bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Private governance responsibilisation in global supply chains: the case of Rana Plaza
Authors: Siddiqui Javed , McPhail Kenneth , Rahman Sharmin Shabnam
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The paper explores the emergence of private sector responsibilisation for tackling governance issues in a global supply chain. The infamous case of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh is used to investigate the ways a frameshift, triggered by a manmade disaster, can potentially influence the effectiveness of the certification process in a research site characterised by the presence of a strong state-business nexus.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical work for this paper is based 24 semi-structured interviews with owners, managers, operators, independent inspectors in the ready-made garments (RMG) industry in Bangladesh between 2014 and 2018. We also analyse a range of archival materials. For the purpose of data analysis, we adopted an exploratory flexible pattern matching design with nested template analysis (Sinkovics et al., 2019).

Findings

Our analysis suggests that the magnitude of the Rana Plaza collapse triggered several frameshifts in multinational corporations approach towards labour governance in Bangladesh. Subsequently, a responsibility framework for the private sector was created, resulting in significant improvements in working conditions in the sector. However, the sustainability of the labour governance mechanisms was significantly affected by the state's ability to play the role of catalyst in the process, mainly due to the presence of a significant state-business nexus.

Originality/value

We find that broadening the scope of sustainability accounting and assurance process can allow social auditors to play a more meaningful role in triggering collective actions to address labour governance issues in supply chains. However, in a context defined by the presence of a state-business nexus, the sustainability of such a process largely depends on the willingness of the state to play the role of a catalyst.
Intellectual heritages of post-1990 public sector accounting research: an exploration
Authors: Bruns Hans-Jürgen , Christensen Mark , Pilkington Alan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The article's aim is to refine prospects for theorising in public sector accounting (PSA) research in order to capture the methodological benefits promised by its multi-disciplinarity.

Design/methodology/approach

The study primarily employs a bibliometric analysis of research outputs invoking New Public Management (NPM). Applying a content analysis to Hood (1991), as the most cited NPM source, bibliographic methods and citation/co-citation analysis for the period 1991 to 2018 are mobilised to identify the disciplinary evolution of the NPM knowledge base from a structural and longitudinal perspective.

Findings

The analysis exhibits disciplinary branching of NPM over time and its imprints on post-1990 PSA research. Given the discourse about origins of NPM-based accounting research, there are research domains behind the obvious that indicate disciplinary fragmentations. For instance, novelty of PSA research is found in public value accounting, continuity is evidenced by transcending contextual antecedents. Interestingly, these domains are loosely coupled. Exploring the role of disciplinary imprints designates prospects for post-NPM PSA research that acknowledges multi-disciplinarity and branching in order to deploy insularity as a building block for its inquiries.

Research limitations/implications

Criteria for assessing the limitations and credibility of an explorative inquiry are used, especially on how the proposal to develop cumulative knowledge from post-1990 PSA research can be further developed.

Practical implications

A matrix suggesting a method of ordering disciplinary references enables positioning of research inquiries within PSA research.

Originality/value

By extending common taxonomies of PSA intellectual heritages, the study proposes the ‘inquiry-heritage’ matrix as a typology that displays patterns of theorisation for positioning an inquiry within PSA disciplinary groundings.
The impact of an audit committee's independence and competence on investment decision: a study in Bahrain
Authors: Al-Hadrami Abdullah , Rafiki Ahmad , Sarea Adel
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of the audit committee's (AC) independence and competence on the company's investment decision-making in Bahraini-listed companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative method is used, and crosssectional data are collected through a self-administered questionnaire survey. A stratified random sample technique is adopted with a total of 409 respondents from 39 listed companies. A descriptive analysis is used to identify the characteristics of the respondents, while the correlation analysis and linear regression analyses are used to test the model and explain the relationship between variables.

Findings

It is found that the AC independence and AC competence have a positive and significant influence on investment decision-making.

Originality/value

The AC’s independence and competence are importantly crucial for the decision-makers in improving the quality of financial reporting, internal control and audit. This may lead to the increase in investors' trust on financial reports and thereby making favorable investment decisions.
How to measure food loss and waste? A material flow analysis application
Authors: Amicarelli Vera , Bux Christian , Lagioia Giovanni
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure food loss and waste by material flow analysis (MFA) tool. Applying this methodology, the authors estimate wastage-related losses and discuss opportunities for more circular and sustainable practices in the Italian potato industry.

Design/methodology/approach

MFA is applied to two specific typologies as follows: ready-to-eat (chips) and dried potato products produced in Italy. The analysis refers to the year 2017 as the complete dataset useful for this study includes measurements until this year. A bottom-up and top-down mixed approach is applied, and functional unit refers to 1tof potatoes consumed as final product.

Findings

MFA is applied to quantify and qualify material balance associated with 1tof potatoes consumed as final product. In Italy, in 2017, more than 22,000tof fresh tubers were lost, including 3,500–4,800tof starch, equivalent to 52,800–72,600 GJs. Moreover, fewer than 23,000tof skins and scraps were produced within industrial plants, not available for food but suitable for animal feed (dry skins are an excellent carbohydrates source in cattle and poultry feed), starch industry and bioenergy production (biogas and/or bioethanol).

Originality/value

This research is one of the few studies proposing MFA methodology as a tool to measure food waste. This analysis shows its utility in terms of food waste quality/quantity evaluation, supporting both company management and policymakers.
Towards a process model of emotional sensemaking in post-merger integration: linking cognitive and affective dimensions
Authors: Schlindwein Eva , Geppert Mike
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to advance micro-level theorising of sociocultural post-merger integration (PMI) by merging insights from international business and management research on the cognitive and affective dimensions of PMI.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows a narrative approach to review the previously separate literatures on cognition and emotion in PMI situations. It draws on insights from management research beyond the PMI context to integrate these literatures and as a result, develops a process model of emotional sensemaking in PMI.

Findings

An emotional sensemaking approach to PMI helps to explain when and why events might or might not motivate individuals to revisit their interpretation of a PMI and illustrates how and why similar PMI events can lead to opposite individual reactions and, thus, obtain heterogeneous integration outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The paper discusses how an emotional sensemaking approach can be applied to sociocultural PMI and points to new directions for future studies based on this application. As the model concentrates on the individual level, theoretical implications for sociocultural PMI at the meso- and macro-levels remain limited.

Originality/value

This paper brings forward the dynamics that underlie the processes and outcomes of individuals’ behaviour and reactions to PMI events. The proposed process model of emotional sensemaking in PMI responds to recent calls by sociocultural PMI scholars to promote a processual rather than event-based view of PMI, with a focus on individual actors and an emphasis on the multifaceted dynamics and outcomes of PMI.
Placemakingas an approach of sustainable urban facilities management
Authors: Vukmirovic Milena , Gavrilović Suzana
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present the potential ofplacemakingas an approach of sustainable urban facilities management and its impacts on the improvement of the planning procedures which was aimed at involving citizens in the process itself. The study is based on the general concept ofplacemakingrepresented as an “overarching idea and a hands-on approach for improving a neighbourhood, city or region”, that serves as a process that “inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community” (PPS, 2007).

Design/methodology/approach

The study used placemaking (onsite analysis, stakeholder identification, citizen survey and emotional mapping) and public participation geographic information systems (The Kernel Density tool in ArcGIS and hot spot analysis) methodologies to map problems and preferences identified by stakeholders related to particular spaces within the move formed by Maršala Birjuzova and Sremska streets in Belgrade. The research covered two-day stakeholders’ workshops including four groups of users participated in the workshop – pupils of local private high school, street residents, students of the Faculty of Forestry and the Faculty of Architecture and owners of local shops and businesses.

Findings

Research has shown that different stakeholders can offer very rational observations on the quality of a particular space and provide clear suggestions on its improvement and transformation. These proposals can be organised in the form of visions of the future appearance and functioning of the space, thus recognising the potential in the function of a sustainable urban facilities management tool in the form of creating a common idea, which will result in the creation of a common space.

Research limitations/implications

The research covered only part of the process that resulted in the creation of an idea of future public space transformation. Continued research should be conducted after the intervention, which would give a more comprehensive picture of the effects of the approach.

Practical implications

Practical implications include the presentation of the ways different groups of users perceive the actual and future transformation of the street to make this place more user-friendly and sustainable, i.e. practical example of the co-design process.

Originality/value

This paper provide an overview of the possibilities ofplacemakingapproach seen from the perspective of sustainable urban facilities management.
Dufour and Soret effects on Al2O3-water nanofluid flow over a moving thin needle: Tiwari and Das model
Authors: Waini Iskandar , Ishak Anuar , Pop Ioan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of Dufour and Soret diffusions on Al2O3-water nanofluid flow over a moving thin needle by using the Tiwari and Das model.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations are reduced to the similarity equations using similarity transformations. The resulting equations are programmed in Matlab software through the bvp4c solver to obtain their solutions. The features of the skin friction, heat transfer and mass transfer coefficients, as well as the velocity, temperature and concentration profiles for different values of the physical parameters, are analysed and discussed.

Findings

The non-uniqueness of the solutions is observed for a certain range of the physical parameters. The authors also notice that the bifurcation of the solutions occurs in which the needle moves toward the origin (λ < 0). It is discovered that the first branch solutions of the skin friction coefficient and the heat transfer coefficients increase, but the mass transfer coefficient decreases in the presence of nanoparticle. Additionally, the simultaneous effect of Dufour and Soret diffusions tends to enhance the heat transfer coefficient; however, dual behaviours are observed for the mass transfer coefficient. Further analysis shows that between the two solutions, only one of them is stable and thus physically reliable in the long run.

Originality/value

The problem of Al2O3-water nanofluid flow over a moving thin needle with Dufour and Soret effects are the important originality of the present study. Besides, the temporal stability of the dual solutions is examined for time.
Non-similar solution of Sisko nanofluid flow with variable thermal conductivity: a finite difference approach
Authors: Bisht Ankita , Sharma Rajesh
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to present a non-similar analysis of two-dimensional boundary layer flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid over a vertical stretching sheet with variable thermal conductivity. The Sisko fluid model is used for non-Newtonian fluid with an exponent (n* > 1), that is, shear thickening fluid. Buongiorno model for nanofluid accounting Brownian diffusion and thermophoresis effects is used to model the governing differential equations.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing boundary layer equations are converted into nondimensional coupled nonlinear partial differential equations using appropriate transformations. The resultant differential equations are solved numerically using implicit finite difference scheme in association with the quasilinearization technique.

Findings

This analysis shows that the temperature raises for thermal conductivity parameter and velocity ratio parameter while decreases for the thermal buoyancy parameter. The thermophoresis and Brownian diffusion parameter that characterizes the nanofluid flow enhances the temperature and reduces the heat transfer rate. Skin friction drag can be effectively reduced by proper control of the values of thermal buoyancy and velocity ratio parameter.

Practical implications

The wall heating and cooling investigation result in the analysis of the control parameters that are related to the designing and manufacturing of thermal systems for cooling applications and energy harvesting. These control parameters have practical significance in the designing of heat exchangers and solar thermal collectors, in glass and polymer industries, in the extrusion of plastic sheets, the process of cooling of the metallic plate, etc.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, it is found from the literature survey that no similar work has been published which investigates the non-similar solution of Sisko nanofluid with variable thermal conductivity using finite difference method and quasilinearization technique.
A Kano model, AHP and TOPSIS based approach for selecting the best mobile phone under a fuzzy environment
Authors: Singh Rohit , Avikal Shwetank , Rashmi Rashmi , Ram Mangey
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In today's era of a digital world, mobile phones have now become an essential part in everyday life. The selection of the best mobile phone among the available alternatives is a complex decision making it a problem for the customers. Mobile phone manufactures are facing a lot of problems for launching/introducing a mobile phone according to the requirement of customers and it depends on a number of criteria/attributes such as: technical specifications, price, brand etc.

Design/methodology/approach

In the presented work, the above-discussed problem has been considered as a Multi-Criteria Decision Making MCDM problem and an approach based on Kano model with Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS has been proposed to solve the problem. The Kano model has been used for identifying the different Kano categories of all the features through a customer survey. Fuzzy AHP has been applied to achieve the weights of each feature in order to introduce a best mobile phone for the customers. TOPSIS has been used for ranking of alternatives.

Findings

main features with different other sub-features have been selected for the study. Different features have been considered as categories and their Kano categories have been found out. The importance of these features has also been calculated by Fuzzy-AHP in terms of their evaluated weights. Different mobile phones have been ranked by TOPSIS according to their features calculated by Fuzzy-AHP. The proposed approach seems effective for identifying/classifying different attributes/features of mobile phones according to customer's requirements.

Originality/value

Here, different features of a mobile phone have been considered for designing a suitable mobile phone. Thus, this work can help a designer to design and select a suitable feature for a customer-oriented mobile phone.
Simulation of eutectic plates in medium refrigerated transport
Authors: Radebe Thandiwe Bongani , Huan Zhongjie , Baloyi Jeffrey
Published: July 2020

Purpose

South Africa is the highest consumer of commercial energy per capita in Africa, ranking 16th in the world for primary energy consumption. It is also ranked among the bottom 50 of the 150 countries regarding energy efficiency. The cold chain is a large contributor through refrigerated transport vehicles. To comply with the changing climate regulations, cryogenic and eutectic systems are systems with great potential for small distance refrigerated transport. The purpose of this paper is to introduce eutectic system to medium distance refrigerated transport.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents the potential use of Eutectic plates inside a medium refrigerated transport vehicle, by numerically investigating the characteristics of phase change material eutectic plates applied at low-temperature ranges. A physical model and a mathematical model for three-dimensional transient natural flow were developed as proposed by Xiaofeng and Zhang. Using the governing equation of mass, momentum and energy conservation, three Eutectic plate configurations were modeled and simulated in ANSYS Fluent for 5 h.

Findings

A uniform heat transfer and airflow condition inside a refrigerated compartment were predicted using the Reynolds stress model. The configuration with eutectic plates placed at the top and side showed great potential for the system functioning in the South African climate.

Research limitations/implications

Medium refrigerated transport vehicle.

Originality/value

This configuration had a high-temperature distribution across the compartment and promoted high air circulations, showing that it could be ideal for medium refrigerated transport vehicles delivering perishable foodstuffs or non-food goods.
Knowledge management and intellectual capital in knowledge-based organisations: a review and theoretical perspectives
Authors: Garcia-Perez Alexeis , Ghio Alessandro , Occhipinti Zeila , Verona Roberto
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper provides a conceptual discussion of the bidirectional relationship between knowledge management (KM) and intellectual capital (IC) in a specific subset of knowledge-based organisations, i.e. professional sport organisations. Through the review and conceptual discussion of two relevant research themes, i.e. KM strategies for IC value creation and IC codification, this paper aims to highlight research gaps useful to future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a systematic literature review method to analyse 66 management and accounting studies on KM and IC in sport organisations. Internal and external validity tests support the methodology adopted.

Findings

The authors provide a conceptual model to explain how KM strategies about IC investments can be optimal, i.e. they create value for all the stakeholders but also suboptimal, i.e. they create value only for a group of stakeholders. Next, they provide evidence of the opportunistic use of the codification associated with IC investments that impair financial reporting information transparency and mislead managers and investors.

Practical implications

The results are informative for managers, regulators and policymakers to mitigate the inefficiencies regarding KM and IC codification and decisions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of the bidirectional relationship between KM and IC in knowledge-based organisations by focussing on professional sport organisations in which KM and IC have played an important role for a long time. It also includes future avenues for advances in managing, measuring and reporting IC.
Transient creep analytical modeling for shear endplate assemblies in fire
Authors: Al Haddad Hadi O. , Hantouche Elie G.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an analytical model that is capable of predicting the behavior of shear endplate beam-column assemblies when exposed to fire, taking into account the thermal creep effect.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical model is developed and validated against finite element (FE) models previously validated against experimental tests in the literature. Major material and geometrical parameters are incorporated in the analysis to investigate their influence on the overall response of the shear endplate assembly in fire events.

Findings

The analytical model can predict the induced axial forces and deflections of the assembly. The results show that when creep effect is considered explicitly in the analysis, the beam undergoes excessive deformation. This deformation needs to be taken into account in the design. The results show the significance of thermal creep effect on the behavior of the shear endplate assembly as exposed to various fire scenarios.

Research limitations/implications

However, the user-defined constants of the creep equations cannot be applied to other connection types. These constants are limited to shear endplate connections having the material and geometrical parameters specified in this study.

Originality/value

The importance of the analytical model is that it provides a time-effective, simple and comprehensive technique that can be used as an alternative to the experimental tests and numerical methods. Also, it can be used to develop a design procedure that accounts for the transient thermal creep behavior of steel connections in real fire.
Who will land and stay? Page-specific antecedents of news engagement on social media
Authors: Iqbal Khan Shahid , Bilal Ahmad Raza , Ahmad Bilal
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of page-specific factors such as page language, posting frequency and community size on online engagement in the context of social media pages of news channels in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

For this research, official Facebook pages of news channels in Pakistan were defined as the target population. Secondary data were obtained from the Facebook pages of 28 news channels in Pakistan. For the selected period between August and September 2019, a total of 420 cases were obtained and manually entered in SPSS 21 for analysis. Tweedie estimation was run to check the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Results show that English pages are more engaging than Urdu. Additionally, posting frequency and community size have a negative relationship with online engagement.

Practical implications

The findings of the study suggest that administrators of social media pages of news channels should target English news readers more than Urdu news readers. Additionally, they should manage a low posting frequency so that readers may not get irritated. Administrators should not sponsor their pages to expand community size on a single page. Instead, they may opt to build a separate page for each news category with smaller community size.

Originality/value

While previous studies have discussed the post-specific factors of engagement, this study has checked the impact of page-specific factors such as page language, posting frequency and community size on online engagement.
Dynamic co-movements and directional spillovers among energy futures
Authors: Demiralay Sercan , Hourvouliades Nikolaos , Fassas Athanasios
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine dynamic equicorrelations (DECO) and directional volatility spillover effects among four energy futures markets, namely, West Texas Intermediate crude oil, heating oil, natural gas and reformulated blendstock for oxygenate blending gasoline, by using a multivariate fractionally integrated asymmetric power ARCH–DECO–generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model and the spillover index technique.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis uses the dynamic equicorrelation model of Engle and Kelly (2012) to examine time-varying correlations at equilibrium. The authors further analyze dynamic volatility transmission among energy futures by using Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) dynamic spillover index based on generalized value-at-risk framework.

Findings

The empirical results provide evidence of heightened equicorrelations at times of financial turmoil. More specifically, the dynamic spillover analysis shows that volatility is transmitted predominantly from crude oil to the other markets and risk transfer among four markets exhibits asymmetries. Spillovers are found to be highly responsive to dramatic events such as the 9/11 terror attack, 2008–2009 global financial crisis and 2014–2016 oil glut.

Practical implications

The results of this study have important practical implications for investors, portfolio managers and energy policymakers as the presence of time-varying co-movements and spillovers suggests the need for dynamic trading strategies. There are also implications regarding risk management practices, as there is evidence of increased volatility transmission at times of financial turmoil and uncertainty. Finally, the results provide insights to policymakers in a better understanding of the spillover dynamics.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the DECOs and spillover effects among crude oil, natural gas, heating oil and gasoline futures markets. To the best of the knowledge, this is one of a few studies that examine co-movements and risk transfer in energy futures in a comprehensive framework.
Organizational learning and value creation in local governance: the mediating role of crowdsourcing
Authors: Lenart-Gansiniec Regina , Sułkowski Łukasz
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Different studies have analyzed the relationship between organizational learning and value creation. However, the question of how crowdsourcing affects the relationships between organizational learning and value creation remains unexplored. This paper aims to explore the mediating role of crowdsourcing in the relationship between organizational learning and value creation in local governance.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses were tested based on data collected from 205 local governance units in Poland using crowdsourcing. Data collection was carried out by using a set of standardized questionnaires. Correlation analyses were used to specify the strength of the relationships between the variables. To test the hypotheses, multiple regression analysis was used.

Findings

The results have shown that in the local governance organizational learning is related to crowdsourcing, while organizational learning is not related to value creation. Crowdsourcing does not play a mediating role in explaining the relationship between organizational learning and value creation.

Research limitations/implications

A research model was developed based on the relevant literature in the field of organizational learning, value creation and crowdsourcing. This study urges researchers to explore the relationship between organizational learning and value creation in other public organizations using crowdsourcing.

Originality/value

This is the first study on the intermediate role of crowdsourcing in the relationship between organizational learning and value creation in local governance. The proposed model enriches the existing literature and allows better understanding of how crowdsourcing acts as an intermediary in the organizational learning-value creation relationship.
Examining the relationships between innovation, quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction in pure service companies
Authors: Rew Dongjun , Jung Joo , Lovett Steve
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the relationships between innovation, quality, productivity and customer satisfaction in pure service companies. Previous studies have shown a negative relationship between quality and productivity in services. However, we argue the two can be positively related when innovation is present.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops and tests hypotheses using secondary data from COMPUSTAT, KLD STAT and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). We test these hypotheses using ordinary least squares regression and conduct additional testing using path analysis.

Findings

The findings show that quality and productivity are positively related when innovation is present in pure service companies. The findings also reveal find that innovation is antecedent to both service quality and productivity which in turn positively affect customer satisfaction.

Practical implications

Both companies and customers can increase their outcomes including higher levels of service quality, productivity and customer satisfaction. Managers should therefore design innovative systems that enable customers to participate in service production. Other innovative systems may help to increase capacity utilization by smoothing high and low demand times, thus increasing both service quality and productivity.

Originality/value

This study contributes to service research by identifying innovation as the key to simultaneously increasing service quality and productivity. The authors find empirical support for a model in which service quality and productivity have a complementary relationship leading to customer satisfaction with innovation as an antecedent, and we do so using a sample of pure service firms.
What determines parasite species richness across host species?
Authors: Dallas Tad , Holian Lauren A. , Foster Grant
Published: July 2020

In Focus

Dáttilo, W., Barrozo‐Chávez, N., Lira‐Noriega, A., Guevara, R., Villalobos, F., Santiago‐Alarcon, D., Neves, F. S., Izzo, T., & Ribeiro, S. P. (2020). Species‐level drivers of mammalian ectoparasite faunas. Journal of Animal Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13216. The question of what drives the number of parasite species able to infect a given host species is still a largely open question, despite decades of research. Dáttilo and colleagues examine the potential drivers of ectoparasite species across a large set of host species to explore the taxonomic and trait drivers of host‐parasite interactions. Here, we contextualize their findings, explore what is known about parasite species richness, and identify some potential next steps towards answers.
Integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealed molecular adjustments in Populus × canescens colonized with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus, which limited plant host growth
Authors: Szuba Agnieszka , Marczak Łukasz , Ratajczak Izabela , Kasprowicz‐Maluśki Anna , Mucha Joanna
Published: July 2020

Ectomycorrhizae (ECMs) are a highly context‐dependent interactions that are not always beneficial for the plant host, sometimes leading to a decrease in plant growth. However, the molecular status of these plants remains unknown. We studied Populus × canescens microcuttings characterized by impaired growth in response to colonization by a Paxillus involutus strain via integrative proteomics–metabolomics analyses. The analysed strain was characterized by low compatibility and formed only mantles, not a Hartig net, in the majority of root tips. The increased abundance of photosynthetic proteins and foliar carbohydrates co‐occurred with signals of intensified resource exchange via the stems of colonized plants. In the roots, intensified C metabolism resulted in the biosynthesis of secondary C compounds unavailable to the fungal partner but also C skeletons necessary to increase insufficient N uptake from the hyphae. The stress response was also detected in colonized plants but was similar to that reported previously during mutualistic ECM interactions. In colonized poplar plants, mechanisms to prevent imbalanced C/N trade‐offs were activated. Root metabolism strongly depended on features of the whole plant, especially the foliar C/N budget. However, despite ECM‐triggered growth impairment and the foliar nutrient status, the fungal partner was recognized to be a symbiotic partner.
Popularity as a Measure of Portfolio Salience? The Case of Denmark
Authors: Nielsen Peter Heyn
Published: July 2020

This research note examines the connection between portfolio and the individual popularity of ministers as measured in opinion polls. It is an ongoing challenge for political science to derive measures of portfolio salience. In this research note, portfolio popularity is measured in Denmark for the period 1978 to 2019 for 24 different portfolios. Though we know little about it, it is often stated that popularity is important for ministers. If this is the case, popularity is a relevant supplement to studies of portfolio salience. The results show that there are significant differences in how different portfolios have been assessed by voters, which is an important point in itself. This shows a clear hierarchy within cabinet. The results are discussed in relation to ministerial durability, portfolio salience and issue ownership. It is suggested that cross national studies of portfolio popularity should be carried out.
Technologies of time: women’s practices of trying to conceive with ovulation biosensing
Authors: Wilkinson Joann
Published: July 2020

Ovulation biosensors are devices worn on or used with the body, which can help women detect ovulation. The manufacturers of such devices claim that if women know when they ovulate, couples can arrange heterosexual intercourse during this time, and thus increase their chances of conceiving. Within the contemporary UK context, in which becoming pregnant is presented in the popular media, and in medical discourses, as more difficult for women in their thirties and forties, manufacturers’ claims are attractive for those trying to conceive. Yet few sociological studies have examined women’s practices of ovulation biosensing. Drawing on women’s accounts of tracking ovulation, this paper explores how such practices fit into their trajectories of trying to conceive. It examines why ovulation biosensing seemingly becomes helpful, relevant or important during this time. Ovulation biosensors, it argues, alter the landscape of trying to become pregnant by introducing new stages and materialities which seemingly place women closer to conception. Women engage in ovulation biosensing, not only to help them become pregnant, but also as a way to manage the complexities of fertility and the uncertainties of becoming pregnant in contemporary society.
‘Virtual experience’ as an intervention before a positron emission tomography/CT scan may ease patients’ anxiety and improve image quality
Authors: Sun Yuyun , Sun Yifei , Qin Yue , Zhang Yingjian , Yuan Huiyu , Yang Zhongyi
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of a ‘virtual experience’ on reducing people’s anxiety levels and improving image quality.

Methods

This study included 200 people who underwent 18F‐FDG PET/CT scan for the first time. Healthy people (n = 100) and patients (n = 100) were randomly divided into a control group and an intervention group. In the intervention group, we used a ‘virtual experience’ as an intervention before the scan. We used the Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and satisfaction questionnaires for evaluation. Additionally, the image quality was analysed.

Results

In the control group, more patients presented anxiety than healthy people (26(52%) versus 15(30%)) (P = 0.041). However, when the ‘virtual experience’ was provided, the number of cases of anxiety in the patient group decreased to 19(38%). Furthermore, patients in the intervention group had lower STAI‐related scores than those in the control group (STAI‐S: 37.08 ± 9.42 versus 43.34 ± 10.49, P = 0.109; STAI‐T: 36.24 ± 9.55 versus 40.72 ± 9.00, P = 0.019). With respect to image quality, people who had higher STAI‐related scores were more likely to have unqualified images.

Conclusion

A ‘virtual experience’ provided by an audio‐visual installation can ease patients’ anxiety and improve image quality.
Evaluation of the R package ‘resistancega’: A promising approach towards the accurate optimization of landscape resistance surfaces
Authors: Winiarski Kristopher Jonathan , Peterman William E. , McGarigal Kevin
Published: July 2020

Understanding how landscape features affect gene flow has implications for numerous fields including molecular and evolutionary ecology. Despite this, modelling landscape resistance surfaces has remained a significant challenge. The R package resistancega was developed to provide a framework for optimizing landscape resistance surfaces. In this study, we assessed ResistanceGA's ability to recover the true resistance surface under a variety of scenarios, including when the underlying surface: (a) had different levels of spatial autocorrelation and (b) was transformed into a resistance surface using different functional transformations. These scenarios were evaluated with regard to varying sample size and varying levels of variance in the measure of genetic distance. We also assessed the ability of ResistanceGA to identify the true resistance surface among alternative correlated surfaces. In univariate simulations, correlation between the true and optimized resistance surfaces remained high with increased variance in genetic distance, but only when sample size was moderate to high (≥50). Model selection error was also driven by sample size with low type I error when simulations had moderate to high sample sizes, even with moderate to high variance in genetic distance and correlated alternative surfaces. ResistanceGA also performed well in multivariate simulationsbut had more difficulty identifying the true data generating surfaces when genetic data were simulated using an agent‐based approach (especially with individual‐based genetic data). Overall, our simulations highlight the ability of ResistanceGA to accurately optimize resistance surfaces but also underscore challenges in optimizing landscape resistance surfaces, especially with highly stochastic individual‐based data.
Increasing methylation of sperm rDNA and other repetitive elements in the aging male mammalian germline
Authors: Potabattula Ramya , Zacchini Federica , Ptak Grazyna Ewa , Dittrich Marcus , Müller Tobias , El Hajj Nady , Hahn Thomas , Drummer Charis , Behr Rüdiger , Lucas‐Hahn Andrea , Niemann Heiner , Schorsch Martin , Haaf Thomas
Published: July 2020

In somatic cells/tissues, methylation of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) increases with age and age‐related pathologies, which has a direct impact on the regulation of nucleolar activity and cellular metabolism. Here, we used bisulfite pyrosequencing and show that methylation of the rDNA transcription unit including upstream control element (UCE), core promoter, 18S rDNA, and 28S rDNA in human sperm also significantly increases with donor's age. This positive correlation between sperm rDNA methylation and biological age is evolutionarily conserved among mammals with widely different life spans such as humans, marmoset, bovine, and mouse. Similar to the tandemly repeated rDNA, methylation of human α‐satellite and interspersed LINE1 repeats, marmoset α‐satellite, bovine alpha‐ and testis satellite I, mouse minor and major satellite, and LINE1‐T repeats increases in the aging male germline, probably related to their sperm histone packaging. Deep bisulfite sequencing of single rDNA molecules in human sperm revealed that methylation does not only depend on donor's age, but also depend on the region and sequence context (A vs. G alleles). Both average rDNA methylation of all analyzed DNA molecules and the number of fully (>50%) methylated alleles, which are thought to be epigenetically silenced, increase with donor's age. All analyzed CpGs in the sperm rDNA transcription unit show comparable age‐related methylation changes. Unlike other epigenetic aging markers, the rDNA clock appears to operate in similar ways in germline and soma in different mammalian species. We propose that sperm rDNA methylation, directly or indirectly, influences nucleolar formation and developmental potential in the early embryo.
Efficacy of erector spinae plane block for analgesia in breast surgery: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Leong R. W. , Tan E. S. J. , Wong S. N. , Tan K. H. , Liu C. W.
Published: July 2020

The erector spinae plane block is a new regional anaesthesia technique that provides truncal anaesthesia for breast surgery. This systematic review and meta‐analysis was undertaken to determine if the erector spinae plane block is effective at reducing pain scores and opioid consumption after breast surgery. This study also evaluated the outcomes of erector spinae plane blocks compared with other regional blocks. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched. We included randomised controlled trials reporting the use of the erector spinae plane block in adult breast surgery. Risk of bias was assessed with the revised Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was used to assess trial quality. Thirteen randomised controlled trials (861 patients; 418 erector spinae plane block, 215 no blocks, 228 other blocks) were included. Erector spinae plane block reduced postoperative pain compared with no block: at 0‐2 hours (mean difference (95% CI) −1.63 (−2.97 to −0.29), 6 studies, 329 patients, high‐quality evidence, I2 = 98%, p = 0.02); at 6 hours (mean difference (95% CI) −0.90 (−1.49 to −0.30), 5 studies, 250 patients, high‐quality evidence, I2 = 91%, p = 0.003); at 12 hours (mean difference (95% CI) −0.46 (−0.67 to −0.25), 5 studies, 250 patients, high‐quality evidence, I2 = 58%, p < 0.0001); and at 24 hours (mean difference (95% CI) −0.50 (−0.70 to −0.30), 6 studies, 329 patients, high‐quality evidence, I2 = 76%, p < 0.00001). Compared with no block, erector spinae plane block also showed significantly lower postoperative oral morphine equivalent requirements (mean difference (95% CI) −21.55mg (−32.57 to −10.52), 7 studies, 429 patients, high‐quality evidence, I2 = 99%, p = 0.0001). Separate analysis of studies comparing erector spinae plane block with pectoralis nerve block and paravertebral block showed that its analgesic efficacy was inferior to pectoralis nerve block and similar to paravertebral block. The incidence of pneumothorax was 2.6% in the paravertebral block group; there were no reports of complications of the other blocks. This review has shown that the erector spinae plane block is more effective at reducing postoperative opioid consumption and pain scores up to 24 hours compared with general anaesthesia alone. However, it was inferior to the pectoralis nerve block and its efficacy was similar to paravertebral block. Further evidence, preferably from properly blinded trials, is required to confirm these findings.
Unplanned out‐of‐hospital deliveries in Finland: A national register study on incidence, characteristics and maternal and infant outcomes
Authors: Ovaskainen Katja , Ojala Riitta , Tihtonen Kati , Gissler Mika , Luukkaala Tiina , Tammela Outi
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Unplanned out‐of‐hospital deliveries (UOHDs) have earlier been related to higher perinatal mortality and morbidity, but recent research has not paid much attention to them. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence, characteristics, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in UOHDs in Finland.

Material and methods

We conducted a national register study on births, causes of death and congenital anomalies for all live and stillbirths during 1996‐2013. The study group included 1420 infants delivered by mothers with UOHDs. The 1 051 139 infants born in hospitals during the study period were the reference group. Data on maternal and delivery characteristics, obstetric procedures, infants’ characteristics, neonatal care unit admissions, diagnoses, congenital anomalies and causes of death were collected.

Results

The annual rate of UOHDs increased in 1996‐2013 from 46 to 260 per 100 000 deliveries, whereas the number of delivery units decreased from 44 to 29. UOHD infants had five times higher perinatal mortality rates than those delivered in hospitals. The perinatal mortality rate did not change by time in the UOHDs, whereas it diminished among in‐hospital deliveries. Maternal morbidity in UOHDs was low. The predictors for UOHDs were delivery after the year 2001, delivery in sparsely populated areas, alcohol, drug abuse and/or smoking during pregnancy, being single, fewer prenatal visits, having delivered earlier and birthweight <2500 g. UOHD was one of the predictors of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Among the UOHD cases, the predictors of perinatal morbidity or mortality included low birthweight and preterm delivery. Time period seemed not to predict morbidity or mortality.

Conclusions

The UOHD rate increased, probably due to multifactorial causes, including living in area with low population density and short duration of labor. UOHD was a significant predictor of perinatal morbidity or mortality, but the numbers were very small. Neonatal morbidity and mortality in UOHDs did not seem to be related to the area or time period of birth.