bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Government equity investment, effective communication and public private partnership (PPP) performance: evidence from China
Authors: Hu Zhen , Li Qianmeng , Liu Tingting , Wang Lu , Cheng Zhe 
Published: November 2020

PurposePublic private partnership (PPP) has gained increasing popularity around the globe. Whether the government needs to participate in the PPP special purpose vehicle (SPV) as an equity coinvestor is a critical issue in PPP development. This research aims to examine the influence of government equity investment on PPP performance by taking public-private communication as an intermediate variable.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was adopted as the main research method. PPP practitioners with extensive experiences from both the public and private sectors were targeted respondents. The survey results were subsequently analyzed using statistical data analysis method.FindingsBased on the results from the questionnaire survey, this research indicates an inverted U-shaped relationship between the ratio of government equity and performance in PPP projects. In addition, communication plays a mediating role between government equity investment and PPP project performance.Originality/valueThis research explicates the relationship between the equity structure in a PPP SPV and the project performance. It provides important guidance and reference for PPP practitioners to structure the SPV and associated financial and commercial arrangements. It also offers valuable insights into the development of PPP policy, especially regarding the structuring of PPP models in China and elsewhere.
Fuzzy fault tree analysis for controlling robot-related accidents involving humans in industrial plants: a case study
Authors: Komal  
Published: November 2020

PurposeIn recent years, the application of robots in different industrial sectors such as nuclear power generation, construction, automobile, firefighting and medicine, etc. is increasing day by day. In large industrial plants generally humans and robots work together to accomplish several tasks and lead to the problem of safety and reliability because any malfunction event of robots may cause human injury or even death. To access the reliability of a robot, sufficient amount of failure data is required which is sometimes very difficult to collect due to rare events of any robot failures. Also, different types of their failure pattern increase the difficulty which finally leads to the problem of uncertainty. To overcome these difficulties, this paper presents a case study by assessing fuzzy fault tree analysis (FFTA) to control robot-related accidents to provide safe working environment to human beings in any industrial plant.Design/methodology/approachPresented FFTA method uses different fuzzy membership functions to quantify different uncertainty factors and applies alpha-cut coupled weakest t-norm (Tω) based approximate fuzzy arithmetic operations to obtain fuzzy failure probability of robot-human interaction fault event which is the main contribution of the paper.FindingsThe result obtained from presented FFTA method is compared with other listing approaches. Critical basic events are also ranked using V-index for making suitable action plan to control robot-related accidents. Study indicates that the presented FFTA is a good alternative method to analyze fault in robot-human interaction for providing safe working environment in an industrial plant.Originality/valueExisting fuzzy reliability assessment techniques designed for robots mainly use triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs), triangle vague sets (TVS) or triangle intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFS) to quantify data uncertainty. Present study overcomes this shortcoming and generalizes the idea of fuzzy reliability assessment for robots by adopting different IFS to control robot-related accidents to provide safe working environment to human. This is the main contribution of the paper.
“No shit Sherlock”! Canine DNA and policing public space
Authors: Langstone Delia 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis paper argues that this animal surveillance has the potential for considerable function creep going far outside the scheme's original objectives and acts as a conduit for more problematic surveillance of humans. This results in social sorting of people with subsequent unforeseen consequences leading to discrimination and curtailment of freedoms for both animals and their owners. Ultimately this opens people up to further intrusive targeting by commercial interests and, more alarmingly, scrutiny from law enforcement agencies.Design/methodology/approachAn empirical study examining an initiative involving the collection of canine DNA sources data from publicly available Cabinet, Select Committee and Scrutiny Committee records from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD). It also draws on news media sources, publicity material from the company running the scheme and from this and other local authorities. Methods include analysis of documents, semiotic and discourse analysis.FindingsThis paper highlights the importance of animals to surveillance studies and examines the extent to which animals are a part of the surveillant assemblage in their own right. It also demonstrates how nonhuman animals extend the reach of the surveillant assemblage.Social implicationsThe scheme was called a badge of considerate dog ownership, yet it is one that can be franchised to tie up with diverse income streams being described as advantageous in the age of austerity. In 2017, it was reported that this scheme was to be rolled out in other areas and was moving from being voluntary to being mandatory with the enforcement of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs). These have been described as “geographically defined ASBOS” that have come into force under the Anti-social Behaviour and Policing Act (2014); they often work to criminalise activities that were not previously considered illegal.Originality/valueIn the theorising of surveillance, animals have been largely overlooked. Epidemiological studies proliferate, yet the role of animals in many aspects of everyday surveillance has been neglected.
A systemic response to supporting frontline inpatient mental health staff in coping with the COVID-19 outbreak
Authors: Cotter Padraig , Jhumat Nicola , Garcha Eshia , Papasileka Eirini , Parker Jennifer , Mupfupi Ishmael , Currie Ian 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
This paper aims to outline the process of supporting frontline inpatient mental health staff in developing ways of coping with COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach
A whole system approach was used in formulating and developing support structures with particular focus on relationship-focused coping.

Findings
Interventions were developed to support staff in coping with problem-focused (e.g. systemic changes) and emotion-focused challenges (e.g. deaths of colleagues). These included psychoeducation, mindfulness-based meditation and rituals to mark the deaths of colleagues. Staff SPACE (Stopping to Process and Consider Events) sessions were used to support staff in managing the many emotions they were experiencing. Positive psychology-based interventions were used to keep morale up and help people to stay motivated. The process of seeking feedback and making changes was introduced to support staff in feeling heard and having a voice. The maternal or master intervention within each of the above was the relational component.

Practical implications
This work aimed to boost the emotional and psychological literacy of the system. This will be important in the aftermath of the pandemic and could have many benefits thereafter.

Social implications
The post-COVID-19 health-care workforce will experience significant challenges in terms of readjustment and recovery. It is important that appropriate measures are put in place to ameliorate this.

Originality/value
An innovative systemic formulation of the impact of COVID-19 on frontline staff, and a coordinated way of dealing with this, is outlined.
ResearchGate Altmetric scores and Scopus bibliometric indicators among lecturers
Authors: Nasibi-Sis Hamed , Valizadeh-Haghi Saeideh , Shekofteh Maryam 
Published: November 2020

PurposeMany researchers in ResearchGate (RG) engage in scholarly activity and share research findings. The researchers' activities in this social network may increase the probability of their works being cited. Thus, this study aims to examine the status of RG indices and the Scopus citation indicators of the allied medical sciences lecturers and their association with their academic rankings.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional, descriptive analytical study was performed. As a first step, the names of all 50 lecturers at the School of Allied Medical Sciences were searched through RG to find all the lecturers with profiles. Then, the h-index as well as the number of citations by them were extracted from Scopus. Spearman's correlation coefficient test was performed to explore the association of the RG score with the Scopus citation indicators and the academic rankings of the lecturers.FindingsThe findings demonstrated that there is a statistically significant relationship between the RG indices (except the question and answer indices) and the Scopus citation indicators with the academic rankings of the lecturers (p-value < 0.01).Originality/valueKnowledge of the significant relationship between the RG indices and the Scopus citation indicators may encourage the lecturers to make more efforts to be active on RG. Furthermore, policymakers can encourage their researchers and lecturers to be more active in this scientific social network, which could lead to promoting the university rankings in the global and national rankings systems.
Parametric optimization in die-sinking EDM of Nimonic 90 alloy using Taguchi-based GRA approach
Authors: Sharma Sahil , Vates Umesh Kumar , Bansal Amit 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
In the current exploration, the machining of a Nimonic 90 superalloy material was carried out in a die-sinking electric discharge machine. Experimentation was performed to investigate the impact of three input machining factors – current (I), pulse on time (Ton) and pulse off time (Toff) – on various response characteristics such as material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra) and electrode wear rate (EWR).

Design/methodology/approach
A Taguchi L9 design and ANOVA were used to assess machine response characteristics. The study also involved a grey relational analysis (GRA) multi-objective technique of optimization.

Findings
For single-objective performance, the most appropriate machining factors for achieving the best performance were attained as: MRR (I = 20 A, Ton = 200 µs and Toff = 45 µs), Ra (I = 14 A, Ton = 100 µs and Toff = 25 µs) and EWR (I = 17 A, Ton = 150 µs and Toff = 45 µs). The proposed grey relational approach provided the optimal settings (i.e. 14 A I, 100 µs Ton and 25 µs Toff) for the variables used to calculate the predicted and experimental results. Also, a confirmation test indicated that the final experimental grey relational grade value was enhanced when the experimentation was performed at optimal setting.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present work is the first to examine the proposed machining variables (i.e. current, pulse on time and pulse off time) in relation to the optimization technique of GRA for a Nimonic 90 alloy using a die-sinking electric discharge machining method.
Strategic factors predicting the likelihood of youth entrepreneurship in Ghana: a logistic regression analysis
Authors: Damoah Obi Berko Obeng 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe paper sought to make contribution to youth entrepreneurship research field. This is because whilst youth entrepreneurship presents enormous socio-economic benefits, including economic growth, diversification, innovation and poverty elimination earlier research have paid more attention to adults' entrepreneurship with less attention been paid to youth entrepreneurship resulting in a compelling research gap following the present huge youth unemployment across the world. Consequently, the motivation of the paper is to guide public policy and practice on the promotion of youth entrepreneurship, especially in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs the survey research design based on logistic regression analysis as the key analytical technique to examine data. The choice of the logistic regression model is due to the fact that the main research question that informs the study is a dichotomous one. Hence it was found appropriate to select the logit regression model based on similar works in the field.FindingsOver all, the results show that lack of financial support from one's family background, early entry into formal employment, as well as being born into entrepreneurial dominated families significantly predict the probability of a youth considering entrepreneurship as an attractive life venture.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on non-probability sampling method and so readers must bear that in mind when they are interpreting the results.Practical implicationsFollowing from the findings, one of the practical implications is that youth entrepreneurs must align the external influences to the internal capacity of the businesses to initiate and/or start sustainable entrepreneurial ventures.Originality/valueThe study sheds light from an under-explored and new geographical context to advance existing knowledge in the field.
Characteristic distribution of maculopapular rash caused by gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy
Authors: Tohyama Mikiko , Asagi Akinori , Nakasya Akio , Iuchi Shunsuke , Hashine Katsuyoshi 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSkin toxicity induced by gemcitabine, a chemotherapeutic agent, is not rare, but is usually mild. However, the occurrence of moderate to severe skin rash has been reported in patients treated with combinations of gemcitabine and other anticancer drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of rash caused by gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy. We analyzed 12 patients who developed maculopapular rash over more than 10% of their body surface following gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy. Maculopapular rash appeared at 6.3 ± 1.3 days after the first administration in eight patients and the second administration in four patients. In two patients, the rash was localized on the lateral aspect of the trunk. The other 10 patients showed various degrees of rash on the chest and abdomen, in addition to the lateral aspect of the trunk. However, rash was absent on the upper and middle back in almost all patients. After the rash disappeared, gemcitabine was re‐administrated in eight patients. They continued the therapy with no or only mild rash relapse. In conclusion, maculopapular rash caused by gemcitabine‐based chemotherapy shows biased distribution to frontal and lateral sites of the trunk, which may be informative for consecutive chemotherapy.
Coloration of spotless starling nestlings shows genetic and environmentally determined characteristics while begging for food
Authors: Martínez‐Renau Ester , Ruiz‐Castellano Cristina , Azcárate‐García Manuel , Barón María Dolores , Soler Juan José 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSimilar to other signals, coloration of traits expressed by nestlings while they are begging for food are assumed to reflect their phenotypic conditions, and, therefore, they should be environmentally determined. However, these colorations are also species specifics and, thus, a genetic component explaining the evolution of nestling coloration should exist; a possibility rarely explored in the literature.Cross‐fostering experiments allowed us to quantify genetic and environmental components of coloration of mouth, flanges and skin in a spotless starlingSturnus unicolorpopulation. In addition, by supplementing some nestlings within each brood with non‐pigmented antioxidants (Vitamin E or Vitamin complex), we explored the effects of food supplementation on coloration of begging‐related traits and plasma carotenoid concentration.We detected significant genetic components of colorations of skin and mouth, but not of flanges or plasma carotenoid concentration. Moreover, experimental supplementation with Vitamin E affected UV coloration of mouth, flanges and skin, while vitamin‐complex supplementation exclusively affected flange coloration. Furthermore, coloration of flanges, but not that of other traits, predicted plasma carotenoid concentration suggesting a direct link between these two traits.All these results suggest that coloration of begging‐related traits is a multifaceted signal informing parents about genetic characteristics, and of short‐term needs of nestlings, including antioxidative capacity, that parents could use to adjust feeding efforts, and deciding which chick to feed.Future research should focus on the parents' perspective, taking into account their feeding effort and feeding preferences in relation to genetically and/or environmentally determined coloration of begging‐related traits.A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article
Preparatory immunity: Seasonality of mucosal skin defences and Batrachochytrium infections in Southern leopard frogs
Authors: Le Sage Emily H. , LaBumbard Brandon C. , Reinert Laura K. , Miller Brian T. , Richards‐Zawacki Corinne L. , Woodhams Doug C. , Rollins‐Smith Louise A. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Accurately predicting the impacts of climate change on wildlife health requires a deeper understanding of seasonal rhythms in host–pathogen interactions. The amphibian pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), exhibits seasonality in incidence; however, the role that biological rhythms in host defences play in defining this pattern remains largely unknown.

The aim of this study was to examine whether host immune and microbiome defences against Bd correspond with infection risk and seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Over the course of a year, five populations of Southern leopard frogs (Rana [Lithobates] sphenocephala) in Tennessee, United States, were surveyed for host immunity, microbiome and pathogen dynamics. Frogs were swabbed for pathogen load and skin bacterial diversity and stimulated to release stored antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Secretions were analysed to estimate total hydrophobic peptide concentrations, presence of known AMPs and effectiveness of Bd growth inhibition in vitro. The diversity and proportion of bacterial reads with a 99% match to sequences of isolates known to inhibit Bd growth in vitro were used as an estimate of predicted anti‐Bd function of the skin microbiome.

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis dynamics followed the expected seasonal fluctuations—peaks in cooler months—which coincided with when host mucosal defences were most potent against Bd. Specifically, the concentration and expression of stored AMPs cycled synchronously with Bd dynamics. Although microbiome changes followed more linear trends over time, the proportion of bacteria that can function to inhibit Bd growth was greatest when risk of Bd infection was highest.

We interpret the increase in peptide storage in the fall and the shift to a more anti‐Bd microbiome over winter as a preparatory response for subsequent infection risk during the colder periods when AMP synthesis and bacterial growth is slow and pathogen pressure from this cool‐adapted fungus is high. Given that a decrease in stored AMP concentrations as temperatures warm in spring likely means greater secretion rates, the subsequent decrease in prevalence suggests seasonality of Bd in this host may be in part regulated by annual immune rhythms, and dominated by the effects of temperature.
Conservation planning across realms: Enhancing connectivity for multi‐realm species
Authors: Hermoso Virgilio , Vasconcelos Rita P. , Henriques Sofia , Filipe Ana F. , Carvalho Silvia B. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractConnectivity plays a key role in biodiversity conservation as it sustains ecological processes, such as migrations, important for the maintenance of populations. Connectivity is especially relevant for species that rely on different realms during their life cycle or use different realms daily or seasonally (multi‐realm species). However, efforts to address conservation across multiple realms have focused on identifying priority areas for conservation in a single realm (mostly marine) while accounting for threats propagating from other realms or single species needs.Here, we demonstrate how to identify priority areas for conservation across three different realms (freshwater–terrestrial, estuary and marine) for multiple species, including some multi‐realm species, that inhabit or move across the three realms, using the Tagus River (Western Iberian Peninsula), its estuary and nearby marine area as a case study. We integrated multiple types of connectivity in the selection of priority areas for conservation, each of them customised to depict important drivers of movement within each realm and across realms: longitudinal connectivity along rivers or multidimensional connectivity in the estuary and marine realms, guided by currents and depth similarity, respectively. We compared the allocation of priority areas and spatial connectivity achieved under three scenarios: no‐connectivity, within‐realm and cross‐realm connectivity scenarios.There were differences in the spatial allocation of priority areas across scenarios. The most remarkable difference laid on the connectivity achieved under each scenario, which experienced a threefold increase when considering connectivity across realms, compared to solutions that considered only connectivity within each realm independently. This improvement in connectivity was especially marked for species that occur across different realms. There were, however, trade‐offs between this improvement in connectivity and the increase in the number of planning units selected, especially in the estuary.Synthesis and applications. Addressing connectivity across realms deserves special attention when planning for the conservation of multi‐realm species to ensure the adequacy of conservation recommendations to respond to the needs of multi‐realm species. Given the potential trade‐offs between enhanced cross‐realm connectivity and total area needed or internal within‐realm connectivity, consideration of cross‐realm connectivity must be cautiously evaluated and integrated in multi‐realm conservation plans.