bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obtrusive, obstinate and conspicuous: red tape from a Heideggerian perspective
Authors: Campbell Jesse W.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Theoretical innovation has been central to the study of red tape in (public sector) organizations. However, fundamental red tape concepts have failed to capture fully the lived experience of dysfunctional rules. This study addresses this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The study provides a critical review of existing red tape theory, highlighting its strengths but, more importantly, its limitations for analyzing red tape from an experiential perspective. To develop an experiential approach, the author draws on philosopher Martin Heidegger’s analysis of (dysfunctional) equipment, leveraging his insights to provide a cognitive account of established red tape concepts including functional efficacy, compliance burden, goal displacement and the bureaucratic personality.

Findings

The analysis suggests that, from an experiential perspective, impersonal organizational goals are unlikely to serve as the criteria by which evaluations of rule quality are made. Rather, a limited horizon of practical objectives, grounded in the individual work context, provides a more realistic standard. The practical implications of this insight for research in several areas are discussed.

Originality/value

By drawing on a literature largely overlooked by public administration scholars, this study contributes to the theory of red tape and organizational rules by providing a novel perspective that is not entirely discontinuous with existing work.
MD simulation of stress-assisted nanometric cutting mechanism of 3C silicon carbide
Authors: Liu Lei , Xu Zongwei , Tian Dongyu , Hartmaier Alexander , Luo Xichun , Zhang Junjie , Nordlund Kai , Fang Fengzhou
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to reveal the mechanism for improving ductile machinability of 3C-silicon carbide (SiC) and associated cutting mechanism in stress-assisted nanometric cutting.

Design/methodology/approach

Molecular dynamics simulation of nano-cutting 3C-SiC is carried out in this paper. The following two scenarios are considered: normal nanometric cutting of 3C-SiC; and stress-assisted nanometric cutting of 3C-SiC for comparison. Chip formation, phase transformation, dislocation activities and shear strain during nanometric cutting are analyzed.

Findings

Negative rake angle can produce necessary hydrostatic stress to achieve ductile removal by the extrusion in ductile regime machining. In ductile-brittle transition, deformation mechanism of 3C-SiC is combination of plastic deformation dominated by dislocation activities and localization of shear deformation. When cutting depth is greater than 10 nm, material removal is mainly achieved by shear. Stress-assisted machining can lead to better quality of machined surface. However, there is a threshold for the applied stress to fully gain advantages offered by stress-assisted machining. Stress-assisted machining further enhances plastic deformation ability through the active dislocations’ movements.

Originality/value

This work describes a stress-assisted machining method for improving the surface quality, which could improve 3C-SiC ductile machining ability.
Natural teaching for humanoid robot via human-in-the-loop scene-motion cross-modal perception
Authors: Xu Wenbin , Li Xudong , Gong Liang , Huang Yixiang , Zheng Zeyuan , Zhao Zelin , Zhao Lujie , Chen Binhao , Yang Haozhe , Cao Li , Liu Chengliang
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a human-in-the-loop natural teaching paradigm based on scene-motion cross-modal perception, which facilitates the manipulation intelligence and robot teleoperation.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed natural teaching paradigm is used to telemanipulate a life-size humanoid robot in response to a complicated working scenario. First, a vision sensor is used to project mission scenes onto virtual reality glasses for human-in-the-loop reactions. Second, motion capture system is established to retarget eye-body synergic movements to a skeletal model. Third, real-time data transfer is realized through publish-subscribe messaging mechanism in robot operating system. Next, joint angles are computed through a fast mapping algorithm and sent to a slave controller through a serial port. Finally, visualization terminals render it convenient to make comparisons between two motion systems.

Findings

Experimentation in various industrial mission scenes, such as approaching flanges, shows the numerous advantages brought by natural teaching, including being real-time, high accuracy, repeatability and dexterity.

Originality/value

The proposed paradigm realizes the natural cross-modal combination of perception information and enhances the working capacity and flexibility of industrial robots, paving a new way for effective robot teaching and autonomous learning.
Crowdsourcing to manage service gaps in service networks
Authors: Blair Amanda , Key Thomas Martin , Wilson Matthew
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate and conceptualize how crowdsourcing can be implemented as a potential means to address gaps in service quality within service networks and to provide guidance to marketing practitioners on the use of crowdsourcing within service networks.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conceptualizes how crowdsourcing can be used to address service quality gaps in service networks and provides propositions regarding the effects of crowdsourcing on service quality gaps.

Findings

Conceptual paper with a literature review, suggested a model for service quality gaps in service networks and propositions regarding the effects of crowdsourcing to manage service quality gaps.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to the literature on crowdsourcing by theorizing how crowdsourcing impacts service quality in service networks.

Practical implications

Considerations for managers implementing crowdsourcing strategies and activities within service networks are provided. In particular, implications with regard to forming the crowd, developing the most appropriate approach and integrating value into the firm are discussed.

Originality/value

This paper offers an original contribution linking crowdsourcing to service quality.
Social media influence on the B2B buying process
Authors: Diba Hoda , Vella Joseph M. , Abratt Russell
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This study aims to explore if and how business-to-business (B2B) companies can use social media to influence the buying process.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses an exploratory approach into the existing literature related to the B2B buying process and its relationship with social media.

Findings

The study shows that companies in a B2B context can use social media as a means of influencing the stages of the buying process by means of using one or more of the seven functional blocks of social media.

Research limitations/implications

The findings demonstrate the relation that exists between each stage of the buyer process in a B2B organization and the functional blocks of social media. This study opens the door for further research into the influence of each of these blocks on the buying process stages and the roles involved.

Practical implications

This study identifies how social media’s blocks influence the different stages and how organizations can use that to their benefit.

Originality/value

Few studies have investigated the use of social media in a B2B context. However, not many have looked into the influence of social media in the B2B buying process and buying center. This study looks into the relationship between the buying process stages and social media’s functional blocks as related to the different roles of the buying center.
Relationship among China’s country image, corporate image and brand image
Authors: Fan Qingji
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of China’s image as a country on consumers’ evaluations of brands. Drawing on the literature pertaining to country images and country-of-origin effect, a research model was developed to evaluate country image, corporate image and brand image.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the model and investigate the effects of country, corporate and brand image on brand attitude and purchase intention, a survey was conducted that examined Korean consumers’ attitudes toward well-known Chinese brands.

Findings

China’s country image was found to comprise four dimensions: political image, economic image, citizen image and country relationship image. Country image had a direct positive effect on brand attitude, and through brand attitude, country image had an indirect positive effect on purchase intention. Corporate image and brand image had a positive effect on brand attitude and a direct positive effect on purchase intention. In addition, country image had a positive effect on corporate image, while through corporate image, country image had an indirect positive effect on brand image.

Originality/value

These findings not only offer theoretical evidence for research on China’s country image, but also provide empirical evidence to support the “going global” strategies of Chinese enterprises.
Non-performing loans in European Union: country governance dimensions
Authors: Lee Yok Yong , Dato Haji Yahya Mohd Hisham , Habibullah Muzafar Shah , Mohd Ashhari Zariyawati
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide new empirical evidence on the non-performing loan (NPL) determinants of the EU conventional banks, in the context of macroeconomic factors, dimensions of country governance and bank-specific characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The panel data sets of 1,053 conventional banks were obtained over the period of 2007-2016. The Hodrick–Prescott filter was adopted to extract business cycle and credit cycle from real gross domestic product and credit to the private non-financial sector, correspondingly. System-generalised methods of moment was then used to identify the significant determinants of NPL.

Findings

The empirical results reveal that NPL is primarily driven positively by lagged-one NPL and risk profile. In consonance with the skimping hypothesis, NPL has a significant positive relationship with the cost efficiency. The empirical finding of the business cycle coincides with the Austrian business cycle theory. Particularly, NPL is relatively low during rapid economic growth of credit-sourced business boom. Whereas, business bust happens when credit creation runs its course and is associated with high NPL. This paper encapsulates that NPL is driven by not only macroeconomic factors and bank-specific characteristics but also the dimensions of country governance.

Practical implications

Policymakers should introduce policies that are geared towards proper dimensions of country governance.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research does not rely on the multidimensions of NPL determinants but on the disentanglement of the conventional banks with dual identity (i.e. Islamic banks, cooperative banks and ethical banks). It considers business cycle, credit cycle and previous NPL as the potential determinants.
Cities in the experience economy: the rise and the future of urban leisure formats
Authors: Zmyslony Piotr , Wędrowicz Karolina Anna
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the rise and the future of urban leisure format (ULF), i.e. local seasonal short-lived and repeatable small-scale place-time-based staging urban leisure experiences which become the focus of recreation and tourism development in many cities. It aims to analyse the structure of the ULF by identifying its main features and also to propose the future developments of the concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the experience economy principles. It develops the models for structured experiences/experienscape by adding the analogy with television programme formats to propose the general logic of constructing, organising and packetizing urban leisure experiences that are multiplied effectively to other urban time-spaces.

Findings

The ULF’s future potential lies in its ability to adopt local components, i.e. people and urban resources, to global trends using a structured experiences/experience logic which makes the ULF formattable, i.e. with the capacity to get informally standardised, then repeated and adapted to other cities’ contexts.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides a conceptual framework for formatting the leisure events and places under the framework of the structured experience, will be carefully adapted to the micro-local level, i.e. community activities sphere. The ULF is a theoretical concept and needs empirical research to verify its validity.

Practical implications

The ULF provides urban managers with a framework for replicating, multiplying and adapting urban leisure events and sites within the structured experiences (SE) designing framework.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the scientific discussion on the experience economy by introducing the ULF concept which can be adapted to various urban conditions.
A hybrid node ranking technique for finding influential nodes in complex social networks
Authors: Kanwar Kushal , Kaushal Sakshi , Kumar Harish
Published: July 2019

Purpose

In today’s digital era, data pertaining to scientific research have attracted considerable attention of researchers. Data of scientific publications can be modeled in the form of networks such as citation networks, co-citation networks, collaboration networks, and others. Identification and ranking of important nodes in such networks is useful in many applications, such as finding most influential papers, most productive researchers, pattern of citation, and many more. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of methods are available in literature for node ranking, and K-shell decomposition is one such method. This method categorizes nodes in different groups based on their topological position. The shell number of a node provides useful insights about the node’s importance in the network. It has been found that shells produced by the K-shell method need to be further refined to quantify the influence of the nodes aptly. In this work, a method has been developed, which ranks nodes by taking the core(s) as the origin and second-order neighborhood of a node as its immediate sphere of influence.

Findings

It is found that the performance of the proposed technique is either comparable or better than other methods in terms of correctness and accuracy. In case of assigning different ranks to nodes, the performance of the proposed technique is far more superior to existing methods. The proposed method can be used to rank authors, research articles, and fields of research.

Originality/value

The proposed method ranks nodes by their global position in a network as well as their local sphere of information. It leads to better quantification of a node’s impact. This method is found to be better in terms of accuracy and correctness. In case of assigning different ranks to nodes, the performance of the proposed technique is far more superior to existing methods.
Widely linear denoising of multicomponent seismic data
Authors: Bahia Breno , Sacchi Mauricio D.
Published: July 2019

Seismic data processing is a challenging task, especially when dealing with vector‐valued datasets. These data are characterized by correlated components, where different levels of uncorrelated random noise corrupt each one of the components. Mitigating such noise while preserving the signal of interest is a primary goal in the seismic‐processing workflow. The frequency‐space deconvolution is a well‐known linear prediction technique, which is commonly used for random noise suppression. This paper represents vector‐field seismic data through quaternion arrays and shows how to mitigate random noise by proposing the extension of the frequency‐space deconvolution to its hypercomplex version, the quaternion frequency‐space deconvolution. It also shows how a widely linear prediction model exploits the correlation between data components of improper signals. The widely linear scheme, named widely‐linear quaternion frequency‐space deconvolution, produces longer prediction filters, which have enhanced signal preservation capabilities shown through synthetic and field vector‐valued data examples.
Seasonal host life‐history processes fuel disease dynamics at different spatial scales
Authors: Scherer Cédric , Radchuk Viktoriia , Staubach Christoph , Müller Sophie , Blaum Niels , Thulke Hans‐Hermann , Kramer‐Schadt Stephanie
Published: July 2019

Understanding the drivers underlying disease dynamics is still a major challenge in disease ecology, especially in the case of long‐term disease persistence. Even though there is a strong consensus that density‐dependent factors play an important role for the spread of diseases, the main drivers are still discussed and, more importantly, might differ between invasion and persistence periods.

Here, we analysed long‐term outbreak data of classical swine fever, an important disease in both wild boar and livestock, prevalent in the wild boar population from 1993 to 2000 in Mecklenburg‐Vorpommern, Germany. We report outbreak characteristics and results from generalized linear mixed models to reveal what factors affected infection risk on both the landscape and the individual level.

Spatiotemporal outbreak dynamics showed an initial wave‐like spread with high incidence during the invasion period followed by a drop of incidence and an increase in seroprevalence during the persistence period. Velocity of spread increased with time during the first year of outbreak and decreased linearly afterwards, being on average 7.6 km per quarter.

Landscape‐ and individual‐level analyses of infection risk indicate contrasting seasonal patterns. During the persistence period, infection risk on the landscape level was highest during autumn and winter seasons, probably related to spatial behaviour such as increased long‐distance movements and contacts induced by rutting and escaping movements. In contrast, individual‐level infection risk peaked in spring, probably related to the concurrent birth season leading to higher densities, and was significantly higher in piglets than in reproductive animals.

Our findings highlight that it is important to investigate both individual‐ and landscape‐level patterns of infection risk to understand long‐term persistence of wildlife diseases and to guide respective management actions. Furthermore, we highlight that exploring different temporal aggregation of the data helps to reveal important seasonal patterns, which might be masked otherwise.
Disentangling ecologically equivalent from neutral species: The mechanisms of population regulation matter
Authors: McPeek Mark A. , Siepielski Adam M.
Published: July 2019

The neutral theory of biodiversity explored the structure of a community of ecologically equivalent species. Such species are expected to display community drift dynamics analogous to neutral alleles undergoing genetic drift. While entire communities of species are not ecologically equivalent, recent field experiments have documented the existence of guilds of such neutral species embedded in real food webs.

What demographic outcomes of the interactions within and between species in these guilds are expected to produce ecological drift versus coexistence remains unclear. To address this issue, and guide empirical testing, we consider models of a guild of ecologically equivalent competitors feeding on a single resource to explore when community drift should manifest.

We show that community drift dynamics only emerge when the density‐dependent effects of each species on itself are identical to its density‐dependent effects on every other guild member. In contrast, if each guild member directly limits itself more than it limits the abundance of other guild members, all species in the guild are coexisting, even though they all are ecologically equivalent with respect to their interactions with species outside the guild (i.e. resources, predators, mutualists). Hence, considering only interspecific ecological differences generating density dependence, and not fully accounting for the preponderance of mechanisms causing intraspecific density dependence, will provide an incomplete picture for segregating between neutrality and coexistence. We also identify critical experiments necessary to disentangle guilds of ecologically equivalent species from those experiencing ecological drift, as well as provide an overview of ways of incorporating a mechanistic basis into studies of species coexistence and neutrality.

Identifying these characteristics, and the mechanistic basis underlying community structure, is not merely an exercise in clarifying the semantics of coexistence and neutral theories, but rather reflects key differences that must exist among community members in order to determine how and why communities are structured.
Specialization and niche overlap across spatial scales: Revealing ecological factors shaping species richness and coexistence in Australian songbirds
Authors: Harmáčková Lenka , Remešová Eva , Remeš Vladimír
Published: July 2019

Ecological specialization enables the partitioning of resources and thus can facilitate the coexistence of species and promote higher species richness. Specialization and niche partitioning are expected to exert a decisive influence on local spatial scales, while species richness at regional scales should be shaped mostly by historical factors and abiotic conditions. Moreover, specialization is expected to be particularly important in communities that are exceptionally species rich for their environmental conditions. Concurrently, niche overlap in these communities should be minimized to enable species coexistence.

We tested these hypotheses by studying specialization–richness relationship and niche overlap in assemblages of 298 species of songbirds (Passeriformes) across Australia. We used local (2–6 ha) to regional (bioregions) spatial scales and detailed data on habitat, diet and foraging behaviour (method, substrate and stratum).

We expected the richness–specialization relationship to be particularly strong (a) on local spatial scales and (b) in communities exceptionally species rich for given environmental conditions (approximated by moisture and vegetation complexity). We also expected (c) low niche overlap in assemblages with specialized species.

Only the third prediction was partly supported. First, while the specialization and species richness were often positively related, the strength and the direction of the relationship changed between traits and across spatial scales. The strength of the specialization–richness relationship was consistently positive only in foraging stratum, and it increased towards smaller spatial scales only in case of habitat and diet. Simultaneously, species in local communities demonstrated high overlap in habitat and diet. Second, we did not find particularly strong specialization–richness relationships in exceptionally species‐rich communities. Third, we found the expected negative relationship between specialization and overlap in foraging stratum and substrate (in local communities), suggesting that species partition ecological space locally in terms of where they find food.

Our expectations were only weakly supported. Specialization on foraging stratum was probably important in facilitating species coexistence. Conversely, although species were often specialized on habitat and diet, high overlap in these traits did not preclude their local coexistence. Overall, specialization and overlap in foraging traits were more important for species coexistence than habitat or diet.
How to make more from exposure data? An integrated machine learning pipeline to predict pathogen exposure
Authors: Fountain‐Jones Nicholas M. , Machado Gustavo , Carver Scott , Packer Craig , Recamonde‐Mendoza Mariana , Craft Meggan E.
Published: July 2019

Predicting infectious disease dynamics is a central challenge in disease ecology. Models that can assess which individuals are most at risk of being exposed to a pathogen not only provide valuable insights into disease transmission and dynamics but can also guide management interventions. Constructing such models for wild animal populations, however, is particularly challenging; often only serological data are available on a subset of individuals and nonlinear relationships between variables are common.

Here we provide a guide to the latest advances in statistical machine learning to construct pathogen‐risk models that automatically incorporate complex nonlinear relationships with minimal statistical assumptions from ecological data with missing data. Our approach compares multiple machine learning algorithms in a unified environment to find the model with the best predictive performance and uses game theory to better interpret results. We apply this framework on two major pathogens that infect African lions: canine distemper virus (CDV) and feline parvovirus.

Our modelling approach provided enhanced predictive performance compared to more traditional approaches, as well as new insights into disease risks in a wild population. We were able to efficiently capture and visualize strong nonlinear patterns, as well as model complex interactions between variables in shaping exposure risk from CDV and feline parvovirus. For example, we found that lions were more likely to be exposed to CDV at a young age but only in low rainfall years.

When combined with our data calibration approach, our framework helped us to answer questions about risk of pathogen exposure that are difficult to address with previous methods. Our framework not only has the potential to aid in predicting disease risk in animal populations, but also can be used to build robust predictive models suitable for other ecological applications such as modelling species distribution or diversity patterns.
Current status and future directions in the treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer
Authors: Leto Gaetano
Published: July 2019

The clinical treatment of bone metastasis from breast cancer is currently based on the systemic administration of antiresorptive agents, radiopharmaceuticals, and/or local treatments such as radiation therapy, radiofrequency ablation and surgery. However, these therapeutic options are merely palliative and do not show to have a significant positive impact on patients’ survival. In addition, the systemic administration of antiresorptive drugs and/or antitumour agents and/or radiopharmaceuticals may negatively affect normal bone metabolism with detrimental consequences for cancer patients. Hence, the need to identify alternative therapeutic strategies that, based on the hallmarks of bone metastasis, can effectively thwart tumour cell growth while, at the same time, overcoming antitumour drug‐induced bone loss and preserving bone health. To this aim, current studies are directed toward the development of new molecules with low toxicity and/or novel drug delivery systems, which may efficiently hinder the growth of metastatic cells, while other studies are focussed on the design of new clinical treatments that, by acting on early stages of breast cancer, may prevent the homing and the subsequent growth of cancer cells in the bone. These treatments might also target occult micro‐metastases before their development into clinically evident bone lesions, ultimately hindering bone relapse and disease progression. However, this therapeutic approach implies the identification of early stage breast cancer patients being at high risk of developing bone metastases. The discovery of novel specific biomarkers as predictor of metastatic bone disease may help clinicians in selecting these patients.
MiR‐21‐3p modulates lipopolysaccharide‐induced inflammation and apoptosis via targeting TGS4 in retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: Liu Jiong , Ma Zhizhong , Ran Zhenlong
Published: July 2019

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major reason of blindness in the elderly. MicroRNAs are implicated in various pathological processes, including inflammation and apoptosis. In this study, we aim to investigate the biological functions of miR‐21‐3p in inflammation and apoptosis caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE‐19) cells. The miR‐21‐3p inhibitor and mimic were transfected into ARPE‐19 cells for 48 hours, followed by exposed to LPS (10 μg/mL) for 24 hours. The mRNA and protein expression of IL‐6 and MCP‐1 were measured using real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Cell viability, apoptosis, caspase 3 activity, cleaved caspase‐3 and cleaved‐PARP protein levels were detected to evaluate the effects of miR‐21‐3p on apoptosis. Additionally, the target relationship between miR‐21‐3p and regulator of G‐protein signalling 4 (RGS4) was verified by dual luciferase reporter assay. RT‐PCR analysis demonstrated that LPS induced miR‐21‐3p expression. Inhibition of miR‐21‐3p reduced the mRNA and protein levels of IL‐6 and MCP‐1. Apoptosis, caspase‐3 activity, and cleaved‐caspase 3 and cleaved PARP protein levels were repressed by the miR‐21‐3p inhibitor. However, overexpression of miR‐21‐3p showed the opposite results. Furthermore, we identified that miR‐21‐3p directly targeted the 3′ untranslated region of RGS4. MiR‐21‐3p negatively regulated the expression of RGS4 both in mRNA and protein levels. Silencing RGS4 reduced the anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic effects of miR‐21‐3p inhibitor. Our results revealed that miR‐21‐3p inhibition targeted RGS4 to attenuate inflammatory responses and apoptosis caused by LPS in ARPE‐19 cells.
The geographical region of origin determines the phagocytic vulnerability of Lichtheimia strains
Authors: Hassan Mohamed I. Abdelwahab , Cseresnyes Zoltan , Al‐Zaben Naim , Dahse Hans‐Martin , Vilela de Oliveira Rafael J. , Walther Grit , Voigt Kerstin , Figge Marc Thilo
Published: July 2019

Mucormycoses are life‐threatening infections that affect patients suffering from immune deficiencies. We performed phagocytosis assays confronting various strains of Lichtheimia species with alveolar macrophages, which form the first line of defence of the innate immune system. To investigate 17 strains from four different continents in a comparative fashion, transmitted light and confocal fluorescence microscopy was applied in combination with automated image analysis. This interdisciplinary approach enabled the objective and quantitative processing of the big volume of image data. Applying machine‐learning supported methods, a spontaneous clustering of the strains was revealed in the space of phagocytic measures. This clustering was not driven by measures of fungal morphology but rather by the geographical origin of the fungal strains. Our study illustrates the crucial contribution of machine‐learning supported automated image analysis to the qualitative discovery and quantitative comparison of major factors affecting host–pathogen interactions. We found that the phagocytic vulnerability of Lichtheimia species depends on their geographical origin, where strains within each geographic region behaved similarly, but strongly differed amongst the regions. Based on this clustering, we were able to also classify clinical isolates with regard to their potential geographical origin.
The Economic Demography Transition: Is China's ‘Not Rich, First Old’ Circumstance a Barrier to Growth?
Authors: Johnston Lauren A.
Published: July 2019

Around 1980 China adopted a reformist economic agenda and a restrictive population policy. China's consequential ‘getting old before rich’ discourse is herein advanced into the ‘economic demography transition’ and economic demography matrix (EDM). EDM transition analysis of 182 economies from 1996 to 2016 identifies: i) China to be one of many ‘poor‐old’ economies; and ii) a majority of countries recently entering the high‐income group were first old. These results question China's 1980 s‐based fears that early demographic transition would stall development and also call for enhanced nuance in understanding economic and demographic change links.
Radical right‐wing voters from right and left: Comparing Sweden Democrat voters who previously voted for the Conservative Party or the Social Democratic Party
Authors: Jylhä Kirsti M. , Rydgren Jens , Strimling Pontus
Published: July 2019

As in many other European countries, the political system has undergone rapid changes in Sweden while a radical right‐wing party – The Sweden Democrats (SD) – has grown from a negligible position into one of the country's largest parties. SD has been winning voters from both the right and the left sides of the political spectrum, and particularly from Sweden's two largest parties, the Conservative Party (Moderaterna, M) and the Social Democratic Party (S). The present study investigated the extent to which SD voters who previously voted for one of these two parties differ from each other, and compared these SD voters with current Conservative Party and Social Democratic voters. The results showed that 1) economic deprivation offers a better explanation for the past mobility from S, than from M, to the SD; 2) no group differences were found between previous M and S voters in attitudes connected to the appeal of an anti‐establishment party; and 3) views on the profile issues espoused by the radical right, most importantly opposition to immigration, did not differ between SD voters who come from M and S. However, SD voters – particularly SD voters who had formerly voted for the Social Democratic party – differed from the voters of their previous parties in several aspects. It is thus possible that many SD voters will not return to the parties they previously voted for, at least as long as the immigration issue continues to be of high salience in the society.
Less Is More: Norwegian Drug Regulation, Antibiotic Policy, and the “Need Clause”
Authors: HOBÆK BÅRD , LIE ANNE KVEIM
Published: July 2019

Policy Points

The current crisis of antibiotic resistance calls for policy reforms locally and globally. Historical insight in different regulatory systems can inform current decision making.

A strong regulatory control implementing antimicrobial resistance concerns can ensure the combined objective of promoting access and limiting excess use by letting only certain drugs onto the market in compliance with public health needs.

Regulation at this level also has powerful effects on consumption and needs to be considered as a tool for curbing antibiotic resistance.

The Norwegian drug regulatory procedures was an example of how national drug regulatory authorities can promote innovation of new drugs that meet public health needs indirectly by accepting only drugs of added therapeutic value.

Context

Antibiotic resistance is an increasingly serious threat to global health that requires coordinated action. Most current policy efforts address the lack of medicines. There is also a need for new thinking on promoting access to all who are in need of antibiotics, while simultaneously curbing inappropriate use. As the situation calls for new approaches, we examined one drug regulatory system in which antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been on the agenda for a long time. The Norwegian drug regulatory system, and particularly its “need clause,” has been invoked in international debates but not previously studied in detail.

Methods

We conducted a historical review of the Norwegian drug regulatory system by examining the archives of the Norwegian health authorities, the Norwegian Medicines Agency, and policy debates in the period.

Findings

The Norwegian drug regulatory system focused on the rational use of drugs, tied closely to public health needs. It was originally written to address unnecessary consumption of drugs, not consumer protection and safety. The most flexible element within this system stated that a drug must be “needed” in order to be registered. When antibiotic resistance became a concern, it limited the market entry of drugs considered to promote resistance, such as combination and broad‐spectrum products. This was a powerful and flexible regulatory device that also influenced drug consumption.

Conclusions

The need clause has lately been promoted as an alternative to address the current situation. The solutions to the problem of antibiotic resistance cannot be the same everywhere, and we do not argue that this drug regulatory system should be adopted globally. However, the current situation calls for consideration of many different aspects. This historical case demonstrates how regulatory procedures can be used to limit market entrance and promote appropriate use simultaneously.
Two sides of the same coin: Business resilience and community resilience
Authors: Adekola Josephine , Clelland David
Published: July 2019

The resilience of small businesses and how that relates to community resilience, especially in rural communities has remained an under‐researched aspect of community resilience. This exploratory study aims to understand the relationship between business resilience and community resilience in rural communities. Firstly, the research seeks to understand the role that small businesses play in contributing to community resilience activities. The paper then sheds light on enabling and challenging factors that shape how small businesses prepare for and respond to weather‐related emergencies through the lens of flooding. Data were collected through in‐depth semi‐structured interviews and surveys with rural small businesses in Scotland. The analysis of the data suggests that businesses play an advisory and advocacy roles, make financial and material contributions to local community resilience activities and contribute to quick community recovery through various dimensions of corporate social responsibility activities. However, small businesses face formidable barriers and challenges in preparing for and responding to weather‐related emergencies that undermine their resilience to natural hazards. The paper suggests ways in which small businesses can enhance their resilience to natural hazards, while at the same time contributing to community resilience.
Medical foster home is less costly than traditional nursing home care
Authors: Levy Cari , Whitfield Emily A. , Gutman Roee
Published: July 2019

Objective

To compare the costs of Community Nursing Homes (CNHs) to Medical Foster Homes (MFHs) at Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Medical Centers that established MFH programs.

Data Sources

Episode and costs data were derived from VA and Medicare files (inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, skilled nursing facility, dialysis, and hospice).

Study Design

Propensity scores matched 354 MFH to 1693 CNH Veterans on demographics, clinical characteristics, health care utilization, and costs.

Data Extraction Methods

Data were retrieved for years 2010‐2011 from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse, VA Health Data Repository, and the VA MFH Program through the VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI).

Principal Findings

After matching on unique characteristics of MFH Veterans, costs were $71.28 less per day alive compared to CNH care. Home‐based and mental health care costs increased with savings largely attributable to avoiding CNH residential care. When average out‐of‐pocket payments by Veterans of $74/day are considered, MFH is at least cost neutral. Mortality was 12 percent higher among matched Veterans in CNHs.

Conclusions

MFHs may serve as alternatives to traditional CNH care that do not increase total costs with mortality benefits. Future work should examine the differences for functional disability subgroups.
Effects of Lower Past‐Year Serum Sodium and Hyponatremia on Depression Symptoms and Cognitive Impairments in Patients With Hemodialysis
Authors: Fan Szu‐Shan , Lin Lian‐Feng , Chen Vincent Chin‐Hung , Hsieh Chin‐Wen , Hsiao Han‐Pin , McIntyre Roger S , Iacobucci Michelle , Coles Alexandria S , Tsai Duu‐Jian , Weng Jun‐Cheng , Chen Yi‐Lung
Published: July 2019

The relationship between hyponatremia, depression symptoms, and cognitive impairments in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the impact of past‐year average serum sodium levels on current depression symptoms and cognitive impairments in patients receiving hemodialysis, with adjustment for possible confounders. A total of 200 participants were recruited for this study. Depression symptoms and cognitive impairments were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire and Perceived Deficits Questionnaire‐5, respectively. Additionally, sociodemographic features, physical health, metabolic factors, and substance use information were collected. Significant associations between serum sodium levels, depression symptoms, and cognitive impairments were found after multivariate regression analysis. Furthermore, such differences were observed profoundly in moderate to profound hyponatremia. Our study revealed exclusive relationships between hyponatremia, depression symptoms, and cognitive impairments. As such, programs of cognitive rehabilitation and emotional regulation should be included in the prevention of chronic kidney disease for moderate to profound hyponatremia.
Inhibitory Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate, Epigallocatechin, and Gallic Acid on the Formation of N‐Nitrosodiethylamine In Vitro
Authors: Deng Sha , Jin Jing , He Qiang
Published: July 2019

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), and gallic acid (GA) on the formation of N‐nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in vitro. Results show that the three polyphenols are capable to block NDEA formation when the molar ratio of phenols to nitrite is higher than 0.8, and a more acidic environment is prone to promote the inhibitory potential of phenols. It is also found that the inhibitory effect tends to decrease in the order: EGCG, EGC, GA, which is in accordance with the order of their DPPH scavenging activity, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of polyphenols on NDEA formation may work through a free radical way. Kinetic study further revealed the three polyphenols react with nitrite at a much faster rate than diethylamine does (P < 0.05). By scavenging nitrite at a faster rate than the nitrosation of diethylamine, polyphenols at high concentration can significantly block NDEA formation. These observations may promote a possible application of polyphenol compounds to inhibit the formation of nitrosamines in food processing.

Practical Application

The presence of N‐nitrosamines in human diet should be an etiological risk factor for human cancers. This work may provide a useful guideline for phenolic compounds to inhibit the formation of nitrosamines in food processing, such as in the process of curing meats. Polyphenols have been proved to block NDEA formation under normal gastric juice condition, suggesting the intake of polyphenols is a potential way to prevent diseases caused by nitrite.
High‐precision Dating and Geological Significance of Chang 7 Tuff Zircon of the Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin in Central China
Authors: ZHU Rukai , CUI Jingwei , DENG Shenghui , LUO Zhong , LU Yuanzheng , QIU Zhen
Published: July 2019

The Ordos Basin, as the second largest petroliferous basin of China, contains abundant oil and gas resources, oil shale, and sandstone‐type uranium mineral resources. Chang 7 shale is not only the major source rock of the Mesozoic petroliferous system of the Basin, but is also crucial in determining the space‐time distribution relationship of the shale section for the effective exploration and development of the Basin's oil and gas resources. To obtain a highly precise age of the shale development section, we collected tuff samples from the top and bottom profile of the Chang 7 Member, Yishi Village, Yaoqu Town, Tongchuan District, on the southern margin of the Ordos Basin and performed high‐precision chemical abrasion (CA)–isotope dilution (ID)–thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) zircon U‐Pb dating on the basis of extensive laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) zircon U‐Pb dating data. Our results show the precise ages of the top and bottom zircon in the Chang 7 shale to be 241.06±0.12 Ma and 241.558±0.093 Ma, respectively. We first obtained Chang 7 age data with Grade 0.1‐Ma precision and then determined the age of the shale development in the Chang 7 Member to be the early‐Middle Triassic Ladinian. This result is supported by paleontological evidence. The deposition duration of the Chang 7 shale is 0.5Ma with an average deposition rate of the shale section being 5.3 cm/ka. Our research results provide time scale and basic data for further investigation of the basin–mountain coupling relation of the shale section, the sedimentary environment and volcanic ash and organic‐matter‐rich shale development relation, and the organism break‐out and organic‐matter enrichment mechanism.
Factors Controlling Hydrocarbon Accumulation in Jurassic Reservoirs in the Southwest Ordos Basin, NW China
Authors: LIU Xin , WANG Feng , LIU Baojun , TIAN Jingchun , SHANG Ting , MA Jiong , ZHANG Zhongyi , ZHANG Xiaolei
Published: July 2019

The sedimentary, paleogeomorphological and reservoir characteristics of the Jurassic Yan'an Formation in the southwestern Ordos Basin, northwestern China, were studied by means of casting thin sections, scanning electron microscopy, inclusion analysis and identification of low‐amplitude structures. A model for reservoir formation is established, and the controlling effects of sedimentary facies, paleotopography, low‐amplitude structures and formation water on oil reservoirs are revealed. There are significant differences in the sedimentary characteristics, structural morphology and paleowater characteristics between the reservoirs above the Yan 10 Member and those in the Yan 9 to Yan 7 Members. The Yan 10 Member contains fluvial sediments, whereas the Yan 9 to Yan 7 members contain delta‐plain anastomosing‐river deposits. The distribution of high‐permeability reservoir is controlled by pre‐Jurassic paleogeomorphology and sedimentary facies. Some of these facies exhibit high porosity and high permeability in a low‐permeability background. The main hydrocarbon accumulation period was the late Early Cretaceous, filling was continuous, and the charging strength altered from weak to strong and then from strong to weak. The Yan 10 reservoir is mainly controlled by the paleogeomorphology: hydrocarbons migrated upward at a high speed through the unconformity surface, and accumulated in the favorable traps formed by paleogeomorphic structural units, such as gentle slopes or channel island. Furthermore, groundwater alternation in these areas was relatively stagnant, providing good reservoir preservation conditions. The reservoirs in the Yan 9 and higher members are controlled by the sedimentary facies, low‐amplitude structure and paleowater characteristics. Hydrocarbons migrated through the three‐dimensional delivery system, influenced by favorable sedimentary facies and high‐salinity groundwater, then accumulated in the favorable low‐amplitude structural traps that formed during the hydrocarbon production period.