bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simple fence modification increases floodplain land movement prospects for freshwater turtles
Authors: Waltham Nathan J. , Schaffer Jason , Perry Justin , Walker Sophie , Nordberg Eric
Published: December 2020

Feral pigs predate on freshwater turtles and damage wetland habitats in the process. Installing fences successfully averts access and damage, however, they become a barrier for freshwater turtles requiring land access during migration. We collected 161 turtles (Chelodina rugosa,Emydura subglobosa worrelli, Myuchelys latisternum) from twenty floodplain and riverine wetlands during post-wet (June-August) and late-dry season (November-December) surveys (2015-2018) in northern Australia. Wetlands were either fenced (150 × 150mm square, 1.05m high wire mesh) or not around the wet perimeter. Nine-seven percent of individuals caught in either fenced or unfenced wetlands had a shell carapace width greater than mesh width, of these 44 (46%) were captured inside fenced wetlands, while 50 were caught in unfenced wetlands. The remaining 35 were smaller than 150mm and would easily pass through fence mesh. Sixty-five turtles partook in a fencing manipulative experiment. Turtles with carapace widths wider than mesh often successfully escaped through fences by lifting one side of their shell and passing diagonally. In a second experiment where a piece of vertical wire (1500mmx300mm) was removed, turtles located gates after prospecting and trying to fit through meshing areas that were too small to pass through. Nine-two percent of turtles were able to locate and pass through gates, while 8% failed to locate a gate after 2 hours. Three turtles that did not use gates, and seemed to ‘give up’ and dug into the grass. Gates applied every 4m showed an 83% passage rate, every 2m was 91%, and while every 1m was 100%. Combing field and manipulative experiments revealed that large turtles will prospect and move along a fence until they find suitable passage. Applying turtle gates every 1–4m allows almost 100% passage, and if strategically applied in travel corridors, would minimize the need for large-scale clipping efforts around entire wetlands.
EFFECT OF LAND TENURE ON ADOPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION. EVIDENCE FROM MALAWI
Authors: Phiri Horace
Published: December 2020

The definitive aim of this study was to bring to fore the evidence of the importance of tenure considerations in the designing, development, and implementation of climate change programs. This was done by analyzing how land tenure affects the use of adaptation strategies in Malawi. Using secondary data from the Integrated Household Survey (IHS4), a multinomial logit model was fitted to analyze determinants of adoption of climate change adaptation strategies. Land tenure has shown to significantly affect the adoption of the technologies in question. Insecure arrangements such as borrowing and renting land tend to discourage adoption. The proliferation of borrowed or rented in Malawi’s agricultural sector necessitates intervention to encourage adaptation on those farms to avoid land degradation.
Rapid nucleus-scale reorganization of chromatin in neurons enables transcriptional adaptation for memory consolidation
Authors: Peter Manuel , Aschauer Dominik F. , Vaz Pandolfo Renata , Sinning Anne , Grössl Florian , Kargl Dominic , Kraitsy Klaus , Burkard Thomas R. , Luhmann Heiko J. , Haubensak Wulf , Rumpel Simon
Published: December 2020

The interphase nucleus is functionally organized in active and repressed territories defining the transcriptional status of the cell. However, it remains poorly understood how the nuclear architecture of neurons adapts in response to behaviorally relevant stimuli that trigger fast alterations in gene expression patterns. Imaging of fluorescently tagged nucleosomes revealed that pharmacological manipulation of neuronal activityin vitroand auditory cued fear conditioningin vivoinduce nucleus-scale restructuring of chromatin within minutes. Furthermore, the acquisition of auditory fear memory is impaired after infusion of a drug into auditory cortex which blocks chromatin reorganizationin vitro. We propose that active chromatin movements at the nucleus scale act together with local gene-specific modifications to enable transcriptional adaptations at fast time scales. Introducing a transgenic mouse line for photolabeling of histones, we extend the realm of systems available for imaging of chromatin dynamics to living animals.
Agroecosystemic Resilience Index (AgRI): a method to assess agrobiodiversity
Authors: Cleves-Leguízamo José-Alejandro , Youkhana Eva , Toro-Calderon Javier
Published: December 2020

Agricultural production systems, subjects of study in agroecology, are non-equilibrium open systems permanently influenced by the action of natural or anthropogenic disturbances or “ripple effects.” Faced with this situation, agroecosystems tend to maintain a state of functional equilibrium in time and space, through an emergent property known asresilience. This concept is related to the dissipative capacity of agroecosystems to interact with the disturbance in such a way as to allow it to preserve its functionality and basic structure, through attenuation of the effect that disturbs the system. The literature reports diverse methods with a variable number of indicators or criteria for the evaluation or analysis of resilience. Many of these present conceptual deficiencies considering that the components of the system have similar characteristics and linear responses, that is, they do not show changes due to the action or nature of the disturbance. In this sense, there is a need to propose a generic method to analyze and evaluate agroecosystemic resilience, through a complex and comprehensive approach that takes into consideration the interaction of physical, biotic, socioeconomic or symbolic components of the system. These interactions are differential (weighted), to facilitate decision-making by the community, farmers, or administrators, regarding adaptations, adjustments or modifications that allow the agroecosystem to maintain its productivity and permanence.
The search for surrogacy in patient derived xenograft mouse trials: glass is less than half full
Authors: Mistry Hitesh B.
Published: December 2020

Despite the efforts of many within the drug development and clinical community surrogate biomarkers for patient survival have remained elusive in Oncology. This failure in part is attributable to there being a paucity of clinical trials showing a treatment effect on patient survival. Given this issue an alternative system to explore the surrogacy potential of biomarkers are large preclinical xenograft studies i.e. panel of patient derived xenografts or mouse clinical trials. In this study we explored the surrogacy potential of tumour burden biomarkers, current size of tumour and how its changed, preclinically in a large patient derived xenograft database which contains a diverse number of drugs/treatments (n=61) and xenografts (n=245). We found that of the possible 1830 two-arm mouse trials, 1103 showed a treatment effect on the preclinical end-point, disease progression, (p<0.05). Of these only in 30% did tumour burden markers fully capture the treatment effect on disease progression times i.e. satisfied a key condition for surrogacy. These results highlight that preclinically it is very challenging to find a surrogate marker based purely on measures of tumour burden.
Normal aging affects unconstrained three-dimensional reaching against gravity with reduced vertical precision and increased co-contraction
Authors: Wittenberg George F. , Tian Jing , Kortzorg Nick , Wyers Lore , Van Halewyck Florian , Boisgontier Matthieu P. , Levin Oron , Swinnen Stephan P. , Jonkers Ilse
Published: December 2020

Reaching for an object in space forms the basis for many activities of daily living and is important in rehabilitation after stroke and in other neurological and orthopedic conditions. It has been the object of motor control and neuroscience research for over a century, but studies often constrain movement to eliminate the effect of gravity or reduce the degrees of freedom. In some studies, aging has been shown to reduce target accuracy, with a mechanism suggested to be impaired corrective movements. We sought first to explore the changes in control of shoulder and elbow joint movements that occur with aging during performance of reaching movements to different target heights with the normal effects of gravity, unconstrained hand movement, and stable target locations. Three-dimensional kinematic data and electromyography were collected in 14 young (25±6 years) and 10 older adults (68±3 years) during second-long reaches to three targets aligned vertically in front of the participants. Older adults took longer to initiate a movement than the young adults and were more variable and inaccurate in their initial and final movements. Target height had greater effect on trajectory curvature variability in older than young adults, with angle variability relative to target position being greater in older adults around the time of peak speed. There were significant age-related differences in use of the multiple degrees of freedom of the upper extremity, with less variability in shoulder abduction in the older group. Muscle activation patterns were similar, except for a higher biceps-triceps co-contraction and tonic levels of some proximal muscle activation. The path length of movements was not affected by age. These results show an age-related deficit in the motor planning and online correction of reaching movements against a predictable force (i.e., gravity). These results will facilitate interpretation of our forthcoming study of transcranial magnetic stimulation effects on the same task in these two populations, and is relevant to any study that seeks to measure the effect of pathological processes on upper extremity motor performance in the elderly.
Evaluating Performance of Drug Repurposing Technologies
Authors: Schuler James , Falls Zackary , Mangione William , Hudson Matthew L. , Bruggemann Liana , Samudrala Ram
Published: December 2020

Drug repurposing technologies are growing in number and maturing. However, comparison to each other and to reality is hindered due to lack of consensus with respect to performance evaluation. Such comparability is necessary to determine scientific merit and to ensure that only meaningful predictions from repurposing technologies carry through to further validation and eventual patient use. Here, we review and compare performance evaluation measures for these technologies using version 2 of our shotgun repurposing Computational Analysis of Novel Drug Opportunities (CANDO) platform to illustrate their benefits, drawbacks, and limitations. Understanding and using different performance evaluation metrics ensures robust cross platform comparability, enabling us to continuously strive towards optimal repurposing by decreasing time and cost of drug discovery and development.
Variation in behavior drives multiscale responses to habitat conditions in timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus)
Authors: Hoffman Andrew S. , Tutterow Annalee M. , Gade Meaghan R. , Adams Bryce T. , Peterman William E.
Published: December 2020

Variations in both the behavior of wildlife and the scale at which the environment most influences the space use of wild animals (i.e., scale of effect) are critical, but often overlooked in habitat selection modeling. Ecologists have proposed that biological responses happening over longer time frames are influenced by environmental variables at larger spatial scales, but this has rarely been empirically tested. Here, we hypothesized that long-term patterns of behavior (i.e. lasting multiple weeks to months) would be associated with larger scales of effect than more sporadic behaviors. We predicted site use by 43 radio-telemetered timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) exhibiting four distinct, time-varying behaviors (foraging, digestion, ecdysis, and gestation) using remotely-sensed environmental variables related to forest structure and landscape topography. Among sites used by snakes, warmer temperatures and higher levels of forest disturbance were predictive of behaviors dependent on thermoregulation including gestation and ecdysis while more moderate temperatures and drier, more oak-dominated sites were predictive of foraging. Long-term behaviors were associated with larger spatial scales, supporting our hypothesis that the scale at which habitat selection occurs is linked to the temporal scale of relevant behaviors. Management recommendations based on single-scale models of habitat use that do not account for fine-scale variations in behavior may obscure the importance of potentially limiting habitat features needed for infrequent behaviors that are critically important for growth and reproduction of this and related species.
Unusual predominance of maintenance DNA methylation in Spirodela polyrhiza
Authors: Harkess Alex , Bewick Adam J. , Lu Zefu , Fourounjian Paul , Messing Joachim , Michael Todd P. , Schmitz Robert J. , Meyers Blake C.
Published: December 2020

5-methylcytosine (5mC) is a modified base often described as necessary for the proper regulation of genes and transposons and for the maintenance of genome integrity in plants. However, the extent of this dogma is limited by the current phylogenetic sampling of land plant species diversity. Here, we report that a monocot plant, Spirodela polyrhiza, has lost CG gene body methylation, genome-wide CHH methylation, and the presence or expression of several genes in the highly conserved RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway. It has also lost the CHH methyltransferase CHROMOMETHYLASE 2. Consequently, the transcriptome is depleted of 24-nucleotide, heterochromatic, small interfering RNAs that act as guides for the deposition of 5mC to RdDM-targeted loci in all other currently sampled angiosperm genomes. Although the genome displays low levels of genome-wide 5mC primarily at LTR retrotransposons, CG maintenance methylation is still functional. In contrast, CHG methylation is weakly maintained even though H3K9me2 is present at loci dispersed throughout the euchromatin and highly enriched at regions likely demarcating pericentromeric regions. Collectively, these results illustrate that S. polyrhiza is maintaining CG and CHG methylation mostly at repeats in the absence of small RNAs. S. polyrhiza reproduces rapidly through clonal propagation in aquatic environments, which we hypothesize may enable low levels of maintenance methylation to persist in large populations.

Significance Statement

DNA methylation is a widespread chromatin modification that is regularly found in all plant species. By examining one aquatic duckweed species, Spirodela polyrhiza, we find that it has lost highly conserved genes involved in methylation of DNA at sites often associated with repetitive DNA, and within genes, however DNA methylation and heterochromatin is maintained during cell division at other sites. Consequently, small RNAs that normally guide methylation to silence repetitive DNA like retrotransposons are diminished. Despite the loss of a highly conserved methylation pathway, and the reduction of small RNAs that normally target repetitive DNA, transposons have not proliferated in the genome, perhaps due in part to the rapid, clonal growth lifestyle of duckweeds.
Electrical synaptic transmission requires a postsynaptic scaffolding protein
Authors: Lasseigne Abagael M. , Echeverry Fabio A. , Ijaz Sundas , Michel Jennifer Carlisle , Martin E. Anne , Marsh Audrey J. , Trujillo Elisa , Marsden Kurt C. , Pereda Alberto E. , Miller Adam C.
Published: December 2020

Electrical synaptic transmission relies on neuronal gap junctions containing channels constructed by Connexins. While at chemical synapses neurotransmitter-gated ion channels are critically supported by scaffolding proteins, it is unknown if channels at electrical synapses require similar scaffold support. Here we investigated the functional relationship between neuronal Connexins and Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO1), an intracellular scaffolding protein localized to electrical synapses. Using model electrical synapses in zebrafish Mauthner cells, we demonstrated that ZO1 is required for robust synaptic Connexin localization, but Connexins are dispensable for ZO1 localization. Disrupting this hierarchical ZO1/Connexin relationship abolishes electrical transmission and disrupts Mauthner-cell-initiated escape responses. We found that ZO1 is asymmetrically localized exclusively postsynaptically at neuronal contacts where it functions to assemble intercellular channels. Thus, forming functional neuronal gap junctions requires a postsynaptic scaffolding protein. The critical function of a scaffolding molecule reveals an unanticipated complexity of molecular and functional organization at electrical synapses.
Synthesis, crystal structure, and electronic structure of Li2PbSiS4: a quaternary thiosilicate with a compressed chalcopyrite-like structure
Authors: Stoyko Stanislav S. , Craig Andrew J. , Kotchey Joshua W. , Aitken Jennifer A.
Published: December 2020

The new quaternary thiosilicate, Li2PbSiS4 (dilithium lead silicon tetrasulfide), was prepared in an evacuated fused-silica tube via high-temperature, solid-state synthesis at 800 °C, followed by slow cooling. The crystal structure was solved and refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. By strict definition, the title compound crystallizes in the stannite structure type; however, this type of structure can also be described as a compressed chalcopyrite-like structure. The Li+ cation lies on a crystallographic fourfold rotoinversion axis, while the Pb2+ and Si4+ cations reside at the intersection of the fourfold rotoinversion axis with a twofold axis and a mirror plane. The Li+ and Si4+ cations in this structure are tetrahedrally coordinated, while the larger Pb2+ cation adopts a distorted eight-coordinate dodecahedral coordination. These units join together via corner- and edge-sharing to create a dense, three-dimensional structure. Powder X-ray diffraction indicates that the title compound is the major phase of the reaction product. Electronic structure calculations, performed using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method within density functional theory (DFT), indicate that Li2PbSiS4 is a semiconductor with an indirect bandgap of 2.22 eV, which compares well with the measured optical bandgap of 2.51 eV. The noncentrosymmetric crystal structure and relatively wide bandgap designate this compound to be of interest for IR nonlinear optics.
Bis(benzo[h]quinolin-10-olato-κ2
N,O)bromidomanganese(III)
Authors: Papa Veronica , Spannenberg Anke , Beller Matthias , Junge Kathrin
Published: December 2020

The title compound, [MnBr(C13H8NO)2], consists of a manganese(III) atom, which is coordinated by one bromido and two benzo[h]quinolin-10-olato ligands. The MnIII complex exhibits a distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry with the Br ligand in the apical position. Neighbouring complexes are held together by π–π interactions and weak C—H...Br hydrogen bonds.
2-({[(2S)-1-Hydroxy-1,1,3-triphenylpropan-2-yl]imino}methyl)-4,6-bis(4-methylphenyl)phenol
Authors: Show Veronica L. , Fok Emily Y. , Johnson Adam R.
Published: December 2020

The title compound, C42H37NO2, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with one molecule in the asymmetric unit. An intramolecular hydrogen bond orients the phenol hydroxyl group toward the imine nitrogen. The aliphatic alcohol is engaged in a weak intramolecular hydrogen bond with the imine nitrogen.
Methodological Insights Theory development in qualitative management control: revisiting the roles of triangulation and generalization
Authors: Sridharan V.G.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This research paper seeks to advance the techniques of “within-paradigm” triangulation and theoretical generalization adopted in qualitative field studies for new theory development in management control.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the evidence gleaned from three positivist case studies along with some published interpretivist studies, this paper identifies three triangulation approaches and links them with three forms of theoretical generalization in qualitative field studies.

Findings

While the “literal” approach to triangulation has its place in the extant literature, this study finds that two other approaches, labeled “convergent” and “normative” triangulation, which are relevant in many circumstances to link multiple pieces of evidence in order to build credible explanations. In theory development, while the extant forms of theoretical generalization (constructive and contextual) are useful for identifying new solutions for both practical and theoretical concerns, this paper finds that a third form, namely “transposed” logic, is relevant in identifying new control problems that can benefit by adopting the observed unusual solutions.

Originality/value

Within triangulation, while the extant literature endorses the role of literal triangulation in obtaining consistent evidence, including how verifying inconsistent responses helps improve the validity of the obtained evidence, this paper advances two new triangulation approaches that can enrich the extant literature. Within theoretical generalization, while the extant literature deems constructive and contextual forms as “rhetoric”, this paper (1) expands their status to “logic” by clarifying their theoretical purpose and (2) introduces one new form, namely “transposed” logic that helps identify a generalizable range of management control problems that can adopt the observed unusual solution.
Quantum-like modelling in game theory: Quo Vadis? A brief review
Authors: Patra Sudip , Ghose Partha
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The current paper is a brief review of the emerging field of quantum-like modelling in game theory. This paper aims to explore several quantum games, which are superior compared to their classical counterparts, which means either they give rise to superior Nash equilibria or they make the game fairer. For example, quantum Prisoners Dilemma generates Pareto superior outcomes as compared to defection outcome in the famous classical case. Again, a quantum-like version of cards game can make the game fairer, increasing the chance of winning of players who are disadvantaged in the classical case. This paper explores all the virtues of simple quantum games, also highlighting some findings of the authors as regards Prisoners Dilemma game.

Design/methodology/approach

As this is a general review paper, the authors have not demonstrated any specific mathematical method, rather explored the well-known quantum probability framework, used for designing quantum games. They have a short appendix which explores basic structure of Hilbert space representation of human decision-making.

Findings

Along with the review of the extant literature, the authors have also highlighted some new findings for quantum Prisoners Dilemma game. Specifically, they have shown in the earlier studies (which are referred to here) that a pure quantum entanglement set up is not needed for designing better games, even a weaker condition, which is classical entanglement is sufficient for producing Pareto improved outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

Theoretical research, with findings and implications for future game designs, it has been argued that it is not always needed to have true quantum entanglement for superior Nash Equilibria.

Originality/value

The main purpose here is to raise awareness mainly in the social science community about the possible applications of quantum-like game theory paradigm. The findings related to Prisoners Dilemma game are, however, original.
Sense of coherence as influencing information sharing at the workplace
Authors: Heinström Jannica , Ahmad Farhan , Huvila Isto , Ek Stefan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study introduces sense of coherence (SOC) as a factor in information sharing at the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by a survey conducted on 311 respondents in a multinational organization, and analyzed using partial least square structural equation modelling.

Findings

SOC influenced information sharing both directly and indirectly as mediated by trust and employee learning orientation. Trust, moreover, influenced receiving information more strongly than sending it, while employee learning orientation more strongly affected sending information.

Originality/value

The findings underline the importance of a holistic understanding of information sharing, including individual differences and employee well-being.
Nutritional and phytochemical composition of pecan nut [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] and its hypocholesterolemic effect in an animal model
Authors: Tanwar Beenu , Modgil Rajni , Goyal Ankit
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The health-promoting phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids present in nonfatty portion of pecan nut remain overlooked. The present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and antinutritional/phytochemical constituents of pecan nut and its effect (as a whole nut flour) on the blood lipid profile in the rat model.

Design/methodology/approach

The nutritional composition as well as phytochemicals were evaluated by using standard chemical methods. A controlled randomized study was conducted to assess the hypocholesterolemic effect of nut supplementation in male Wistar albino rats.

Findings

Phytochemicals/antinutrients analysis exhibited remarkable amount of phenolic compounds (47.05 ± 9.85–302.67 ± 7.72 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (44.95 ± 0.23 mg/100 g) with low trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) (1.18 ± 0.03 TIU/mg), saponins (0.49 ± 0.04 g/100 g), alkaloids (0.26 ± 0.03 mg/100 g), phytic acid (854.75 ± 15.47) and oxalates (8.15 ± 0.58 mg/100 g) content. Kernel oil showed 2.87 ± 0.75 meq O2/kg oil peroxide value (PV), well below the maximum permissible limit, demonstrating good oxidative stability of pecan oil. Pecan nut-supplemented diet exhibited a favorable alteration in the blood lipid profile by decreasing total cholesterol (TC) (from 85.42 ± 1.62–229.23 ± 3.43 to 72.24 ± 1.39–106.10 ± 1.69 mg/dl) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (from 64.02 ± 1.96–199.07 ± 4.40 to 38.73 ± 0.79–55.48 ± 1.69 mg/dl) and increasing high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (from 8.70 ± 0.85–9.64 ± 1.10 to 20.25 ± 0.65–24.96 ± 0.56 mg/dl) when compared with control (CC).

Research limitations/implications

This information would be further useful for assessing the biological quality of pecan nut as well as developing value-added food products by exploiting deoiled pecan protein concentrates.

Originality/value

Pecan nut is a rich source of traditional nutrients and phytochemicals and can be recommended to patients with hypercholesterolemia and related cardiovascular diseases.
Self-initiated expatriate adjustment: South Korean workers in Vietnam
Authors: Oh Seok-Young , Jang Kyoungjin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify how young South Korean self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) have adjusted to their work and to verify the role of workplace learning activities as work adjustment processes in the relationship between work adjustment resources and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a mixed-method approach, beginning with a qualitative study, followed by a quantitative study.

Findings

The main findings of the qualitative study indicated two types of SIE personal characteristics (ability to embrace cultural differences and entrepreneurship), their participation in training programs and that a supportive work environment which facilitates their work adjustment. Workplace learning, which led to role clarification within their organizations, is also critical for adjustment. Based on these findings, the quantitative research study examined the effects of personal and contextual factors on workplace learning and adjustment (n = 120). The quantitative part of the study found cultural intelligence (CQ), entrepreneurship, training programs and supportive environments were positively related to sociocultural adjustment through the work adjustment process.

Research limitations/implications

As work adjustment is an important predictor of increased sociocultural adjustment among SIEs, organizations should build learning-supportive climates to promote workplace learning and seek people with appropriate characteristics for expatriation. Further studies should expand participant sample sizes to represent a wider population of SIEs.

Originality/value

Extant literature on SIEs mainly explored their performance and management. This study explores their adjustment processes through the perspective of workplace learning.
From artistic direction to cultural management: governance and management of Barcelona's artistic institutions in the twenty-first century
Authors: Rius-Ulldemolins Joaquim , Klein Ricardo
Published: December 2020

Purpose

During the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, debate about the governance and management of national cultural institutions has largely focused on the problematic relationship between art and the economy. However, several more recent changes have made this discussion outdated. These include loss of autonomy in the art world, transformation of cultural production and distribution and instrumentalisation of cultural policies to generate a new context leading to the emergence of art managers.

Design/methodology/approach

In terms of cultural policy, the interplay between the governance and management of national cultural institutions is currently problematic, with the work of art managers now replacing the previous “art versus economy” binomial. Here, we demonstrate the growing centrality of the governance paradigm and generation of public value in the local context, by qualitatively examining the discourses of politicians and national cultural institution managers in Barcelona.

Findings

We concluded that a new interface between policymakers and managers has appeared in twenty-first century cultural institutions, and that this has replaced the previous antagonism between artistic directors and managers. Finally, although there is a consensus that the objective of national cultural institutions should be to enhance public value, we also identified the presence of a symbolic battle over how this public value is defined and who should evaluate it.

Originality/value

This paper reveals the centrality of this new debate: policymakers and managers have developed discourses and strategies so that their vision of public value now predominates. In turn, this debate has become the new “battlefield” of cultural policy and reflects a rebalancing between the artistic and political spheres.
Information ecology in digitalising welfare services: a multi-level analysis
Authors: Pekkarinen Satu , Hasu Mervi , Melkas Helinä , Saari Eveliina
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine and reinterpret information ecology in the context of the changing environment of services, which has been strongly affected by digitalisation and increasing citizen engagement. Here, information ecology refers to the interaction and co-evolution of technologies, human beings and the social environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The data consist of 25 thematic interviews conducted in a public Finnish organisation responsible for organising welfare services, and in its collaborating organisations. The interviews were analysed qualitatively. The analytical framework is based on Nardi and O'Day's five components of information ecology: system, diversity, co-evolution, keystone species and locality.

Findings

The analysis shows that these basic components still exist in the digitalisation era, but that they should be interpreted and highlighted differently, for example, stressing the openness of the information system instead of closed systems, as well as emphasising the increasing meaning of diversity amongst digitalisation, and the dynamic co-evolution between the elements of the system. New capabilities, such as the ability to combine various kinds of information and knowledge, are needed in this adaptation.

Research limitations/implications

The study illustrates a wider, updated information-ecology concept with the help of empirical research. Technology affects care organisations' information ecologies in numerous – often invisible – ways, which this study brings into light.

Originality/value

So far, information-ecology research has overlooked social and healthcare, but this study provides findings concerning this societally important sector.
The commons problem in the presence of negative externalities
Authors: Masoudi Nahid , Bowie Donique
Published: December 2020

Purpose

While the commons problem and the issues related to the negative externalities of harvesting have been studied extensively, there remains a need to bridge these two streams of studies to comprehensively investigate the implications of the strategic interactions among resource harvesters in the presence of such negative externalities. This paper aims to fill this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors study a common-pool harvest problem when the extractive activities leave behind negative externalities which affect the resource growth rate and reduce the stock beyond the extracted levels. Markov perfect noncooperative and optimal solutions are presented under different scenarios regarding considerations of negative externalities into harvest decisions.

Findings

Results of the study suggest that, in the presence of such externalities, all parties must scale down their extraction in accordance with their externalities. The resource can be preserved by implementation of such harvest rule. However, failure to incorporate the externalities exacerbates the commons problem and can even lead to exhaustion of the biomass even if countries manage to cooperate and coordinate their harvest. Suggesting that if such externalities are large enough – which empirical literature suggests they are – then recognition and consideration of these externalities in the harvest decisions is as crucial as cooperation.

Originality/value

This paper provides a framework that is capable of incorporating the negative externalities of harvest activities into a bioeconomic game theoretic model and thereby providing a more real-world representation of the state of the common-pool resource management. While, the authors extend a well-known simple model, the model of this research study has the capacity to explain the widespread incidences of resource collapses. Therefore, the important policy implication is that agents should rigorously work together to understand the extent of the negative externalities of their harvests on the resources.
Implementing youth peer support in an early psychosis program
Authors: Hopkins Liza , Pedwell Glenda , Wilson Katie , Howell-Jay Prunella
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to identify and understand the barriers and enablers to the implementation of youth peer support in a clinical mental health service. The development of a lived experience workforce in mental health is a key component of policy at both the state and the federal level in Australia. Implementing a peer workforce within existing clinical services, however, can be a challenging task. Furthermore, implementing peer support in a youth mental health setting involves a further degree of complexity, involving a degree of care for young people being invited to provide peer support when they may be still early in their own recovery journey.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reports on a formative evaluation of the beginning stages of implementation of a youth peer workforce within an existing clinical mental health service in Melbourne.

Findings

The project found that it was feasible and beneficial to implement youth peer support; however, significant challenges remain, including lack of appropriate training for young people, uncertainty amongst clinical staff about the boundaries of the peer role and the potential for “tokenism” in the face of slow cultural change across the whole service.

Originality/value

Very little evaluation has yet been undertaken into the effectiveness of implementing peer support in youth mental health services. This paper offers an opportunity to investigate where services may need to identify strengths and address difficulties when undertaking future implementation efforts.
Paranoid personality and frontline employee’s proactive work behaviours: a moderated mediation model of empathetic leadership and perceived psychological safety
Authors: Bani-Melhem Shaker , Mohd. Shamsudin Faridahwati , Mazen Abukhait Rawan , Quratulain Samina
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study expands on research related to the dark side of personality traits by examining how individual dark personality affects proactive work behaviours. Specifically, the authors consider paranoia as a dark personality trait and propose that it negatively relates to perceived psychological safety and indirectly affects frontline employees' (FLEs) willingness to report customer complaints as well as their extra-role customer service. The authors also posit that empathetic leadership is a focal, contextual factor that mitigates the impact of paranoia on perceived psychological safety and, consequently, the willingness to report customer complaints and engage in extra-role customer service behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The model was tested on a sample of 252 FLEs using process macro (Hayes, 2017) and AMOS. Data were collected from FLEs working in different hospitality organisations using a time-lagged design; supervisor-rated employee extra-role customer service was also measured.

Findings

The authors found that FLEs with a paranoid personality trait had a lesser sense of psychological safety at work, which reduced their willingness to engage in proactive work behaviours. However, this negative effect was mitigated by the presence of an empathetic leader.

Originality/value

The results are important because research has yet to determine which actions managers should take to counter the negative effects of dark personalities in the workplace.
Analysis of patent documents with utility mining: a case study of wind energy technology
Authors: Altuntas Fatma , Gök Mehmet Şahin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to propose a novel approach based on utility mining to find the associations among wind energy technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed approach uses patent documents and utility mining. Associations among wind energy technologies have been evaluated to show how the proposed approach works in practice.

Findings

Determining the relationships between wind energy technologies provide essential information to investors and decision-makers. Therefore, a real-life case study of wind energy technology is performed to show how the proposed approach works in practice. The proposed approach founds technology classes associated with wind energy technology. Furthermore, the strongest associations among technologies are also obtained by the proposed approach. The results of the case study show that the proposed approach can be easily used in practice. The maximum size of itemsets is 18-level itemsets. Y02E and F03D cooperative patent classification (CPC) codes appear on all itemsets. As the technologies of Y02E and F03D are directly correlated, they will be mutually developed in the future. Additionally, the number of patent corresponding to Y02E and F03D CPC codes are 7,494 and 6,577, respectively.

Originality/value

This is the first study that applies the utility mining-based approach to patent documents. Different levels of importance among technologies based on patent citations and the number of repetitions of each technology class are considered in the proposed approach.
Unifying nature of food: consumer-initiated cooperatives in Istanbul
Authors: Oba Beyza , Ozsoy Zeynep
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to study how activists involved in consumer-initiated cooperatives, in a specific context, challenge the practices of the neoliberal system and develop counter-practices that are ingrained with their values. It aims to access the transformative capacity and inclusiveness of consumer-initiated cooperatives and the role played by prefigurative practices in changing the status quo. Three practices – defetishization of agricultural commodities, surplus generation and distribution, prefiguration – that enable the inclusion of those groups who are marginalized in the food production and consumption nexus by neoliberal policies are identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings of this paper were developed from 23 unstructured interviews, participant observation and analysis of the social media accounts of five consumer-initiated cooperatives located in different districts of Istanbul and which are involved in a collective response to the neoliberal policies.

Findings

The study discusses that, in a specific context, political events and economic policies can be a catalyst for the initiation of alternative consumer-initiated cooperatives. The findings indicate that these organizations can develop and articulate prefigurative practices that are influential in transforming the prevailing capitalist food provisioning system to be more inclusive.

Research limitations/implications

The findings offer an alternative view to the dominant capitalist logic and advance the concept of how the economic sphere can be re-politicized and how the persevering notion of financial performance is resolved by invoking values of inclusion, solidarity, responsibility and sharing. The findings are based on the study of five cases in a specific context during a specific period.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on cooperatives owned and governed by activist consumers and presents results concerning their underlying practices for creating a food provisioning system that is inclusive and aiming for social justice and equality. Similarly, it provides evidence of how local political and economic conditions influence the appropriation and development of these practices – commodity defetishization, surplus distribution and prefiguration.
Linking green HRM practices to environmental performance through pro-environment behaviour in the information technology sector
Authors: Ojo Adedapo Oluwaseyi , Tan Christine Nya-Ling , Alias Mazni
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Existing literature acknowledges the role of green human resource management (GHRM) in shaping employees’ pro-environmental behaviour and environmental performance. However, limited studies have investigated the specific impacts of GHRM practices on pro-environmental behaviour from the employees’ perspectives. This study aims to conceptualise GHRM practices as internal resources that can be used to stimulate employee pro-environmental information technology (IT) behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothesised relationships were tested with the aid of partial least square path modelling of data collected from 333 IT professionals in ISO 14001 companies in Malaysia.

Findings

The results suggest that green training and development, performance management and empowerment and participation are essential in stimulating pro-environmental IT behaviour. Besides, the mediating effects of pro-environmental IT behaviour were significant for the impacts of green training and development, performance management and green empowerment and participation on environmental IT performance.

Research limitations/implications

The results indicate that GHRM practices are significant predictors of environmental IT performance, but training and development could be counter-productive to performance unless it stimulates employees’ engagement in pro-environmental behaviour.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the resource-based view of HRM by examining GHRM practices as organisational resources for stimulating employee pro-environmental IT behaviour to support environmental IT performance.
QoS in higher education institutions: the concept, a literature review and future directions
Authors: Prakash Gyan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the meaning and operationalisation of quality of service (QoS) in the context of higher education institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review of 167 articles published in various peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and 2019 is performed.

Findings

The findings reveal that around 40 dimensions have been used to conceptualise QoS in HEIs. Reliability followed by responsiveness, tangibility, empathy, assurance, programme design, academic and non-academic processes, reputation and facilities have received the highest attention. The most popular approach is empirical, and surveys and single-context studies are the most popular methods. The United Kingdom (UK) leads research on quality in HEIs, followed by the United States of America (USA) and India.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a comprehensive synthesis of articles addressing QoS in HEIs.

Practical implications

Policymakers and academic administrators can use the findings of this study to conceptualise student satisfaction along the educational value chain. The discussion on HEIs’ and students’ perspectives will help policymakers create teaching excellence.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a unified synthesis of various strands of the literature on QoS in HEIs.
Elastic wave‐mode separation in 2D transversely isotropic media using optical flow
Authors: Wang Xiaoyi , Lu Yongming , Zhang Jianfeng
Published: December 2020

Wave‐mode separation is a critical step in anisotropic elastic‐wave imaging. To avoid high computational costs and additional corrections, we apply a separation formula in the space domain that projects Cartesian components of the elastic wavefield onto the polarization vectors in the orthogonal direction. By solving the Christoffel equation, we implement the conversion from the phase velocity direction to the polarization direction. We use similarity between the seismic wave propagation and the optical flow problem to calculate the phase angle based on the Horn–Schunck algorithm. Compared with the conventional Poynting vector, the optical flow vector is more robust, particularly for complex underground structures. We demonstrate the performance of the proposed approach for two‐dimensional transversely isotropic media with three numerical examples and discuss the potential extension to three‐dimensional media.
Cloud Crypto Land
Authors: Schuster Edmund
Published: December 2020

The supposed disruptive and transformational potential of blockchain technology has received widespread attention in the media, from legislators, and from academics across disciplines. While much of this attention has revolved around cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, many see the true promise of blockchain technology in its potential use for transactions in traditional assets, as well as for facilitating self‐executing ‘smart contracts’, which replace vague and imprecise natural language with unambiguous computer code. This article presents a simple legal argument against the feasibility of a meaningful blockchain‐based economic system. Blockchain‐based systems are shown to be unsuitable for transactions in traditional assets, unless design choices are made which render the use of the technology pointless. The same argument is shown to apply to smart contracts. Legal and practical obstacles therefore mean that, outside its original realm of cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology is highly unlikely to transform economic interactions in the real world.