bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A best practice framework for public-private partnership implementation for construction projects in developing countries
Authors: Osei-Kyei Robert , Chan Albert P.C.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a best practice framework for PPP implementation for construction projects in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a multi-stage critical review and analysis of past studies on the attributes of PPP implementation (i.e. critical success factors/success criteria for PPP, reasons/drivers for adopting PPP, obstacles/implementation constraints in PPP and risks in PPP) with much focus in Ghana. Furthermore, other governments’ and international PPP guidelines were reviewed for cross validation purposes. In addition, questionnaire survey with PPP experts in Ghana was conducted to validate the proposed best practice framework.

Findings

From the search, 16 publications in leading construction management journals were identified. A thorough content analysis of the identified papers produced 151 best practices for construction PPPs in Ghana. The best practices were then incorporated into the PPP process in Ghana to develop the best practice framework.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation lies in the fact that few publications were targeted for analysis; however, the findings are still useful for future reference because the PPP concept is still developing in Ghana, therefore few publications are found in leading construction management journals. Another limitation is that the best practice framework was not validated using real-life cases, thus it is suggested that future research will adopt the framework and test it on real projects to measure its effectiveness.

Originality/value

The outputs of this study considerably inform local practitioners in developing countries particularly Ghana and other African countries of the strategic measures that need to be carefully considered within the PPP process so as to implement successful construction PPP projects. The best practice framework also helps to standardize the practice of PPP in Ghana.
Sustainable logistics barriers of fruits and vegetables
Authors: Raut Rakesh , Gardas Bhaskar B.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The reduction of food wastage at every stage of a fresh produce supply chain helps in achieving balance among all three dimensions (social, ecological and economic) of the sustainability and helps in stimulating the growth and development in the agricultural domain. The purpose of this paper is to address the causal factors of post-harvesting losses (PHLs) occurring in the transportation phase.

Design/methodology/approach

Through exhaustive literature survey and expert opinions, 12 crucial barriers to sustainable transportation of fruits and vegetables (F&V) are identified. The interpretive structural modeling (ISM) methodology, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach, is employed for developing a structural model of the identified barriers.

Findings

The results of the analysis highlighted that two factors, namely, the non-availability of refrigerated vehicles, and excessive loading on the vehicles, are the most significant barriers to sustainable transportation which are found to have the highest driving power.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the present research are applicable to the F&V supply chains only. The established interrelation among the identified factors depends on the judgments given by the experts which could be biased. The developed ISM model is intended to guide the policy and decision makers for formulating the policies for the performance improvement of the fresh produce value chain.

Originality/value

It is the first research of its kind focusing on the model development of critical factors causing PHLs in the transportation phase of the agricultural fresh produce supply chain using MCDM process.
Disinterested agents or mismatched plans?
Authors: Tankha Sunil , Ranabhat Sunita , Bhatta Laxmi Dutt , Ghate Rucha , Agrawal Nand Kishor
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Developed countries agreed at COP15 to pay US$100bn annually for adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. This paper aims to evaluate how prepared are donors and recipients to spend this money well by analyzing institutional and organizational capabilities for climate change adaptation in least developed country (LDC) administrations using the case of Nepal, a country which can be considered to be an archetypal LDC.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted over 100 in-depth structured qualitative interviews with government officials from across the organizational chain in the ministries concerned with climate change, ranging from the lowest-ranked employee to just under the ministerial ranks. This was supplemented with detailed surveys of three representative communities from different ecological zones in Nepal. Data were analyzed using Ostrom’s IAD framework.

Findings

Local administrations are more motivated and capable than are given credit for by donors but nevertheless face critical barriers in being able to function autonomously and confront climate change challenges. These barriers create three interrelated challenges: An organizational challenge to create intrinsic incentives which empower and grant autonomy to front line agents, an institutional challenge to go beyond accountability-focused process validation and a policy-choice challenge which avoids the temptation to write aspirational policies without clear and feasible strategies to obtain the resources necessary for their implementation.

Practical implications

The findings point to ways climate assistance can be restructured for more reach and effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper fills a gap in the literature because community structures and institutions have been extensively analyzed in the context of adaptation, but despite being criticized, administrative structures have rarely been directly studied.
Relating energy consumption to real sector value added and growth in a developing economy
Authors: Kalu Ebere Ume , Daniel Pius Bala , Nwafor Uchenna Florence , Okoyeuzu Chinwe R. , Okoro Okoro E.U. , Okechukwu Elizabeth U.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The main aim of this study was to examine whether any relationship exists between energy consumption and value added of the agricultural and industrial sector as well as the overall growth rate of the Nigerian economy.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used annualized time series data from 1971 to 2014 drawn from the World Bank Development Indicators, adopting an autoregressive distributed lag technique in the data analyses as well as the bound test and error correction representation.

Findings

There is a very strong evidence of the existence of a long-run relationship between energy consumption and indicators of economic growth. There are very strong proofs that economic growth and agricultural value added adjust to the shocks and dynamics of the studied energy-consumption-related variables while manufacturing value added proved otherwise.

Originality value

No study to the best of our knowledge has brought together aggregate growth, agricultural value added and manufacturing value added in the investigation of the energy consumption and economic growth nexus in one study using the Nigerian stylized economic environment. This represents the value added of this study and shows its originality.
Effect of tribological parameters on sliding wear and friction coefficient which relates to preload loss in tapered roller bearing
Authors: Jain Ayush , Singh Abhishek , Singh Arendra Pal
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the sliding wear and coefficient of friction (COF) using “ball on disc” tribometer. Discs of bearing steel were subjected to different tribological parameters such as heat treatment (through hardening and case hardening), sliding speed, sliding distance and micro-geometry of the functional ball and disc point contact. Results obtained from tribometer were correlated with the preload loss in tapered roller bearing. Preload loss is subjected to wear rate pattern with respect to the internal geometry and micro-geometry of functional surfaces of the tapered roller bearing, caused by internal resistance between roller large ends sliding against cone supporting face. This confirms the optimum geometry and physical/mechanical property of the tapered roller bearing, which makes the use of these bearings under the demanding application in the automotive industry such as differential gears and installation of pinions of differential gears in power transmissions or wheels.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for an exploratory study using the design of experiments with full factorial method. The approach was to do ball on disc sliding wear test and correlate that sliding wear with preload loss in tapered roller bearing.

Findings

The paper provides the limit of preload loss in tapered roller bearing.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, the research lacks the effect of environmental conditions such as temperature and relative humidity and lube film thickness effect on wear test. It also lacks the validation part with actual preload loss on tapered roller bearings. Above work is included in future scope of work.

Practical implications

This paper includes the recommendation for surface parameters which can increase the bearing life by reducing the preload loss in tapered roller bearing.

Social implications

This paper includes the recommendation for surface parameters for bearing manufacturing industries.

Originality/value

This paper provides the relation between sliding wear and preload loss in tapered roller bearing.
Big data and connectivity in long-linked supply chains
Authors: Engelseth Per , Wang Hao
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to consider the developing of strategic use of big data in association with long-linked physical goods supply focusing on risk management.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis is grounded on a case study of organizing the import of machine parts from Shanghai, China, to Norway. An analytical framework is developed through a literature review on long linked supply chains, big data and risk management.

Findings

Analysis reveals that big data use in this scenario encompasses mainly around handling risks associated with transformations in the supply chain, a data-driven approach. Complexity is founded in transformation – the flows of goods and information. Supply chain dynamics represent an important source for data acquisition for big data analytics.

Research limitations/implications

The qualitative nature of the study limits the aim of generalization. An alternative view of big data as process is discussed and proposed, adapted to supply chain management and industrial marketing functionality.

Originality/value

This is the first part in an ongoing research project aimed at developing a research approach to study information technology use in the inherently complex setting and scope of a long linked supply network. This scope of investigation enhances big data associated with operations dynamics providing foundation for future research on how to use big data to mitigate risk in long linked supply chains.
The role of manager leadership style in salesperson implementation of sales strategy: a contingency perspective
Authors: Inyang Aniefre Eddie , Agnihotri Raj , Munoz Laura
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of leadership in influencing the strategy implementation behaviors of salespeople. This paper also seeks to examine the moderating influence of competitive environment on the leadership style – salesperson implementation of sales strategy relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from a sample of 190 business-to-business salespeople in different industries. The study’s hypotheses were tested using partial least squares (PLS).

Findings

The results of the study show that a transformational leadership style has stronger effects on the sales strategy implementation behaviors of salespeople when compared to transactional leadership. However, in highly competitive environments, the effects of transactional leadership on the sales strategy implementation behaviors of salespeople become stronger. The results also show when salespeople implement sales strategy, it has a positive impact on their sales performance.

Practical implications

Sales managers should adapt their leadership style depending on the competitive environment that operate in. As transformational leadership and transactional leadership are not mutually exclusive, managers should tailor their use of these styles to improve the strategy implementation behaviors of their salespeople. Managers should also train their salespeople on the use of sales strategy.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by showing that the effectiveness of a particular leadership style is often contingent on the external environment. This research also demonstrates that when salespeople are strategic in their approach to selling, they will improve their sales performance.
A new scorecard for strategic planning
Authors: Wright Edward William , Hillon Yue Cai , Garrido-Lopez Mariano , Fowler Drake
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present several tools to facilitate strategic planning and to demystify the situational analysis and the selection of strategy. These tools include situational analysis scorecards for the environmental scan, market analysis, competitive bench-marking and internal resource evaluation along with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) fit matrix. Business student teams have tested these scorecards in capstone projects with good results; however, the concepts remain works-in-process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study introduces tools to assist planners in preparing the situational analysis and deriving logical strategic choices based upon the SWOT analysis. These aids include an environmental factors scorecard, a market favorability scorecard, a competitive benchmarking scorecard, a resource evaluation scorecard and a SWOT fit matrix. Planners can use these devices to produce a research-based situational analysis and as a guide to select the most appropriate strategy.

Findings

These concepts have been beta tested by business student teams in capstone projects with good results but remain works-in-process.

Originality/value

The introduction of these creative scorecards addresses a shortcoming in academic literature concerning the interpretation of situational analysis research data and provides tactical tools linking SWOT to the choice of grand strategy and strategy implementation.
Employment and labour hoarding: a production function approach
Authors: Vella Melchior
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to test the hypothesis that the effect of production slowdown on labour demand can be muted by labour hoarding.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a production function approach, using data from Malta, a small state in the EU.

Findings

The results confirm the hypothesis and indicate that firms are normally prepared to employ and dismiss more workers in the long run than in the short run.

Practical implications

This finding has important implications for developed countries, including that labour hoarding can be of certain relevance in times of economic slowdown as shocks are absorbed by internal flexibility.

Originality/value

The results of this study add on to the existing literature in two ways. First, this study compares two industries –manufacturing and financial services– for which the former sector received support to hoard labour after the financial turmoil of 2008. Consequently, the dominance of labour hoarding in manufacturing relative to financial services is uncovered and the effect of hoarding practices on labour demand is estimated. Second, Malta is an interesting case because it is one of the smallest economies in the world and faces a high degree of vulnerability because of constraints associated with small size and insularity. As a result, firms adopt policy-induced measures to minimise adjustment costs.
Modeling the determinants of dry bulk FFA trading volume from a cross-market perspective of spot and forward
Authors: Zheng Shiyuan , Chen Shun
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to propose a theoretical model to characterize the optimal forward freight agreement (FFA) procurement strategies and investigate the determinants of FFA trading activities from a new cross-market perspective.

Findings

A two-step model specification is used to empirically test the theoretical results for the Capesize, Panamax and Supramax sectors. It is found that spot demand has a positive relation with FFA trading volume for all three sectors. Moreover, spot demand volatility has a negative relation, while the correlation between spot demand and spot rate has a positive relation with FFA trading volume for the Capesize and Panamax sectors.

Originality/value

The results show that the expected spot demand is scaled by a “quantity premium,” which is the product of a demand covariance term, a demand riskiness term and a demand volatility term. This can be used by the traders in the FFA market to construct their hedging strategies.
Clustering potential of Istanbul maritime sector
Authors: Karahan Cengiz Bahadir , Kirval Levent
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Turkey is a maritime country with its current merchant fleet and shipyards, geographical location, young population and growth potential. Clustering, being one of the important improvement methods of global competition power, is widely used in the maritime sector. Analysing the clustering level and potential of Istanbul, which is the major city of Turkey, in regard to economic and social aspects is a basic step for increasing global competitiveness in this sector. This study aims to measure the clustering level of Istanbul’s maritime sector and also define the effect of clustering level on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The clustering levels of Istanbul’s maritime transportation and supporting firms, shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers are measured by means of a survey based on Porter’s diamond theory in this paper. The relationship between clustering level and firm performance is defined by using simple linear regression and fuzzy linear regression methods. The weights of the criteria are calculated by means of entropy method.

Findings

It is concluded that despite its deficits, Istanbul’s maritime sector has significant potential to become a major maritime cluster not only in its region but also worldwide. The effect of clustering level on firm performance was observed to be statistically significant, but not high. The results of the simple linear regression and fuzzy linear regression methods are compared.

Originality/value

According to the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first study using fuzzy linear regression and entropy methods to analyse maritime clusters. It evaluates the effect of clustering level on firm performance in the case of Istanbul maritime sector.
The role of lycopene in human health as a natural colorant
Authors: Ranjbar Nedamani Azadeh , Ranjbar Nedamani Elham , Salimi Azadeh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Human health is strongly affected by diet. By the increased use of food industries products, public knowledge about health factors and side effects of chemical additives, the concepts of human health founded an important aspect during past years, and application of natural-based ingredients such as coloring, flavoring, texturizing and anti-oxidative agents was increased.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim of the present paper is to review the published scientific research studies about lycopene health benefits in different human disease or disorders and bold the necessity of study the health effects of lycopene after its formulation in food industrial products. About 190 papers were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science databases and 72 relevant papers were used. It was found that in medical studies, the lycopene oleoresin or powder is used directly to the subjects. However, it is necessary to study the effectiveness of lycopene in diet food products.

Findings

According to the literature, it has beneficial effects on cancers, glands, reproductive system, bone, gastric system, liver and fat reduction in the body. Also, it was concluded from the literature that lycopene oxidative cleavages make also its chemo protective effects which is a lost key element to study different food processing on lycopene products or its isomers in final food products and on human health.

Originality/value

Many ingredients in food formulations are substituted by natural products. Lycopene is a colorant but also, according to the literature, has a strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect to reduce the risk of most important human disease and disorders. Future research in food science can emphasize the effect of different unit operations or formulations on lycopene effects on human health.
Phones, privacy, and predictions
Authors: Ghosh Isha , Singh Vivek
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Mobile phones have become one of the most favored devices to maintain social connections as well as logging digital information about personal lives. The privacy of the metadata being generated in this process has been a topic of intense debate over the last few years, but most of the debate has been focused on stonewalling such data. At the same time, such metadata is already being used to automatically infer a user’s preferences for commercial products, media, or political agencies. The purpose of this paper is to understand the predictive power of phone usage features on individual privacy attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study uses a mixed-method approach, involving analysis of mobile phone metadata, self-reported survey on privacy attitudes and semi-structured interviews. This paper analyzes the interconnections between user’s social and behavioral data as obtained via their phone with their self-reported privacy attitudes and interprets them based on the semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The findings from the study suggest that an analysis of mobile phone metadata reveals vital clues to a person’s privacy attitudes. This study finds that multiple phone signals have significant predictive power on an individual’s privacy attitudes. The results motivate a newer direction of automatically inferring a user’s privacy attitudes by leveraging their phone usage information.

Practical implications

An ability to automatically infer a user’s privacy attitudes could allow users to utilize their own phone metadata to get automatic recommendations for privacy settings appropriate for them. This study offers information scientists, government agencies and mobile app developers, an understanding of user privacy needs, helping them create apps that take these traits into account.

Originality/value

The primary value of this paper lies in providing a better understanding of the predictive power of phone usage features on individual privacy attitudes.
Is property management viewed as a value-added service?
Authors: Read Dustin C. , Carswell Andrew
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perspectives of real estate executives to assess the extent to which property management is viewed as a commodity or as a value-added professional service contributing positively to investment performance and property value maximization.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative analysis draws on the result of 93 semi-structured interviews conducted with executives employed by some of the largest real estate investment management and service firms across the USA.

Findings

The findings suggest that significant perceptual cleavages exist in the real estate industry, with some executives believing property managers are incredibly important to the value creation process and others believing they play a much more modest role.

Practical implications

The results highlight the need for the property management industry as whole to continue its efforts to gain recognition as a value-added professional service and for individual property management companies to actively take steps to differentiate themselves from competitors if they hope to avoid commodification and fee compression.

Originality/value

The study is the first to the authors’ knowledge to examine real estate executives’ perspectives about the roles property managers play in the value creation process, as well as their views about whether property managers have the skills and autonomy required to make value accretive decisions.
The importance of a room with a view for older people with limited mobility
Authors: Musselwhite Charles
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how older people who are almost entirely housebound use a view from their window to make sense of the world and stay connected to the outside space that they cannot physically inhabit.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews with 42 individuals were carried out who were living at home, were relatively immobile and had an interesting view outside they liked from one or more of their windows.

Findings

The findings suggest that immobile older people enjoy watching a motion-full, changing, world going on outside of their own mobility and interact and create meaning and sense, relating themselves to the outside world.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that those working in health and social care must realise the importance of older people observing the outdoors and create situations where that is enabled and maintained through improving vantage points and potentially using technology.

Originality/value

This study builds and updates work by Rowles (1981) showing that preference for views from the window involves the immediate surveillance zone but also further afield. The view can be rural or urban but should include a human element from which older people can interact through storytelling. The view often contains different flows, between mundane and mystery and intrigue, and between expected and random.
Handling default risks in microfinance: the case of Bangladesh
Authors: Kassim Salina H.J. , Rahman Mahfuzur
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify incidences of default risks in microfinance.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with individual borrowers in Grameen Bank. Upon completing the interview session from 40 respondents, the results of the interviews are interpreted by a comprehensive content analysis.

Findings

This study identifies the incidences of defaults in microfinance, which are post-disbursement monitoring, technical assistance, inexperienced field workers, weekly payment, accessible database, family member illness, hiding business, lack of motivation and over-stretched financial commitments. Among these incidences, the findings indicate that post-disbursement supervision is highly relevant in ensuring the success of microfinance because 80 per cent of the recipients of microfinance are illiterate women.

Originality/value

This study would be helpful for the investment companies, financial institutions, creditors and borrowers of microfinance. The financial institutions and investment companies need to identify borrower capacity and any obligation that may impede with repayment. It may help them to maximize returns on profit and minimize the risk of losses which contribute to economic growth.
Short-term contrarian and sentiment by traders’ types on futures markets
Authors: Bahloul Walid
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the interaction between sentiments and past prices can lead to higher abnormal profit in futures markets. Such examinations allow the authors to relate the paper to the debate that focuses on examining the behavior of different types of traders in futures market, and who among these traders destabilize the markets.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors develop new dynamic strategies in US futures market that combine sentiment by type of traders based on trader position provided by the Disaggregated Commitments of Traders with short-term contrarian signals. Next, the authors adjust the abnormal profits to the CAPM model and Miffre and Rallis’s (2007) model. Finally, the authors use the Du (2012) decomposition methodology.

Findings

The main findings are that the abnormal profit is more pronounced when the authors combine past returns with lagged high producer/merchant/processor/user or low managed money sentiment. The results from swap dealer or other reportable groups show that there is no pervasive directional relation between their sentiment and contrarian profit. A further investigation of the sources of abnormal profits demonstrates that these profits survive even after the adjustment of obtained return to risk. Instead, these profits are mainly due to the overreaction to the news by irrational traders.

Originality/value

Based on behavioral finance theories, the authors conclude that producer, merchant, processor and user behave like irrational traders, while managed money traders behave like rational ones. Given that current regulatory proposes the limitation of speculation, the policy implications of these results are important. Therefore, these findings suggest that policy distinctions on trading motives may be more challenging to construct than ever.
January sentiment effect in the US corporate bond market
Authors: Chen Zhongdong , Craig Karen Ann
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of January sentiment on investors’ asset allocation decisions in the US corporate bond market during the rest of the year. Specifically, the study evaluates if the shift in January sentiment is a predictor of corporate bond spreads from February to December.

Design/methodology/approach

Using corporate bond trades reported in TRACE between 2005 and 2014, the authors examine the ability of the Index of Consumer Sentiment and the Index of Investor Sentiment to predict bond spreads over the 11 months following January. The study evaluates both the sign of the change in sentiment and the magnitude of the change in sentiment using two generalized linear models, controlling for industry, bond and firm fixed effects. Portfolios are analyzed based on yield, firm size and firm leverage. Additional analysis is performed to ensure results are robust to the impacts of the subprime financial crisis.

Findings

This paper finds that the changes in the sentiment measures in January predict bond spreads associated with bond trades in the subsequent 11 months, and this phenomenon, which the authors label as the “January sentiment effect,” has opposing impacts on risky and less risky bond portfolios.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the literature on the relationship between sentiment and investor’s allocation decisions. The evidence documented in this study is the first known to find that investors’ allocation decisions in a year are driven by their sentiment in January.
Network importance and use: commercial versus social enterprises
Authors: Folmer Emma , Nederveen Corneel , Schutjens Veronique
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand how important networks are for the emergence and growth of social enterprises as well as how social enterprises use their networks throughout the life course of their organisation. A comparative approach is used by contrasting social enterprises with traditional commercial enterprises along the dimensions of obtaining resources and legitimacy through their networks.

Design/methodology/approach

An abductive approach is used starting from existing knowledge on how commercial enterprises use networks during the start-up and growth of their enterprise. Qualitative interviews with 23 entrepreneurs were conducted. Using a matched-pairs design, the network importance and use of social and commercial enterprises is compared.

Findings

It is found that networks are highly important for both commercial and social enterprises throughout their life course. However, they substantially diverge in how they use their networks. Social enterprises tend to access more intangible resources through their networks than do commercial enterprises. Moreover, social enterprises rely more strongly on their networks for legitimacy in both the start-up and growth phase of the enterprise.

Originality/value

This paper takes a novel approach by empirically comparing the networks of social and commercial enterprises. New insights are offered in the resource flows within networks and how entrepreneurs use resources obtained from their networks.
Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Butler Richard
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify key challenges and opportunities for tourist destinations in 2030.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a discussion of literature on tourism futures and analysis of trends.

Findings

That it is impractical to accurately make forecasts in terms of numbers, given external forces of change; the need to evaluate possibilities and opportunities likely to develop; tackling key issues such as climate change, political disturbance and overtourism.

Practical/implications

This paper provides clarification of potential issues and problems and possible mitigating measures.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights based on expert reading of the present.
There is a fourth industrial revolution: the digital revolution
Authors: Loureiro António
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify potential issues for the travel and tourism industry, regarding technology in the digital era.

Design/methodology/approach

Travelport has defined five major themes in this area: big data, hybrid cloud, mobile, artificial intelligence and internet of things.

Findings

Issues such as personal data privacy, choice of solutions that preserve environmental sustainability, impact of the industry’s environmental footprint and growing number of conflict areas around the world mean that ethics comes before business as a benchmark.

Originality/value

This paper presents the perspective of a global distribution system operator regarding trends and opportunities affecting the travel industry.
Metapopulation dynamics of roseate terns: Sources, sinks and implications for conservation management decisions
Authors: Seward Adam , Ratcliffe Norman , Newton Stephen , Caldow Richard , Piec Daniel , Morrison Paul , Cadwallender Tom , Davies Wesley , Bolton Mark
Published: October 2018

Habitat management to restore or create breeding sites may allow metapopulations to increase in size and reduce the risk of demographic stochasticity or disasters causing metapopulation extinction. However, if newly restored or created sites are of low quality, they may act as sinks that draw individuals away from better quality sites to the detriment of metapopulation size.

Following intensive conservation effort, the metapopulation of roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) in NW Europe is recovering from a large crash in numbers, but most former colonies remain unoccupied and hence are potential targets for restoration. To inform conservation efforts, we studied the dynamics of this metapopulation with a multistate integrated population model to assess each of the three main colonies for important demographic contributors to population growth rate, source/sink status and possible density dependence.

All three study colonies are managed for roseate terns (and other tern species) in similar ways, but the demographic processes vary considerably between colonies. The largest colony is a source involved in almost all dispersal, and its growth is determined by survival rates and productivity.

Productivity and juvenile apparent survival at the largest colony appear to be density‐dependent. Although the mechanisms are unclear, this may provide an increasing impetus for emigration of recruits to other colonies in future.

The smallest of the three colonies is a sink, relying on immigration for its growth. Simulation models suggest the metapopulation would be c. 10% larger in the absence of dispersal to the sink colony.

This work indicates that, due to variable site quality, aims to enhance both distribution and size of metapopulations may be mutually exclusive. In this case, before future attempts to encourage recolonisation of former sites, assessments of site suitability should be undertaken, focusing on food availability and isolation from predators to maximise the likelihood of attaining levels of productivity and survival that avoid creation of a sink population to the detriment of the overall metapopulation size.
miR‐375‐3p/YWHAZ/β‐catenin axis regulates migration, invasion, EMT in gastric cancer cells
Authors: Guo Feng , Gao Yongjian , Sui Guoqing , Jiao Dan , Sun Lina , Fu Qingfeng , Jin Chunxiang
Published: October 2018

YWHAZ (14‐3‐3ζ) plays crucial roles in regulating proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer (GC) cells. However, its extensive roles and potential mechanisms in GC cells remain unknown, and need to be researched deeply. In this study, we focus on the role of miR‐375/YWHAZ axis in migration, invasion and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of GC cells. YWHAZ level was assessed by western blot and qPCR assays in GC cells. Scratch and transwell assays were used to determine the migration and invasion of GC cells. The protein levels of correlative molecules were detected by western blot. The regulation of miR‐375 on the expression of its target gene YWHAZ was verified by dual‐luciferase report system. According to the results, knockdown of YWHAZ inhibited the migration, invasion and EMT of GC cells. Moreover, silencing of YWHAZ restrained the activation of wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. YWHAZ was confirmed to be a target gene of miR‐375, and its expression was regulated by miR‐375 in GC cells. Transfection of miR‐375 inhibitor promoted the migration, invasion, EMT and activation of wnt/β‐catenin pathway in GC cells, which was suppressed by inhibition of YWHAZ. Taken together, this study suggests that miR‐375/YWHAZ axis may be served as a novel therapeutic target for GC patients.
Industrial Strategy: Policy Like It's 1964
Authors: Crafts Nicholas
Published: October 2018

The remedies provided in Prosperity and Justice: a Plan for the New Economy are less convincing than its diagnosis. It entails a substantial shift back towards selective industrial policies and resource allocation by the state rather than the market, with the ambition of changing the structure of the economy. Many economists are likely to be sceptical of some of the arguments put forward in the report. An obvious issue is the huge policy discretion to be given to government without effective constraints, and the significance of government failure is overlooked. It is a triumph of hope over experience.
An Occasion for Celebration; but Global Worries Lie Ahead
Authors: Crouch Colin
Published: October 2018

Ideas developed by the social democratic left have been brought together in Prosperity and Justice. Contributors from a wide spectrum of backgrounds have contributed to a new post neoliberal consensus. More attention needs to be paid to the global level of policy making. International capacity to act is declining just as the need for it grows. Political movements seeking to reassert nationalism against global collaboration are growing. Economic policies cannot be replaced without considering the global institutional structure.
Why Local Democracy Needs a Healthy Local Media
Authors: Chamberlain Darryl
Published: October 2018

The UK's local press is in a mess. Cut back to the bare bones after years of consolidation and cost‐cutting, hundreds of titles have closed, while many of those that survive are pale imitations of what they were. Revenues have been savaged by the internet and social media, while some in the industry have pointed fingers at council newspapers. But while there are signs of life and innovation in the industry, from newcomers as well as established players, finding funding is an urgent challenge.
Sudden Collapse due to Medullary and Cervical Cord Infarction—An Unusual Presentation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Chan Shijia , Leow Wei Qiang
Published: October 2018

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer worldwide with a great potential for metastatic spread. Hepatocellular carcinoma often arises in people with underlying viral hepatitides or liver cirrhosis and may present in various ways including abdominal pain, liver mass, and signs of hepatocellular decompensation. Many tumors may have metastasized to other organs such as the lungs, lymph nodes, bone, and adrenal glands at the time of diagnosis. However, it is uncommon for HCC to present purely due to its metastasis, such as spinal cord compression from vertebral metastasis. Here, an unusual presentation of a sudden cardiovascular collapse due to medullary and cervical cord infarction from compression of the cervical cord is presented. The importance of clinical investigations, the usefulness of postmortem computed tomography scans, and the examination of the cervical spine and cervical cord in people with no obvious cause of death after standard autopsy procedures are emphasized.
Unusual case of extraperitoneal gas in the abdomen
Authors: Quadrelli Scott , Lloyd Thomas , Medoro Lora , Coucher John
Published: October 2018

The retroperitoneal space is made up of multiple communicating compartments. Here we detail an unusual case of ectopic gas almost exclusively isolated to the properitoneal space, a space in communication with the retroperitoneum. This case is a reminder that when extraperitoneal gas is identified, the retroperitoneal structures should be interrogated carefully to identify a cause.
Biofumigation with volatile organic compounds from Streptomyces alboflavus TD‐1 and pure chemicals to control Aspergillus ochraceus
Authors: Yang Mingguan , Huang Chaobo , Xue Yibin , Li Shuhua , Lu Laifeng , Wang Changlu
Published: October 2018

The antagonistic activity of volatile compounds from Streptomyces alboflavus TD‐1 against Aspergillus ochraceus were investigated in this study. Conidial germination and mycelial growth of A. ochraceus were completely suppressed after exposure to 40 and 80 g/L of wheat bran cultures of S. alboflavus TD‐1. A total of 35 compounds (relative peak area [RA] >0.10) were identified from wheat bran cultures of S. alboflavus TD‐1. Five standard compounds were purchased for the antifungal activity assay: anisole, dimethyl trisulfide, β‐pinene, benzenamine and 1,5‐cyclooctadiene. Among these, dimethyl trisulfide and benzenamine showed strong inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth of A. ochraceus. In addition, conidial and hyphal morphological abnormalities were observed in treated A. ochraceus. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and OD‐260 nm absorption analysis demonstrated that disruption of membrane integrity may be a possible mechanism of action for volatiles from S. alboflavus TD‐1. This study indicates that volatiles of S. alboflavus TD‐1 have tremendous potential to act as a strategy for the biocontrol of postharvest diseases in food during storage.
A Research Agenda to Advance Pediatric Emergency Care Through Enhanced Collaboration Across Emergency Departments
Authors: Barata Isabel , Auerbach Marc , Badaki‐Makun Oluwakemi , Benjamin Lee , Joseph Madeline M. , Lee Moon O. , Mears Kim , Petrack Emory , Wallin Dina , Ishimine Paul , Denninghoff Kurt R.
Published: October 2018

In 2018, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the journal Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM) convened a consensus conference entitled, “Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference: Aligning the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Research Agenda to Reduce Health Outcome Gaps.” This article is the product of the breakout session, “Emergency Department Collaboration‐Pediatric Emergency Medicine in Non‐Children's Hospital”).

This subcommittee consisting of emergency medicine, pediatric emergency medicine, and quality improvement (QI) experts, as well as a patient advocate, identified main outcome gaps in the care of children in the emergency departments (EDs) in the following areas: variations in pediatric care and outcomes, pediatric readiness, and gaps in knowledge translation. The goal for this session was to create a research agenda that facilitates collaboration and partnering of diverse stakeholders to develop a system of care across all ED settings with the aim of improving quality and increasing safe medical care for children. The following recommended research strategies emerged: explore the use of technology as well as collaborative networks for education, research, and advocacy to develop and implement patient care guidelines, pediatric knowledge generation and dissemination, and pediatric QI and prepare all EDs to care for the acutely ill and injured pediatric patients. In conclusion, collaboration between general EDs and academic pediatric centers on research, dissemination, and implementation of evidence into clinical practice is a solution to improving the quality of pediatric care across the continuum.
Exploring the effect of soil management intensity on taxonomic and functional diversity of ants in Mediterranean olive groves
Authors: Hevia Violeta , Ortega Jorge , Azcárate Francisco M. , López César A. , González José A.
Published: October 2018

Agricultural intensification is one of the major drivers behind biodiversity loss in Mediterranean agroecosystems. The intensification of olive groves as monoculture in large areas of the southern Spain has had important effects on biodiversity and ecological processes.

In the present study, we explore the olive grove soil management practices effects on taxonomic and functional diversity of ants along a gradient of soil management intensity. We predict that both species richness and functional diversity decrease with an increasing intensification of olive grove soil management. We used pitfall traps to sample ants in 24 olive groves subject to different soil management regimes in southern Spain, and then compared ant species richness and functional diversity (FD).

Nonploughed organic farms showed higher species richness. Ploughing was observed to be the soil management practice with the greatest negative effect on ant species richness.

Three functional traits significantly responded to soil management intensity, with tibia length and head width showing a higher FD in organic farms and diet showing a lower FD in ploughed farms.

The results of the present study highlight the negative effects of olive grove ploughing on ant biodiversity and provide novel evidence of the nonploughing organic farming role with respect to maintaining higher levels of ant functional diversity.