bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Doing educational research in Chinese societies: Hong Kong SAR & China
Authors: Zhang Yi-Hai , Peng Hongyu , Cheung Hin Wah Chris , Chong King Man Eric , Chow Chin Fung Philip
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Mainland in terms of education and also the influence of it on doing comparative educational research. Hong Kong SAR is ruled by the Chinese Government under the framework of “One country, two systems.” It makes Hong Kong SAR different from other Mainland cities based on different aspects including, education. The finding of this paper provides a systematic review about the differences between these two Chinese societies in terms of education and also implication for conducting comparative educational research in these two societies and also generating some implications for cross-national and cross-cultural study in education.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper made references from the framework proposed by Bray and Thomas (1995) in relation to comparative educational research to make comparison between Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China. Multi-level comparison is conducted between two societies in terms of education, especially aspects relating to conducting educational research sat social, school and individual levels.

Findings

This paper identified the influence of “One county, two systems” on education at different levels such as ideology, school management system and use of languages in teaching. Such differences affect the choice of topics, sampling strategy, research design, data analysis and interpretation and also ethical considerations when conducting comparative research between Hong Kong SAR and Mainland China.

Originality/value

This paper is an integrated analysis of conducting educational research in two Chinese societies and provides insights for further discussions and possible research about this topic.
Implications for human resource management practice: using a neuroscientific lens
Authors: Sehrawat Poornima , Pillai Rajasshrie
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the importance of neuroscience for human resource management (HRM).

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviewed the extant literature and interviewed doctors and HR managers to understand the implications of neuroscience for HRM.

Findings

This paper highlights the applications and understanding of neuroscience in various verticals of HRM for effective HR management.

Practical implications

This paper provides valuable insights to HR managers to develop HR practices considering the implications of neuroscience for HRM.

Originality/value

This study is valuable, as it provides the details of usage of neuroscience for effective HRM.
Creating a Win-Win
Authors: Wrye Bethany , Chafin Cynthia , Higginbotham Casie
Published: May 2019

Purpose

It is well established that partnerships between universities and community organizations can serve to enhance student learning and employability (Anderson et al., 2011; Arantes do Amaral and Matsusaki, 2017; Jones and Sherr, 2014; Voss et al., 2015). Within this context, the purpose of this paper is to explore how one such partnership has resulted in the successful implementation of three pedagogical methodologies, which individually and collectively promote student-centered learning and employability skills through an experiential learning framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Using this methodological case study approach where the pedagogies of internships, service-learning opportunities, and project-based learning are critically evaluated, the research reveals only positive benefits for students, faculty, and the community organization(s). These benefits center on improved employability skills, the development of social skills and societal contribution for students.

Findings

Participating students also noted the development of their confidence and the importance of feedback from both peers and assigned staff. Members of faculty considered the opportunity for students to put theory into practice, enhanced employability skills and the collective nature of the methodologies as the main benefits with The center echoing the sentiments of other stakeholders. The center considered the workplace preparedness, the development of soft skills and confidence and the collective nature of the methodologies as the main benefits of the partnership.

Originality/value

The insight provided by the research contributes to existing literature through examining the relationship between an academic institution and its community, providing a practical framework and guidelines for the implementation of student-centered pedagogical methods.
Grey relation between main meteorological factors and mortality
Authors: Chen Xiaodong , Pei Desheng , Li Liping
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of main meteorological factors on the mortality of urban residents and provide empirical evidence for the prevention of effects of climate changes.

Design/methodology/approach

Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to analyse the interrelationships between meteorological factors and mortality among residents in Chaoyang District, Beijing, during the period between 1998 and 2008.

Findings

The changes of annual average mortality had a strong grey relation with temperature and relative humidity. The monthly average mortality (MAM) showed a strong grey relation with air pressure and the MAM in Summer season had a strong grey relation with air pressure, relative humidity and wind speed.

Originality/value

Meteorological factors including temperature, relative humidity, air pressure and wind speed are all related with mortality changes. GRA can well reveal the trend of the curve approximation between meteorological factors and mortality and can quantify the different approximation.
Market risk, corporate governance, and the regulation during the recent financial crisis
Authors: Aloui Mouna , Salhi Bassem , Jarboui Anis
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of some corporate governance mechanisms on the market risk (stock price return and volatility, exchange rate) and on the exchange rate and Treasury Bill during the financial crisis. In order to better clarify the firms’ resistance to financial crises, the effect of exchange rate, Treasury Bill and the market risk are also considered.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a sample data of the SBF 120 on a panel of 99 French firms over the period between 2006 and 2015 divided into three sub-periods: the first sub-period, which covers the period between December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2009, was characterized by the outbreak of the subprime crisis. The second sub-period considers the sovereign debt crisis in Europe between December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2012. The last sub-period includes the post-crisis period (December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2015). The GARCH and BEKK models are used to capture the effect of volatility and conditional heteroskedasticity of both corporate governance and market risk.

Findings

The paper found that during the financial crisis (first sub-period, the sovereign crisis period), the high shareholders’ protection had a positive and significant impact on the stock market returns. Furthermore, the shareholders’ protection, the Treasury Bill, the institutional investors, the board’s size, had a negative and significant effect on the stock returns volatility. During the post-crisis period, the high protection and the board’s size had a negative and significant effect on the volatility of the stock returns.

Research limitations/implications

This result implies that during the financial crisis, the high shareholders’ protection played a role in increases the stock market return and minimized the stock return volatility.

Practical implications

This study helps in improving the legal protection of investors and helps managers, shareholders and investors to evaluate their investments. This study also provides implications for policymakers and legal environment in order to evaluate the importance of the current corporate governance frameworks in place.

Originality/value

This result implies that the institutional investors, as the results suggest, should follow the shareholders’ protection in all the countries to make decisions about their investments since the high shareholders’ protection increases the firm’s stock returns and decreases the stock return volatility.
Employee work adjustment scale for small and medium-sized enterprises in Thailand
Authors: Na-Nan Khahan
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Employee work adjustment (EWA) represents the ability of individuals to adjust effectively to working conditions, supervisors, the environment and their peers. To deal with work adjustment in different environments, companies need to both understand and continually assess their employees. The purpose of this paper is to develop an instrument to measure EWA for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted in three stages to develop a measurement scale for EWA. First, 18 questions were developed as a questionnaire based on concepts and theories of EWA and validated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) into four dimensions such as work, supervisor, environment and peer adjustments. Then, a survey was conducted for 360 new employees in SMEs. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and convergent validity were tested along the four adjustment dimensions.

Findings

This research extended and broadened the EWA concept to provide theoretical support for the adjustment of intelligence research. Four dimensions were developed to measure EWA including aspects of work, supervisor, environment and peer.

Research limitations/implications

The EWA model was examined using EFA and CFA only. Questionnaire results suggested that concrete constructs were stronger because of single-source, self-assessed data collection as the sample included only employees of SMEs in high-growth sectors of Thailand. EWA findings exhibited a good fit but results require further future refinement and validation using a larger sample size and sampling area.

Practical implications

The EWA questionnaire has practical use regarding management behaviour and can assist companies and practitioners to better understand the required adjustments for new employees at start-up. This knowledge will help managers to encourage and support newcomers to work better and deliver effective results. Managers and practitioners can develop and hone work adjustment practices for new recruits according to the four dimensions proposed here.

Originality/value

The validity of this EWA questionnaire will facilitate the future study on boundaries with EWA measurements spanning SMEs contexts. Empirical research results verified that EWA assessment offered new perspectives to explore vital individual work adjustments that are necessary for new recruits to succeed. This instrumental support will help researchers to effectively understand EWA and explore its potential in future studies.
Consumer cultural identity: a comment
Authors: Papadopoulos Nicolas
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to comment on the article “Consumer cultural identity: Local and global cultural identities and measurement implications” by Yuliya Strizhakova and Robin Coulter.

Design/methodology/approach

The commentary summarizes the main characteristics of the authors’ study, positions it in the context of globalization, and suggests additional directions for potential future research.

Findings

The article by Strizhakova and Coulter has many strengths and provides a good base for new studies on consumer cultural identities and their global, local or glocal orientations.

Originality/value

This paper adds four points on the theme of “what else” might additional research in this area contribute: The need for further investigations into the cultural orientations of consumers in less developed countries; whether and how practitioners use the findings of academic research; the difficulties in absorbing and using the existing voluminous literature when designing new studies; and the benefits to be gained by introducing more granular perspectives in research about consumers’ cultural identities and their effects on their marketplace behaviour.
Disasters, hope and globalization: exploring self-identification with global consumer culture in Japan
Authors: Okazaki Shintaro , Taylor Charles R. , Vargas Patrick , Henseler Jörg
Published: May 2019

Purpose

An unconscious concern regarding one’s inevitable death, known as mortality salience, may affect consumers’ brand choices in the aftermath of disastrous events, such as earthquakes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of self-identification with global consumer culture (IDGCC) in global brand purchase intention in response to disasters that heighten mortality salience. The roles of materialism, consumer ethnocentrism, cosmopolitanism and hope in this this process are also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

An online experiment was conducted with a large sample of Japanese consumers. Japan was selected because it had recently suffered from a series of devastating earthquakes. Participants’ mortality salience was primed with an earthquake scenario. All measures were adapted from prior research. The authors used structural equation modeling to test the hypotheses and validate the model.

Findings

The results reveal that IDGCC is a direct predictor of global brand purchase intention when mortality salience is high. It appears that identifying with global consumer culture and buying global brands enhances self-esteem and reduces anxiety for those with high IDGCC. As predicted, materialism and cosmopolitanism positively influence IDGCC, whereas consumer ethnocentrism does not impede IDGCC. Hope directly and positively affects global brand purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

Some consumers who experience traumatic events may resist mortality salience and experience a heightened sense of global citizenship. Meanwhile, those with lower IDGCC may revert to in-group favoritism, whereas those with higher IDGCC tend to purchase global brands. Using a scenario to simulate the mental state evoked by a disaster limits generalizability.

Practical implications

The findings illuminate how firms should modify their international marketing strategies in the face of traumatic global events when targeting consumers with high vs low IDGCC in terms of framing messages about global brands. Additionally, using global brands that emphasize an optimistic outlook may help global marketers capture attention from consumers high in IDGCC.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to address traumatic events and hope, relating these concepts to IDGCC and global brand purchase intention in an international marketing context.
The effectiveness of MiFID provisions for professional clients: a critical review
Authors: Loonen Tom , Pattiselanno Randy
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the duty of care that applies to ‘professionally classified clients’ based on the recently implemented Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) as well as the previous Markets in Financial Instruments Directive I (MiFID I). The authors place critical notes on the effectiveness of some MiFID provisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have reviewed the Delegated Acts of MiFID I and II, as well as Q&A’s of the European Regulator, ESMA and jurisprudence. The authors aim to add value by facilitating a discussion on the effectiveness of applicable MiFID provisions.

Findings

This review of the legal provisions provides researchers and practitioners in the investment sectors with a clear overview of the legal provisions detailing how these provisions should be met and how improvements to the provisions can be achieved.

Practical implications

This paper specifies what the provisions for professional classified clients are and facilitates a discussion on the effectiveness of these provisions.

Originality/value

Addressing the legal provisions which are applicable to ‘professional classified clients’ that derive from MiFID I and II and includes a critical analysis which offers an original perspective.
The significance of residential REITs in Japan as an institutionalised property sector
Authors: Lin Yu Cheng , Lee Chyi Lin , Newell Graeme
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Residential Real Estate Investment Trusts in Japan (residential J-REITs) have become an increasingly significant listed property sector recently. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of residential J-REITs in a mixed-asset portfolio context in Japan by assessing the significance, risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of residential J-REITs over July 2006–August 2018. The ongoing property investment implications for residential J-REITs are also identified.

Design/methodology/approach

Using monthly total returns, the risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits for residential J-REITs over July 2006–August 2018 are assessed. An asset allocation diagram is employed to assess the role of residential J-REITs in a mixed-asset portfolio context in Japan.

Findings

Residential J-REITs generally delivered superior risk-adjusted returns compared with the other sub-sector J-REITs, stocks and bonds in Japan over July 2006–August 2018, with desirable portfolio diversification benefits in the full mixed-asset portfolio context. Importantly,residential J-REITs are observed as strongly contributing to the mixed-asset portfolio context in Japan across the portfolio risk spectrum, particularly in a post-GFC context. This also reflects that residential J-REITs provide high portfolio returns and strong portfolio diversification benefits in a mixed-asset portfolio context in Japan.

Practical implications

Residential J-REITs are effective and liquid residential property investment exposure in Japan. The results highlight the strong risk-adjusted performance of residential J-REITs in Japan’s mixed-asset portfolio context. This suggests institutional investors, particularly Japan institutional investors, should consider including residential J-REITs in their mixed-asset portfolios, as residential J-REITs are seen as a compelling investment product co-existing alongside the other sub-sector REITs and major asset classes in institutional investor portfolios in the context of Japan. This also confirms the effectiveness of institutionalised residential J-REITs. Given the solid residential property market fundamentals in Japan, an increased level of the institutionalisation of residential J-REITs can be expected.

Originality/value

The study is the first study to assess the effectiveness of residential J-REITs, via assessing the significance, risk-adjusted performance and portfolio diversification benefits of residential J-REITs and their role in a mixed-asset portfolio context in Japan. This research enables more informed and practical property investment decision making regarding the value-added and strategic role of residential J-REITs as effective and liquid residential property investment exposure in Japan, as well as an increasingly institutionalised property sector going forward.
Non-linear threshold algorithm based solution for the redundancy allocation problem considering multiple redundancy strategies
Authors: Nahas Nabil , Darghouth Mohamed N. , Kara Abdul Qadar , Nourelfath Mustapha
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an efficient algorithm based on a non-linear accepting threshold to solve the redundancy allocation problem (RAP) considering multiple redundancy strategies. In addition to the components reliability, multiple redundancy strategies are simultaneously considered to vary the reliability of the system. The goal is to determine the optimal selection of elements, redundancy levels and redundancy strategy, which maximizes the system reliability under various system-level constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

The mixed RAP considering the use of active and standby components at the subsystem level belongs to the class of NP-hard problems involving selection of elements and redundancy levels, to maximize a specific system performance under a given set of physical and budget constraints. Generally, the authors recourse to meta-heuristic algorithms to solve this type of optimization problem in a reasonable computational time, especially for large-size problems. A non-linear threshold accepting algorithm (NTAA) is developed to solve the tackled optimization problem. Numerical results for test problems from previous research are reported and analyzed to assess the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

Findings

The comparison with the best solutions obtained in previous studies, namely: genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, memetic algorithm and the particle swarm optimization for 33 different instances of the problem, demonstrated the superiority of the proposed algorithm in finding for all considered instances, a high-quality solution in a minimum computational time.

Research limitations/implications

Considering multiple redundancy strategies helps to achieve higher reliability levels but increases the complexity of the obtained solution leading to infeasible systems in term of physical design. Technological constraints must be integrated into the model to provide a more comprehensive and realistic approach.

Practical implications

Designing high performant systems which meet customer requirements, under different economic and functional constraints is the main challenge faced by the manufacturers. The proposed algorithm aims to provide a superior solution of the reliability optimization problem by considering the possibility to adopt multiple redundancy strategies at the subsystem level in a minimum computational time.

Originality/value

A NTAA is expanded to the RAP considering multiple redundancy strategies at the subsystem level subject to weight and cost constraints. A procedure based on a penalized objective function is developed to encourage the algorithm to explore toward the feasible solutions area. By outperforming well-known solving technique, the NTAA provides a powerful tool to reliability designers of complex systems where different varieties of redundancies can be considered to achieve high-reliability systems.
A review of facilities management performance measurement
Authors: Amos Daniel , Musa Zairul Nisham , Au-Yong Cheong Peng
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of facilities management (FM) performance measurement (PM) research within the past two decades to understand existing gaps in FM PM literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a systematic approach to review papers in FM PM published from 1997 to 2017. The articles published in selected peer-reviewed international journals in the last 20 years were collected by conducting literature search in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. The content of the papers were scrutinized to understand the gap in literature.

Findings

The review depicts a slow pace of FM PM research characterized by diverse and fragmented performance measures, whereas the existing PM frameworks are at the nascent stage.

Research limitations/implications

The judgments of the paper are based on the 54 papers selected for the critical review and analysis that should be treated as key issues in FM PM research agenda. The review also excludes energy management.

Originality/value

The paper identifies the gaps in the current PM literature in FM and set propositions for future research which is of utility and relevance to FM researchers more especially on the existing conceptual frameworks. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to conduct a review on FM PM in the extant literature.
Relationship between availability of WLB practices and financial results
Authors: Martínez-León Inocencia María , Olmedo-Cifuentes Isabel , Sanchez-Vidal M. Eugenia
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of work-life balance (WLB) practices on the financial results of Spanish accounting audit SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey data from 148 Spanish accounting audit SMEs, a regression analysis was developed to estimate the direct effects of WLB practices on firms’ financial results (return on capital employed and return on assets). Firm age and size are considered as control variables.

Findings

Senior managers should foster some WLB practices (time-reduction and flexible-work practices) so as to enhance SME audit firms’ financial results. Work-leave practices should be analyzed so as to promote some positive outcomes for firms, through internal reorganization or by reorienting employees to resorting to the most beneficial practices.

Practical implications

Not all WLB practices have positive effects on the business results of SMEs. Therefore, managers may try to reduce these negative effects or redirect employees to WLB practices that have more positive effects on their firms’ financial results. Strategic information is also provided to employees and public institutions about fostering WLB in SMEs.

Social implications

The availability of WLB practices has been deemed fundamental not only for policy makers and society, but also for the organizational culture and for human resource management practices.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate the association between the availability of WLB initiatives in SMEs and firms’ financial results.
Effect of aluminium content and processing parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of laser powder-bed fused magnesium-aluminium (0, 3, 6, 9wt%) powder mixture
Authors: Niu Xiaomiao , Shen Hongyao , Xu Guanhua , Zhang Linchu , Fu Jianzhong , Deng Xiaolei
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Mg-Al powder mixture was used to manufacture Mg-Al alloy by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process. This study aims to investigate the influence of initial Al content and processing parameters on the formability, microstructure and consequent mechanical properties of the laser powder bed fused (LPBFed) component.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, Al powder with different weight ratio ranged from 3 to 9 per cent was mixed with pure Mg powder, and the powder mixture was processed using different LPBF parameters. Microstructure and compressive properties of the LPBFed components were examined.

Findings

It was found that the presence of Al significantly modified the microstructure and improved the mechanical properties of the LPBFed components. Higher volume of ß-Al12Mg17 precipitates was produced at higher initial Al content and higher laser energy density. For this reason, the a-Mg was significantly refined and the compressive strength was improved. The highest yield compressive strength achieved was 279 MPa when using Mg-9 Wt. % Al mixture.

Originality/value

This work demonstrates that LPBF of Mg-Al powder mixture was a viable way to additively manufacture Mg-Al alloy. Both Al content and processing parameters can be modified to control the microstructure and mechanical properties of the LPBFed components.
Title sponsorship of cause-related sport events
Authors: O’Reilly Norm , Deshpande Sameer , Faulkner Guy , Latimer Amy , Leblanc Allana , Rhodes Ryan E. , Tremblay Mark , Werman Melissa
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Corporations often benefit from associating their brand(s) with a sports property; in some cases, the property is owned or supported by a not-for-profit organization (NFP) championing a cause. Title sponsorship of such a sport event has received limited research attention but is important to a NFP for raising funds and in-kind contributions to support their cause. The purpose of this paper is to investigate title sponsorship of cause-related sport events.

Design/methodology/approach

This research examines the title sponsorship of a cause-related sport event and its effectiveness in relation to the event, the organization, the cause and other sponsors of the NFP. Specifically, this study examines these questions in the context of a specific annual event, Sports Day in Canada organized by ParticipACTION, a national Canadian NFP and whose title sponsor is Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).

Findings

Results show that title sponsorship has significant potential value for the sponsor and the cause, perhaps to the detriment of other (lower tier) sponsors of the event and the NFP.

Originality/value

This research has value to sponsors and cause-related sport events alike. In the case of sponsors, it provides insight into the value of title sponsorship vs other categories of sponsorship, for a brand considering sponsorship of cause-related sport property. For cause-related sport events, the research informs about the importance and possible revenue generation opportunity linked to the title sponsor category.
Crude oil price and implied volatility
Authors: Fousekis Panos
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate empirically the pattern of co-movement between prices and implied volatility in the future markets for crude oil.

Design/methodology/approach

The tool of non-parametric quantile regression is applied to daily price returns and implied volatility changes from 2007 to 2018.

Findings

For the total sample period, the link between price returns and forward-looking volatility expectations is contemporaneous, negative and asymmetric, and it exhibits an (approximately) inverted U-shaped pattern suggesting that: the pricing of implied volatility is heavier for large (in absolute value terms) changes relative to small ones and it is lighter for large positive changes relative to large negative ones. The pattern of co-movement, therefore, appears to be in line with the theoretical postulates of fear, exuberance and loss aversion. The main characteristics of the relationship are present in some (but not in all) sub-periods, which are also considered in this study.

Originality/value

Less than a handful of works have assessed the link between implied volatility and prices for commodity ETFs. This is the first one relying on flexible non-parametric quantile regressions.
Detection of Clostridium perfringens in tsunami deposits after the Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Makino Asuka , Xu Jun , Nishimura Junko , Isogai Emiko
Published: May 2019

The Great East Japan Earthquake struck off the Tohoku and caused a tsunami in 2011. Most of the microbial characteristics of tsunami‐affected soil remain unknown and no published study has shown how a tsunami affects the risk of infection by Clostridium perfringens living in soil. In 2011 and 2015, C. perfringens was assessed in deposits in soil from tsunami‐damaged areas and undamaged areas of Miyagi. It was found that the number of C. perfringens was overwhelmingly greater in 2011 than in 2015 in the tsunami‐damaged areas. According to real‐time PCR, the prevalence C. perfringens organisms (%) was 103 fold greater in the damaged than in the undamaged areas.
Prior selfing can mitigate the negative effects of mutual reproductive interference between coexisting congeners
Authors: Katsuhara Koki R. , Ushimaru Atushi
Published: May 2019

When more than one closely related plant species share the same pollination niche, reproductive interference via interspecific pollen transfer should limit their coexistence. However, some studies have reported the sympatric coexistence of two native close relatives pollinated by the same pollinators under reproductive interference, even without niche partitioning.

We examined the frequency dependency of reproductive interference between close relatives in natural conditions and the potential roles of autonomous selfing in mitigating the negative reproductive interference effects between congeneric species. We investigated sympatrically growing Commelina communis (Cc) and C. c. f. ciliata (Ccfc) populations. These species exhibit very large overlaps in habitat preference, flowering phenology and pollination niche, but seldom produce hybrids. First, we conducted a hand‐pollination experiment to examine the negative effects of heterospecific pollen deposition on seed production and the potential of self‐pollination to mitigate the effects in both species. Then, we examined the effects of reproductive interference on reproductive success and the potential for autonomous selfing in the field.

We found significant negative effects of heterospecific pollen deposition on seed production and the mitigation effects of prior and competing self‐pollination, in both Cc and Ccfc. For both species in the field, intraspecific pollinator movements and reproductive success significantly decreased with an increase in the relative floral abundance of competing species, although the negative reproductive interference effect on reproductive success was lower in Cc than in Ccfc. We also found greater potential for prior autonomous selfing in Cc than in Ccfc. Our findings suggest that Cc flowers were less affected by reproductive interference from competing species, which was likely due to a higher prior selfing ability compared to Ccfc flowers. The asymmetry in susceptibility to reproductive interference may explain the Cc‐biased distribution in the study area.

The study improves our understanding of how prior autonomous selfing can reduce the negative reproductive interference effect from competing species in mixed‐mating species with frequent pollinator visits.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
The Roots of Informal Responses to Regulatory Change: Non‐compliant Small Firms and the National Living Wage
Authors: Ram Monder , Edwards Paul , Meardi Guglielmo , Jones Trevor , Doldor Sabina
Published: May 2019

How do small ‘non‐compliant’ firms (those evading existing regulations) react to further regulatory change? The impact of the National Living Wage in the UK in 2016 is analysed through 22 mostly longitudinal case studies of small non‐compliant firms. The varied responses, endurance of non‐compliance, and blurred and dynamic nature of transitions to compliance are discussed through the lens of institutional approaches to informality. The analysis sheds new light on the relative autonomy of micro processes and the conditions under which external forces affect these processes. Non‐compliant informality, as a persisting feature of small business, is unlikely to be transformed by legal regulation alone.
Review article: Goals‐of‐care discussions for adult patients nearing end of life in emergency departments: A systematic review
Authors: Hanning Jennifer , Walker Katherine J , Horrigan Diane , Levinson Michele , Mills Amber
Published: May 2019

Goals‐of‐care discussions at end‐of‐life are associated with increased patient satisfaction and reduced treatment burdens, reduced family and healthcare worker distress and healthcare costs, while achieving equal life‐expectancy. It is unclear how goals‐of‐care discussions should occur. The objective of the study was to determine which patients could benefit, requirements, content, documentation, and harms and benefits of emergency medicine goals‐of‐care discussions. We sought primary evidence on goals‐of‐care discussions in EDs with adult patients nearing end‐of‐life, published in English after 1989. Data sources included Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and reference lists of included articles. One thousand nine hundred and twenty abstracts were screened, five articles selected. There was no consensus on the meaning of goals‐of‐care, which is often confused with advanced care planning and treatment limitation. Emergency clinicians can identify most patients needing discussions following training. There was no evidence for how to involve stakeholders, nor how to adapt conversations to meet cultural and linguistically diverse needs. Expert panels have suggested requirements and content for conversations with little supporting evidence. There was no evidence for how emergency conversations differ to those in other settings, nor for harms or benefits for holding goals‐of‐care conversations in EDs. Increased ED goals‐of‐care conversations increased hospice referral and reduced in‐patient admissions. Most studies were of moderate quality only, outcomes were not standardised and sample sizes were small. ‘Goals‐of‐care’ is used inconsistently across the literature. This is the first systematic review regarding goals‐of‐care discussions in EDs. Further research is needed on all aspects of these conversations.
United Nations Sanctions on North Korea's Luxury Goods Imports: Impact and Implications
Authors: Jeong Hyung‐Gon
Published: May 2019

This article examines the impacts of UN Security Council sanctions on North Korea's banned luxury goods imports from 2004 to 2017 by investigating the bilateral trade flows between North Korea and its 71 trading partner countries. This analysis provides some evidence that the sanctions were effective only for those countries that implemented the sanctions. Overall, it is difficult to conclude that United Nations Resolution 1718, which was mainly targeted to ban luxury goods exports to North Korea, was effective in curtailing North Korea's import of luxury goods for the time period from 2006 to 2007. The article argues that the lack of a clearly defined list of luxury goods and the lack of enforcement are important reasons for the ineffectiveness of the sanctions.
“People the North”: Nation‐building in 1960s Australia
Authors: McGregor Russell
Published: May 2019

The People the North Committee, founded in Townsville in 1962, was true to its name. It wanted to treble the population of northern Australia in a decade. Putting people before profits, the committee insisted that Australians had a moral obligation to prolifically populate their northern lands. Neither the ambition nor the rationale was new. In fact, the People the North Committee was the last gasp of a grand demographic aspiration that went back more than a hundred years. Thereafter, through to the present day, proposals for northern development have prioritised economic over demographic gains: profits before people. This article examines the ambitions and advocacy of the People the North Committee, setting them in the longer historical trajectory of the aspiration to people the north. In doing so, it offers a window onto a neglected facet of the nation‐building project in Australia.
TMIS: a new image‐based software application for the measurement of tear meniscus height
Authors: Yang Jiarui , Zhu Xingyu , Liu Yushi , Jiang Xiaodan , Fu Jiayu , Ren Xiaotong , Li Kaixiu , Qiu Weiqiang , Li Xuemin , Yao Jun
Published: May 2019

Purpose

To present a new automated image recognition software for the measurement of tear meniscus height (TMH) and investigate its correlation and efficacy compared with an open‐source software (NIH ImageJ) and manual evaluation.

Methods

A total of 520 slit lamp photographs, among which 276 were in ×16 magnification and 244 were ×40 magnified, captured from 138 eyes of 69 healthy subjects were assessed for TMH by the new automated Tear Meniscus Identification Software (TMIS), ImageJ and human graders. Images processing of TMIS included filtration, recognition and measurement of slit lamp photographs under certain algorithm, which output two measurement patterns, TMISMax and TMISMean. TMH measured by ImageJ software, considered as the reference value, was conducted by a masked observer while four masked ophthalmologists performed the manual evaluation.

Results

In both magnifications, TMH measured by TMISMean showed similar values with ImageJ while manual evaluation demonstrated underestimated results, and a strong correlation was detected between TMIS and ImageJ. In ×16 magnified photographs, manually obtained TMH revealed a higher correlation with ImageJ, whereas a notably stronger correlation of TMIS with ImageJ was observed in ×40 photographs. Correspondingly, the accuracy for both TMISMax and TMISMean appeared to be lower than most doctors in ×16 slit lamp images, in contrast to a better precision of TMISMean in ×40 ones.

Conclusion

The new software displayed high accuracy and efficacy in ×40 magnification and TMISMean pattern, suggesting the possibility of this automated TMH measurement platform to be a valid tool in dry eye screening and follow‐up practice.
Cardiac changes during the peri‐menopausal period in a VCD‐induced murine model of ovarian failure
Authors: Fernandes Rosephine Del , Hall Alexandra , Ferguson Melissa , Lorenzen‐Schmidt Ilka , Balasubramaniam Vishali , Pyle W. Glen
Published: May 2019

Aim

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is lower in pre‐menopausal females vs age matched males. After menopause risk equals or exceeds that of males. CVD protection of pre‐menopausal females is ascribed to high circulating oestrogen levels. Despite experimental evidence that oestrogen are cardioprotective, oestrogen replacement therapy trials have not shown clear benefits. One hypothesis to explain the discrepancy proposed hearts remodel during peri‐menopause. Peri‐menopasual myocardial changes have never been investigated, nor has the ability of oestrogen to regulate heart function during peri‐menopause.

Methods

We injected female mice with 4‐vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD, 160 mg/kg/d IP) to cause gradual ovarian failure over 120d and act as a peri‐menopausal model

Results

Left ventricular function assessed by Langendorff perfusion found no changes in VCD‐injected mice at 60 or 120 days compared to intact mice. Cardiac myofilament activity was altered at 60 and 120 days indicating a molecular remodelling in peri‐menopause. Myocardial TGF‐β1 increased at 60 days post‐VCD treatment along with reduced Akt phosphorylation. Acute activation of oestrogen receptor‐α (ERα) or ‐β (ERβ) depressed left ventricular contractility in hearts from intact mice. ER‐regulation of myocardial and myofilament function, and myofilament phosphorylation, were disrupted in the peri‐menopausal model. Disruption occurred without alterations in total ERα or ERβ expression.

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate remodelling of the heart in a model of peri‐menopause, along with a disruption in ER‐dependent regulation of the heart. These data indicate that oestrogen replacement therapy initiated after menopause affects a heart that is profoundly different from that found in reproductively intact animals.
Human renal response to furosemide: Simultaneous oxygenation and perfusion measurements in cortex and medulla
Authors: Haddock Bryan , Larsson Henrik B. W. , Francis Susan , Andersen Ulrik B.
Published: May 2019

Aim

Disturbances of renal medullary perfusion and metabolism have been implicated in the pathogenesis of kidney disease and hypertension. Furosemide, a loop diuretic, is widely used to prevent renal medullary hypoxia in acute kidney disease by uncoupling sodium metabolism, but its effects on medullary perfusion in humans are unknown. We performed quantitative imaging of both renal perfusion and oxygenation using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) before and during furosemide. Based on the literature, we hypothesized that furosemide would increase medullary oxygenation, decrease medullary perfusion, but cause minor changes (<10%) in renal artery flow (RAF).

Methods

Interleaved measurements of RAF, oxygenation (T2*) and perfusion by arterial spin labelling in the renal cortex and medulla of 9 healthy subjects were acquired before and after an injection of 20 mg furosemide. They were preceded by measurements made during isometric exercise (5 minutes handgrip bouts), which are known to induce changes in renal hemodynamics, that served as a control for the sensitivity of the hemodynamic MRI measurements. Experiments were repeated on a second day to establish that the measurements and the induced changes were reproducible.

Results

After furosemide, T2* values in the medulla increased by 53% (P < 0.01) while RAF and perfusion remained constant. After hand‐grip exercise, T2* values in renal medulla increased by 22% ± 9% despite a drop in medullary perfusion of 7.2% ± 4.7% and a decrease in renal arterial flow of 17.5% ± 1.7% (P < 0.05). Mean coefficients of variation between repeated measurements for all parameters were 7%.

Conclusion

Furosemide induced the anticipated increase in renal medullary oxygenation, attributable exclusively to a decrease in renal oxygen consumption, since no change of RAF, cortical or medullary perfusion could be demonstrated. All measures and the induced changes were reproducible.
A case of zolpidem dependence with extremely high daily doses
Authors: Bajaj Vikrant , Kalra Ishat , Bajaj Arushi , Sharma Devasheesh , Kumar Rohit
Published: May 2019

The human population has been witnessing an increase in the number of diseases which are a consequence of progressively increasing physical and mental stress. Insomnia is one such condition whose prevalence is rising all over the world. Apart from the conventional behavioral interventions and use of benzodiazepines, the use of non‐benzodiazepine drugs has seen a surge in recent times. The various adverse effects associated with benzodiazepines, dependence potential being one of them, led to an ever increasing use of non‐benzodiazepine sedatives like zolpidem and zopiclone all over the world. But with their continuous and ever increasing use, it is seen that even these drugs carry dependence potential. Numerous cases of zolpidem abuse have been reported in literature until now. Here, we are presenting the case of a zolpidem‐dependent patient who consumed it in quantities of 2400 mg/day, a quantity not reported anywhere in literature and around 240 times more than its usual prescribed daily dosage.
Problematic smartphone use and related factors in young patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Lee Ju‐Yeon , Chung Young‐Chul , Kim Seon‐Young , Kim Jae‐Min , Shin Il‐Seon , Yoon Jin‐Sang , Kim Sung‐Wan
Published: May 2019

Introduction

The present study aimed to examine smartphone use in young patients with schizophrenia and to explore factors that may affect the severity of problematic smartphone use.

Methods

A total of 148 schizophrenia patients aged 18 to 35 years completed self‐administered questionnaires exploring sociodemographic characteristics; Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), the Big Five Inventory‐10 (BFI‐10), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (RSES). All were also assessed using the Clinician‐Rated Dimensions of Psychosis Symptom Severity (CRDPSS) Scale and the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Scale.

Results

The mean subject age was 27.5 ± 4.5 years. No significant differences in the SAS scores occurred between gender, jobs, and level of education. The Pearson r‐correlation test showed that the SAS scores were significantly positively correlated with HADS anxiety, PSS, and BFI‐10 neuroticism scores; it was negatively correlated with RSES, BFI‐10 agreeableness, and conscientiousness scores. In the stepwise linear regression analysis, the severity of PSU was significantly associated with both high anxiety and low agreeableness.

Discussion

Our results suggest that specific groups of patients with schizophrenia may require special care to prevent problematic smartphone use.