bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving investment promotion agencies performance in attracting foreign direct investment
Authors: Dickinson Hongmei , Fisher Ron , Akbar Hammad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how investment promotion agencies (IPAs) attract funds effectively from emerging to established countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative action research (AR) study with data collected from focus groups and semi-structured interviews, observation and journaling. Comparative case studies are also presented to provide an external perspective to the researchers’ internal action researcher positions.

Findings

The research identifies four main factors that impact IPAs’ effectiveness in seeking a strategic asset in the UK from a developing country, China. The factors are policy advocacy, targeting industry, regional strategy and cultural adaption, which provide positive and significant influences on IPAs’ effectiveness.

Research limitations/implications

Little research has been published about the roles of IPAs in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) from a developing to a developed country. The study uses an AR approach and case studies, which have not previously been used to investigate IPAs’ performance. The study extends the sparse extant research and provides insights into what influences the performance of IPAs, thus contributing to knowledge and practice.

Practical implications

The findings provide insights into the ways in which IPAs influence FDI flows. The research contributes to discipline knowledge and practice by identifying factors influencing funding in a non-traditional manner, that is from a developing to a developed country.

Originality/value

Little research has been published about the roles of IPAs in attracting FDI from a developing to a developed country. The study uses an AR approach and case study, which have not previously been used to investigate IPAs’ performance. The study extends the sparse extant research and provides insights into what influences the performance of IPAs, thus contributing to knowledge and practice.
Insomnia and quality of life of prisoners at a Nigerian maximum-security prison
Authors: Fakorede Omokehinde Olubunmi , Onifade Peter Olutunde , Majekodunmi Oluyinka Emmanuel , Ogunwale Adegboyega , DadeMatthews Adefunke Omosefe
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to determine the prevalence of insomnia as well as its association with the quality of life of the inmates in a Nigerian prison. Prisoners are a disadvantaged group of people whose needs are often unmet. Many authors have focussed on investigating the prevalence and pattern of psychiatric morbidity, as well as substance use among prisoners. However, sleep disorders, which can predispose or precipitate psychiatric disorders, have been largely neglected in research. The relationship between insomnia and quality of life (QoL) among the general population has been documented but similar investigations have yet to be conducted among the prisoner population.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a cross-sectional study with 300 male prisoners at the Ibara prison, Abeokuta, Nigeria who were not diagnosed with depressive, generalized anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorders. Each respondent was interviewed with a sociodemographic proforma, Insomnia module of the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and the brief World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire.

Findings

About half of the respondents (45.7%) met diagnostic criteria for insomnia. A diagnosis of insomnia and some sleep-related variables were significantly associated with QoL.

Research limitations/implications

All the possible correlates of insomnia could not be investigated. Further research should be conducted to identify more correlates and investigate the impact of insomnia on prisoners’ lives.

Practical implications

Improvement of prison climate (relationships in prison, safety and order, contact with the outside world, facilities, meaningful activities and autonomy) may mitigate insomnia among prisoners. Prison psychiatry in Nigerian correctional centres should be made a priority.

Social implications

The findings have brought to light the need to address the current social welfare system in place for Nigerian correctional centres.

Originality/value

The study provided information on the prevalence of insomnia and poor QoL among prisoners in a Nigerian correctional facility.
What should be lean buffer threshold for the forward-reserve warehouse?
Authors: Shah Bhavin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The assorted piece-wise retail orders in a cosmetics warehouse are fulfilled through a separate fast-picking area called Forward Buffer (FB). This study determines “just-right” size of FB to ensure desired Customer Service Level (CSL) at least storage wastages. It also investigates the impact of FB capacity and demand variations on FB leanness.

Design/methodology/approach

A Value Stream Mapping (VSM) tool is applied to analyse the warehouse activities and mathematical model is implemented in MATLAB to quantify the leanness at desired CSL. A comprehensive framework is developed to determine lean FB buffer size for a Retail Distribution Centre (RDC) of a cosmetics industry.

Findings

The CSL increases monotonically; however, the results concerning spent efforts towards CSL improvement gets diminished with raised demand variances. The desired CSL can be achieved at least FB capacity and fewer Storage Waste (SW) as it shifts towards more lean system regime. It is not possible to improve Value Added (VA) time beyond certain constraints and therefore, it is recommended to reduce Non-Value Added (NVA) order processing activities to improve leanness.

Research limitations/implications

This study determines “just-right” capacity and investigates the impact of buffer and demand variations on leanness. It helps managers to analyse warehouse processes and design customized distribution policies in food, beverage and retail grocery warehouse.

Practical implications

Proposed buffering model offers customized strategies beyond pre-set CSL by varying it dynamically to reduce wastages. The mathematical model deriving lean sizing and mitigation guidelines are constructive development for managers.

Originality/value

This research provides an inventive approach of VSM model and Mathematical algorithm endorsing lean thinking to design effective buffering policies in a forward warehouse.
Augmenting bank service quality dimensions: moderation of perceived trust and perceived risk
Authors: Biswas Abhijeet , Jaiswal Deepak , Kant Rishi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Permeation of private sector banks has triggered intense competitiveness in the Indian banking sector; therefore, customer satisfaction has become the epicenter of all activities. The study seeks to explicate the antecedents and reverberation of customer satisfaction in the Indian retail banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Top six Indian private sector banks were selected based on market capitalization. Cross-sectional data from 460 retail bank customers were collected by employing a structured questionnaire and evaluated wielding structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study discerns seven antecedents of customer satisfaction, namely tangibility, reliability, empathy, responsiveness, assurance, perceived service innovation and bank reputation. The results unveil that assurance, bank reputation and perceived service innovation significantly escalate customer satisfaction, which further markedly accentuates customer loyalty. However, tangibility was the only dimension bearing an insignificant relationship. In addition, both perceived trust and perceived risk significantly moderate the association between customer satisfaction and customer loyalty in the model.

Research limitations/implications

Incorporation of merely private sector banks and considering cosmopolitans restraints generalization of findings to some extent. The study bespeaks essential determinants of customer satisfaction that might succor bank professionals to retain customers and ameliorate profitability.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of literature on “perceived service innovation” and “bank reputation” in the Indian banking scenario. Therefore, the study augments the literature by integrating aforesaid important constituents along with other antecedents and reverberation. Moreover, the study uses theoretical lens to anchor its hypotheses through a comprehensive conceptual model in the backdrop of Indian retail banking.
Analysis of enablers for the digitalization of supply chain using an interpretive structural modelling approach
Authors: Agrawal Prakash , Narain Rakesh
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Over the years, technology development has rationalized supply chain processes. The demand economy is disrupting every sector causing the supply chain to be more innovative than ever before. The digitalization of the supply chain fulfils this demand. Several technologies such as blockchain, big data analytics, 3D printing, Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), etc. have been innovated in recent years, which expedite the digitalization of the supply chain. The paper aims to analyse the applicability of these technological enablers in the digital transformation of the supply chain and to present an interpretive structural modelling (ISM) model, which presents a sequence in which enablers can be implemented in a sequential manner.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employed the ISM approach to propose a various levelled model for the enablers of the digital supply chain. The enablers are also classified graphically based on their driving and dependence powers using matrix multiplication cross-impact applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis.

Findings

The study indicates that the enablers “big data analytics”, “IoT”, “blockchain” and “AI” are the most powerful enablers for the digitalization of the supply chain and actualizing these enablers should be a topmost concern for organizations, which want to exploit new opportunities created by these technologies.

Practical implications

This study presents a systematic approach to adopt new technologies for performing various supply chain activities and assists the policymakers better organize their assets and execution endeavours towards digitalization of the supply chain.

Originality/value

This is one of the initial research studies, which has analysed the enablers for the digitalization supply chain using the ISM approach.
Whose cash compensation has more influence on real earnings management, CEOs or CFOs?
Authors: Alkebsee Radwan , Alhebry Adeeb A. , Tian Gaoliang
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Scholars have investigated the association between executives' incentives and earnings management. Most of the extant literature focuses on equity executives' incentives, while most of the earnings management literature focuses on accrual earnings management (AEM), not real earnings management (REM). This paper investigates the association between chief executive officers’ (CEOs) and chief financial officer (CFOs) cash compensation and REM and explores who has more influence on REM, the CEO or the CFO.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the data of all listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges for the period from 2009 to 2017 and ordinary least squares regression as a baseline model and the Chow test to capture whether the CEO's or the CFO's cash compensation has more influence on REM. To address potential endogeneity issues, the authors use a firm-fixed effect technique and two-stage least squares regression.

Findings

The authors find that CEOs' and CFOs' cash compensation is significantly associated with REM, suggesting that paying non-equity compensation to the CEO and CFO is negatively associated with REM. The authors also find that the CFO's cash compensation has a more significant influence on REM than the CEO's cash compensation, suggesting that the CFO's accounting and financial knowledge strengthens his or her power on the quality of financial reporting.

Practical implications

The study contributes to the literature of agency and contract theories by using cash-based compensation to provide strong evidence that CEO's and CFO's compensation is associated with REM. It also contributes to the earnings management literature by examining the effect of CEOs' and CFOs' cash compensation on earnings management using proxies for REM-related activities. The study also contributes to the institutional theory by providing empirical evidence on the governance role of executives' cash compensation in deterring REM. Finally, it is the first to examine the relationship between CEO's and CFO's cash compensation and REM, and the first to explore who is more influential regarding REM in emerging markets, the CEO or the CFO.

Originality/value

As a response to the call for investigations of the role of non-equity-based compensation in earnings management and the call to consider non-developed institutional contexts in governance research, this study extends prior studies by providing novel evidence on the relationship between CEOs' and CFOs' non-equity compensation and REM in China's emerging market. The study documents that the CFO has a greater influence on REM than the CEO does.
Ecocultural networks as grounds for spatial planning. A psychosocial approach applied to coastal development
Authors: Gandarillas Miguel Ángel , McCall Michael K.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This work critiques the situation of the ecological and cultural heritage in many coastal territories and analyses how current land planning methodologies are responding to it. The study builds a new integrated approach founded on ecocultural values and local knowledge as resources for an effective territorial planning and sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework was developed through: (1) analysing coastal planning needs and problems in European coastal areas; (2) identifying ecocultural values, including local knowledge, in such areas; (3) selecting best approaches and tools in spatial planning; (4) applying the selected planning approaches to use ecocultural values as resources for spatial planning and sustainable development; and (5) validating the final methodology.

Findings

A dynamic approach for maritime-land planning was developed projecting coastal waters and river basins as strategic drivers for sustainable development, based on the natural capacity of water to shape and integrate the ecological and cultural territory. A participatory governance planning methodology supports the new articulations of space based on ecocultural value chains and networks as synergistic vectors, focusing on local knowledge as psychosocial capital for a collective mapping of cultural, historical, social, economic and ecological values into ecocultural littoral plans.

Originality/value

The results show the potentials of combining new approaches applying cultural and ecological heritage into an effective strategy of integration between society and territory as a powerful driver for effective sustainable planning and development.
Interest rate forecasts in Latin America
Authors: Filiz Ibrahim , Judek Jan René , Lorenz Marco , Spiwoks Markus
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the quality of interest rate forecasts for the money markets in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela for the period between 2001 and 2019. Future interest rate trends are of key significance for many business-related decisions. Thus, reliable interest rate forecasts are essential, for example, for banks that make profits by carrying out maturity transformations.

Design/methodology/approach

The data that we analyze were collected by Consensus Economics through a monthly survey with over 120 renowned economists and were published between 2001 and 2019 in the journalLatin American Consensus Forecasts. The authors use the Diebold-Mariano test, the sign accuracy test, the TOTA coefficient and the unbiasedness test to determine the precision and biasedness of the forecasts.

Findings

The research reveals that the forecasting work carried out in Brazil, Chile and Mexico is remarkably successful. The quality of forecasts from Argentina and Venezuela, on the other hand, is significantly poorer.

Originality/value

Over 50 studies have already been published with regard to the accuracy of interest rate forecasts, emphasizing the importance of the topic. However, interest rate forecasts for Latin American money markets have hardly been considered thus far. The paper closes this research gap. Overall, the analyzed database amounts to a total of 209 forecast time series with 28,451 individual interest rate forecasts. This study is thus far more comprehensive than all previous studies.
Competencies and preferences of online psycho-education for caregivers of transition-aged autistic youth
Authors: Kuo Hung Jen , Chun Jina , Lee Gloria , Curtiss Sarah
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The need for more accessible services is apparent and has become more urgent due to the pandemic, COVID-19. While online psycho-education exists, its feasibility is rarely tested. This study explored the online learning experiences and technology competencies of caregivers of transition-aged autistic youth. Their preferred online transition-related training topics were also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey was developed based on the review of related literature. The survey was distributed to caregivers of autistic children in the USA.

Findings

Results showed that these caregivers are open to online learning (84%) while preferring asynchronous (74.6%) over synchronous mode (12%). The highest-rated topics include life/independent living skills, employment and social and community involvement.

Originality/value

This paper presented valuable information for researchers and educators who are interested in developing online learning programs for the caregivers of autistic children.
The counter-terrorist finance legal framework: the impact of regulatory compliance on relationships between charities and financial institutions
Authors: Fowler Angela Maria Theresa
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between charities and financial institutions, as each represent pivotal structures in upholding the counter-terrorist finance (CTF) legal framework, and to investigate whether matters of regulatory compliance impact on the ability of charities to fulfil their charitable purpose.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on the empirical evidence derived from 34 semi-structured interviews conducted by the author.

Findings

The understanding created by the interview data illuminates the challenges and opportunities of interaction between the charity sector and financial service sector in their interpretation and implementation of the CTF regulation. Both direct and indirect effects of this regulatory framework may ultimately affect the operating capability of some charities.

Originality/value

The research makes an original contribution to the available knowledge, providing new insights and perspectives by uniquely analysing relationships between stakeholders from the perspective of charities: asking a new set of questions to a new set of participants.
Global CSR, drivers and consequences: a systematic review
Authors: Dartey-Baah Kwasi , Amoako George Kofi
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of research studies on the drivers and consequences of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a systematic literature review using research papers published on the drivers and consequence of global CSR from 2010 to 2020.

Findings

The findings of this paper show that the principal themes of published research articles on the drivers and consequences of CSR are internal drivers, external drivers and consequences of CSR. Publications on the drivers and consequences of global CSR have been dominated by studies that used quantitative approach and cross-sectional design. A significant number of studies also used secondary data source with most of these studies not being sensitive to sectorial influences. More importantly, this study revealed that the emphasis of CSR on actions that demonstrate social responsibility is more associated with overall financial performance and firm value when contrasted against ethical statements of social responsibility which is associated with weaker firm financial performance and outcomes. Moreover the review indicated that the level of CSR engagement and disclosure has been associated with higher share prices whereas low level of CSR disclosure in sensitive industries results in lower share prices. In addition, employees’ intention has been identified as a critical driver for CSR activities. Furthermore, it was also identified that firms engage in CSR because of internal institutional factors such as ethical corporate culture and top management commitment, whereas external drivers of CSR include socio-political factors, globalisation and environmental accountability.

Practical implications

CSR is an area that can be harnessed to contribute to sustainable solutions to global challenges. It also provides an added advantage of ensuring that the perpetuation of the relationship between businesses and society are more complementary.

Originality/value

This review is one of the few studies focussed on highlighting the drivers and consequences of global CSR. This review also provides proof of the areas of research that need attention and provides recommendation on future areas of study on the drivers and consequences of global CSR.
Examining the predictors of fraud in state-owned enterprises: an application of the fraud triangle theory
Authors: Owusu Godfred Matthew Yaw , Koomson Theodora Aba Abekah , Alipoe Stanley Agbenya , Kani Yusuf Ahmed
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the views of employees on the motives behind frequently reported fraudulent activities at the workplace. Using the fraud triangle theory (FTT) as the theoretical lens, the study examines the effect of pressure, opportunity and rationalization on fraudulent acts by employees at the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The study follows a correlational quantitative approach using questionnaires as the main data collection tool. A total of 243 valid responses from employees working in different state-owned enterprises in Ghana were used in the empirical analysis. The hypothesized relationships of the study were tested using the partial least square-structural equation modelling technique.

Findings

The results from the structural analysis showed that pressure, rationalization and opportunity are important in explaining why employees engage in fraudulent activities at the workplace.

Originality/value

The findings do not only provide empirical support for the applicability of the FTT in the Ghanaian context but most importantly offer some useful insights into the fraud discourse from the public sector workers’ perspective.
What drives the travel switching behavior of Chinese Generation Z consumers
Authors: Tseng Li-Yu , Chang Jung-Hsiang , Zhu Ying Lin
Published: July 2021

Purpose

As Chinese Generation Z consumers have distrust over traditional advertising and marketing, this study focuses on user-generated content (UGC) travel apps to demonstrate the structural relationship among the expertise of amateur information publisher, interactive atmosphere, information quality, expectation confirmation, perceived trust, experiential satisfaction and switching intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study carried out a questionnaire-based survey among Chinese Generation Z consumers and obtained 356 valid questionnaire copies that were analyzed with the structural equation.

Findings

The expertise of amateur information publisher and the interactive atmosphere of UGC travel apps have positive effects on perceived trust; expectation confirmation and perceived trust have positive effects on experiential satisfaction, and experiential satisfaction has negative effects on switching intention.

Practical implications

The results should encourage UGC travel app developers to use visual effects so as to achieve a higher quality of information, foster a cordial interactive atmosphere and enhance the expertise of information publishers by selecting the best candidate, thus spurring the design of marketing activities popular among the Chinese Generation Z consumers.

Originality/value

This study argues that new-generation consumers have their specific appeals and in the tourist market. It explores the UGC travel apps, which are popular among Generation Z consumers in order to deepen marketing personnel's understanding of the relationship among the expertise of amateur information publisher, interactive atmosphere, information quality, expectation confirmation, perceived trust, experiential satisfaction and switching intention.
Determinant factors of olive oil stability, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity
Authors: Maalouf Jessica , Tomazou Jennifer C. , Azar Stephanie , Bou-Mitri Christelle , Doumit Jacqueline , Youssef Amira , Andary Roland B. , Skaff Wadih A. , El Riachy Milad G.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify the effect of selected agro-industrial factors associated with the olive oil phenolic composition, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity and oxidative stability index (OSI). The study also aims to assess the relationship between the quality indices and each of the individual phenol, TPC, antioxidant capacity and OSI.

Design/methodology/approach

Olive oil samples (n=108) were collected from Lebanese northern (Akkar and Zgharta-Koura) and southern (Hasbaya and Jezzine) regions, at three harvesting times (early, intermediate, late) and using different types of mills (traditional, sinolea, two- and three-phase decanters). The samples were analyzed using official standard methods.

Findings

The highest TPC, antioxidant capacity and OSI were obtained in early harvested olive oil, using two-phase decanters for TPC and three-phase decanters for antioxidant capacity and OSI. A prediction model, including the free acidity, K232, TPC, C18:2, C18:0, tyrosol and apigenin, was obtained; it allowed to predict very highly significantly the OSI (p < 0.001). Apigenin, tyrosol and C18:2 recorded the highest standardized coefficients (ß^+= 0.35) and thus had the highest influence on OSI. As per antioxidant capacity of olive oil, another very highly statistically significant prediction model was constructed (p < 0.001). It included only two predictors, oleacein and TPC, with the latter having the most influence (ß^+= 0.37).

Originality/value

The overall results highlighted the detrimental effects of agro-industrial factors on olive oil chemical composition, and this contributes significantly to improve olive oil’s quality and characteristics, which are important for the product economical and nutritional values.
4D printing of wooden actuators: encoding FDM wooden filaments for architectural responsive skins
Authors: El-Dabaa Rana , Salem Islam
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Conventional motion mechanisms in adaptive skins require rigid kinematic mechanical systems that require sensors and actuation devices, hence impeding the adoption of zero-energy buildings. This paper aims to exploit wooden responsive actuators as a passive approach for adaptive facades with dynamic shading configurations. Wooden passive actuators are introduced as a passive responsive mechanism with zero-energy consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

The study encodes the embedded hygroscopic parameters of wood through 4D printing of wooden composites as a responsive wooden actuator. Several physical experiments focus on controlling the printed hygroscopic parameters based on the effect of 3D printing grain patterns and infill height on the wooden angle of curvature when exposed to variation in humidity. The printed hygroscopic parameters are applied on two types of wooden actuators with difference in the saturation percentage of wood in the wooden filaments specifically 20% and 40% for more control on the angle of curvature and response behavior.

Findings

The study presents the ability to print wooden grain patterns that result in single and double curved surfaces. Also, printing actuators with variation in infill height control each part of wooden actuator to response separately in a controlled passive behavior. The results show a passive programmed self-actuated mechanism that can enhance responsive façade design with zero-energy consumption through utilizing both material science and additive manufacturing mechanisms.

Originality/value

The study presents a set of controlled printed hygroscopic parameters that stretch the limits in controlling the response of printed wood to humidity instead of the typical natural properties of wood.
Long-term performance following share repurchase, signaling costs and accounting transparency: Korean evidence
Authors: Kim Kyung Soon , Park Yun W.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Existing studies show that firms may have an incentive to use share repurchases opportunistically, thereby taking advantage of market participants’ confirmation bias that share repurchase is a signal of undervaluation. This study aims to investigate whether signaling costs and accounting transparency can serve as tools to identify opportunistic share repurchases.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors measure signaling costs by using two share repurchase methods (direct and indirect share repurchase) with different share repurchase costs, and measure accounting transparency using the history of earnings timeliness. The authors further measure long-term performance following share repurchases using operating performance and stock returns. Lastly, the authors compare the long-term performances between the groups defined by share repurchase method and earnings timeliness level.

Findings

The authors find that indirect share repurchase firms with a history of poor earnings timeliness experience unfavorable long-term performance, while other share repurchase firms do not. This finding reinforces the view that some share repurchases may be driven by managerial opportunism. In particular, when firms with a history of poor earnings-reporting behavior choose a low-cost repurchase method, their share repurchases may be motivated by managerial opportunism.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that past earnings timeliness and the signaling costs of a repurchase together are useful predictors of false signaling. Moreover, they suggest that investors can – at least in part – predict opportunistic share repurchases by using signaling costs and accounting transparency.
The response of plants, carabid beetles and birds to 30 years of native reforestation in the Scottish Highlands
Authors: Warner Emily , Hector Andy , Brown Nick , Green Rowan , Savory Alys , Gilbert Doug , McDonnell Alan , Lewis Owen T.
Published: July 2021

Globally, there is increasing interest in tree planting, leading to many country‐level commitments to reforestation. In the UK, current commitments would achieve 17% forest cover by 2050, with the highest rates of forest expansion expected in Scotland. Forest expansion with native trees is expected to increase biodiversity, particularly woodland specialist species, and associated ecosystem services. Despite this, data on biodiversity changes over the early stages of reforestation are sparse, particularly for upland areas in Scotland where opportunities for forest expansion are greatest.

We collected data on the response of plants, carabid beetles and birds to native reforestation and grazing exclusion, using sites reforested over the last 30 years in the Scottish Highlands. Biodiversity in ungrazed, reforested sites was compared to unforested controls and mature native forest, both grazed and ungrazed.

Mean bird species richness in reforested plots (4.4 [95% CI: 3.2, 5.9]) was higher than in unforested plots (0.8 [0.5, 1.3]), but lower than in mature forest plots (7.0 [5.4, 8.3]). In contrast, there was no systematic difference in plant or carabid beetle species richness in reforested, unforested or mature forest plots, or between grazed and ungrazed plots for the species richness of any groups. Woodland specialist bird and plant species were found in the reforested plots, and richness of woodland specialist bird species was predicted to reach levels in mature forestc. 36 years after reforestation.

Species assemblages differed across habitat categories. For birds and plants, species assemblages in reforested sites were intermediate to unforested and mature sites. For carabid beetles, the assemblages in mature and reforested sites were comparable and differed from unforested sites. Grazing did not strongly influence species assemblages.

Policy implications. We show that woodland specialists colonise reforested sites and species assemblages transition towards those found in the target habitat within the first 30 years of reforestation with native species. Native forest should be prioritised in Scotland's future forest expansion targets, given that mature native forest is scarce and fragmented in the Scottish Highlands and that the ultimate gain from native forest expansion may accrue over long time‐scales.
The 2021 Metro Mayors Elections: Localism Rebooted?
Authors: Giovannini Arianna
Published: July 2021

Metro mayors are the latest addition to the complex jigsaw of subnational governance in England, and were introduced from 2014 to lead, allegedly, a ‘devolution revolution’. This article focusses on the 2021 election to reflect on the roots and first mandate of these new mayors, to understand how they fared at the ballot box, and to assess whether and in what ways they are making an impact. The analysis shows that metro mayors are maturing as institutions, and they are becoming more rooted in the public imagination. Harnessing ‘the power of place’ was a key driver of success: some metro mayors have shown a potential to ‘reboot localism’ and, with it, devolution. However, resistance from central government to let go of power persists and could hinder both the metro mayors’ and the devolution agendas going forward.
The Executive Revolving Door: New Dataset on the Career Moves of Former Danish Ministers and Permanent Secretaries☆
Authors: Rasmussen Anne , Buhmann‐Holmes Nicholas , Egerod Benjamin C. K.
Published: July 2021

Concerns have been raised that transfers of bureaucrats and politicians into the private sector might create unfair advantages for their future employers and even lead to distrust in government. Not surprisingly, the study of the revolving door has therefore gained prominence in the academic literature. Importantly, however, less attention has been paid to the executive branch. We add to the study of the revolving door by presenting the first dataset on the executive revolving door in Denmark. To do so, we trace the frequency, timing and character of the career moves of Danish Ministers and Permanent Secretaries who held office from 2009 to 2019. Our data document that the Danish executive revolving door is widespread: more than a third of Danish Ministers and Permanent Secretaries end up in a private job within the same year or the year after they stop their job. If we extend the period and investigate the entire period after public service, the number is above 60 percent. Moreover, a substantial share of the jobs obtained is in companies and at a senior level. Our note concludes with reflections on how our data can be used to fill existing research gaps and should be complemented in future research.
An unusual case of serial poisoning of family members
Authors: Rossetto Ilaria , Franconi Filippo , Felthous Alan R. , Carabellese Fulvio , Rivellini Gianfranco , Carabellese Felice
Published: July 2021

The authors present an unusual criminal case of delusionally motivated, serial intrafamilial killings by a psychotic offender. Because the offender retained instrumental rationality and killed his victims by stealth, viz. surreptitious poisoning, the killing of his first victims went undetected. Persecutory delusions of being poisoned not uncommonly result in defensive violence, whereas in this case, religious delusions resulted in the mentally ill person killing others by poisoning them. Here, the psychotic offender killed his victims by means of poisoning based upon motivation driven by religious delusions. This case illustrates the importance of index of suspicion and appropriate investigation of mysterious deaths, and careful forensic psychiatric assessment to distinguish delusional versus extreme overvalued belief‐motivated killings in addressing the insanity defense.
Algorithm for the use of the Guardianship Act, the Mental Health Act and the Public Health Act in emergency departments in New South Wales
Authors: Huber Jacqueline , Aguirrebarrena Gonzalo , Ryan Christopher James
Published: July 2021

Objective

To address frequently asked questions regarding the use of the Guardianship Act, the Mental Health Act and the Public Health Act within New South Wales EDs and present an algorithm to guide the use of this legislation.

Methods

An ED‐specific algorithm was developed for the use of the three pieces of legislation. Then an emergency psychiatrist and an emergency physician reviewed the algorithm with ED staff to understand its usefulness and where further detail was required. Frequently asked questions were collated.

Results

Frequently asked questions are addressed with reference to the algorithm.

Conclusion

This paper offers an algorithm that can be easily followed for use in EDs across New South Wales.
Development of a free radical scavenging bacterial consortium to mitigate oxidative stress in cnidarians
Authors: Dungan Ashley M. , Bulach Dieter , Lin Heyu , van Oppen Madeleine J. H. , Blackall Linda L.
Published: July 2021

Corals are colonized by symbiotic microorganisms that profoundly influence the animal’s health. One noted symbiont is a single‐celled alga (in the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae), which provides the coral with most of its fixed carbon. Thermal stress increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Symbiodiniaceae during photosynthesis. ROS can both damage the algal symbiont’s photosynthetic machinery and inhibit its repair, causing a positive feedback loop for the toxic accumulation of ROS. If not scavenged by the antioxidant network, excess ROS may trigger a signaling cascade ending with the coral host and algal symbiont disassociating in a process known as bleaching. We use Exaiptasia diaphana as a model for corals and constructed a consortium comprised of E. diaphana–associated bacteria capable of neutralizing ROS. We identified six strains with high free radical scavenging (FRS) ability belonging to the families Alteromonadaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae and Micrococcaceae. In parallel, we established a consortium of low FRS isolates consisting of genetically related strains. Bacterial whole genome sequences were used to identify key pathways that are known to influence ROS.
Pedigree simulations reveal that maternity assignment is reliable in populations with conspecific brood parasitism, incomplete parental sampling and kin structure
Authors: Thow Caroline M. , Eadie John M. , Wells Caitlin P. , Lyon Bruce E.
Published: July 2021

Modern genetic parentage methods reveal that alternative reproductive strategies are common in both males and females. Under ideal conditions, genetic methods accurately connect the parents to offspring produced by extra‐pair matings or conspecific brood parasitism. However, some breeding systems and sampling scenarios present significant complications for accurate parentage assignment. We used simulated genetic pedigrees to assess the reliability of parentage assignment for a series of challenging sampling regimes that reflect realistic conditions for many brood‐parasitic birds: absence of genetic samples from sires, absence of samples from brood parasites and female kin‐structured populations. Using 18 microsatellite markers and empirical allele frequencies from two populations of a conspecific brood parasite, the wood duck (Aix sponsa), we simulated brood parasitism and determined maternity using two widely used programs, cervus and colony. Errors in assignment were generally modest for most sampling scenarios but differed by program: cervus suffered from false assignment of parasitic offspring, whereas colony sometimes failed to assign offspring to their known mothers. Notably, colony was able to accurately infer unsampled parents. Reducing the number of markers (nine loci rather than 18) caused the assignment error to slightly worsen with colony but balloon with cervus. One potential error with important biological implications was rare in all cases—few nesting females were incorrectly excluded as the mother of their own offspring, an error that could falsely indicate brood parasitism. We consider the implications of our findings for both a retrospective assessment of previous studies and suggestions for best practices for future studies.
High‐throughput sequencing‐based microsatellite genotyping for polyploids to resolve allele dosage uncertainty and improve analyses of genetic diversity, structure and differentiation: A case study of the hexaploid Camellia oleifera
Authors: Cui Xiangyan , Li Caihua , Qin Shengyuan , Huang Zebin , Gan Bin , Jiang Zhengwen , Huang Xiaomao , Yang Xiaoqiang , Li Qin , Xiang Xiaoguo , Chen Jiakuan , Zhao Yao , Rong Jun
Published: July 2021

Conventional microsatellite (simple sequence repeat, SSR) genotyping methods cannot accurately identify polyploid genotypes leading to allele dosage uncertainty, introducing biases in population genetic analysis. Here, a new SSR genotyping method was developed to directly infer accurate polyploid genotypes. The frequency distribution of SSR sequences was obtained based on deep‐coverage high‐throughput sequencing data. Corrections were performed accounting for the “stutter peak” and amplification efficiency of SSR sequences. Perl scripts and an online SSR genotyping tool “SSRSeq” were provided to process the sequencing data and output genotypes with corrected allele dosages. Hexaploid Camellia oleifera is the dominant woody oilseed crop in China. Understanding the geographical pattern of genetic variation in wild C. oleifera is essential for the conservation and utilization of genetic resources. Six wild C. oleifera populations were sampled across geographical ranges in subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests of China. Using 35 SSR markers, the high‐throughput sequencing‐based SSRSeq method was applied to obtain accurate hexaploid genotypes of wild C. oleifera. The results demonstrated that the new method could resolve allele dosage uncertainty and considerably improve genetic diversity, structure and differentiation analyses for polyploids. The genetic variation patterns of wild C. oleifera across geographical ranges agree with the “central‐marginal hypothesis”, stating that genetic diversity is high in the central population and declines from the central to the peripheral populations, and genetic differentiation increases from the centre to the periphery. This method and findings can facilitate the utilization of wild C. oleifera genetic resources for the breeding of cultivated C. oleifera.
The effect of endodontic access preparation on the failure load resistance of a 3Y‐TZP monolithic zirconia crown
Authors: Schubert Jonathan , Kirkpatrick Timothy , Roberts Howard
Published: July 2021

The effect of endodontic access preparation on the failure load resistance of 3Y‐TZP zirconia crowns was accomplished by preparing human molars and luting monolithic zirconia crowns with a self‐adhesive resin cement. Besides the intact control, teeth received endodontic access preparations and then grouped (n = 12) into a positive control (no access repair), dentin core replacement only and complete access repair groups. Specimens were axially tested until failure with results of no significant difference between the failure load of intact controls and the complete access repair group. However, the positive control and dentin replacement only groups failed at significantly lower loads. Under the conditions of this study, there was no significant failure load difference between 3Y‐TZP monolithic zirconia crowns with repaired endodontic access preparations to that evidenced by an unprepared control. Although this evidence is encouraging, caution is advised and definitive recommendations cannot be made until verified by clinical studies.
Bullying in schools and LGBTQ+ youth mental health: Relations with voting for Trump
Authors: Hobaica Steven , Kwon Paul , Reiter Shari R. , Aguilar‐Bonnette Aaron , Scott Walter D. , Wessel Andrea , Strand Paul S.
Published: July 2021

The current study utilized the 2018 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey to explore the relations among school district political attitudes, bullying experiences, and mental health outcomes, particularly for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) students. Although bullying was associated with greater psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, and suicidality) for all students, LGBTQ+ students experienced more bullying and psychological distress. Bullying experiences mediated the relation between LGBTQ+ identity and psychological distress. However, school district voting record moderated the relation between LGBTQ+ identity and bullying, such that LGBTQ+ students in more conservative districts, or districts with more votes for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, experienced more bullying, which was associated with greater psychological distress. Additionally, increased teacher intervention during instances of bullying was related to less bullying for LGBTQ+ students. Finally, in more conservative‐leaning districts, LGBTQ+ students reported less teacher intervention, which was associated with more bullying and psychological distress. Given that political conservatism was related to higher rates of bullying and poorer mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ students, we recommend improving school‐based LGBTQ+ bullying policies to prioritize the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.
The elephant (and donkey) in the room: Parents’ approaches to political socialization surrounding the 2020 US election
Authors: Patterson Meagan M. , Pahlke Erin
Published: July 2021

The current study examined parents’ attitudes toward political socialization and political socialization messages related to the 2020 United States presidential election, using a sample of 185 parents of 6‐ to 12‐year‐old children from across the United States. Overall, parents viewed political socialization as somewhat important. However, a meaningful number of parents indicated beliefs that political socialization was not important, that their children were too young to learn about politics, or a desire to shield their children from knowledge of politics. Parents reported engaging in a variety of socialization practices, but reported higher levels of indirect approaches to socialization (e.g., watching political news while the child was present) compared to more direct approaches (e.g., reading books about politics with the child). As with frequency, the content of parents’ socialization messages varied widely, including explicit endorsement of candidates and policies, messages about the importance of respecting all opinions, and messages related to negative partisanship. Parents’ political interest, engagement with politics, and extremity of political ideology predicted their approaches to socialization. Community‐level factors (e.g., heterogeneity of voting patterns) were largely unrelated to parents’ attitudes and practices.