bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paradigmatic reflections in cross-cultural management to make sense of a VUCA world
Authors: Primecz Henriett
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the concept of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) in the field of cross-cultural management.

Design/methodology/approach

The related literature has been analysed from various paradigmatic lenses.

Findings

As the VUCA world concept originates from business circles, several key articles were published in non-academic journals. Two distinct groups of publications can be identified: consulting literature and academic literature on the VUCA world. While both consulting literature and academic literature about the VUCA world can be associated with functionalism, alternative research paradigms can easily accommodate new studies in connection with the VUCA world: interpretive, critical and postmodern works would fit the features of the VUCA world, along with multi-paradigm studies.

Research limitations/implications

It is advisable to investigate emergent contemporary issues, often labelled VUCA, according to multiple paradigms and to conduct multi-paradigmatic research.

Originality/value

While consulting literature on the VUCA world implicitly assumes functionalist paradigms, academic literature might provide alternative assumptions. Interpretative, critical and postmodern paradigms more accurately address the issues raised by VUCA.
Assessing trade supply chain vulnerability and trade participation of SMEs in India: insights from a comprehensive analysis
Authors: Sudan Tapas , Taggar Rashi
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study presents the impact of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU)-induced Trade Supply Chain Vulnerability (TSCV) on the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in India by leveraging the World Bank Enterprise Survey data for 2014 and 2022. Applying econometric techniques, it examines firm size’ influence on productivity and trade participation, providing insights for enhancing SME resilience and trade participation amid uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The econometric techniques focus on export participation, along with variables such as total exports, firm size, productivity, and capital intensity. It addresses crucial factors such as the direct import of intermediate goods and foreign ownership. Utilizing the Cobb-Douglas production function, the study estimates Total Factor Productivity, mitigating endogeneity and multicollinearity through a two-stage process. Besides, the study uses a case study of North Indian SMEs engaged in manufacturing activities and their adoption of mitigation strategies to combat unprecedented EPU.

Findings

Results reveal that EPU-induced TSCV reduces exports, impacting employment and firm size. Increased productivity, driven by technological adoption, correlates with improved export performance. The study highlights the negative impact of TSCV on trade participation, particularly for smaller Indian firms. Moreover, SMEs implement cost-based, supplier-based, and inventory-based strategies more than technology-based and risk-based strategies.

Practical implications

Policy recommendations include promoting increased imports and inward foreign direct investment to enhance small firms’ trade integration during economic uncertainty. Tailored support for smaller firms, considering their limited capacity, is crucial. Encouraging small firms to engage in international trade and adopting diverse SC mitigation strategies associated with policy uncertainty are vital considerations.

Originality/value

This study explores the impact of EPU-induced TSCV on Indian SMEs’ trade dynamics, offering nuanced insights for policymakers to enhance SME resilience amid uncertainty. The econometric analysis unveils patterns in export behavior, productivity, and factors influencing trade participation during economic uncertainty.
Space jam: how retail technologies are influencing store space production
Authors: Vadruccio Roberta , Pantano Eleonora , Tumino Angela
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Technologies are dramatically reshaping various aspects of the store space, modifying design, services and usage. Accordingly, several studies tackled technology impact on each of these aspects, investigating design, service and usage singularly, but lacking a holistic viewpoint. Thus, this paper aims to identify the different dimensions of the store space (levels) and assess the impact of technology introduction on store space dimensions (levels).

Design/methodology/approach

The research employs a qualitative approach based on direct observations of apparel brand stores located in London between March and April 2023. Data collection followed a structured observation protocol covering store information, adopted technologies and their effects across various store space levels, i.e. consumption activities, service environment and customer experience.

Findings

Results show that the store space can be defined as the sum of different dimensions consisting of consumption activities, service environment and customer experience. Accordingly, technology introduction holistically influences each of the three store space levels as follows: (1) first, technologies redefine how activities are performed or alters the location where certain activities are consumed; (2) within the service environment, technologies replace traditional elements, fill empty spaces and enhance the atmospherics; finally, (3) customer experience is enhanced in hedonic and/or utilitarian terms due to technology adoption.

Originality/value

This paper defines the space as a dynamic entity, providing a deeper understanding of how the store space is produced, from a holistic point of view and the role of retail technology in this process.
Understanding the drivers of sustainable food consumption of Chinese university students: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Khan Ali Nawaz , Alotaibi Hammad S. Saleh , Raza Zain Ali
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess how Sustainable food consumption (SFC) can improve the quality of life for consumers and encourage green food production. Sustainable consumption is an important factor in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations. However, achieving SFC requires government policies, consumer environmental values and accessible channels.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates how to promote SFC intentions using a sample of 386 students from Chinese universities. By using SPSS Process software, this study developed and tested a theoretical model grounded in the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework.

Findings

The findings indicate that environmental emotions mediate the relationship between sustainability knowledge and SFC intentions. Contextual factors such as green self-efficacy (GSE) moderate both the direct relationship between environmental emotions and SFC intentions and the indirect relationship between sustainability knowledge and SFC intentions via environmental emotions. The paper continues with a discussion of the findings and their practical implications.

Originality/value

This paper applied the SOR model to the context of students’ sustainability knowledge and SFC intentions. This also presents environmental emotions as a mediation variable, and green self-efficacy as a moderating factor, and constructs the moderated mediation model. This is one of the novel contributions to the literature on SFC intentions and sustainability knowledge.
How authentic principal leadership influences teacher organisational identification via teacher academic optimism and collective responsibility: a moderated-mediation analysis
Authors: Karataş Erdem , Özdemir Murat , Vural Gürsen
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Teachers’ organisational identification is crucial for the success of educational reform in the change process. This study investigates how and under what conditions authentic principal leadership contributes to teachers’ organisational identification.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from 7907 public high school teachers across Türkiye were analysed using bootstrapping method. This research tested a moderated mediation model of authentic principal leadership effects on teachers’ organisational identification by incorporating teacher academic optimism as a mediator, and teacher collective responsibility as a moderator.

Findings

Results revealed significant direct and indirect effects of authentic principal leadership on the teachers’ organisational identification via teacher academic optimism. Teacher collective responsibility significantly moderated the effects of authentic principal leadership on both teacher academic optimism and on teachers’ organisational identification. The positive effects of authentic principal leadership were strengthened when the collective responsibility was higher.

Originality/value

This study integrates authentic leadership theory with social identity theory, which provides a more theoretically accurate understanding of how authentic principal leadership influences teachers’ organisational identification.
How clients choose procurement strategies and organizational control systems in the Swedish housing sector
Authors: Eriksson Per Erik
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how different contextual contingency factors and organizational goals influence construction clients’ decision-making when procuring contractors in the housing sector. More specifically, it investigates how clients’ choice of procurement strategies and organizational control systems is contingent upon various contextual factors and organizational goals.

Design/methodology/approach

It is based on an explorative interview study of clients and contractors in the Swedish housing sector underpinned by a review of organizational control literature.

Findings

The client's knowledge and resources, as well as project complexity and uncertainty, are the most important contextual contingency factors, while property management and sustainable development are the most important organizational goals that housing clients consider when designing procurement strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the understanding of how construction clients choose procurement strategies, by providing new insights into effects of the mentioned contextual contingency factors and organizational goals on clients’ choice of control systems through their procurement strategies.

Practical implications

Property owners who continuously procure housing projects with sustainability requirements and high degrees of complexity and uncertainty should develop knowledge and resources related to their client role, to enable the design and implementation of appropriate procurement strategies.

Originality/value

Novel aspects of the paper are the demonstration of the value of a holistic approach, considering both contextual contingency factors and organizational goals, when selecting control systems and explicit discussion of how the client's knowledge and resources influence possibilities to implement different control systems.
Financial literacy and its impact on life satisfaction in rural households: a mediated approach via financial self-efficacy
Authors: Mitra Aishwarya , De Anupam
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The study aims to explore the relationship between financial literacy and general life satisfaction. The study further investigates the mediating role of financial self-efficacy in this relationship in the context of Indian rural households.

Design/methodology/approach

Households belonging to the rural area of the Koraput district of Odisha were taken as the sample unit of this study. A structured questionnaire was framed to collect primary data using multi-stage and convenience sampling; 299 responses were received. Data analyses were performed using partial least square-structure equation modelling through SmartPLS 4.0.

Findings

The results of the study connoted that financial literacy has a noteworthy impact on the overall life satisfaction of households with lower incomes, both directly and indirectly. Moreover, the study identified financial self-efficacy as a significant complementary partial mediator in the relationship between financial literacy and overall satisfaction with life.

Practical implications

The findings of the study can be used by financial regulatory authorities and policymakers to seed the financial concepts’ understanding among the rural community to enhance their financial status and thereby overall satisfaction with life.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the exploration study of life satisfaction of rural households is yet to be discovered in the context of previous research frameworks despite rural households being an intricate part of the Indian economy. The study adds to the existing literature on life satisfaction, necessitating financial literacy expertise in rural households for achieving financial self-efficacy.
Supervisor bottom-line mentality and subordinate knowledge hiding: role of team climate
Authors: Zhang Bin , Yang Qizhong , Hao Qi
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Drawing on social information processing theory, this study constructs a multilevel moderated mediation model. This model seeks to delve into the intricate and previously overlooked interplay between supervisor bottom-line mentality (BLM) and knowledge hiding. Within this context, we introduce self-interest as a mediating factor and incorporate performance climate as a team-level moderating variable.

Design/methodology/approach

The time-lagged data involve 336 employees nested in 42 teams from 23 automobile sales companies in five regions of China. The analysis was meticulously executed using Hierarchical Linear Modeling, complemented by bias-corrected bootstrapping techniques.

Findings

The findings reveal that self-interest acts as a full mediator in the positive link between supervisor BLM and knowledge hiding. Furthermore, the performance climate plays a moderating role in both the relationship between supervisor BLM and self-interest, and the entire mediation process. Notably, these relationships are intensified in environments with a high performance climate compared to those with a low one.

Originality/value

This research stands as one of the pioneering efforts to integrate supervisor BLM into the discourse on knowledge hiding, elucidating the underlying psychological mechanisms and delineating the boundary conditions that shape the “supervisor BLM–knowledge hiding” relationship. Further, our insights provide organizations with critical guidance on strategies to curtail knowledge hiding among their employees.
Measuring HR analytics maturity: supporting the development of a roadmap for data-driven human resources management
Authors: Rigamonti Elia , Gastaldi Luca , Corso Mariano
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Today, companies are struggling to develop their human resources analytics (HRA) capability, although interest in the subject is rapidly increasing. Furthermore, the academic literature on the subject is immature with limited practical guidance or comprehensive models that could support organisations in the development of their HRA capability. To address this issue, the aim of this paper is to provide a maturity model – i.e. HRAMM – and an interdependency matrix through which an organisation can (1) operationalise its HRA capability and assess its organisational maturity; (2) generate harmonious development roadmaps to improve its HRA capability; and (3) enable benchmarking and continuous improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The research described in this paper is based on the popular methodology proposed by Becker et al. (2009) and the procedure for maturity evaluation developed by Gastaldi et al. (2018). This method combines academic rigour and field experience in analytics, in a process spanning eight main phases that involves literature reviews and knowledge creation techniques.

Findings

We define HRA maturity through four areas and 14 dimensions, providing a comprehensive model to operationalise HRA capability. Additionally, we argue that HRA maturity develops through an evolutionary path described in four discrete stages of maturity that go beyond traditional analytics sophistication. Lastly, the interdependency matrix reveals specific enablers for the development of HRA.

Practical implications

This paper provides practitioners with useful tools to monitor, evaluate and plan their HRA development path. Additionally, our research helps practitioners to prioritise their work and investment, generating an effective roadmap for developing and improving their HRA capability.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide a model for evaluating the maturity of HRA capability plus an interdependency matrix to evaluate systematically the prerequisites and synergies among its constituting dimensions.
How does managerial coaching influence knowledge sharing in the workplace? A perspective of proactive motivation model
Authors: Arshad Beenish , Hassan Hamid , Azam Akbar
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Drawing upon the Proactive Motivation Model, this study aims to investigate the relationship between managerial coaching and employee knowledge-sharing behavior via psychological safety and learning goal orientation. This study also proposes that employee psychological safety and learning goal orientation sequentially mediate the relationship between managerial coaching and employee knowledge-sharing behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a time-lagged quantitative research design to test the proposed hypotheses. Using a self-administered questionnaire, data was gathered from 220 employees of information technology companies in Pakistan. This study used Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) two-stage approach to test the measurement and structural models.

Findings

The findings of the study support that there is an indirect relationship between managerial coaching and employees’ knowledge-sharing behaviors via psychological safety and learning goal orientation. In addition, the findings also support the sequential mediation of psychological safety and learning goal orientation in the proposed model.

Practical implications

The results of this study highlight that managers can play a vital role in fostering proactive resource-sharing behaviors of employees in knowledge-intensive organizations.

Originality/value

There is limited research on the relationship between managerial coaching and employees’ knowledge-sharing behavior. This study has analyzed this relationship using a motivational perspective. It makes important theoretical contributions by investigating the mechanisms through which managerial coaching influences employees’ knowledge-sharing behavior in organizations.
A comprehensive guide to milling techniques for smoothing the surfaces of 3D-printed thermoplastic parts
Authors: Dilberoglu Ugur Mecid , Yaman Ulas , Dolen Melik
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to thoroughly examine the milling process applied to fused filament fabrication (FFF) parts. The primary objective is to identify the key variables in creating smooth surfaces on FFF specimens and establish trends about specific parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, PLA and ABS samples fabricated by FFF are subjected to side milling in several experiments. Achievable surface quality is studied in relation to material properties, milling parameters, tooling and macrostructure. The surface finish is quantified using profile measurements of the processed surfaces. The study classifies the created chips into categories that can be used as criteria for the anticipated quality. Spectral analysis is used to examine the various surface formation modes. Thermal monitoring is used to track chip formation and surface temperature changes during the milling process.

Findings

This study reveals that effective heat dissipation through proper chip formation is vital for maintaining high surface quality. Recommended methodology demands using a tool with a substantial flute volume, using high positive rake and clearance angles and optimizing the feed-per-tooth and cutting speed. Disregarding these guidelines may cause the surface temperature to surpass the material’s glass transition, resulting in inferior quality characterized by viscous folding. For FFF thermoplastics, optimal milling can bring the average surface roughness down to the micron level.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the field by providing valuable guidance for achieving superior results in milling FFF parts. This study includes a concise summary of the theoretically relevant insights, presents verification of the key factors by qualitative analysis and offers optimal milling parameters for 3D-printed thermoplastics based on systematic experiments.
Leveraging camera traps and artificial intelligence to explore thermoregulation behaviour
Authors: Shermeister Ben , Mor Danny , Levy Ofir
Published: July 2024

Behavioural thermoregulation has critical ecological and physiological consequences that profoundly influence individual fitness and species distributions, particularly in the context of climate change. However, field monitoring of this behaviour remains labour‐intensive and time‐consuming. With the rise of camera‐based surveys and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches in computer vision, we should try to build better tools for characterizing animals' behavioural thermoregulation.

In this study, we developed a deep learning framework to automate the detection and classification of thermoregulation behaviour. We used lizards, the Rough‐tail rock agama (Laudakia vulgaris), as a model animal for thermoregulation. We colour‐marked the lizards and curated a diverse dataset of images captured by trail cameras under semi‐natural conditions. Subsequently, we trained an object‐detection model to identify lizards and image classification models to determine their microclimate usage (activity in sun or shade), which may indicate thermoregulation preferences. We then evaluated the performance of each model and analysed how the classification of thermoregulating lizards performed under different solar conditions (sun or shade), times of day and marking colours.

Our framework's models achieved high scores in several performance metrics. The behavioural thermoregulation classification model performed significantly better on sun‐basking lizards, achieving the highest classification accuracy with white‐marked lizards. Moreover, the hours of activity and the microclimate choices (sun vs shade‐seeking behaviour) of lizards, generated by our framework, are closely aligned with manually annotated data.

Our study underscores the potential of AI in effectively tracking behavioural thermoregulation, offering a promising new direction for camera trap studies. This approach can potentially reduce the labour and time associated with ecological data collection and analysis and help gain a deeper understanding of species' thermal preferences and risks of climate change on species behaviour.
Density matters: How population dynamics of house mice (Mus musculus) inform the epidemiology of Leptospira
Authors: Moinet Marie , Abrahão Carlos R. , Gasparotto Vinícius P. O. , Wilkinson David A. , Vallée Emilie , Benschop Jackie , Russell James C.
Published: July 2024

Rodents are maintenance hosts of numerous pathogens, and both their density and the pathogen prevalence determine the risk they pose to other animals or humans. However, density is often overlooked. We investigated a capture‐mark‐recapture‐sampling strategy to study introduced mice (Mus musculus) and Leptospira as a model and demonstrate the advantages of a combined approach.

We estimated population density and Leptospira prevalence in mice in a replicated longitudinal survey conducted between 2016 and 2018. Capture‐mark‐recapture sessions were undertaken at two sites in Spring and Autumn and blood and kidney samples were collected at the end of each session. Mouse density and areas of activity were estimated using spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models and both were compared between Leptospira positive and negative mice. Leptospira exposure and shedding status were estimated using Microscopic Agglutination Test, and a combination of culture and lipL32 PCR on kidneys.

Leptospira prevalence was higher in spring (83%–86%) than in autumn (31%–37%) and mouse densities simultaneously varied from 3.6 to 55.9/ha. However, despite these variations in prevalence and density, the density of infected animals remained relatively constant over time (3–8/ha). Shedding or being seropositive was also associated with the activity of mice. Shedding or seropositive mice had a larger activity area, and seropositive mice were trapped on average 1 day earlier than seronegative mice.

Synthesis and applications: Our results show how understanding the population dynamics of pathogen‐carrying rodents is critical in epidemiology. The wider movement patterns and easier encounters of positive mice highlight the possibility of biases in classical prevalence surveys and have implications for disease transmission within and between species. Importantly, and quite counter‐intuitively, Leptospira prevalence was negatively associated with mouse density, resulting in a constant density of shedders that contradicts the conventional view of higher exposure risk at high rodent density. More broadly, such sampling designs can improve animal and disease control policies and better inform modelling studies by providing more parameter estimates than classical prevalence surveys.
Harvest of transboundary grey wolves from Yellowstone National Park is largely additive
Authors: Cassidy Brenna , Smith Douglas W. , Cassidy Kira , Stahler Daniel , Hebblewhite Mark
Published: July 2024

Large carnivores are globally threatened due to habitat fragmentation and loss, prey depletion and human exploitation. Human exploitation includes both legal and illegal hunting and trapping. Protected areas can create refugia from hunting and trapping; however, hunting can still threaten wide‐ranging large carnivores when they leave these areas. Large carnivore reintroductions to protected areas are often motivated to restore ecological processes, including wolf reintroduction to Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Determining if harvest is compensatory or additive is essential for informed conservation strategies, as it influences the overall impact on wolf populations and their ecosystems.

If harvest was compensatory, then increasing harvest pressure outside YNP should not decrease overall survival for transboundary wolves. Alternatively, if increasing harvest was additive, then increasing harvest pressure outside YNP should decrease overall survival for transboundary wolves. We tested the effects of variable harvest pressure following delisting on the survival of YNP grey wolves (Canis lupus) from 1995 to 2022. We defined three harvest levels: no harvest, harvest with limited quotas and unlimited harvest. We used Cox‐proportional hazards models and cumulative incidence functions to estimate survival rates, factors affecting survival and cause‐specific mortality between these three harvest periods to test predictions of the additive mortality hypothesis.

Most harvested wolves that primarily lived in YNP were killed adjacent to the park border. Cox‐proportional hazards models revealed that mortality was highest during years of unlimited harvest during winter outside YNP. Cause‐specific mortality analyses showed that natural mortality from other wolves and harvest were the two leading causes of death, but that harvest mortality had additive effects on wolf mortality. Wolf survival decreased with increased harvest mortality, while natural mortality remained relatively unchanged.

Synthesis and applications. High rates of additive harvest mortality of wolves could negatively impact wolf survival in YNP. Harvest mortality of transboundary wolves is additive possibly due to source‐sink dynamics of uneven spatial susceptibility of wolves to harvest mortality across protected area borders, as well as effects of harvest on complex social dynamics of wolves in YNP. Transboundary management of large carnivores is challenging, yet cooperation between agencies is vital for wolf management in and around YNP. Our results support the use of small quota zones surrounding protected areas, that minimize transboundary mortality impacts on large carnivores living primarily inside protected areas.
The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement need a joint work programme for climate, nature and people
Authors: Boran Idil , Pettorelli Nathalie
Published: July 2024

The global climate and biodiversity crises are closely intertwined, yet no policy instrument currently tackles both jointly. This is problematic, as the lack of international platforms for designing coordinated and coherent policy frameworks that align targets across the nexus of biodiversity and climate change poses risks to nature and people.

Here, we argue that the successful implementation of both the Paris Agreement and the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) requires a joint work programme between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Such a joint work programme could fill the current global governance vacuum and address critical implementation gaps, while fostering innovation and synergies in climate and biodiversity action.

Based on a review of existing work programmes under the UNFCCC and interagency and joint work programmes established with the CBD, we provide a concept of how this joint programme could be set up, ideas on the type of issues it should tackle and recommendations for successful implementation.

Policy implications: The UNFCCC and CBD are unique platforms for providing the evidence to, and guiding the way through the changes we need, but higher levels of integration between the biodiversity and climate change agendas are needed to plug the implementation gap between the GBF and the Paris Agreement. The upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP) for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) present a clear policy window for the two conventions to introduce a formal governance structure, such as the one proposed in this contribution, that brings together ideas, people, organizations and processes necessary for joining the dots on how to both stabilize our climate and recover our nature.
Remote sensing for rangeland conservation monitoring: Impacts of livestock removal after 15 years
Authors: Retallack Angus , Rifai Sami , Finlayson Graeme , Ostendorf Bertram , Lewis Megan
Published: July 2024

Degradation from overgrazing of global arid rangelands is of significant concern for this widespread terrestrial ecosystem, and the people who rely on its sustainable use. Addressing this degradation requires a better understanding of how livestock removal and conservation management actions affect the rehabilitation of land condition. However, the dominant effect of climate and meteorological variability on arid vegetation makes isolating management‐induced change a difficult task.

We present an analytically simple method for measuring relative land condition by assessing differences in remote‐sensing‐derived persistent fractional vegetation between adjacent stocked and destocked regions over time. The 22‐year observation period focusses on vegetation recovery at a long‐established sheep station after the removal of livestock and the introduction of conservation‐focussed management. The study region, in the southern Australian arid rangelands, comprises sparsely vegetated chenopod shrublands and acacia woodlands across low‐lying plains. Comparison is made to immediately surrounding stocked properties in a spatial design where climate and biogeographic variables remain consistent across the study area.

We found an unequivocal relative increase in vegetation cover, and reduction of bare ground cover at the destocked property that became evident approximately 8 years after a reduction in grazing pressure. Distinctly higher persistent vegetation cover was maintained, even during periods of drought.

Non‐photosynthetic vegetation cover was most indicative of long‐term change and increased by 1.1% relative to surrounding areas. Photosynthetic vegetation cover increased by 0.5%, while bare ground cover decreased by 2.1%.

These cover changes, particularly in the non‐photosynthetic vegetation and bare ground components spatially coincide with the fenced boundary of the destocked property.

Synthesis and applications: The ability to quantify management‐related impacts in land condition using freely available remote sensing data could support improved management by all stakeholders in these regions. The method leverages readily available satellite remote sensing data in a study design that is not dependent on large geospatial and climatic datasets that are not necessarily available in remote regions.
Ecosystem CO2 flux responses to extreme droughts depend on interaction of seasonal timing and plant community composition
Authors: Zheng Zhenzhen , Li Linfeng , Biederman Joel A. , Wang Yanfen , Guan Shuntian , Li Congjia , Wen Fuqi , Liu Yuan , Xiong Yunqi , Qian Ruyan , Du Jianqing , Xue Kai , Cui Xiaoyong , Hao Yanbin
Published: July 2024

Droughts can affect ecosystem CO2 fluxes directly or indirectly by changing plant community composition. However, it is unknown whether shifts in plant community composition buffer or amplify the response of ecosystem CO2 fluxes to droughts with different seasonal timing, as plant phenology and physiology of the different plant functional types respond differently to droughts.

To identify the interaction of drought timing and plant community composition in regulating ecosystem CO2 fluxes, we conducted a three‐year manipulative experiment in which extreme droughts occurring in the early, mid and late growing seasons were separately imposed on experimental plot communities comprising graminoids, shrubs and their combination in a semi‐arid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China.

Overall, mid‐season drought caused the largest negative effects regardless of plant community composition. In addition to decreasing aboveground biomass, mid‐season drought suppressed fluxes by reducing leaf photosynthetic rate, while early‐season and late‐season drought reduced fluxes mainly by shortening growing season length. All three community compositions had consistent responses to early‐season and mid‐season droughts. However, ecosystem CO2 fluxes in the combination community were less negatively affected by late‐season drought than in either shrub or graminoid communities because the growing season length was shortened less.

Synthesis. Our results highlight that it is important to account for interactions of seasonal timing and plant community composition when predicting magnitude and pathways of drought effects on ecosystem carbon cycling.
Experiences of vaginal lengthening treatment and sexual well‐being in women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome: An interview study
Authors: Jensen Amalie Hahn , Herlin Morten Krogh , Trolle Birgitta , Vogel Ida , Lou Stina
Published: July 2024

Objective

To explore how women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome experience dilation or surgical vaginal lengthening treatment, and their current sexual well‐being.

Design

A qualitative interview study.

Setting

Denmark.

Population

Women aged ≥25 years diagnosed with MRKH syndrome.

Methods

Semi‐structured video interviews were conducted with 18 women. Interviews lasted a median of 92 min and were digitally recorded, transcribed and anonymised. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Main Outcome Measures

A qualitative analysis of women's experiences.

Results

The analysis identified three themes. Firstly, Experiences with dilation treatment revealed dilation as an awkward routine, especially for adolescents living with parents and yet to sexually debut. While some experienced successful vaginal lengthening, others faced treatment failure leading to frustration and self‐blame. Secondly, Experiences with neovaginal surgery described the procedure as extremely painful but resulting in a ‘normal size’ vagina. Some women felt that the procedure had negatively impacted their self‐confidence, and all underscored the importance of maturity before opting for surgery. Lastly, Current sex life and sexual well‐being indicated a well‐functioning sex life for many women, but with reported low sexual confidence and genital self‐image due to the perceived ‘deviance’ of their genitalia.

Conclusions

For women with MRKH syndrome, vaginal lengthening treatment, whether through dilation or surgery, may result in a ‘normal size’ vagina. However, according to the women's experiences, vaginal lengthening treatment does not adequately foster positive sexual esteem and genital self‐image.
Three‐dimensional pore structure of the decellularized parsley scaffold regulates myogenic differentiation for cell cultured meat
Authors: Chen Ziying , Xiong Wanli , Guo Yuzhe , Jin Xin , Wang Lu , Ge Chengxin , Tan Wensong , Zhou Yan
Published: July 2024

Decellularized plant scaffolds have been used to develop edible scaffolds for cell cultured meat because of their natural structures similar to that of mammalian tissues. However, their diverse three‐dimensional (3D) porous structures may lead to differences in myogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle cells. In this study, parsley plant tissues were decellularized and modified by type A gelatin and transglutaminase while retaining, respectively, longitudinal fibrous and transverse honeycomb pore structures. The effects of the structure of the decellularized parsley scaffold on the proliferation and myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells were investigated and the quality of cell cultured meat was evaluated. The results showed that fibrous pore structure guided cells to be arranged in parallel, whereas honeycomb pore structure connected cells in a circular pattern. After induced differentiation, the fibrous scaffolds were more inclined to form multinucleated myotubes with higher expression of myogenic genes and proteins, and the final cell‐based meat contained higher total protein content. Decellularized plant scaffolds with fibrous pore structure were more suitable for myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells, providing support to the development of edible scaffolds for cultured meat.

Practical Application

This study investigated the different three‐dimensional (3D) pore structure of parsley parenchyma to gain insight into how the 3D pore structure of decellularized plant scaffolds regulates myogenic differentiation, which is expected to address the unstable myogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle cells on decellularized plant scaffolds in cell culture meat production.
Custom‐printed microfluidic chips using simultaneous ratiometric fluorescence with “Green” carbon dots for detection of multiple antibiotic residues in pork and water samples
Authors: Yang Wenming , Cao Lingling , Lu Hongjie , Huang Yao , Yang Wenqi , Cai Yuanzheng , Li Sumin , Li Shuqi , Zhao Jianwen , Xu Wanzhen
Published: July 2024

In the evolving field of food safety, rapid and precise detection of antibiotic residues is crucial. This study aimed to tackle this challenge by integrating advanced inkjet printing technology with sophisticated microfluidic paper‐based analytical devices (µPADs). The µPAD design utilized “green” quantum dots synthesized via an eco‐friendly hydrothermal method using green white mulberry leaves as the carbon source, serving as the key fluorescent detection material. The action mechanism involved a photoinduced electron transfer system using red carbon dots (CDs) as electron donors and blue CDs combined with two‐dimensional layered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets as electron acceptors. This system could quickly detect antibiotics within 10 min in pork and water samples, demonstrating high sensitivity and recovery rates: 6.5 pmol/L at 99.75%–110% for sulfadimethoxine, 3.3 pmol/L at 99%–105% for sulfamethoxazole, and 8.5 pmol/L at 98.5%–105% for tetracycline. It achieved a relative standard deviation under 5%, ensuring reliability and reproducibility. The fabricated sensor offered a promising application for the rapid and efficient on‐site detection of antibiotic residues in food.
Pulsed light treatment of whole white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus): Kinetics and mechanism of microbial inactivation and storage study
Authors: Dhawan Anshul , Chakraborty Snehasis
Published: July 2024

The whole white button mushrooms (WWBMs) are highly perishable due to susceptibility to microbial spoilage. This study explored the potential of pulsed light (PL) treatment for decontamination and shelf‐life extension of WWBM. WWBM surface was inoculated with Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Aspergillus niger spores (8.1, 8.0, and 8.05 log10 CFU/g, respectively) and tested for inactivation against various PL intensities (fluence 0.13–0.75 J/cm2). The kinetics and mechanism of microbial inactivation were explored, and shelf life was determined at 4, 20, and 37°C. Microbial inactivation increased with increasing PL intensity. PL‐induced microbial inactivation was well explained by Weibull model with shape parameters (β‐value) for E. coli, L. monocytogenes, A. niger, aerobic mesophiles, and yeast and mold as 0.87, 0.92, 0.91, 0.89, and 0.94, respectively. PL‐treatment at 0.75 J/cm2 resulted in >5‐log cycle reduction in all inoculated and natural microorganisms. Exposure to PL led to collapse of cellular structure, ruptured cell wall, and leakage of cellular material in all microorganisms and spores along with alterations in nucleic acid and lipid bands. At 4°C, maximum shelf life of 5 days was achieved when WWBM was exposed at 0.75 J/cm2. The WWBM retained 83.3% phenolics, 83.9% antioxidant capacity, and 77.4% vitamin D2 at 4°C while reducing the polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase activity by 89% and 79%. The degradation rate for quality parameters increased with storage temperature. The activation energy of the browning index affirmed it as the most sensitive quality attribute during storage. The study concluded the potential of PL treatment to prolong the shelf life of WWBM.
Elucidating dietary secrets of the Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni (Sclater, 1876), through citizen‐sourced photographs
Authors: Brito Lucilene , Cavalcante Angela de Souza , Santos Lucas Sobral , Campioto Ana Laura , Silva Paulo Antonio
Published: July 2024

Dietary data are vital for understanding species' resource requirements and ecological roles and supporting conservation efforts. The Blue‐headed Macaw, Primolius couloni, is a vulnerable and endemic species in the Amazon. Due to their rarity, elusive nature, complex forest canopy habitat, and occurrence in remote areas, we minimally know their dietary habits. To address this gap, we analysed photographs of Blue‐headed Macaws posted on wildlife‐focused social media platforms, specifically targeting images that capture foraging behaviour on plants. Photographs depicting the same foraging were included only once, and those where the plants were not identified were discarded. By doing so, we identified 36 distinct foraging events (or photos), primarily taken between July and October, concentrated in specific locations in Peru and Brazil, a potential seasonality in foraging. We documented 27 food plant species and items such as nectar (n = 9 photos), pulp (8), seeds (7), buds, bark (5 each), aril, and leaves (n = 1 photo each). Notably, floral resources, including nectar, are a potentially important food in the driest months. Using Levin's Index (Ba), we identified a broad dietary niche, indicating a generalist feeding strategy with a wide variety of plant species (Ba = 0.69) and food items (Ba = 0.88). Additionally, the study revealed interactions such as florivory, seed predation, bark consumption, and potential mutualistic roles like pollination and seed dispersal. Our photo‐centric approach here expanded the known dietary spectrum of the Blue‐headed Macaw from four to 31 plant species, offering new insights for conservation strategies. We recommend the preservation of identified food plants and suggest using these data to inform habitat restoration efforts that support the macaws' dietary needs and ecological functions. Future research should focus on continuous monitoring of these food plants to deepen our understanding of seasonal foraging trends and ecological interactions and refine conservation approaches.
Enhancing invasive alien plant eradication outcomes: Lessons learned from South Africa
Authors: Nsikani Mlungele M. , Geerts Sjirk
Published: July 2024

Several attempts to eradicate invasive alien species have been initiated in South Africa and despite no formal eradication declaration, several species have been brought down to low levels or are now absent from the country. Based on an expert workshop with South African implementing agencies on best nationwide eradication practices, we recommend that eradication programmes should be well coordinated, and characterised by collaboration between implementing agencies, researchers and practitioners. Countries should have a list of eradication targets informed by the best available science, with targets ranked according to priority. The best eradication model should be used consistently until eradication is achieved. While most of these priority areas are not novel, it does provide a perspective from a biodiverse African country with limited funding, based on 16 years of experience in implementing eradication programmes. It corroborates challenges experienced elsewhere in the world and contributes to enhancing eradication outcomes globally.
Surgical outcomes in ileal Crohn's disease complicated by ileosigmoid fistula
Authors: Jenkin Ashley , Edmundson Aleksandra , Clark David
Published: July 2024

Background

The management of Crohn's disease (CD) complicated by ileosigmoid fistula (ISF) remains a challenge, and Australian outcomes have not previously been reported.

Methods

A retrospective review of a tertiary colorectal inflammatory bowel disease unit, across public and private sites, from 2005 to 2023 to identify adult patients having undergone operative management of ISF.

Results

Twenty‐nine patients underwent surgery for ISF in the study period. Seventeen were male and the median age was 40 years. The pre‐operative diagnosis of ISF was made in 76%, and patients were more likely to undergo resectional surgery if the pre‐operative diagnosis was made endoscopically. Sixty‐nine percent of cases were performed electively, with 76% completed laparoscopically with an 18.5% conversion rate to an open approach. The ISF was oversewn in three patients, repaired primarily in 14 patients, managed with segmental wedge resection in eight patients and resected via an anterior resection in four patients. The rate of stoma formation at the index procedure was 20.7% overall and 22% in patients being acutely managed with steroids. Emergent cases were more likely to be defunctioned with a stoma. Morbidity was 17.2% with a single anastomotic leak.

Conclusion

ISF in CD remains difficult to diagnose pre‐operatively, but can be safely managed laparoscopically without formal resection, and with limited use of diverting stoma formation. The specific surgical approach to the sigmoid in ISF is difficult to pre‐determine and often requires decisions to be made intra‐operatively.