bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate governance and firm performance: does sovereign rating matter?
Authors: Jesuka Duterval , Peixoto Fernanda Maciel
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of sovereign rating and corporate governance on performance of Latin American companies between 2004 and 2018.

Design/methodology/approach

This study performed a multilevel regression with fixed and random coefficients for 823 companies and verified the impacts of country, firm and time levels on the performance variation. The study alternated return on assets and Tobin’ Q as dependent variables and measured governance using the following variables: board size, chief executive officer/chairman duality, CEO/board member duality, dummy for the chairman as a former CEO, audit committee, independence and expertise of the audit committee.

Findings

Latin American companies performed better when their respective countries have a better sovereign rating and when they adopt better board of directors and audit committee mechanisms. Sovereign rating assumes distinct roles depending on the presence or absence of governance variables. Rating and governance may be substitute mechanisms to protect investors.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to investigate the impacts of sovereign rating on firm performance in the Latin American scenario. The use of governance metrics – for example, the audit committee expertise and the dummy for chairman as a former CEO – is innovative in Latin American studies.
Gender diversity and bank risk-taking: an empirical investigation in Italy
Authors: Menicucci Elisa , Paolucci Guido
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between gender diversity and the risk profile of Italian banks during the period 2015–2019. This study examines whether the presence of female board directors or top executives has any significant effect on bank risk-taking.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore the influence of women on bank risk-taking, the authors analyzed a sample of 387 Italian banks and developed an econometric model applying unbalanced panel data with firm fixed effects and controls per year. Within a multivariate regression model, the authors considered five risk dimensions to verify the effect of gender diversity.

Findings

The findings suggest that female board directors and executives are considerably more risk averse and less overconfident than their male colleagues, thus confirming a negative causality between risk-taking and gender diversity. The results reveal that banks headed by women are less risky because they report higher capital adequacy and equity to assets ratios. As credit risk in female-led banks is no different from male-led ones, higher capital adequacy does not derive from lower asset quality because it is linked to the higher risk aversion of female directors and top managers.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical standpoint, the results suggest that having women in executive positions entails different risk implications for Italian banks; from a managerial perspective, the results highlight conditions that may promote the role of women in the banking sector. The conclusions are of particular significance because they provide some support for the view that regulators should favor gender quotas in the board management of banks to reduce risk-taking behavior.

Originality/value

This paper offers an in-depth examination of the risk practices of banks and it attempts to bridge the gap in prior literature on the risk profile of the Italian banking industry given that few empirical studies have examined the determinants of risk-taking in this field, to date. The findings on the higher risk aversion of women directors advance the understanding of the determinants of risk-taking behavior in banks, suggesting that gender quotas in bank boards can contribute to reducing risk-taking behavior. This also unveils some policy implications for bank regulatory authorities.
Distributed real-time pricing for smart grid considering sparse constraints and integration of distributed energy and storage devices
Authors: Tao Li , Gao Yan , Cao Lei , Zhu Hongbo
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to seek an efficient method to tackle the energy provision problem for smart grid with sparse constraints and distributed energy and storage devices.

Design/methodology/approach

A complex smart grid is first studied, in which sparse constraints and the complex make-up of different energy consumption due to the integration of distributed energy and storage devices and the emergence of multisellers are discussed. Then, a real-time pricing scheme is formulated to tackle the demand response based on sparse bilevel programming. And then, a bilevel genetic algorithm (BGA) is further designed. Finally, simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach.

Findings

The considered situation is widespread in practice, and meanwhile, the other cases including traditional model without the sparse constraints can be seen as its extensions. The BGA based on sparse bilevel programming has advantages of “no need of convexity of the model.” Moreover, it is feasible without the need to disclose the private information to others; therefore, privacies are protected and system scalability is kept. Simulation results validate the proposed approach has good performance in maximizing social welfare and balancing system energy distribution.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, the authors consider the sparse constraints due to the fact that each user can only choose limited utility companies per time slot. In reality, there exist some other sparse cases, which deserve further study in the future.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the very first studies to address pricing problems for the smart grid with consideration of sparse constraints and integration of distributed energy and storage devices.
On the practical h-stabilization of nonlinear time-varying systems: application to separately excited DC motor
Authors: Damak Hanen , Hammami Mohamed Ali , Kicha Abir
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on the global practical uniform h-stabilization for certain classes of nonlinear time-varying systems and its application in a separately excited DC motor circuit.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Lyapunov theory, the practical h-stabilization result is derived to guarantee practical h-stability and applicated in a separately excited DC motor.

Findings

A controller is designed and added to the nonlinear time-varying system. The practical h-stability of the nonlinear control systems is guaranteed by applying the appropriate controller based on Lyapunov second method. Another effective controller is also designed for the global practical uniform h-stability on the separately excited DC motor with load. Numerical simulations are demonstrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller scheme.

Originality/value

The introduced approach is interesting for practical h-stabilization of nonlinear time-varying systems and its application in a separately excited DC motor. The original results generalize well-known fundamental result: practical exponential stabilization for nonlinear time-varying systems.
Unleashing the mechanism between affect-based trust and employee creativity: a knowledge sharing perspective
Authors: Islam Talat , Chaudhary Arooba , Jamil Saqib , Ali Hafiz Fawad
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Creativity has become essential for organizations to remain competitive. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the intervening role of knowledge sharing between affect-based trust and employee creativity. The study further investigates perceived organizational support as a conditional factor on the association between affect-based trust and employee creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study tackled the issue of common method variance by collecting data in dyads. Specifically, the study collected data from 368 employees and their supervisors working in various organizations in Pakistan through Google Forms in two waves. In the first wave, employees were approached on a convenience basis, whereas, in the second wave, data from their supervisors were collected.

Findings

Structural equation modeling was applied to test hypotheses. The study noted knowledge sharing as a mediator between affect-based trust and employee creativity. The study also noted that individuals with high perceptions of organizational support are more likely to strengthen the association between affect-based trust and knowledge sharing.

Practical implications

This study suggests management work on their employees’ affect-based trust-building. Employees who have relationships based on affect-based trust feel safe and are less afraid of being criticized for sharing their ideas and thoughts. This positively contributes to developing a cooperative environment which becomes the base for employee creativity.

Originality/value

Past studies have examined the association between general trust and employee creativity. To this backdrop, this study highlighted the importance of affect-based trust toward employee creativity. More specifically, drawing upon social exchange, this study is the first of its kind that examined the mediating role of knowledge sharing between affect-based trust and employee creativity, where perceived organizational support is examined as a conditional variable between affect-based trust and knowledge sharing.
Consumer sentiment and house prices: asymmetric evidence from state-level data in the United States
Authors: Bahmani-Oskooee Mohsen , Ghodsi Hesam , Hadzic Muris
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess and compare the symmetric and asymmetric effects of consumer sentiment on house prices in each state of the USA. This is the first study that uses state-level data.

Design/methodology/approach

Both linear and nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approaches are used to assess the asymmetric effects of consumer sentiment on house prices in each state of the USA.

Findings

When the authors estimated a linear symmetric model, this paper found short-run effects of consumer sentiment on house prices in 34 states that lasted into the long-run in only 13 states. The comparable numbers by estimating a nonlinear asymmetric model were 47 and 22, respectively. The increase in the number of states where consumer sentiment affects house prices was attributed to the nonlinear adjustments of consumer sentiment.

Originality/value

The authors deviate from previous research and assess the impact of consumer sentiment on house prices by using data from each state of the USA. The authors also deviate from previous research by demonstrating that the effects could be asymmetric. No study has done this at the state-level.
Knowledge diffusion trajectories in the Pythagorean fuzzy field based on main path analysis
Authors: Meng Liu , Chonghui Zhang , Chenhong Yu , Yujing Ye
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to conduct a main path analysis of 627 articles on the theme of Pythagorean fuzzy sets (PFSs) in the Web of Science (WoS) from 2013 to 2020, to provide a conclusive and comprehensive analysis for researchers in this field, and to provide a study on preliminary understanding of PFSs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research topic of Pythagorean fuzzy fields, through keyword extraction and describing the changes in characteristic themes over the past eight years, are firstly examined. Main path analysis, including local and global main paths and key route paths, is then used to reveal the most influential relationships between papers and to explore the trajectory and structure of knowledge transmission.

Findings

The application of Pythagorean fuzzy theory to the field of decision-making has been popular, and combinations of the traditional Pythagorean fuzzy decision-making method with other fuzzy sets have attracted widespread attention in recent years. In addition, over the past eight years, research interest has shifted to different types of PFSs, such as interval-valued PFSs.

Research limitations/implications

This paper implicates to investigate the growth in certain trends in the literature and to explore the main paths of knowledge dissemination in the domain of PFSs in recent years.

Originality/value

This paper aims to identify the topics in which researchers are currently interested, to help scholars to keep abreast of the latest research on PFSs.
Investigating the mediating role of political will in the relationship between organizational characteristics and use of political tactics
Authors: Tripathi Swati , Tripathi Divya
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of centralization and formalization on the frequency of political tactics (FPT) used by employees. It also examines political will as the underlying variable that mediates the relationship between the focal variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data (n= 234) collected from a large public sector organization in India. The interrelationships are tested empirically using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings suggest that both centralization and formalization significantly influence the FPT used by employees. Also, political will partially mediate the relationship between centralization, formalization and FPT.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides evidence of the influence of centralization and formalization as two organizational realities that lead to employee engagement in political tactics. It also elucidates the importance of political will and the need to develop social astuteness to maneuver through the maze of organizational politics. The study is conducted in a public sector organization in India and uses cross-sectional data. Therefore, generalizations must be made with caution.

Originality/value

The study establishes political will as an important mediator between centralization, formalization and political behavior, fostering in-depth research into the structural aspects of public sector organizations. It also establishes political will as an important individual disposition of employees that augments the engagement of employees in political behavior in highly centralized and formalized organizations.
Examining the effect of servicescape, perceived service quality and emotional satisfaction on hospital image
Authors: Batra Manik , Taneja Udita
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Emotions have been extensively studied in hedonic service sectors but not in utilitarian service sectors. This study aims to address this gap by examining how hospitals’ Servicescape influences the Emotional Satisfaction of their customers, their perception of Service Quality and its subsequent effect on Hospital Image.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 220 respondents from corporate hospitals in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the neighboring cities of Noida and Gurgaon. The reliability and validity of the scale were established and the relationship among the constructs was tested by structural equations modeling.

Findings

Results show that all dimensions of Servicescape, i.e. ambient factors, design factors and social factors have a positive impact on both Emotional Satisfaction and Perceived Service Quality. However, between Emotional Satisfaction and Perceived Service Quality, only Emotional Satisfaction had a positive impact on Hospital Image.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study can help researchers in understanding the role of Servicescape in the health-care industry.

Originality/value

The results emphasize that hospitals should seek to understand their patients’ perceptions particularly focusing on their emotional reactions to enhance their brand image.
Effects of cleaning detergent/water-in-oil emulsions on elastohydrodynamic lubrication
Authors: Chen Lu , Xu Chenchen , Ma Mingfei , Wang Wen , Guo Liang , Wong Patrick
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The cleaning of food production equipment using cleaning detergents may contaminate the lubricant of the bearings, thereby reducing the bearing service life. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cause and mechanism of such damage of bearings lubricated by cleaning detergent/water-in-oil emulsions.

Design/methodology/approach

The emulsion was prepared by adding a mixture of cleaning detergent and water in one base oil. A self-designed ball-on-disc optical interference test rig was applied to examine the effect of emulsion on lubrication and wear of bearing contacts under pure sliding conditions.

Findings

The emulsion reduced lubricating film thickness at a relatively low-sliding speed but only when the water concentration (20%) in emulsion was high. Water droplets were trapped around the ball-on-disc contact area under static conditions because of a high capillary force. The emulsion can induce damages on the soft surface in the startup mainly due to the presence of water around the contact.

Originality/value

The basic lubrication behaviour of water/oil emulsions containing cleaning detergent under pure sliding was experimental studied and the mechanism of bearing damage in food production equipment was investigated. Based on the study, the solution to avoid such damage was proposed.
Salam financing: from common local issues to a potential international framework
Authors: Mulyany Ratna , Indriani Mirna , Indayani Indayani
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This research is concerned with the development of Salam, which caters for the specific needs of farmers, who form a vital yet fragile group in most developing nations. Based on the local context of Aceh Province in Indonesia which is considered to be parallel with other developing countries, the purpose of this paper is to embrace the whole set of issues and sketch out an extended Business Model Canvas (BMC) for Salam financing by delineating the three W’s of What, Why and How Salam can be offered by Islamic Banks (IBs).

Design/methodology/Approach

In-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders comprising of farmers, higher-ranking bankers of IBs, members of the Syariah Supervisory Board and academicians who are experts in Islamic finance. The re sults of the interviews added to a review of the literature were also mapped onto an extended canvas model.

Findings

Several interesting insights are derived and, primarily, that Salam is a feasible product to be offered by IBs, provided that there is a significant change in the thinking paradigm and risk mitigation models by all stakeholders, but mainly the IBs and the regulators.

Research limitations/implications

This study may be limited in the number and range of respondents who were chosen for interview. There are possibly other key informants, such as regulators and local custom figures, who may willing to provide useful information. The application of BMC for Salam may also be relatively new, hence its justification for a wider implementation may still need further analysis.

Originality/value

This study is deemed to add significant perspectives on product development and innovation in Islamic banking and particularly regarding Salam. This study advances the method used to study Salam by contextualising the product mapping of Salam into an extended BMC.
What do female and male entrepreneurs value in business accelerators?
Authors: Kwapisz Agnieszka
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Business accelerators facilitate new venture creation, and most research on the subject focuses on the performance of accelerated ventures. This paper aims to understand what entrepreneurs value in business accelerators and how this differs for women- and men-led ventures. The authors suggest that venture growth stage may play a mediating role in these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the resource-based view perspective to develop models of women- and men-led ventures’ valuation for business accelerator services. They also draw upon a database of 2,000 US entrepreneurs.

Findings

The authors found that, compared to men, women entrepreneurs place greater value on knowledge transfer benefits (i.e. business skills education) but lower value on networking benefits offered by accelerators. However, there are no significant differences in the valuations for these services between genders for high-growth ventures. Additionally, compared to men, women leading high-growth ventures place greater value on access to potential investors or funders.

Practical implications

This research serves as a practical guide for accelerator administrators and marketers who seek to adjust their business support offerings based on the value placed for the services by different populations of entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The authors provide a business accelerator user’s perspective and highlight differences in valuation of accelerator services by women- and men-led ventures at different stages of venture growth.
Aesthetics-based mystery in advertising: the roles of consumers’ high-end product perceptions and the construal level of ad words
Authors: Shi Bing
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to focus on whether and furthermore how aesthetics-based mystery affects consumers’ responses toward relevant products.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experimental studies are reported. In Studies 1–2, smartphone ad flyers varying in mystery and non-mystery styles were adopted. A total of 187 undergraduate participants were recruited in Study 1 and 245 undergraduate participants in Study 2. In Study 3, a total of 193 participants who work in a range of businesses were recruited and wristwatch ad flyers were adopted.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that consumers are more willing to pay for products promoted via mystery appeal (versus non-mystery). Such positive impacts occur through consumers’ high-end perceptions of the products. Concrete, rather than abstract, verbal description of quality product features facilitate the impact of mystery appeal on consumer purchase decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The findings advance an extant understanding of mystery appeal in advertising. It is among the first few to demonstrate that high-end product perceptions carry over the positive influence of mystery on consumers. This research is enlightening by suggesting an incongruity effect between pictorial stimuli and verbal information in the advertisement. This study’s scope is limited to visual mystery-evoking stimuli and Chinese participants.

Practical implications

When marketers/advertisers promoting products/brands with high prices, aesthetics-based mystery appeal should be considered as an effective option. This appeal is implicated as effective across gender. Moreover, visual mystery-evoking stimuli, combined with a concrete (not abstract) verbal description of product features should be optimal in promoting products.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the limited empirical research on the influence processes of aesthetics-based mystery appeal. Different from the intuition, it is suggested that incongruity between visual and verbal stimuli in mystery ads that enhances the positive effect of mystery appeal.
Does it pay to avoid speaking straight about controversial issues? Impact of argumentative ambiguity on the perception of the speaker
Authors: Koniak Paweł , Cwalina Wojciech
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The goal of the research was to check whether the sender communicating in an ambiguous manner can gain the benefits in three aspects: perception of his or her image, evoking agreement with issue stand and intention to support him or her in the election. Impact of ambiguous messages was compared with the impact of messages consistent or inconsistent with participants' opinions.

Design/methodology/approach

Two experiments were conducted. Participants were randomly divided into three groups and each of them was presented with (1) a message supporting or (2) opposing given proposition or (3) an ambiguous message not revealing the ultimate opinion of the sender. Participants' initial views on the issues were measured. In experiment 1 an expert message concerned the building of the nuclear power plant was presented. In experiment 2 it was a politician's message about introducing the guaranteed number of parliamentary seats for women.

Findings

The results suggest that a strategy of argumentative ambiguity applied by senders may be beneficial if the point is to avoid recipients' objections. However, the consequences of ambiguity for the evaluation of sender's credibility and voters' intentions can be seen to be negative.

Originality/value

This research was looking for the reconcile of the contradictory results of previous research, which may have their source in the various operationalization of ambiguity. It was focused at an argumentative ambiguity (i.e. presenting different points of view without declaring support for any of the options).
The Last-Planner-System’s impact on project culture
Authors: Lühr Gunnar Jürgen , Bosch-Rekveldt Marian , Radujković Mladen
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Last-Planner-System’s impact on project cultures in terms of partnering.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was performed using multiple data gathering approaches. The project cultures of three projects not applying the Last-Planner-System were compared with three projects that apply the Last-Planner-System. In total, 30 participants were involved in the study. Semi-structured interviews were held and analysed by applying qualitative content analysis. Also, the “organizational culture assessment instrument”, which belongs to the “competing values framework”, was used by means of an online survey.

Findings

The Last-Planner-System leads to increased levels of mutual understanding and control about the tasks and issues of the other parties. This detailed overview leads towards a more distinguished evaluation of the trustworthiness of individuals. This does not necessarily lead to a partnering project culture.

Originality/value

The contribution to research is that higher levels of transparency and mutual understanding do not necessarily lead to a high level of trust. Rather, transparency could be seen as a controlling mechanism that leads to better-founded estimations about the trustworthiness of others in the project.
How design thinking help us to select startups for the acceleration period?
Authors: Mohammadi Navid , Shafiee Maysam
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To avoid wastage of resources of a startup accelerator, this paper aims to present a model for accelerator managers’ decision-making to enter startups into acceleration and initial capitalization using a fuzzy Delphi approach and an affinity diagram is one of the design thinking tools.

Design/methodology/approach

The high failure rate of startups has led to a waste of resources and a lot of capital. This failure rate is much higher in the early stages of startups and subsequently higher risk. This is where startup accelerators play a role in supporting startups and provide startups with the capital needed to accelerate. The point to note at this point is that choosing the team with the lowest success potential by the accelerators will eliminate their capital and energy. The purpose of this research is to avoid this wastage.

Findings

In this research, using the Fuzzy Delphi method and aggregation of opinions of 5 experts and managers of the acceleration field, additional criteria were eliminated and 35 criteria were considered as final criteria of the evaluation model. In the final stage, a 10-member committee of managers, specialists and faculty members was formed and the criteria were grouped using the affinity diagram method. Finally, the final model was presented considering the components of a business plan.

Originality/value

Using design thinking methods and a combination of that with a fuzzy and quantitative method is one of the contributions of this research. Also, making a model for selection startups in the acceleration stage of fundraising is another value of this research.
Hurt people hurt people: using a trauma sensitive and compassion focused approach to support people to understand and manage their criminogenic needs
Authors: Taylor Jon , Hocken Kerensa
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to argue that to address those factors that contribute to the probability of offending, the origins of such factors should be understood, and interventions that recognise the functional aspects of criminogenic capacities should be developed.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a theoretical basis for trauma sensitive practice by providing an evolutionary understanding of human harmfulness alongside a summary of the impact of adversity and abuse on the developing child.

Findings

The paper proposes an overarching framework that uses compassion-focused therapy for risk reducing interventions with men who cause harm to others.

Practical implications

This paper encourages forensic practitioners to develop a trauma aware approach to intervention design and delivery. The paper provides an overview of a compassion-focused therapy as approach to intervention that conceptualises criminogenic capacities within a more holistic and functional framework.

Originality/value

Forensic interventions have been slow to assimilate evidence from adverse childhood experience research and have therefore been limited in their ability to address the functional origins of criminogenic need. This paper offers a framework that allows practitioners to address risk while also allowing individuals to process their own trauma and adversity.
Pragmatic learning in family SMEs: a qualitative study of functional overload among family SME owner-managers
Authors: Querbach Stephanie , Kammerlander Nadine , Singh Jagdip , Waldkirch Matthias
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Learning in organizations is well-recognized as a key determinant of innovation and success in competitive markets, and a rich literature examines learning mechanisms in large-sized and professionally-run organizations. Relatively little is known about the learning processes in family-run firms, most of whom are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) led by a single family SME owner-manager connected in a family network. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how family SME owner-managers engage in learning and how those learning processes are affected by family SME-specific characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Using pragmatic learning theory as an interpretive lens, this study conducts a qualitative multi-case study involving 61 interviews in family SMEs with family SME owner-managers, family members, employees and customers.

Findings

The within- and cross-case analysis helps identify the mechanisms, barriers and enablers of learning and innovation in family SMEs. The study develops and pinpoints the family owner managers’ “functional overload” as a major barrier to learning and employee empowerment, family-members’ support and customer feedback as critical resources in overcoming such functional overload. Yet, these resources turn out to be major amplifiers of functional overload in later phases of the learning process, thus impeding learning and innovation.

Originality/value

The study provides novel insights into learning processes and innovation within family SMEs, outlines the double-edged involvement of family members, employees and customers for learning processes, and provides nuance to pragmatic learning theory.
Military experience among police officers: an examination of veterans' attitudes toward the community
Authors: Gau Jacinta M. , Brooke Erika J. , Paoline III Eugene A. , Roman Krystle L.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to determine whether prior military service impacts police officers' job-related attitudes.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to sworn police officers in a large urban department.

Findings

Findings indicate that military service has almost no impact on police officers' perceptions of danger in the community and suspicion toward citizens. The small effect that did surface suggests that military veterans perceive less danger in the occupational environment.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the scant existing research on whether and how military service may impact police officers' attitudes; in particular, it speaks to the concern that veterans bring a warrior mentality to the job. Findings suggest that these fears are not founded.

Practical implications

Police agencies commonly give preferential hiring to military veterans. Current findings suggest that this practice does not threaten police–community relations.

Originality/value

Scant research has examined the impact of military experience on police officers' job-related attitudes and specifically on their perceptions of danger and their suspicion of citizens. Additionally, when military service is included in police studies, it is operationalized as a binary yes/no. Here, the authors parse service into different components for a more nuanced examination.
Printability of bio-composite sheets made from paper mill and cardboard mill waste sludge
Authors: Yüce Hüseyin , Genç Garip , Sönmez Sinan , Özden Öznur , Akgül Ahmet , Çetiner Burcu Nilgün
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reveal the usability of waste paper sludge on the production of composite materials and the printability of their surfaces were investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

First, composite plates were produced by using dried and milled waste sludge together with polyester resin and epoxy. Screen printing using water, solvent and UV-based inks were carried out.

Findings

It was determined that UV and solvent-based inks in both resin groups were permanently attached to the surface of composite plates produced using paper mill waste sludge, while it was found that the adhesion was not achieved sufficiently in cardboard factory waste sludge.

Originality/value

The unique aspect of this study is obtained the composite plates from paper mill and cardboard mill waste sludge and improved the printability of them.
Multiaxis wire and arc additive manufacturing for overhangs based on conical substrates
Authors: Dai Fusheng , Zhang Shuaifeng , Li Runsheng , Zhang Haiou
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present a series of approaches for three-related issues in multiaxis in wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) as follows: how to achieve a stable and robust deposition process and maintain uniform growth of the part; how to maintain consistent formation of a melt pool on the surface of the workpiece; and how to fabricate an overhanging structure without supports.

Design/methodology/approach

The principal component analysis-based path planning approach is proposed to compute the best scanning directions of slicing contours for the generation of filling paths, including zigzag paths and parallel skeleton paths. These printing paths have been experimented with in WAAM. To maintain consistent formation of a melt pool at overhanging regions, the authors introduce definitions for the overhanging point, overhanging distance and overhanging vector, with which the authors can compute and optimize the multiaxis motion. A novel fabricating strategy of depositing the overhanging segments as a support for the deposition of filling paths is presented.

Findings

The second principal component of a planar contour is a reasonable scanning direction to generate zigzag filling paths and parallel skeleton filling paths. The overhanging regions of a printing layer can be supported by pre-deposition of overhanging segments. Large overhangs can be successfully fabricated by the multiaxis WAAM process without supporting structures.

Originality/value

An intelligent approach of generating zigzag printing paths and parallel skeleton printing paths. Optimizations of depositing zigzag paths and parallel skeleton paths. Applications of overhanging point overhanging distance and overhanging vector for multiaxis motion planning. A novel fabricating strategy of depositing the overhanging segments as a support for the deposition of filling paths.
Management‐dependent effects of pollinator functional diversity on apple pollination services: A response–effect trait approach
Authors: Roquer‐Beni Laura , Alins Georgina , Arnan Xavier , Boreux Virginie , García Daniel , Hambäck Peter A. , Happe Anne‐Kathrin , Klein Alexandra‐Maria , Miñarro Marcos , Mody Karsten , Porcel Mario , Rodrigo Anselm , Samnegård Ulrika , Tasin Marco , Bosch Jordi
Published: September 2021

Functional traits mediate the response of communities to disturbances (response traits) and their contribution to ecosystem functions (effect traits). To predict how anthropogenic disturbances influence ecosystem services requires a dual approach including both trait concepts. Here, we used a response–effect trait conceptual framework to understand how local and landscape features affect pollinator functional diversity and pollination services in apple orchards.

We worked in 110 apple orchards across four European regions. Orchards differed in management practices. Low‐intensity (LI) orchards were certified organic or followed close‐to‐organic practices. High‐intensity (HI) orchards followed integrated pest management practices. Within each management type, orchards encompassed a range of local (flower diversity, agri‐environmental structures) and landscape features (orchard and pollinator‐friendly habitat cover). We measured pollinator visitation rates and calculated trait composition metrics based on 10 pollinator traits. We used initial fruit set as a measure of pollination service.

Some pollinator traits (body size and hairiness) were negatively related to orchard cover and positively affected by pollinator‐friendly habitat cover. Bee functional diversity was lower in HI orchards and decreased with increased landscape orchard cover. Pollination service was not associated with any particular trait but increased with pollinator trait diversity in LI orchards. As a result, LI orchards with high pollinator trait diversity reached levels of pollination service similar to those of HI orchards.

Synthesis and applications. Pollinator functional diversity enables pollinator communities to respond to agricultural intensification and to increase pollination function. Our results show that efforts to promote biodiversity provide greater returns in low‐intensity than in high‐intensity orchards. The fact that low‐intensity orchards with high pollinator functional diversity reach levels of pollination services similar to those of high‐intensity orchards provides a compelling argument for the conversion of high‐intensity into low‐intensity farms.
Hydrogen sulphide attenuates neuronal apoptosis of substantia nigra by re‐establishing autophagic flux via promoting leptin signalling in a 6‐hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Jiang Wu , Zou Wei , Hu Min , Tian Qing , Xiao Fan , Li Min , Zhang Ping , Chen Yong‐Jun , Jiang Jia‐Mei
Published: September 2021

Previous studies reveal that hydrogen sulphide (H2S) exerts neuroprotection against neurotoxin‐induced Parkinson's disease (PD), but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. The present study was aimed to investigate whether H2S inhibits neuronal apoptosis of substantia nigra with the involvement of autophagy via promoting leptin signalling in 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA)‐induced PD rats. In this study, neuronal apoptosis was analysed by TUNEL staining, the activity of caspase‐3 was measured by Caspase‐3 fluorometric assay kit, the expressions of Bax, Bcl‐2, Beclin‐1, LC3II, P62 and leptin were determined by Western blot analysis, and the numbers of autophagosomes and autolysosomes were assessed by transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that NaHS, a donor of exogenous H2S, mitigates 6‐OHDA‐induced the increases in the numbers of TUNEL‐positive cells, the activity of caspase‐3 and the expression of Bax, and attenuates 6‐OHDA‐induced a decrease in the expression of Bcl‐2 in substantia nigra of rats. In addition, 6‐OHDA enhanced the expressions of Beclin‐1, LC3‐II and P62, increased the number of autophagosomes, and decreased the number of autolysosomes in the substantia nigra, which were also blocked by administration of NaHS. Furthermore, NaHS reversed 6‐OHDA‐induced the down‐regulation of leptin expression in the substantia nigra, and treatment with leptin‐OBR, a blocking antibody of leptin receptor, attenuated the inhibition of NaHS on neuronal apoptosis and the improvement of NaHS on the blocked autophagic flux in substantia nigra of 6‐OHDA‐treated rats. Taken together, these results demonstrated that H2S attenuates neuronal apoptosis of substantia nigra depending on restoring impaired autophagic flux through up‐regulating leptin signalling in PD.
Telemedicine trailblazers pave the way to better abortion care for all
Authors: Lohr Patricia A.
Published: September 2021

Linked article: This is a mini commentary on H Nortén et al., pp. 151–159 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16765
Linking the past and present to predict the distribution of Asian crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) under global changes
Authors: YU Fangyuan , SUN Yiwen , WANG Tiejun , SKIDMORE Andrew K. , DING Changqing , YE Xinping
Published: September 2021

Understanding how species’ ecological niches adapt to environmental changes through time is critical for predicting the effect of future global change on endangered species. Yet few studies have incorporated knowledge of past niche shifting into the assessment of species’ future fate in a changing world. In this study, we integrated the ecological niche dynamics into the species distribution modeling of the Asian crested ibis (Nipponia nippon) in East Asia. Specifically, we compared historical and present ecological niches of crested ibis in four‐dimensional environmental space based on species occurrence and environmental data. We then employed a multi‐temporal ecological niche model to estimate the potential geographical distribution of crested ibis under future climate and land‐use changes. Our results show that crested ibis retained similar though not identical ecological niches over time. Compared to the historical baseline range, the current suitable habitat for crested ibis has been reduced by 39.6%. The effects of human activity outweigh those of climate change regarding the distribution of crested ibis. We conclude that the ecological niche of crested ibis was tended to be conservative, and future potentially suitable habitat may encounter northeastward and northwestward shift, and possibly expand by 18.7% referred to the historical range. The findings of our study are of clear importance for the conservation and successful reintroduction of crested ibis in East Asia.
Matrilinear hierarchy in the American black bear (Ursus americanus)
Authors: KILHAM Benjamin , SPOTILA James R.
Published: September 2021

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) was long thought to be solitary and its social organization has not been well described. Here, we present new data on black bear social structure. The objectives of the study were to make detailed observations of the behavior of wild black bears to determine their social interactions and structure. We tested whether black bears interacted socially beyond mating and competing for resources, if black bears tracked relationships and interacted regularly even when resources were not limited, and whether the social structure of a population of black bears was based on a matrilinear hierarchy. We collected data by direct observation of bears from 1993 to 2014. Observations of 1210 social interactions at a provisioning site indicated that females compete and form matrilinear hierarchies. Dominant bears established a hierarchy for food, control of space, and control of younger bears. Post interaction scent marking took place, which suggested that dominant females were conditioning subordinates to their scent marks. Affiliative behavior occurred between related and unrelated bears and helped to establish the social structure of the bear community. Based on our data, human–bear conflicts can be reduced by behavioral modifications by humans when they encounter bears. Knowledge of bear behavior and the matrilinear hierarchy provide a basis for non‐lethal management of bears that find themselves in a bear–human conflict situation.
Coming of age for COI metabarcoding of whole organism community DNA: Towards bioinformatic harmonisation
Authors: Creedy Thomas J. , Andújar Carmelo , Meramveliotakis Emmanouil , Noguerales Victor , Overcast Isaac , Papadopoulou Anna , Morlon Hélène , Vogler Alfried P. , Emerson Brent C. , Arribas Paula
Published: September 2021

Metabarcoding of DNA extracted from community samples of whole organisms (whole organism community DNA, wocDNA) is increasingly being applied to terrestrial, marine and freshwater metazoan communities to provide rapid, accurate and high resolution data for novel molecular ecology research. The growth of this field has been accompanied by considerable development that builds on microbial metabarcoding methods to develop appropriate and efficient sampling and laboratory protocols for whole organism metazoan communities. However, considerably less attention has focused on ensuring bioinformatic methods are adapted and applied comprehensively in wocDNA metabarcoding. In this study we examined over 600 papers and identified 111 studies that performed COI metabarcoding of wocDNA. We then systematically reviewed the bioinformatic methods employed by these papers to identify the state‐of‐the‐art. Our results show that the increasing use of wocDNA COI metabarcoding for metazoan diversity is characterised by a clear absence of bioinformatic harmonisation, and the temporal trends show little change in this situation. The reviewed literature showed (i) high heterogeneity across pipelines, tasks and tools used, (ii) limited or no adaptation of bioinformatic procedures to the nature of the COI fragment, and (iii) a worrying underreporting of tasks, software and parameters. Based upon these findings we propose a set of recommendations that we think the metabarcoding community should consider to ensure that bioinformatic methods are appropriate, comprehensive and comparable. We believe that adhering to these recommendations will improve the long‐term integrative potential of wocDNA COI metabarcoding for biodiversity science.