests) increase their species richness with the height, and that their responses to seasonal change differ between strata. Management programs of these habitats should consider the spatial and temporal variations found here, as a better understanding of their ecological dynamics is required to support their sustainable management.
Pramipexole in the treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression. A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tundo A. , de Filippis R. , De Crescenzo F.
Published: May 2019

Objective

Several depressed patients do not respond to traditional antidepressants. Our aim was to systematically review the effectiveness and safety of pramipexole in unipolar and bipolar depression.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies on pramipexole for patients with major depressive episodes, following PRISMA guidelines. Our primary outcome measure was treatment response at endpoint. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO: CRD42018108699.

Results

We found five RCTs, three open‐label trials and five observational studies, with 504 participants (57% women; mean age, 45.3 years; mean sample size, 39; median duration of treatment, 8 weeks; mean follow‐up duration, 45 weeks; mean maximum dose, 1.62 mg). We found an overall short‐term response rate of 52.2% and remission rate of 36.1%, and an overall long‐term response rate of 62.1% and remission rate of 39.6%. In RCTs, patients treated with pramipexole had a superior response rate compared with placebo (RR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.11–2.82) and similar to SSRIs (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.44–1.95). Acceptability and tolerability were good, with nausea being the most frequent side‐effect.

Conclusion

Our study found some evidence for an effect of pramipexole for the treatment of major depressive episodes.
Cost‐effectiveness of electronic‐ and clinician‐delivered screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment for women in reproductive health centers
Authors: Olmstead Todd A. , Yonkers Kimberly A. , Ondersma Steven J. , Forray Ariadna , Gilstad‐Hayden Kathryn , Martino Steve
Published: May 2019

Aims

To determine the cost‐effectiveness of electronic‐ and clinician‐delivered SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) for reducing primary substance use among women treated in reproductive health centers.

Design

Cost‐effectiveness analysis based on a randomized controlled trial.

Setting

New Haven, CT, USA.

Participants

A convenience sample of 439 women seeking routine care in reproductive health centers who used cigarettes, risky amounts of alcohol, illicit drugs or misused prescription medication.

Interventions

Participants were randomized to enhanced usual care (EUC,n = 151), electronic‐delivered SBIRT (e‐SBIRT,n = 143) or clinician‐delivered SBIRT (SBIRT,n = 145).

Measurements

The primary outcome was days of primary substance abstinence during the 6‐month follow‐up period. To account for the possibility that patients might substitute a different drug for their primary substance during the 6‐month follow‐up period, we also considered the number of days of abstinence from all substances. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios and cost‐effectiveness acceptability curves determined the relative cost‐effectiveness of the three conditions from both the clinic and patient perspectives.

Findings

From a health‐care provider perspective, e‐SBIRT is likely (with probability greater than 0.5) to be cost‐effective for any willingness‐to‐pay value for an additional day of primary‐substance abstinence and an additional day of all‐substance abstinence. From a patient perspective, EUC is most likely to be the cost‐effective intervention when the willingness to pay for an additional day of abstinence (both primary‐substance and all‐substance) is less than $0.18 and e‐SBIRT is most likely to be the cost‐effective intervention when the willingness to pay for an additional day of abstinence (both primary‐substance and all‐substance) is greater than $0.18.

Conclusions

e‐SBIRT could be a cost‐effective approach, from both health‐care provider and patient perspectives, for use in reproductive health centers to help women reduce substance misuse.
Hemiparasites drive heterogeneity in litter arthropods: Implications for woodland insectivorous birds
Authors: Mellado Ana , Hobby Annie , Lázaro‐González Alba , Watson David M.
Published: May 2019

Providing fruit, nectar, leaves and litter, mistletoes represent important resources for many organisms, linking above‐ground patterns with below‐ground processes. Here, we explore how mistletoe litter affects arthropod availability, especially those taxa preferentially consumed by ground‐feeding insectivorous birds, a group that has undergone widespread declines. We estimated the influence of mistletoe on arthropod occurrence by sampling arthropod communities beneath infected and uninfected trees with pit‐fall traps. Then, we experimentally isolated direct effects of mistletoe litter on arthropods with a litterbag study. Soil arthropod communities beneath infected trees had consistently greater abundance and biomass – total arthropods and the subset of arthropods preferentially consumed by ground‐foraging insectivores – compared to otherwise comparable uninfected trees. Arthropods showed a weak response to litter addition, with maximum abundances recorded from bags with low mistletoe litter, significantly lower abundances associated with higher mistletoe fractions and pure tree litter (after 5 months). Our findings confirm that mistletoe occurrence has a significant positive impact on arthropod availability, especially on those preferred by ground‐foraging bird insectivores. However, only a minor part of this impact is due to the direct, short‐term effects of mistletoe litter, which suggests that additional mistletoe‐mediated effects (e.g. local changes in structural or microclimatic factors, cumulative effects over multiple years) play significant roles. By altering arthropod assemblages within leaf litter and increasing the heterogeneity of resource availability on forest floors, mistletoe plays an important role in improving habitat quality for declining insectivores.