bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BioXTAS RAW 2: new developments for a free open-source program for small-angle scattering data reduction and analysis
Authors: Hopkins Jesse B.
Published: January 2024

BioXTAS RAW is a free open-source program for reduction, analysis and modelling of biological small-angle scattering data. Here, the new developments in RAW version 2 are described. These include improved data reduction using pyFAI; updated automated Guinier fitting and D
max finding algorithms; automated series (e.g. size-exclusion chromatography coupled small-angle X-ray scattering or SEC-SAXS) buffer- and sample-region finding algorithms; linear and integral baseline correction for series; deconvolution of series data using regularized alternating least squares (REGALS); creation of electron-density reconstructions using electron density via solution scattering (DENSS); a comparison window showing residuals, ratios and statistical comparisons between profiles; and generation of PDF reports with summary plots and tables for all analysis. Furthermore, there is now a RAW API, which can be used without the graphical user interface (GUI), providing full access to all of the functionality found in the GUI. In addition to these new capabilities, RAW has undergone significant technical updates, such as adding Python 3 compatibility, and has entirely new documentation available both online and in the program.
Unbiased particle conformation extraction from scattering spectra using orthonormal basis expansions
Authors: Huang Guan-Rong , Wang Yangyang , Shinohara Yuya , Porcar Lionel , Do Changwoo , Heller William T. , Chen Wei-Ren
Published: January 2024

A strategy is outlined for quantitatively evaluating the particle density profiles from small-angle scattering spectra of dilute solutions. The approach employs an orthonormal basis function expansion method, enabling the determination of characteristic mass distributions in self-assembled structures without the need for a specific structural model. Through computational benchmarking, the efficacy of this approach is validated by effectively reconstructing the density profile of soft-ball systems with varying fuzziness from their scattering signatures. The feasibility of the method is demonstrated by fitting small-angle neutron scattering data obtained from Pluronic L64 micelles at different temperatures. This proposed approach is both simple and analytical, eliminating the requirement for a presumptive structural model in scattering analysis. The new method could therefore facilitate quantitative descriptions of complex nanoscopic structures inherent to numerous soft-matter systems using small-angle scattering techniques.
Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-({5-[(naphthalen-1-yl)methyl]-4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl}sulfanyl)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanone
Authors: Le Trong Duc , Nguyen Tien Cong , Hoang Thi Kim Dung , Huynh Minh Khoi , Phan Quang Thang , Van Meervelt Luc
Published: January 2024

The title compound, C27H20N4O3S, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n, with Z = 4. The global shape of the molecule is determined by the orientation of the substituents on the central 4H-1,2,4-triazole ring. The nitrophenyl ring, phenyl ring, and naphthalene ring system are oriented at dihedral angles of 82.95 (17), 77.14 (18) and 89.46 (15)°, respectively, with respect to the triazole ring. The crystal packing features chain formation in the b-axis direction by S...O interactions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the highest contributions to surface contacts arise from contacts in which H atoms are involved.
Retaining the repatriate by organisation in developing countries (in Africa): understanding the decision-making point (stay or leave) of the expatriate
Authors: Kudo Linus Kekleli , McPhail Ruth , Vuk Despotovic William
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Despite the high rates of repatriate attrition, organisations in developing countries continue to send some of their employees to study in tertiary institutions in developed countries to acquire and build competencies that are deemed strategically important for contemporary work. Although several studies have been conducted on expatriate experience and challenges, those relating repatriation experiences are limited, particularly those concerning organisationally assigned scholars (employees who are sponsored to study overseas). Consequently, the present study explored the intention to stay or leave of organisationally assigned Ghanaian scholars who pursued higher degrees in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the decision of organisationally assigned sponsored scholars to either stay in or leave the host-organisation upon their return, a phenomenological methodology was adopted to explore the lived experiences of organisation assigned scholars (OAS) from Ghana, studying in Australia. The face-to-face interview approach was used to interview 20 Ghanaians who pursued their further studies in Australia. The interviewees consisted of six females and 14 males.

Findings

The results reveal that for expatriate’s in this study, the decision to stay or leave the organisation upon repatriation was made mid-way through the expatriation process in the host county. Hence, organisations intending on retaining their OAS when they return home must focus their support and engagement efforts during this crucial period.

Practical implications

Although they are away on further studies, OAS are still active members of the organisation. Therefore, organisations need to maintain contact with them (OAS), constantly check progress of their study and provide some support, as they might motivate them to want to return and work with the organisation. Consequently, more effective strategies (those for managing them while they are away and those for managing them when they return) should be deployed to incentivise their expatriate to return home.

Originality/value

The study explored an important yet understudied research questions in the repatriation literature. By studying the decision of OASs to either return and stay in or leave an organisation back home contributes uniquely to the existing literature, as studies focusing on that population (i.e. OAS’s) are scarce.
Faculty engagement, quality of work-life, organizational commitment and spiritual leadership – examining the mediation and moderation effects
Authors: Binu Raj Asha , Subramani A.K. , Jan N. Akbar
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Based on positive organizational scholarship, this study aims to examine the role of faculty engagement in mediating the relationship between quality of work-life (QWL) and organizational commitment. The paper also analyses how spiritual leadership moderates the relationship between QWL and faculty engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected through structured questionnaires from undergraduate and postgraduate teachers working in various business schools across major cities in India. The sample was selected through the snowball sampling technique. The sample size was 486, and analysis was done through the structural equation modelling approach using the bootstrapping method.

Findings

Findings indicate that faculty engagement mediates the relationship between QWL and organizational commitment among teachers. Furthermore, results show that educational institutions that practice spiritual leadership support higher positive psychological and emotional states of engagement.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides an integrated model of engagement, commitment and QWL through a study of mediation and moderation effects and adds value to the psychology and workplace spirituality literature. There is the future scope for further generalizations of the model in different geographical contexts to analyse the influence of other leadership styles.

Practical implications

Furthermore, it would help educational institutions to design QWL strategies for engaging teachers psychologically, emotionally and cognitively by accelerating employees’ positive emotions and behaviours. Finally, the paper shows implications for developing the QWL strategies to create a committed and engaged workforce through spiritual leadership.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the academic literature by investigating interrelationships among variables from a positive organizational scholarship perspective. The paper would help practitioners to comprehend the importance of spiritual leadership in educational institutions.
Emotions, perceived risk and intentions to adopt emerging e-banking technology amongst educated young consumers
Authors: Abikari Masoome
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between consumers’ emotions towards emerging e-banking technology, perceived risk and subsequent intention to adopt emerging e-banking technology.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analysed in a quantitative study. The final sample of 224 educated young consumers, familiar with emerging e-banking technology, allowed testing of the research hypotheses by applying confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

The empirical results indicate that deterrence emotions and hedonic motivation are associated with consumers’ perceived risk and, subsequently, their intention to adopt emerging e-banking technology. Additionally, analysing the moderating role of hedonic motivation in the association between consumers’ deterrence emotions towards emerging e-banking technology and their perceived risk highlights the significant association of deterrence emotions with perceived risk, regardless of the presence of hedonic motivation.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the association between consumers’ emotions, perceived risk and subsequent intention to adopt emerging e-banking technology whilst underscoring the importance of distinguishing between different types of emotions and their corresponding appraisals.
Shopping behaviour of elderly consumers: change and stability during times of crisis
Authors: Schwendtner Teresa , Amsl Sarah , Teller Christoph , Wood Steve
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Different age groups display different shopping patterns in terms of how and where consumers buy products. During times of crisis, such behavioural differences become even more striking yet remain under-researched with respect to elderly consumers. This paper investigates the impact of age on retail-related behavioural changes and behavioural stability of elderly shoppers (in comparison to younger consumers) during a crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 643 Austrian consumers to assess the impact of perceived threat on behavioural change and the moderating effect of age groups. Based on findings from this survey, they subsequently conducted 51 semi-structured interviews to understand the causes of behavioural change and behavioural stability during a crisis.

Findings

Elderly shoppers display more stable shopping behaviour during a crisis compared to younger consumers, which is influenced by perceived threat related to the crisis. Such findings indicate that elderly shoppers reinforce their learnt and embedded shopping patterns. The causes of change and stability in behaviour include environmental and inter-personal factors.

Originality/value

Through the lens of social cognitive theory, protection motivation theory and dual process theory, this research contributes to an improved understanding of changes in shopping behaviour of elderly consumers, its antecedents and consequences during a time of crisis. The authors reveal reasons that lead to behavioural stability, hence the absence of change, in terms of shopping during a crisis. They further outline implications for retailers that might wish to better respond to shopping behaviours of the elderly.
Numerical simulation study of high-speed lip seal considering eccentricity
Authors: Tan Guibin , Li Jinfu , Zhou Cheng , Luo Ziwei , Huang Xing , Guo Fei
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the high-speed rotary lip seal in aircraft engines, combining its service parameters, its own structure and application conditions, to study the influence of different eccentric forms, eccentricity, rotational speed and other factors on the performance of the rotary lip seal.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical simulation model for high-speed eccentric rotary lip seals has been developed based on the theory of elastic hydrodynamic lubrication. This model comprehensively considers the coupling of multiple physical fields, including interface hydrodynamics, macroscopic solid mechanics and surface microscopic contact mechanics, under the operating conditions of rotary lip seals. The model takes into account eccentricity and uses the hazardous cross-sectional method to quantitatively predict sealing performance parameters, such as leakage rate and friction force.

Findings

Eccentricity has a large impact on lip seal performance; lips are more susceptible to wear failure under static eccentricity and to leakage failure under dynamic eccentricity.

Originality/value

This study provides a new idea for the design of rotary lip seal considering eccentricity, which is of guiding significance for the engineering application of rotary lip seal.
Trade uncertainty and investments in an emerging country: a Fourier VAR approach
Authors: Akyuz Mert , Gorus Muhammed Sehid , Gunes Cihan
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This investigation aims to determine the effect of trade uncertainty on domestic investment (DI) and foreign direct investment (FDI) for the Turkish economy from the first quarter of 2005 to the first quarter of 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt the vector autoregression (VAR) model augmented with Fourier terms. Using this methodology, the authors obtain the empirical results of the impulse-response functions and the variance decomposition analysis.

Findings

The empirical results demonstrate that a shock to trade uncertainty has a slight negative impact on DI for up to approximately 1.5 years, whereas its impact on FDI is negative but long-lasting. Moreover, the contribution of trade uncertainty to FDI is relatively higher than to DI in the error variance decomposition for the investigated period. These empirical results can be beneficial for shaping the Turkish authorities' trade policies in the following periods.

Research limitations/implications

These findings have implications within the macroeconomic setting. Government authorities can provide tax exemptions for specified sectors and debureaucratize investment processes for both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs. Additionally, institutional quality and property rights should be protected strictly and developed gradually.

Originality/value

This study is the first to examine the impact of world trade uncertainty on Türkiye’s DI and FDI. Because trade uncertainty might act as fixed costs, this creates the option value of waiting and seeing the market, and firms hesitate to incur investment.
Illuminating the shadows: a systematic review of earnings management practices in family-owned enterprises and future research directions
Authors: Naz Aziza , Sheikh Nadeem Ahmed , Khatib Saleh F.A. , Al Amosh Hamzeh , Ananzeh Husam
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The present research conducts a thorough review of published literature relevant to earnings management (EM) practices in family firms (FFs), utilizing the Scopus database, intending to identify potential directions for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a systematic review, this study focuses on identifying and summarizing trends in publications over the years, the journal outlets, geographical contexts, research methodologies, the temporal evolution of theories and the specific constructs under investigation.

Findings

Earlier empirical studies suggest that corporate governance enhances integrity and transparency in FFs, thereby reducing EM practices. Contrarily, compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) seems to offer managers more opportunities for convenient EM rather than restricting such practices. Notably, corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices do not appear to mitigate EM practices consistently. The literature, however, reveals inclusive results and areas requiring deeper exploration for more definitive results. For instance, certain corporate governance mechanisms, such as family-specific social and cultural business characteristics, subjective measures of family businesses, behavioral approaches to family owners' decision-making and directors' personal, psychological and social factors, remain largely untested. Additionally, there is a notable research gap concerning the relationship between IFRS, capital structure and EM.

Originality/value

This study’s contributions lie in its comprehensive literature review, identification of research trends and gaps, and its potential to guide future research endeavors in the domain of EM practices in FFs.
Information sources and tourism heritage: a sustainable economy perspective
Authors: Folgado-Fernández José A. , Huete-Alcocer Nuria , Hernández-Rojas Ricardo , Vileikis Ona
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Conserving appropriately the culture and heritage of a city through sustainable tourism is a key element for its economic development. Heritage cities generate economic, social and environmental benefits through tourism management. This study aims to intend, in the context of economic sustainability of the territory and promotion, to improve the understanding of the relationship between the sources of information of tourists and their motivations, with satisfaction and future behaviour intentions. For this, a study has been carried out in the Old Town of Cáceres (Spain), a city recognised as a world heritage property by UNESCO.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies a descriptive analysis, based on frequencies. For data collection, a structured questionnaire has been used to identify the opinion of tourists during their visit to the heritage city of Cáceres.

Findings

This study demonstrates the existence of a positive relationship between the sources of information and the tourist experience with their future behavioural intentions and satisfaction of their visit. All this in the global context of the destination for sustainable economy and the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development. Furthermore, the results of the study suggest that the motivations of tourists are the most important factor in explaining the overall experience and loyalty of tourists to a city.

Research limitations/implications

A limitation of this study is the data set used. The results must be contextualised at the time and place when the questionnaire was conducted.

Practical implications

The proposed model makes it possible to advance future heritage tourism strategies, in terms of planning and communication of the heritage resources of a destination. Tourism heritage institutions should increasingly invest in communication improvements based on new technologies and social media. At the same time, integrated planning with special policies for the sustainable protection of heritage can make important progress in the tourist and cultural development of the destination.

Originality/value

This article tests for the first time within the context of heritage cities in Spain and in the context of a sustainable economy and cultural heritage for destination, the relationship between different sources of site promotion information and future tourist behaviour intentions. It provides original evidence of the value of applying the underlying theory of the proposed model in a world heritage tourist destination.
Health-related digital content engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: an elaboration likelihood model lens
Authors: Sharifi Seyed Mehdi , Jalilvand Mohammad Reza , Emami kervee Shabnam
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The effectiveness of a message and its attributes have become important for digital media. This study aims to investigate how different elements of a website including both argument-oriented and emotional stimuli based on the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) can affect the issue involvement and change the attitude of the website visitors of a healthcare service provider.

Design/methodology/approach

The Ministry of Health and Education (MOHME) website was selected to explore how its content and design can persuade visitors. An online survey was conducted on 355 adults engaging in health protection behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis showed that one design element, i.e. website navigation and one social cue, i.e. social connectedness, have positive impact on issue involvement, while social presence and website satisfaction have a negative effect on issue involvement because of the random fluctuation suppressor effect. In addition, prior knowledge significantly influenced the issue's involvement. Further, website satisfaction has impacted attitudes directly. There was no significant relationship between argument quality and issue involvement.

Originality/value

Previous works have studied health-related behaviors in offline contexts; however, the scholars have not focused on the individuals' persuasion using ELM regarding the healthcare services provided in online communities. The results of the current study have theoretical and practical implications for scholars, website designers and policymakers.
Men’s transformative health service use: rethinking customer experience of vulnerability
Authors: McGraw Jacquie , Russell-Bennett Rebekah , White Katherine M.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Preventative health services are keen to identify how to engage men and increase their participation, thus improving health, well-being and life expectancy over time. Prior research has shown general gender norms are a key reason for men’s avoidance of these services, yet there is little investigation of specific gender norms. Furthermore, masculinity has not been examined as a factor associated with customer vulnerability. This paper aims to identify the relationship between gender norm segments for men, likely customer vulnerability over time and subjective health and well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

Adult males (n= 13,891) from an Australian longitudinal men’s health study were classified using latent class analysis. Conditional growth mixture modelling was conducted at three timepoints.

Findings

Three masculinity segments were identified based on masculine norm conformity:traditional self-reliant,traditional bravadoandmodern status. All segments had likely customer experience of vulnerability. Over time, the likely experience was temporary for themodern statussegment but prolonged for thetraditional self-reliantandtraditional bravadosegments. Thetraditional self-reliantsegment had low subjective health and low overall well-being over time.

Practical implications

Practitioners can tailor services to gender norm segments, enabling self-reliant men to provide expertise and use the “Status” norm to reach all masculinity segments.

Originality/value

The study of customer vulnerability in a group usually considered privileged identifies differential temporal experiences based on gender norms. The study confirms customer vulnerability is temporal in nature; customer vulnerability changes over time from likely to actual for self-reliant men.
An exploratory study of the concept of social procurement in the construction industry in Botswana: contractor's perspective
Authors: Kuruneri Joseph , Zivanai Wiston
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Governments worldwide seek to optimize value in public project bids. Social procurement (SP) has become a global tool for achieving project goals. The purpose of this study is to assess the understanding of SP among contractors and identify its drivers to optimize the value associated with public projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 15 major contractors were interviewed to obtain their views on SP, appreciate their current practices and identify the main drivers of SP in projects. A semistructured interview was used to gather relevant data. Neo-institutional theory is the lens of the study used to provide the focus of the research. The collected data were analyzed using the thematic data analysis technique.

Findings

The study found that SP is understood as corporate social responsibility and is not handled in a structured manner guided by policies or clearly defined procedures. Additionally, research has shown that compliance requirements, rather than value and goodwill, are the main inspiration for SP practices.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s limitation is the fact that it was conducted in the context of Botswana and only used the interview technique as the solo data collection method. The other limitation is the lack of empirical literature on SP concerning the lack of SP policy in Botswana.

Originality/value

This study raises awareness of the concept of SP among contractors in Botswana and eases its implementation within the industry.
The Arctic summer microbiome across Fram Strait: Depth, longitude, and substrate concentrations structure microbial diversity in the euphotic zone
Authors: Wietz Matthias , Engel Anja , Ramondenc Simon , Niwano Matomo , von Appen Wilken‐Jon , Priest Taylor , von Jackowski Anabel , Metfies Katja , Bienhold Christina , Boetius Antje
Published: January 2024

The long‐term dynamics of microbial communities across geographic, hydrographic, and biogeochemical gradients in the Arctic Ocean are largely unknown. To address this, we annually sampled polar, mixed, and Atlantic water masses of the Fram Strait (2015–2019; 5–100 m depth) to assess microbiome composition, substrate concentrations, and oceanographic parameters. Longitude and water depth were the major determinants (~30%) of microbial community variability. Bacterial alpha diversity was highest in lower‐photic polar waters. Community composition shifted from west to east, with the prevalence of, for example, Dadabacteriales and Thiotrichales in Arctic‐ and Atlantic‐influenced waters, respectively. Concentrations of dissolved organic carbon peaked in the western, compared to carbohydrates in the chlorophyll‐maximum of eastern Fram Strait. Interannual differences due to the time of sampling, which varied between early (June 2016/2018) and late (September 2019) phytoplankton bloom stages, illustrated that phytoplankton composition and resulting availability of labile substrates influence bacterial dynamics. We identified 10 species clusters with stable environmental correlations, representing signature populations of distinct ecosystem states. In context with published metagenomic evidence, our microbial‐biogeochemical inventory of a key Arctic region establishes a benchmark to assess ecosystem dynamics and the imprint of climate change.
Unveiling the drivers of Africa's digital financial inclusion journey
Authors: Elouaourti Zakaria , Ibourk Aomar
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to unveil the evolving landscape of digital financial inclusion in African countries during the post‐COVID‐19 era. We examined factors influencing the access and usage of digital financial services and identified population segments facing increased exclusion due to the digital divide. First, by applying principal component analysis to data collected at the country level from 39 African countries in 2014, 2017, and 2022, we developed a digital financial inclusion index. Second, the empirical research utilized a microlevel dataset of 29,042 adults from 29 countries, sourced from the World Bank's Global Findex 2021 database, employing the instrumental variable probit methodology. Comparative analysis showed improvements in digital financial inclusion rankings for Kenya, Lesotho, and Botswana, while Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, and Niger experienced declines, indicating limited access. Our empirical findings suggest that certain groups, such as women and individuals with limited education and lower incomes, encounter obstacles in accessing digital financial services. Factors such as education level, labor market participation and access to technology and internet infrastructure emerged as crucial in promoting digital financial inclusion. Our sample's representative nature enhances the study's practical implications, guiding public policies and international institutions to accelerate digital financial inclusion in Africa.
Using enrollment records to evaluate self‐reports of monthly coverage in the redesigned current population survey health insurance module
Authors: Pascale Joanne , Fertig Angela R. , Call Kathleen Thiede
Published: January 2024

Objective

To evaluate the veracity of self‐reports of month‐level health insurance coverage in the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS).

Data Sources and Study Setting

The CHIME (Comparing Health Insurance Measurement Error) study used health insurance enrollment records from a large regional Midwest insurer as sample for primary data collection in spring 2015.

Study Design

A sample of individuals enrolled in a range of public and private coverage types (including Medicaid and marketplace) was administered the CPS health insurance module, which included questions about month‐level coverage, by type, over a 17–18‐month time span. Survey data was then matched to enrollment records covering that same time frame, and concordance between the records and self‐reports was assessed.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Sample was drawn by the insurer's informatics specialists and Census Bureau interviewers conducted the survey. Following data collection, updated enrollment records were matched to the survey data to produce a person‐level file of coverage by type at the month‐level.

Principal Findings

For 91% of the overall sample, coverage status and type were reported accurately for at least 75% of observed months. Results varied somewhat by stability of coverage. Among those who were continuously covered throughout the 17–18 month observation period (which comprised 64% of the overall sample), that level of reporting accuracy was observed for 94% of the sample; for those who had censored spells (34% of the overall sample), the figure was 87%; and among those with gaps and/or changes according to the records (2% of the overall sample), for 82% of the group at least 75% of months were reported accurately.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that reporting accuracy of month‐level coverage in the CPS is high and that the survey could become a valuable new data source for studying the dynamics of coverage, including the Medicaid unwinding.
Environment and traits affect parasite and host species positions but not roles in flea–mammal networks
Authors: KRASNOV Boris R. , SHENBROT Georgy I. , KHOKHLOVA Irina S. , LÓPEZ BERRIZBEITIA M. Fernanda , MATTHEE Sonja , SANCHEZ Juliana P. , VAN DER MESCHT Luther
Published: January 2024

We studied spatial variation in the effects of environment and network size on species positions and roles in multiple flea–mammal networks from four biogeographic realms. We asked whether species positions (measured as species strength [SS], the degree of interaction specialization [d′], and the eigenvector centrality [C]) or the roles of fleas and their hosts in the interaction networks: (a) are repeatable/conserved within a flea or a host species; (b) vary in dependence on environmental variables and/or network size; and (c) the effects of environment and network size on species positions or roles in the networks depend on species traits. The repeatability analysis of species position indices for 441 flea and 429 host species, occurring in at least two networks, demonstrated that the repeatability of SS, d′, and C within a species was significant, although not especially high, suggesting that the indices’ values were affected by local factors. The majority of flea and host species in the majority of networks demonstrated a peripheral role. A value of at least one index of species position was significantly affected by environmental variables or network size in 41 and 36, respectively, of the 52 flea and 52 host species that occurred in multiple networks. In both fleas and hosts, the occurrence of the significant effect of environment or network size on at least one index of species position, but not on a species’ role in a network, was associated with some species traits.
Audit firm tenure disclosure and nonprofessional investors' perceptions of auditor independence: The mitigating effect of partner rotation disclosure
Authors: Judge Sarah , Goodson Brian M. , Stefaniak Chad M.
Published: January 2024

In 2017, the PCAOB began requiring audit firm tenure disclosure within the audit report for SEC registrant clients. Many commenters raised the concern that prominent disclosure of firm tenure would lead investors to inappropriately infer a negative relation between audit quality and long tenure. This is particularly troubling given that empirical evidence generally does not support this concern. In our first experiment, we predict and find that disclosing an audit firm's long tenure within the audit report increases investors' perceptions that the audit firm's independence was impaired while conducting the audit. However, we also identify an intervention that mitigates the effects of disclosing long tenure—an accompanying disclosure in the audit report of the firm's adherence to the SEC's mandatory partner rotation requirement. We find that such a disclosure moderates the effect of long tenure disclosure such that in the absence (presence) of a partner rotation disclosure, investors do (do not) perceive increased independence impairment when long firm tenure is disclosed. In a second experiment, we predict and find that long firm tenure disclosure reduces investors' preference to invest in an otherwise quantitatively optimal investment and that this relation is driven, in part, by perceptions of independence impairment. Again, this result is attenuated by partner rotation disclosure. Our results should be useful to regulators in understanding the effects of their disclosure mandate and to audit firms in understanding a practical way in which they might mitigate the implications of such effects.
FAMeLeS: A multispecies and fully automated method to measure morphological leaf traits
Authors: Montès Nicolas , Tosini Lorène , Laffont‐Schwob Isabelle , Le Bagousse‐Pinguet Yoann , Folzer Hélène
Published: January 2024

Leaf shape parameters are of key importance to explain the role of energy balance and water economy in plant species distribution, plant productivity and, more generally, in plant–environment interactions. Yet, leaf shape measurements based on image processing are still challenging due to the high diversity of leaf shapes, colours and sizes leading to the development of time‐consuming methods with a narrow field of applicability, sometimes species‐specific or often limited to a few species.

We developed a fully automated method for measuring multiple leaf shape parameters (area, perimeter, length, width, circularity and solidity) based on a large image sampling of leaf diversity (including litter) belonging to 587 species and spread over 232 countries worldwide. To evaluate the accuracy of the method to detect small objects, the sampling particularly targeted Mediterranean ecosystems (32 species and 25,205 leaves), in which small leaves often represent methodological challenges.

We compared our approach and found that its mean error in leaf area measurement (+0.46%) was 1.7–148 times lower than four existing methods. It was also the only one capable of detecting and measuring all leaves in the test data set, even variegated and small leaves (less than 1 mm2). Its reliability was extensively checked on the largest and most diversified data set ever used.

Our method, accessible to the broader scientific community, was simple, rapid and effective on multiple image file types and on a high diversity of leaf size, shape and colour. As such, our approach allows measurement not only on fresh leaves but also on dry leaves, such as leaf litter or leaves from herbaria. This tolerance to leaf characteristics is crucial to increase large‐scale sampling efforts and paves the way for a standardized multispecies approach to measuring leaf morphological traits for ecological and agricultural studies.
Daily activity profiles over the lifespan of female medflies as biomarkers of aging and longevity
Authors: Chen Han , Müller Hans‐Georg , Rodovitis Vasilis G. , Papadopoulos Nikos T. , Carey James R.
Published: January 2024

The relationship between the early‐age activity of Mediterranean fruit flies (medflies) or other fruit flies and their lifespan has not been much studied, in contrast to the connections between lifespan and diet, sexual signaling, and reproduction. The objective of this study is to assess intra‐day and day‐to‐day activity profiles of female Mediterranean fruit flies and their role as biomarker of longevity as well as to explore the relationships between these activity profiles, diet, and age‐at‐death throughout the lifespan. We use advanced statistical methods from functional data analysis (FDA). Three distinct patterns of activity variations in early‐age activity profiles can be distinguished. A low‐caloric diet is associated with a delayed activity peak, while a high‐caloric diet is linked with an earlier activity peak. We find that age‐at‐death of individual medflies is connected to their activity profiles in early life. An increased risk of mortality is associated with increased activity in early age, as well as with a higher contrast between daytime and nighttime activity. Conversely, medflies are more likely to have a longer lifespan when they are fed a medium‐caloric diet and when their daily activity is more evenly distributed across the early‐age span and between daytime and nighttime. The before‐death activity profile of medflies displays two characteristic before‐death patterns, where one pattern is characterized by slowly declining daily activity and the other by a sudden decline in activity that is followed by death.
Excessive processing and acetylation of OPA1 aggravate age‐related hearing loss via the dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics
Authors: Zhang Andi , Pan Yi , Wang Hao , Ding Rui , Zou Tianyuan , Guo Dongye , Shen Yilin , Ji Peilin , Huang Weiyi , Wen Qing , Wang Quan , Hu Haixia , Wu Jichang , Xiang Mingliang , Ye Bin
Published: January 2024

The pathogenesis of age‐related hearing loss (ARHL) remains unclear. OPA1 is the sole fusion protein currently known to be situated in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is pivotal for maintaining normal mitochondrial function. While it has already been demonstrated that mutations in OPA1 may lead to hereditary deafness, its involvement in the occurrence and development of ARHL has not been previously explored. In our study, we constructed D‐gal‐induced senescent HEI‐OC1 cells and the cochlea of C57BL/6J mice with a mutated SUMOylation site of SIRT3 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We found enhanced L‐OPA1 processing mediated by activated OMA1, and increased OPA1 acetylation resulting from reductions in SIRT3 levels in senescent HEI‐OC1 cells. Consequently, the fusion function of OPA1 was inhibited, leading to mitochondrial fission and pyroptosis in hair cells, ultimately exacerbating the aging process of hair cells. Our results suggest that the dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics in cochlear hair cells in aged mice can be ameliorated by activating the SIRT3/OPA1 signaling. This has the potential to alleviate the senescence of cochlear hair cells and reduce hearing loss in mice. Our study highlights the significant roles played by the quantities of long and short chains and the acetylation activity of OPA1 in the occurrence and development of ARHL. This finding offers new perspectives and potential targets for the prevention and treatment of ARHL.
Perceptions and reality in fisher coexistence with aquatic predators in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Recharte M. , Lee P. , Meza D. , Vick S.‐J. , Bowler M.
Published: January 2024

Humans and large aquatic predators compete for fish and negative interactions are widely reported as ‘human–wildlife conflicts’. When aquatic predators are perceived to damage fisheries or fishing equipment, lethal control can occur. The perceptions and reality of damage are infrequently compared, but this relationship is key to determining how negative outcomes can be mitigated. We examine coexistence between people and six large aquatic piscivores (two caiman, two dolphins, two otters) in Amazonian Peru. We determine the extent of damage to fishing equipment caused by each species and compare this to the amount of damage perceived by fishers. Giant otter populations have recently recovered in some areas, so we expected different perceptions relating to experiences with otters. We trained fishers to complete fishing registers (n = 278, 1173 h of fishing) to record damage to nets by wildlife. We interviewed 302 people from three sites to determine perceptions of damage by predators, and attitudes towards giant otters. Rates of damage to nets reflected the presence and populations of different aquatic predators at each site, but when present, dolphins and caimans damaged nets more than otters, which rarely damaged nets. People living where giant otters had recently recovered perceived higher relative levels of damage to nets by them and had more negative attitudes about them, compared to people from areas where giant otters had been present for longer, aquatic predators were more abundant, and community resource management was longer‐established. Better knowledge and more experience with a species may lead to more accurate perceptions of damage and increased tolerance. Where humans and animals compete for natural resources, conflict mitigation rarely includes better resource management. If tolerance of predators is greater where predators are common, and resources have not been overexploited, resource management may yield greater gains for stakeholders than other commonly prescribed forms of mitigation.
Who speaks my language? Linguistic diversity among people living in Australian residential aged care facilities
Authors: O'Dwyer Monica , Porter Tabitha , Rittinghausen Nikolaus , Tribuzio Lisa , Polacsek Meg
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Australia's migration programs mean that an increasing number of people living in residential aged care (RAC) were born in a non‐main English‐speaking country (NMESC) and have a preferred language other than English (LOTE). This study describes the number of such residents in aged care facilities in Australia and discusses the implications for their care.

Methods

This study presents a secondary analysis of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse 2020–2021 to examine the country of birth and preferred language of people living in RAC in each state and territory and the number of residents who are lone speakers of their language in their facility.

Results

Less than half (45 per cent) of the residents born in a NMESC had a preferred LOTE. Of those, 50 per cent spoke Italian, Greek or Cantonese. At least 60 other preferred languages were recorded, the majority with very few speakers. Australia‐wide, more than one in five residents with a preferred top 20 LOTE are the lone speaker of their language in their facility. The proportion of lone speakers is highest in Tasmania, the ACT and Queensland.

Conclusions

Understanding the extent of language diversity, location and linguistic isolation of people living in RAC is essential for planning to ensure residents with a preferred LOTE receive high‐quality, individualised care. There is a need for consistent and timely data collection about the diversity of aged care residents and workers in this sector.
Association of ethnicity with unintentional injury‐related hospitalisation and mortality among older people residing in two regions of Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Dwight Emily , Cavadino Alana , Kool Bridget , Kerse Ngaire , Hikaka Joanna
Published: January 2024

Objectives

To characterise unintentional injury‐related hospitalisation and mortality amongst older adults (aged 50+ years) in the Lakes and Bay of Plenty District Health Boards of Aotearoa New Zealand and to examine whether hospitalisation patterns differed by ethnicity.

Methods

This observational study analysed unintentional injury‐related hospitalisations and deaths among older adults between 2014 and 2018. Routinely collected national data sets were used to calculate annualised, age‐standardised injury rates. The independent variable of interest was ethnicity (Māori or non‐Māori).

Results

There were 11,834 unintentional injury‐related hospitalisations in the study period (n = 1444 for Māori). Overall, there was no significant difference in the age‐standardised hospitalisation rate between Māori and non‐Māori (Standardised Rate Ratio [SRR] = 0.96 [95% CI 0.90, 1.02]). Falls were the most common mechanism of injury among Māori and non‐Māori overall (50% and 71%) and relative risks of falls increased with age. Non‐Māori were 57% less likely to be hospitalised for unintentional poisoning than Māori (SRR = 0.43, [0.34, 0.59]).

Conclusions

The mechanisms of injury, and variation in unintentional injury‐related hospitalisation rates between Māori and non‐Māori, change throughout older age, and incidence increase0073 with age. Falls cause significant injury‐related hospitalisations for older Māori and responsive injury prevention and rehabilitation efforts are warranted to achieve equitable health outcomes.
Capitals as bad equilibria
Authors: Meling Ådne
Published: January 2024

Throughout the recent pandemic, governments used digital video technologies to facilitate social distancing during political meetings. In addition to enabling social distancing, a theoretical advantage of virtual political governance is that it has the potential to mitigate the hierarchical administrative relationship between capitals and regions and the differences in real estate prices and wealth that often follows from such hierarchical structures. However, hardly any governments are currently planning a long‐term transition to work‐from‐home digital governance. On the contrary, several countries are doubling down on the centralization model of government by building new capitals in new locations. This article proposes that in a time of digital alternatives, physically centralized “capitals” could be considered examples of bad equilibrium.
Infertility in the Pacific: A crucial component of the sexual and reproductive health and rights agenda
Authors: Mitchell Elke , Bennett Linda Rae
Published: January 2024

Across Pacific Island countries, women and men are disproportionately affected by several risk factors for infertility, including sexually transmissible infections, complications from unsafe abortions, postpartum sepsis, obesity, diabetes, tobacco smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Despite this, little is known about community awareness of infertility, behavioural risk factors, the lived experiences of infertile couples or the contexts in which they access fertility care. In this opinion piece we discuss the current evidence and gaps in evidence regarding infertility in Pacific Island countries and the importance of locally tailored approaches to preventing infertility and the provision of fertility care.