bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of integrated sustainability content into undergraduate business education
Authors: Hay Rachel , Eagle Lynne
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to compare the findings from a survey of a cohort of students at an Australian regional university across two time points: immediately on commencing their first semester of study and at the end of their final semester of study to determine whether, and in what ways, these students’ views concerning sustainability appear to have changed. This paper reports on a longitudinal study of the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of undergraduate business students regarding a range of sustainability issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A paper-based questionnaire was delivered to approximately 250 first year and 150 third year students.

Findings

A factor analysis shows small but statistically different positive differences, which indicate that the revised curriculum has been successful in raising student awareness and achieving behaviour change.

Research limitations/implications

The study focussed on Australian undergraduate university business students, which reduced generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can inform instructors in higher education of student attitudes towards sustainability and climate change adaption and in turn inform changes to tertiary curriculum in sustainability and climate change adaption.

Originality/value

The authors confirm that the research is original and that all of the data provided in this paper is real and authentic. As the paper reports on the third phase of the longitudinal study, some parts of the methodology have been previously published but differ as they reflect the third phase of the study. The results of this study have not been previously published.
The leniency of return policy and consumers’ repurchase intention in online retailing
Authors: Wang Yacan , Anderson Jason , Joo Seong-Jong , Huscroft Joseph R.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the repurchase intention of a customer and his/her perception of various aspects of an e-tailer’s product return process, such as leniency, fairness and quality of the return process.

Design/methodology/approach

This research focuses on these aspects through the expectation disconfirmation theoretical lens, looking at the relationship between expectations shaped by the product return policy and the repurchase intention. This research collects data using a survey approach and analyzes it using structural equation modeling.

Findings

It was found that perceived return policy leniency, perceived fairness of the return experience and perceived quality of the return experience are important and supporting factors that influence a customer’s intention to be a return customer to e-tailers. Perceived leniency was found to not only be the most influential factor for return purchase intention but it also significantly impacted the perceived fairness and the quality of the return process. As a result, perceived leniency of the return policy had a “halo” effect on the other factors.

Practical implications

This suggests that the majority of an e-tailer’s effort should be expended determining a return policy and experience that is widely perceived as lenient as this will overall improve customer perception of the return process and increase repurchase intention.

Originality/value

This research extends research on lenient policy within the growing e-tailer sector by examining the return experience of the customer and subsequent repurchase intention based on multiple factors.
Good neighbor or good employer?
Authors: Tetrault Sirsly Carol-Ann , Lvina Elena , Ratiu Catalin
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study aims to test Mattingly and Berman’s (2006) taxonomy of social actions and develops divergent expectations for corporate social responsibility (CSR) dimensions directed toward institutional and technical stakeholders, with an aim to determine when CSR directed to different stakeholders is most likely to improve corporate reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

A longitudinal sample of 285 major US corporations was used to quantitatively test the hypotheses. Data was sourced from KLD, Osiris and Fortune MAC.

Findings

Strengths in CSR and actions directed toward technical stakeholders influence corporate reputation in a more profound way, when compared to those directed toward institutional stakeholders. Contrary to the authors’ prediction, institutional concerns do not demonstrate a significant growth or reduction over the five-year period.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a longitudinal test of Mattingly and Berman’s (2006) taxonomy of CSR actions and makes an important methodological contribution by operationalizing CSR not as a continuum from strengths to concerns, rather as two distinct constructs.

Practical implications

Management practice can benefit from a more fine-grained approach to stakeholder expectations and reputation outcomes. The results of this study leverage relevant stakeholder impact while allowing firms to appreciate the change in CSR actions and to measure it accordingly, such that the undesirable status quo that leads to potential loss in reputation growth can be avoided.

Social implications

As organizations explore ways to effectively engage stakeholders for mutual benefit, this research shows how firms can have a positive impact.

Originality/value

This study tests and extends theory through an integrated lens, built on the stakeholder and resource dependence theories, while directing management attention to the broader reputational outcomes of targeted CSR initiatives. It provides justification for CSR investments over time.
Islamic banking and finance: potential approach for economic sustainability in China
Authors: Sarker Md Nazirul Islam , Khatun Most Nilufa , Alam GM Monirul
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the unique aspects of Islamic finance and its role in economic development. It also explores the suitability of Islamic finance in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explores the potential of Islamic banking and finance for economic sustainability in China. This study adopts the content analysis approach and focuses on various aspects of finance. Moreover, a critical investigation has been done by using various indicators of a new finance system adoption by considering the economic, cultural, religious and political aspects of China.

Findings

The study reveals that China already tested Islamic finance on a pilot basis in Ningxia, China. China is suitably positioned to adopt Islamic finance for its economic development. It also reports that Islamic finance will be more helpful to implement One Belt One Road initiative of China, as the Gulf and Arab Islamic finance-based countries are the major partners of China. This study analyzes Islamic micro-finance literature and proposes suitable measures for adoption in China.

Practical implications

Despite some limitations, the findings have a large implication on Islamic financing in general. It will be helpful to researchers and practitioners to understand the Islamic finance model for implementing it in a new environment.

Social implications

This study analyzes the demand, rules and regulations, related challenges and potential of launching Islamic banking and finance in China.

Originality/value

This study analyzes the demand, rules and regulations, related challenges and potential of launching Islamic banking and finance in China. The paper fills a gap to the existing literature on Islamic finance uniqueness, challenges and opportunities from the perspective of a non-Muslim country.
An organizational approach to understanding police response to cybercrime
Authors: Nowacki Jeffrey , Willits Dale
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use Maguire’s (2003) theory of police organizations to explain whether police agencies dedicate specific personnel to cybercrime response.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from this study come from the 2013 Law Enforcement Management and Statistics survey. Maguire’s (2003) theory of the organizational structure of police organizations is used to measure organizational variables related to context, complexity and control. Logistic regression is used to examine whether these organizational characteristics are related to cybercrime response.

Findings

The results suggest that organizational context, complexity and control are related to cybercrime response. Specifically, in terms of context, larger agencies, agencies whose officers engage in more non-routine tasks, and agencies governed by an active collective bargaining agreement are more likely to dedicate specific resources to cybercrime. In terms of complexity, agencies with more hierarchical layers, agencies that utilize more specialization and agencies that make greater use of civilian employees are more likely to dedicate specific personnel to cybercrime. Finally, regarding control, agencies that assign non-sworn personnel to administrative tasks are more likely to dedicate resources to cybercrime response.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to use this framework to examine the relationship between organizational characteristics and cybercrime response. It shows that this perspective can be useful for understanding police organizations and police policies, programs and strategies.
The measurement of flow and social flow at work: a 30-year systematic review of the literature
Authors: de Moura Jr Pedro Jácome , Porto Bellini Carlo Gabriel
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review three decades of the literature on flow measurement and propose issues to advance research on the measurement of social flow at work.

Design/methodology/approach

In a systematic literature review, the authors analyzed 143 articles published in the first three decades (1983–2013) of scholarly publications on flow measurement, of which 84 articles used scales to measure flow and 16 articles used scales to measure flow at work.

Findings

The main findings are: flow is frequently measured in association with other constructs or by means of proxies; flow measurement is highly dependent on a study’s purposes and context; flow is mostly studied at the level of the individual and, when studied beyond the individual, the measurement of flow in groups is simplified as an aggregation of individual-level measures; and social flow at work is an underresearched construct that nevertheless impacts organizations in important ways, thus deserving a specific research agenda.

Research limitations/implications

The first limitation refers to the databases included in the review. There is always the possibility that important works were ignored. Another limitation is that the coding procedure was highly dependent on the authors’ discretion, as it did not include independent coding and formal assessment of agreement among coders. But the greatest limitation may refer to our very perspectives on flow, flow measurement and social flow at work, as they are highly attached to current models instead of seeing the issues with different lenses. This limitation is also present in the literature.

Practical implications

Reviewing three decades of scholarly publications on how flow has been measured contributes to organizations in their planning for person-job fit. The measurement of flow can reveal if and when flow correlates with personal characteristics and organizational events, thus serving to inform initiatives on personnel development, acculturation and job design. However, considering that flow as a social phenomenon has been conceived in superficial terms, that a vast number of empirical studies were developed with non-professional subjects, and that flow measurement involves significant adaptations to each situation, organizations are thus advised to be careful in adopting extant instruments.

Originality/value

This study provides a rich account on how flow measurement has been addressed in the scholarly literature, and it calls attention to research opportunities on social flow at work.
Career dynamics in India
Authors: Baruch Yehuda , Bhaskar A. Uday , Mishra Bijaya
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a career-orientation and employability-focused model in the Indian context in order to understand: factors influencing employability of graduates factors influencing expected salary gain.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers adopted a quantitative method using a two-wave survey with a sample of MBA graduates from two prominent business schools in India. The total sample size for Wave I was 250, while for Wave II it was 161. The model was tested via hierarchical regression with MBA contribution as a moderator.

Findings

Results indicate the relevance of protean career orientation (PCO) to reaching career outcomes such as employability, with MBA contribution as a moderator.

Practical implications

The study provides a new perspective that would enhance graduates’ employability. This makes it relevant for both individuals and higher education institutions as it will help both individuals and higher education institutions to attain competitiveness at the national level.

Originality/value

The career theory was extended to the diverse socio-cultural and economic context of India, representing the BRICS economy.
Information asymmetry in CSR reporting: publicly-traded versus privately-held firms
Authors: Hickman L. Emily
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the motivations behind the publication of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, and particularly the effect of information asymmetry between firms and their owners.

Design/methodology/approach

A natural experiment contrasting the CSR reporting of private vs public firms is used to test whether the degree of information asymmetry is a significant factor in the decision to publish CSR reports. Using a hand-collected sample of the 239 largest US private companies matched with publicly-traded firms, the effect of these inherently different information environments on CSR reporting is tested through logistic regression. Factors suggested by stakeholder and legitimacy theories are tested for their differential impact on private vs public firms’ decisions to publish a CSR report.

Findings

Results indicate that private firms are less likely to publish a CSR report than similar public firms. Public firms also follow Global Reporting Initiative guidelines more frequently, consistent with signaling report quality to dispersed investors. A subsample of private companies facing greater information asymmetry is found to be similar to public firms in their reporting behavior, reinforcing the link between information asymmetry and CSR disclosure. Further analysis suggests that non-owner stakeholders play an important role in private companies’ CSR reporting decisions.

Practical implications

In addition to accounting and governance scholars, the findings should interest private firm managers preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), as the evidence suggests that CSR reporting is used to communicate information to dispersed investors. The insight into reporting motivations should be useful to accountants engaged in CSR consultation and assurance.

Social implications

With the growing attention paid to the CSR performance of firms, demonstrated by the growth in socially responsible investing, the study provides evidence that effective communication of CSR information to investors may play a key role in CSR-engaged firms’ disclosure strategies.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first to analyze the CSR reporting decisions of a large sample of publicly-traded and privately-held firms. The results add to our understanding of what motivates firms to publish CSR reports, highlighting the importance of information asymmetry between the firm and its owners.
Beneficial microbes ameliorate abiotic and biotic sources of stress on plants
Authors: Porter Stephanie S. , Bantay Roxanne , Friel Colleen A. , Garoutte Aaron , Gdanetz Kristi , Ibarreta Kathleen , Moore Bethany M. , Shetty Prateek , Siler Eleanor , Friesen Maren L.
Published: December 2019

Global climate change and shifting land‐use are increasing plant stress due to abiotic factors such as drought, heat, salinity and cold, as well as via the intensification of biotic stressors such as herbivores and pathogens. The ability of plants to tolerate such stresses is modulated by the bacteria and fungi that live on or inside of plant tissues and comprise the plant microbiome. However, the impacts of diverse classes of beneficial members of the microbiome and the contrasting stresses that impact plants are most commonly studied independently of each other.

Our meta‐analysis of 288 experiments across 89 studies moves beyond previous studies in that we simultaneously compare the roles of bacterial versus fungal microbiome members that live within plant tissues and colonize plant surfaces in ameliorating biotic versus abiotic sources of plant stress.

The magnitude of microbial stress amelioration can be measured as the greater proportional impact of beneficial microbes on plant performance in more stressful environments. In the plant experiments we examine, the magnitude of microbial stress amelioration is substantial: it is 23% of the effect size of the typical impact of stress and 56% of the effect size of beneficial microbiome members in the absence of stress.

The amount of benefit microbiome members confer to plants differs among classes of microbes, depending on whether plants are grown in stressful or non‐stressful environments. In the absence of stress, beneficial bacteria tend to confer greater plant benefits than do fungi. However, symbiotic fungi, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, more strongly ameliorate plant stress than do bacteria. In particular, beneficial microbes ameliorate salinity, foliar herbivory and fungal pathogen stress.

These results highlight the fact that the impacts of beneficial and antagonistic components of the microbiome on plant performance depend on biotic and abiotic environmental contexts. Furthermore, beneficial microbes are especially critical for plant health in stressful environments and thus present opportunities to mitigate negative consequences of global change.

A free plain language summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
High ecosystem service delivery potential of small woodlands in agricultural landscapes
Authors: Valdés Alicia , Lenoir Jonathan , De Frenne Pieter , Andrieu Emilie , Brunet Jörg , Chabrerie Olivier , Cousins Sara A. O. , Deconchat Marc , De Smedt Pallieter , Diekmann Martin , Ehrmann Steffen , Gallet‐Moron Emilie , Gärtner Stefanie , Giffard Brice , Hansen Karin , Hermy Martin , Kolb Annette , Le Roux Vincent , Liira Jaan , Lindgren Jessica , Martin Ludmilla , Naaf Tobias , Paal Taavi , Proesmans Willem , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Wulf Monika , Verheyen Kris , Decocq Guillaume
Published: December 2019

Global forest loss and fragmentation have strongly increased the frequency of forest patches smaller than a few hectares. Little is known about the biodiversity and ecosystem service supply potential of such small woodlands in comparison to larger forests. As it is widely recognized that high biodiversity levels increase ecosystem functionality and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services, small, isolated woodlands are expected to have a lower potential for ecosystem service delivery than large forests hosting more species.

We collected data on the diversity of six taxonomic groups covering invertebrates, plants and fungi, and on the supply potential of five ecosystem services and one disservice within 224 woodlands distributed across temperate Europe. We related their ability to simultaneously provide multiple ecosystem services (multiservice delivery potential) at different performance levels to biodiversity of all studied taxonomic groups (multidiversity), forest patch size and age, as well as habitat availability and connectivity within the landscape, while accounting for macroclimate, soil properties and forest structure.

Unexpectedly, despite their lower multidiversity, smaller woodlands had the potential to deliver multiple services at higher performance levels per area than larger woodlands of similar age, probably due to positive edge effects on the supply potential of several ecosystem services.

Biodiversity only affected multiservice delivery potential at a low performance level as well as some individual ecosystem services. The importance of other drivers of ecosystem service supply potential by small woodlands in agricultural landscapes also depended on the level of performance and varied with the individual ecosystem service considered.

Synthesis and applications. Large, ancient woodlands host high levels of biodiversity and can therefore deliver a number of ecosystem services. In contrast, smaller woodlands in agricultural landscapes, especially ancient woodlands, have a higher potential to deliver multiple ecosystem services on a per area basis. Despite their important contribution to agricultural landscape multifunctionality, small woodlands are not currently considered by public policies. There is thus an urgent need for targeted policy instruments to ensure their adequate management and future conservation in order to either achieve multiservice delivery at high levels or to maximize the delivery of specific ecosystem services.
Of squatting amid capitalism on Yangon's industrial periphery
Authors: CAMPBELL STEPHEN
Published: December 2019

Across major cities throughout the world, inflated real‐estate markets continue to exacerbate crises of affordable housing. Amid such conditions, squatting has emerged as a means to claim urban residence while bypassing the rule of property, resulting in densely populated informal settlements stretched along urban peripheries, most notably in the Global South. But in what respect might squatting be said to have anti‐capitalist content? But does the challenge squatting poses to private property mean the practice is unambiguously anti‐capitalist? The case presented here illustrates how squatting – initially a challenge to the rule of private property – becomes imbricated with wider relations of extraction and rule and with the broader capitalist context more generally.
Introducing the Longitudinal Multi‐Agency Data Integration Project and Its Role in Understanding Income Dynamics in Australia
Authors: Biddle Nicholas , Breunig Robert , Markham Francis , Wokker Chris
Published: December 2019

The opening up of access to data from the Multi‐Agency Data Integration Project provides an opportunity to fill a number of research gaps on inequality in Australia. Our paper begins the external validation of these data, focusing on what the data can tell us about the distribution, dynamics and determinants of income in Australia. It has the potential to shed new light on these aspects, but the dataset should be used with caution, taking into account some key limitations, including incomplete linkage and more limited income information for those who do not complete a tax return.
Deregulation reforms, resource reallocation and aggregate productivity growth in the Australian dairy industry
Authors: Sheng Yu , Chancellor Will , Jackson Thomas
Published: December 2019

Deregulation reforms in the Australian dairy industry had long‐lasting repercussions for Australian agriculture and the wider Australian economy. Using farm‐level data from 1979 to 2013, we investigate the effect of these reforms on productivity in the Australian dairy industry which arose from correcting resource misallocation between farms and across segregated state milk markets. Our results demonstrate that after the dairy reforms in 2000, relative market share shifted from less productive farms to more productive ones, and between farms using different production systems – generating additional productivity gains for the farm sector, but imposing some costs on downstream manufacturers by strengthening the seasonality of milk supply. Lessons from the Australian experience provide timely guidance for those countries exploring deregulation now or in the future to improve the industry‐level agricultural productivity growth through facilitating resource reallocation from less efficient to more efficient farms.
Induction of labour using prostaglandin E2 as an inpatient versus balloon catheter as an outpatient: a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Beckmann M , Gibbons K , Flenady V , Kumar S
Published: December 2019

Objective

To compare clinical outcomes following induction of labour (IOL) using a balloon catheter and going home, versus prostaglandin (PG) as an inpatient.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Eight Australian maternity hospitals.

Population

Women with uncomplicated term singleton pregnancies undergoing IOL for low‐risk indications including post‐term, advanced maternal age and ‘social’ reasons.

Methods

Between September 2015 and October 2018, 347 women were randomised to a balloon outpatient group and 348 to a PG inpatient group. The PG group received Dinoprostone, either 2 mg gel or 10 mg controlled‐release tape. The balloon group had a double‐balloon catheter inserted and went home.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was a composite neonatal measure comprising nursery admission, intubation/cardiac compressions, acidaemia, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, seizure, infection, pulmonary hypertension, stillbirth or death. Clinical and process outcomes are reported.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the primary outcome comparing balloon with PG (18.6% versus 25.8%; relative risk = 0.77, 95% CI 0.51–1.02; P = 0.070), cord arterial pH <7.10 (3.5% versus 9.2%; P = 0.072), nursery admissions (12.6% versus 15.5%; P = 0.379), neonatal antibiotic use (12.1% versus 17.6%; P = 0.103), or mode of birth. Nulliparous women in the balloon group had lower rates of the primary outcome (20.4% versus 31.0%;P = 0.032); Parous women were less likely to have an unassisted vaginal birth (77.6% versus 92.3%; P = 0.045).

Conclusions

Balloon catheters may be a superior method of cervical priming for nulliparous women, whereas this may not be the case for parous women. It is feasible that nulliparous women go home after commencing balloon catheter IOL, and the likelihood of adverse outcomes is low.

Tweetable abstract

Multicentre trial shows outpatient induction using balloon catheter is safe and feasible for nulliparous women.
Yield Variability and Harvest Failures in Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan and Their Possible Impact on Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Araujo‐Enciso Sergio René , Fellmann Thomas
Published: December 2019

Exports from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan (RUK) help to improve global wheat availability and, hence, global food security. During the past 15 years, however, RUK wheat exports have shown high variability, mainly because they have been repeatedly diminished by severe harvest failures. We present an outlook for RUK wheat production and exports up to 2027, taking into account possible yield variability and harvest failures, and focusing on the impact on food security in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the world’s major wheat importing region. For the analysis we use the stochastic version of the Aglink‐Cosimo model. Simulation results show that wheat yields in RUK are a major source of uncertainty for international wheat markets. The projected substantial increases in world market prices due to limited RUK wheat exports threaten food security in MENA and highlight the need for both stabilising RUK yields and novel complementary food security approaches to decrease MENA’s vulnerability to disruptions in agricultural world markets.
Wing‐fanning frequency as a releaser boosting male mating success—High‐speed video analysis of courtship behavior in Campoplex capitator, a parasitoid of Lobesia botrana
Authors: Benelli Giovanni , Ricciardi Renato , Romano Donato , Cosci Francesca , Stefanini Cesare , Lucchi Andrea
Published: December 2019

Campoplex capitator is an ichneumonid parasitoid with a narrow host range, comprising grapevine moth pests. Despite being considered one of the possible candidates for biocontrol of Lobesia botrana, knowledge about its biology is limited and mass‐rearing for commercial purposes is still lacking. This research provides a quantitative analysis of the C. capitator courtship and mating behavior. C. capitator mating sequence was analyzed by high‐speed video recordings. Main behavioral parameters, with special reference to male wing fanning and antennal tapping, were quantified and linked with mating success. Furthermore, we analyzed the occurrence of population‐level behavioral asymmetries during C. capitator sexual interactions and their impact on male success. Results showed that male wing fanning was crucial to successfully approach the female. Males achieving higher mating success performed wing‐fanning at higher frequencies over unsuccessful ones. After wing fanning, most of males palpated the female's body with their antennae, before attempting copulation. The overall mating success was >70%, with a rather long copula duration (254.76 ± 14.21 s). Male wing‐fanning was lateralized on the left at population level, while antennal tapping displays were right‐biased. Side‐biased male displays do not differ in terms of frequency and duration of their main features. This research adds basic knowledge to the C. capitator behavioral ecology. Since rearing protocols for C. capitator are being developed, male wing fanning frequency may represent a useful benchmark for monitoring mate quality over time, tackling mating success reductions due to prolonged mass‐rearing.
A machine learning analysis of citation impact among selected Pacific Basin journals
Authors: Jones Stewart , Alam Nurul
Published: December 2019

This study uses a machine learning approach to identify and predict factors which influence citation impacts across five Pacific Basin journals: Abacus, Accounting & Finance, Australian Journal of Management, Australian Accounting Review and the Pacific Accounting Review from 2008 to 2018. The machine learning results indicate that citation impact is mostly influenced by: length of a journal article; the field of research (particularly environmental accounting), sample size; whether the sample is local or international; choice of research method (e.g., archival vs survey/interview); academic rank of the first author; institutional status of the first author; and number of authors of the article. The results may be useful for predicting future trends in citation impact as well as providing strategies for authors and editors to improve citation impact.
Guidelines for safe transfer of the brain‐injured patient: trauma and stroke, 2019
Authors: Nathanson M. H. , Andrzejowski J. , Dinsmore J. , Eynon C.A. , Ferguson K. , Hooper T. , Kashyap A. , Kendall J. , McCormack V. , Shinde S. , Smith A. , Thomas E.
Published: December 2019

The location of care for many brain‐injured patients has changed since 2012 following the development of major trauma centres. Advances in management of ischaemic stroke have led to the urgent transfer of many more patients. The basis of care has remained largely unchanged, however, with emphasis on maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion as the key to preventing secondary injury. Organisational aspects and training for transfers are highlighted, and we have included an expanded section on paediatric transfers. We have also provided a table with suggested blood pressure parameters for the common types of brain injury but acknowledge that there is little evidence for many of our recommendations. These guidelines remain a mix of evidence‐based and consensus‐based statements. We have received assistance from many organisations representing clinicians who care for these patients, and we believe our views represent the best of current thinking and opinion. We encourage departments to review their own practice using our suggestions for audit and quality improvement.
Third‐trimester prediction of successful vaginal birth after one cesarean delivery—A Swedish model
Authors: Carlsson Fagerberg Marie , Källén Karin
Published: December 2019

Introduction

The objective was to create a clinically useful prediction model for vaginal birth in trial of labor after one cesarean section, appropriate for a third trimester consultation.

Material and methods

Women with one cesarean section and at least one following delivery (N = 38 686) in the Swedish Medical Birth Register, 1998‐2013, were studied. The women were randomly divided into one development and one validation data set. From the development data set, variables associated with vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) were identified by univariable logistic regression. Stepwise backward selection was performed until all variables were statistically significant. From the final fitted multivariable logistic model, likelihood ratios were calculated, in order to transpose odds ratios into clinically useful measurements. A constant, based on the delivery ward VBAC in trial of labor rate, was used. By applying the likelihood ratios on the validation data set, the VBAC chance for each woman was estimated with the Bayesian theorem, and the ability of the model to predict VBAC was explored using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.

Results

A previous VBAC, and a previous cesarean section for non‐cephalic presentation, were the strongest VBAC predictors. The lowest chances were found for a previous cesarean section due to dystocia, and among women with <18 months since the last cesarean section. The area under the ROC curve was 0.67.

Conclusions

The new model was satisfactory in predicting VBAC in trial of labor. Developed as a software application, it would become a clinically useful decision‐aid.
Applied anatomy, pathophysiology and a revised scoring system of bull sheaths
Authors: Irons Peter Charles
Published: December 2019

The sheath and prepuce are anatomically simple yet vital parts of the mating apparatus of the bull. They are also susceptible to a range of insults, and pathology of these structures is a common cause of infertility in both Bos taurus and Bos indicus bulls. Significant individual and breed‐based variation occurs in the looseness of the skin, the presence and development of preputial muscles, the relative position of the opening to the cranial preputial muscles, the length of the prepuce, and the prominence of the umbilicus. Individual and breed‐based susceptibility to different conditions is associated with these anatomical variations. Regardless of the cause, pathology of the prepuce generally results in sepsis, prolapse, stenosis or adhesions or a combination. Clinical examination should be aimed at determining the extent of these processes and the amount of healthy prepuce which would remain following successful treatment. The inclusion of evaluation of sheath conformation in the form of a sheath score is recommended. Current scoring systems do not reflect the diversity of predisposing factors to morbidity and may therefore fail to accurately reflect the risk of morbidity. A more detailed scoring system has been proposed. Further refinement of this system is outlined, consisting of a composite of scores for depth, umbilical skin fold, prepuce eversion, and distance from cranial muscle to opening (the ‘Y’ factor). Validation against actual bull performance is indicated to develop a valid and useful risk‐management tool for use in evaluating sheath conformation.
Savannah trees buffer herbaceous plant biomass against wild and domestic herbivores
Authors: Smith Stuart William , Graae Bente Jessen , Bukombe John , Hassan Shombe Ntaraluka , Lyamuya Richard Daniel , Jacob Mtweve Philipo , Treydte Anna Christina , Speed James David Mervyn
Published: December 2019

Questions

Given the growing abundance and dominance of domestic herbivores in savannah ecosystems, can trees maintain plant herbaceous standing biomass under increasing herbivore pressure? Are there differences in the capacity of leguminous and non‐leguminous trees in sustaining understory herbaceous biomass? And finally, to what extent does plant community composition underneath trees modulate the effects of herbivore assemblage and abundance on herbaceous biomass?

Location

Pasturelands and protected areas along the borders of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, East Africa.

Method

Monthly herbaceous biomass was monitored non‐destructively using a calibrated pasture disc. Measurements were taken within a network of paired exclosures and open plots, underneath large leguminous and non‐leguminous tree canopies and outside canopies. Herbivore community assemblage compositions and abundances were characterised using monthly dung counts, and herbaceous plant community composition was surveyed annually every wet season over two years.

Results

Overall, we found that trees promote herbaceous standing biomass, particularly in the presence of moderate herbivory rather than under herbivore exclusion. Greater herbivore abundance and livestock dominance reduced herbaceous plant biomass, but trees, particularly leguminous trees, limited these negative effects. This capacity for trees to limit the effect of herbivores was related to herbaceous plant species composition. Understory plant communities that were compositionally typical of protected areas sustained the highest plant biomass when found in pasturelands with high herbivore pressure.

Conclusion

Our findings give greater credence to the importance of preserving large trees in savannah landscapes increasingly dominated by high abundances of livestock. Moreover, our results highlight that park managers and pastoralists need to maintain the specialist herbaceous understory community beneath trees in order to benefit from facilitative tree–understory interactions.
Deep‐water sediment transport patterns and basin floor topography in early rift basins: Plio‐Pleistocene syn‐rift of the Corinth Rift, Greece
Authors: Muravchik Martin , Henstra Gijs A. , Eliassen Gauti T. , Gawthorpe Rob L. , Leeder Mike , Kranis Haralambos , Skourtsos Emmanuel , Andrews Julian
Published: December 2019

Our current understanding on sedimentary deep‐water environments is mainly built of information obtained from tectonic settings such as passive margins and foreland basins. More observations from extensional settings are particularly needed in order to better constrain the role of active tectonics in controlling sediment pathways, depositional style and stratigraphic stacking patterns. This study focuses on the evolution of a Plio‐Pleistocene deep‐water sedimentary system (Rethi‐Dendro Formation) and its relation to structural activity in the Amphithea fault block in the Corinth Rift, Greece. The Corinth Rift is an active extensional basin in the early stages of rift evolution, providing perfect opportunities for the study of early deep‐water syn‐rift deposits that are usually eroded from the rift shoulders due to erosion in mature basins like the Red Sea, North Sea and the Atlantic rifted margin. The depocentre is located at the exit of a structurally controlled sediment fairway, approximately 15 km from its main sediment source and 12 km basinwards from the basin margin coastline. Fieldwork, augmented by digital outcrop techniques (LiDAR and photogrammetry) and clast‐count compositional analysis allowed identification of 16 stratigraphic units that are grouped into six types of depositional elements: A—mudstone‐dominated sheets, B—conglomerate‐dominated lobes, C—conglomerate channel belts and sandstone sheets, D—sandstone channel belts, E—sandstone‐dominated broad shallow lobes, F—sandstone‐dominated sheets with broad shallow channels. The formation represents an axial system sourced by a hinterland‐fed Mavro delta, with minor contributions from a transverse system of conglomerate‐dominated lobes sourced from intrabasinal highs. The results of clast compositional analysis enable precise attribution for the different sediment sources to the deep‐water system and their link to other stratigraphic units in the area. Structures in the Amphithea fault block played a major role in controlling the location and orientation of sedimentary systems by modifying basin‐floor gradients due to a combination of hangingwall tilt, displacement of faults internal to the depocentre and folding on top of blind growing faults. Fault activity also promoted large‐scale subaqueous landslides and eventual uplift of the whole fault block.
A decision framework to identify populations that are most vulnerable to the population level effects of disturbance
Authors: Wilson Lindsay J. , Harwood John , Booth Cormac G. , Joy Ruth , Harris Catriona M.
Published: December 2019

We present a decision framework to identify when detailed population‐level assessments are required to understand the potential impacts of a disturbance‐inducing activity on a marine mammal population and discuss how the framework can be applied to other taxa. Species at high risk of population‐level effects can be identified using information on the number of individuals that are likely to be disturbed by the activity, total population size, the probability of repeated disturbance, the species' reproductive strategy, and the life stages (e.g., feeding, pregnant, and lactating) of the individuals most likely to be exposed. This hierarchical approach provides those responsible for conducting impact assessments with a time‐efficient, cost‐effective and reproducible workflow that allows them to prioritize their efforts and assign funds to those species with the most pressing conservation needs. A fully worked case study using marine mammals in the vicinity of a naval training activity is supplied.
Decision Assessment Algorithms for Location and Capacity Optimization under Resource Shortages
Authors: Ramirez‐Nafarrate Adrian , Araz Ozgur M. , Fowler John W.
Published: December 2019

Emergency response preparedness requires strategic and operational planning. As natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism continue to threaten public health and the global economic system, policy makers and businesses develop plans for improving their readiness. These emergencies present challenging problems that require evaluation of several trade‐offs due to insufficient resources and capacity with limited response time pressure. Finding an optimal strategy to these problems can be computationally difficult, since they are formulated as large‐scale service network design models with location‐allocation decisions. The facility location problems in disaster management literature are typically known as ‐hard problems. Therefore, heuristic algorithms can help find practically feasible solutions, but decision makers may have to sacrifice one of their objectives while trying to satisfy multiple of them. This paper presents a flexible algorithm to evaluate trade‐offs in resource scarce situations with a given response time. We formulate the location‐allocation problem with capacity and time constraints, and the objective of minimizing the service time for individuals in an affected area. Due to the complexity to solve the problem for large‐scale scenarios, the presented algorithm relaxes capacity and time constraints, simultaneously, and presents flexibility to assess trade‐offs. A modified NSGA‐II algorithm is used with a penalty function formulated to leverage resources. We analyze how values of the penalty parameters interact with a number of open sites in defining an efficient resource allocation strategy. Therefore, decision makers can expand their choices to design an emergency response network with their preferences taken into consideration.
Educational weight loss interventions in obese and overweight adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Maula A. , Kai J. , Woolley A. K. , Weng S. , Dhalwani N. , Griffiths F. E. , Khunti K. , Kendrick D.
Published: December 2019

Aim

The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing, with most individuals with the disease being overweight or obese. Weight loss can reduce disease‐related morbidity and mortality and weight losses of 10–15 kg have been shown to reverse type 2 diabetes. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness of community‐based educational interventions for weight loss in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This is a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) in obese or overweight adults, aged 18–75 years, with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Primary outcomes were weight and/or BMI. CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from inception to June 2019. Trials were classified into specified a priori comparisons according to intervention type. A pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) (from baseline to follow‐up) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) between trial groups (difference‐in‐difference) were estimated through random‐effects meta‐analyses using the inverse variance method. Heterogeneity was quantified using I2 and publication bias was explored visually using funnel plots.

Results

Some 7383 records were screened; 228 full‐text articles were assessed and 49 RCTs (n = 12 461 participants) were included in this review, with 44 being suitable for inclusion into the meta‐analysis. Pooled estimates of education combined with low‐calorie, low‐carbohydrate meal replacements (SMD = –2.48, 95% CI –3.59, –1.49, I2 = 98%) or diets (SMD = –1.25, 95% CI –2.11, –0.39, I2 = 95%) or low‐fat meal replacements (SMD = –1.15, 95%CI –2.05, –1.09, I2 = 85%) appeared most effective.

Conclusion

Low‐calorie, low‐carbohydrate meal replacements or diets combined with education appear the most promising interventions to achieve the largest weight and BMI reductions in people with type 2 diabetes.
Cross‐scale drivers of plant trait distributions in a fragmented forest landscape
Authors: Jin Yi , Didham Raphael K. , Yuan Jinfeng , Hu Guang , Yu Jingjing , Zheng Shilu , Yu Mingjian
Published: December 2019

During community assembly, plant functional traits are under selective pressure from processes operating at multiple spatial scales. However, in fragmented landscapes, there is little understanding of the relative importance of local‐, patch‐ and landscape‐scale processes in shaping trait distributions. Here, we investigate cross‐scale influences of landscape change on traits that dictate plant life history strategies in re‐assembling plant communities in a fragmented landscape in eastern China. Using forest dynamics plots (FDPs) on 29 land‐bridge islands in which all woody plants have been georeferenced and identified to species, we characterized and derived two composite measures of trait variation, representing variation across the leaf economics spectrum and plant size. We then tested for trait shifts in response to local‐, patch‐ and landscape‐scale factors, and their potential cross‐scale interactions. We found substantial community‐wide trait changes along local‐scale gradients (i.e. forest edge to interior): more acquisitive leaf economic traits and larger sized species occurred at edges, with a significant increase in trait means and trait range. Moreover, there were significant cross‐scale interaction effects of patch and landscape variables on local‐scale edge effects. Altered spatial arrangement of habitat in the surrounding landscape (i.e. declining habitat amount and increasing patch density), as well as decreasing area at the patch level, exacerbated edge effects on traits distributions. We suggest that synergistic interactions of landscape‐ and patch‐scale processes, such as dispersal limitation, on local‐scale environmental filtering at edges, together shape the spatial distributions of plant life history strategies in fragmented plant communities.