bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of using blended learning teaching and learning strategy to develop students' performance at higher education
Authors: Ayob Hisham Hanfy , Daleure Georgia , Solovieva Nadia , Minhas Wasif , White Timothy 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThe research aims to identify the effectiveness of using the blended learning strategy on achievement among students of higher colleges of technology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), through the answer to the following question: Is there a statistically significant difference at the significance level (a = 0.05) in students' achievements in general studies courses at higher education attributed to the method of teaching (blended learning, traditional).Design/methodology/approachThe research applied a Quasi-experimental. The current research used two groups experimental group and controlled group across two phases: pilot study and experimental study. Phase 1 examined the difference between the pilot group and the nonpilot group at Sharjah colleges across three different courses: Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics, Professional Communication and Reporting and Basic Research Methods during the spring semester 2019 at Sharjah colleges. Phase 2 examined the difference between the experimental group (using blended learning during summer 2019) and the controlled group (learned the same courses during summer 2018) across three different courses and the same three courses.FindingsThere is no statistically significant difference at significance level (a = 0.05) in students' achievements in the Fundamentals of Applied Mathematics (LSM 1000) course between the experimental and controlled groups. There is a statistically significant difference at significance level (a = 0.05) in students' achievements in the Professional Communication and Reporting (LSC 1103) in favor of the experimental group course at higher education attributed to the method of teaching (blended learning, traditional). There is no statistically significant difference at significance level (a = 0.05) in students' achievements in the Basic Research Methods (LSS 1123) between the experimental and controlled groups.Research limitations/implications1. The study is limited to students of Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE. 2. The study is limited to the General Studies Department at Higher Colleges of Technology. 3. The achievement test used in the study is a standardized test developed by the college.Originality/valueThis research considered the first research to discuss the effectiveness of using blended learning where three teaching strategies are combined together (normal face-to-face classes, flipped classroom and online face-to-face classes) in students' achievement at higher education in the UAE.
The effects of online tactile information source for low-touch products on consumer responses
Authors: Donato Carmela , Raimondo Maria Antonietta 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the effects of web communities vs company websites in providing tactile information considering different types of product in terms of touch diagnosticity (low- vs. high-touch products).

Design/methodology/approach
Three experimental studies were conducted to examine the effect of online information sources (i.e. web communities vs. company websites) in providing tactile information on consumer responses, considering the moderation role of product type in terms of touch diagnosticity (low- vs. high-touch products, Study 1), the moderating role of type of information (tactile vs. generic, Study 2a); and the moderating role of need for touch (NFT) (Study 2a and 2b).

Findings
While previous research converges on the idea that the provision of a written description of tactile properties deriving from the product usage is particularly effective for products for which tactile information is diagnostic and for individuals high in NFT, the results demonstrated that the presence (vs. the absence) of the description of the tactile properties provided by web communities (vs. company websites) matters for those products for which touch is not diagnostic and for individuals low in NFT.

Practical implications
The findings have particular relevance for emerging brands intending to commercialize their products in the digital environment. These companies should be present in web communities to describe a product’s tactile characteristics, especially if not diagnostic.

Originality/value
This paper significantly contributes to a better understanding of a little studied area, namely, consumer responses toward haptic compensational strategies providing haptic cues (e.g. written description of tactile information along with pictures of products) aiming at compensating for the absence of touch, underlining the differential influence of online sources of tactile information on consumer responses across different types of products.
Digital evolution and emerging revenue management practices: evidence from Aegean airlines distribution channels
Authors: Katsoni Vicky , Poulaki Ioulia 
Published: May 2021

Purpose
The rapid digital transformation (DX) that airlines experienced during the past decade has been proven to be the driving force of significant benefits for the airlines when it comes to cost reduction, branding and revenue opportunities when passengers purchase tickets and ancillaries directly from their websites. This paper aims to contribute empirically to the theoretical approaches of DX and revenue management (RM) with the investigation of the Aegean airlines DX progress, focusing on emerging RM practices and digital distribution channels.

Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis of the airlines’ website and social media performance is used to note the current situation combined with previous and upcoming developments. Evaluation of the company’s digitalization progress is approached by using a combination of two selected DX models, the digital transformation maturity (DTM) concept and the technology acceptance model (TAM).

Findings
The analysis of qualitative and quantitative secondary data provided by the Aegean airlines indicates that the adoption of a digital evolution marketing plan, enriched with emerging RM practices, is leading to the increase of the bookings coming from the airline’s direct distribution channels (Web & Apps) over those from intermediaries (GDSs). Consequently, Aegean airlines’ DX progress favors cost reduction and revenue increase at the same time.

Originality/value
DX model-based airline steps combined with direct versus indirect ticket purchase pattern compose a tool to evaluate the airline digitalization progress toward revenue integrity and product customization, as the latest trend in customer-centric strategy of businesses and customer relationship management (eCRM).
The efficiency of REITs industry in Saudi Arabia: profit-oriented approach
Authors: Alsharif Mohammad 
Published: May 2021

PurposeThis study aims to extensively investigate the efficiency of real estate investment trusts (REITs) in Saudi Arabia.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs the data envelopment analysis on 17 Saudi REITs with an innovative profit-oriented approach in selecting REITs' inputs and outputs.FindingsIt is found that the traditional approach underestimates the efficiency of Saudi REITs in comparison with the profit-oriented approach, implying that relying on the traditional approach in assessing the efficiency of REITs will underestimate their efficiency and provide misleading results about their actual performance. However, both approaches showed that Saudi REITs are very efficient in utilizing their inputs, and the major source of their inefficiency is related to their scale inefficiency. Moreover, small Saudi REITs are more efficient than large ones. Finally, a higher level of debt is supposedly associated with lower levels of efficiency, indicating that Saudi REITs should not rely on debt funding because there is no tax advantage from using debt.Originality/valueThis paper has several contributions to the literature. First, it employs an innovative profit-oriented approach in selecting REITs' inputs and outputs. Second, this study focuses on analyzing the efficiency of REITs in Saudi Arabia, which is the largest country in the Middle East region, regarding size, stock market capitalization and gross domestic product. Finally, to the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the efficiency of REITs in Saudi Arabia, and it provides substantial information for REITs' investors and managers about the current efficiency of the Saudi REITs industry.
Service quality and customer satisfaction as antecedents of financial sustainability of the water service providers
Authors: Murrar Abdullah , Batra Madan , Rodger James 
Published: May 2021

PurposeService quality and customer satisfaction influence the financial performance of service organizations. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the path relationship of service quality to customer satisfaction to financial sustainability in the water service sector, which is vital to the sustainable future of mankind. Further, these three interrelated constructs and their dimensions are clearly articulated.Design/methodology/approachSERVQUAL questionnaire responses were collected from 635 household families, and the financial sustainability indicators of 56 water providers were gathered as well. Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis were conducted to measure the internal consistency and convergent validity. Path analysis was utilized to evaluate the causal diagram by examining the relationships among service quality, customer satisfaction and financial sustainability using the AMOS software package.FindingsThe results showed that the five dimensions of service quality explain 58% of the customer satisfaction variation. The responsiveness, empathy, assurance and reliability have significant impact on the customer satisfaction where p < 0.05, while the tangible dimension has an insignificant effect. The results also revealed that customer satisfaction has a significant impact on the financial sustainability indicators of the water providers, where p = 0.000 for the debt collection ratio indicator, and p = 0.003 for the financial efficiency ratio indicator.Research limitations/implicationsThis research on financial sustainability is based on evidence about service quality and customer satisfaction in the Palestinian water sector. Future research on financial sustainability of the water sector may focus on the pricing mechanism and debt collection of water service.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that water providers should recognize the importance of service quality dimensions, which strengthen the customer satisfaction, which, in turn, is a significant driver for their financial sustainability. It is, therefore, sound to draw action-oriented managerial implications from these results.Originality/valueThe study adds to the literature of water service sector and is based on empirical evidence from primary data of household families and secondary data of water service providers from developing countries. This paper also contributes toward the strengthening of sustainability of the water service sector in Palestine – a worthy humanitarian cause. The study provides evidence useful for policy makers toward carving out policies aimed at strengthening the financial sustainability of the water service sector.
Are traits drivers or consequences of competition? Comments to Carmona et al
Authors: Botta‐Dukát Zoltán 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Carmona et al. (2019) have recently published the results of a well‐designed experiment examining the effect of functional traits on the outcome of competition. Their main conclusions were that (a) trait hierarchies better predict the strength of competition than trait differences, and (b) the consideration of intraspecific trait variation improves our ability to predict the strength of competition.

They applied multi‐model inference by averaging regression coefficients. This approach is strongly criticized because it averages regression coefficients for which the meaning is conditional on the other predictors included in the model.

In this paper, their data were re‐analysed using alternative methods. The results only partly support the original conclusions in that trait hierarchy proved to be obviously important in height, but not in the other three traits.

Synthesis. Intraspecific trait variation contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between traits and competitive interactions. On the other hand, traits measured in focal individuals may be both drivers and consequences of competition, which makes the interpretation of the relationship more difficult.
Does performance measurement improve public sector performance? A case of Australian government agencies
Authors: Smith Graham , Halligan John , Mir Monir 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe paper investigates whether performance measurement drives performance improvement in Australian government agencies. Because the answer to such a question is rarely unconditional, contextual factors such as jurisdiction and type of organisation are considered. The paper uses documents such as budgets and annual reports of nine government agencies in three Australian jurisdictions to analyse how results against targets influence subsequent measured performance. It finds that performance measurement does not drive performance improvement for the agencies studied. The paper also explores two types of mechanism by which performance measurement might improve performance in Australian government agencies. One mechanism is that setting targets focuses effort leading to improved performance. A second mechanism assumes that policy intent plus resources leads to good performance measures, which produces better information and decisions and hence higher performance. No discernible impacts of these mechanisms on performance improvements in these agencies were observed. A systems‐based approach to understanding the forces acting on managers and organisations showed that the mechanisms described above were less effective than countervailing influences that tended to derogate from the use of performance measurement.
The two‐community model in the New Zealand housing policy community – A bottom‐up perspective
Authors: Löfgren Karl , Bickerton Sarah Hendrica 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe barriers and tensions between the world of academic research and the policy world have been a recurrent theme in policy research since the 1970s and has gained renewed interest in the light of the evidence‐based policymaking movement. Although there seem to be many good arguments to not exaggerate the gulf between what has been called ‘the two communities’, we will in this article demonstrate the persistence of the model from an inductive, bottom‐up perspective. Based on an empirical and bottom‐up qualitative study with various organised interests (both inside and outside the government) involved in New Zealand housing policy, we demonstrate that although the two‐community model prevails, the actual relationship between academia and policy professionals is more complex once you begin to probe into the minds of the policy professionals and cannot be reduced to two separate tribes. The study is based on focus groups with 15 different organisations representing both central and local government organisations, housing associations, and professional associations within the policy field of housing in New Zealand.
Analysis of the Australia and New Zealand referral criteria for transfer to a liver unit for paracetamol overdose
Authors: Xu Yifan , Testro Adam , Wong Anselm 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectivesParacetamol overdose is common and can lead to fulminant hepatic failure. In cases that are not improving with standard medical therapy with N‐acetylcysteine, some patients may require liver transplant. The Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) referral criteria for transfer to a liver unit have not been extensively studied for its predictive value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ANZ referral criteria for predicting mortality in paracetamol overdose.MethodsThis study involves a retrospective analysis of patients who developed hepatotoxicity post‐paracetamol overdose presenting to an Australian health service with a liver transplant unit between 2010 and 2019 and were treated with N‐acetylcysteine. The primary outcome was death or transplant.ResultsOut of 983 paracetamol overdose presentations, 81 (8.2%) cases developed hepatotoxicity. Of these, 17 cases (21%) met the composite endpoint of death or transplant. The ANZ referral criteria is highly sensitive at predicting the primary endpoint of death or transplant at time of referral 100% (95% confidence interval 81–100) but had low specificity at 30% (95% confidence interval 19–42).ConclusionsThe ANZ referral criteria were highly sensitive for predicting the outcome of mortality and transplant. This is important for screening patients who may become unstable and difficult to transfer at a later stage of their admission.
Food prices and marketing margins during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from vegetable value chains in Ethiopia
Authors: Hirvonen Kalle , Minten Bart , Mohammed Belay , Tamru Seneshaw 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIt is widely feared that the shock of the COVID‐19 pandemic will lead to a significant worsening of the food security situation in low and middle‐income countries. One reason for this is the disruption of food marketing systems and subsequent changes in farm and consumer prices. Based on primary data in Ethiopia collected just before the start and a few months into the pandemic, we assess changes in farm and consumer prices of four major vegetables and the contribution of different segments of the rural‐urban value chain in urban retail price formation. We find large, but heterogeneous, price changes for different vegetables with relatively larger changes seen at the farm level, compared to the consumer level, leading to winners and losers among local vegetable farmers due to pandemic‐related trade disruptions. We further note that despite substantial hurdles in domestic trade reported by most value chain agents, increases in marketing—and especially transportation—costs have not been the major contributor to overall changes in retail prices. Marketing margins even declined for half of the vegetables studied. The relatively small changes in marketing margins overall indicate the resilience of these domestic value chains during the pandemic in Ethiopia.
Has consumer‐directed care improved the quality of life of older Australians? An exploratory empirical assessment
Authors: Bulamu Norma B. , Kaambwa Billingsley , Gill Liz , Lancsar Emily , Cameron Ian D. , Ratcliffe Julie 
Published: May 2021

ObjectivesTo assess the impact of a Consumer Directed Care (CDC) model of service delivery on the quality of life of older people receiving home care packages.MethodsQuality of life was assessed using validated instruments. The relationship between quality of life and length of time exposed to CDC was examined using descriptive statistical and multivariate regression analyses.ResultsConsenting older adults (n = 150) in receipt of home care packages participated. Quality of life and capability scores were higher for older people in receipt of a CDC model of service delivery for <12 months compared to those receiving the model of care for longer, although this difference was not statistically significant. However, older people with more recent exposure to CDC indicated a stronger capability to do things that made them feel valued.ConclusionExtended longitudinal follow‐up is needed to facilitate a detailed examination of the relationship between the evolution of CDC and its longer‐term influences on quality of life.
Prenatal paraben exposure and atopic dermatitis‐related outcomes among children
Authors: Thürmann Loreen , Herberth Gunda , Seiwert Bettina , Schlittenbauer Linda , Rolle‐Kampczyk Ulrike , Röder Stefan , Sack Ulrich , Borte Michael , von Bergen Martin , Trump Saskia , Reemtsma Thorsten , Lehmann Irina 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundParabens, widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, foods, and other consumer products, are suspected of contributing to allergy susceptibility. The detection of parabens in the placenta or amniotic fluid raised concerns about potential health consequences for the child. Recently, an increased asthma risk following prenatal exposure has been reported. Here, we investigated whether prenatal paraben exposure can influence the risk for atopic dermatitis (AD).Methods261 mother‐child pairs of the German mother‐child study LINA were included in this analysis. Eight paraben species were quantified in maternal urine obtained at gestational week 34. According to the parental report of physician‐diagnosed AD from age 1 to 8 years, disease onset, and persistence, childhood AD was classified into four different phenotypes.Results4.6% (n = 12) and 12.3% (n = 32) of the children were classified as having very early‐onset AD (until age two) either with or without remission, 11.9% (n = 31) as early‐onset (after age two), and 3.1% (n = 8) as childhood‐onset AD (after age six). Exposure to ethylparaben and n‐butylparaben was associated with an increased risk to develop very early‐onset AD without remission (EtP: adj.OR/95% CI:1.44/1.04–2.00,nBuP:adj.OR/95% CI:1.95/1.22–3.12). The effects of both parabens were predominant in children without a history of maternal AD and independent of children's sex.ConclusionPrenatal EtP or nBuP exposure may increase children's susceptibility for persistent AD with disease onset at very early age. This association was particularly pronounced in children without a history of maternal AD, indicating that children without a genetic predisposition are more susceptible to paraben exposure.
Long‐term trends in critical care admissions in Wales**
Authors: Pugh R. J. , Bailey R. , Szakmany T. , Al Sallakh M. , Hollinghurst J. , Akbari A. , Griffiths R. , Battle C. , Thorpe C. , Subbe C. P. , Lyons R. A. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryAs national populations age, demands on critical care services are expected to increase. In many healthcare settings, longitudinal trends indicate rising numbers and proportions of patients admitted to ICU who are older; elsewhere, including some parts of the UK, a decrease has raised concerns with regard to rationing according to age. Our aim was to investigate admission trends in Wales, where critical care capacity has not risen in the last decade. We used the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank to identify and characterise critical care admissions in patients aged ≥ 18 years from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2017. We categorised 85,629 ICU admissions as youngest (18–64 years), older (65–79 years) and oldest (≥ 80 years). The oldest group accounted for 15% of admissions, the older age group 39% and the youngest group 46%. Relative to the national population, the incidence of admission rates per 10,000 population in the oldest group decreased significantly over the study period from 91.5/10,000 in 2008 to 77.5/10,000 (a relative decrease of 15%), and among the older group from 89.2/10,000 in 2008 to 75.3/10,000 in 2017 (a relative decrease of 16%). We observed significant decreases in admissions with high comorbidity (modified Charlson comorbidity index); increases in the proportion of older patients admitted who were considered ‘fit’ rather than frail (electronic frailty index); and decreases in admissions with a medical diagnosis. In contrast to other healthcare settings, capacity constraints and surgical imperatives appear to have contributed to a relative exclusion of older patients presenting with acute medical illness.