bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is this real? Cocreation of value through authentic experiential augmented reality: the mediating effect of perceived ethics and customer engagement
Authors: Alimamy Saifeddin , Nadeem Waqar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Rapid advancements in augmented reality (AR) technology have created new opportunities for service providers and customers to cocreate value. Using AR as a platform for generating authentic experiences, the purpose of this study is to explore the impact of authentic experiences on customers' intention to cocreate value while considering the mediating influence of perceived ethics and customer engagement on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was used to collect data. Participants were asked to download and try the “IKEA PLACE” AR application. The responses were used as inputs into a structural equation model.

Findings

The findings reveal that AR generates perceptions of authentic experiences but no direct relationship between authentic experiences and intention to cocreate value was found. On the other hand, the authentic experiences generated through AR increases customer perceptions of ethics and customer engagement, both of which lead to an increased intention to cocreate value.

Originality/value

The findings from this study highlight the importance of authentic experiences within the cocreation process. The results provide a unique understanding of the relationship between authentic experiences generated through AR technology on the intention to cocreate with the service provider, which is fully mediated by perceived ethics and customer engagement. The findings of this study extend the understanding of the cocreation process and the role of technology within this process.
An investigation into the determinants of blended leaning satisfaction from EFL learners’ perspective
Authors: Mirabolghasemi Marva , Shasti Reyhaneh , Hosseinikhah Choshaly Sahar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing English as foreign language (EFL) learners’ satisfaction using learning management systems (LMS) in blended learning.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a survey method among 164 intermediate EFL learners of Safir Language Academy in Iran. Survey data were analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) method, while Smart PLS was used to test the hypotheses and to validate the proposed model.

Findings

The results indicated that teaching presence, cognitive presence, information quality and system quality affect satisfaction of blended learning. However, there is not a significant relationship between social presence and learners’ satisfaction in blended learning using LMS.

Research limitations/implications

This study proposes a comprehensive model which has been developed using the indicators of community of inquiry model, system quality and information quality to contribute to our understanding of key factors impacting EFL learners’ satisfaction.

Originality/value

The outcome will help academic institutions to provide effective English-medium instruction for the enhancement of EFL learners’ satisfaction and a basis for factors influencing EFL learners’ satisfaction in blended learning.
Changing perceptions about entrepreneurship and industry-related aspects and fostering innovation skills using a video game
Authors: Solarte Henner Andrés , Tobar Hendrys Fabián , Mesa Jorge Hernán , Trefftz Helmuth , Osorio Diana María
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to find empirical evidence on how video games can foster innovation skills and change perceptions about entrepreneurship and general aspects related to the industry in Colombia while innovative pedagogical processes in teaching entrepreneurship in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on design-based research, serious games (SGs), entrepreneurial education and the innovator DNA framework, the authors collected data from undergraduate students enrolled in two online entrepreneurship courses at a Colombian university. One course is used as a treatment group where students play a video game created for the purpose of this research while the other group is used as control where traditional learning activities are performed. A self-reported method was used on the perceptions of the students after participating in the activities through questionnaires to find differences between the mean scores reported by both groups.

Findings

The results indicate that students who participated in the video game reported a higher fostering of their innovation skills and a broader change in their perception of entrepreneurship and aspects related to the coffee industry, in contrast to the students of the control group.

Originality/value

Using a video game created by EAFIT University in Colombia, this study responds to an identified need for studying the adequate use of SGs in online class contexts and the need of fostering both innovation skills and positive perceptions on entrepreneurship among students.
Significance of developing spirituality among management students: discerning the impact on psychological resources and wellbeing
Authors: Nimmi P.M. , Binoy Alka K. , Joseph George , Suma R.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The unending ambivalence in the academic environment and the job market is detrimental to management graduates' wellbeing. The study looks into the possible intervening methods to enhance the wellbeing of students during difficult times. The study proposes spirituality development as means through which psychological resources like perceived employability and psychological capital are developed in an individual. This study also tries to identify how spirituality development leads to life wellbeing among management students.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 management students from Kerala, India. Multi-stage random sampling was used to collect data. Structural equation modelling using IBM-AMOS was done to gain insights into the proposed relationships.

Findings

The results indicated that spirituality had a significant impact on the wellbeing of management students. Both perceived employability and psychological capital mediated the relationship between spirituality and life wellbeing.

Research limitations/implications

The positive impact of developing spirituality among students is discussed in the paper with the theoretical underpinning of broaden and build theory. The findings suggest that colleges should try to make their campus climate more supportive of students' non-academic needs and open them to a spiritual environment especially during these challenging times.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first attempts to discern how spirituality development leads to an accumulation of psychological resources and life wellbeing among management graduates'.
A systematic literature review on integrated reporting from 2011 to 2020
Authors: Soriya Sushila , Rastogi Parthvi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to furnish the systematic literature review on integrated reporting (IR) and answer three research questions: How has the IR concept been developed recently across the different countries? How can the literature of IR be allocated among different focus areas/themes? What are the future opportunities available for IR?

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involves selection, classification and categorization of 110 articles on IR into their focus areas, journals, time distribution, continent-wise distribution, research methodologies and keywords analysis.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that there is a need of the following: increasing the case studies and empirical research in developing assurance models, analysis of the perception of shareholders in Asian countries, harmonization of financial and non-financial standards, research on the IR of non-listed companies.

Practical implications

It provides insights to practitioners regarding the challenges faced by the economies and internal organization. It might help researchers and academics to focus on developments of IR in different countries. It might also help regulators to develop some policies, models and frameworks for its future implementation.

Originality/value

It furnishes the outline of 110 articles published in eminent journals from the year 2011 to beginning of 2020.
CEOs’ understanding of blockchain technology and its adoption in export-oriented companies in West Sweden: a survey
Authors: Elliot Viktor , Floden Jonas , Overland Conny , Raza Zeeshan , Staron Miroslaw , Woxenius Johan , Basu Abhinayan , Rajput Trisha , Schneider Gerardo , Stefansson Gunnar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study current practices in adopting blockchain technology amongst export companies in West Sweden and to capture their CEOs’ knowledge of and attitudes towards blockchains.

Design/methodology/approach

Factors enabling or hindering the adoption of blockchains were identified from a comprehensive literature review and a survey of 72 chief executive officers (CEOs) of export-oriented firms in West Sweden, all with turnovers exceeding €2m, regarding their knowledge of and attitudes towards blockchains.

Findings

Blockchain technology is not currently perceived to provide benefits that would outweigh the costs of introducing it into West Sweden’s export firms. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that such technology, though currently too immature to meet today’s industrial requirements, could experience more widespread use if certain key factors (i.e. lower cost, traceability, improved security or trustworthiness and new blockchain-enabled business models) are prioritised.

Research limitations/implications

Answered by 72 CEOs, the survey achieved a response rate of 6%, meaning that the findings are only exploratory. Even so, they offer new insights into CEOs’ attitudes towards blockchain technology.

Practical implications

The CEOs reported comparatively limited knowledge of and experience with implementing blockchains, the lack of which has hampered their large-scale implementation in multi-actor supply chains.

Social implications

Negative sentiment amongst CEOs towards blockchain technology may lower on-the-job satisfaction amongst tech personnel aspiring to develop and implement blockchain applications in their firms.

Originality/value

Knowledge of and attitudes towards blockchain technology amongst top-level managers, as well as about factors enabling or hindering its adoption, guide managers in crafting strategies for implementing blockchains in their organisations and maximising the benefits therein. Unlike past studies focussing on technological aspects or views of experts and middle-management, the study was designed to capture the views of CEOs.
Panic buying or preparedness? The effect of information, anxiety and resilience on stockpiling by Muslim consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Sherman Claire Eloise , Arthur Damien , Thomas Justin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the causes of consumer stockpiling by Muslim consumers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, this paper examines exposure to COVID-19 information and its relationship with panic buying directly, indirectly through anxiety and as moderated by resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study surveys 1,006 Muslims from a sample of 1,392 UAE citizens and residents about their exposure to COVID-19 information, anxiety, resilience and panic buying.

Findings

Greater exposure to COVID-19 information had a direct effect on panic buying yet a much weaker indirect effect through increased anxiety. This mediating effect is only significant at moderate to high levels of resilience, suggesting panic buying is a particular coping response of resilient individuals who experience anxiety after greater exposure to COVID-19 information. Anxiety was found to increase panic buying above that directly related to COVID-19 information exposure.

Social implications

Findings provide some guidance for policymakers where a nuanced approach to building and directing resilience and in directing information flows are needed to curtail panic buying within their Muslim populations.

Originality/value

While the phenomenon of consumer stockpiling is referred to as panic buying, the findings suggest that anxiety plays a smaller role in the process than preparedness prompted by crisis-related information exposure. Furthermore, this is the first study to date to specifically examine COVID-19 related panic buying among a Muslim population.
Human resource practices accompanying industry 4.0 in European manufacturing industry
Authors: Vereycken Yennef , Ramioul Monique , Desiere Sam , Bal Michiel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Recent research has shown that the implementation of Industry 4.0 requires companies to (re)adjust their human resource (HR) policies. This article focuses on the relationship between Industry 4.0 and three HR practices: i.e. employee involvement, job design and skill development.

Design/methodology/approach

We use data of the European Company Survey (ECS) (2019). This nationally representative survey in the EU28 gathers data on workplace practices among managers from establishments employing at least 10 employees. We focus on 5,609 establishments in the manufacturing sector.

Findings

Firstly, employee involvement shows a strong positive correlation with Industry 4.0, irrespective of the digital technology used, country or firm size. Secondly, weak but significant correlations are found with increasing job complexity and skill development.

Research limitations/implications

Research should engage in fine-grained analyses of the alignment between particular digital technologies and their respective HR practices.

Practical implications

Our results stress the importance of involving employees during the implementation of Industry 4.0.

Originality/value

Despite frequent acknowledgement across Industry 4.0 roadmaps and maturity models, the predictions for HR practices are empirically incomplete and theoretically inconclusive.
What matters most to ultra-high-net-worth individuals? Exploring the UHNWI luxury customer experience (ULCX)
Authors: Klaus Philipp ‘Phil’
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the customer experiences (CXs) of an under-researched luxury client segment, the ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) in three settings, yacht-made clothing services, chartering a yacht and art collection.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducted 13 interviews with UHNWI, enquiring about their experiences with different services. The author collected and analyzed the data using a recommended three-step approach: in-depth interviews using soft-laddering; coding and purifying data through a systematic approach and hierarchical coding; and using the emerging consensus technique to scrutinize and validate the emerging themes.

Findings

This study revealed UHNWI drivers or purchasing and repurchasing behavior as (mis)managing expectations, personal relationships with personnel and achieving convenience-driven time savings. The corresponding conceptual framework is the UHNWI luxury CX.

Practical implications

This study reveals how über luxury brand managers need to carefully manage the UHNWI clientele expectations, focusing their investment on their brand personnel and the way they can save their clients’ valuable time.

Originality/value

This study is the first to explore UHNWI perceptions of their experience with über luxury providers across multiple contexts. This study highlights that the luxury experience, not the acquisition and owning of luxury goods, drives the UHNWI decision-making and purchase behavior.
A way of developing collaboration between universities and businesses in a time of COVID-19
Authors: Seturidze Rusudan , Topuria Nino
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Central to problems affecting effective university–business collaboration (UBC) is the lack of intensive communication in addition to some administrative issues. This paper aims to resolve this issue by use of a uniquely designed “UBC system.” It suggests establishing a unified business analytics portal as one of the most convenient ways of facilitating UBC. This research paper describes the development and functioning of the “UBC system,” which is capable of supporting universities and businesses in terms of the COVID-19 crisis and in enabling the implementation of innovations in their activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Several dozen organizations and students and graduates of different universities were selected to test the “UBC system.” This research was conducted in several phases. The “UBC system” was developed on the basis of Microsoft 365, which is a solution made on a single platform with the integrated operation of several applications (SharePoint [Easy-Quiz and Survey], Outlook, Teams, Power Automate and Power BI). The system collects, processes and compares the data; schedules online interviews; conducts intelligence quotient testing and surveys; and its business analytic reports and dashboards are shared on the internet and are accessible from any location and from any device.

Findings

The results of the given study suggest that establishing reliable and convenient online coordination through the “UBC system” can provide help in enabling efficient collaboration between universities and businesses – something that has gained special importance in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper provides a number of conclusions and recommendations to improve online cooperation between universities and businesses.

Practical implications

The system can be administered by state entities (such as the Ministry of Education) and by career development centers within universities. The use of these kinds of systems can become a permanent part of effective UBC. The “UBC system” will not only help overcome employment problems in times of crisis but also make it easier to analyze the real situation and to introduce and develop innovative trends by both businesses and universities through mutual cooperation in an automated mode.

Originality/value

The proposed “UBC system” platform was developed by the authors.
How does participation impact IT workers' organizational commitment? Examining the mediating roles of internal communication adequacy, burnout and job satisfaction
Authors: Atouba Yannick
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to revisit the relationship between employee participation and organizational commitment to determine the mediational mechanisms that underlie it. Specifically, the study examines the role of three heretofore unexamined mediators, namely internal communication quality, burnout and job satisfaction and empirically tests multiple alternative explanations/paths for the relationship between employee participation and organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected using a cross-sectional online survey of 111 IT professionals (e.g. engineers, technicians, etc.) employed at a public IT company (PITC) in the Midwest of the USA.

Findings

Overall, the results of this study provide strong support for an indirect relationship between employee work participation and organizational commitment. More specifically, the results of the study show that that relationship is mediated by internal communication adequacy, job satisfaction, as well as the path Burnout—job satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study makes an important contribution to our understanding of how to make the implementation and evaluation of participative practices more effective. It identifies/clarifies the conditions under which participative approaches are likely to induce employees' organizational commitment.
Developing job performance: mediation of occupational commitment and achievement striving with competence enhancement as a moderator
Authors: Lin Chieh-Peng , Liu Chu-Mei , Chan Hui-Ting
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study draws upon the theory of eudaimonic motivation to develop a model that explains job performance in high-tech industry. This study aims to clarify through what mediating mechanism employees' social interaction and self-efficacy can substantially influence their job performance. At the same time, competence enhancement is examined as a moderator that influences the effects of social interaction and self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses developed in this study were empirically tested by collecting three-source data from a leading international business company in Taiwan's high-tech industry. The survey data of this study were first analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analysis for testing the hypotheses of the study. Post hoc tests were then performed using structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analysis for the purpose of double verifications.

Findings

This study finds that social interaction and self-efficacy relate to job performance via the full mediation of occupational commitment and achievement striving. Besides, the relationship between social interaction and occupational commitment is positively moderated by competence enhancement, while the relationship between self-efficacy and occupational commitment is negatively moderated by competence enhancement.

Originality/value

This work shows important findings that complement previous research on personnel performance and competence. First, this work confirms that social interaction and self-efficacy play critical roles for indirectly influencing job performance through the full mediation of occupational commitment and achievement striving among engineers in high-tech industry. Second, the moderating effects of competence enhancement on the relationships between social interaction and occupational commitment and between self-efficacy and occupational commitment are confirmed by this study.
Does it pay to be bad? An investigation of dark triad traits and job performance in India
Authors: Uppal Nishant
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The current paper proposes a curvilinear relationship between the dark triad traits (Machiavellianism, psychopathy and narcissism) and job performance. In addition, it examines the moderation effect of traitedness on the dark triad–job performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on data from 382 participants in a financial services firm in India, the authors conducted a two-phase study to examine the curvilinear and moderation effects.

Findings

Results confirmed that the relationship between dark triad traits and job performance is positive at the lower end of dark triad traits but flattens out as the dark triad traits intensify.

Originality/value

The authors discuss theoretical and practical implications and offer suggestions for future research.
The role of trade narratives in poverty reduction after the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Hipsher Scott Allen
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore different possible economic narratives concerning trade, which may emerge based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis and likely effects of these differing narratives would have on global poverty reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper based on original analysis of selected literature.

Findings

The global response to the COVID-19 crisis of severely restricting international travel and business operations has been accompanied by slowing economic growth and increased levels of global poverty. Due to the nature of the crisis, it is not currently clear, even with hindsight, whether the measures taken have produced more benefits than problems. However, the pace and direction of the economic recovery and the effect on future levels of global poverty will likely depend to some extent on which narratives go viral and become accepted.

Social implications

Members of academia as well as others have a role to play in creating and spreading narratives about economic activities and focusing on narratives, which do not ignore the plight of the global poor in the aftermath of the current crisis might have a positive effect on the living standards of the hundreds of millions of people living in poverty who have been affected by the current global economic slowdown.

Originality/value

The paper uniquely links ideas associated with behavioral economics, international business theories and empirical evidence with reducing poverty as we move past the COVID-19 crisis.
Knowledge strategy planning and information system strategies enable dynamic capabilities innovation capabilities impacting firm performance
Authors: Yoshikuni Adilson Carlos , Galvão Frederico Ribeiro , Albertin Alberto Luiz
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Many studies have not fully explored the relationship between knowledge and information system strategies (ISS) and their overall impact on firm performance (FP). In an attempt to address this knowledge gap, this study draws on the dynamic capabilities view, and on recent literature on knowledge strategy planning (KSP), and examines the alignment between KSP and ISS to enable dynamic capabilities innovation capabilities (DCIC) to gain FP.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey examined empirical data from 234 Brazilian companies using the partial least squares path modeling to test the hypotheses proposed herein.

Findings

The empirical results confirmed that both KSP and ISS have a positive impact on DCIC. Furthermore, the results indicated that FP was positively impacted through DCIC. The results indicated that the alignment between KSP and ISS positively impacts DCIC and ultimately FP.

Research limitations/implications

The data was collected from 234 Brazilian companies in a country classified as a developing economy. Future studies could investigate the impact of KSP and ISS on FP in developed economies. The practical implication of the study required managers to be knowledgeable about the value of alignment between KSP and IT capabilities involving more practitioners in the strategy-as-practice to create innovation capabilities and enhance FP.

Originality/value

This is one of the earliest studies that has investigated the relationships between KSP and ISS and their impact on FP within a developed economy context. The relationship between all constructs that have not been addressed previously contributes to extend the literature on KSP, ISS and dynamic capabilities view.
The role of fishes as food: A functional perspective on predator–prey interactions
Authors: Mihalitsis Michalis , Hemingson Christopher R. , Goatley Christopher H. R. , Bellwood David R.
Published: February 2021

Every animal dies. In nature, mortality usually occurs due to predation by other animals. One of the fundamental consequences of mortality is the transfer of energy and nutrients from one organism (prey) to another (predator). On coral reefs, these key interactions and processes, that are essential for ecosystem functioning, are primarily mediated by fishes; up to 53% of fishes on coral reefs can be regarded as piscivorous.

To date, piscivory on coral reefs has been primarily studied with regard to the species piscivores feed on, and how piscivores control populations. Consequently, understanding prey selectivity by piscivorous fishes has been a major goal. However, prey functional traits may also be important in understanding these ‘energy transactions’, especially in complex ecosystems such as coral reefs.

Our goal, therefore, was to quantify—at a community level—functional traits of prey that have been shown to influence predator–prey interactions. We found that, on average, deep‐bodied, social fishes occupy higher positions in the water column, whereas solitary species are usually elongate and more closely associated with the benthos. On closer examination, we found that solitary species have a size‐dependent relationship, with substratum associations shifting to water column associations, at approximately 50 mm body length.

Our results reveal three distinct prey functional groups: cryptobenthic substratum dwellers, solitary epibenthics and social fishes. These groups display significant differences in their morphologies and behaviours. Furthermore, based on a meta‐analysis of published mortality rates of small‐bodied (<100 mm TL) reef fishes, we show that the three groups display different mortality rates, possibly due to differential exposure to, and potential to be captured by, different predator types.

Although fishes are widely available on coral reefs, they may not be equally available as prey to all piscivore types. Prey are not simply victims; they are capable of influencing potential predation through functional traits.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Habitat restoration in spatially explicit metacommunity models
Authors: Gawecka Klementyna A. , Bascompte Jordi
Published: February 2021

In a time of rapid habitat destruction threatening the existence of many species, restoration of degraded habitats plays a crucial role in hampering biodiversity decline and recovering ecosystem services.

The goal of this study is to advance the understanding of the consequences of habitat restoration on metacommunities, which is of upmost importance for designing successful restoration projects.

We approach habitat restoration from a theoretical perspective by analysing spatially explicit metacommunity models which have previously been essential to understanding the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. We investigate the efficiency of various restoration strategies on metacommunities involving interactions ranging from pairwise competition, predation and mutualism to more complex three‐trophic modules. Our novel approach for measuring the restoration efficiency enables direct comparison of the responses of species in different metacommunities.

We show that species recovery is affected by the amount of habitat destroyed, and the restoration strategy. When habitat is restored by randomly selecting destroyed sites, species recovery becomes less efficient and more uncertain with increasing amount of previously destroyed habitat. However, when the destroyed sites are restored in clusters, minimising the effects of fragmentation, species recovery and the certainty of success are substantially improved. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the community structure and the types of interactions involved determine the most efficient restoration approach.

Our findings highlight the importance of carefully planning the restoration process, especially in landscapes where a large proportion of habitat has been destroyed, and with species at the brink of extinction. Our results may be used as guidelines for designing habitat restoration projects.
Grasshopper species' seasonal timing underlies shifts in phenological overlap in response to climate gradients, variability and change
Authors: Buckley Lauren B. , Graham Stuart I. , Nufio César R.
Published: February 2021

Species with different life histories and communities that vary in their seasonal constraints tend to shift their phenology (seasonal timing) differentially in response to climate warming.

We investigate how these variable phenological shifts aggregate to influence phenological overlap within communities. Phenological advancements of later season species and extended durations of early season species may increase phenological overlap, with implications for species' interactions such as resource competition.

We leverage extensive historic (1958–1960) and recent (2006–2015) weekly survey data for communities of grasshoppers along a montane elevation gradient to assess the impact of climate on shifts in the phenology and abundance distributions of species. We then examine how these responses are influenced by the seasonal timing of species and elevation, and how in aggregate they influence degrees of phenological overlap within communities.

In warmer years, abundance distributions shift earlier in the season and become broader. Total abundance responds variably among species and we do not detect a significant response across species. Shifts in abundance distributions are not strongly shaped by species' seasonal timing or sites of variable elevations. The area of phenological overlap increases in warmer years due to shifts in the relative seasonal timing of compared species. Species that overwinter as nymphs increasingly overlap with later season species that advance their phenology. The days of phenological overlap also increase in warm years but the response varies across sites of variable elevation. Our phenological overlap metric based on comparing single events—the dates of peak abundance—does not shift significantly with warming.

Phenological shifts are more complex than shifts in single dates such as first occurrence. As abundance distributions shift earlier and become broader in warm years, phenological overlap increases. Our analysis suggests that overall grasshopper abundance is relatively robust to climate and associated phenological shifts but we find that increased overlap can decrease abundance, potentially by strengthening species interactions such as resource competition.
Does trait‐based joint species distribution modelling reveal the signature of competition in stream macroinvertebrate communities?
Authors: Elo Merja , Jyrkänkallio‐Mikkola Jenny , Ovaskainen Otso , Soininen Janne , Tolonen Kimmo T. , Heino Jani
Published: February 2021

The occupancy and abundance of species are jointly driven by local factors, such as environmental characteristics and biotic interactions, and regional‐scale factors, such as dispersal and climate. Recently, it has been shown that biotic interactions shape species occupancies and abundances beyond local extents. However, for small ectothermic animals, particularly for those occurring in freshwater environments, the importance of biotic interactions remains understudied. Species‐to‐species associations from joint species distribution models (i.e. species associations while controlling for environmental characteristics) are increasingly used to draw hypotheses of which species possibly show biotic interactions.

We studied whether species‐to‐species associations from joint species distribution models show signs of competition using a hypothesis testing framework in stream macroinvertebrate communities at regional extent.

We sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates from 105 stream sites in western Finland encompassing a latitudinal gradient of c. 500 kilometres. We hypothesized that if competition drives these associations (H1) functionally, similar species are mostly negatively associated, whereas functionally dissimilar species show random associations. We further hypothesized that the relationship between functional dissimilarity and the strength of association is more pronounced (H2) for abundances rather than occupancies, (H3) at small grain (i.e. stream site) rather than at large grain (i.e. river basin), and (H4) among species having weak dispersal ability than among species with high dispersal ability.

Stream macroinvertebrates showed both negative and positive species‐to‐species associations while controlling for habitat characteristics. However, the negative associations were mostly at large grain (river basin) rather than at small grain (stream site), in occupancy rather than abundance, and not related to species functional dissimilarity or to their dispersal ability. Thus, all our hypotheses considering possible competition (H1–H4) were rejected.

Competition does not appear to be a major driving force of stream macroinvertebrate communities at the spatial grain sizes considered. The observed positive associations in occupancy at small grain (stream site) may be attributed to species' similar microhabitat preferences, whereas at large grain (river basin), they may stem from metacommunity dynamics. Our results highlight that species traits were necessary to interpret whether or not species‐to‐species associations from joint species distribution models resulted from biotic interactions.
Brahmin Left versus Merchant Right? Education, class, multiparty competition, and redistribution in Western Europe
Authors: Abou‐Chadi Tarik , Hix Simon
Published: February 2021

In this article, we revisit the main claims of Part Four of Thomas Piketty's Capital and Ideology and especially the changing support coalitions for parties of the left. Piketty's core argument in this part of the book is that the left now represents the highly educated and that, as a result, the redistributive preferences of the working class do not find representation in today's party systems. We address these claims building on existing political science research that has investigated the transformation of politics in advanced capitalist societies. We argue, first, that the educational divide cannot be adequately analyzed by looking at a left and a right bloc, but crucially needs to pay attention to the rise of green/left‐libertarian and radical right parties. Second, we contend that the new middle classes that support parties of the left are largely in favor of economic redistribution. Analyzing data from the European Social Survey in 11 West European countries from 2002 to 2018, we show that the effect of education on voting left or right is indeed largely driven by green/left‐libertarian and radical right parties, while there is little empirical evidence that social democratic parties represent the educational elite. We also find that redistributive preferences remain at the heart of voting behavior and that, especially for educated voters, these preferences determine whether someone votes for a party of the left rather than the right.
Antenatal corticosteroid therapy in late preterm delivery: a nationwide population‐based retrospective study in Taiwan
Authors: Liang F‐W , Tsai H‐F , Kuo P‐L , Tsai P‐Y
Published: February 2021

Objective

To investigate whether antenatal corticosteroid therapy improves neonatal and maternal outcomes in late preterm delivery.

Design

Population‐based retrospective study.

Setting

The linkages of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, National Birth Reporting Database, and the Taiwan Maternal and Child Health Database.

Population

All births at risk for late preterm deliveries in Taiwan between 2004 and 2011.

Methods

For every birth at risk for late preterm delivery, five controls randomly matched by maternal and gestational ages and birthweight were included. A conditional logistic regression analysis was applied for risk estimation, with births without corticosteroids as the reference group. Odds ratios were adjusted for caesarean section, parity, sex, gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Main outcome measures

Neonatal outcomes, maternal outcomes and the utilisation of healthcare services.

Results

The outcomes of 5745 women treated with corticosteroids between 34+0 weeks and 36+6 weeks of gestation were compared with those of 28 135 untreated controls. Compared with the controls, births from women administered corticosteroids reduced the need for continuous positive airway pressure, the number of neonatal intensive care unit admission, and the need for glucose administration, as well as the risk of neonatal respiratory distress, but increased the risk of neonatal sepsis and the number of outpatient visits.

Conclusions

Antenatal corticosteroid therapy in women at risk of late preterm delivery may significantly reduce the need for respiratory support and glucose supply, and respiratory complication risk in neonates.

Tweetable abstract

Antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm delivery reduced the risk of neonatal respiratory complications in Taiwan.
Does counter‐mobilization contain right‐wing populist movements? Evidence from Germany
Authors: VÜLLERS JOHANNES , HELLMEIER SEBASTIAN
Published: February 2021

Right‐wing populist (RWP) movements have been on the rise in Western democracies. Outside of party politics, such movements regularly organize demonstrations against political elites and minority groups. At the same time, civil society coalitions have mobilized against these movements. Yet we know little about the effect of counter‐demonstrations on RWP protest activities. We derive competing theoretical expectations from previous work. On the one hand, counter‐mobilization reduces mobilization because the original movement is less likely to achieve its goals (expected utility/costs). On the other hand, clashes and standoffs between opposing movements facilitate mobilization through polarization and anger (identity/emotions). We empirically analyze movement–countermovement dynamics using a new city‐level event dataset on street protests by the German Pegida movement and its opponents. In our quantitative analysis, we investigate how counter‐mobilization is associated with the onset of Pegida protests, their intensity in terms of participant numbers, and their demobilization. Counter‐mobilization does not prevent protest onset, but large counter‐demonstrations are associated with larger subsequent Pegida protests, and violence against Pegida supporters reduces the likelihood that they will stop protesting.
Median nerve swelling is an independent risk factor of carpal tunnel syndrome in chronic hemodialysis patients
Authors: Kim June Hyun , Ye Byung‐min , Kim Min Jeong , Kim Seo Rin , Kim Il Young , Kim Hyo Jin , Han Miyeun , Song Sang Heon , Seong Eun Young , Lee Soo Bong , Lee Dong Won
Published: February 2021

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has a wide variety of underlying causes and occurs in association with dialysis. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent permanent nerve damage and functional sequelae. We evaluated the association between CTS and cross‐sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Patients with end‐stage renal disease on maintenance HD via arteriovenous fistula were enrolled. We divided 43 patients into two groups; patients diagnosed with CTS (n = 19) and patients without CTS (n = 24). The median nerve CSA was measured at the wrist (CSA‐W) and forearm (CSA‐F) by ultrasonography. Median nerve swelling was assessed by the wrist‐to‐forearm ratio (WFR). There were no significant differences in the underlying causes of chronic kidney disease and adequacy of dialysis between the two groups (p = NS). The patients with CTS showed significantly higher WFR than the patients without CTS (p = 0.001). Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that WFR >1.25 (odds ratio, 6.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.44–27.45; p = 0.014) was associated with CTS in HD patients. The factors traditionally associated with CTS such as age, sex, diabetes, vintage of HD, β2‐MG, intact PTH, and Kt/V were not associated with CTS. After adjustment for age and sex, we found a strong correlation between CTS and the WFR >1.25 (odds ratio, 10.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.85–62.4; p = 0.008). High WFR was associated with the development of CTS, and median nerve swelling was an independent risk factor of CTS in chronic HD patients.
Isolation of alkaliphilic calcifying bacteria and their feasibility for enhanced CaCO3 precipitation in bio‐based cementitious composites
Authors: Shaheen Nafeesa , Jalil Amna , Adnan Fazal , Arsalan Khushnood Rao
Published: February 2021

Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP), secreted through biological metabolic activity, secured an imperative position in remedial measures within the construction industry subsequent to ecological, environmental and economical returns. However, this contemporary recurrent healing system is susceptible to microbial depletion in the highly alkaline cementitious environment. Therefore, researchers are probing for alkali resistant calcifying microbes. In the present study, alkaliphilic microbes were isolated from different soil sources and screened for probable CaCO3 precipitation. Non‐ureolytic pathway (oxidation of organic carbon) was adopted for calcite precipitation to eliminate the production of toxic ammonia. For this purpose, calcium lactate Ca(C3H5O3)2 and calcium acetate Ca(CH3COO)2 were used as CaCO3 precipitation precursors. The quantification protocol for precipitated CaCO3 was established to select potent microbial species for implementation in the alkaline cementitious systems as more than 50% of isolates were able to precipitate CaCO3. Results suggested 80% of potent calcifying strains isolated in this study, portrayed higher calcite precipitation at pH 10 when compared to pH 7. Ten superlative morphologically distinct isolates capable of CaCO3 production were identified by 16SrRNA sequencing. Sequenced microbes were identified as species of Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Planococcus, Chryseomicrobium and Corynebacterium. Further, microstructure of precipitated CaCO3 was inspected through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric (TG) analysis. Then, the selected microbes were investigated in the cementitious mortar to rule out any detrimental effects on mechanical properties. These strains showed maximum of 36% increase in compressive strength and 96% increase in flexural strength. Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium and Planococcus genera have been reported as CaCO3 producers but isolated strains have not yet been investigated in conjunction with cementitious mortar. Moreover, species of Chryseomicrobium and Glutamicibacter were reported first time as calcifying strains.
Hunting practices of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) and predation by vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) as a potential route of rabies in the Brazilian Pantanal
Authors: Grotta‐Neto Francisco , Peres Pedro H. F. , Piovezan Ubiratan , Passos Fernando C. , Duarte José M. B.
Published: February 2021

Exotic species are known to cause an impact on native species and the environment through various ecological processes. Their impact on disease dynamics is not completely understood, but their relationship with the local fauna can favour the emergence of zoonoses. We reported records of predation of feral pigs (Sus scrofa) by common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland and detailed how the traditional hunting, which involves castration management and hunting dogs, can represent a risk to emergency of rabies virus. With 1.43% of attack probability recorded by camera traps, we highlight the potential role of this interaction in disseminating zoonosis, especially in a scenario where hunting management has been prioritised as a policy tool in the control of exotic species. We alerted for the danger of rabies onset. Moreover, we suggested that the ranchers avoid contact with the pigs' salivary secretions during hunting, to maintain up to date rabies vaccination on domestic animals, and pay attention to the clinical behaviours of rabies in their hunting dogs. Therefore, we must be aware of all the risks involved in interactions between humans and wildlife to reevaluate our practices and prevent viral outbreaks as we currently witness.