bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who needs transformational leadership to craft their job? The role of work engagement and personal values
Authors: Wojtczuk-Turek Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss relationships between transformational leadership and job crafting. Using the job demands-resource (JD-R) theory, this study investigates the mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between transformational leadership and job crafting. The author has also tested the moderating roles of personal values.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on data from 450 knowledge workers representing companies of various sizes from the knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) sector in Poland. The questionnaires were completed using the computer-assisted telephone interview method. The statistical verification of the mediation and moderation analyses was conducted using macro PROCESS (ver. 3.3).

Findings

The findings show that transformational leadership was positively related to job crafting. Statistical analysis also confirmed the research hypothesis that as a personal resource, self-enhancement values moderate relationships between transformational leadership and work engagement, thus strengthening them. The study integrated research on leadership and personal and organisational resources to examine the collective impact of these variables on employee job crafting.

Originality/value

The study is the first to explore the mediating mechanism (through work engagement) between transformational leadership and job crafting in the context of KIBS companies in Poland.
A model-based smart contracts system via blockchain technology to reduce delays and conflicts in construction management processes
Authors: Wahab Abdul , Wang Jun , Shojaei Alireza , Ma Junfeng
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Smart contracts using blockchain technology (BCT) is a tool that decentralizes authority and makes it easier to upgrade the contract administration process by providing an efficient system. Current literature provides a good overview of contracts in the construction industry; however, the specific details of BCT's smart contracts applications in the three categories have not been addressed adequately: (1) information quality, (2) enhancing project schedule and progress payment time and (3) reducing conflicts among project stakeholders. Thus, this study aims to analyze smart contracts using BCT by creating a computerized contract model, specifically evaluating its impact on the three identified categories.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper BCT-SmContract was developed through an automated program that utilizes blockchain to define the contractual agreements between different parties in a construction project. BCT-SmContract model provides a new technique to overcome the current challenges associated with factors identified in this study, i.e. (1) information quality, (2) enhancing project schedule and progress payment time and (3) reducing conflicts among project stakeholders. Afterward, the model was tested to ensure validity and reliability through a construction project.

Findings

The findings indicated that BCT-SmContract was approximately 90% faster to execute the contract and 100% accurate in reflecting the correct information about the project status, resulting in reduced conflicts.

Originality/value

This study has contributed in upgrading the traditional contracting method in construction by developing an automated smart contract model to enhance the processes and achieve higher accuracy.
Understanding adoption of high off-site construction level technologies in construction based on the TAM and TTF
Authors: Cai Jin , Li Zhongfu , Dou Yudan , Li Tianxin , Yuan Mengqi
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Off-site construction (OSC) has been regarded as a clean and efficient production approach to help the construction industry towards sustainability. Different levels of OSC technologies vary greatly in their implementations and adoptions. Compared to low OSC level technologies have been applied widely, the adoption of high OSC level technologies (HOSCLTs) in practice remains limited. The adoption mechanism for HOSCLTs by firms has not been clear, hindering their promotion. This study aims to explore the mechanism combining subjective and objective adoption for HOSCLTs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed an integrated model illustrating mechanism for HOSCLTs adoption based on the technology acceptance model (TAM), which has strong capacity to explain potential adopters' subjective intentions to adoption, and the task-technology fit (TTF) theory, which well describes the linkages between the task, technology and performance in technology adoption. The proposed model was then empirically evaluated through a survey of 232 practitioners in the Chinese OSC industry using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results indicate that both task characteristics (TAC) and technology characteristics (TEC) positively affect TTF of HOSCLTs. TAC, TTF, firm conditions and stakeholder influence have significant positive effects on perceived usefulness (PU), which further positively influence attitude towards adoption. TEC and firm conditions are significantly related to perceived ease of use (PEU). TTF, PEU and attitude towards adoption are good predictors of behavior intention to HOSCLTs adoption. PEU only significantly influences adoption intention and is not observed to influence attitudes and PU, unlike prior research on common OSC adoption.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge by exploring HOSCLTs adoption in the industry based on distinguishing the levels of OSC technologies and supplementing an integrated model for explaining the mechanism with the combination of subjective and objective adoption. The study also provides useful insights into understanding and promoting HOSCLTs adoption for policy makers and stakeholders actively involved in the OSC field.
Determining factors in graduate recruitment and preparing students for success
Authors: Jackson Denise , Riebe Linda , Macau Flavio
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate graduate employer perceptions of determining factors in recruitment decisions and their preferred use of recruitment channels. This study drew on the employability capitals model to interpret findings and identify ways to better prepare higher education students for recruitment and selection. This is particularly important in declining graduate labour markets, further weakened by COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This study gathered data from surveying 183 Australian employers from different organisational settings. Responses were analysed using descriptive and multivariate techniques, the latter exploring variations by role type, sector and organisation size.

Findings

Findings reaffirmed the criticality of students having the right disposition and demonstrating professional capabilities during recruitment, highlighting the value of building cultural and human capital during university years. Recruitment channels that require students to mobilise their identity and social capital were prioritised, particularly among private sector organisations. Work-based internships/placements were considered important for identifying graduate talent and developing strong industry–educator partnerships, needed for building networks between students and employers.

Originality/value

This study provides valuable insights into determinants of graduate recruitment decision-making from the employer perspective. These highlight to students the important role of capitals, and how they can be developed to optimise recruitment success. This study presents practical strategies for universities to build their students’ human, social, cultural and identity capital. Findings on the prioritisation of recruitment channels among graduate employers from different sectors will enable students and universities to better prepare for future recruitment. It emphasises that student engagement with employability-related activities is a critical resource for an effective transition to the workplace.
Barriers to unethical and corrupt practices avoidance in the construction industry
Authors: Amoah Christopher , Steyn Demetri
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Complying with the code of conduct by professionals in the construction industry worldwide has become a significant issue over the years. This has led to projects' failure, leading to losses to both the client and contractors. The study's objective is to identify the challenges of construction professionals in complying with their code of conduct and preventing corrupt practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative approach was used to collect empirical data by sending questionnaires to 56 construction professionals in South Africa. Data gathered were analysed through Excel statistical tool. Mean values were calculated for the quantitative data, whilst thematic content analyses were used to generate frequencies and percentages for qualitative data.

Findings

The findings indicate that construction professionals experience many unethical issues in their work duties such as inflated tender prices, overpricing the rates, tender-based kickbacks, bribes for projects, unethical methods of project execution, use of lower grade materials than specified, discrimination, among others. However, issues such as greediness, acceptance of corruption as usual practice, lack of knowledge about the code of conduct, the only way to get contracts, part of the process, and peer pressure create a challenge in complying with the code of conduct and preventing corrupt practices among construction professionals.

Practical implications

Construction professionals face many unethical and corrupt practices in their project management and execution, which they cannot overcome due to many factors. Therefore, there is the need to sensitise the professionals in the construction industry regarding their code of conduct as well as the danger associated with engaging in corrupt practices in their work and their implication on project performance.

Originality/value

The findings give an insight into the critical factors curtailing the construction professional's ability to comply with their code of conduct and be corrupt-free in their line of duty. Thus, professional associations can use the findings in guiding their members.
Shattering the second glass ceiling: an empirical study on women entrepreneurs in Egypt
Authors: El-Fiky Sarah
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze women's entrepreneurship in Egypt by examining their drivers, motives and challenges while applying a gender-lens perspective. This research tries to close the gaps in previous research and determine the impact of systematic gendered policies in empowering women's entrepreneurship and in return, aid in the overall economic growth and development nation-wide. This paper addresses one main question: How can the Egyptian government empower women entrepreneurs through key policy interventions?

Design/methodology/approach

The research paper is based on quantitative methodology using three sets of the latest data available from Egypt's Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report for 2019 and 2018, in addition to the Egyptian Labor Market Panel Survey of 2018. It examines the probability for women to become entrepreneurs in Egypt's current ecosystem. This allowed for a better contextualization and understanding of the nature of developing Egyptian female-led entrepreneurial ventures.

Findings

The findings of this research emphasized the importance of the existence of policies for training, networking and educational programs tailored for women. In addition to, the unique needs for women entrepreneurs when it comes to funding and applying for loans. Such needs can determine the amounts of funding given out to women, while setting out a repayment policy that is well-designed for women entrepreneurs, ensuing a further discussion of the policies and their implications.

Originality/value

This paper uses and incorporates a variety of data sets that are very focused and specialized in the Egyptian context. Through which the paper aims to inform and analyze the current environment, challenges and opportunities that women entrepreneurs are operating – in Egypt. In addition, this paper provides a set of actionable policy recommendations to strengthen the government's role in empowering women entrepreneurs in Egypt.
Managing relational practices for performance improvement in a complex supply chain network: the mediating roles of proactive and reactive resilience in apparel industry of Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Md Maruf Hossan , Quaddus Mohammed , Chowdhury Mesbahuddin
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Grounding on relational view and contingent resource-based views, the authors investigate the conditional indirect effect of Supply Chain Relational Practices (SCRPs) on supply chain performance (SCP) through proactive and reactive supply chain resilience (SCRE) capabilities at different levels of network complexity (NC).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt an “exploratory sequential mixed methods design” combining the qualitative and quantitative approaches under a positivist paradigm. The qualitative method is primarily used to contextualize and develop better measurements of the factors and variables using content analysis of the field studies. This then informs the quantitative phase which conducts a questionnaire survey among the apparel manufacturing firms in Bangladesh. The authors analyzed the quantitative data using Partial Least Square based Structural Equation Modelling. The authors also used PROCESS integrated regression analysis to test conditional indirect effects.

Findings

Our research findings indicate that the indirect effect of SCRPs on SCP through proactive and reactive SCRE is positive and significant. It also finds that the conditional indirect effect is high at higher NC.

Practical implications

The results have immense practical implications as it proposes to enhance relational practices in order to develop SCRE as a contingent resource to mitigate disruptions. This will also help the supply chain (SC) managers to work through smoothly at different levels of supply chain NC and improve SCP.

Originality/value

Extant literature does not provide a deeper understanding of the impact of SCRPs on SCP, while SCRE and NC influence the link. Therefore, investigation of the conditional direct and indirect effect of SCRPs on SCP through proactive and reactive SCRE at different levels of NC is novel in SC management literature.
Does organizational readiness matter in lean thinking practices? An agency perspective
Authors: Akmal Adeel , Podgorodnichenko Nataliya , Greatbanks Richard , Zhang Jing A.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Extant research documents the importance of lean thinking for organizations, however, as prior research has largely focused on hard lean practices, but little is known about the effects or the significance of soft lean practices. This research attempts to address this issue by examining how soft lean practices enhance organizational lean readiness, and in turn increase the success of lean implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a single case study design in a small-medium enterprise livestock feed manufacturing organization, and investigates the period from late 2011 through the end of 2019 covering two attempts at lean implementation – an initial failed attempt followed by a successful introduction of lean within the case organization. The research analyzes interviews with 29 managers and employees from all organizational levels and departments within the case organization. Secondary data including organizational documents and performance measures and metrics were also incorporated into the research design.

Findings

Drawing on agency theory, the authors advance a principal-agent interaction perspective to conceptualize organizational lean readiness – specifically, the authors consider the “state or condition” of four agency factors (goal conflict, information asymmetry, risk aversion and length of relationship), and explore if these four agency factors can be utilized as proxies for organizational readiness for lean implementation. The authors identify the formation of a shared vision and identity within the organization as an effective mechanism through which soft lean practices enhance organizational lean readiness. Finally, the analysis offers an understanding of how the long-term success of lean implementation is improved by the introduction of soft lean practices as a prerequisite to create organizational readiness for the implementation of hard lean practices.

Originality/value

The study is unique in the sense that it empirically links agency theory and the role of soft lean practices in developing organizational lean readiness in a small-medium enterprise context by defining the ideal state of four agency factors as proxies for organizational readiness.
Analysing the barriers to green apparel manufacturing implementation
Authors: Guo Hailan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Apparel manufacturers' achievement of green manufacturing (GM) goal remains low. This paper aims to identify and prioritise the barriers to GM implementation in apparel companies.

Design/methodology/approach

First, an extensive literature review is conducted to identify the key barriers to GM implementation. Second, 374 usable questionnaires are collected from apparel manufacturing companies to (a) examine the impact of and (b) rank the barriers. Third, interpretive structural modelling (ISM) is applied to test the relationships among barriers. Finally, structural equation modelling (SEM) is applied to improve the model derived from the ISM.

Findings

The results reveal that the independent barriers – lack of eco-literacy among upstream or downstream supply chain members, lack of specific company-level training and monitoring of the progress of GM implementation and inadequate support from regulatory authorities – are the root causes of all the barriers. These three barriers are also at a low level of the ISM model, indicating that they significantly affect the entire system and therefore should be accorded the highest priority in dealing with these barriers.

Practical implications

The results are useful for decision-makers and apparel companies to understand identified barriers, develop potential GM interventions and formulate appropriate strategies to overcome these barriers.

Originality/value

The listed barriers are yet to be comprehensively synthesised in a coherent model and empirically tested in the apparel sector using a combination of the ISM and SEM techniques. The empirically validated model presented in this study is an important step in that direction.
Financial inclusion and human development: is there a nexus?
Authors: Abdelghaffar Radwa Ahmed , Emam Hebatalla Atef , Samak Nagwa Abdallah
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the nexus between financial inclusion and human development for countries belonging to different income groups during 2009–2019, and whether this relation differs across these groups.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper constructs an index of financial inclusion (IFI) for different income group countries employing dynamic panel data models estimated by generalized method of moments (GMM) to analyse the relation between financial inclusion and human development.

Findings

Financial inclusion in low and lower-middle-income countries has higher effect on human development than in high and upper-middle income countries.

Research limitations/implications

The study examines the effect of IFI on the human development index (HDI) at the aggregate level. Future research can tackle the IFI effect on every component of HDI and other aspects of financial inclusion could be incorporated like financial technology.

Originality/value

The originality lies in constructing an index for financial inclusion using the most recent data for a wide range of countries, in addition to examining the impact of financial inclusion on the human development levels of different income groups allowing for more accurate analysis tackling the differences in terms of adopted policies across various income groups; unlike other studies that are carried out on a one country basis or only across one or two country groups that do not allow for comparison across various groups of countries.
Discovery critical literacy, reconstructing identity
Authors: Pack Angela
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Preparing preservice teachers to become critical literacy educators is integral to creating social justice classrooms. Numerous theoretical frameworks have been used to introduce critical literacy to preservice teachers. The commonality between the frameworks is the focus on analyzing literature. This paper aims to present an alternative to critical literacy education with preservice teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

Using practitioner action research, the author investigates critical literacy education through documenting preservice teachers and a teacher educator unpack their relationship with power and literacy in a critical literacy workshop.

Findings

The author describes the benefits of introducing critical literacy to preservice teachers through investigating their relationship with literacy and power.

Practical implications

This innovative approach to critical literacy education for preservice teachers the study documents the importance of investigating critical literacy through self-exploration rather than studying the theoretical concept.

Originality/value

This work not only details an innovative approach to critical literacy education but also makes the case to embed critical literacy throughout teacher education programs.
Social media role in public health development: a bibliometric approach
Authors: Dash Manoj Kumar , Sahu Rajendra , Panda Gayatri , Jain Deepa , Singh Gaurvendra , Singh Chetanya
Published: August 2022

Purpose

With the changing times, the role of social media has increased manifold. It acts as one of the platforms for disseminating information to the public faster. Social media enables us to focus on widespread ways of reaching the target audience. The principal motto of this research study is to identify the role of social media in public health development with a systematic review of literature in terms of its practice, assistance and application in future areas of public health measures.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted a bibliometric analysis method to analyze the data from vast sources. The Scopus database was used to extract papers using appropriate keywords. Thus, the study tries to answer the following research questions: (1) to determine the key journals, authors and keywords in the public health development research; (2) to provide a theme-based cluster based on the keywords’ cooccurrences; and (3) to develop a research framework for the upcoming researchers.

Findings

The study's findings provide a path to understanding the present research stream regarding the highest publication in terms of journals and the year and relevance of social media in public health development. Five theme-based clusters have been identified based on keyword cooccurrences. Thus, future researchers can extend the research field using different themes and frameworks, adding value to the present research works.

Practical implications

This research work is helpful to the government, health practitioners, policymakers and researchers in investigating areas where social media can be implemented. Lastly, social media applications will provide health development measures and lucrative results to the public.

Originality/value

The research enumerates the significance of social media in public health development through bibliometric analysis. The research work analyzed, reviewed and measured the importance of social media in health development measures by recognizing its usage, application and potential future research directions. The theme-based clusters have also been identified from the keywords’ cooccurrences.
Factors affecting the adoption of integrated semantic digital libraries (SDLs): a systematic review
Authors: Shahzad Khurram , Khan Shakeel Ahmad
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Major objective of the instant study was to investigate the factors affecting the adoption of integrated semantic digital libraries (SDLs). It attempted to find out the challenges faced in implementing semantic technologies in digital libraries. This study also aimed to develop a framework to provide practical solutions to efficiently adopt semantic digital library systems to offer richer data and services.

Design/methodology/approach

To meet the formulated objectives of the study, a systematic literature review was conducted. The authors adhered to the “Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” (PRISMA) guidelines as a research method. The data were retrieved from different tools and databases. In total, 35 key studies were included for systematic review after having applied standard procedures.

Findings

The findings of the study indicated that SDLs are highly significant as they offered context-based information resources. Interoperability of the systems, advancement in bilateral transfer modules, machine-controlled indexing, and folksonomy were key factors in developing semantic digital libraries. The study identified five different types of challenges to build an integrated semantic digital library system. These challenges included ontologies and interoperability, development of a suitable model, diversity in language, lack of skilled human resources, and other technical issues.

Originality/value

This paper provided a framework that is based on practical solutions as a benchmark for policymakers to devise formal standards for the initiation to develop integrated semantic digital libraries.
Impact of academic stress by parent-proxy on parents' learning-support-services: a moderated-mediation model of health anxiety by parents' educational level
Authors: Wang Chenhui , Li Suqi , Su Yu-Sheng
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study focused on parents' health anxiety by proxy about their children when they started learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic, to explore the impact of academic stress by parent-proxy on parents' learning support services with the mediating role of health anxiety by parent-proxy and the moderating role of parental educational level.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 8,940 primary school students' parents participated in the study. Bootstrapping was performed to test the constructed model.

Findings

(1) Academic stress by parent-proxy positively predicted health anxiety by parent-proxy. (2) Health anxiety by parent-proxy significantly positively predicted learning support services. (3) Academic stress by parent-proxy also significantly positively predicted learning support services. (4) Academic stress by parent-proxy positively predicted parents' learning support services through the mediating effect of health anxiety by parent-proxy. (5) Parental educational level moderated the relationship between academic stress by parent-proxy, health anxiety by parent-proxy, and learning support services. Academics and parents will benefit from the conclusions of this study in both theory and practice.

Originality/value

During the COVID-19 pandemic, offline learning has been replaced with online learning, which has brought with it many physical and mental health problems, including additional academic stress. Most studies on learning support services have focused on offline learning. However, this study explored the relationships between academic stress by parent-proxy, health anxiety by parent-proxy, learning support services, and parental educational level in the context of online learning. Results show that it is necessary to pay attention to academic stress and health to provide children with appropriate learning support services.
Work from anywhere and employee psychological well-being: moderating role of HR leadership support
Authors: Chaudhuri Ranjan , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Vrontis Demetris , Alessio Ishizaka
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between the flexibility of working from anywhere and employees' psychological well-being (PWB) and safety. This study also investigates the moderating role of human resource (HR) leadership teams on HR policy (HRP), firm infrastructure (FRI) and remote work flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of the literature review and flexible firm theory (FFT) and dynamic capability view (DCV) theory, a model has been developed conceptually. Later, the conceptual model is validated using partial least squares – structural equation modelling technique considering 471 useable respondents from different Asian and European firms to understand cross-country implications. This research study uses convenience and purposeful sampling techniques.

Findings

This study shows that there is a significant and positive moderating role of HR leadership support (HLS) towards developing flexible HRP and appropriate FRI to enable employees to work from anywhere. The results also indicate that there is a significant and positive impact of work from anywhere flexibility (WAF) and employee PWB and psychological safety (PSS), which in turn positively and significantly impact employee satisfaction (EMS) resulting in better firm performance (FP).

Research limitations/implications

This study provides valuable input to HR management teams for developing effective HR policies to enable a work from anywhere option. The study also provides food for thought to practitioners, researchers and academicians regarding the need for more research on the relationship between work flexibility, PWB and FP. Finally, this study develops a unique model which could be used by any firm towards framing an effective HRP enabling WAF.

Originality/value

This research adds value to the overall body of knowledge of HR management. There is no study which investigated the impact of WAF on employee PWB and PSS. Thus, this study is considered a unique study. Moreover, the proposed model in this research study is also a unique model with explanative power of 71%.
Mixed-mode load bearing estimation of the cracked additively manufactured materials using stress/strain-based models
Authors: Ameri Behnam , Taheri-Behrooz Fathollah , Majidi Hamid Reza , Mohammad Aliha Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The main aim of this study is to investigate the mixed-mode I/II failure and the cracking manner of three-dimensional (3D)-printed components made by the fused deposition modeling technique in an experimental and theoretical manner.

Design/methodology/approach

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material and a modified printing method (that increases the adhesion and integrity between the layers and strands) are used for manufacturing the semicircular bending (SCB) test samples. In addition to precracking, the effect of additional stress concentration on the stress field is studied by introducing three small holes to the SCB fracture samples. The critical mixed-mode I/II failure loads obtained from the experiments are predicted using different stress/strain-based fracture theories, including maximum tangential stress (MTS), maximum tangential strain (MTSN), generalized form of MTS and MTSN and combination of them with equivalent material concept (EMC). The effects of plastic deformation, as well as the structural stress concentration, are considered for a more realistic prediction of mixed-mode fracture load.

Findings

The stress-based criteria are more suitable than the strain-based theories. Among the investigated fracture models, the EMC–generalized maximum tangential stress theory provided the best agreement with the experimental results obtained from 3D-printed SCB tests.

Originality/value

The influences of stress risers and applicability of different failure theories in cracked layered 3D-printed parts are studied on the fracture behavior of tested specimens under mixed-mode I/II.
Using functional traits to identify conservation priorities for the world's crocodylians
Authors: Griffith Phoebe , Lang Jeffrey W. , Turvey Samuel T. , Gumbs Rikki
Published: August 2022

Over half of all crocodylians are threatened with extinction, with many species considered to be functionally extinct throughout their historical ranges. How such losses impact crocodylian functional diversity (FD) and its conservation is poorly understood, but can be investigated using measurable traits. Where such information is unavailable, phylogenetic diversity (PD) has been proposed as an effective strategy to capture FD, but this assumption is not well tested.

We constructed a global trait database for 28 extant crocodylians, and quantified their FD, distinctiveness and groupings. Functionally distinctive crocodylians include the most and least evolutionarily distinct species, likely because unusual trait values and combinations can be produced by both evolutionary isolation and evolutionarily recent adaptive radiation. We identified four functional groups of crocodylians, within which species have similar ecological roles. Highly distinctive species, such as the gharial, fit less well into functional groups.

We combined functional distinctiveness (FUD) and threat ranking scores to prioritise species for conservation. The metric is termed Ecologically Distinct and Globally Endangered (EcoDGE), and we tested how well it operates to preserve crocodylian FD among extant Crocodylia. Under current extinction scenarios, 32%–38% of crocodylian FD might be lost within 100 years. Losses increase to 48% if all threatened species go extinct, with Asia identified as a hotspot of threatened FD in crocodylians. Highly threatened distinctive species lead this extinction scenario, exacerbated by clusters of species sharing traits linked to high extinction risk. These traits include habitat specialism and lower reproductive investment; in contrast, species that tolerate climate extremes are more resilient.

Prioritising at‐risk species based on FUD and threat status appears to be an effective way to conserve present‐day crocodylian diversity. Conservation prioritisation based on the EcoDGE metric performed well to minimise projected losses in FD. Among extant crocodylians, FD losses are projected when high diversity overlaps with high extrinsic threats.

We then examined the utility of PD‐based measures as surrogates for FD conservation, to better understand the advantages and drawbacks of such substitutions. A PD‐based measure such as the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered metric provided an effective tool to capture FD in our tests.

Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
Leveraging functional traits of cover crops to coordinate crop productivity and soil health
Authors: Zhang Chongzhe , Xue Wenfeng , Xue Jingrong , Zhang Jing , Qiu Lujie , Chen Xiaoyun , Hu Feng , Kardol Paul , Liu Manqiang
Published: August 2022

Plants act as ecosystem engineers playing fundamental roles in steering their surroundings, including soil abiotic and biotic conditions, soil organisms, and the complex soil food web they comprise. Trait‐based approaches have been considered a ‘Holy Grail’ in linking plants to ecosystem functions, but the mechanistic relationship between plant traits and the soil food web as an indicator of soil health remains poorly understood.

We examined this relationship for 16 cover crop species differing in leaf and root traits in a field experiment where corn, Zea mays was the main crop. Based on functional traits, the cover crop species were categorized into two ecological strategies at either end of the resource acquisitive‐conservative spectrum. We investigated the effects of cover crop ecological strategies on corn productivity and soil health. We used soil nematodes as an indicator of soil health and analysed soil physico‐chemical properties and microbial community activities.

We found that acquisitive cover crops supported higher soil resource availability, bacterial energy channels in the soil food web, and greater corn productivity than conservative cover crops. In contrast, conservative cover crops supported higher abundances of fungivores and omni‐carnivores than acquisitive cover crop, which reflected a more structured and complex soil food web, implying a healthier soil ecosystem. Conservative cover crops also increased corn productivity compared to the no cover crop control treatment.

Synthesis and applications. Collectively, this work shows that cover crops with distinct ecological strategies had their own strengths to enhance ecosystem functions: acquisitive and conservative cover crops improved crop productivity and soil health, respectively. These results indicates that farmers and policy makers can make trait‐based choices in selecting cover crop best serving the local needs. This points to a win‐win solution for food production and ecosystem sustainability.
‘Doing’ hypertension: Experiential knowledge and practice in the self‐management of ‘high blood’ in the Philippines
Authors: Lasco Gideon , Renedo Alicia , Mendoza Jhaki , Seguin Maureen L. , Palafox Benjamin , Palileo‐Villanueva Lia M. , Balabanova Dina , McKee Martin
Published: August 2022

Patients’ embodied experiences do not always correspond to the biomedical concepts of particular diseases. Drawing from year‐long fieldwork in the Philippines that involved semi‐structured interviews, focus group discussions and digital diaries, we examine how individuals ‘do’ hypertension through their embodied experiences and the knowledge and practice that emerge from them. Drawing inspiration from Annemarie Mol’s work on the notion of ‘multiplicity’ of disease, our analysis was informed by a commitment to privileging patients’ embodied experiences and the multiple ontologies of hypertension. We find that for patients diagnosed with hypertension in the Philippines, symptoms enact illness; patients rely on their own embodied knowledge to define their illness’ nature (e.g., diagnosis), experience (e.g., frequency of symptoms and non‐chronicity) and praxis (e.g., self‐care practices). We show how this knowledge gained from having embodied experiences of living with the disease interacts in various ways with biomedical knowledge, other diagnostic labels and clinical practices, to shape how hypertension manifests and is managed by patients. Beyond interrogating the relationship between what counts as a ‘disease’ and what is considered a ‘symptom’, our findings underscore the need to pay attention instead to the mutually co‐constitutive processes of embodied experiences and disease categories in co‐producing patient knowledge.
Like clockwork? (Re)imagining rhythms and routines when living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Authors: White Lauren
Published: August 2022

Temporal trajectories of health, illness and disability—from biographical change to micro‐embodied practices within social time—are important strands within medical sociology and disability studies. Drawing upon a UK‐based qualitative study using diaries and follow‐up interviews to explore everyday life with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), this article explores routines when living with the condition. It focuses specifically on accounts of routines being anticipated, slowed down and stretched out to accommodate and/or care for bodies, with personal and social rhythms weaved in, out and with each other. Such reflections are told through participants’ accounts of knowing routines and rhythms, stretching out and pacing morning routines to care for the body and how everyday practices are reimagined as the body and the social meet. Drawing upon the concept of ‘Crip Time’ where the social bends to meet with the body, this article seeks to illuminate important intersections between medical sociology and disability studies through accounts of living with IBS. This article demonstrates the entanglement of structural, disabling temporal rhythms and embodied temporalities, through an acknowledgement of routines reimagined. It offers a contribution to both medical sociology and disability studies in reimagining social lives with embodied temporalities in mind.
‘Improving the odds for everybody’: Narrative and media in stem cell donor recruitment patient appeals, and the work to redress racial inequity
Authors: Williams Ros
Published: August 2022

Stem cell registries, which provide cells for transplants in blood malignancy treatment, recruit donors partly through mobilising narrative. This is often via appeals from patients without matching donors who seek to encourage registrations from people who might go on to be their own, or somebody else’s, donor. Registries have also historically underserved racially minoritised communities, who are less likely to locate matching donors. As such, appeals often come from racially minoritised patients. Prior research highlights the importance of narrative in health contexts, and donation in particular. However, the impact of stories on those telling them is underexplored. This article fills this gap, providing analysis of a range of interview, media and documentary data. It sketches out the contours of appeal work, showing how patients’ private lives become publicly exposed. It highlights how appeals might be understood as collective action on behalf of racially minoritised communities, flagging how those most affected by inequity often become central to the fight to redress it. Through this, the article extends an emergent ‘sociology of donation’, arguing for acknowledgement of media’s importance in contemporary donation contexts.
Care entanglements: Upholding difference through the uses of mental health diagnosis in Chilean schools
Authors: Rojas‐Navarro Sebastián , Alarcón‐Arcos Samanta , Tabilo‐Prieto Ismael
Published: August 2022

This article draws upon findings from fieldwork conducted with Chilean mental health practitioners and school staff to explore how children’s mental health diagnoses can be used in the school setting as a particular rationale to mobilise and convey new forms of care practices (Mol, The logic of care: Health and the problem of patient choice, 2008). Inspired by the framing of care as an interrelational, interdependent and more‐than‐human affair promoted by Science and Technology Studies, and drawing from conceptual tools offered by post‐humanist approaches, we focus our examination on the diagnosis of attention deficit‐hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Following the diagnosis since its formulation by clinicians in the public sector to its enactment in an urban school in Santiago, Chile, we explore how certain caring/uncaring practices are enacted in relation to the diagnosis, reconfiguring the classroom by incorporating (non)human actors to care for the diagnosed child. However, care is ambivalent, and the diagnosis can be put into action for other purposes as it interweaves with educational policies and other agendas. Thus, to produce policies that truly foster inclusion, attention must be given to the micropolitical level where disabilities and disorders are enacted, developing appropriate ethico‐political and affective sensitivities to care accordingly.
Establishing preliminary reading fluency benchmarks for Grade 3 students in India
Authors: Ghosh Aditi , Misquitta Radhika , Shenoy Sunaina , Kotwal Nikisha
Published: August 2022

Background

The National Education Policy of India in 2020 indicated a goal that all children will achieve foundational literacy by Grade 3 by 2025. In line with this, the Indian government sets a target of 30 to 35 correct words per minute (cwpm) at Grade 3. However, there are no supporting data for reading fluency targets in the Indian reading literature. Similarly, international benchmarks are used in India, but there are no data examining their appropriateness for the Indian context. The purpose of this study was to develop data‐driven benchmarks for oral reading fluency (ORF) for students in Grade 3 in the Indian context. We compared both international standards and the national targets with our study's benchmarks to assess their suitability for the Indian population.

Methods

This study assessed ORF in English for Grade 3 students from three schools following three different curricula in India. The primary tool employed was Fluency and Benchmarking for Literacy in Education (FABLe), a digital curriculum‐based measurement tool developed specifically for the Indian context. Students were assessed at the beginning and end of the academic year.

Results

The performance data collected using FABLe when compared with the international benchmarks were significantly skewed, especially for the end of the year. The national Grade 3 fluency target was found to be even lower than the 5th percentile at the end of the year.

Conclusion

Employing international tools and benchmarks may lead to an overidentification of the number of students that need support, and the current Indian government target may lead to an under‐identification of the same population of students. This study fills an important research gap by providing schools with a Grade 3 ORF measure developed for the Indian context. The results should be considered a preliminary benchmark in Grade 3 and be used to inform literacy practices.
The Big 4 Under Pressure: Scanning Work in Transnational Fields*
Authors: Christensen Rasmus Corlin , Seabrooke Leonard
Published: August 2022

We investigate what happens when accounting professionals come under external pressure to change established practices. We focus on corporate tax transparency, which has become an important battleground as stakeholders increasingly demand more information on corporate tax practices. While the Big 4 global accounting firms have traditionally played a dominant role in shaping what is perceived as acceptable corporate tax behavior, activists and critical politicians have recently mobilized public attention, challenging how accounting professionals legitimate their practices. We provide evidence of these challenges from 33 interviews and participation in 13 professional events from 2013 to 2019. We conceive of the confrontation between dominant professionals and challengers as taking place in a transnational “field,” where a range of actors struggle over how a common object—corporate tax transparency—is defined and treated. This approach helps us understand how the Big 4 navigate new challenges while seeking to maintain control over professional practices. Our interviews and observations show that Big 4 professionals are sensitive to political challenges, requiring that they engage in what we characterize as “scanning work”—ongoing activity to search for, identify, and assess challenges—to fend off outside interventions. Our analysis has important implications for further research. First, the need for scanning work when facing transnational political pressure implies a different way of seeing interactions between accounting professionals and (global) society at large. Second, viewing global accounting from a transnational field lens helps us identify complex sources of change external to already‐powerful actors.