bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A reflection of greenwashing practices in the hospitality industry: a scoping review
Authors: Majeed Salman , Kim Woo Gon
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This review aims to put forth a conceptual understanding of greenwashing. It also identifies the antecedents and consequences of customer perceptions of greenwashing in the hospitality industry in the recent context, which has remained superficial and fragmented in previous studies.

Design/methodology/approach

Published literature between the years 2000 and 2022 was examined, following the scoping review approach. After screening out irrelevant and duplicate literature, a total of 54 published literature items were considered.

Findings

Despite a profound understanding of customer perceptions of greenwashing, the findings show that the majority of customer perceptions of greenwashing are determined by the green efforts of hotel operators, through means such as green knowledge sharing, green marketing, the disclosure of green information, resource conservation claims and environmental certification. Additionally, customer perceptions of greenwashing determine a variety of customer green behaviors where customer green attitude plays an intervening role.

Practical implications

A benefit of the proposed conceptual model for hospitality stakeholders is that it aids in understanding customer suspicion regarding the legitimacy of hotel green practices. The conceptual model of this review, and a 2 × 3 matrix on hotel environmental performance and communication, provides a theoretical lens for scholars and practitioners in the hospitality industry to develop effective green strategies and practices, reducing customer perceptions of greenwashing while positively influencing customer green behavior. This review presents a launching platform from which research on greenwashing in the hospitality industry can skyrocket.

Originality/value

In previous studies, the conceptual understanding of greenwashing in hospitality has remained inconsistent, shallow and mixed. This review identifies the different and previously deeply underexplored antecedents and consequences of customer perceptions of greenwashing and presents them in a conceptual model.
An assessment of the implications of disruptive technologies on the performance of energy infrastructure projects in Ghana
Authors: Seidu Sakibu , Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Kukah Augustine Senanu Komla , Adesi Michael , Oduro-Ofori Eric , Edwards David John
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The demand for energy infrastructure projects has increased steadily over the last few decades and has come at a high cost. Disruptive technologies (DTs) have the inherent capability to affect the performance of energy infrastructure projects. Therefore, this research aims to explore the implications of DTs on the performance of energy infrastructure projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a positivist philosophical position. A quantitative strategy and deductive approach (based on a survey design) guided this study. Sixty-six respondents participated in the study. The study’s population comprised of experts in energy infrastructure projects who possessed a high level of industrial experience including top- and middle-level management of power generation companies. Cochran’s formula was used to select a sufficient sample for the study. Linear regression, one sample test and Cronbach’s alpha were the analytical tools adopted.

Findings

This study established that there is an 18.4% increase in the performance of energy infrastructure projects in Ghana when DTs are applied. In order of importance, DTs improve speed of operations in energy projects; reduce operating cost and enhance efficiency of energy projects; drive sustainable economic development; enhance security in energy projects; and improve environmental sustainability of projects. The study also revealed that e-commerce technologies, renewable energy technologies, three-dimensional printing, bar code technology, photogrammetry, global positioning systems, geographic information systems and nanotechnologies were the topmost ranked DTs with the most impact on the performance of energy infrastructure projects.

Originality/value

This is a novel investigation on the implications of DTs on the performance of Ghanaian energy infrastructure projects. This study’s practical implication is evident in both policy and practice. Energy sector policymakers should endeavour to adopt DTs in their operations to enhance sustainability and performance.
Methodological considerations in collaborative processes: a case of ethnographic action research
Authors: Øien Turid Borgestrand
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper explores the role and implications of action research (AR) in collaboration and knowledge production between academia and health practices, in a project on lighting and low-vision rehabilitation.

Design/methodology/approach

This ethnographic inquiry has explored the methodological considerations and actions taken in a project collaboration using a framework of co-productive research approaches and the science- and technology-inspired concept of staging.

Findings

Three trajectories of inquiry, a roadmap, a theoretical model and a conceptual drawing, are shown to be important elements in the translation, operationalisation and dissemination of knowledge. Beyond creating an extended network, their trajectories reveal a fine-meshed interrelation within the project group that enables spaces for joint reflection, improvisation and resonance. The elasticity of the AR approach supports several smaller iterative processes that expand the frame of innovation and prepare for implementation across the low-vision rehabilitation community.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides insights into the knowledge production of multiple ontologies and epistemologies that are relevant to both social sciences and health sciences.

Practical implications

The research unfolds otherwise hidden processes and implications of knowledge production.

Social implications

This research enables and informs future collaborations to navigate and manage multiple complex realities.

Originality/value

The study provides unique perspectives of the practice of research collaboration and knowledge production that are useful for both academics and practitioners in many professional contexts.
Bayesian analysis for multiple step-stress accelerated life test model under gamma lifetime distribution and type-II censoring
Authors: Moala Fernando Antonio , Chagas Karlla Delalibera
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The step-stress accelerated test is the most appropriate statistical method to obtain information about the reliability of new products faster than would be possible if the product was left to fail in normal use. This paper presents the multiple step-stress accelerated life test using type-II censored data and assuming a cumulative exposure model. The authors propose a Bayesian inference with the lifetimes of test item under gamma distribution. The choice of the loss function is an essential part in the Bayesian estimation problems. Therefore, the Bayesian estimators for the parameters are obtained based on different loss functions and a comparison with the usual maximum likelihood (MLE) approach is carried out. Finally, an example is presented to illustrate the proposed procedure in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

A Bayesian inference is performed and the parameter estimators are obtained under symmetric and asymmetric loss functions. A sensitivity analysis of these Bayes and MLE estimators are presented by Monte Carlo simulation to verify if the Bayesian analysis is performed better.

Findings

The authors demonstrated that Bayesian estimators give better results than MLE with respect to MSE and bias. The authors also consider three types of loss functions and they show that the most dominant estimator that had the smallest MSE and bias is the Bayesian under general entropy loss function followed closely by the Linex loss function. In this case, the use of a symmetric loss function as the SELF is inappropriate for the SSALT mainly with small data.

Originality/value

Most of papers proposed in the literature present the estimation of SSALT through the MLE. In this paper, the authors developed a Bayesian analysis for the SSALT and discuss the procedures to obtain the Bayes estimators under symmetric and asymmetric loss functions. The choice of the loss function is an essential part in the Bayesian estimation problems.
Knowledge management technologies and organizational performance: a meta-analytic study
Authors: Liu Gang , Kianto Aino , Tsui Eric
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This meta-analytic study tries to synthesize the mixed relationships between knowledge management technologies (KMT) and organizational performance as well as aims to explore the impacts of contextual elements, such as national culture, economy and industries, on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Findings on various subjects from 40 previous empirical studies were examined using meta-analysis.

Findings

It was found that KMT are positively related to overall organizational performance as well as financial and nonfinancial performance and that the relationship between KMT and financial performance is stronger in developing economies than in developed economies.

Practical implications

It helps practitioners better understand the role of KMT in organizational performance in various contexts and provides practical suggestions for KMT implementation.

Originality/value

As the first meta-analytic study to address the generalizability of KMT–organizational performance relationships, this paper offers an improved understanding of the benefits of KMT. It also expands knowledge about how contextual issues related to national culture, economies and industries affect KMT payoffs.
An investigation into factors affecting individuals' gifting intention in live streaming: a streamer–content perspective
Authors: Lu Benjiang , Wu Ding , Zhao Ruijing
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Gifting is a typical monetization strategy for live streaming platforms to motivate providers’ live content contribution. However, research regarding the factors that affect individuals’ gifting intention is still at an infant stage. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors that affect individuals’ gifting intention during live streaming.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build a model to uncover the factors that affect individuals’ gifting intention from a streamer–content perspective, and the hypotheses are largely validated by online survey data through structural equation model analysis.

Findings

Individuals’ perceived attractiveness of the streamers is significantly and positively associated with gifting intention for leisure-related live streaming, whereas individuals’ perceived similarity with the streamers is significantly and positively associated with gifting intention for leisure-related and non-leisure-related live streaming. For live content-related factors, the individuals’ perceived utilitarian value of content is significantly and positively associated with gifting intention for non-leisure-related live streaming, whereas the individuals’ perceived hedonic value is significantly positively associated with gifting intention for leisure-related live streaming. Perceived symbolic value is insignificantly associated with gifting intention for neither type of live streaming.

Originality/value

The research is an original work and significantly contributes to live streaming and PWYW literature, and the findings derived from this study can guide live streaming platforms to regulate individuals’ gifting intentions/behaviors better.
Digital data and practice change: the impact of innovative web portals on user knowledge building and decision-making processes
Authors: Murphy Angela , Ollerenshaw Alison
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The impact of innovative web portals on users, from access to application, is gaining interest as the global call for increased data availability gains momentum. This study reports on the perceptions of portal end users about usage and access to digital data across a range of fields of practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected and analysed from interviews (n = 132) and email feedback (n = 235) from end users of interoperable spatial knowledge web portals.

Findings

Data reveal that users attribute importance to ease of access and applicability, and to confidence and trust in data. The acquisition of data assists with reducing knowledge silos, facilitates knowledge sharing and decision-making. Digital data portals enable the building of stronger collaborations between different groups of individuals and communities leading to improved outcomes and more positive developments across varied discipline and practice areas.

Practical implications

Recommendations for developing online portals to optimise knowledge transfer and associated benefits, for users, are offered.

Originality/value

By collecting extensive qualitative data drawn from the experiences of end users of digital data portals, this paper provides new insights, thereby addressing a knowledge gap in the published literature about the use of technology uptake and the application of online data for practice and industry benefit.
An evaluation of community care services for the elderly in Hong Kong
Authors: Lam Gigi
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This article analyses community care services (CCS) in terms of availability, awareness, accessibility, and acceptance (the Four A’s approach), untangles the deep-seated factors underlying the CCS and provides some short-term, medium-term, and long-term recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted, including relevant government reports, consultation papers, Legislative Council papers and articles from academic journals from 1980 to the present.

Findings

The Four A’s approach shows that applicants to both centre-based services and home-based services endure lengthy waiting times because of the limited number of CCS. Furthermore, the awareness of day respite services is approximately 50 percent, which lags behind other CCS. Accessibility is contingent on a cross-district day respite service system and a lack of consistency between the quota and the proportion of older adults in the districts. Finally, the level of service provided by CCS is unsatisfactory due to inflexible service provision. Reviewing the brief history of long-term care services (LTC) reveals the deep-seated factors at the core of their heavy reliance on the subvention model, in contrast to the adoption of the ‘mixed economy of care’ by residential care services (RCS). An imbalance in budget allocation to RCS and CCS is also revealed.

Originality/value

Although the principle of ‘ageing in place’ was introduced in 1977, the institutionalisation rate (6.8 percent) of older adults remains unexpectedly high in Hong Kong, even surpassing its Asian counterparts, whereas the usage rate of CCS hovers around 0.8 percent. Thus, how to implement policy concerning LTC services for older adults must be re-evaluated.
A critical review of the fair value of land in Kerala, India
Authors: Binoy B.V. , Naseer M.A. , Anil Kumar P.P.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Property tax continues to be the most viable, steady, progressive and genuine source of income for an independent local government administration in India. Kerala has one of the most complex cadastral and property taxation systems in the country. In 2008, the Kerala government introduced “Fair value of land” for all landed property in Kerala, which is calculated per Are and notified by the Government of Kerala on the website. This paper presents the outcome of the spatial mapping of the fair value of land in Kerala and its comparison with actual land value collected through advertisements and surveys.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used in this study analyzed the existing fair value system of land valuation in Kerala and identified its drawbacks. Fair value is integrated into cadastral data in geographical information system (GIS) and spatially analyzed to identify the discrepancies in fair value fixation. The actual land value for 837 locations is collected from online advertisements and verified through a field survey. A paired t-test analysis follows this to compare the fair value and actual land value of the study area.

Findings

The disparity between the original land value and the registration value in Kerala has resulted in the undervaluation of land resources by the government. The fair value fixed by the government is significantly lower than the actual land value based on the statistical comparison results. It is observed that the actual land value is multiple times higher than the government fixed land value. Also, the spatial distribution of the village level fair value shows the randomness in fixation and abnormalities existing at numerous locations.

Practical implications

The results indicate that the traditional comparison method used for fair value calculation by the Kerala government is not suitable in Indian scenarios due to the unreliability of registration values. The study thus points to the importance of developing a scientific method for determining the land value that would consider various spatially influencing parameters.

Originality/value

The current study provided an in-depth analysis of the land valuation system of the Kerala government. The strengths and weaknesses of the existing system are analyzed through statistical methods.
Adolescents' mental health and emotional problems: a qualitative study in Switzerland
Authors: Chok Lorraine , Suris Joan-Carles , Barrense-Dias Yara
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Mental disorders are the main cause of morbidity among 10–19 year-olds and current research indicates that youth mental health problems are rising, especially with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This exploratory qualitative study aimed to gather the opinions of adolescents in Switzerland on the emotional and behavioral problems the adolescents may currently face.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' study included 28 participants aged between 12 and 19 years-old. Four online focus groups (FGs) separated by gender and age were performed between March and April 2021, during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland.

Findings

The concept of mental health was very vague for the participants. School was reported as a major source of stressors and may have negative effects on participants' mental health. This distress has been amplified with the COVID-19 pandemic and the perceived instability of participants' future. Furthermore, participants reported that poor body image was a major issue threatening the mental health of adolescents, especially among females and on social media. Finally, participants considered that social relations, more particularly friendships, were one of the main protective factors for mental health, even if peer pressure was also considered as a stress factor. Given the fact that the concept of mental health was very abstract for the participants, increased levels of mental health literacy are needed.

Originality/value

This study collects adolescents' opinions on current emotional issues adolescents may face without restricting the domains discussed and considering the particular pandemic and post-pandemic periods.
Forming accuracy improvement in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM): a review
Authors: Li Yiwen , Dong Zhihai , Miao Junyan , Liu Huifang , Babkin Aleksandr , Chang Yunlong
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to anticipate the possible development direction of WAAM. For large-scale and complex components, the material loss and cycle time of wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) are lower than those of conventional manufacturing. However, the high-precision WAAM currently requires longer cycle times for correcting dimensional errors. Therefore, new technologies need to be developed to achieve high-precision and high-efficiency WAAM.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses the innovations in high-precision WAAM in the past five years from a mechanistic point of view.

Findings

Controlling heat to improve precision is an effective method. Methods of heat control include reducing the amount of heat entering the deposited interlayer or transferring the accumulated heat out of the interlayer in time. Based on this, an effective and highly precise WAAM is achievable in combination with multi-scale sensors and a complete expert system.

Originality/value

Therefore, a development direction for intelligent WAAM is proposed. Using the optimised process parameters based on machine learning, adjusting the parameters according to the sensors’ in-process feedback, achieving heat control and high precision manufacturing.
Improving signal fidelity for deep learning‐based seismic interference noise attenuation
Authors: Sun Jing , Hou Song
Published: October 2022

Deep learning has shown a considerable potential to significantly improve processing efficiency but has not yet been widely deployed to production projects of seismic signal separation such as seismic interference attenuation. The main reasons are: First, the industry has high standards for signal fidelity, which are critical for the success of subsequent seismic imaging, and deep neural network methods have not yet matched the required level; second, the network's interpretability issue has affected many geophysicists and sponsors’ trust in the deep learning technique. To develop deep neural network methods towards the end of benefiting real‐world production, we first attempt to better understand their performance, especially in how they make use of local and global features of the data. A novel quantitative research of the overall network model behaviour on synthetic data is conducted. We simulate three types of coherent seismic data components in the shot domain, blend them together and then train a network to separate them. In this process, random noise, a component having only learnable local features, is selectively injected into the network's training pairs. Three network models sharing the same architecture are trained individually, and they show distinctive behaviours when applied to the same test data. Step‐by‐step analysis of each of them reveals that training the network with additional random noise injected into both the input and the output channel of the desired signal can lead to a decent prediction of the coherent noise based on good learning of the global features and, in the meantime, preserve almost all the data information from being lost. We propose this key lesson we learnt as a new method to improve the network's signal fidelity for shot‐domain seismic interference attenuation, which is essentially a signal separation task. Its effectiveness is demonstrated on field data from Africa with a comparison to a conventional physics‐based seismic interference attenuation method used in production.
Microplastic polymer properties as deterministic factors driving terrestrial plastisphere microbiome assembly and succession in the field
Authors: Rohrbach Stephan , Gkoutselis Gerasimos , Hink Linda , Weig Alfons R. , Obst Martin , Diekmann Astrid , Ho Adrian , Rambold Gerhard , Horn Marcus A.
Published: October 2022

Environmental microplastic (MP) is ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems providing artificial habitats for microbes. Mechanisms of MP colonization, MP polymer impacts, and effects on soil microbiomes are largely unknown in terrestrial systems. Therefore, we experimentally tested the hypothesis that MP polymer type is an important deterministic factor affecting MP community assembly by incubating common MP polymer types in situ in landfill soil for 14 months. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing indicated that MP polymers have specific impacts on plastisphere microbiomes, which are subsets of the soil microbiome. Chloroflexota, Gammaproteobacteria, certain Nitrososphaerota, and Nanoarchaeota explained differences among MP polymers and time points. Plastisphere microbial community composition derived from different MP diverged over time and was enriched in potential pathogens. PICRUSt predictions of pathway abundances and quantitative PCR of functional marker genes indicated that MP polymers exerted an ambivalent effect on genetic potentials of biogeochemical cycles. Overall, the data indicate that (i) polymer type as deterministic factor rather than stochastic factors drives plastisphere community assembly, (ii) MP impacts greenhouse gas metabolism, xenobiotic degradation and pathogen distribution, and (iii) MP serves as an ideal model system for studying fundamental questions in microbial ecology such as community assembly mechanisms in terrestrial environments.
The Effectiveness of Gender Diversity Reforms and the Impact of a Familial Culture: A Spillover Effect on Board Independence
Authors: Poletti‐Hughes Jannine , Dimungu‐Hewage Dilrukshi
Published: October 2022

This study examines the impact of board gender diversity reforms (i.e. voluntary and regulatory) on both their effectiveness in increasing independent female directors on boards and board independence in a sample of 41 countries (10,313 unique firms and 82,613 firm‐year observations). In an initial analysis, we find that voluntary self‐regulation via a comply‐or‐explain reform decreases the number of independent female directors on boards and board independence. However, after incorporating the moderating effect of national culture, we find that such comply‐or‐explain reforms are ineffective only in countries where the inclusion/role of women in labour markets is limited (i.e. familial culture). By contrast, quota reforms boost the appointment of independent female directors and board independence despite the cultural setting, signifying positive actions towards good corporate governance practices.
Issue trade‐offs and the politics of representation: Experimental evidence from four European democracies
Authors: KIRKIZH NORA , FROIO CATERINA , STIER SEBASTIAN
Published: October 2022

The politics of representation has become increasingly complex in recent years. Amid weakening traditional political cleavages, the emergence of new political divides and mounting anti‐elitism that have helped the rise of radical populist parties, voters face significant cross‐pressures when casting their ballots. Despite a wealth of studies on the role of issue preferences in voting behaviour, there are still many unknowns when it comes to understanding how voters trade off competing issue preferences against each other. Studying issue trade‐offs is also important against the backdrop of the well‐documented preferences of radical left and right voters for redistribution and restrictive immigration policies, respectively. To investigate the strength of issue preferences among radical left, radical right and mainstream party voters and the willingness to compromise on their most important issues, we conducted a conjoint survey experiment with 2,000 participants in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The voting scenario in the experiment featured proposals on salient political issues and different (non)populist stances on political representation. The results from the cross‐country study, as well as a large replication study with a sample of 4,000 German respondents, show that voters of radical right parties are willing to accept large trade‐offs regarding their other issue preferences as long as their preference for restrictive immigration policies is fulfilled. Differently, radical left, Green and mainstream party voters have a more variegated range of issue preferences, some of them so strong that they are not traded off for their preferred redistribution and European Union integration positions, respectively. The findings shed light on trade‐offs related to emerging issues such as climate change and the distinct logics behind support for radical parties. They also have implications for the electoral prospects of mainstream and radical parties when trying to reposition themselves in the diversifying issue space of contemporary democracies. As such, understanding how voters navigate issue cross‐pressures helps to explain the broader dynamics that are (re)configuring political conflict and voting behaviour in Europe.
Effects of one‐hour discussion on the choice of dialysis modality at the outpatient clinic: A retrospective cohort study using propensity score matching
Authors: Sakurada Tsutomu , Koitabashi Kenichiro , Murasawa Masaru , Kohatsu Kaori , Kojima Shigeki , Shibagaki Yugo
Published: October 2022

Background

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of one‐hour discussion on the choice of dialysis modality at the outpatient clinic.

Methods

Charts of consecutive patients who had started maintenance dialysis from May 2013 to April 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Characteristics at the start of dialysis were compared between patients participated and not participated in the discussion.

Results

Of the 620 incident dialysis patients, 128 patients had participated in the discussion. After propensity score matching (1:1), 127 patients who participated in the discussion tended to have fewer urgent hospitalizations (13.4% vs. 21.3%, p = 0.068). In addition, more patients who initiated peritoneal dialysis (PD) (30.7% vs. 9.4%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, participation in the discussion (OR 4.81, 95% CI 2.807–8.24; p < 0.001) was related to PD initiation.

Conclusion

One‐hour discussion on the choice of dialysis modality may increase PD initiations and decrease the number of urgent hospitalizations.
The E262K mutation in Lamin A links nuclear proteostasis imbalance to laminopathy‐associated premature aging
Authors: Ghosh Debasish Kumar , Pande Shruti , Kumar Jeevan , Yesodharan Dhanya , Nampoothiri Sheela , Radhakrishnan Periyasamy , Reddy Chilakala Gangi , Ranjan Akash , Girisha Katta M.
Published: October 2022

Deleterious, mostly de novo, mutations in the lamin A (LMNA) gene cause spatio‐functional nuclear abnormalities that result in several laminopathy‐associated progeroid conditions. In this study, exome sequencing in a sixteen‐year‐old male with manifestations of premature aging led to the identification of a mutation, c.784G>A, in LMNA, resulting in a missense protein variant, p.Glu262Lys (E262K), that aggregates in nucleoplasm. While bioinformatic analyses reveal the instability and pathogenicity of LMNAE262K, local unfolding of the mutation‐harboring helical region drives the structural collapse of LMNAE262K into aggregates. The E262K mutation also disrupts SUMOylation of lysine residues by preventing UBE2I binding to LMNAE262K, thereby reducing LMNAE262K degradation, aggregated LMNAE262K sequesters nuclear chaperones, proteasomal proteins, and DNA repair proteins. Consequently, aggregates of LMNAE262K disrupt nuclear proteostasis and DNA repair response. Thus, we report a structure–function association of mutant LMNAE262K with toxicity, which is consistent with the concept that loss of nuclear proteostasis causes early aging in laminopathies.
The role of the endocannabinoid system in tooth eruption: An ex vivo study
Authors: Casadoumecq Ana Clara , Fernández‐Solari José Javier , Elverdin Juan Carlos , Rodríguez Pablo Alejandro , Mohn Claudia Ester
Published: October 2022

The aim was to characterise the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the dental pulp of teeth at different stages of eruption. Pulp of: erupted premolars (EPM), third molars in pre‐eruptive (PThM), intraosseous (IThM) and eruptive stages (EThM) (n = 12 each group) were used. Messenger RNA expression of components of the ECS as cannabinoid receptors (CBr1 and CBr2), and anandamide synthetizing (NAPE–PLD) and degradation (FAAH) enzymes were measured by RT–PCR. Data were analysed using Student's t‐test for comparisons between two groups and one‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's post‐test for multiple comparisons (statistical significance: p < 0.05). mRNA expression of CBr2, NAPE–PLD and FAAH was similar in the studied stages, was lower in IThM than in PThM and EThM, and the lowest in EThM (p < 0.01); of note, CBr2 mRNA expression was not detected in EThM. CBr1 mRNA did not differ significantly between IThM and PThM but was lower in EThM (p < 0.01). The absence of CBr2 and presence of CBr1 in EThM suggest the involvement of the ECS via CBr1 as a mediator of tooth and bone tissue homeostasis during tooth eruption.
Stuck in the mud? Finding the glee in all fieldworking bodies
Authors: Rose Morag
Published: October 2022

This paper is an invited response to Bracken and Mawdsley's 2004 paper ‘“Muddy glee”: Rounding out the picture of women and physical geography fieldwork’. It offers a personal account of fieldwork experiences with particular emphasis on embodied gendered experiences of a Disabled geographer. It calls for a holistic approach to access and inclusion in fieldwork.
Increased diversity of the species pool via seeding augments establishment of native species in experimental vacant‐lot restorations
Authors: Swan Christopher M. , Borowy Dorothy , Johnson Anna L.
Published: October 2022

Question

The harsh geophysical template characterized by the urban environment combined with people's choices has led ecologists to invoke environmental filtering as the main ecological phenomenon explaining urban biodiversity patterns. Yet, dispersal is often overlooked as a driving factor, especially on expanding vacant land. Does overcoming dispersal limitation by seeding native species in urban environments and increasing the functional or phylogenetic diversity of the seeding pool increase native plant species diversity and abundance in urban vacant land?

Location

Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Methods

We took an experimental approach to learn how different dimensions of plant biodiversity within a regional species pool augmented via seed additions, can explain variation in community structure over a three‐year period. Vacant lots were cleared and manipulated with seeding treatments of high or low phylogenetic and functional diversities from a pool of 28 native species. Establishment success, total native cover and native‐species richness were followed and compared to cleared, unseeded control lots as well as unmanipulated lots.

Results

Seeding increased native plant abundance and richness over uncleared plots, as well as cleared and unseeded control plots. Phylogenetically diverse seed mixtures had greater establishment success than mixtures composed of closely related species. Diversifying seed mixtures increased the likelihood of including species that are better able to establish on vacant land. However, there were no differences in varying levels of either functional or phylogenetic diversity.

Conclusions

Augmenting the regional species pool via diverse seed mixtures can enhance native plant cover and richness under the harsh environmental conditions conferred by land abandonment.
Media visibility and corporate social responsibility investment evidence in Spain
Authors: Bona‐Sánchez Carolina , Pérez‐Alemán Jerónimo , Santana‐Martín Domingo Javier
Published: October 2022

Despite the extensive research in both the determinants and the results of corporate social responsibility (CSR), relatively few studies have considered extra‐legal institutions as potential determinants of CSR. Our work fills this gap by looking at how media attention affects CSR over a long‐term period in a continental European setting. Our results show that media coverage positively affects CSR. Additional scrutiny triggered by media coverage encourages dominant owners to signal their commitment to limiting self‐dealing transactions and their orientation toward stakeholders' needs through CSR investments. Additionally, our results reveal that this signaling device offers greater benefits and lower costs in firms where controlling owners show a voting‐cash flow wedge. Our results are relevant to different actors such as investors, auditors, and policy makers as they provide solid evidence that media coverage is an important driver of CSR orientation in a continental European setting.
The influence of popular media characters on children's object choices
Authors: Vanderbilt Kimberly E. , Andreason Charlene
Published: October 2022

Children often prefer objects and food packaging bearing images of popular media characters. However, it is unclear what factors may influence this. This study investigated whether depictions of popular media characters on high‐quality (brand new) and low‐quality (dirty, broken) objects influenced 3‐ to 4‐year‐old children's (N = 84) object preferences, as well as which objects children selected to help them complete a functional task (e.g., using a bucket to transport several small items). We also investigated whether children's preferences were related to inhibitory control. We found children's preferences were influenced by images of popular characters, but not their choice of objects for functional use. Instead, children relied on object quality when selecting an object to complete a task. Inhibitory control was not related to children's object choices. These results suggest children may weigh object features differently when making decisions for different purposes.
Does defending victimized peers put youth at risk of being victimized?
Authors: Malamut Sarah T. , Trach Jessica , Garandeau Claire F. , Salmivalli Christina
Published: October 2022

Defending peers who have been bullied is often thought to put defenders at risk of becoming victimized themselves. The study investigated the concurrent and prospective associations between defending and (peer‐ and self‐reported) victimization, and examined popularity and classroom norms as potential moderators. Participants included 4085 Finnish youth (43.9% boys; Mage = 14.56, SD = .75; 97% born in Finland). Concurrently, defending was positively associated with self‐reported victimization in classrooms with high bullying‐popularity norms (b = .28, SE = .16). Defending was negatively associated with peer‐reported victimization in classrooms with high defending‐popularity norms (b = −.07, SE = .03). Defending was not significantly associated with future victimization, suggesting that it is generally not a risk factor for victimization.
Delineation of the clinical profile of CNOT2 haploinsufficiency and overview of the IDNADFS phenotype
Authors: Niceta Marcello , Pizzi Simone , Inzana Francesca , Peron Angela , Bakhtiari Somayeh , Nizon Mathilde , Levy Jonathan , Mancini Cecilia , Cogné Benjamin , Radio Francesca Clementina , Agolini Emanuele , Cocciadiferro Dario , Novelli Antonio , Salih Mustafa A. , Recalcati Maria Paola , Arancio Rosangela , Besnard Marianne , Tabet Anne‐Claude , Kruer Michael C. , Priolo Manuela , Dallapiccola Bruno , Tartaglia Marco
Published: October 2022

CNOT2 haploinsufficiency underlies a rare neurodevelopmental disorder named Intellectual Developmental disorder with NAsal speech, Dysmorphic Facies, and variable Skeletal anomalies (IDNADFS, OMIM 618608). The condition clinically overlaps with chromosome 12q15 deletion syndrome, suggesting a major contribution of CNOT2 haploinsufficiency to the latter. CNOT2 is a member of the CCR4‐NOT complex, which is a master regulator of multiple cellular processes, including gene expression, RNA deadenylation, and protein ubiquitination. To date, less than 20 pathogenic 12q15 microdeletions encompassing CNOT2, together with a single truncating variant of the gene, and two large intragenic deletions have been reported. Due to the small number of affected subjects described so far, the clinical profile of IDNADFS has not been fully delineated. Here we report five unrelated individuals, three of which carrying de novo intragenic CNOT2 variants, one presenting with a multiexon intragenic deletion, and an additional case of 12q15 microdeletion syndrome. Finally, we assess the features of IDNADFS by reviewing published and present affected individuals and reevaluate the clinical phenotype of this neurodevelopmental disorder.
Ethics committees and shaping of children's participation in qualitative educational research in Chile
Authors: Armijo Muriel , Willatt Carlos
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we address the relationship between ethics committees and children involved in qualitative educational research in Chile. In light of a central and recurring challenge (protection versus participation) and its implications, we reflect on informed consent as an instrument that embodies the power of ethics committees within the research process. We inform this reflection with extracts of visual ethnographic fieldwork carried out in 2017 in a marginalised school in Santiago, Chile, with children aged from 8 to 13. We draw on the principles of the Belmont Report (respect, beneficence, justice) to contrast procedural with situated ethics.
Combined impacts of future climate‐driven vegetation changes and socioeconomic pressures on protected areas in Africa
Authors: Martens Carola , Scheiter Simon , Midgley Guy F. , Hickler Thomas
Published: October 2022

Africa's protected areas (PAs) are the last stronghold of the continent's unique biodiversity, but they appear increasingly threatened by climate change, substantial human population growth, and land‐use change. Conservation planning is challenged by uncertainty about how strongly and where these drivers will interact over the next few decades. We investigated the combined future impacts of climate‐driven vegetation changes inside African PAs and human population densities and land use in their surroundings for 2 scenarios until the end of the 21st century. We used the following 2 combinations of the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) and representative greenhouse gas concentration pathways (RCPs): the “middle‐of‐the‐road” scenario SSP2–RCP4.5 and the resource‐intensive “fossil‐fueled development” scenario SSP5–RCP8.5. Climate change impacts on tree cover and biome type (i.e., desert, grassland, savanna, and forest) were simulated with the adaptive dynamic global vegetation model (aDGVM). Under both scenarios, most PAs were adversely affected by at least 1 of the drivers, but the co‐occurrence of drivers was largely region and scenario specific. The aDGVM projections suggest considerable climate‐driven tree cover increases in PAs in today's grasslands and savannas. For PAs in West Africa, the analyses revealed climate‐driven vegetation changes combined with hotspots of high future population and land‐use pressure. Except for many PAs in North Africa, future decreases in population and land‐use pressures were rare. At the continental scale, SSP5–RCP8.5 led to higher climate‐driven changes in tree cover and higher land‐use pressure, whereas SSP2–RCP4.5 was characterized by higher future population pressure. Both SSP–RCP scenarios implied increasing challenges for conserving Africa's biodiversity in PAs. Our findings underline the importance of developing and implementing region‐specific conservation responses. Strong mitigation of future climate change and equitable development scenarios would reduce ecosystem impacts and sustain the effectiveness of conservation in Africa.
Cytopathology of rare gastric mesenchymal neoplasms: A series of 25 cases and review of literature
Authors: Saoud Carla , Illei Peter B. , Siddiqui Momin T. , Ali Syed Z.
Published: October 2022

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal neoplasm arising in the stomach. However, a number of other rare mesenchymal neoplasms do occur at this anatomic site, which often presents a diagnostic challenge for cytopathologists on endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA). Our study aims to selectively present the clinico‐radiological and cytopathological characteristics of these rare “non‐GIST” neoplasms, as well as their differential diagnoses.

Material and Methods

We performed a 20 year retrospective search in the cytopathology database of our two large medical institutions for non‐GIST mesenchymal neoplasms arising in the stomach and diagnosed on EUS‐FNA. Data regarding the patients’ demographics and radiological findings were analysed. All available cytopathology specimens were reviewed. The cytomorphological characteristics and the accompanying immunohistochemical stains, when available, were subsequently analysed.

Results

Twenty‐five cases of gastric mesenchymal tumours were selectively included in the study after excluding all cases of GIST (n = 113) diagnosed on FNA. These cases included 10 leiomyomas (40%), eight schwannomas (32%), five glomus tumours (20%), one perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm, and one desmoid tumour. The specimen cellularity was variable and ranged from hypocellular to highly cellular. Most smears were composed of spindle cells with a few showing epithelioid morphology. Cell blocks were available in 20 cases and a range of immunohistochemical ancillary studies were performed. DOG‐1, c‐KIT, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and S100‐protein were the most common immunomarkers done.

Conclusion

Our study highlights important cytomorphological characteristics of rare mesenchymal neoplasms arising in the stomach. In the appropriate clinical setting and with the help of immunohistochemistry, an accurate diagnosis of these neoplasms can be achieved.
Oestrogen inhibits psoriasis‐like dermatitis induced by imiquimod in mice in relation to increased IL‐10 producing cells despite elevated expression of IL‐22, IL‐23, IL‐17 mRNA
Authors: Kobayashi Keisuke , Chikazawa Sakiko , Chen Yue , Suzuki So , Ichimasu Nao , Katagiri Kazumoto
Published: October 2022

Sex hormones influence the development and natural course of psoriasis. Here, we examined the effects of female sex hormones, particularly oestrogen, on psoriasis‐like dermatitis induced using topical imiquimod in mice that underwent either sham operation (Sham) or ovariectomy (OVX), with (hormone replacement treatment: HRT) or without 17β‐oestradiol targeting the maximum physiological levels. The number of neutrophils in the skin was higher in the order of OVX‐, Sham‐, and HRT‐treated mice. However, no significant difference was detected in the clinical scores among the three groups due to severe erythema and scale in a few mice out of HRT‐treated mice in a set of experiments. OVX‐ and HRT‐treated mice showed increased mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)‐22 and IL‐23 compared with Sham‐treated mice; increased IL‐10 mRNA levels were found in HRT‐treated mice, possibly due to an increased proportion of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)‐ and IL‐10 positive large cells (possibly macrophages). In addition, HRT‐treated mice had a more compact stratum corneum with higher expression of loricrin and involucrin than OVX‐ and Sham‐treated mice. This study suggests that oestrogen has a dual potential in the pathogenesis of psoriasis: suppression of inflammation by enhancing IL‐10 production and enhancement of inflammation by induction of IL‐22 and IL‐23 expression.
Microbial autotrophy explains large‐scale soil CO2 fixation
Authors: Liao Hao , Hao Xiuli , Qin Fei , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Liu Yurong , Zhou Jizhong , Cai Peng , Chen Wenli , Huang Qiaoyun
Published: October 2022

Microbial communities play critical roles in fixing carbon from the atmosphere and fixing it in the soils. However, the large‐scale variations and drivers of these microbial communities remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a large‐scale survey across China and found that soil autotrophic organisms are critical for explaining CO2 fluxes from the atmosphere to soils. In particular, we showed that large‐scale variations in CO2 fixation rates are highly correlated to those in autotrophic bacteria and phototrophic protists. Paddy soils, supporting a larger proportion of obligate bacterial and protist autotrophs, display four‐fold of CO2 fixation rates over upland and forest soils. Precipitation and pH, together with key ecological clusters of autotrophic microbes, also played important roles in controlling CO2 fixation. Our work provides a novel quantification on the contribution of terrestrial autotrophic microbes to soil CO2 fixation processes at a large scale, with implications for global carbon regulation under climate change.