bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of hydrogen flow rate, injection pressure and EGR on performance of common rail direct injection (CRDi) engine in dual fuel mode
Authors: Khandal S.V. , Yunus Khan T.M. , Kamangar Sarfaraz , Baig Maughal Ahmed Ali , Ahmed N J Salman
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The different performance tests were conducted on diesel engine compression ignition (CI) mode and CRDi engine.

Design/methodology/approach

The CI engine was suitably modified to CRDi engine with Toroidal re-entrant combustion chamber (TRCC) and was run in dual-fuel (DF) mode. Hydrogen (H2) was supplied at different flow rates during the suction stroke, and 0.22 Kg/h of hydrogen fuel flow rate (HFFR) was found to be optimum. Diesel and biodiesel were used as pilot fuels. The CRDi engine with DF mode was run at various injection pressures, and 900 bar was found to be optimum injection pressure (IP) with 10o before top dead center (bTDC) as fuel injection timing (IT).

Findings

These operating engine conditions increased formation of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which were reduced by exhaust gas recycle (EGR). With EGR of 15%, CRDi engine resulted in 12.6% lower brake thermal efficiency (BTE), 5.5% lower hydrocarbon (HC), 7.7% lower carbon monoxide (CO), 26% lower NOx at 80% load as compared to the unmodified diesel engine (CI mode).

Originality/value

The current research is an effort to study and evaluate the performance of CRDi engine in DF mode with diesel-H2 and BCPO-H2 fuel combinations with TRCC.
Explaining the servitization paradox: a configurational theory and a performance measurement framework
Authors: Brax Saara A. , Calabrese Armando , Levialdi Ghiron Nathan , Tiburzi Luigi , Grönroos Christian
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Previous research reports mixed results regarding the performance impact of servitization in manufacturing firms. To resolve this, the purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptually consistent and comprehensive measurement framework for both dimensions, servitization and its performance effect, and apply in a configurational analysis to reexamine previous evidence, arriving at a configurational theory of the relationship between servitization and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining systematic literature review (SLR) and inductive reasoning, the existing indicators for servitization and performance are identified and clustered into groups that adequately represent both dimensions. The dataset is reanalyzed against the resulting framework to identify the configurational patterns and to formulate the theoretical propositions.

Findings

Financial and nonfinancial indicators of servitization and its performance impact are organized into a comprehensive measurement framework grounded on existing research. The subsequent meta-analysis shows that the positive or negative impacts of servitization on performance depend on how firms implement servitization strategies and which performance aspects are examined.

Research limitations/implications

The results explain when servitization can be successful and confirm the existence of the so-called servitization paradox. The meta-analysis identified patterns that explain the previous mixed results, shaping a configurational theory of servitization. Thus, the measurement framework is conceptually robust and has sufficient detail to capture servitization and its performance outcome as it feasibly distinguished between different organizational configurations.

Originality/value

The framework provides a comprehensive portfolio of indicators for both managers and scholars to measure servitization intensity and performance. This supports managers of servitizing firms in leading this organizational transformation while avoiding its organizational and financial paradoxes.
Industrial IoT enabled fuzzy logic based flame image processing for rotary kiln control
Authors: Nagadasari Merrin Prasanna , Bojja Polaiah
Published: May 2021

Purpose

A rotary kiln is a pyro processing device that is used to raise the temperature of materials in cement factories. Temperature monitoring is an essential process in the rotary kiln to yield high quality clinker. Temperature measurement is a challenging task in clinkering process and it is difficult to apply automation techniques. As the pyrometer gives unreliable readings, it is necessary to apply various image processing techniques on the camera images to measure the temperature inside the kiln at different zones.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a fuzzy logic rule-based analysis is proposed to measure temperature using a burning flame image in which it considers red, green, blue (RGB) magnitude planes. The proposed method uses Mamdani fuzzy inference system for decision-making. The system takes RGB magnitude as an input fuzzified variable and generates temperature as fuzzified output.

Findings

This paper focuses on the temperature measurement obtained from the images of the camera system. The commands to the valves and actuators are controlled using the center of gravity of the control regime. The fuzzy logic controller detects the temperature of flame zones using color features of burning flame images.

Originality/value

Precise temperature mapping of flame images helps to control the temperature inside the rotating kiln to produce high quality clinker. The process can be viewed remotely and controlled using various control loops from anywhere.
The effect of cultural environment on entrepreneurial decisions
Authors: Morales Marina , Velilla Jorge
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper empirically examines whether the cultural environment plays a role in entrepreneurial decisions in Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore this issue, we use data from the Adult Population Survey of 2010–2015 provided by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). To calculate the cultural factor, we utilize additional information from the GEM National Expert Survey data and estimate a probit model to measure the effect of culture based on an unobserved latent variable of satisfaction, measured through a dichotomous variable identifying entrepreneurs.

Findings

Results show a positive and statistically significant relationship between the cultural factor and the individual choice of entrepreneurial activity. Our findings are subjected to a range of robustness checks. We extend this analysis to an examination of cultural values as predictors of entrepreneurship status in collectivist and individualist countries. Our results point to collectivist and individualist roles as being among the mechanisms through which the cultural environment may operate.

Originality/value

This is the first empirical work that clusters a wide range of variables provided by the GEM NES data to obtain a cultural indicator, and then applies this indicator to the GEM APS micro-data. Policy-makers should consider these results in order to promote entrepreneurship through culture in collectivist and Mediterranean countries, but use other channels in individualist and Anglo-Saxon countries.
Identification of dynamic capabilities in open innovation
Authors: de Aro Edson Rodrigues , Perez Gilberto
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study aims to understand the interaction between capabilities inherent in open innovation and dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing and transforming) as a source of competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative method and grounded theory were used as guidelines for data collection and analysis.

Findings

The study identifies a set of capabilities in the practice of open innovation related to dynamic capabilities, which indicates the importance of developing dynamic capability in the strategic management of internal and external knowledge in the company.

Research limitations/implications

The number of interviewees approached herein do not allow generalizations, but the use of grounded theory through various strategies of data collection in the interviews allowed the triangulation of the data, increasing the credibility, validity and quality of the research.

Originality/value

This study presents capabilities identified in open innovation and their relationship with dynamic capabilities, identifying the importance of the dynamic capability in the strategic management of internal and external knowledge in the company as a source of competitive advantage.
Impact of the new middle class on consumer behavior: a case study of Delhi-NCR
Authors: Chaudhary Asiya , Khatoon Sabiha
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The paper examines the increase in annual income of the new middle-class (The NMC) of Delhi-NCR and its impact on their investment habits, consumption habits and lifestyle. The paper aims to look into the transformation of the new middle-class into the NMC in emerging economies and its potential to the companies and investors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws insight from 558 new middle-class consumers in Delhi-NCR. ANOVA, post hoc tests , and hierarchical multiple linear regression model are applied to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The NMC living in India's megacities imitates the lifestyle of their counterparts living in the West. To maintain their status and present themselves different from those living in middle or lower-middle-class categories, they spend audaciously, even though the income is low. When they enter the new middle class, their consumption, saving and lifestyle diversify positively.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations. First, the authors do not apply any behavioral theory or marketing model such as the theory of reasoned action (TRA), Engel-kollat-Blackwell (EKB) model or theory of normative model of target markets. Second, the research is limited to the NMC of only one emerging economy, i.e., India. Third, the research sample is limited to only one megacity of India, i.e., Delhi. Finally, this research used only one factor, i.e., AI, to study the consumption pattern.

Practical implications

The results suggest that considering the buying habits and lifestyle of Indian the NMC, consumers would prove helpful to the companies in product decision-making. Furthermore, understanding change in investment habits across different income levels would be advantageous to financial institutions, investment planners and marketers while designing their products to attract investment.

Originality/value

The research holds significance from the point of view of understanding Indian consumers encompassing the the NMC and predicting their implications on consumer goods-producing industries, which shall, in turn, facilitate producers and government in formulating policies and strategies.
Influencing factors of knowledge enhancement of corporate universities in China
Authors: Chen Yunqi , Xu Yusen
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Corporate universities are regarded as the knowledge management institution of enterprises, but how to improve knowledge enhancement function has not been investigated. Constructed upon the knowledge-based view, the purpose of this study is to investigate the influencing factors of knowledge enhancement of corporate universities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes 34 Chinese corporate universities as samples. The influencing factors and interrelationships are checked through exploratory case study and multi-case analysis. A “stimulate-action” model of influencing factors is built up based on the multi-case analysis. The fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis is used to examine configurational paths for knowledge enhancement.

Findings

The research finding shows that only a single element of knowledge management does not constitute a necessary condition for knowledge enhancement of corporate university and explored the concurrent synergy effect and linkage matching mode of multiple conditions of knowledge management. Most of the knowledge-enhanced corporate universities are of strengthening the knowledge process, which shows that sorting out the knowledge process is the core of the corporate university.

Originality/value

Unlike the existing research, the external teachers and combing of external knowledge processes are the key factors; this paper proposed that the internal teachers and sorting out the knowledge process within the enterprise play a central role in the knowledge enhancement of corporate universities. The path of high-knowledge enhancement and without high-knowledge enhancement is asymmetry. This paper refined and extended the application of the knowledge management framework in explaining multiple conjunctural causations and improves the relevant theories of organizational knowledge management in the Chinese context.
Maneuvering without offending on the road to democracy: the role of leaders' power in bringing greater freedom to all
Authors: Kalpokas Neringa , Radivojevic Ivana
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand understanding of how leaders can use their power to reshape macro-level structures to foster individuals' freedoms and build more democratic workplaces. The importance of freedom in work and life can hardly be argued with, yet current democracy scores are the lowest that have ever been recorded (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2019).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyzed two cases of successful democratization, Spain and Lithuania, where they conducted a total of 65 semi-structured interviews with different actors including the top leaders themselves. A combined inductive-deductive analysis of the in-depth qualitative data highlighted how using different dimensions of power (French and Raven, 1959) related to distributing power to others.

Findings

These findings extend understanding of how leaders can use their power to effectively distribute power to others and reach a democracy that fosters freedom. Information and referent power were crucial for aligning the different stakeholder groups, expert power emerged as key for building and empowering a network of support and legitimate power was essential for fostering peaceful and long-lasting changes toward democracy.

Originality/value

While previous research has recognized the importance of leadership and politics for instigating macro-level changes, this study specifies how leaders can utilize their different sources of power to bring greater power and freedom to individuals by unpacking the unique impacts of each type of power. This study thus provides practical insights for leaders seeking to establish more democratic workplaces.
Pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation for strategic decision-making: a COVID-19 index for government response in Australia
Authors: Yigitcanlar Tan , Kankanamge Nayomi , Inkinen Tommi , Butler Luke , Preston Alexander , Rezayee Maqsood , Gill Palvinderjit , Ostadnia Mahsan , Ioppolo Giuseppe , Senevirathne Mahanama
Published: May 2021

Purpose

First, the key vulnerability factors from the literature are identified. Second, using the vulnerability factors as indicators, a composite index is developed. Last, from the index values, a set of vulnerability knowledge maps, showing the vulnerability hotspots, are prepared.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to develop a pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation index to support the strategic decision-making efforts of authorities.

Findings

Ten indicators are identified as vulnerability factors that could significantly impact the virus spread risks. Verifying the identified hotspots against the recorded infected cases and deaths has evidenced the usefulness of the index. Determining and visualising the high-vulnerability locations and communities could help in informed strategic decision-making and responses of the authorities to the pandemic.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that the developed pandemic vulnerability knowledge visualisation index is particularly appropriate in the context of Australia. Nonetheless, by replicating the methodologic steps of the study, customised versions can be developed for other country contexts.
Consumers' psychological reactance and ownership in in-game advertising
Authors: Malhotra Gunjan , Mishra Sita , Saxena Garima
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The study explores the effect of game flow, game enjoyment and game customization on consumers' attitudes toward the game (ATG). It also examines the relationship between consumers' ATG and attitude toward the in-game advertising (IGA) brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used SEM and PROCESS MACRO to analyze the results.

Findings

The study asserts the significant role of game flow, game customization and game enjoyment as antecedents of consumers' ATG. Furthermore, psychological ownership and perceived IGA invasiveness were found to be significant moderators between attitude toward game and attitude for the IGA brand.

Originality/value

The study examines how players’ attitude toward the game influences their attitude toward the IGA brand due to the player's ownership perceptions over the game and invasiveness perceptions for IGA. The study used psychological ownership and psychological reactance theory in the gamification context. The study findings present pertinent implications for game developers and brands interested in using IGA tools.
Health information communication during a pandemic crisis: analysis of CDC Facebook Page during COVID-19
Authors: Syn Sue Yeon
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This study investigates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Facebook Page to examine what kinds of information is shared to public using Facebook and how Facebook users share and engage with information during a health crisis situation with a case of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Facebook Graph API, CDC's Facebook Page posts and users' engagement and reactions for six months from January to June 2020 were collected and analyzed. The posts were categorized into five categories. Users' engagement and reactions include share, comment, like, love, haha, wow, sad and angry.

Findings

The findings show that the type of posts have significant association with COVID-19 situation and the level of users' engagement and reactions differs significantly when COVID-19 related information is shared. The findings show that users become more active during health emergency situation. The results provided an insight into how different types of posts gain users' attention and motivation to interact.

Originality/value

This study investigates the use of social media during a national health crisis situation. While literature provides the use of social media during emergency and crisis cases, as health crisis situation is unique in that the boundary of time and location as well as people's daily life, the findings of this study provide an insight into how health authorities could communicate with the public during a health crisis situation.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-09-2020-0416
Social marketing: advancing a new planning framework to guide programmes
Authors: Akbar M. Bilal , Ndupu Lawrence B. , French Jeff , Lawson Alison
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to develop and present a new planning framework of social marketing, known as consumer research, segmentation, design of the social programme, implementation, evaluation and sustainability (CSD-IES).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed framework is based on recent theoretical developments in social marketing and is informed by the key strengths of existing social marketing planning approaches.

Findings

The CSD-IES planning framework incorporates emerging principles of social marketing. For example, sustainability in changed behaviour, ethical considerations in designing social marketing programmes, the need for continuous research to understand the changing needs of the priority audience during the programme and the need for explicit feedback mechanisms.

Research limitations/implications

The CSD-IES framework is a dynamic and flexible framework that guides social marketers, other practitioners and researchers to develop, implement and evaluate effective and sustainable social marketing programmes to influence or change specific behaviours based on available resources.

Originality/value

This paper makes an important contribution to social marketing theory and practice by integrating elements of behaviour maintenance, consideration of ethical perspectives and continuous feedback mechanisms in developing the CSD-IES framework, bringing it in line with the global consensus definition of social marketing.
Entrepreneurship in social: Brazilian university students toward a career with purpose
Authors: Garçon Márcia Maria , Nassif Vania Maria Jorge
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Social entrepreneurship (SE) presents specificities that the entrepreneur must address. Entrepreneurial intention (EI) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in SE should reflect specific characteristics of behavior. The purpose of this study is to identify the intention of Brazilian university students to undertake SE, having individual social EO (individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO)-social) as their predictive behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper collected study data from Brazilian university students. To test the study’s hypotheses, this paper used confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation model, partial least squares and generalized linear regression model.

Findings

The results indicate that Brazilian university students positively respond to their intention to become social entrepreneurs in the future, regardless of gender, courses or types of universities. In line with the literature, IEO-Social proved to be a strong predictor of EI-social.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited to understanding EI-social from IEO-Social. Besides, its sample is non-probabilistic, therefore, the findings of this study cannot be generalized.

Practical implications

The results encourage the inclusion of SE in entrepreneurial education programs. They guide the involvement of students from different areas of knowledge in activities aimed at higher education.

Social implications

Evidence indicates that including the SE theme in entrepreneurial education programs proves to be valuable for opening purposeful career opportunities for students.

Originality/value

The study contributes to eliminating the gap in studies on EI-social in Brazilian university students. It also offers the IEO-social scale, theoretically constructed and with superior psychometric quality.
Effect of the strut size and tilt angle on the geometric characteristics of selective laser melting AlSi10Mg
Authors: Zhang Baopeng , Han Xuesong , Chen Changpeng , Zhang Wenqi , Liao Hailong , Chen Baijin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the strut size and tilt angle on the densification behavior, surface roughness and dimensional accuracy of the selective laser melting AlSi10Mg lattice structure was investigated in this study. In this study, the characteristics such as the density, up-skin and down-skin roughness and dimensional accuracy of selective laser melting forming technology manufacturing (SLMed) AlSi10Mg cellular lattice structure were carried. This work reveals the effect of the strut size and tilt angle on the geometric characteristics of SLMed AlSi10Mg and is benefit for controlling the forming performance of the SLMed cellular lattice structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on AlSi10Mg powder, the influence of the tilt angle changed from 10° to 45° with an increment of 5° were investigated, the influence of the strut size was varied from 0.4 mm to 1.2 mm with an increment of 0.2 mm were investigated. The characteristics such as the density, up-skin and down-skin roughness, dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of SLM-ed AlSi10Mg cellular lattice structure was carried.

Findings

Greater than 99% relative density can be achieved for different strut size when optimal process parameters are used. In the optimized process interval, the struts with a tilt angle of 10° can still be formed well, which is higher than the design limit of the inclined angle given in the related literature. The tilt angle has a significant effect on the surface roughness of the strut. The microhardness reached to 157 ± 3 HV, and the maximum compressive strength was 58.86 MPa, with the optimal process parameters.

Originality/value

In this study, the characteristics such as the density, up-skin and down-skin roughness and dimensional accuracy of SLMed AlSi10Mg cellular lattice structure were carried. With the optimal geometric parameters, the authors tested microhardness and compressive strength of the cellular lattice structure. The results of this study provide theoretical and experimental basis for the realization of high-quality manufacturing and optimization design of aluminum alloy cellular lattice structure, which will meet more diversified industrial needs.
A comparative multi criteria decision analysis of football teams: evidence on FIFA world cup
Authors: Gökgöz Fazıl , Yalçın Engin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

World Cup tournament is one of the most popular international organizations in football. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the overall performance of World Cup 2018 teams via multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The presented approach adopts entropy integrated Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) approaches to weight the criteria and evaluate the performance of World Cup 2018 teams. Initially, the authors compute weight criteria via Shannon Entropy method. Then, the authors compute and compare the results of TOPSIS and WASPAS methods so as to evaluate the performance of World Cup 2018 teams.

Findings

According to TOPSIS and WASPAS results, Belgium has demonstrated better performance in comparison to other teams. As per to the empirical results, both methods have shown a significant harmony in terms of performance figures. There is also strong positive correlation between TOPSIS and WASPAS method results. This result confirms the stability of the analysis.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to sport performance management literature by using MCDM methods in FIFA World Cup 2018 teams. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to measure performance of an international football organization via MCDM methods.
Conclusion: how could tourism planners and policymakers overcome the barriers to sustainable tourism development in the small island developing state of North Cyprus?
Authors: Özgit Hale , Öztüren Ali
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This theme issue sought to find answers to the question: How could tourism planners and policymakers overcome the barriers to sustainable tourism development in the small island developing state of North Cyprus? The purpose of this paper is to draw on the collaborative work of tourism academics and practitioners featured in this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A thematic analysis of the articles in this collection draws together the key outcomes related to the strategic question, with particular reference to the contribution to knowledge, policy and practice and the implications for further applied research in relation to sustainable tourism development in North Cyprus and small island developing states (SIDS) more generally.

Findings

The main finding is that insufficient and/or ineffective collaboration is one of the main obstacles in managing sustainable tourism in North Cyprus. More diversification of tourism products and better conservation of natural, cultural, economic and environmental resources are also needed. It is argued that this can be achieved through planning and policy improvements that focus on facilitating sustainable tourism development.

Originality/value

This paper reflects on the strategic question discussed in this theme issue, and it contains a descriptive analysis of the results and recommendations for policymakers and tourism sector practitioners. The recommendations include: the development of sustainable tourism practices by harnessing technological advances and by raising the awareness of policymakers and tourism stakeholders. This paper and the collection of articles that it draws on, is the first to explore different academic and practitioner perspectives on ways of overcoming obstacles and managing and developing sustainable tourism in the SIDS of North Cyprus.
Positioning of tourist destinations in the digital era: a review of online customer feedback
Authors: Tripathi Gaurav , Wasan Parul
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify features of online content that create engagement amongst consumers by exploring online customer feedback from the world’s leading tourist website (s). This paper also attempts to unveil the factors based on customer reviews, which will be vital for the tourism industry professionals to promote and position India’s tourist destinations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper involves an analysis of customer feedback from TripAdvisor.com. The approach to research is exploratory and attempts to uncover critical factors arising out of rising visitor experience in the digital media sphere.

Findings

Key factors are nuanced around service quality of the destination image. Identified factors that need the attention of the policymakers, site management and service professionals at large are fairness of price, distractions/irritants and varied expectations of the international and national tourists.

Practical implications

The findings will have substantial implications for the policymakers, the site management and service professionals. Research outcomes are based on the analysis of real customer reviews hence makes this study vital for decision-makers as well as for academic researchers working in this area.

Originality/value

This study used the real tourist’s data from TripAdvisor.com. The customer’s postings on the website are those of verified visitors. This paper should help in developing a thoughtful discussion around positioning India as a preferred destination in the online arena aiming at future tourists.
The transition from traditional to digital marketing: a study of the evolution of e-marketing in the Indian hotel industry
Authors: Kapoor Rashmeet , Kapoor Kush
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The study aims at analyzing the adoption and preference of E-Marketing tools in five-star hotels in India. This paper also explores the scope of artificial intelligence and the challenges with regards to its application.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach is adopted for this research, wherein the data has been collected through conducting one on one telephonic interviews (some in questionnaire format) and a roundtable conference with the general managers and marketing communication managers of 30 New Delhi/National Capital Region (NCR) hotels respectively to understand the transition from traditional to digital marketing era and how are they using various social media marketing tools.

Findings

This study aims to inform how digitalization has benefitted the industry in various aspects and its comparison to the traditional marketing methods. It also discovers the future of artificial intelligence in the Indian hospitality space.

Practical implications

This study aims to help managerial decision-making in the application of various E-marketing tools and strategies, suggesting the right mix of both traditional and digital marketing platforms.

Originality/value

Arguably this is one of a kind study, as there has been no such research done specifically aiming at the five-star hotels of the Indian market. The findings will help the industry explore and enhance their digital presence by suggesting the appropriate mix of both traditional and digital approaches and can be used as a good source for further exploring the perspective of digitalization by academicians as well.
Scavenging beetles control the temporal response of soil communities to carrion decomposition
Authors: Ilardi Marco O. , Cotter Sheena C. , Hammer Edith C. , Riddell Gillian , Caruso Tancredi
Published: May 2021

Carrion is a frequent but overlooked source of nutrients to the soil. The decomposition of carrion is accelerated by invertebrate scavengers, but the impact of the scavengers on below‐ground biota and its functions is scarcely known.

We conducted a laboratory experiment to investigate the effects of the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides on the soil community of a temperate broadleaved forest. We assembled microcosms from soil collected from an oak woodland and treated them with mouse Mus musculus carcasses and mating pairs of burying beetles (♀+♂) in a factorial design with control soils. We sampled independent replicates over time to investigate how the beetles affect soil microarthropods and microbial biomass (bacteria and fungi) in relation to soil pH and organic matter content.

The beetle treatment initially reduced the total microbial biomass and abundance of major groups of microarthropods relative to the control soil. At the same time, organic matter increased in the beetle treatment and then dropped to the pre‐beetle level (i.e. soil baseline) at the end of the beetle breeding cycle (2 weeks). The rapid temporal changes in organic matter were mimicked by the relative abundances of the dominant microarthropod groups, with Oribatida relatively more abundant than Collembola and predaceous mites in the beetle treatment. The overall final effect of the beetle (relative to the laboratory control) on microarthropods was negative but the beetle kept these variables within the levels observed for freshly collected soil (baseline), while the final effect on pH was positive, and most likely driven by the surplus of nutrients from the carcass and biochemical changes triggered by the decomposition process.

In nature, scavenging invertebrates are widespread. Our study demonstrates that beetles breeding in carcasses regulate the dynamics of key components of the soil food web, including microbial biomass, changes in the relative abundances of dominant microarthropods and soil organic matter and pH. Given the abundance of these beetles in nature, the study implies that the distribution of these beetles is a key driver of variation in soil nutrient cycling in woodlands.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Genomic characterization of three novel Desulfobacterota classes expand the metabolic and phylogenetic diversity of the phylum
Authors: Murphy Chelsea L. , Biggerstaff James , Eichhorn Alexis , Ewing Essences , Shahan Ryan , Soriano Diana , Stewart Sydney , VanMol Kaitlynn , Walker Ross , Walters Payton , Elshahed Mostafa S. , Youssef Noha H.
Published: May 2021

We report on the genomic characterization of three novel classes in the phylum Desulfobacterota. One class (proposed name Candidatus ‘Anaeroferrophillalia’) was characterized by heterotrophic growth capacity, either fermentatively or utilizing polysulfide, tetrathionate or thiosulfate as electron acceptors. In the absence of organic carbon sources, autotrophic growth via the Wood–Ljungdahl (WL) pathway and using hydrogen or Fe(II) as an electron donor is also inferred for members of the ‘Anaeroferrophillalia’. The second class (proposed name Candidatus ‘Anaeropigmentia’) was characterized by its capacity for growth at low oxygen concentration, and the capacity to synthesize the methyl/alkyl carrier CoM, an ability that is prevalent in the archaeal but rare in the bacterial domain. Pigmentation is inferred from the capacity for carotenoid (lycopene) production. The third class (proposed name Candidatus ‘Zymogenia’) was characterized by fermentative heterotrophic growth capacity, broad substrate range and the adaptation of some of its members to hypersaline habitats. Analysis of the distribution pattern of all three classes showed their occurrence as rare community members in multiple habitats, with preferences for anaerobic terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments over oxygenated (e.g. pelagic ocean and agricultural land) settings. Special preference for some members of the class Candidatus ‘Zymogenia’ for hypersaline environments such as hypersaline microbial mats and lagoons was observed.
Keep or Drop? The Origin and Evolution of Knowledge Relationships in Organizations
Authors: Stea Diego , Pedersen Torben , Soda Giuseppe
Published: May 2021

Network research shows that strong relationships, highly embedded relationships and brokered relationships may have different outcomes. While pros and cons are associated with each of these network structures, how this ambiguity translates into individuals’ actions of network change is unclear. Specifically, if network positions can be both beneficial and detrimental, how do individuals decide whether to maintain those positions? We develop a tie‐specific model of network modification that captures the positioning in the work‐related network and the level of knowledge acquired from that network for each individual in a knowledge‐intensive organization. Our analysis of tie‐level data identifies the level of acquired knowledge as an important disambiguating mechanism that determines how individuals manage their strong ties, embedded ties and brokered ties over time.
Collective Ministerial Responsibility in British Government: the Testing of a Convention, 2010–2019
Authors: Kippin Sean , Pyper Robert
Published: May 2021

The functioning of the convention of collective ministerial responsibility in British government during the period 2010–19 is assessed by examining, in turn: the convention's historical context, its operation during the period of the 2010–15 Conservative‐Liberal Democrat coalition government, and its application during 2015–19 in the extraordinary circumstances of the Brexit fissures. The key variables and causal factors which historically affected the implementation of the convention continued to have relevance in this period, during which it further evolved under the relative tensions of coalition politics and the more severe strains of fundamental policy differences on a matter of strong political salience. In spite of the stresses placed upon the convention's operation during this extraordinary period, it remains viable as a core feature of the constitution.
Contested ease: Negotiating contradictory modes of elite distinction in face‐to‐face interaction
Authors: Persson Max
Published: May 2021

Research on elites and elite schooling mainly theorize the embodied elite distinction of ease as a dispositional phenomenon, drawing on a Bourdieusian framework. I respond to this by developing an interactionist perspective on embodied elite distinction not as a function of social position, but rather as means of communication used more or less actively to manage others' impressions of one's social position. Drawing on ethnography and interviews, I explore how students at two Swedish upper secondary schools with different elite profiles—an economic elite school and a meritocratic elite school—negotiate what counts as successful performances of their elite position in face‐to‐face interactions during conferences for “young leaders”. The findings suggest that in order for performances to be honored as “confident ease,” which is attributed with prestige and moral legitimacy in the peer group, the interacting students had to share the impression that the interaction was a “merit situation”. In interactions defined as “privilege situations,” similar behavior was labelled as arrogant superiority and seen as illegitimate performances of elite position. While “confident ease” was the hallmark of the male students at the economic elite school, the findings suggests that “confident awareness” may be understood as a contradictory mode of elite distinction characterizing the female students from the meritocratic elite school. They display confidence while simultaneously exploiting the unease they felt in the conference to craft a morally legitimate performance of their elite position. While the findings confirm that students' classed, gendered and moral dispositions are central to navigate elite distinction, they also demonstrate that meanings of such embodied distinctions emerge in relation to how situations are defined and are dependent on the interacting students' combined ability and interest to maintain working consensus on the definition of the situation.
Effects of outdoor weathering and laundering on the detection and classification of fluorinated oil‐and‐water‐repellent fabric coatings
Authors: Dolan Michael J. , Jorabchi Kaveh
Published: May 2021

Fluorinated polymer coatings are used to impart durable oil‐and‐water‐repellent properties on fabrics, potentially offering a persistent fiber characteristic for forensic fiber comparisons. To evaluate the persistence of these coatings, we investigate effects of outdoor weathering and laundering on detection and classification of the fluorinated oil‐and‐water‐repellent coatings on 9 garments and 2 spray‐coated fabric samples. Single fibers from the samples are pyrolyzed and subjected to gas chromatography coupled to a fluorine‐selective detector. The positive detection of coatings is indicated by a signal‐to‐noise ratio (S/N) >50 for the tallest peak in the pyrograms. Moreover, a multinomial logistic regression model trained using fibers prior to weathering and laundering is utilized to determine the class of the weathered and laundered fibers, providing a metric to evaluate the effect of these processes on fiber classification. Notably, fluorinated coatings are detected on all of the fibers exposed to outdoor elements in Arlington, VA, up to 12 weeks from August to October 2020, while a detection rate of 95.5% is achieved for samples laundered up to 10 wash cycles. The detection rate prior to weathering and laundering was 98%, indicating negligible effect of these processes on detection of coatings. The classification accuracy is determined to be 99% and 100% for weathered and laundered samples, respectively, illustrating that these processes do not significantly affect the major pyrolysis products of the coatings responsible for classification. These results highlight the persistence of the fluorinated oil‐and‐water‐repellent fabric coatings and their potential for forensic fiber discrimination at single‐fiber level.
Forensic analysis of Twitch video streaming activities on Android
Authors: AlZahrani Ali , Wani Mohamad Ahtisham , Bhat Wasim Ahmad
Published: May 2021

Video streaming abuses range from copyright infringement and piracy to child sexual abuse and murder. This paper performs proactive forensics of Twitch video streaming activities on Android devices. We designed our experiments using a methodology based on black‐box testing principles and conducted them on Android devices using a forensic framework. The results of our experiments suggest that forensic investigators can extract evidences of streams broadcast, shared, and watched by the user, and associate them with the Twitch account of the user. We detail all the recoverable artifacts of forensic significance, provide mechanisms to extract them based on the identified anchors, and interpret their significance in forensic investigations.
Weaving together: Decolonising global citizenship education in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: McLennan Sharon J. , Forster Margaret , Hazou Rand
Published: May 2021

In 2017, as part of a restructuring of the Bachelor of Arts degree, Massey University introduced the compulsory second‐year citizenship course Tū Rangaranga: Global Encounters. Tū Rangaranga is a Māori word meaning to weave together or establish connections. The course explores citizenship from a global perspective with a focus on rights and responsibilities. In the course, students are encouraged both to reflect on the multiple factors shaping their identities, including Aotearoa New Zealand's colonial past, and to locate themselves in relation to complex global problems. This decolonial approach to curricula and pedagogy enables a greater commitment to Māori perspectives related to citizenship. This commitment is reflected in the weaving together of Māori and Western epistemologies in the course design and content. The course was developed in the context of a university that subsequently expressed a commitment to becoming a Tiriti‐led university and to abide by its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, recognising the indigeneity and rights of Māori people. The decolonial imperative underscoring the teaching of this course was to enhance forms of collective reflection and action to address issues of cultural exclusion and disadvantage associated with colonial legacies that privilege Western epistemologies within curricula and pedagogy.
Changing routine activities and the decline of youth crime: A repeated cross‐sectional analysis of self‐reported delinquency in Sweden, 1999–2017*
Authors: Svensson Robert , Oberwittler Dietrich
Published: May 2021

This study examines the declining crime trend among Swedish adolescents between 1999 and 2017 using data from eight repeated cross‐sectional waves of a nationally representative school survey (N = ca. 49,000). We examined to what extent changes in parental monitoring, school bonds, attitudes toward crime, routine activities, and binge drinking were related to the noticeable decline in youth crime. Multilevel modeling was employed for the analysis of temporal trends. We found strong empirical support for our hypotheses, that is, that changes in social bonds, attitudes toward crime, and routine activities were all associated with the decline in youth crime. Routine activities had the strongest explanatory power, and all predictors combined accounted for most of the variance attributed to the decline in youth crime. This study moves research on the crime drop closer to the analysis of social mechanisms by demonstrating that micro‐level associations between theoretically relevant, proximal variables, and delinquency account for macro‐level change.
Purification and characterization of a novel angiotensin I‐converting enzyme‐inhibitory peptide derived from Alaska pollack skins
Authors: Yang Guilan , Qin Song , Li Wenjun
Published: May 2021

Hydrolysates containing angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE)‐inhibitory peptide were prepared from protein of Alaska pollack skins using alcalase and trypsin. The protein hydrolysate was separated by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G‐25 gel filtration chromatography and reversed phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), from which a novel purified peptide was obtained. Both random coil structure and β‐sheet in the purified peptide were revealed in Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The amino sequence of the purified peptide was identified as GPLGVP, VLYPVK, VFLENVLR, and FEEF by HPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS (HPLC‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry). The peptide GPLGVP whose molecular weight was 538.31 Da showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 105.8 µM). The purified peptide featured a noncompetitive inhibition kinetic mechanism was shown in the Lineweaver–Burk plots and was susceptible to enzymes as indicated in the studies on stability of gastrointestinal proteases. Moreover, the peptide GPLGVP can combine ACE catalytic pocket through hydrogen bonds and other forces with high binding power as disclosed in molecular docking simulation, which provides the inhibitory effect of GPLGVP on ACE.