bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In-work poverty: reversing a trend through business commitment
Authors: Panagiotakopoulos Antonios 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
This study aims to explore whether employer action may contribute towards reducing in-work poverty. Essentially, the study examines the extent to which small firm owners accept as being among their core responsibilities the support of the working poor both from an ethical and financial perspective. It further explores the impact of employee-friendly policies to support the working poor on the organizational performance of small enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was adopted consisting of 60 responses from 30 small firm owners and 30 employees. More specifically, the study draws on the empirical data collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with the firm owners of 30 low-paying enterprises operating in Greece and 30 employees working in those firms.

Findings
The findings reveal that employer measures to reduce in-work poverty such as systematic training, travel allowance, provision of free meals and retail vouchers, bonus schemes and other indirect financial rewards do enhance overall employee well-being, which, in turn, makes employees more engaged with their work and motivate them to “go the extra mile” for their employer. As a result, organizations appear to enjoy several benefits including less absenteeism and staff turnover, reduced errors in production and increased productivity.

Practical implications
The present analysis argues that a narrow focus by policymakers on both direct and indirect governmental measures (e.g. an increase of the minimum wage, childcare and housing support) to reduce in work-poverty could be problematic as there are employer instruments that could also have a direct and indirect impact on employee income that could be useful when thinking about how in-work poverty can best be addressed. The empirical work showed that the above-mentioned measures have the potential to bring various organizational benefits including increased staff loyalty, less absenteeism, improved customer service and increased productivity. Such findings indicate that there is a strong business case for employers to combat in-work poverty and provide “better” jobs to individuals.

Originality/value
The emphasis of research around in-work poverty has been placed predominantly on welfare state measures to support the working poor, whereas the contribution of employers has been ignored. The present study fills this knowledge gap by leading to a better understanding of whether there is a business case for employers to fight in-work poverty.
Dialectical logic for mythical and mystical superstructural systems (ii)
Authors: Usó Doménech José Luis , Nescolarde-Selva Josué Antonio , Gash Hugh , Segura-Abad Lorena 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
The distinction between essence and existence cannot be a distinction in God: in the actual infinite, essence and existence coincide and are one. In it, maximum and minimum coincide. Coincidentia oppositorum is a Latin phrase meaning coincidence of opposites. It is a neo-Platonic term, attributed to the fifteenth-century German scholar Nicholas of Cusa in his essay, Docta Ignorantia. God (coincidentia oppositorum) is the synthesis of opposites in a unique and absolutely infinite being. God transcends all distinctions and oppositions that are found in creatures. The purpose of this paper is to study Cusanus’s thought in respect to infinity (actual and potential), Spinoza’s relationship with Cusanus, and present a mathematical theory of coincidentia oppositorum based on complex numbers.

Design/methodology/approach
Mathematical development of a dialectical logic is carried out with truth values in a complex field.

Findings
The conclusion is the same as has been made by thinkers and mystics throughout time: the inability to know and understand the idea of God.

Originality/value
The history of the Infinite thus reveals in both mathematics and philosophy a development of increasingly subtle thought in the form of a dialectical dance around the ineffable and incomprehensible Infinite. First, the authors step toward it, reaching with their intuition beyond the limits of rationality and thought into the realm of the paradoxical. Then, they step back, struggling to express their insight within the limited scope of reason. But the Absolute Infinite remains, at the border of comprehensibility, inviting them with its paradoxes, to once again step forward and transcend the apparent division between finite and Infinite.
Balancing centralization and decentralization management at University of Bahrain
Authors: Alhamad Bassam Mohamed , Aladwan Rama 
Published: May 2019

PurposeThere is no such thing as a truly centralized or decentralized management system. With regard to universities, most of the key areas in universities are centralized, e.g. finance, personnel, curriculum, management and quality. These key areas will exhibit a higher impact on learning and research by maintaining the appropriate balance between centralization and decentralization approaches. The purpose of this paper is to study the key features of balanced management implemented within the internal quality assurance system at the University of Bahrain. Areas of such balance will be explained while showing theprosandconsof each management approach.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, both quantitative and qualitative surveys were used to study this balanced approach.FindingsThe centralization approach at the university maintained systematic compliance through the development of policies and procedures, quality structure and a clear framework for quality enhancement. Centralization ensured consistency in quality, programmes and activities. It also maintained diffusion of innovation, for example, sharing and transferring the knowledge of international accreditation practices to other colleges. The balance of the centralized with the decentralized management approach provided additional advantages. For example, the management shared the vision of decentralization to raise the level of responsibility and accountability. The management provided an acceptable level of authority to take on spot decisions; hence, building expertise at the decentralized levels. However, this would require support and capacity building to ensure directly responsible persons, who can take on spot decisions. The ownership of the self-improvement cycles was implemented at the level of the departments and colleges.Practical implicationsThis study showed that this balanced management had a great influence to maximize the benefits of the internal quality assurance (IQA) system, as it showed that 71.4 and 67.3 per cent of the academic and administrative staff, respectively, found that the IQA system was effective.Originality/valueThis balanced approach would guide the universities to enhance its quality system by organizing its structure, processes and systems in a harmonized nature.
Attitude of Russian teachers towards the new standards
Authors: Khanolainen Daria 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
In 2010, the Russian Federation began introducing the new educational standards as a national reform designed to improve education quality. This study aims to identify how teachers feel about the reform to evaluate its intermediate effects.

Design/methodology/approach
The study took place in Tatarstan, one of the regions of Russia. The mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used: the first phase involved a survey for 123 teachers and at the second phase 10 teachers participated in semi-structured face-to-face interviews.

Findings
The findings of the study reveal that most teachers are still adapting to the new standards and feel only partly prepared to work within the new system. Teachers acknowledge that the reform is necessary, but there are some confusion and disagreement about what the new standards imply and how they should be implemented.

Practical implications
The study argues that teachers have to both feel positive about reforms and perceive themselves to be prepared to address them before they can feel motivated to support them. The results might have been affected by social desirability bias as the number of those viewing the new standard positively is overwhelmingly high. At the same time, teachers report low levels of motivation.

Originality/value
There is a clear dearth in scholarly literature dealing with the Russian educational context and available in English. In addition, there is hardly any research on Russian teachers’ motivation and attitude towards the new educational standards.
Expo 2020 and sustainability: luxury hotel properties challenges and future outlook
Authors: Giardina Giuliana 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to know about the recent environmental changes that have impacted society worldwide have led to increased interest in and attention to the topic of sustainability. A good example of this new trend is provided by the Expo 2020, which is focussing on sustainability as one of the key sub-themes of the event.

Design/methodology/approach
This study explores guests’ and employees’ perspectives on the deployment of sustainable practices in hotels. Particular attention is placed on the identification of challenges and drivers of sustainable practices in luxury hotel properties in Dubai.

Findings
The discoveries made during the study hold meaningful implications for industry professionals and provide insightful recommendations for the upcoming Expo 2020, which can be leveraged as a tool to increase awareness and drive education on effective sustainable practices.

Originality/value
With 35 different nationalities contributing to the data collection, the present study provides a diverse sample, enabling the researcher to shed light on the previously identified literature contradictions.
Conclusions: Expo 2020 and its impact on Dubai
Authors: Nadkarni Sanjay 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
This concluding paper aims to review the contribution made by this theme issue to the body of knowledge on Dubai as a host city for Expo 2020 and the impact of such mega events overall on the host destinations.

Design/methodology/approach
A content analysis of the contributing articles selected for this theme issue was undertaken.

Findings
The summary paper highlights the key takeaways relating to Expo 2020 Dubai that will help inform policy making and decision-making for stakeholders in Dubai’s economy.

Research limitations/implications
Retaining and nurturing the vibrancy of Dubai’s cosmopolitan and diverse socio-economic landscape in the run-up to and after the Expo are as much an opportunity as they are a challenge. The outcomes and recommendations emanating from the papers provide stakeholders with the tools to consider and mitigate risks.

Originality/value
This theme issue makes a significant scholarly contribution towards understanding the dynamics of Dubai as a destination on the verge of hosting a mega event and captures the zeitgeist of the pre-event planning and post-event strategies in “connecting minds, creating the future”, which is the theme of Expo 2020.
The employment of people with special needs within hotels in Dubai
Authors: Al Fardan Alia , Morris Stephanie 
Published: May 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the challenges and benefits of hiring individuals with special needs in the hospitality industry in Dubai; understand management, colleague and customer perspectives concerning the integration of individuals with special needs in the workforce; emphasize the need for awareness, communication and training when introducing special needs employees to hotel properties in Dubai; recognize laws and policies in respect to introducing the special needs workforce in hotels in Dubai; and classify the requirements needed to facilitate accessibility and integration of special needs employees in the workforce.

Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative research was conducted to better comprehend the benefits, challenges, policies/legalities and perceptions developed when considering employment practices of individuals with disabilities. Interviews with HR directors/managers in hotels in Dubai were conducted using a snowball sampling approach.

Findings
This study suggests that hotels in Dubai must increase their efforts to accommodate the special needs market through the provision of accessible areas, changes in perceptions and enactment of coherent laws and policies to prepare for the inflow of disabled tourists during Expo 2020. Further, that these efforts can be better accomplished by employment of individuals with special needs.

Originality/value
High turnover costs and shortages of labor in the hospitality industry have led to the need for the non-traditional labor force to fill the demand created by the upcoming Expo 2020. As the UAE won the bid for Expo 2020, there has been early construction of hotels to adapt to the increased demand in jobs by and influx of tourists including individuals with disabilities.
Interaction engineering: Non‐trophic effects modify interactions in an insect galler community
Authors: Barbosa Milton , Fernandes G. Wilson , Morris Rebecca J. 
Published: May 2019

Abstract

Theory suggests that non‐trophic interactions can be a major mechanism behind community stability and persistence, but community‐level empirical data are scarce, particularly for effects on species interactions mediated through changes in the physical environment.

Here, we explored how ecosystem engineering effects can feed back to the engineer, not only modulating the engineer’s population density (node modulation) but also affecting its interactions with other species (link modulation).

Gall induction can be viewed as ecosystem engineering since galls serve as habitat for other species. In a community‐level field experiment, we generated treatments with reduced or elevated ecosystem engineering by removing or adding post‐emergence galls to different plots of their host plant in the Brazilian Cerrado. We tested the effect of post‐emergence galls on the galler, as well as on the galler–parasitoid and galler—aphid interactions.

The manipulation of post‐emergence galls had little effect on the galler—abundance and survivorship were not affected, and gall volume changed only slightly—but modified interactions involving the galler, parasitoid wasps and inquiline aphids. Aphid inquilines negatively affected density‐dependent parasitism rates (interaction modification) likely by killing parasitised galling larvae. Post‐emergence galls interfered with aphid inquilinism—likely by the provision of alternative habitat for aphids—and thus interfered with the negative effect of aphids on parasitism (modification of an interaction modification).

This work is one of the few studies to demonstrate experimentally the role played by environment‐mediated interaction modification at a community level in the field. Moreover, by manipulating a species’ ecosystem engineering effect (post‐emergence galls) instead of the species itself, we demonstrate the novel result that populations can be regulated by non‐trophic effects initiated by their own activities that alter their interaction with other species. This reveals that indirect interactions mediated via the environment offer new pathways of feedback loops for population regulation. Our results indicate that interaction modification has the potential to be a key regulatory mechanism underlying interaction variation in nature, and play a major role in community structure, dynamics and stability.
Deep and intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy in seeds of Ferula gummosa (Apiaceae)
Authors: Zardari Sanaz , Ghaderi‐Far Farshid , Sadeghipour Hamid R. , Zeinali Ebrahim , Soltani Elias , Baskin Carol C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe tested the hypothesis that seeds of the monocarpic perennial Ferula gummosa from the Mediterranean area and central Asia have deep complex morphophysiological dormancy. We determined the water permeability of seeds, embryo morphology, temperature requirements for embryo growth and seed germination and responses of seeds to warm and cold stratification and to different concentrations of GA3. The embryo has differentiated organs, but it is small (underdeveloped) and must grow inside the seed, reaching a critical embryo length, seed length ratio of 0.65–0.7, before the seed can germinate. Seeds required 9 weeks of cold stratification at <10°C for embryo growth, dormancy break and germination to occur. Thus, seeds have morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). Furthermore, GA3 improved the germination percentage and rate at 5°C and promoted 20 and 5% germination of seeds incubated at 15 and 20°C, respectively. Thus, about 20% of the seeds had intermediate complex MPD. For the other seeds in the seed lot, cold stratification (5°C) was the only requirement for dormancy break and germination and GA3 could not substitute for cold stratification. Thus, about 80% of the seeds had deep complex MPD.
Development of Novel Shortenings Structured by Ethylcellulose Oleogels
Authors: Ye Xiuyun , Li Peixu , Lo Y. Martin , Fu Hong , Cao Yanping 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA novel shortening was developed based on oleogels structured by ethylcellulose (EC) polymers. The texture and oil retention ability of EC oleogels were characterized against the level of viscosity of different grades of EC, as well as the rheological properties in relation to the polymer structure in the gel network. EC100, which has an average viscosity of 100 cP, was selected as the most suitable organogelator at 4% (w/w) in combination with base oil (30% degree of saturation by mixing palm stearin and soybean oil) to form the shortening. Triglyceryl monostearate (TMS) was found to be the most effective emulsifier as evidenced by its ability to strengthen air‐incorporation ability of the shortening while creating evenly distributed fine crystals in the system. The EC100 shortening was able to create breads with excellent specific volume, indicating its ability to incorporate air bubbles during dough development and to serve as an antifirming agent to create bread with stable soft texture.Practical ApplicationIn the present study, we attempted to create a novel shortening by employing oleogels structured by ethylcellulose (EC), the most promising gelation agent to develop gel network capable of replacing solid fat without health concerns. EC oleogels in shortening with detailed characterization of the shortening microstructure in relation to its functional properties was elucidated. The optimal formulation in relation to preservation of gel structure and consistency with enhanced moisture and air retention were also identified.
Physicochemical Characterization of Yellow Cake Prepared with Structured Lipid Oleogels
Authors: Willett Sarah A. , Akoh Casimir C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractOleogels were produced using a phytosterol blend of β‐sitosterol/γ‐oryzanol or a blend of sucrose stearate/ascorbyl palmitate (SSAP) as oleogelators. Four lipid phases were compared in oleogel formation for each oleogelator blend: menhaden oil, structured lipid (SL) of menhaden oil and 30 mol% caprylic acid (SL‐C), SL of menhaden oil and 20 mol% stearic acid (SL‐S), and SL of menhaden oil and 14 mol% each of caprylic and stearic acid (SL‐CS). All SLs were produced enzymatically using a recombinant lipase from Candida antarctica as the biocatalyst. Menhaden oil, SL, phytosterol, or SSAP oleogels were evaluated as alternatives to shortening in the preparation of yellow cake in terms of batter and cake physicochemical properties. The shortening, phytosterol, and SSAP oleogel batters exhibited statistically similar specific gravities (0.85). The shortening, and menhaden oil phytosterol and SSAP oleogel batters, exhibited similar Power‐Law values (n: 0.78, k: 31 Pa sn), while all SL (and respective oleogels) batters typically had lower flow index values (n: 0.68 to 0.72), and higher consistency index values (k: 45 to 79 Pa sn). All SL (and respective oleogels) cakes exhibited lower hardness (5 to 8 N) and chewiness (4 to 6 N) than the shortening cake (12 N, 9 N). Menhaden oil and SL‐S phytosterol oleogel cakes, and SL‐CS SSAP oleogel cake, showed similar textural properties to the shortening cake. Both phytosterol and SSAP oleogels were acceptable as zero trans‐fat substitutes for shortening in yellow cake.Practical ApplicationThe oleogels in this study may be a suitable replacement for shortening in yellow cake. These oleogels, which contain health beneficial omega‐3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have the potential to lower consumer consumption of total saturated fat when used in foods.
Long‐term microbial community dynamics at two full‐scale biotrickling filters treating pig house exhaust air
Authors: Van der Heyden Caroline , De Mulder Thijs , Volcke Eveline I. P. , Demeyer Peter , Heyndrickx Marc , Rasschaert Geertui 
Published: May 2019

SummaryIn this study, the microbial community structure of two full‐scale biotrickling filters treating exhaust air from a pig housing facility were evaluated using 16S metabarcoding. The effect of inoculation with activated sludge of a nearby domestic waste water treatment plant was investigated, which is a cheap procedure and easy to apply in practice. The study was performed at a three‐stage and a two‐stage full‐scale biotrickling filter; of which, only the latter was inoculated. Both biotrickling filters evolved towards a rather similar community over time, which differed from the one in the activated sludge used for inoculation. However, the bacterial population at both biotrickling filters showed small differences on the family level. A large population of heterotrophic bacteria, including denitrifying bacteria, was present in both biotrickling filters. In the non‐inoculated biotrickling filter, nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB) could not be detected, which corresponded with the incomplete nitrification leading to high nitrite accumulation observed in this system. Inoculation with the wide spectrum inoculum activated sludge had in this study a positive effect on the biotrickling filter performance (higher ammonia removal and lower nitrous oxide production). It could thus be beneficial to inoculate biotrickling filters in order to enrich NOB at the start‐up, making it easier to keep the free nitrous acid concentration low enough to not be inhibited by it.