bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The low-temperature triclinic crystal structure of silver 3-sulfobenzoic acid
Authors: Bettinger Reuben T. , Squattrito Philip J. , Aulakh Darpandeep
Published: July 2020

Poly[(μ4-3-carboxybenzenesulfonato)silver(I)], Ag(O3SC6H4CO2H) or [Ag(C7H5O5S)]
n
, has been found to undergo a reversible phase transition from monoclinic to triclinic between 160 and 150 K. The low-temperature triclinic structure (space group P\overline{1}) has been determined at 100 K. In contrast to the reported room temperature monoclinic structure, in which the nearly equivalent carboxylate C—O distances indicate that the acidic hydrogen is randomly distributed between the O atoms, at 100 K the C—O (protonated) and C=O (unprotonated) bonds are clearly resolved, resulting in the reduction in symmetry from C2/c to P\overline{1}.
Key attributes of designers' competency for prevention through design (PtD) practices in construction: a review
Authors: Che Ibrahim Che Khairil Izam , Belayutham Sheila , Manu Patrick , Mahamadu Abdul-Majeed
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Designers have a key role to play in the Prevention through Design (PtD) practices in construction projects. Nonetheless, previous studies indicated that the issue of competencies to perform and sustain such practices over time is of a significant concern. This study aims to explore the key attributes of designers' competencies for PtD practices in construction.

Design/methodology/approach

By using the Scopus database, a total of 86 papers related to PtD in construction published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed and analysed using the well-established systematic literature review (SLR) methodology.

Findings

The review indicates that in order to be competent in PtD implementation, designers need to be equipped with tacit and explicit knowledge, technical and soft skills and experience related to PtD. Furthermore, the review identifies attributes of these competencies. Additionally, a framework that links key PtD elements/principles with the PtD competencies is presented.

Practical implications

The findings would enable contribution to the industry by providing the necessary references for design organisations to improve their designers' PtD competencies and hence, be able to meet their responsibility under relevant occupational safety and health (OSH) legislative framework.

Originality/value

This study extends the PtD literature in the construction context by providing deeper insights into the conceptualisation of relationship between competent designers and PtD elements. The novelty also lies in the consolidation of PtD competency attributes for designers in construction that could act as a reference for any future developments related to PtD competency assessment for designers.
Integrated Taguchi-GRA-PCA for optimising the heat transfer performance of nanofluid in an automotive cooling system
Authors: Seraj Mohd , Yahya Syed Mohd , Anas Mohd , Sutrisno Agung , Asjad Mohammad
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In the present study, the thermal performance of engine radiator using conventional coolant and nanofluid is determined experimentally for the different flow rates. Further, the study implemented the Integrated Taguchi-GRA-PCA for optimising the heat transfer performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Nanofluids were prepared by taking ethylene glycol and water (25:75 by volume) with volume fraction of 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05% of TiO2 nanopowder. Experimental Data were collected based on the design of experiments (DOE) L9 orthogonal array using Taguchi method. Statistical analysis via Grey relation analysis (GRA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were done to determine the role of experimental parameters on heat transfer coefficient and rate of heat transfer. Impact of three control factors, vol. % of TiO2 concentration (φ), flow rate (LPH), and sonication time (min) on the performance characteristics on heat transfer coefficient and ratio of heat transfer rate is analysed to get the best combination of the parameters involved.

Findings

Analysis revealed the importance of parameters on heat transfer coefficient and can be sorted in terms of contributions from higher to lower degree. Finally, ANOVA test has been conducted to validate the effect of process parameters. The major controllable parameter is φ (concentration), contributing about 32.74%, then flow rate contributing 32.5% and finally sonication time showing small contribution of 18.57%.

Originality/value

A grey relational analysis integrated with principal component analyses (PCA) are implemented to get the optimum heat transfer coefficient and ratio of heat transfer rate. The novelty of the work is to adopt and implement the Integrated Taguchi-GRA-PCA first time for the purpose of thermal performance analysis of engine nano-coolant for radiator.
Casing-groove optimisation for stall margin in a transonic compressor rotor
Authors: Mustaffa Ahmad Fikri , Kanjirakkad Vasudevan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the aerodynamic blockage related to near casing flow in a transonic axial compressor using numerical simulations and to design an optimum casing groove for stall margin improvement using a surrogate optimisation technique.

Design/methodology/approach

A blockage parameter (Ψ) is introduced to quantify blockage across the blade domain. A surrogate optimisation technique is then used to find the optimum casing groove design that minimises blockage at an axial location where the blockage is maximum at near stall conditions.

Findings

An optimised casing groove that improves the stall margin by about 1% can be found through optimisation of the blockage parameter (Ψ).

Originality/value

Optimising for stall margin is rather lengthy and computationally expensive, as the stall margin of a compressor will only be known once a complete compressor map is constructed. This study shows that the cost of the optimisation can be reduced by using a suitably defined blockage parameter as the optimising parameter.
Demographic differences in the perceived news literacy skills and sharing behavior of information professionals
Authors: Ameen Kanwal , Naeem Salman Bin
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to determine the differences in information professionals’ perceived news literacy skills and sharing behaviors with their demographics (gender, age, qualification, professional experience and working designation).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quantitative research design, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect the data from information professionals working in university libraries.

Findings

Findings reveal that the use of social media channels for sharing news was significantly higher among the professionals in the age group <30 years as compared to the older age groups. Female professionals determine the authenticity of a news story more frequently than males. The study concludes that the factors such as age, education level and work experience significantly influence information professionals’ use of social media for sharing news and their news literacy skills.

Practical implications

The study holds some important practical implications in terms of identifying demographic factors in the perceived news literacy skills and sharing behaviors. Having information about the significant variations in demographics may help in adopting the targeted approaches for organizing news literacy sessions, as well as to develop a framework for news literacy instructions.

Originality/value

This study adopted the Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education given by the Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) to develop the theoretical framework and questionnaire. The validated questionnaire on news literacy skills has been specifically constructed for the study in absence of finding any in the literature. Moreover, studies were hardly found assessing the difference of demographics with information professionals’ perceived news literacy skills and their news sharing behaviors.
Performance evaluation under human capital perspective: an empirical evidence
Authors: Dash Sujata Priyambada , Roy Supriyo
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The study investigates the effect of human capital (HC) on organizational performance (OP) of potential employees. Further, an attempt has been made to develop the fundamental psychological mechanism of the aforementioned relationship by proposing retention (RE) as mediator.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, the required population on both private and public sector professionals of middle and senior-level management from service and manufacturing organizations functioning in various parts of India has been considered. For data collection, a complete set of questionnaires has been prepared and collected from 238 professionals. To study and test the hypotheses, structural equation modeling has also been used.

Findings

a complete study on the data collected, it has been found that HC is significantly related with OP of the prospective professionals and RE has subsequently mediated the aforementioned linkage partially.

Practical implications

The present study can suggest practically that the appropriate RE strategies retain HC with their respective organizations and provides in finding the evidence on the psychological processes during the employer procurement process.

Originality/value

paper bridges the disciplines of strategic human resource management and human capital management and brings in RE as an additional mediator into organizational performance.
The relevance of valuation models: insights from Palestine exchange
Authors: Harasheh Murad , Amaduzzi Andrea , Darwish Fairouz
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relevance of two groups of valuations models as follows: the accounting models based on the residual income (RIM) and the standard market model, on equity price, return and volatility relevance.

Design/methodology/approach

The models are tested on companies traded on Palestine exchange from 2009 to 2018, using panel regression analysis. Two-price and two-return models derived from RIM to compare with the market model and four volatility models.

Findings

The standard RIM outperformed other models in equity price modeling. The dividend discount model (DDM) outperformed the rest of the models in terms of return estimation. However, the authors find that the market model can explain equity variance better than RIM and DDM models.

Practical implications

For investors, market beta does not necessarily capture all relevant factors of value and traditional financial statements are still important in providing relevant information and different models are used for different values perspectives (price, return and volatility).

Originality/value

Previous studies focus on comparing the price and return relevance of accounting-based models (RIM and cash flow models). Three aspects differentiate this paper and contribute to its originality, namely, the uniqueness of the context, incorporating the market model into the picture along with the accounting-based models and adding Volatility dimensions of relevance.
Data quality comparison between computers and smartphones in different web survey modes and question formats
Authors: Ha Louisa , Zhang Chenjie , Jiang Weiwei
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Low response rates in web surveys and the use of different devices in entering web survey responses are the two main challenges to response quality of web surveys. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of using interviewers to recruit participants in computer-assisted self-administered interviews (CASI) vs computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) and smartphones vs computers on participation rate and web survey response quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Two field experiments using two similar media use studies on US college students were conducted to compare response quality in different survey modes and response devices.

Findings

Response quality of computer entry was better than smartphone entry in both studies for open-ended and closed-ended question formats. Device effect was only significant on overall completion rate when interviewers were present.

Practical implications

Survey researchers are given guidance how to conduct online surveys using different devices and choice of question format to maximize survey response quality. The benefits and limitations of using an interviewer to recruit participants and smartphones as web survey response devices are discussed.

Social implications

It shows how computer-assisted self-interviews and smartphones can improve response quality and participation for underprivileged groups.

Originality/value

This is the first study to compare response quality in different question formats between CASI, e-mailed delivered online surveys and CAPI. It demonstrates the importance of human factor in creating sense of obligation to improve response quality.
Who are you talking about? Contrasting determinants of online disclosure about self or others
Authors: Thompson Nik , Brindley Jack
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper contrasts the determinants of online disclosures about self and others in social media.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 216 respondents were collected through an online survey. The formal research model was tested with covariance based structural equation modeling.

Findings

The determinants of online disclosures vary whether the subject is self or others. Social networking site (SNS) users who self-disclose are also more likely to share information about others. Furthermore, there are significant gender effects in the influences of disclosure as revealed by multi-group SEM.

Research limitations/implications

Future research models should incorporate the construct of disclosure about others and examine the intertwining of different types of disclosure on SNS. Future work should include behavioral measures, as this study relied on self-report measures.

Practical implications

The current understanding of information sharing does not accommodate different forms of disclosure. Employers or systems administrators concerned about data sharing may need to tailor interventions to the subject of the disclosure. Furthermore, the significant gender differences in determinants of disclosure suggest that this should be considered in practical applications.

Originality/value

Disclosure about others has not been examined in prior work. This study contributes by offering empirical data on the contrasting determinants of disclosure as well as gender differences. It improves the understanding of online information sharing, a topic of particular relevance in today's information oriented society.
Determinants of demand for credit by smallholder farmers': a farm level analysis based on survey in Sindh, Pakistan
Authors: Chandio Abbas Ali , Jiang Yuansheng , Rehman Abdul , Twumasi Martinson Ankrah , Pathan Amber Gul , Mohsin Muhammad
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In the developing countries, formal credit has dominant role for the development of agriculture sector. It increases the farmer's purchasing power for better farm inputs and agricultural technology for high crop productivity. The main purpose of this study is to examine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder farmers for credit demand in Sindh, Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional data set randomly collected from 90 smallholder farmers in Thatta district, Sindh, Pakistan, is examined. Descriptive statistics, correlation and the OLS regression method were used to demonstrate the important factors affecting the demand for formal credit.

Findings

The results revealed that formal education, experience of farming, landholding size, road access and extension contacts positively and significantly influenced the demand for formal credit.

Originality/value

This study is the first, to the best of authors' knowledge, to demonstrate the influence of various socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder farmers on demand for formal credit in Sindh, Pakistan. It also illustrates the imperative contribution to the literature regarding credit access and demand to improve the agricultural productivity.
The impact of relative governance on B2B firms’ value appropriation from industrial buyer–seller relationships: empirical evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Ya , Du Mingfei
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how relative contractual and relational governances impact seller’s value appropriation via buyer’s trust, perceived justice and opportunism in the context of industrial buyer–seller relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data from 232 matched buyer-seller dyads of Chinese business-to-business (B2B) firms was used to test the conceptual model and research hypotheses. The confirmatory factor model and structural equation model were tested by using Lisrel 8.80.

Findings

The findings show that relative contractual governance and relative relational governance have opposite consequences on B2B relationship and value outcomes. Relative contractual governance generates higher level of buyer’s opportunist behavior because it reduces buyer’s trust and perceived justice, therefore harms seller’s value appropriation. By contrast, relative relational governance enhances buyer’s trust and perceived justice, therefore curbs buyer’s opportunism and improves seller’s value appropriation.

Originality/value

This study makes significant contributions to theory development of value appropriation and inter-firm governance mechanism by extending dyadic view to network view. It proposes the concept of relative governance and explores its role in shaping a business partner’s perception and behavior. It also provides insightful implications for B2B companies on capturing more benefits from the relationship with buyers by leveraging relative governance strategies.
A mixed data sampling approach to the asymmetric impacts of world oil price on macroeconomic variables in Vietnam
Authors: Pham Trinh Thi Tuyet , Le Nhan Phan Ai
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the asymmetric impacts of world oil price on macroeconomic variables in Vietnam, including domestic oil price, inflation and output growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The mixed data sampling (MIDAS) approach is employed to examine the impact of world oil price changes on macroeconomic variables as the former is high-frequency data (daily), and the latter is low-frequency data, usually monthly or quarterly.

Findings

Changes in world oil price cause asymmetric impacts on domestic oil price and inflation, but no significant effects on output growth. In terms of magnitude, a positive change in world oil price causes a stronger effect than a negative change in world oil price. In terms of timing, a positive change in world oil price causes a slow pass-through impact on domestic oil price and inflation. Meanwhile, domestic oil price and inflation decrease quickly following a negative change in world oil price.

Originality/value

This study investigates the asymmetric impact of oil price on the Vietnam economy in terms of both magnitude and timing, which is not explored by previous studies. In addition, it exploits daily information of oil price changes to analyse macroeconomic variables in lower frequency by employing MIDAS approach.
Exploring new Internet measurements on international trade and global human resources
Authors: Swan Tina T. , Swan Bruce Q. , Zhang Zuopeng (Justin)
Published: July 2020

Purpose

We address the question of how the Internet promotes international trade volume, and especially, whether the global human resources affect the bilateral international trade during the technology development across countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic panel causality analysis is carried out to demonstrate empirically that the causality of the Internet diffusion on the international trade volumes. Evidence shows a significant positive effect of the Internet on international trade volume from time-series and cross-sectional regressions. Furthermore, the magnitude of elasticity is discussed.

Findings

There is strong evidence that the Internet stimulates international trade for all countries. Growth of trade volumes changes over time with heteroscedastic responses. The positive impacts of the growth of GDP are diluted by the growth of global human resources.

Originality/value

The data on the number of web hosts is not necessarily correlated to where the site is actually located. We contribute to the new Internet measurement which helps to explain the information transferring that stimulates the international trade and examine the global human resources.
Web-based home-hazard modification app for falls prevention: the views of those at risk of falling and their carers
Authors: Holliday Nikki , Ward Gillian , Walker-Clarke Aimee , Molitor Rachael
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to assess the usability and acceptability of FallCheck, a Web app that allows users to complete home-hazard assessments within their own home, with a group of people at risk of falling and their carers.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed method study used an online survey followed by semi-structured telephone interviews to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. A Think-Aloud study was used to test usability of the Web app through structured tasks.

Findings

Findings showed that FallCheck was easy to use with few usability issues. The Web app was deemed appropriate to use by people at risk of falling (young or old) or by carers if appropriate. The depth of knowledge provision and breadth of content was acceptable, and many participants reported subsequently making changes to their home environment to reduce their risk of falling. Overall, the majority of participants reported feelings of improved confidence and safety with an increased awareness of fall risks and a reduction in fear of falling at home.

Practical implications

FallCheck has good acceptability and usability with people at risk of falling and their carers and has the potential to improve access to home-hazard assessment and affect behavioural change regarding fall risk hazards and behaviour.

Originality/value

This study describes successful use of an app that may be helpful in identifying home-hazards and making changes to reduce risk of falls, particularly in the absence of occupational therapy intervention and has the potential for integration into falls care pathways.
Bribery, extortion and “morally ambiguous” leadership in organizations
Authors: Dion Michel
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how four styles of “morally ambiguous” leadership could have a philosophical basis, while relatively contributing to efficiently prevent bribery and extortion in the organizational life.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies four styles of morally ambiguous leadership in taking philosophically based representations of “sociopolitical saviors” into account: “occasionally cruel saviors” (Niccolò Machiavelli); “occasionally compassionate saviors” (Adam Smith),; “socially conformist and compassionate” saviors (David Hume); and “revolutionary and implicitly compassionate” saviors (Hannah Arendt). Morally ambiguous leaders choose paradoxical ways to assume their moral responsibility. They use paradoxical strategies to prevent bribery and extortion in the organizational life.

Findings

The philosophical basis of those styles of morally ambiguous leadership unveils two basic antagonisms: the antagonism between cruelty and compassion; and the antagonism between social conformism and revolutionary spirit. The axis of power (Machiavelli) does not allow any connection between both antagonisms. The axis of self-interest (Smith) shows an intermediary positioning in both antagonisms (relatively compassionate, implicitly revolutionary). The axis of social conformism/compassion (Hume) and the axis of revolutionary spirit/compassion (Arendt) make leaders deepen their paradoxical positionings about moral issues.

Research limitations/implications

The four styles of morally ambiguous leadership have not been empirically assessed. Moreover, the analysis of Eastern and Western philosophies could allow decision-makers to identity other philosophically based and morally ambiguous positionings about moral issues. Other philosophies could also unveil further kinds of antagonisms that could be applied to prevention strategies against bribery and extortion schemes.

Originality/value

The paper presents a philosophically based analysis of morally ambiguous leadership and its potential impact on prevention strategies against bribery and extortion schemes.
Millennials’ purchasing behavior toward fashion clothing brands: influence of brand awareness and brand schematicity
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Sabbir , Hossain Md Afnan , Hoque Mohammad Tayeenul , Rushan Md Rifayat Islam , Rahman Mohammad Iftekhar
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the millennial consumers’ purchasing behavior of fashion clothing brands in the spectrum of brand awareness, brand schematicity with brand consciousness and brand nationality. This study mainly considered the millennial consumers as they are the most dynamic and discerning segment when choosing a distinct fashion brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a well-structured questionnaire developed and distributed to 266 millennial respondents using shoping malls and university campus intercept methods. Data were analyzed by applying the structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show that brand awareness has a mediating effect on the millennials’ purchasing behavior toward fashion clothing brands. The study also confirms the active moderation role of brand schematicity on the purchasing behavior toward fashion clothing brands.

Practical implications

Based on these findings, the fashion clothing retailers should aim to maximize their sales from the millennial segments by enhancing brand awareness. The schematic consumers are more engaged in the numbers of quality hints to make their choice on the fashion clothing brands. Therefore, the practitioners must consider such information, and that should be available in the fashion clothing retail outlets.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the existing literature of the millennials’ purchasing behavior toward the fashion clothing brands. Moreover, research on this segment related to brand awareness and brand schematicity is insufficient, and the current study may add significant value.
Loyalty formation and its impact on financial performance of Islamic banks – evidence from Indonesia
Authors: Fusva Ayu , Dean David , Suhartanto Dwi , Syarief Moch. Edman , Arifin Agus Zainul , Suhaeni Tintin , Rafdinal Wahyu
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine loyalty formation, including service quality, perceived value, image and satisfaction as determinants, and their effect on the financial performance of Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 280 Islamic bank clients in Indonesia and bank financial performance data from bank financial reports. Variance-based partial least square modelling was used to assess the relationships between loyalty, its determinants and their influence on bank financial performance.

Findings

This study finds that client loyalty towards Islamic banks is most influenced by perceived service quality and perceived value. Further, this study documents the importance of client loyalty in influencing bank financial performance and indirect effect of clients’ satisfaction on financial performance through the strengthening of client loyalty.

Practical implications

This study offers a path for the managers of Islamic banks to enhance financial performance by enhancing client loyalty. To develop client loyalty, this study suggests that Islamic banks should offer economical and service-derived benefits that are superior to those other banks offer. Further, Islamic banks need to ensure that their business operations are compatible with Islamic values.

Originality/value

This is an early empirical study attempting to examine the link between customer loyalty and its impact on Islamic bank financial performance.
How social dominance orientation shapes perceptions of police
Authors: Lowrey-Kinberg Belen , Mellinger Hillary , Kearns Erin M.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

There remain several underaddressed issues in the procedural justice literature. The authors draw from a rich body of psychological research on how the sociopolitical orientation to group inequality influences individual views on government and apply this to perceptions of procedural justice.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a laboratory-style experimental design to examine the extent to which social dominance orientation (SDO) shapes how people view the language of law enforcement. Four treatments are tested: procedural justice, rapport, deference, and direct.

Findings

The authors find that, overall, exclusively emphasizing rapport – as opposed to procedural justice, deference, or directness – is not beneficial to fostering positive perceptions of police. Additionally, a higher SDO score is associated with lower perceptions of officer respect in the video and regardless of condition. Finally, while higher SDO score is correlated with greater trust in police (both a specific officer and the police in general), it is also associated with a lower sense of obligation to obey both the officer in the video and the police as an institution. Further, procedural justice or direct communication styles can attenuate the negative impact of SDO on views of police better than rapport or deference communication styles. Thus, the picture that emerges from this research is more nuanced than a straightforward relationship between SDO and support for police.

Originality/value

This study used an experimental design to examine for the first time the role that a sociopolitical orientation may play in procedural justice theory. While research finds strong links between procedural justice and increased cooperation with police, obligation to obey, and trust in police, few studies have delved into the individual-level factors that research has yet to delve into whether sociopolitical orientation may play a role in informing police actions and communication training.
Studying green consumer behavior through multiple lenses in a developing country
Authors: Gandhi Aradhana Vikas
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The study aims to explore the parameters that affect the purchase behavior of green consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methodology concurrent study was adopted involving questionnaire-based empirical study along with a qualitative study to capture the lived experiences of the respondents. Inferences were drawn to understand green consumer behavior in a holistic way.

Findings

While conducting in-depth interviews, many recurring themes emerged, such as environmentally friendly, health-conscious, price, government initiatives, youngsters' inclination, general awareness, family influence/traditions, quality, advertisement and social concern. A concurrent quantitative study was conducted, which established altruism, environmental awareness and social factor and influence as significant parameters, which had an impact on green consumer behavior.

Practical implications

While designing green products, this study will enable marketers to innovate their products and services based on the intricate insights that have come out of the study.

Originality/value

The study seeks to give deep insights into green consumer behavior that may help academics and marketers to understand the phenomenon better.
Brand authenticity, employee experience and corporate citizenship priorities in the COVID-19 era and beyond
Authors: Yohn Denise Lee
Published: July 2020

Purpose

As the companies learn to operate safely and effectively, until there is a vaccine or totally effective treatment for the virus, public scrutiny of how they treat their workers and serve their communities will be intense. Given the severity of the consequences of failing to act proactively, business leaders need to identify and implement practices that elevate brand authenticity and responsible citizenry as strategic priorities.

Design/methodology/approach

To fulfill requirements for brand authenticity and responsible citizenry in the Covid-19 era, executives should engage three strategies: 10;1.9;Fuse external brand identity and internal organizational culture. 10;2.9;Design and manage the employee experience. 10;3.9;Evolve corporate social responsibility into creating shared value. 10; 10;

Findings

For many enterprises, the COVID-19 crisis has served as a litmus test of the true character of the company, the authenticity of its brand and the sensitivity of its leaders. 10;When a company’s brand and culture are not aligned and integrated, it can cause serious and sweeping consequences in the marketplace. 10;

Practical implications

The experience that a company provides for its employees must be as deliberately designed and managed as its customer experience.

Originality/value

Offers an approach leaders can use to develop and institute a values-based code of conduct – that is, a code of conduct that promotes the integration of brand, culture, core values and ethics through cohesive guidelines and clear expectations.
Collaborative design in public services: a wicked problem-reframing case
Authors: Moura e Sá Patrícia , Frade Catarina , Jesus Fernanda , Lopes Mónica , Maneca Lima Teresa , Raposo Vitor
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Wicked problems require collaborative innovation approaches. Understanding the problem from the users' perspective is essential. Based on a complex and ill-defined case, the purpose of the current paper is to identify some critical success factors in defining the “right problem” to be addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical research study was carried out in a low-density municipality (case study). Extensive data were collected from official databases, individual semi-structured interviews and a focus group involving citizens, local authorities, civil servants and other relevant stakeholders.

Findings

As defined by the central government, the problem to be addressed by the research team was to identify which justice services should be made available locally to a small- and low-density community. The problem was initially formulated using top-down reasoning. In-depth contact with citizens and key local players revealed that the lack of justice services was not “the issue” for that community. Mobility constraints and the shortage of economic opportunities had a considerable impact on the lack of demand for justice services. By using a bottom-up perspective, it was possible to reframe the problem to be addressed and suggest a new concept to be tested at later stages.

Social implications

The approach followed called attention to the importance of listening to citizens and local organisations with a profound knowledge of the territory to effectively identify and circumscribe a local problem in the justice field.

Originality/value

The paper highlights the limitations of traditional rational problem-solving approaches and contributes to expanding the voice-of-the-customer principle showing how it can lead to a substantially new definition of the problem to be addressed.
Angle‐domain imaging of relative impedance perturbation
Authors: Liu Yanan , Chen Shengchang , Chen Guoxin , Wang Feng , Gu Zhiwei
Published: July 2020

Impedance is a physical parameter that plays an important role in seismic data processing and interpretation. A relative impedance perturbation (the ratio of the impedance perturbation and the impedance for the background models) imaging method in depth domain based on the reflection wave equation is proposed. Under the small perturbation assumption, primary wave and high‐frequency approximation condition, a linear propagation equation of the primary reflection waves based on the relative impedance perturbation was first derived. On this basis, we further derived the imaging formula of the relative impedance perturbation using a linear inversion theory. Then, the source–receiver bidirectional illumination compensation was used to improve the image quality of the subsurface structures. The image result obtained by this method can be used to estimate the relative impedance perturbation. In the angle domain, the extracted near‐angle‐domain image gather with amplitude compensation can estimate the relative impedance perturbation, and the far‐angle image gather provides the estimation of the relative velocity perturbation (the ratio of the velocity perturbation and the background velocity). Finally, several numerical tests demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.
IL‐33 promotes the progression of vascular restenosis after carotid artery balloon injury by promoting carotid artery intimal hyperplasia and inflammatory response
Authors: Zeng Qingfu , Xu Yingqi , Zhang Wenwen , Lv Fanzhen , Zhou Weimin
Published: July 2020

Interleukin (IL)‐33 is associated with vascular restenosis after carotid artery balloon injury. This work aims to investigate the involvement of IL‐33 in carotid artery balloon injury. We first constructed carotid artery balloon injury model in male Wistar rats. Then, we found that IL‐33 was highly expressed in the rats with carotid artery balloon injury 3, 14 and 21 days after surgery. Furthermore, IL‐33 treatment promoted inflammatory response and carotid artery intimal hyperplasia in the rats with carotid artery balloon injury, which was effectively improved by anti‐IL‐33 treatment. In addition, IL‐33 treatment enhanced proliferation, migration, inflammatory response and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a concentration‐dependent way. In summary, our study demonstrates that IL‐33 treatment promotes the progression of vascular restenosis after carotid artery balloon injury by enhancing carotid artery intimal hyperplasia and inflammatory response. Thus, our findings suggest that IL‐33 maybe a valuable target for carotid artery balloon injury therapies.
Agricultural subsidies retard urbanisation in China
Authors: Huang Kaixing , Yan Wenshou , Huang Jikun
Published: July 2020

Although agricultural subsidies are usually seen in high‐income countries with small agricultural labour forces, China started to heavily subsidise agriculture when its per‐capita income was very low and more than half of its population was working in agriculture. A concern is that these abnormal agricultural subsidies may have significantly retarded China’s urbanisation process by reducing rural–urban migration. Based on a panel of county‐level data from 1,878 Chinese counties, we found that agricultural subsidies reduced China’s yearly outflow of agricultural labour by 0.68 million people (with a 95 per cent confidence interval of 0.67–0.69) – about 5.7 per cent of the annual rural–urban migration observed during the sample period. We concluded that abnormal agricultural subsidies are a significant cause of China’s widely observed under‐urbanisation.
Case Report: Buprenorphine—A Treatment for Psychological Pain and Suicidal Ideation?
Authors: Benhamou Ori‐Michael , Lynch Sean , Klepacz Lidia
Published: July 2020

Background and Objectives

Buprenorphine is commonly used to manage opioid use disorder; however, the literature describes its potential role in treating treatment‐resistant depression.

Methods

We present a patient with bipolar disorder and opioid use disorder, who presented status post‐suicide attempt.

Results

After initiating buprenorphine‐naloxone, the patient reported rapid improvement in depressive symptoms, pain, and suicidal ideation.

Discussion and Conclusions

This case demonstrates buprenorphineʼs antisuicidal and mood‐stabilizing capabilities, potentially via antagonizing κ‐opioid receptors as well as reinstating the balance between reward and antireward circuitry.

Scientific Significance

This case highlights buprenorphine‐naloxone as a treatment for both treatment‐resistant depression and opioid use disorder, as well as buprenorphineʼs rapid antidepressant, analgesic, and antisuicidal effects. (Am J Addict 2021;30:80–82)
COVID‐19 and Treg/Th17 imbalance: Potential relationship to pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Muyayalo Kahinho P. , Huang Dong‐Hui , Zhao Si‐Jia , Xie Ting , Mor Gil , Liao Ai‐Hua
Published: July 2020

Caused by a novel type of virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) constitutes a global public health emergency. Pregnant women are considered to have a higher risk of severe morbidity and even mortality due to their susceptibility to respiratory pathogens and their particular immunologic state. Several studies assessing SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy reported adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe conditions, including spontaneous abortion, preterm labor, fetal distress, cesarean section, preterm birth, neonatal asphyxia, neonatal pneumonia, stillbirth, and neonatal death. However, whether these complications are causally related to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is not clear. Here, we reviewed the scientific evidence supporting the contributing role of Treg/Th17 cell imbalance in the uncontrolled systemic inflammation characterizing severe cases of COVID‐19. Based on the recognized harmful effects of these CD4+ T‐cell subset imbalances in pregnancy, we speculated that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection might lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes through the deregulation of otherwise tightly regulated Treg/Th17 ratios, and to subsequent uncontrolled systemic inflammation. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of vertical transmission of COVID‐19 from infected mothers to their infants, which could also explain adverse perinatal outcomes. Rigorous monitoring of pregnancies and appropriate measures should be taken to prevent and treat early eventual maternal and perinatal complications.
Cerebrovascular events in children on intracorporeal continuous‐flow left ventricular assist devices
Authors: Sert Dogan Emre , Kocabeyoglu Sinan Sabit , Kervan Umit , Karahan Mehmet , Beyazal Osman Fehmi , Akdi Mustafa , Yilmaz Abdulkadir , Catav Zeki
Published: July 2020

Continuous‐flow intracorporeal left ventricular assist devices (CF‐LVAD) are used more frequently in the pediatric population. One of the major complications of CF‐LVAD is cerebrovascular events (CVEs). Limited information is available on this complication in pediatric patients. We hereby present our experience on CVEs in children under CF‐LVAD support in our institution. A retrospective, single center review of 21 patients younger than 19 years of age who underwent CF‐LVAD implantation between June 2014 and September 2018 was performed. Patients on biventricular support and extracorporeal devices were excluded. Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs)—ischemic or hemorrhagic—were investigated. CVE was confirmed by brain computed tomographic scan. Of 21 pediatric patients, 11 were male. Mean BSA was 1.05 ± 0.41 m2 and mean age was 11.05 ± 4.07 years. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the leading cause of heart failure. The patients were implanted with HeartWare hVAD (n = 19), HeartMate II (n = 1), and HeartMate 3 (n = 1). Mean support time was 421 ± 448 (18‐1460) days. Target international normalized ratio was between 2.5 and 3.0. Nine (43%) patients underwent transplantation, one patient recovered with subsequent device explantation. Four (17%) patients were still on support. One patient (5%) died in the early postoperative period and six (28%) patients died on VAD support after a mean duration of 194 days. There were overall five cerebral hemorrhagic strokes in four patients (0.2 events per patient‐year). CVA occurred between 250 and 1320 days (mean 600 days). No ischemic stroke was documented. Only one (20%) patient died after hemorrhagic stroke; the other three patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital with minor sequelae. Incidence of CVE in children on CF‐LVAD is relatively low compared with adults on VAD and severity of stroke is milder than adult population.
A multiple robust propensity score method for longitudinal analysis with intermittent missing data
Authors: Chen Chixiang , Shen Biyi , Liu Aiyi , Wu Rongling , Wang Ming
Published: July 2020

Longitudinal data are very popular in practice, but they are often missing in either outcomes or time‐dependent risk factors, making them highly unbalanced and complex. Missing data may contain various missing patterns or mechanisms, and how to properly handle it for unbiased and valid inference still presents a significant challenge. Here, we propose a novel semiparametric framework for analyzing longitudinal data with both missing responses and covariates that are missing at random and intermittent, a general and widely encountered situation in observational studies. Within this framework, we consider multiple robust estimation procedures based on innovative calibrated propensity scores, which offers additional relaxation of the misspecification of missing data mechanisms and shows more satisfactory numerical performance. Also, the corresponding robust information criterion on consistent variable selection for our proposed model is developed based on empirical likelihood‐based methods. These advocated methods are evaluated in both theory and extensive simulation studies in a variety of situations, showing competing properties and advantages compared to the existing approaches. We illustrate the utility of our approach by analyzing the data from the HIV Epidemiology Research Study.
Tree pollen exposure is associated with reduced lung function in children
Authors: Lambert Katrina A , Katelaris Constance , Burton Pamela , Cowie Christine , Lodge Caroline , Garden Frances L , Prendergast Luke A , Toelle Brett G , Erbas Bircan
Published: July 2020

Background

Allergic disease is a recognized global epidemic and a significant cause of ill health and poor quality of life. The prevalence of pollen allergy is high throughout the world, and pollen exposure itself plays a role in emergency department presentations and hospitalizations for asthma. Lung function and airway inflammation are important measures of asthma activity and control.

Objective

To examine associations between exposure to multiple pollen types and lung function and markers of airway inflammation at 8 and 14 years of age, and to explore potential modification by residential greenness.

Methods

A cohort of high‐risk children living in Sydney, Australia had spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measured at 8 and 14 years of age. Ambient pollen concentration on the day of lung function measurement and up to three days prior was used as the exposure measure. Residential greenness was derived from satellite imagery. We modelled the association between six pollen types and lung function and FeNO. We also assessed modifying effects of residential greenness.

Results

Casuarina, cypress and Pinus pollen in the air the day before measurement and 3 days prior respectively, were associated with reduced lung function in 8‐year‐olds. The pollen exposures were associated with decreases in FEV1 and FVC; however, the FEV1/FVC ratio was not affected. Effect modification by greenness was not observed due to loss of power.

Conclusions & Clinical Relevance

Airborne tree pollen of cypress, Casuarina and Pinus and not grass in some regions may be detrimental to childhood lung function.