bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forest fire detection in aerial vehicle videos using a deep ensemble neural network model
Authors: Sarikaya Basturk Nurcan
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a deep ensemble neural network model for the detection of forest fires in aerial vehicle videos.

Design/methodology/approach

Presented deep ensemble models include four convolutional neural networks (CNNs): a faster region-based CNN (Faster R-CNN), a simple one-stage object detector (RetinaNet) and two different versions of the you only look once (Yolo) models. The presented method generates its output by fusing the outputs of these different deep learning (DL) models.

Findings

The presented fusing approach significantly improves the detection accuracy of fire incidents in the input data.

Research limitations/implications

The computational complexity of the proposed method which is based on combining four different DL models is relatively higher than that of using each of these models individually. On the other hand, however, the performance of the proposed approach is considerably higher than that of any of the four DL models.

Practical implications

The simulation results show that using an ensemble model is quite useful for the precise detection of forest fires in real time through aerial vehicle videos or images.

Social implications

By this method, forest fires can be detected more efficiently and precisely. Because forests are crucial breathing resources of the earth and a shelter for many living creatures, the social impact of the method can be considered to be very high.

Originality/value

This study fuses the outputs of different DL models into an ensemble model. Hence, the ensemble model provides more potent and beneficial results than any of the single models.
A novel approach for construction disputes causal inferences based on empirical data: a case-controlled method combined with Bradford Hill criteria
Authors: Wang Peipei , Fenn Peter , Wang Kun
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to devise a case-controlled method combined with Bradford Hill criteria for causal inference of contractual disputes in construction projects. It is a genuine attempt in a systematic method from research design to execution for causal issues where only observational data is available.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors located insufficient top management support as the putative pathogen of construction disputes based on a literature review, an interview and Delphi surveys. A questionnaire survey was then conducted to collect case-controlled data to ensure comparability, in which for each disputed project put in the experimental group, the authors sought for a dispute-free project of similar characteristics. The incidence rates of insufficient top management support in the experimental and control groups were then examined by Bradford Hill criteria as an alternative to the test of intervention effect.

Findings

The association of insufficient top management support and construction disputes was tested to conform with the Bradford Hill criteria with case-controlled data where applicable and logical deduction where statistical tests were not applicable. With a clear, positive, reasonable and statistically significant association, while excluding methodological biases, confounding and chance, the authors reached a causal verdict of insufficient top management support causing contractual disputes.

Originality/value

This paper supports the validity of applying a case-controlled method combined with Bradford Hill criteria in investigating causal issues in project management, especially the verdict of causal inference based on empirical data. In addition, the located root cause of contractual disputes could inform project management personnel with reasoned strategies for dispute avoidance.
The impact of discriminatory pricing based on customer risk: an empirical investigation using indirect lending through retail networks
Authors: Amaral Christopher , Kolsarici Ceren , Nediak Mikhail
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the profit implications of analytics-driven centralized discriminatory pricing at the headquarter level compared with sales force price delegation in the purchase of an aftermarket good through an indirect retail channel with symmetric information.

Design/methodology/approach

Using individual-level loan application and approval data from a North American financial institution and segment-level customer risk as the price discrimination criterion for the firm, the authors develop a three-stage model that accounts for the salesperson’s price decision within the limits of the latitude provided by the firm; the firm’s decision to approve or not approve a sales application; and the customer’s decision to accept or reject a sales offer conditional on the firm’s approval. Next, the authors compare the profitability of this sales force price delegation model to that of a segment-level centralized pricing model where agent incentives and consumer prices are simultaneously optimized using a quasi-Newton nonlinear optimization algorithm (i.e. Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno algorithm).

Findings

The results suggest that implementation of analytics-driven centralized discriminatory pricing and optimal sales force incentives leads to double-digit lifts in firm profits. Moreover, the authors find that the high-risk customer segment is less price-sensitive and firms, upon leveraging this segment’s willingness to pay, not only improve their bottom-line but also allow these marginalized customers with traditionally low approval rates access to loans. This points out the important customer welfare implications of the findings.

Originality/value

Substantively, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to empirically investigate the profitability of analytics-driven segment-level (i.e. discriminatory) centralized pricing compared with sales force price delegation in indirect retail channels (i.e. where agents are external to the firm and have access to competitor products), taking into account the decisions of the three key stakeholders of the process, namely, the consumer, the salesperson and the firm and simultaneously optimizing sales commission and centralized consumer price.
BIM-based simulation tools for occupant evacuation: a scoping review
Authors: Akbar Abdullah Ehtesham , Hassanain Mohammad A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to present a systematic review of the published literature on building information model (BIM)-based simulation tools used for occupant evacuation over the past 23 years.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted on BIM-based simulation tools used for occupant evacuation over the past 23 years. The search identified a total of 37 relevant papers, which were reviewed. The paper describes the use of BIM-based simulation tools over the years and identifies the research gaps.

Findings

BIM-based simulation tools have undergone progressive development, with constant improvements through the integration of advanced tools and collection of more data. These tools can assist in identifying faults in the building design. The outcomes of the simulation were not entirely accurate, as real-life scenarios vary depending on the various building types and the behavior of their occupants.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature through reviewing the capabilities of BIM-based simulation tools and the different simulation methods along with their limitations.

Practical implications

Fire safety engineers and architects can comprehend the utilization of BIM-based simulation tools to enhance the fire evacuation in light of their shortcomings and flaws.

Originality/value

BIM-based simulation tools are becoming more advanced and widely used. There has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the capabilities of the integration of BIM tools and simulation modeling for occupant evacuation. This study guides researchers on the capabilities and efficiencies of integrated solutions for occupant evacuations and their inherent shortcomings. The study identifies future research areas in BIM-based tools for occupant evacuation.
A pragmatic perspective on social entrepreneurial opportunities
Authors: Zettel Lauren , Garrett Robert
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Scholars have applied a number of theoretical perspectives to enhance understanding of social entrepreneurial opportunities, and have most recently turned to the lens of critical realism. Although this metatheoretical perspective overcomes some problems with previous views and helps to identify the essence of a construct, the level of abstraction required by this approach leaves unanswered questions related to how social entrepreneurs leverage opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to create a framework to describe social entrepreneurial opportunities in a way that facilitates action and decision-making by social entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Through adapting Davidsson's (2015) deconstruction of the opportunity construct and using it to inform the pragmatist view of entrepreneurs as theory-testing scientists, this paper develops a framework for understanding social entrepreneurial opportunities. The paper explores the idea that social opportunities are composed of external enablers, a new social venture idea, and social opportunity confidence, and integrates the existing literature on social opportunities into this framework.

Findings

Using the framework developed, the authors advance a template of questions, hypotheses and quasi-experimental means that social entrepreneurs can use to determine how to move forward in social opportunity actualization. The authors also expand three categories of research questions that scholars may explore to extend the practical and theoretical understanding of social opportunities.

Originality/value

This work is among the first to adopt the pragmatist lens to elucidate social opportunities in a practical way. It takes an important first step in offering a means for social entrepreneurs to investigate when or where the requisite components of a social entrepreneurial opportunity may exist. Furthermore, it advances the pragmatist perspective of social opportunities by using Davidsson's model to explain the components of theories about what may or may not be a social opportunity.
Knowledge sharing enablers, processes, and innovation capability in a telecommunications company in an emerging market economy: a mixed-methods case study approach
Authors: Al-Shammari Minwir , Almulla Shaikha M.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the interaction among individual factors (enjoyment in helping others and knowledge self-efficacy), organizational factors (top management support and organizational rewards) and the use of information and communication technology factors as enablers of knowledge-sharing (KS) processes (knowledge donating and knowledge collecting) and firm innovation capability (IC) in a telecommunications company in an emerging market economy, namely, Bahrain.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed-methods case study approach. It used answers from 77 employees’ questionnaires and applied the partial least squares structural equation modeling method to test the research model. Several in-depth semidirective interviews were conducted with managers from different levels, functions and educational qualifications to address additional social, cultural, structural and strategic issues related to KS and IC.

Findings

The results indicated that enjoyment of helping others correlates with knowledge collection. Top management support had a substantial connection with knowledge donation, which had a robust positive relationship with firm IC. The interviews showed that moving toward a customer-centric strategy, policies, procedures and KS culture in a big organization with many business silos required tremendous effort and pain. People’s ability, willingness and readiness to share knowledge heavily depend on the corporate culture. Employee resistance to change posed a significant challenge.

Originality/value

Researchers have rarely used a case study or a mixed-methods case study approach to explore KS and IC. This study aims to fill this gap using a mixed-methods approach to examine KS enablers, processes and IC in a developing country’s social and cultural context, Bahrain. The work brings together new ways of looking at things and figuring out what they mean to understand knowledge transfer and IC in a telecommunications company. The company must incur changes and additions to its KS mechanisms to inspire innovation.
Intellectual capital and performance of listed firms during the global financial crisis: the effects of legal origin
Authors: Akgün Ali İhsan , Türkoğlu Serap Pelin
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to reveal to what extent successful European listed firms depend on their intellectual capital investment in achieving business success during the global financial crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used value added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) methodology to measure the effect of intellectual capital on financial performance of business, which consist of 683 the sample listed firms. To examine the nexus between intellectual capital, legal origin and firm performance, estimated panel test and ordinary least squares regression model is used to data obtained from a sample of European countries.

Findings

The finding of this study suggests that there exists a positive relationship between intellectual capital and firm performance with return on assets (ROA) before the financial crisis, while firm performance with return on equity did not contribute to intellectual capital before and after the crisis period. Additionally, common law countries have a positive and statistically significant impact on firm performance with ROA for the before-crisis period, while code law countries have positively significant effect with VAIC on ROA.

Practical implications

The VAIC method has played a critical role in the management decision-making process to integrate the intellectual capital in the financial crisis period.

Originality/value

This study examines intellectual capital components such as human capital, structural capital and process capital efficiencies and firm performance in the legal origin context. The empirical evidence shows that there are significant impacts of legal origin on the nexus between intellectual capital and performance of listed firms during the global financial crisis.
Study on online payments and e-commerce with SOR model
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Singh Tilottama , Mohanty Sachi Nandan , Goel Richa , Gupta Deepak , Alharbi Meshal , Khanna Rupa
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The main purpose of this paper is to explain the preferences of consumers for using online payment services. This paper applies a unified theory model named stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory for exploration.

Design/methodology/approach

This is quantitative research based on the structural equation modelling method. The stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) theory was applied, whereby the author conducted an online survey through a structured questionnaire with users of mobile payment services. These consumers are using online payments for online shopping purposes. The survey was conducted all over India. The sample size is 355.

Findings

The study found that utilitarian, hedonic value and salesperson behaviour impact consumers satisfaction and behaviour while using online payment services. The study found that there is a significant direct relationship between consumer satisfaction and consumer behaviour. This study examines how financial mobile services contribute to e-commerce implementation, especially in the context of India.

Practical implications

This study incorporates a variety of factors, including the behaviour of salespeople, which affect consumer happiness, satisfaction and behaviour intention. This study reveals a direct relationship between consumer satisfaction and behavioural intention. Accordingly, the use of mobile banking and digital financial services has a positive impact on customer satisfaction. This study suggested that awareness about e-commerce services and mobile financial services is an important aspect of consumers satisfaction. Effective e-commerce services and mobile financial services have a positive impact on consumer behaviour.

Originality/value

This is a comprehensive model used for online payment services and directly related to emerging economies like India. This study examines the consumer willingness of the digital market in relation to online payment services. This study contributes to the relevant literature by simultaneously examining the role of e-commerce platform characteristics and online consumer psychology in influencing behavioural intention. Numerous factors have been revealed by this investigation.
IFRS 9, earnings management and capital management by European banks
Authors: Norouzpour Mohammadmahdi , Nikulin Egor , Downing Jeff
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare earnings management (EM) and capital management (CM) by European banks before and after the adoption of IFRS 9. After IFRS 9, banks have more discretion in recognizing loan-loss provisions than before IFRS 9. Hence, after IFRS 9, banks could use EM and CM to a greater extent.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes a sample of European banks and uses regression analysis. First, this paper examines whether EM and CM changed after IFRS 9 was adopted. Next, this study examines whether any changes in EM and CM under IFRS 9 depend on regulatory quality (RQ) in the country where banks are located.

Findings

This paper has three results. First, after IFRS 9, EM increased relative to before IFRS 9. Second, after IFRS 9, CM increased relative to before IFRS 9. Third, this increase in EM was only for banks in countries with low RQ – in countries with high RQ, this study finds no change in EM after IFRS 9. Altogether, these results suggest that, first, EM and CM increased after IFRS 9 and, second, this increase in EM depended on the RQ of a bank’s country.

Originality/value

This paper identifies how the adoption of IFRS 9 affected EM and CM by European banks. The main contribution of this paper is that it examines the impact of the adoption of IFRS 9 on EM and CM by European banks using data from banks’ actual financial statements.
Integrating trust with extended UTAUT model: a study on Islamic banking customers’ m-banking adoption in the Maldives
Authors: Parayil Iqbal Ubais , Jose Sobhith Mathew , Tahir Muhammad
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to focus on delineating the drivers of intention to adopt mobile banking (m-banking) and its actual use among Islamic banking customers by extending the UTAUT2 model with the trust factor. The study also examined the moderating roles of age, gender and experience in the model.

Design/methodology/approach

An explanatory research design was used, and an online survey was conducted to collect responses from Islamic banking customers. A total of 329 completed responses were used to analyze the data. The partial least squares method was used for data analysis, and a multi-group analysis was applied for moderation-related analysis.

Findings

Trust positively and significantly influences the behavioral intention to adopt m-banking among Islamic banking customers. In addition, social influence, effort expectancy, hedonic motivation and habits significantly influence behavioral intentions among Islamic banking customers.

Originality/value

This study provides an extended UTAUT2 model that has never been tested in the context of Islamic m-banking. In addition, this study is expected to be the first scholarly research on Islamic banking in the Maldives.
Too real? The conflicting roles of adaptation and authenticity in intercultural service encounters
Authors: Tariq Ayesha , Lorenz Melanie P. , Thompson W. Frank
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Intercultural service encounters (ICSEs) often require adaptation to the customer’s culture, thereby risking a reduction in the cultural authenticity of the experience. This study aims to research the optimum level of adaptation of an ICSE needed to achieve desired authenticity perceptions for positive consumer outcomes. The study also identifies the influence of generational cohorts and cultural competencies on developing such positive consumer outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses two scenario-based experiments depicting low, moderate and high levels of adaptation to an ICSE.

Findings

Consumers prefer a cultural experience with a moderate level of adaptation to achieve the highest level of satisfaction and loyalty intentions. Perceived authenticity mediates the effect of adaptation on outcomes, with the generational stage (Study 1) and cultural competencies (Study 2) further influencing the relationship.

Originality/value

ICSEs and consumers’ desire for such cultural experiences are increasingly becoming a part of everyday consumption. Guided by social judgment theory, this study explores how two value-adding, yet conflicting tenants of successful ICSEs, cultural authenticity and adaptation, influence positive consumer outcomes.
Servant leadership measurement: a comparison of five instruments in China
Authors: van Dierendonck Dirk , Xiu Lin , Lv Feng
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This article provides deeper insights into the measurement of servant leadership within the Chinese culture. Servant leadership is viewed as a responsible leadership style that is beneficial to organizations by awaking, engaging and developing employees and working from a sense of service and stewardship for the world with a long-term perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper consists of a survey study that examines the relationships between 5 servant leadership measures translated into Chinese and outcome measures using a sample of 463 participants.

Findings

The authors' results show that the five measures are very comparable. Although some differences exist, the combined conclusions from internal consistency, intercorrelations and correlations to outcome variables and factor analysis confirmed their overall commonality. A core group of 11 items is introduced as a potential scale to represent the underlying variance of all 55 items.

Originality/value

This study validates how the five instruments are grounded in the core aspects of servant leadership described by Robert Greenleaf, the service aspect of choosing to become a leader and the importance for a leader to give attention to the followers' personal growth, meaningful work and well-being.
The effect of digital transformation on intrapreneurship in real economy enterprises: a labor input perspective
Authors: Cheng Yiran , Zhou Xiaorui , Li Yongjian
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Digital transformation is a confidence booster in intrapreneurship, but few have examined its impact on intrapreneurship. Further, quantitative analyses exploring the impact of Chinese enterprises' digital transformation on intrapreneurship at the micro-level are rare. Most enterprises do not have the dividend for digital transformation, and few enterprises have successfully achieved digital transformation through intrapreneurship, internal management re-engineering and technological innovation. This study investigates the effect of digital transformation on intrapreneurship in Chinese real economy enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The study develops and tests a theoretical model that digital transformation impacts intrapreneurship by promoting working capital turnover and furtherly influencing labor input. Panel data of 1,638 Chinese-listed companies between 2007 and 2020 were used to complete the empirical test.

Findings

Digital transformation impacted labor input, with an inverted-U shaped relationship between the two, and labor input significantly stimulated intrapreneurship. This effect promoted labor input's impact on working capital. Chinese real economy enterprises generally increase labor investment to promote intrapreneurship. Heterogeneity analysis revealed that enterprises' asset scale and ownership attributes uniformly affected labor input.

Originality/value

This study provided empirical evidence of the promotional effect of real economy enterprises' digital transformation on intrapreneurship. Further, it advanced the literature by examining this relationship at the micro-level. Moreover, the data sample was long-term and included most industries, thus providing representative results with practical implications.
An micro-level study on the cracking performance of encapsulation-based self-healing resin mineral composites under dynamic load based on XFEM
Authors: Huang Hua , Fan Yaqiong , Huang Huiyang , Guo Runlan
Published: June 2023

Purpose

As an efficient self-healing intelligent material, the encapsulation-based self-healing resin mineral composite (SHC) has a broad application prospect.

Design/methodology/approach

Aiming at the cracking performance of SHC, the dynamic load condition is employed to replace the traditional static load condition, the initial damage of the material is considered and the triggered cracking process and influencing factors of SHC are analyzed based on the extended finite element method (XFEM). In addition, the mechanism of matrix cracking and microcapsule triggered cracking process is explained from the microscopic point of view, and the cracking performance conditions of SHC are studied. On this basis, the response surface regression analysis method is used to obtain a second-order polynomial model of the microcapsule crack initiation stress, the interface bonding strength and the matching relationship between elastic modulus. Therefore, the model could be used to predict the cracking performance parameters of the microcapsule.

Findings

The interfacial bonding strength has an essential effect on the triggered cracking of the microcapsule. In order to ensure that the microcapsule can be triggered cracking normally, the design strength should meet the following relationship, that is crack initiation stress of microcapsule wall < crack initiation stress of matrix < interface bonding strength. Moreover, the matching relationship between elastic modulus has a significant influence on the triggered cracking of the microcapsule.

Originality/value

The results provide a theoretical basis for further oriented designing of the cracking performance of microcapsules.
Factors influencing the adoption of cashless transactions: toward a unified view
Authors: Raj L. Vimal , Amilan S. , Aparna K.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to construct an appropriate framework by incorporating essential components from the most renowned theories to investigate the variables that impact behavioural intentions towards embracing cashless transactions (CLT).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted to ascertain the users’ intention to adopt CLT in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Further, this study used a “partial least squares-based structural equation modelling” technique to analyse the relationships between latent factors.

Findings

The results of the proposed model revealed that 11 independent variables together explain the intention to use CLT with a 60.5% explanatory power. Further, perceived usefulness is the most influential factor in predicting users’ willingness to adopt CLT, followed by social influence, perceived costs, attitude, trust and device barriers. Finally, the findings of moderator effects indicate that income and experience interact positively and strongly with behavioural intention to adopt CLT. It indicates that high-income, experienced users are more likely to convert their intentions into actions.

Originality/value

This study integrated critical elements from the major theories, such as Theory of Reasoned Action, Technology Acceptance Model, Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model and UTAUT2, to investigate the adoption of CLT. As a result, 11 crucial factors were identified from the existing literature that impacts CLT adoption without overlapping. Consequently, the model presented in this study provides a more profound understanding than previous research regarding why individuals adopt CLT systems. Accordingly, these results could aid policymakers in addressing people’s concerns and facilitating a seamless transition to a cashless society.
Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) in construction: a systematic review
Authors: Akindele Oluwaseun , Ajayi Saheed , Oyegoke Adekunle S. , Alaka Hafiz A. , Omotayo Temitope
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Notwithstanding the Geographical Information System (GIS) being a fast-emerging green area of a digital revolution, the available studies focus on different subject areas of application in the construction industry, with no study that clarifies its knowledge strands. Hence, this systematic review analyses GIS core area of application, its system integration patterns, challenges and future directions in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review approach was employed, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. A total of 60 articles published between 2011 and 2022 were identified, thoroughly reviewed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The analysis revealed spatial planning and design, construction-task tracking, defect detection and safety monitoring as its four main application-based areas. The findings showed that the adoption of GIS technology is rapidly expanding and being utilised more in building projects to visual-track construction activities. The review discovered an integrated pattern involving data flow from a device and window-form application to GIS, the pathways to data exchange between platforms to platforms, where ArcGIS is the most used software. Furthermore, the study highlighted the lack of interoperability between heterogeneous systems as the crux impediment to adopting GIS in the built environment.

Originality/value

The research provides a deep insight into possible areas where GIS is adopted in the construction industry, identifying areas of extensive and limited application coverage over a decade. Besides, it demystifies possible pathways for future integration opportunities of GIS with other emerging technologies within the construction industry.
Extend that “job honeymoon:” acknowledging it is hard to start a job can help
Authors: Franklin Stephanie , Binder-Matsuo Heidi , Gopal Shuba
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to assess whether a simple intervention could sustain new hires’ high engagement levels beyond the first six months. This case study illustrates how a simple intervention can extend the “job honeymoon“ – a brief period of high engagement – up to a year post hire.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reports the results of a randomized, controlled study in one organization using a “wise intervention,” a method derived from social science research in educational settings.

Findings

This case study illustrates that it is possible to extend the job honeymoon up to a year post-hire. Acknowledging to new hires that transitions are challenging produced a statistically significantly higher sense of belonging and higher employee satisfaction up to 9+ months post-hire.

Research limitations/implications

This work was inspired by research from Gregory M. Walton, and it illustrates the potential value for application in the workplace. However, its generalizability to all organizations will require further study.

Practical implications

This work is most relevant for human resources leaders and managers who want to ensure new hires are well supported. This study found that acknowledging the difficulty of a transition increases the engagement of new team members substantially and likely enhances productivity and team effectiveness for months to come.

Originality/value

The highly counterintuitive but critically important idea of this study is that people need reassurance that transitions might feel hard but are a shared experience. Providing that reassurance is a simple, easy-to-apply approach to support the newest members of a team or organization and sustain their engagement for months to come.
Associations and indirect effects between LEGO® construction and mathematics performance
Authors: McDougal Emily , Silverstein Priya , Treleaven Oscar , Jerrom Lewis , Gilligan‐Lee Katie A. , Gilmore Camilla , Farran Emily K.
Published: June 2023

There is a known association between LEGO® construction ability and mathematics achievement, yet the mechanisms which drive this association are largely unknown. This study investigated the spatial mechanisms underlying this association, and whether this differs for concrete versus digital construction. Between January 2020 and July 2021, children aged 7–9 years (N = 358, 189 female, ethnicity not recorded) completed spatial and mathematics tasks, and either a concrete or digital Lego construction task. Mediation analyses examining direct and indirect pathways (through spatial skills) between Lego construction ability and mathematics explained 8.4% to 26.6% of variance in mathematics scores. Exploratory moderated mediation analyses revealed that only the indirect path through mental rotation differed between Lego conditions. Findings are discussed in relation to theories of spatial‐numerical associations and the potential of Lego training for mathematics improvement.
Chaucer's gender‐oriented philosophy in The Canterbury Tales
Authors: Zuraikat Malek J.
Published: June 2023

The manipulation of gender in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is utterly opaque. While “The Knight's Tale” potentially entices readers to think that Chaucer defines a woman regarding her relationship to man, “The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale” suggests that the poet views a woman as an independent figure whose identity has nothing to do with man. This apparently controversial portrait of gender causes some critics to read Chaucer as a pro‐woman individual; simultaneously, it inspires other critics to view the poet as anti‐feminist. Such debate may cause readers to misjudge Chaucer's multifaceted approach towards gender as well as other hypersensitive topics, thus adding to the atmosphere of complexity and lack of clarity that dominates The Tales. Accordingly, this paper revisits Chaucer's gender‐oriented philosophy in The Tales sieving what is conjectured by the poem’s critics from what is said by the poet himself regarding gender. The paper concludes that Chaucer has never had the choice to overtly be or not to be the friend of woman but has always adopted a fence‐sitting strategy concerning the question of gender due to his sociopolitical status. The paper confirms that Chaucer's viewpoint of women is neither feminist nor anti‐feminist but a realistic amalgamation that mirrors the opaque gender culture of England in the fourteenth century.
Toward an immunological turn in nineteenth‐century studies
Authors: Lau Travis Chi Wing
Published: June 2023

This essay surveys the evolution of scholarship that embodies what (Anderson and Mackay [2014], Intolerant bodies: A short history of autoimmunity. Johns Hopkins University Press) have called the “immunological turn,” an interdisciplinary critical movement that takes immunity and vaccination as its primary critical objects. While interest in the relationship between immunology as a field in the life sciences and immunity as a cultural discourse has existed since the 1980s and 1990s, this piece traces the development of this thinking over time across the fields of political theory, anthropology, sociology, the history and philosophy of science, science and technology studies, as well as literary and rhetoric studies, that together articulate and critique the centrality of immunity to Western society. This article considers how the immunological turn models an approach to the nineteenth century that draws together the humanities and the sciences in both carefully historicized and deeply theoretical ways. This survey of the field concludes with speculations on new directions for the immunological turn that interdisciplinary scholars in the nineteenth century might take up to intervene in ongoing debates over vaccine hesitancy and refusal.
Conservative Catholicism versus social Catholicism? Contrasting patterns in the political engagement of highly religious young Catholics in France and Italy
Authors: Bolzonar Fabio
Published: June 2023

Current academic literature has proposed contrasting interpretations of the developments of youth religiosity. While some scholars have claimed increasing secularization of younger generations, others have noted the growing importance of religious values in young people's lives. To go beyond this debate, this article explores the restructuring of youth religiosity in Western European countries, characterized by the resilience of religion in secularized societies. With this purpose in mind, the article investigates the under‐researched topic of the political activism of highly religious young Catholics and compares the political engagement of two recently established youth organizations: Sens Commun (SC) (rebranded Mouvement Conservateur, MC) in France and the Comunità di Connessioni (CdC) in Italy. Although both SC and CdC were founded by young Catholics, their engagement has followed diverging trajectories. While SC/MC's ideas and politics bear the imprint of conservative Catholicism, CdC's initiatives and values are inspired by social Catholicism. This article claims that the diverging trajectories of SC/MC and CdC are influenced by the long‐lasting socio‐historical factors that regulated the relations between religion, politics and civil society and the emerging post‐secular reconfiguration that can open the way for a renewal of the forms of political engagement of young Catholics.
Automated decision‐making: Toward a people‐centred approach
Authors: Lomborg Stine , Kaun Anne , Scott Hansen Sne
Published: June 2023

Recently, automated decision‐making (ADM) has been increasingly introduced in for example, the public sector potentially ensuring efficiency and more just decision‐making. The increasing use of ADM has been reflected by a growing interest by scholarly research. While initially mainly researchers within law and computer sciences engaged with ADM, there has also been a growing engagement by social science and humanities‐oriented researchers. This article traces the emergence and evolution of ADM research beyond computer sciences and engineering with a specific focus on social sciences and humanities by identifying central concerns and methods while outlining a stable baseline for future research. Based on a systematic mapping of publications, we outline the contours of ADM as an area of research engaging with an emerging empirical phenomenon. Drawing on findings from the mapping, we discuss ways ahead for ADM research as part of the subfield of digital sociology and suggest that sociological media and communication studies have a crucial role to play in developing future research avenues. Drawing on advances made in audience research, we suggest a radically contextualized and people‐centered approach to ADM. Such an approach would help to develop ADM and ground it alongside people's divergent capabilities and contextual arrangements.
Non‐experts’ participation in processes of scientific knowledge creation: The case of Citizen Science
Authors: Giardullo Paolo
Published: June 2023

Public participation in science and technology, is currently being encouraged in order to fulfil the calls for a more engaging, transparent, and ethical way of governing technoscientific innovation. Several institutional documents argue for the need to enrol non‐scientists into research programs; funding schemes devoted to public engagement seem to be paving the way for new baselines for knowledge creation and innovation paths that include the contributions of citizens. Citizen Science stands out as an opportune movement to lead non‐scientists to contribute to scientific research projects and technological innovation, and it has given rise to a broad debate intersecting many sociological aspects linked to participation and community empowerment. However, the participation of non‐scientists in data collection, analysis, and interpretation is not totally new; yet it has not had the same value across time, nor has it always been considered desirable. Indeed, volunteers' engagement and amateurs' contributions have been regulated differently compared to the current rhetoric of participation. This paper gives an account of the evolution of participation of non‐experts through the lens of Science and Technology Studies, investigating its desirability, how it is governed, and whether it matches the promises of Citizen Science practitioners.
Growth-Rate Prediction for Low-Speed Variable-Density Spatially Developing Turbulent Planar Shear Layers: Status and Prospects
Authors: Kerstein Alan R.
Published: June 2023

Progress in analysis of the growth rate of low-speed variable-density spatially developing turbulent planar shear layers is examined from the viewpoint of global trends across the relevant parameter space. Several approaches have been shown to agree with available measurements. Here, it is noted that comparable agreement is also obtained using a simple extension of the canonical Kelvin–Helmholtz linear stability theory. Beyond the range of the experimentally explored parameter space, available predictions disagree qualitatively as well as quantitatively. To a degree that is not generally recognized, this indicates that the governing parameter dependences and associated phenomenology are open questions. Further investigation needed to address these questions is discussed.
Getting the Most Out of Your Genome-Wide Association Study Using Polygenic Risk Scores
Authors: Maggioncalda Emily , Snitkin Evan
Published: June 2023

Determining the risk of a phenotypic outcome is a complex balance of variants “for” or “against” the phenotype, which in the context of human genetic diseases have been summarized using polygenic risk scores. In a previously published article (K. T. Hellmann, L. Challagundla, B. M. Gray, D. A. Robinson, J Clin Microbiol 61:e01412-22, 2023,
https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.01412-22
), Hellmann and colleagues demonstrate how the use of a bacterial polygenic risk score to predict
S. epidermidis
infection versus colonization in neonates led to both increases in predictive accuracy and improved generalizability to external data.
Hepatitis C Virus Disrupts Annexin 5-Mediated Occludin Integrity through Downregulation of Protein Kinase Cα (PKCα) and PKCη Expression, Thereby Promoting Viral Propagation
Authors: Abe Takayuki , Marutani Yuki , Deng Lin , Matsui Chieko , Fukasawa Masayoshi , Suzuki Ryosuke , Wakita Takaji , Matsuura Yoshiharu , Shoji Ikuo
Published: June 2023

Host cells have evolved host defense machinery to restrict viral infection. However, viruses have evolved counteracting strategies to achieve their infection.
Emergence of Cutibacterium avidum with
erm
(X) on a Mobile Genetic Element Identical to That of Cutibacterium acnes
Authors: Koizumi Juri , Nakase Keisuke , Nakaminami Hidemasa
Published: June 2023

We determined that the
Cutibacterium avidum
isolate TP-CV302, from a patient with acne vulgaris in Japan, had the macrolide-clindamycin resistance factor
erm
(X) located on Tn
5432
. Although this mobile genetic element (MGE) is well recognized in
Cutibacterium acnes
, it has not been found in
Cutibacterium avidum
.
Complete Genome Sequence of Coprobacter fastidiosus JCM 33896
T
Authors: Koike Kazuyoshi , Tourlousse Dieter M. , Hamajima Mayu , Sekiguchi Yuji
Published: June 2023

We generated a complete genome sequence of
Coprobacter fastidiosus
JCM 33896
T
by nanopore sequencing. The genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 3,444,538 bp with a G+C content of 38.4%. Annotation predicted 15 rRNA genes, 67 tRNA genes and 2,662 protein-coding sequences.
Draft Genome Sequence of Thermolongibacillus altinsuensis Strain B1-1, a Novel Hydrogenogenic CO Oxidizer Isolated from Sediment from Lake Biwa in Japan
Authors: Suzuki Jota , Imaura Yoshinari , Nishida Shiho , Kamikawa Ryoma , Yoshida Takashi
Published: June 2023

A facultative anaerobic, thermophilic, hydrogenogenic CO-oxidizing bacterial strain, B1-1, was isolated from a sediment sample from Lake Biwa, a freshwater lake in Japan. B1-1, which is a novel strain of
Thermolongibacillus altinsuensis
, is capable of hydrogenogenic CO oxidation. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of B1-1 (2.92 Mbp, with a GC content of 41.3%).
Core and auxiliary functions of one-carbon metabolism in
Pseudomonas putida
exposed by a systems-level analysis of transcriptional and physiological responses
Authors: Turlin Justine , Puiggené Òscar , Donati Stefano , Wirth Nicolas T. , Nikel Pablo I.
Published: June 2023

The soil bacterium
Pseudomonas putida
is a robust biomanufacturing host that assimilates a broad range of substrates while efficiently coping with adverse environmental conditions.
P. putida
is equipped with functions related to one-carbon (C1) compounds (e.g. methanol, formaldehyde, and formate) oxidation—yet pathways to assimilate these carbon sources are largely absent. In this work, we adopted a systems-level approach to study the genetic and molecular basis of C1 metabolism in
P. putida
. RNA sequencing identified two oxidoreductases, encoded by
PP_0256
and
PP_4596
, transcriptionally active in the presence of formate. Quantitative physiology of deletion mutants revealed growth defects at high formate concentrations, pointing to an important role of these oxidoreductases in C1 tolerance. Moreover, we describe a concerted detoxification process for methanol and formaldehyde, the C1 intermediates upstream formate. Alcohol oxidation to highly-reactive formaldehyde by PedEH and other broad-substrate-range dehydrogenases underpinned the (apparent) suboptimal methanol tolerance of
P. putida
. Formaldehyde was mostly processed by a glutathione-dependent mechanism encoded in the
frmAC
operon, and thiol-independent FdhAB and AldB-II overtook detoxification at high aldehyde concentrations. Deletion strains were constructed and characterized towards unveiling these biochemical mechanisms, underscoring the worth of
P. putida
for emergent biotechnological applications—e.g. engineering synthetic formatotrophy and methylotrophy.

IMPORTANCE

C1 substrates continue to attract interest in biotechnology, as their use is both cost-effective and ultimately expected to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. However, our current understanding of bacterial C1 metabolism remains relatively limited in species that cannot grow on (i.e., assimilate) these substrates.
Pseudomonas putida
, a model Gram-negative environmental bacterium, constitutes a prime example of this sort. The biochemical pathways active in response to methanol, formaldehyde, and formate have been largely overlooked—although the ability of
P. putida
to process C1 molecules has been previously alluded to in the literature. By using a systems-level strategy, this study bridges such knowledge gap through the identification and characterization of mechanisms underlying methanol, formaldehyde, and formate detoxification—including hitherto unknown enzymes that act on these substrates. The results reported herein both expand our understanding of microbial metabolism and lay a solid foundation for engineering efforts toward valorizing C1 feedstocks.
Identification of Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii in the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Davidovich Nadav , Makhon Andrei , Zizelski Valenci Gal , Dveyrin Zeev , Yahav Tal , Pretto Tobia , Tchernov Dan , Morick Danny
Published: June 2023

Mycobacterium pseudoshottsii
was first detected in 1997 in the USA, infecting wild striped bass (
Morone saxatilis
). Since then, several reports from different countries worldwide have shown its capacity to become established in new regions as well as its pathogenicity to saltwater and euryhaline finfish of different genera.