bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Inadequacies in HIV‐infected and Uninfected School‐aged Children in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Shiau Stephanie , Webber Acadia , Strehlau Renate , Patel Faeezah , Coovadia Ashraf , Kozakowski Samantha , Brodlie Susan , Yin Michael T. , Kuhn Louise , Arpadi Stephen M.
Published: March 2017

Objectives:

The World Health Organization recommends that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐infected children increase energy intake and maintain a balanced macronutrient distribution for optimal growth and nutrition. Few studies have evaluated dietary intake of HIV‐infected children in resource‐limited settings.

Methods:

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis of the dietary intake of 220 perinatally HIV‐infected children and 220 HIV‐uninfected controls ages 5 to 9 years in Johannesburg, South Africa. A standardized 24‐hour recall questionnaire and software developed specifically for the South African population were used to estimate intake of energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients. Intake was categorized based on recommendations by the World Health Organization and Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges established by the IOM.

Results:

The overall mean age was 6.7 years and 51.8% were boys. Total energy intake was higher in HIV‐infected than HIV‐uninfected children (1341 vs 1196 kcal/day, P = 0.002), but proportions below the recommended energy requirement were similar in the 2 groups (82.5% vs 85.2%, P = 0.45). Overall, 51.8% of the macronutrient energy intake was from carbohydrates, 13.2% from protein, and 30.8% from fat. The HIV‐infected group had a higher percentage of their energy intake from carbohydrates and lower percentage from protein compared with the HIV‐uninfected group. Intakes of folate, vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, iodine, and selenium were suboptimal for both groups.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that the typical diet of HIV‐infected children and uninfected children in Johannesburg, South Africa, does not meet energy or micronutrient requirements. There appear to be opportunities for interventions to improve dietary intake for both groups.
Pediatric Patient With Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated by Successive Antiangiogenics Drugs: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Jiménez Irene , Brisse Hervé J. , Fréneaux Paul , Sarnacki Sabine , Michon Jean , Orbach Daniel , Pierron Gaelle , Clément Nathalie , Doz François , Escudier Bernard , Schleiermacher Gudrun
Published: March 2017

Antiangiogenic drugs are currently standard of care in adults with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), including translocation RCC. Although antitumor activity and toxicity profile are well known in adults, few data have been reported in children. Here we present the case of a patient diagnosed at 2 years old with a metastatic translocation RCC, consecutively treated with 5 tyrosine kinase inhibitors during 6 years. The antitumor activity and toxic effects are described, and a brief review of the literature is presented.
Misuse of Pediatric Medications and Parent-Physician Communication: An Interactive Voice Response Intervention
Authors: Walsh Kathleen E. , Bacic Janine , Phillips Barrett D. , Adams William G.
Published: March 2017

Background

Children take 1 medication each week on average at home. Better communication between parents and providers could support safer home medication use and prevent misuse of pediatric medications, such as intentional underdosing or overdosing. Our primary objective was to assess the impact of an interactive voice response system on parent-provider communication about medications.

Methods

Parents of children 4 months to 11 years of age with upcoming well child visits were invited to call our interactive voice response system, called Personal Health Partner (PHP), which asked questions about the child’s health and medication use. Responding parents were randomized to either PHP (interview and counseling) or control (injury prevention survey). Parents’ responses were embedded in the electronic health record. After the physical visit, research assistants performed a phone follow-up survey.

Results

Of 475 parents, including 293 PHPs and 182 controls, 93% were women. We found a high prevalence of misuse of medications: 14% reported underdosing (n = 63) fever-reducer medications and 3% reported overdosing (n = 13). Twenty percent (n = 37) of the 190 children younger than 3 years had received cold medication. Thirty-three percent (n = 19) of 62 PHP parents of children on prescription medications reported nonadherence. Among children on prescription medications, PHP significantly increased discussion of medications at the physical, but not the number who brought medications to the visit; it had no impact on those not on prescription medications.

Conclusions

Pediatric medication misuse was common in this study. Use of a previsit interactive voice response system increased medication-related communication during visits and supports the need for systems that better prepare patients for visits and improve medication-related patient-physician communication.
Assessing the efficiency of catch-up campaigns for introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; a modelling study based on data from Kilifi, Kenya
Authors: Flasche Stefan , Ojal John , de Waroux Olivier Le Polain , Otiende Mark , O’Brien Katherine L. , Kiti Moses , James Nokes D. , John Edmunds W , Scott J. Anthony G.
Published: March 2017

Background

The World Health Organisation recommends the use of catch-up campaigns as part of the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) to accelerate herd protection and hence PCV impact. The value of a catch-up campaign is a trade-off between the costs of vaccinating additional age groups and the benefit of additional direct and indirect protection. There is a paucity of observational data, particularly from low-middle income countries to quantify the optimal breadth of such catch-up campaigns.

Methods

In Kilifi, Kenya PCV10 was introduced in 2011 using the 3-dose EPI infant schedule and a catch-up campaign in children <5 years old. We fitted a transmission dynamic model to detailed local data including nasopharyngeal carriage and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) to infer the marginal impact of the PCV catch-up campaign over hypothetical routine cohort vaccination in that setting, and to estimate the likely impact of alternative campaigns and their dose-efficiency.

Results

We estimated that, within 10 years of introduction, the catch-up campaign among <5y olds prevents an additional 65 (48 to 84) IPD cases, compared to PCV cohort introduction alone. Vaccination without any catch-up campaign prevented 155 (121 to 193) IPD cases and used 1321 (1058 to 1698) PCV doses per IPD case prevented. In the years after implementation, the PCV programme gradually accrues herd protection and hence its dose-efficiency increases: 10 years after the start of cohort vaccination alone the programme used 910 (732 to 1184) doses per IPD case averted. We estimated that a two-dose catch-up among <1y olds uses an additional 910 (732 to 1184) doses per additional IPD case averted. Furthermore, by extending a single dose catch-up campaign to children 1 to <2y old and subsequently to 2 to <5y olds the campaign uses an additional 412 (296 to 606) and 543 (403 to 763) doses per additional IPD case averted. These results were not sensitive to vaccine coverage, serotype competition, the duration of vaccine protection or the relative protection of infants.

Conclusions

We find that catch-up campaigns are a highly dose-efficient way to accelerate population protection against pneumococcal disease.
Approach to insect wing shape and deformation field measurement
Authors: Yin Duo , Wei Zhen , Wang Zeyu
Published: March 2017

Summary Statement

A fine shape and deformation field measurement of insect wing is achieved by a self-developed setup. This measurement could foster investigation of insect wing stiffness distribution.

For measuring the shape and deformation of insect wing, a scanning setup adopting line laser and coaxial LED light is developed. Wing shape can be directly acquired from the line laser images by triangulation. Yet the wing deformation field can also be obtained by a self-devised algorithm that processes the images from line laser and coaxial LED simultaneously. During the experiment, three wing samples from termite and mosquito under concentrated force are scanned. The venation and corrugation could be significantly identified from shape measurement result. The deformation field is sufficiently accurate to demonstrate its variation from wing base to tip. The load conditions in experiments are also be discussed. For softer wings, local deformation is apparent if pinhead is employed to impose force. The similarity analysis is better than 5% deformation ratio as a static criterion, if the wing is simplified as a cantilever beam. The setup is proved to be effective and versatile. The shape and deformation fields would give enough details for the measurement of wing stiffness distribution.
Targeting mononuclear phagocytes for eradicating intracellular parasites
Authors: Rizzello Loris , Robertson James D. , Elks Philip M. , Poma Alessandro , Daneshpour Nooshin , Prajsnar Tomasz K. , Evangelopoulos Dimitrios , Canseco Julio Ortiz , Yona Simon , Marriott Helen M. , Dockrell David H. , Foster Simon J. , De Geest Bruno , De Koker Stefaan , McHugh Timothy , Renshaw Stephen A. , Battaglia Giuseppe
Published: March 2017

Mononuclear phagocytes such as monocytes, tissue-specific macrophages and dendritic cells are primary actors in both innate and adaptive immunity, as well as tissue homoeostasis. They have key roles in a range of physiological and pathological processes, so any strategy targeting these cells will have wide-ranging impact. These phagocytes can be parasitized by intracellular bacteria, turning them from housekeepers to hiding places and favouring chronic and/or disseminated infection. One of the most infamous is the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, which is the most pandemic and one of the deadliest disease with one third of the world’s population infected, and 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2015. Here we demonstrate the effective targeting and intracellular delivery of antibiotics to both circulating monocytes and resident macrophages, using pH sensitive nanoscopic polymersomes made of poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine)-co-poly(2-(di-isopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMPC-PDPA). Polymersome selectivity to mononuclear phagocytes is demonstrated and ascribed to the polymerised phosphorylcholine motifs affinity toward scavenger receptors. Finally, we demonstrate the successful exploitation of this targeting for the effective eradication of intracellular bacteria that cause tuberculosisMycobacterium tuberculosisas well as other intracellular parasites including theMycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium marinumand the most common bacteria associated with antibiotic resistance, theStaphylococcus aureus.
Pan-genome and phylogeny ofBacillus cereus sensu lato
Authors: Bazinet Adam L.
Published: March 2017

Background

Bacillus cereus sensu lato(s. l.) is an ecologically diverse bacterial group of medical and agricultural significance. In this study, I use publicly available genomes to characterize theB. cereus s. l.pan-genome and perform the largest phylogenetic and population genetic analyses of this group to date in terms of the number of genes and taxa included. With these fundamental data in hand, I identify genes associated with particular phenotypic traits (i.e., “pan-GWAS” analysis), and quantify the degree to which taxa sharing common attributes are phylogenetically clustered.

Methods

A rapidk-mer based approach (Mash) was used to create reduced representations of selectedBacillusgenomes, and a fast distance-based phylogenetic analysis of this data (FastME) was performed to determine which species should be included inB. cereus s. l.The complete genomes of eightB. cereus s. l.species were annotated de novo with Prokka, and these annotations were used by Roary to produce theB. cereus s. l.pan-genome. Scoary was used to associate gene presence and absence patterns with various phenotypes. The orthologous protein sequence clusters produced by Roary were filtered and used to build HaMStR databases of gene models that were used in turn to construct phylogenetic data matrices. Phylogenetic analyses used RAxML, DendroPy, ClonalFrameML, PAUP*, and SplitsTree. Bayesian model-based population genetic analysis assigned taxa to clusters using hierBAPS. The genealogical sorting index was used to quantify the phylogenetic clustering of taxa sharing common attributes.

TheB. cereus s. l.pan-genome currently consists of ≈60,000 genes, ≈600 of which are “core” (common to at least 99% of taxa sampled). Pan-GWAS analysis revealed genes associated with phenotypes such as isolation source, oxygen requirement, and ability to cause diseases such as anthrax or food poisoning. Extensive phylogenetic analyses using an unprecedented amount of data produced phylogenies that were largely concordant with each other and with previous studies. Phylogenetic support as measured by bootstrap probabilities increased markedly when all suitable pan-genome data was included in phylogenetic analyses, as opposed to when only core genes were used. Bayesian population genetic analysis recommended subdividing the three major clades ofB. cereus s. l.into nine clusters. Taxa sharing common traits and species designations exhibited varying degrees of phylogenetic clustering.
Predicting Coexistence in Species with Continuous Ontogenetic Niche Shifts and Competitive Asymmetry
Authors: Bassar Ronald D. , Travis Joseph , Coulson Tim
Published: March 2017

A longstanding problem in ecology is whether structured life cycles impede or facilitate coexistence between species. Theory based on populations with two discrete stages in the life-cycle indicates that coexistence requires at least one species to shift its niche between stages and that each species is a better competitor in one of the niches. However, in many cases, niche shifts are associated with changes in an underlying continuous trait like organism size and we have few predictions for how the conditions for coexistence are affected by this type of ontogenetic dynamics. Here we develop a framework for analyzing species coexistence based on Integral Projection Models (IPMs) that incorporates continuous ontogenetic changes in both the resource niche and competitive ability. We parameterize the model using experimental data from Trinidadian guppies and make predictions about how niche shifts and competitive symmetries allow or prevent species coexistence. Overall, our results show that the effects of competition on fitness depend upon trait-mediated niche-separation, trait-mediated competitive asymmetry in the part of the niche that is shared across body sizes, and the sensitivity of fitness to body size. When all three conditions are considered, we find multiple ecological and evolutionary routes to coexistence. When both species can shift their niche with increasing body size and competition for resources among the species and sizes is symmetric, then the species that shifts its niche to a greater degree with ontogeny will competitively exclude the other species. When competitive ability increases with increasing body size, then the two species can coexist when the better competitor shifts its niche with body size to a lesser degree than the weaker competitior. This region of coexistence shrinks as the better competitor increasingly shifts its niche with increasing size. When both species shift their niches with size, but each is a better competitor on resources used by smaller or larger individuals, then the model predicts an alternative stable state over some range of niche shifts. We discuss how our results provide new insights into species coexistence and the evolutionary consequences of size-structured interspecific competition.
Searching for quality in the Quality of work life: an Indian power sector perspective
Authors: Yadav Mohit , Naim Mohammad Faraz
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Inspired by India’s focus in the 11th and 12th Five Year Plans on fulfilling the surging energy needs, the purpose of this paper is to capture the Quality of work life (QWL) in the Indian power sector.

Design/methodology/approach

QWL measured with seven dimensions was validated with CFA, and the χ2 difference test based on the Bonferroni method (Simes, 1986) was used for discriminant validity. Individual processes were analyzed with correlation analysis and ANOVA. The influencers of QWL in three processes were compared with standardized coefficients and model fit indices.

Findings

Freedom from work-related stress, salary, relationship with work colleagues, job security and communication and job satisfaction positively influenced QWL. Supervisor support was not found to influence QWL, while job involvement was found to negatively influence QWL.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of this study is limited to India, however, and results may not generalize to other countries. Hence, future studies should replicate the study in power sector or allied manufacturing sector in different cultural settings. Another limitation lies in its relatively small sample size; therefore, generalizability of the results may be restricted.

Practical implications

The findings provide useful information to assist HR managers in improving the QWL among Indian power sector employees.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first studies to date to empirically examine the QWL among Indian power sector employees.
Impact of supply chain management practices on firm performance
Authors: Gandhi Aradhana Vikas , Shaikh Ateeque , Sheorey Pratima Amol
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adoption and implementation of supply chain management practices (SCMPs) on supply chain performance (SCP) and firm performance (FP) in the organized retail industry in a developing country like India.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted on a sample size of 125 responses collected from the supply chain heads of organized retail firms in India. A theoretical model was developed depicting the relationship between SCMPs, SCP and FP. The theoretical model was tested using mediating multiple regression analysis.

Findings

This research suggests that the SCMPs are positively related to SCP and FP. Customer relationship management and supplier relationship management are reported as the most important SCMPs, which had the maximum impact on the FP in the organized retailing context in India.

Research limitations/implications

The research employed perceptual performance measures. Future studies can use actual performance parameters like profit and sales growth to better quantify the benefits of SCM in this context.

Originality/value

This research is an attempt to empirically test the impact of SCMPs on FP in organized retailing context in an emerging market, India.
Let’s work out: communication in workplace wellness programs
Authors: J. Burke Tricia , L. Dailey Stephanie , Zhu Yaguang
Published: March 2017

Purpose

People spend a lot of time communicating with their co-workers each day; however, research has yet to explore how colleagues influence each other’s health behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between health-related communication and health behaviors among co-workers in a workplace wellness program.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants (n=169) were recruited from a large south-western university and its local school district through e-mail announcements sent from a wellness administrator. Participants were part of a workplace wellness program that offers several daily group fitness classes, as well as cooking classes, and other educational programs for faculty and staff.

Findings

Structural equation modeling was used to examine the association between people’s perceived social influence and social support from co-workers, organizational socialization and their health behaviors. Results indicated that perceived social influence from co-workers had an indirect effect on people’s health behaviors through their perceived social support from their co-workers, as well as through their organizational socialization.

Research limitations/implications

These variables were examined cross-sectionally, meaning that causal relationships and directionality cannot be determined in this study.

Practical implications

Co-worker communication and socialization appear to be important factors in understanding individuals’ health behaviors; thus, organizations that offer workplace wellness programs should provide opportunities for socialization and co-worker communication to facilitate employees’ healthy behaviors.

Originality/value

Although the authors only looked at one wellness program and did not examine these variables in programs of varying sizes and types, this study uniquely incorporates interpersonal and organizational communication perspectives in order to give new insight into co-workers’ health-related communication.
Material characterization of tribological effects in HSS hacksaw blade
Authors: Mohd Amran Nor Amirah binti , Ab Karim Mohd Sayuti bin , Abd Rashid Rusdi bin , Alghani Waleed , Derahman Nur Aqilah binti
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This study aims to present a direct repurposing activity of consumed high-speed steel (HSS) hacksaw blade into fine-looking handmade knives to increase the awareness about sustainability by evaluating the relationship between the quality of material alloys and heat treatment as well as cultural aspects such as the treatment on the HSS hacksaw blade that will affect the material hardness.

Design/methodology/approach

The quality of HSS hacksaw blade samples was analyzed by using scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) through the identification of material element’s properties. Besides, finite element structural analysis was performed by using SolidWorks Simulation to evaluate the material performance by determining the Von Mises stress to find the factor of safety of the knife designs. Then, the effect of tribology implementation toward mechanical properties of the handmade knives was determined by using a Rockwell C hardness test.

Findings

It is found that the material composition of carbon plays a vital role in increasing and improving the hardness and wear resistance of the HSS hacksaw blade. The Von Mises stress obtained is lower than the yield strength of 3,250 MPa by 71.44 per cent with the safety factor of 3.58,which means the design will not be subjected to failure. The mechanical properties of the HSS hacksaw blade such as hardness were determined averagely by 5 per cent of hardness increase.

Originality/value

It has been validated that the tribological effect toward the material characteristic leads to hardness changes which contributed to the enhancement of tool life of the HSS hacksaw blade, thus producing better quality knives.
Comparative study of tool wear in milling titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) using PVD and CVD coated cutting tool
Authors: Raja Abdullah Raja Izamshah , Redzuwan Bahrin Ikram , Abdul Aziz Mohd Sanusi , Kasim Mohd Shahir
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to compare machining performance between chemical vapor deposition (CVD)- and physical vapor deposition (PVD)-coated cutting tools to obtain the optimal cutting parameters based on different types of tools for machining titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V).

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the experiment was constructed using the response surface methodology (RSM) with the Box–Behnken method. Two types of round-shaped tungsten carbide inserts were used in this experiment, namely, PVD TiAlN/AlCrN insert tool and CVD TiCN/Al2O3 insert tool. The titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) material was used throughout this experiment. The tool wear and microstructure analysis were measured using a tool maker microscope, an optical microscope and a scanning electron machine.

Findings

The PVD TiAlN/AlCrN insert tool produces the lowest tool wear that significantly prolongs the cutting tool life compared to the CVD TiCN/Al2O3 insert tool. In addition, depth of cut was the main factor affecting the tool life, followed by cutting speed and feed rate.

Originality/value

This study was conducted to compare machining performance between CVD- and PVD-coated cutting tools to obtain the optimal cutting parameters based on different types of tools for machining titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). In addition, the information presented in this paper helps reduce the manufacturing cost and setup time for machining titanium alloy. Finally, tool wear comparison between PVD- and CVD-coated titanium alloys was also presented for future improvement for tool manufacturing application.
Synthesis, characterisation and tribological evaluation of surface-capped molybdenum sulphide nanoparticles as efficient antiwear bio-based lubricant additives
Authors: Roslan Sharul Hafiq , Abd Hamid Sharifah Bee , Mohd Zulkifli Nurin Wahidah
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to synthesise and characterise surface-capped molybdenum sulphide (SCMS) nanoparticles using the solvothermal method and to investigate their tribological behaviour towards friction improver and wear reduction for bio-based lubricant oil additives.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the experiment was to use freshly prepared molybdenum (II) acetate, thioacetamide, fatty acid and hexane as the solvent inside an autoclave vessel which is heated at high temperature and pressure. Various types of fatty acids were used as the capping agent, such as caproic, lauric, stearic and oleic acid. The SCMS nanoparticles formed were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis. These nanoadditives were then blended into pentaerythrityl tetracaprylate/caprate ester at 0.05 Wt.% concentration. The formulated bio-based lubricant oil samples were tested for viscosity, viscosity index (VI) and density based on standard method ASTM D445 and ASTM D2270. A four-ball test was carried out for determination of coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter. The wear scar formed on the surface of the ball bearing was analysed using scanning electron microscopy.

Findings

The characterisation results showed that SCMS nanoparticles were successfully formed with amorphous ball-like structure, and the presence of the capping layer surrounding the nanoparticles was confirmed. Then, the formulated bio-based lubricant oil with addition of nanoadditives displays improved tribological properties in term of VI, antifriction and wear reduction.

Originality/value

This research provides a synthesis method of producing SCMS nanoparticles using the organomolybdenum complex as the chemical precursor through the solvothermal reaction approach. Besides that, it also gives an alternative antifriction and antiwear nanoadditive for formulation of the bio-based lubricant oil.
Wetting property of Pistia stratiotes
Authors: Ab Latif Najibah , Kasolang Salmiah
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to conduct an investigation into the potential characteristics of Pistia stratiotes at different maturity stages. The focus of interest was to specifically look at oleophilicity properties based on contact angle (CA) measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

The morphological characteristics were also examined using a variable pressure scanning electron microscope. Three different oils, namely, Bio Oil 1, Bio Oil 2 and MP-R 10W/40 semi-synthetic oil, were tested on the Pistia leaf surface to measure the CA and wetting properties.

Findings

It was found that both types of bio oils had distinct CA values compared to that of the synthetic oil. A maximum difference of 65Â° to 75Â° was recorded in CA values.

Originality/value

Based on the results, the maturity of leaves was found to affect the CA values.
Influence of systemic banking crisis and currency crisis on the relationship of export and economic growth
Authors: Raza Syed Ali , Karim Mohd Zaini Abd
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of systemic banking crises, currency crises and global financial crisis on the relationship between export and economic growth in China by using the annual time series data from the period of 1972 to 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

The Johansen and Jeuuselius’ cointegration, auto regressive distributed lag bound testing cointegration, Gregory and Hansen’s cointegration and pooled ordinary least square techniques with error correction model have been used.

Findings

Results indicate the positive and significant effect of export of goods and services on economic growth in both long and short run, whereas the negative influence of systemic banking crises and currency crises over economic growth is observed. It is also concluded that the impact of export of goods and service on economic growth becomes insignificant in the presence of systemic banking crises and currency crises. The currency crises effect the influence of export on economic growth to a higher extent compared to systemic banking crises. Surprisingly, the export in the period of global financial crises has a positive and significant influence over economic growth in China, which conclude that the global financial crises did not drastically affect the export-growth nexus.

Originality/value

This paper makes a unique contribution to the literature with reference to China, being a pioneering attempt to investigate the effects of systemic banking crises and currency crises on the relationship of export and economic growth by using long-time series data and applying more rigorous econometric techniques.
China-United Kingdom free trade area
Authors: Chen Shumei , Li Dandan
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to predict the likely economic effects of a free trade area (FTA) on both China and the United Kingdom (hereafter the UK).

Design/methodology/approach

Following literature review and trade relationship briefing, this paper uses the Global Trade Analysis Project simulation to predict the economic effects of such a FTA on both China and the UK.

Findings

The simulation results indicate that a China-UK free trade area (hereafter CUFTA) will bring more benefits than harm to both China and the UK, and achieving zero tariff or reducing technological barriers to trade (TBT) is mutually beneficial for both China and the UK, with the growth in GDP, economic welfare as well as import and export. Combining zero tariff and the reduction of TBT in exceptional departments is the most favorable way to improve the macroeconomic effects without bringing damaging effects on the comparative disadvantage industries such as transport equipment, chemicals industries for China and textiles and apparel industry for the UK.

Originality/value

After the UK voted to leave the European Union, CUFTA is put on the agenda by both the governments, yet there are fewer studies on CUFTA, with this paper being one of the early trials. Besides, based on the simulation results, some policy suggestions will be put forward for future negotiations and industrial policies’ adjustment.
Financial depth and the trade openness-economic growth nexus
Authors: Pradhan Rudra P. , Arvin Mak , Hall John H. , Bennett Sara E. , Bahmani Sahar
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on the age-old trade-and-economic-growth controversy. The authors do so by utilizing the data relating to the G-20 countries between 1988 and 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors seek to establish the formal statistical links between openness to trade and economic growth in the context of interactions with financial depth, gross capital formation, and foreign direct investment. The authors use a panel vector autoregressive model to obtain the estimates. The authors check for the robustness of the results.

Findings

The authors find that all the variables are cointegrated. That is, there is a long-run equilibrium relationship between the variables. Moreover, trade openness, financial depth, gross capital formation, and foreign direct investment are all causative factors for the economic growth of the G-20 countries in the long run. At the same time, the short-run results demonstrate that there is a myriad of causal links between these variables.

Practical implications

The decision makers in the G-20 countries wishing to encourage economic growth in the long run should pay close attention to trade openness, financial depth, gross capital formation, and foreign direct investment inflows to their countries.

Originality/value

The authors study an important group of countries over a long span of time, using advanced panel data techniques. The results demonstrate that future studies on economic growth that do not simultaneously consider trade openness, financial depth, foreign direct investment, and gross capital formation will offer biased or misguided results.
Prognosis of degradation based on a new dynamic method for remaining useful life prediction
Authors: Laayouj Nabil , Jamouli Hicham
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to create a new method of prognosis based on remaining useful life (RUL) prediction for degradation assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present paper the authors describe a new method of prognosis to improve the accuracy of forecasting the system state. This framework of forecasting integrates the model-based information and the hybrid approach, which employs the structured residuals in the first part and the particle filter in the second part.

Findings

The performance of the suggested fusion framework is employed to predict the RUL of battery pack in hybrid electric vehicle. The results show that the proposed method is plausible due to the good prediction of RUL, and can be effectively applied to many systems for prognosis.

Originality/value

In this study the authors illustrate how the suggested method can provide an accurate prediction of the RUL over conventional data-driven methods without physical model and classical particle filter with a single damage model.
The price of everything, and the value of nothing? Stories of contribution in entrepreneurship research
Authors: Drakopoulou Dodd Sarah , Jones Paul , McElwee Gerard , Haddoud Mohamed
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report findings from the first stage of a study that focusses on research in the domain of entrepreneurship as a process of knowledge creation and exchange. It seeks to discover what entrepreneurship scholars really believe that they contribute. Focusses on the entrepreneurship academic community and examine two issues: the value scholars perceive, in terms of both how an individuals’ work can be seen to be a contribution to knowledge, and what “contribution to knowledge” means to the individual researcher.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a qualitative approach within which 20 entrepreneurship professors were asked to complete a semi structured research instrument to express their opinions on the value of the authors’ research and the extent to which the authors’ work contribute to knowledge and practice. The sample was drawn from full entrepreneurship professors from the UK, USA, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.

Findings

Suggest that entrepreneurship scholars publish for a plurality of reasons including personal fulfilment, interest, and necessity. It was also noted that the motivations for academic scholarship have changed with increased internal and external pressures and a drive to publish in certain journals.

Research limitations/implications

This is a novel study not undertaken previously in the entrepreneurship discipline. The results will inform research practices within the entrepreneurship discipline and represent the basis for an ongoing large scale global quantitative study of the entrepreneurship discipline.

Originality/value

The outcomes of this research inform higher education stakeholders in the construction of valid research strategies thus providing a suitable impact upon academia and society. It provides an initial insight into drivers for academic research within the entrepreneurship discipline, and the opportunities, challenges and paradoxes which various approaches to research contribution entail.
“Opportunistic” spin-offs in the aftermath of an adverse corporate event
Authors: Curran Declan , O’Gorman Colm , van Egeraat Chris
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the inter-organisational dynamics, in terms of the triggers to spin-off formation and the genealogical inheritance of spin-offs, between a parent characterised by an adverse event and the spin-offs that emerge. The study focusses on the nature of the triggering event, exploring the heterogeneous nature of the processes by which some spin-offs are formed to exploit new opportunities created unexpectedly by an adverse event, and on the genealogical inheritance that forms the pre-entry experience of the founder.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study based on interview data with founders of spin-offs, supplemented with interviews with managers and industry experts, and with secondary data sources. The case study is of the spin-offs from a successful firm, Élan Corporation, reported to be the world’s 20th largest drug firm in 2002, that experienced an adverse event in 2002. The Élan case offers the opportunity to focus exclusively on what Buenstorf (2009) refers to as necessity spin-offs. Prior to collecting data it was necessary to identify the population of spin-offs from Élan.

Findings

This study extends existing research by identifying “opportunistic spin-offs”: spin-offs that occur in the wake of an adverse event where the entrepreneur exploits an unexpected opportunity to engage in entrepreneurship but does not feel compelled to establish the spin-off. These spin-offs are characterised by “unexpected opportunities”, “opportunistic acquisition of assets” and, perhaps reflecting the seniority and experience of those involved, “alternative employment opportunities”.

Originality/value

Understanding the process of spin-off formation is important because it provides insight into how and why individuals initiate new ventures. Spin-offs are an important source of new firms and an important mechanism in the process of industry evolution. The study contributes to the literature on spin-offs by providing evidence of the heterogeneous nature of spin-offs that occur in the aftermath of an adverse event, leading to the classification of some spin-offs as “opportunistic spin-offs”. The study contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by demonstrating that an important trigger for venture creation is unexpected changes in an individual’s employment circumstances.
The effect of innovativeness and customer-oriented systems on performance in the hotel industry of Iran
Authors: Jalilvand Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Innovation and new services’ development are important strategic features to pledge sustainable wealth and growth for every industry, but in particular for those industries where markets are saturated and clients choose services and products from all over the world, such as in the case of the hospitality industry. In the hospitality context, there is little research on innovation. The purpose of this study is to understand how innovation and customer-oriented value systems can affect performance in the context of the hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify the major indices of innovation in the context of the hospitality industry. A self-administered questionnaire survey was used, and the target population included the managers and employees who work in the 3- and 4-star hotels of Isfahan. The sample size was 226. A convenience sampling approach was used to collect the required sample.

Findings

The results of structural equation modelling indicated that customer orientation and innovativeness orientation have a significant influence on hotel performance. Furthermore, customer orientation influenced the innovativeness orientation of hotel employees.

Originality/value

This paper provides a valuable insight into the measurement of innovation, customer orientation and performance in the hospitality industry and offers a foundation for future hospitality innovation research.
Characteristics of closed car-sharing services for urban public housing residents
Authors: Byun Wanhee , Lee Jung-Beom , Kee Hoyoung , Do Myungsik
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of closed car-sharing services and present the relevant factors to provide reasonable service locations. Car-sharing service locations have been arranged to allow customers to easily access locations. However, the particular car-sharing service in this study, enforced through an agreement between residents of the House of Commons, is operated as a closed service, limited to public housing residents. This closed car-sharing service in the House of Commons differs from typical services in that, after use, the users return the vehicle to the same parking location. In addition, determination of the general car-sharing locations is based on the profits of the service operator. The service can be stopped as there are a number of other alternatives for mobility. However, if the closed car-sharing service in the House of Commons is canceled, there is no other alternative for existing users. Therefore, the site selection for the initial introduction of the House of Commons in a closed car-sharing service is a very important issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses nine months of data from 39 complexes for location analysis for public housing residents in urban areas. The LH Happy Carsharing is a closed private service, used by people residing within approximately 50 rental LH-apartment complexes. As closed car sharing is unfavorable in comparison to other car-sharing services, it is important to demonstrate that the service can succeed in securing a sufficient amount of users. To analyze the viability and usage of the service, the authors have considered ten potential variables.

Findings

On the basis of the regression analysis result, the adopted significant variables are the number of households, the percentage of residents in the 40’s age group and the number of households with registered vehicles.

Originality/value

In general, for car-sharing research, specific user groups are not generally identified. However, LH Happy Carsharing is specifically targeted to residents in rental apartments. The LH Happy Carsharing is a private service, used by people residing within approximately 50 rental LH Apartment complexes. Since closed carsharing is unfavorable in comparison to other carsharing services, it is important to demonstrate that the service can succeed in securing a sufficient amount of users. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the characteristics of private carsharing and present the relevant factors to provide reasonable service locations.
Advancing health care quality and safety through action learning
Authors: Mathews Simon , Golden Sherita , Demski Renee , Pronovost Peter , Ishii Lisa
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how action learning can be practically applied to quality and safety challenges at a large academic medical health system and become fundamentally integrated with an institution’s broader approach to quality and safety.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors describe how the fundamental principles of action learning have been applied to advancing quality and safety in health care at a large academic medical institution. The authors provide an academic contextualization of action learning in health care and then transition to how this concept can be practically applied to quality and safety by providing detailing examples at the unit, cross-functional and executive levels.

Findings

The authors describe three unique approaches to applying action learning in the comprehensive unit-based safety program, clinical communities and the quality management infrastructure. These examples, individually, provide discrete ways to integrate action learning in the advancement of quality and safety. However, more importantly when combined, they represent how action learning can form the basis of a learning health system around quality and safety.

Originality/value

This study represents the broadest description of action learning applied to the quality and safety literature in health care and provides detailed examples of its use in a real-world context.
Using action learning sets to support change in end-of-life care
Authors: Gillett Karen , Reed Liz , Bryan Liz
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the delivery of facilitated action learning sets as an integral component of a multidisciplinary end-of-life care course.

Design/methodology/approach

The educational intervention described in this paper is delivered by specialist palliative care practitioners to those working with dying patients and their families in non-specialist settings. The programme consists of two components: the first taught/experience-based component takes place in a hospice. The second integral component involves action learning sets which are facilitated by specialist palliative care staff over a six-month period. This paper reports the challenges, learning and benefits of using action learning sets to improve end-of-life care.

Findings

Action learning sets provide support which enables staff to implement changes to end-of-life care. Participants in the successful action learning sets were motivated to change practice and identified themselves as change agents. Management support was vital to allow participants the authority to implement changes to practice.

Practical implications

Facilitators need to gain participant and management commitment to the action learning process before the programme begins if they are to be successful in achieving changes to end-of-life care.

Originality/value

Hospices and other health care organisations work in partnership to deliver this programme, and this paper demonstrates how action learning sets can increase mutual understanding and communication between specialist and non-specialist end-of-life care settings.
Institutional investor behavioral biases: syntheses of theory and evidence
Authors: Ahmad Zamri , Ibrahim Haslindar , Tuyon Jasman
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to review the theory and empirical evidence of institutional investor behavioral biases in the lenses of behavioral finance paradigm. It surveys the research specifically focusing on behavioral biases among institutional investors in investment management activities worldwide.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature survey is done to gather and synthesize evidence on behavioral biases of institutional investors.

Findings

The survey and analysis reveal the following findings. First, the theoretical underpinning of investors’ irrational behavior has been neglected in behavioral finance research. Second, the behavioral heuristics and biases are dynamic and complex. Third, understanding behavioral biases’ origin, causes and effects requires interdisciplinary perspectives from the fields of psychology, sociology and biology.

Originality/value

The analysis and alternative perspectives drawn in this paper provide new insights into the field of behavioral finance and aims to suggest researchers, practitioners and regulators on the next course of actions.