bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From cultural differences to cultural globalization: towards a new research agenda in cross-cultural management studies
Authors: Boussebaa Mehdi
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper responds to calls for a new raison d’être in the field cross-cultural management (CCM) and culture-sensitive studies of international business (IB) more broadly. It argues that one way of addressing the crisis of confidence in the field is to develop a line of inquiry focussed on corporate-driven cultural globalization. This paper also proposes a theoretical approach informed by international political economy (IPE) and postcolonial theory and outlines a research agenda for future work on cultural globalization.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a desk-based analysis that draws on relevant research in the wider social sciences to insert cultural globalization into the CCM/IB field’s intellectual project.

Findings

The paper finds the field of CCM and culture-sensitive IB studies more broadly to be almost exclusively focussed on studying the impact of cultural differences. Surprisingly, little attention has been devoted to the phenomenon of corporate-driven cultural globalization.

Research limitations/implications

The paper redirects the field and presents a research agenda, calling for studies on the role of four related actors in cultural globalization: MNEs, global professional service firms, business schools and CCM/IB researchers themselves.

Practical implications

CCM/IB scholars may be able to reorient themselves towards the phenomenon of cultural globalization and, in so doing, also seize an opportunity to contribute to important debates about it in the wider social sciences.

Originality/value

The paper suggests possibilities for renewal by redirecting CCM/IB towards the study of cultural globalization and by encouraging the field to develop a postcolonial sensibility in future research on the phenomenon.
Gift giving via social network services: the case of a WeChat mini-program used in China
Authors: Hao Chen , Hai-tao Chen
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine and explore the factors that drive users to gift through social network services (SNS).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire method was applied to collect data from the sample of the WeChat users who have used mini-program. This paper employed the partial least squares method and used SmartPLS2.0 to analysis sample data, which examined the validity as well as reliability of the sample and further tested the hypotheses by the path coefficients.

Findings

The empirical results showed that pleasure, social relationship maintenance, convenience and comprehensiveness are significantly related to SNS gifting behavior, and conscientiousness moderates the relationship between intention and behavior in the context of SNS gifting. However, this study cannot find the effect of symbolic representation, impersonality and gift reciprocity motivations.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretically, this study perfects the research of SNS gifting on the lack of exploring characteristics of comprehensiveness. Practically, this paper lends insights on how SNS providers attract users to adopt gifting.

Originality/value

SNS gifting lacks a complete and effective promotion strategy, resulting in a small number of users as well as low profit. Besides, prior studies have focused on tradition gifting and online gifting. Little research talks about gifting on SNS phenomena, and thus it is necessary to perfect the theory of SNS gifting.
Cultural intelligence and innovative work behavior: the role of work engagement and interpersonal trust
Authors: Afsar Bilal , Al-Ghazali Basheer M. , Cheema Sadia , Javed Farheen
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Because of the rapidly changing environment and fleeting market opportunities, employee's innovative work behavior is increasingly assuming a pivotal role in enhancing organizational effectiveness and competitive advantage. The success of organizations is largely depended on their employees' ability to innovate. The role of cultural intelligence to enhance innovative work behavior is yet to be explored in the innovation research. The purpose of this study is to examine how cultural intelligence enhances employees' innovative work behavior through work engagement and interpersonal trust.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a cross-sectional design which utilizes data from 381 participants from multinational corporations in Saudi Arabia.

Findings

The results indicate that cultural intelligence can significantly affect employee's innovative work behavior. It further reveals that both work engagement and interpersonal trust partially mediate the effect of cultural intelligence on innovative work behavior.

Originality/value

This study adds to the literature on intelligence by examining an underexplored type of intelligence (i.e. cultural intelligence) in relation to employee's innovative work behavior. It reveals work engagement and interpersonal trust as the psychological mechanisms that can link cultural intelligence to innovative work behaviors.
A study of the influence of workplace ostracism on employees' performance: moderating effect of perceived organizational support
Authors: Choi Youngkeun
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Based on the conservation of resource theory, this study developed and tested the relationship between workplace ostracism and job performance. And it assumes that the direct link between workplace ostracism and supervisor-rated in-role performance/organizational citizenship behavior is moderated by perceived organizational support.

Design/methodology/approach

For this, this study used a survey method and multiple regression analyses with multisource data from 256 Korean employees and their supervisors.

Findings

The results suggest the following. First, workplace ostracism was negatively associated with supervisor-rated in-role performance and organizational citizenship behaviors. Second, there was a stronger negative relationship between workplace ostracism and supervisor-rated in-role performance/organizational citizenship behaviors for employees with low as opposed to those with high levels of perceived organizational support.

Originality/value

This study is the first one to examine the moderating effect of perceived organizational support on the relationship between workplace ostracism and supervisor-rated in-role performance/organizational citizenship behavior.
Gender makes the difference: the moderating role of gender on the relationship between management structure and performance in banking
Authors: Stefanovic Nikola , Barjaktarovic Lidija
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the factors moderating possibly indirect relationships between gender diversity and its effect on bank performance. The causality of this relationship remains unclear.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of all banks (n = 27) operating in Serbia.

Findings

The gender diversity-performance relationship is indirect. The gender diversity of executive boards positively impacts bank performance, over a threshold level. This is observed only in banks where gender diversity is extended to more than one level of executive authority.

Research limitations/implications

Gender diversity should be fostered, particularly in small and competitive markets. The gender diversity-performance link is based on gender-related social interactions, which are interdependent and should not be taken into account as isolated factors.

Originality/value

To the knowledge, this is the first study to provide insight into indirect, gender related, moderatory interactions effecting gender diversity – performance link, in banking.
Public health spending and health outcome in Nigeria: the role of governance
Authors: Osakede Uche Abamba
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the relationship between public health spending and health outcome using time series data in Nigeria over the period 1980 to 2017, taking into account the role of governance by assessing how the quality of governance directly affects health status and indirectly as a mediator for the effectiveness of public health spending.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Hausman statistical tests to check for the existence of endogeneity, the proper method for estimating the model for this study is the two-stage least square regression model. The two-stage least squares regression model addresses the problem of endogeneity using instrumental variables. The mediating role of governance on the effectiveness of public health spending on health was considered by an interaction of governance indicators with public health spending.

Findings

The results showed that public health spending had no significant effect on health outcome except when interacted with governance quality. The interaction of government health spending with governance effectiveness as well as that for control of corruption improved health by inducing a fall in maternal deaths, whereas government health expenditure interacted with rule of law raised maternal mortality. Public health spending interacted with regulatory quality improved life expectancy while that for political stability with public health spending induced a fall in life expectancy, poor maternal and infant health. Political stability and the control of corruption had direct influence on maternal health.

Practical implications

Given the predominance of public health spending in promoting access to health care and population health status for developing economies, the effectiveness of such spending should be top priority in policy makers’ agenda. This again is important because for developing economies, government revenue is generated from a small tax base due to their highly informal nature. To improve health status from public intervention in the health sector, there is indeed need for improvement in the overall state of governance in Nigeria.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few country case studies which uses time series data to examine the role of governance on the efficacy of public health spending with extension of findings to maternal health and covering more measures of governance quality. The results fundamentally illuminate the importance of governance in fostering development in health and consequently enhancing economic development and growth.
Potential for waste to energy generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana
Authors: Amo-Asamoah Eugene , Owusu-Manu De-Graft , Asumadu George , Ghansah Frank Ato , Edwards David John
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Globally, waste management has been a topical issue in the past few decades due to the continual increase in municipal solid waste (MSW) generation that is becoming difficult to handle with conventional waste management techniques. The situation is much more pronounced in economically developing countries where population growth rate and urbanisation are becoming uncontrollable. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential for waste to energy generation in the Kumasi metropolis, the second-largest city in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the objectives of the study, a quantitative research approach, namely, the questionnaire was adopted. The data analysis was done using the statistical package for social sciences version 25, including both descriptive and inferential statistics to give an in-depth meaning to the responses from the participants.

Findings

The results showed that several factors hinder waste to energy technology in Ghana; key among them was high capital cost, high operational cost and lack of governmental support and policy framework. The results also revealed that 1 m3 of biogas generated from MSW in Kumasi could generate 36 MJ of energy, equivalent to 10 kW/h.

Originality/value

The unique contribution made by the paper is that it combines expert opinions, empirical data that included time series data and opinion of key actors in the waste management chain in assessing the potential for waste to energy generation in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana.
The long-run performance of SME IPOs in India: empirical evidence from Indian stock market
Authors: Arora Nischay , Singh Balwinder
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the pattern of long-run performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) initial public offerings (IPOs) and examine the firm- and issue-related determinants of long-run performance of SME IPOs in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The 3 6, 9 and 12 months share returns of Indian SME IPOs is studied using event time methodologies, i.e. buy and hold returns, cumulative abnormal returns and wealth relatives on a sample of 375 SME IPOs issued during February 2012 to May 2018. Additionally, ordinary least square regression has been used to investigate the determinants of long-run performance of SME IPOs on a reduced sample of 104 because of non-availability of price observations.

Findings

The findings reveal that Indian SME IPOs exhibit long-run overperformance contradicting the international evidences of underperformance, and this overperformance is significantly evident using buy and hold abnormal return (BHAR). Furthermore, based on the divergence of opinion hypothesis, fads theory and windows of opportunity hypothesis, the results reveal that on one hand, issue size and oversubscription negatively affect BHAR, while on the other hand, auditor reputation, underwriter reputation, hot market, underpricing, inverse of issue price, profits prior to listing positively affect long-run performance. However, firm age, firm size, debt equity ratio, volatility and long-run performance computed through BHAR lacks significant relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The study relied on event time methodology of measuring aftermarket performance of one year because of the limited availability of price offerings. Hence, the study could be extended to analyze aftermarket returns over a period of three to five years to enable reaching the vivid conclusions. Calendar time methodology may also be used to compute abnormal returns.

Practical implications

The results based on the study provides an implication to the investors by providing them an opportunity to bank higher long-run returns by engaging in active and timely trading strategies. Nevertheless, the results also show that investors should be cautioned while taking investment decisions.

Originality/value

The study contributes to rising body of international literature by analyzing the larger and recent sample of IPOs issued from 2012 to 2018 listed on SME exchange.
Rural health enterprises in the EU context: a systematic literature review and research agenda
Authors: Apostolopoulos Nikolaos , Ratten Vanessa , Stavroyiannis Stavros , Makris Ilias , Apostolopoulos Sotiris , Liargovas Panagiotis
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The COVID-19 crisis has brought to the forefront the importance of rural health enterprises (RHEs), the peculiarity, in these terms, of rural areas, and the impact of rurality on health entrepreneurial activities. This paper aims to undertake a literature review regarding RHEs in the EU, identify research gaps and set future research directions.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted and the key aspects coded across four thematic areas – after examining 68 papers.

Findings

The findings reveal that more intense research should be conducted across four area which emerged; rural health providers vs urban health providers; RHEs and rural development; RHEs and quality of life; and social RHEs.

Research limitations/implications

Future research avenues were identified and suggestions for further research on RHEs were provided.

Practical implications

The paper provides insights into how rural areas can attract health enterprises and how health enterprises can operate in rural areas.

Originality/value

This research expands on the limited existing knowledge of RHEs and sets the foundations for further research.
Demystifying gaps and testing for convergence in bank regulations impacting the competitive environment: a case of India and its peers in BRICS
Authors: Gulati Rachita
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to demystify how the critical regulations affecting the bank competition have instituted, amended and fine-tuned over the years in India and its peers in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). The gaps in the regulatory practices influencing bank contestability and competition in BRICS nations are identified. Also, the regulatory convergence is tested by comparing the policies embraced in India vis-à-vis its peer nations.

Design/methodology/approach

A methodological framework by Barth, Caprio and Levine (2013) is adopted to construct various regulatory indices. The empirical analysis is based on information available in five rounds of the bank regulation and supervision survey conducted in 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2017 by the World Bank.

Findings

The empirical findings elucidate that although bank entry regulations have been liberalized over time, the bank contestability seems to be low in the BRICS countries, especially in India. This might be due to the substantial government ownership and the presence of notional powers that are conferred to bank supervisors. On comparing the bank regulations in India vis-à-vis its peers, the author find a strong convergence in licensing requirements for entry into the banking business, foreign bank entry mode, restrictions on conglomerate formation and adoption of prompt corrective action framework.

Practical implications

The study suggests that future policy initiatives in India need to focus on redesigning the banking structure by reducing the share of state ownership, permitting joint ventures and liberally allowing the entry of new domestic and foreign banks in the industry. In the years to come, regulators in India will continuously face the challenge of fostering bank contestability without jeopardizing bank efficiency and overall stability.

Originality/value

This study is perhaps first of its kind, which analyzes the inter-temporal changes in regulatory indicators to examine the variations in the competitive environment of the banking markets of BRICS economies in general and India in particular.
From country stereotypes to country emotions to intentions to visit a country: implications for a country as a destination brand
Authors: Micevski Milena , Diamantopoulos Adamantios , Erdbrügger Jennifer
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to draw from the stereotype content model (SCM) to investigate the mediating role of country-triggered emotions on the relationship between country stereotypes and intentions to visit a country as well as the boundary conditions under which such mediation occurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Two-hundred and eighty-three consumers participated in a between-subjects, Web-based study conducted in Hungary. Participants were randomly exposed to one out of six countries that are among the most popular tourist destinations for Hungarian consumers. Moderated-mediation analysis was performed to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

Country stereotypes of competence and warmth positively influence country-related emotions of admiration which, subsequently, transfer to consumer intentions to visit the focal country as a tourism destination. This mediation is moderated by consumers’ extraversion, such that intentions to visit are greater for highly extraverted consumers.

Research limitations/implications

Policymakers should take into consideration both the country stereotype and related emotions triggered by this stereotype when developing and promoting the country destination brand. Practitioners should also consider extraversion as a potential personality-based segmentation and targeting variable when communicating a country as a destination brand.

Originality/value

This study delineates the link between country stereotype and affective responses to this stereotype, thus further adding to our understanding of the role that emotions play in determining tourism behavior. It also highlights the role of the personality trait of extraversion as a moderating influence on the stereotype-emotions-visit intentions link.
Influence of country of origin and type of information exchanged on consequences of offshore service sentiment
Authors: Lu Lu , Gregory Gary , Thelen Shawn
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This research extends existing services offshoring literature by investigating how the type of information exchanged, technical support or personal billing, in conjunction with country-of-service-origin (COSO) influences consumer likelihood to react negatively (boycott issue importance, NWOM, perceived service quality) to an offshore service exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equations modelling is employed to assess relationships among constructs when country of service origin (New Zealand and the Philippines) and type of service provided (technical support and personal billing services) are varied. Using a scenario-based experimental design we collected 337 responses from a consumer panel across Australia.

Findings

Results indicate that both COSO and type of information exchanged affect service sentiment. Overall, consumers feel more negative and more likely to punish a company for offshoring to culturally dissimilar countries such as the Philippines than to culturally similar ones such as New Zealand. However, consumers were more concerned with personal billing services provided from offshore providers than technical support, regardless of COSO.

Practical implications

Practitioners need to understand customer sentiment about services offshoring in general as well as the relationship between service type and country of service origin when designing the global service supply chain.

Originality/value

This study extends theory by applying a multi-dimensional portfolio perspective in examining customer sentiment of offshore services. Understanding the underlying bases of customer concerns and how companies can mitigate negative perceptions allows firms to better manage service offshore strategy.
Transformational leadership and the European Foundation for Quality Management model in five-star hotels
Authors: Portela Maquieira Silvia , Tarí Juan José , Molina-Azorín José F.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This work analyses quality management (through the European Foundation for Quality Management-EFQM-model) and transformational leadership in hotels in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyses 102 5-star and 5-star large luxury hotels that answer a questionnaire on transformational leadership and the EFQM model. It analyses the degree of importance of quality and transformational leadership in hotels, the significant differences between groups of hotels (according to stars, size, modality and type of product) and the association between transformational leadership and quality.

Findings

The results show the levels of quality and transformational leadership, minor significant differences between groups and an association between the two variables. In general, chain-affiliated hotels have a higher level of leadership and a more advanced employee and process management than independent hotels. Also, those hotels that focus on a vacational product show a lower attention to the strategy dimension in the EFQM model. The number of employees is not an important factor to adopt quality. Finally, transformational leadership allows hotels to advance in the development of quality management.

Originality/value

Although there are studies on quality management that show the importance of leadership for quality, there are few studies that examine transformational leadership and quality in the same study, mainly in the tourism industry, and especially in the case of the hotel industry.
Sustaining the lean ideology
Authors: Bhasin Sanjay , Found Pauline
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the interface between Lean strategy and organisational transformation by scrutinising the literature on why Lean strategies fail to be implemented and/or sustained.

Design/methodology/approach

As a conceptual and research paper, it develops a hypothesis. It encompasses philosophical discussions and comparative studies of others’ work and Lean thinking alongside its links to the principles, ideology, philosophy and underpinning values. The search involved a total of 1,931 articles spanning across 75 different journals. The content analysis approach suggested by Mayring (2004) was selected.

Findings

Successfully implementing Lean is more complex than often recognized within the literature, and the alignment between strategy and organisational transformation is repeatedly not undertaken. The investigation indicates policymakers need to view Lean as an ideology and not simply another process.

Research limitations/implications

This paper addresses the inaccurate representation in the concept of Lean as a strategy. While a major evolution has occurred comprising the inputs perceived as imperative for Lean success, a translucent empathy of its philosophy alongside an acknowledgement of the magnitude of the change and transformation necessary has been comparatively perplexing. This paper has implications for academic scholars of strategy and organisational change, as well as for practitioners seeking to implement organisational change.

Originality/value

Empirical evidence suggests that most Lean strategies struggle. Customers are becoming more demanding, markets are becoming more customised, and product life-cycles getting shorter are dictating that Lean needs to be embraced as an ideology.
Using an artificial neural network for estimating sustainable development goals index
Authors: Mirghaderi Seyed-Hadi
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to develop a simple model for estimating sustainable development goals index using the capabilities of artificial neural networks.

Design/methodology/approach

Sustainable development has three pillars, including social, economic and environmental pillars. Three clusters corresponding to the three pillars were created by extracting sub-indices of three 2018 global reports and performing cluster analysis on the correlation matrix of sub-indices. By setting the sustainable development goals index as the target variable and selecting one indicator from each cluster as input variables, 20 artificial neural networks were run 30 times.

Findings

Artificial neural networks with seven nodes in one hidden layer can estimate sustainable development goals index by using just three inputs, including ecosystem vitality, human capital and gross national income per capita. There is an excellent similarity (>95%) between the results of the artificial neural network and the sustainable development goals index.

Practical implications

Instead of calculating 232 indicators for determining the value of sustainable development goals index, it is possible to use only three sub-indices, but missing 5% of precision, by using the proposed artificial neural network model.

Originality/value

The study provides additional information on the estimating of sustainable development and proposes a new simple method for estimating the sustainable development goals index. It just uses three sub-indices, which can be retrieved from three global reports.
Collaborative working in the resettlement of young people leaving custody
Authors: Olaitan Paul , Pitts John
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to endeavour to sketch out a blueprint for effective collaborative working in resettlement.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of the relevant research and interviews with professionals concerned with the resettlement of young people from custody in organisations and agencies that were partners in the Beyond Youth Custody programme.

Findings

Practitioners working on the youth resettlement pathway between custody and community report collaborative practices to be more beneficial both to the young people involved as well as the practitioners themselves, in the conduct of their efforts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the originality of this paper consists in its investigation of resettlement practice by consulting those actually engaged in the resettlement process.
The technology tasks fit, its impact on the use of information system, performance and users’ satisfaction
Authors: Ratna Silvia , Nayati Utami Hamidah , Siti Astuti Endang , Wilopo  , Muflih Muhammad
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Find out how the employees’ performance on the implementation of the hotel reservation information system. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the effect of the task-technology fit (TTF) on the use of information systems, as well as its effect on user performance and satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This research type is explanatory research. In explanatory research, the aim is to provide an explanation related to the causal relationship between variables and hypothesis testing. The unit of analysis adopted in this study is the individual of the front office employees who use the star hotel reservation information system in South Kalimantan Province (the population is 239, and the taken are 150 samples, based on the number of indicators multiplied 5).

Findings

The higher the TTF, the higher the level of using information systems. The higher the use level of information systems, the higher the information systems user performance and vice versa in which the higher the user’s performance, the more increase the use of information systems. On the other hand, this study found that the use of information systems and user performance has no significant effect on user satisfaction.

Originality/value

The novelty in this study is shown in the influence between performance variables on the usage and the usage variables on the users’ performance. This study examines the importance of reciprocal usage and user performance relationships based on previous research studies that examine the relationship and that information technology (IT) usage will affect user performance. In addition, the users’ performance will affect the users’ behavior in using IT.
Heterogeneity in the linear shiny white structures in melanomas seen with polarized light according to histopathological association: Cross‐sectional observational study in 118 cutaneous melanomas
Authors: Bañuls José , Francés Laura , Niveiro Maria , Juan Gloria , Schneller‐Pavelescu Luca , Illán Francisco , Sánchez‐Payá José , Nagore Eduardo , Moreno Ignacio , Lallas Aimilios , Zaballos Pedro
Published: June 2020

Polarized dermoscopy enables visualization of linear shiny white structures in melanomas, thought to be due to the existence of fibrosis in the dermis. Our objective was to establish the existence of two types of linear shiny white structures and assess their association with different histological structures. We performed a cross‐sectional study including all non‐acral, non‐facial melanomas from our hospital with linear shiny white structures. The outcome variable was the type of linear shiny white structures: shiny white streaks and white strands. We evaluated their association with explanatory variables that may affect the reflectance of melanomas and Breslow index. We used χ2 statistics and also calculated the sensitivity and specificity of each linear shiny white structure to predict those variables. We detected linear shiny white structures in 118 melanomas. Regarding shiny white streaks, we only found a statistically significant positive relationship with fibrosis in the papillary dermis. Regarding white strands, we found statistically significant and positive relationships with hyperkeratosis, Breslow index of 0.8 mm or more and acanthosis. Sensitivity and specificity study revealed that the presence of shiny white streaks was the most sensitive (81.7%) and specific (72.3%) for fibrosis in the papillary dermis, and presence of white strands was the most sensitive (91.1%) and specific (85.7%) for hyperkeratosis.
Vascular epiphytes show low physiological resistance and high recovery capacity to episodic, short‐term drought in Monteverde, Costa Rica
Authors: Williams Cameron B. , Murray Jessica G. , Glunk Andrew , Dawson Todd E. , Nadkarni Nalini M. , Gotsch Sybil G.
Published: June 2020

Tropical montane cloud forests support abundant epiphytic vascular plant communities that serve important ecosystem functions, but their reliance on atmospheric inputs of water may make them susceptible to the drying effects of rising cloud bases and more frequent droughts.

We conducted a common garden experiment to explore the combined effects of decreasing cloud influence—lower humidity, warmer temperature, brighter light—and meteorological drought (i.e. absence of rain) on the physiology and morphology of vascular epiphytes native to primary forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica. The epiphytes, which exhibited C3 photosynthesis, were sourced from a lower montane cloud forest (CF) or a rainforest (RF) below the current cloud base and transplanted into nearby shadehouses (CF or RF shadehouse respectively). Vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and light availability, measured as photosynthetically active radiation, were 2.5 and 3.1 times higher in the RF than the CF shadehouse. Half of the plants were subjected to a severe 4‐week drought followed by a recovery period, and the other half were watered controls.

Plants subjected to low VPD/light conditions of the CF shadehouse were physiologically and morphologically resistant to the drought treatment. However, compared to control plants, both sources of plants subjected to high VPD/light conditions of the RF shadehouse experienced declines in maximum net photosynthesis (Amax), stomatal conductance (gs) and the proportion of healthy leaves (those not exhibiting chlorosis, desiccation or necrosis). At peak drought, leaves from the RF were 19% thinner than controls. Within 7–14 days after rewatering, Amax, gs and leaf health recovered to nearly the levels of controls. Growth rate, mortality and phenology were unaffected by the treatments.

The divergent responses to drought in the CF versus RF shadehouses, combined with the recovery in the RF shadehouse, indicate that these epiphytes possess adaptive properties that confer low resistance, but high recovery capacity, to episodes of short‐term drought over a range of cloud influence. In addition, the reduction in Amax suggests stomatal regulation that favours water conservation over carbon acquisition, a strategy that may inform epiphyte responses to rising clouds and increasing drought frequency expected in the long term.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
An alternate vegetation type proves resilient and persists for decades following forest conversion in the North American boreal biome
Authors: Hansen Winslow D. , Fitzsimmons Ryan , Olnes Justin , Williams A. Park
Published: June 2020

Climate change and natural disturbances are catalysing forest transitions to different vegetation types, but whether these new communities are resilient alternate states that will persist for decades to centuries is not known. Here, we test how changing climate, disturbance and biotic interactions shape the long‐term fate of a deciduous broadleaf forest type that replaces black spruce after severe wildfires in interior Alaska, USA.

We simulated postfire deciduous forest that replaced black spruce after severe fires in 2004 for tens to hundreds of years under different climate scenarios (contemporary, mid 21st century, late 21st century), fire return intervals (11–250 years), distances to seed source (50–1,000 m) and browsing intensities (background, moderate, chronic). We identified combinations of conditions where deciduous forest remained the dominant vegetation type and combinations where it returned to black spruce forest, transitioned to mixed forest (where deciduous species and black spruce co‐dominate) or converted to nonforest.

Deciduous forest persisted in 86% of simulations and was most resilient if fire return intervals were short (≤50 years). When transitions to another vegetation type occurred, mixed forest was most common, particularly when fire return intervals were long (>50 years) and the nearest seed source was 500 m or farther. Moderate and chronic browsing also reduced deciduous sapling growth and survival, helping black spruce compete if fire return intervals were long and seed source was distant. Dry soils occasionally caused conversion to nonforest following short‐interval fire when simulations were forced with a late 21st‐century climate scenario that projects warming and increased vapor pressure deficit. Return to black spruce forest almost never occurred.

Synthesis. Conversion from black spruce to deciduous forest is already underway at regional scales in interior Alaska, and similar transitions have been widely observed throughout the North American boreal biome. We show that this boreal deciduous forest type is likely a resilient alternate state that will persist through the 21st century, which is important, because future vegetation outcomes will shape biophysical feedbacks to regional climate and influence subsequent disturbance regimes.
The RasGEF FgCdc25 regulates fungal development and virulence in Fusarium graminearum via cAMP and MAPK signalling pathways
Authors: Chen Ahai , Ju Zhenzhen , Wang Jinli , Wang Jing , Wang Hongkai , Wu Jiayu , Yin Yanni , Zhao Youfu , Ma Zhonghua , Chen Yun
Published: June 2020

Ras GTPases act as molecular switches to control various cellular processes by coupling integrated signals in eukaryotes. Activities of Ras GTPases are triggered by Ras GTPase guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RasGEFs) in general, whereas the role of RasGEF in plant pathogenic fungi is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the only RasGEF protein in Fusarium graminearum, FgCdc25, by combining genetic, cytological and phenotypic strategies. FgCdc25 directly interacted with RasGTPase FgRas2, but not FgRas1, to regulate growth and sexual reproduction. Mutation of the FgCDC25 gene resulted in decreased toxisome formation and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, which was largely depended on cAMP signalling. In addition, FgCdc25 indirectly interacted with FgSte11 in FgSte11‐Ste7‐Gpmk1 cascade, and the ΔFgcdc25 strain totally abolished the formation of infection structures and was nonpathogenic in planta, which was partially recovered by addition of exogenous cAMP. In contrast, FgCdc25 directly interplayed with FgBck1 in FgBck1‐MKK1‐Mgv1 cascade to negatively control cell wall integrity. Collectively, these results suggest that FgCdc25 modulates cAMP and MAPK signalling pathways and further regulates fungal development, DON production and plant infection in F. graminearum.
Intergovernmental Relations in the UK: Time for a Radical Overhaul?
Authors: McEwen Nicola , Kenny Michael , Sheldon Jack , Brown Swan Coree
Published: June 2020

Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic have put relationships between the UK government and its devolved counterparts under growing strain. Tensions generated by both of these developments have exposed the inadequacies of the existing, under‐developed system for bringing governments together in the UK. The limitations of the current system include the ad hoc nature of intergovernmental meetings, and their consultative rather than decision‐making character. Drawing upon an analysis of how intergovernmental relationships are structured in five other countries, the authors offer a number of suggestions for the reconfiguration of the UK model. They explore different ways of enabling joint decision making by its governments, and argue against the assumption that England can be represented adequately by the UK administration. Without a serious attempt to address this dysfunctional part of the UK’s territorial constitution, there is every prospect that relations between these different governments will continue to deteriorate.
Financial Constraints and Small and Medium Enterprises: A Review*
Authors: Bakhtiari Sasan , Breunig Robert , Magnani Lisa , Zhang Jacquelyn
Published: June 2020

We review the literature on financial constraints and the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We consider the important role that SMEs play in the economies of Australia and the OECD. We examine the role of financial constraints in SME growth, with emphasis on business cycles and credit access. We discuss issues that SMEs face in accessing financial resources for expansion. We look at the literature that evaluates the impact of financial constraints on key outcomes: employment, productivity and wages. We review key policy debates and consider where government involvement might be appropriate.
A Randomized Clinical Trial Exploring Gambling Attitudes, Barriers to Treatment, and Efficacy of a Brief Motivational Intervention Among Ex‐Offenders with Disordered Gambling
Authors: Rosen Laura April , Weinstock Jeremiah , Peter Samuel Cody
Published: June 2020

Correctional populations are disproportionately burdened by disordered gambling; yet, problem awareness is minimal among both offenders and professionals within the criminal justice system. The aims of the current study were twofold: (i) to examine gambling attitudes and problem awareness among ex‐offenders, and (ii) to determine the efficacy of a brief online gambling intervention for ex‐offenders. Participants (N = 126) were ex‐offenders on probation and parole. Gambling attitudes, attitudes toward treatment, and disorder gambling status were assessed. Disordered gamblers (n = 102) were randomly assigned to (i) a brief intervention plus referral to treatment or (ii) referral to treatment only, and these individuals were re‐assessed at a 30‐day follow‐up. Lifetime disordered gambling was highly prevalent (86%) in the ex‐offender sample, and providing information regarding disordered gambler status and referral to treatment was effective in decreasing gambling attitudes, as well as gambling severity and frequency. The current study has direct implications for treatment and intervention efforts among ex‐offenders with disordered gambling and yields a greater understanding of attitudes toward gambling among ex‐offenders.
Characterization of protein–protein interactions between rice viruses and vector insects
Authors: Zhu Junjie , Eid Fatma Elzahraa , Tong Lu , Zhao Wan , Wang Wei , Heath Lenwood S. , Kang Le , Cui Feng
Published: June 2020

Planthoppers are the most notorious rice pests, because they transmit various rice viruses in a persistent‐propagative manner. Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) between virus and vector are crucial for virus transmission by vector insects. However, the number of known PPIs for pairs of rice viruses and planthoppers is restricted by low throughput research methods. In this study, we applied DeNovo, a virus‐host sequence‐based PPI predictor, to predict potential PPIs at a genome‐wide scale between three planthoppers and five rice viruses. PPIs were identified at two different confidence thresholds, referred to as low and high modes. The number of PPIs for the five planthopper‐virus pairs ranged from 506 to 1985 in the low mode and from 1254 to 4286 in the high mode. After eliminating the “one‐too‐many” redundant interacting information, the PPIs with unique planthopper proteins were reduced to 343–724 in the low mode and 758–1671 in the high mode. Homologous analysis showed that 11 sets and 31 sets of homologous planthopper proteins were shared by all planthopper‐virus interactions in the two modes, indicating that they are potential conserved vector factors essential for transmission of rice viruses. Ten PPIs between small brown planthopper and rice stripe virus (RSV) were verified using glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST)/His‐pull down or co‐immunoprecipitation assay. Five of the ten PPIs were proven positive, and three of the five SBPH proteins were confirmed to interact with RSV. The predicted PPIs provide new clues for further studies of the complicated relationship between rice viruses and their vector insects.
Nest‐associated vocal behaviours of the south‐eastern red‐tailed black cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne, and the Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo, C. lathami halmaturinus
Authors: Teixeira Daniella , Hill Richard , Barth Michael , Maron Martine , van Rensburg Berndt J.
Published: June 2020

Animal vocalisations can signify diverse behavioural contexts, knowledge of which can be applied in bioacoustic monitoring programs. Australia’s endemic black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus sp., family Cacatuidae) are highly vocal species that are threatened in many locations. In this study, we describe the nest‐associated vocal behaviours of two endangered subspecies of black cockatoo, the south‐eastern red‐tailed black cockatoo, C. banksii graptogyne and the Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo, C. lathami halmaturinus. Breeding success is limiting their recoveries and nest monitoring is challenging, but vocal recordings might provide valuable long‐term information hard to obtain otherwise. We recorded daily vocal activity at wild nests of both cockatoos using autonomous sound recorders. Combined with behavioural observations and video footage, we identified vocalisations characteristic of six behavioural contexts at nests: birds in flight, while perched, during begging (adult females), during courtship displays (adult males), when entering or sitting near to the nest hollow entrance (adult females), and from nestlings. Linear discriminant analysis on 12 acoustic measurements correctly classified 58.4% of calls of the red‐tailed black cockatoo (n = 907 calls from eight nests) and 62.9% of calls of the glossy black cockatoo (n = 1632 calls from 11 nests). In both subspecies, the female nest call and nestling calls are the most conspicuous vocal indicators of active nesting, and therefore should be considered for their bioacoustic potential. Other adult vocalisations indicate a range of behavioural contexts that could be informative for monitoring nesting behaviour, and its association to habitat features, in these endangered subspecies.
Sonoanatomy of female reproductive organ of Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica)
Authors: Wahid Muhammad Risman , Prawira Andhika Yudha , Nisa' Chairun , Agungpriyono Srihadi , Fakhrul Ulum Mokhamad
Published: June 2020

The conventional anatomical study of specimens requires cutting processes which destruct the limited specimens. A non‐destructive method, namely an ultrasonography, can be used to assess the anatomical organ information of those specimens. The aim of this research is to analyse the macroanatomy of the female reproductive organ in the Sunda porcupine (Hystrix javanica), using ultrasonographical imaging. In this study, four formaldehyde‐fixed reproductive organ specimens of the Sunda porcupine were used. A 10–12 MHz linear ultrasound transducer was utilized to provide an imaging format of both longitudinal and transversal views. Photographic images were then used as comparison with a sonographic image. The results show that the ultrasound image of the Sunda porcupine reproductive organ soft tissue was hypoechoic, the lumen and antrum follicles were anechoic, while atretic follicles and the mons pubis were hyperechoic. Generally, the size of the organ was not significantly different between photographical and ultrasonographical imaging (p > .05). In conclusion, ultrasound images can be utilized for anatomical studies of the Sunda porcupine reproductive organs without destructing the specimen.