bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social ascent changes cognition, behaviour and physiology in a highly social cichlid fish
Authors: Wallace Kelly J. , Choudhary Kavyaa D. , Kutty Layla A. , Le Don H. , Lee Matthew T. , Wu Karleen , Hofmann Hans A.
Published: January 2022

When an individual ascends in dominance status within their social community, they often undergo a suite of behavioural, physiological and neuromolecular changes. While these changes have been extensively characterized across a number of species, we know much less about the degree to which these changes in turn influence cognitive processes like associative learning, memory and spatial navigation. Here, we assessed male
Astatotilapia burtoni
, an African cichlid fish known for its dynamic social dominance hierarchies, in a set of cognitive tasks both before and after a community perturbation in which some individuals ascended in dominance status. We assayed steroid hormone (cortisol, testosterone) levels before and after the community experienced a social perturbation. We found that ascending males changed their physiology and novel object recognition preference during the perturbation, and they subsequently differed in social competence from non-ascenders. Additionally, using a principal component analysis we were able to identify specific cognitive and physiological attributes that appear to predispose certain individuals to ascend in social status once a perturbation occurs. These previously undiscovered relationships between social ascent and cognition further emphasize the broad influence of social dominance on animal decision-making.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.
Emergence of size-structured dominance hierarchies through size-dependent feedback
Authors: Hamilton Ian M. , Benincasa Macie D.
Published: January 2022

Size-based dominance hierarchies influence fitness, group size and population dynamics and link dominance structure to evolutionary and ecological outcomes. While larger individuals often gain dominance, social status may influence growth and size in return, resulting in feedbacks among status, growth and size. Here, we present two models evaluating how these feedbacks influence the emergence of size structure in a dominance hierarchy. In the first, size influences competition for food and investment in suppressing growth of groupmates. Stable size differences emerged when suppression was greatest for similarly sized individuals and size had little effect on competition for food. The model predicted size divergence when size strongly affected competition for food. In the second model, we used a dynamic game to solve for optimal investment in growth suppression as a function of size structure. Investment in growth suppression was favoured only when dominants and subordinates were similar in size, generating size ratios different than those expected by chance. Variation in the feedbacks among growth, size and status can explain variation in emergent size structure of dominance hierarchies and its consequences for conflict within groups.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.
GFAP: ultra-fast and accurate gene functional annotation software for plants
Authors: Xu Dong , Jin Kangming , Jiang Heling , Gong Desheng , Yang Jinbao , Yu Wenjuan , Yang Yingxue , Li Jihong , Pan Weihua
Published: January 2022

Sequence alignment is the basis of gene functional annotation for unknow sequences. Selecting closely related species as the reference species should be an effective way to improve the accuracy of gene annotation for plants, compared with only based on one or some model plants. Therefore, limited species number in previous software or website is disadvantageous for plant gene annotation.

Here, we collected the protein sequences of 236 plant species with known genomic information from 63 families. After that, these sequences were annotated by pfam, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases to construct our databases. Furthermore, we developed the software, Gene Annotation Software for Plants (GFAP), to perform gene annotation using our databases. GFAP, an open-source software running on Windows and MacOS systems, is an efficient and network independent tool. GFAP can search the protein domain, GO and KEGG information for 43000 genes within 4 minutes. In addition, GFAP can also perform the sequence alignment, statistical analysis and drawing. The website of https://gitee.com/simon198912167815/gfap-database provides the software, databases, testing data and video tutorials for users.

GFAP contained large amount of plant-species information. We believe that it will become a powerful tool in gene annotation using closely related species for phytologists.
Cytocapsular tubes and networks function as physical superdefence freeway systems conducting conventional cancer drug pan-resistant tumor metastasis
Authors: Yi Tingfang , Wagner Gerhard
Published: January 2022

Cancer drug pan-resistant tumor metastasis (cdp-rtm) is a major source of cancer lethality. Cytocapsular tubes (CCTs) and their networks are physical membrane-enclosed freeway systems for cancer cell dissemination across tissues and organs in vivo. Whether cytocapsular tube superlarge biomembranes function as superdenfence and conduct cdp-rtm is unknown. It is also unknown whether conventional cancer drug development methods, including cancer cell line derived xenograft (CDX) and patient cancer cell derived xenograft (PDX), generate cytocapsular tubes (CCTs). It is also unclear whether xenografts can be created that contain CCTs for efficient cancer drug development. Here, we investigated CCT functions related to cancer drug resistance, CCTs in CDX and PDX and CCT xenograft (CCTX). Using clinical cancer tissues, we discovered that CCTs potently shielded against multiple chemotherapy treatments with diverse conventional cancer drugs. Next, our quantitative analyses show that CCT biomembrane drug barriers significantly increase cancer drug resistance by 6.6-folds to14-folds. We found that conventional CDX and PDX animal models do not generate CCTs in these xenografts. By mimicking in vivo cancer cell environments for cancer patient cancer cell culturing, we have successfully isolated CH-5high/CH-6high subpopulations of patient breast cancer cells and pancreas cancer cells that are propertied with cytocapsular tube generation capacities and engender large quantities of CCTs in mouse xenografts. Biochemical and immunohistochemistry analyses demonstrated that CCTs in these xenografts are similar to those in clinical cancer tissues. In summary, our research has identified that CCTs and networks function as physical superdefence freeway systems conducting conventional cancer drug pan-resistant tumor metastasis, and developed a CCTX platform for highly efficient cancer drug development, which pave avenues for more efficient development of effective and precise cancer drugs for tumor cure at both personal and broad-spectrum levels.
The biosynthetic-secretory pathway, supplemented by recycling routes, specifies epithelial membrane polarity
Authors: Zhang Nan , Zhang Hongjie , Khan Liakot A , Jafari Gholamali , Eun Yong , Membreno Edward , Gobel Verena
Published: January 2022

In prevailing epithelial polarity models, membrane-based polarity cues (e.g., the partitioning-defective PARs) position apicobasal cellular membrane domains. Intracellular vesicular trafficking expands these domains by sorting apicobasal cargo towards them. How the polarity cues are polarized and how sorting confers long-range vesicle directionality is still unclear. Here, a systems-based approach using two-tiered C. elegans genomics-genetics screens identifies trafficking molecules that are not implicated in apical sorting yet polarize apical membrane and PAR complex components. Live tracking of polarized membrane biogenesis suggests that the biosynthetic-secretory pathway, linked to recycling routes, is asymmetrically oriented towards the apical domain during its biosynthesis, upstream of PARs and independent of polarized target domains. This mode of membrane polarization could offer solutions to questions of current models of polarity and polarized trafficking.
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and type 1 diabetes in the offspring: A nationwide register-based study with family-based designs
Authors: Wei Yuxia , Andersson Tomas , Edstorp Jessica , Löfvenborg Josefin E. , Talbäck Mats , Feychting Maria , Carlsson Sofia
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the offspring. We investigated whether this association is consistent with a causal interpretation by accounting for familial (shared genetic and environmental) factors using family-based, quasi-experimental designs.

Design

A nationwide, prospective cohort study and a nested case-control study (quasi-experiment) comparing children with T1D to their age-matched siblings (or cousins).

Setting

Swedish national registers.

Participants

We included 2,995,321 children born in Sweden between 1983 and 2014.

Exposure

Information on maternal smoking during pregnancy was retrieved from the Swedish Medical Birth Register.

Main outcome measures

Children were followed for a diagnosis of T1D until 2020 through the National Patient, Diabetes and Prescribed Drug Registers.

Results

A total of 18,617 children developed T1D, with a median age at diagnosis of 9.4 years. The sibling and cousin comparison design included 14,284 and 7,988 of these children, respectively. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with a 22% lower risk of offspring T1D in the full cohort (hazard ratio: 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75 to 0.82) in the multivariable-adjusted model. The corresponding odds ratio was 0.78 (95% CI: 0.69 to 0.88) in the sibling and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66 to 0.79) in the cousin comparison analysis.

Conclusions

This nationwide, family-based study provides support for a protective effect of maternal smoking on offspring T1D. Mechanistic studies are needed to elucidate the underlying pathways behind this link.
Direct Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Nasal RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test (BinaxNOW™) at a Community Testing Site During an Omicron Surge
Authors: Schrom John , Marquez Carina , Pilarowski Genay , Wang Grace , Mitchell Anthea , Puccinelli Robert , Black Doug , Rojas Susana , Ribeiro Salustiano , Martinez Jacqueline , Jones Diane , Nakamura Robert , Jain Vivek , Petersen Maya , DeRisi Joe , Havlir Diane
Published: January 2022

In 731 persons seeking COVID-19 testing at a walk-up San Francisco community site in January 2022, simultaneous nasal rapid antigen testing (BinaxNOW™) and RT-PCR testing was performed. There were 296 (40.5%) positive tests by RT-PCR; 98.5% of a random sample (N=67) were the omicron variant. Sensitivity of a single antigen test was 95.2% (95% CI 92-98%); 82.1% (95% CI 77-87%) and 65.2% (95% CI 60-71%) for Ct threshold of < 30, < 35 and no threshold, respectively. We also compared BinaxNOW™ to RT-PCR from oral cheek swabs to nasal swabs (N=75); oral cheek specimen was significantly less sensitive than nasal swab. A single BinaxNOW™ oral cheek rapid antigen test failed to detect 91% (20 of 22) of specimens that were BinaxNOW™ positive from the standard nasal sampling. In a separate direct comparison of BinaxNOW™ between specimens collected from nasal or throat (tonsillar) swab (N=115), sensitivity was 97.7% for nasal and 48.8% for throat swabs that were PCR-positive on nasal swab with a Ct threshold < 30. Among persons with either a nasal or throat RT-PCR positive swab with Ct<30, BinaxNOW™ sensitivity was 85.7% for nasal and 89.8% for nasal plus throat swabs. BinaxNOW continues to be a very useful diagnostic during the omicron surge; oral (throat or cheek swab) should not replace nasal swabs due to significantly reduced sensitivity compared to nasal. As currently recommended, repeat testing should be done for high-risk persons with an initial negative antigen test result.
Prevalence of Salivary IgA Reacting with SARS-CoV-2 among Japanese People Unexposed to the Virus
Authors: Tsukinoki Keiichi , Yamamoto Tetsuro , Saito Jiro , Sakaguchi Wakako , Iguchi Keiichiro , Inoue Yoshinori , Ishii Shigeru , Sato Chikatoshi , Yokoyama Mina , Shiraishi Yuki , Kato Noriaki , Shimada Hiroyasu , Makabe Akio , Saito Akihiro , Tanji Masanori , Nagaoka Isao , Saruta Juri , Yamaguchi Tetsutaro , Kimoto Shigenari , Yamaguchi Hideyo
Published: January 2022

While the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has posed a threat to public health as the number of cases and COVID-19-related deaths are increasing worldwide, the incidence of the virus infection are extremely low in Japan compared with many other countries. To explore the reason for this strange phenomenon, we hypothesized the high prevalence of “natural” secretory IgA in saliva as mucosal IgA reacting with SARS-CoV-2, and thus surveyed the positivity for, as well as levels of, such reactive salivary IgA in a cohort of Japanese people of a wide range of age. The major findings were that 95/180 (52.78 %) of overall individuals who had not been exposed to SARS-CoV-2 were positive for salivary IgA with the levels ranging from 0.002 to 3.272 ng/ml, and that there may be a negative trend in positivity for salivary IgA according to age. These results suggest a role of mucosal IgA in host defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

One Sentence Summary

“Natural” secretory immunoglobulin A autoantibodies may play a role in mucosal defense against SARS-CoV-2.
Crystallography relevant to Mars and Galilean icy moons: crystal behavior of kieserite-type monohydrate sulfates at extraterrestrial conditions down to 15 K
Authors: Wildner Manfred , Zakharov Boris A. , Bogdanov Nikita E. , Talla Dominik , Boldyreva Elena V. , Miletich Ronald
Published: January 2022

Monohydrate sulfate kieserites (M2+SO4·H2O) and their solid solutions are essential constituents on the surface of Mars and most likely also on Galilean icy moons in our solar system. Phase stabilities of end-member representatives (M2+= Mg, Fe, Co, Ni) have been examined crystallographically using single-crystal X-ray diffraction at 1 bar and temperatures down to 15 K, by means of applying open He cryojet techniques at in-house laboratory instrumentation. All four representative phases show a comparable, highly anisotropic thermal expansion behavior with a remarkable negative thermal expansion along the monoclinicbaxis and a pronounced anisotropic expansion perpendicular to it. The lattice changes down to 15 K correspond to an `inverse thermal pressure' of approximately 0.7 GPa, which is far below the critical pressures of transition under hydrostatic compression (Pc≥ 2.40 GPa). Consequently, no equivalent structural phase transition was observed for any compound, and neither dehydration nor rearrangements of the hydrogen bonding schemes have been observed. TheM2+SO4·H2O (M2+= Mg, Fe, Co, Ni) end-member phases preserve the kieserite-typeC2/csymmetry; hydrogen bonds and other structural details were found to vary smoothly down to the lowest experimental temperature. These findings serve as an important basis for the assignment of sulfate-related signals in remote-sensing data obtained from orbiters at celestial bodies, as well as for thermodynamic considerations and modeling of properties of kieserite-type sulfate monohydrates relevant to extraterrestrial sulfate associations at very low temperatures.
Does internationalization encourage state-owned enterprises to utilize subsidies to innovate? Evidence from high-tech and automobile manufacturing industries of Chinese listed companies
Authors: Xie Yu , Boadu Francis , Tang Hongjuan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Drawing on the resource-based view, institutional logic and isomorphic pressure theories, this study constructed a theoretical model to explore the correlations between government subsidies and innovation performance. Particularly, this study aims to investigate the moderating effects of ownership types and degree of internationalization on these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

To empirically test the relationships, the authors use panel data from high-tech manufacturing and automobile manufacturing industries in Chinese A stock listed companies for the period 2011–2015 and performed regression analysis.

Findings

Results indicate that government subsidies positively enhance enterprises’ innovation performance; there is a big gap between government subsidies’ incentive effect on innovation performance between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private-owned enterprises (POEs); with the improvement of internationalization, the promotion effect of government subsidies on enterprise innovation performance is strengthened; there is a three-way interaction between government subsidies, degree of internationalization and ownership types, such that in the presence of a low degree of internationalization, there is a big gap in the incentive effect of government subsidies on the innovation performance of SOEs and POEs; in the presence of a high degree of internationalization, the gap is significantly reduced.

Originality/value

This is an empirical study on the impact mechanism of ownership types and internationalization on the relationship between government subsidies and innovation performance in China. It provides valuable insights to show how internationalization can dramatically improve SOEs’ efficiency disadvantages in the allocation of government subsidies to innovation activities.
Impact of organizational dynamic capability on international expansion and the moderating role of environmental dynamism
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Vrontis Demetris , Thrassou Alkis
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of dynamic capability (DC) of organizations on international expansion and further investigate the moderating role of environmental dynamism in the same context.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the dynamic capability view (DCV) theory and related literature on international business strategy, a theoretical model is developed. This model is subsequently validated with the structural equation modelling technique through a survey of 324 respondents from Indian organizations. The study also examines the moderating impacts using the multigroup analysis method.

Findings

The study finds that organizations’ sensing, seizing and transformational capabilities impact positively and significantly on international marketing capability, as well as on technological innovation capability, which positively and significantly impacts organizations’ international expansion ability. The study also finds that there is a significant moderating impact of environmental dynamism on organizations’ international expansion.

Research limitations/implications

This study has provided a unique theoretical model which can explain the factors impacting organizations’ ability toward international expansion. The study also provides vital insights and directions to practitioners, researchers and academicians on the international business strategy for the expansion of organizations. The theoretical model, however, cannot be generalized, as data was taken only from Indian firms.

Originality/value

The study adds to the body of knowledge of international business strategy, international marketing strategy and technological innovation, adding to the scant research on the relationship between organizations’ DC and the international expansion strategy through a unique and tested model with an explanative power of 73%.
Statistical process monitoring for e-waste based on beta regression and particle swarm optimization
Authors: Oliveira Sant’Anna Angelo Marcio
Published: January 2022

Purpose

E-waste management can reduce relevant impact of the business activity without affecting reliability, quality or performance. Statistical process monitoring is an effective way for managing reliability and quality to devices in manufacturing processes. This paper proposes an approach for monitoring the proportion of e-waste devices based on Beta regression model and particle swarm optimization. A statistical process monitoring scheme integrating residual useful life techniques for efficient monitoring of e-waste components or equipment was developed.

Design/methodology/approach

An approach integrating regression method and particle swarm optimization algorithm was developed for increasing the accuracy of regression model estimates. The control chart tools were used for monitoring the proportion of e-waste devices from fault detection of electronic devices in manufacturing process.

Findings

The results showed that the proposed statistical process monitoring was an excellent reliability and quality scheme for monitoring the proportion of e-waste devices in toner manufacturing process. The optimized regression model estimates showed a significant influence of the process variables for both individually injection rate and toner treads and the interactions between injection rate, toner treads, viscosity and density.

Originality/value

This research is different from others by providing an approach for modeling and monitoring the proportion of e-waste devices. Statistical process monitoring can be used to monitor waste product in manufacturing. Besides, the key contribution in this study is to develop different models for fault detection and identify any change point in the manufacturing process. The optimized model used can be replicated to other Electronic Industry and allows support of a satisfactory e-waste management.
Institutional isomorphism in collaborative, cross-cultural, project-based development work: an inquiry into the knowledge sharing behaviour of volunteers
Authors: Toner James , Martins Jorge Tiago
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Using an institutionalist lens, this study aims to identify factors that influence the knowledge sharing behaviour of volunteers engaged in collaborative, cross-cultural and project-focussed development work.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an inductive research design, the authors conducted a thematic analysis of interviews with volunteers to explore the practicalities of knowledge sharing in the context of development aid projects and to examine contributing factors, such as personality, motivations, experience and variations in team members’ understanding of the nature and objective of projects.

Findings

Through exploring the experiences of volunteers working on cross-cultural development aid programmes, the authors identify and discuss the ways in which the preparation of volunteers and the structuring of project work is shaped by managerialist modes of thinking, with an emphasis on the creation of an environment that is conducive to sustainable knowledge sharing practices for all stakeholders involved.

Originality/value

The examination of volunteer development work tendency towards institutional isomorphism is a novel contribution intersecting the areas of knowledge sharing in the project, volunteer-led and culturally diverse environments.
Real Estate Insights Property development activities: value creation or distraction for REITs?
Authors: Wong Woei Chyuan , Ooi Joseph T.L.
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This paper examines the evolution and impact of property development activities on REIT performance. The paper provides insights on whether REITs should venture into property development in addition to their core-business of holding income producing properties.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper charts and highlights the evolution of development activities of US REITs from 1992 to 2020. The Tobin's Q of property developing REITs and non-property developing REITs are compared using univariate analysis.

Findings

Development activities of US REITs grew dramatically during the run up to global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008. The level of development activities has dropped since the GFC and it has not return to its pre-crisis peak. In comparison, development activities of listed property investment companies and homebuilders are less volatile over the same period. The data reveals that property developing REITs enjoy significantly higher Tobin's Q as compared to their non-developing counterparts.

Practical implications

Our graphical evidence from a market without development restriction suggests that development restriction in other REIT regimes has it value in limit REITs' excessive risk-taking tendency during a booming property market. The positive relationship between Tobin's Q and the existence of property development activity support the value creation of this business activity to REITs.

Originality/value

This paper raises overbuilding as a potential cause of the underperformance of the REIT sector during the GFC.
The paradoxes of just-in-time system: an abductive analysis of a public food manufacturing and exporting company in Thailand
Authors: Bandoophanit Thianthip , Pumprasert Siwaporn
Published: January 2022

Purpose

study aims to investigate the implementation and impact of a just-in-time (JIT) system in a food manufacturing and exporting company in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

At the company, the authors used an anomaly case study. The authors performed content analysis on the data collected through semi-structured interviews and direct observations to determine operational flows through customer order, production and delivery. The authors constructed a framework that helped in mapping current operations and subsequently assessing JIT’s impacts; the authors reported the best practices to the company’s owner. Based on the follow-up after a year, the authors used an abductive approach to refine the JIT theory using data from case organizations and relevant studies.

Findings

The company encountered errors and delays in international delivery owing to inadequate inputs resulting from uncertain agricultural production, delayed contact with freight forwarders, improper documentation and insufficient staffing. Besides the highly centralized system, the limitations of the JIT philosophy contributed to the issues, thereby increasing mental and physical health problems and turnover rate. Owing to these paradoxical effects, the authors extended the JIT theory. Of the study’s several recommendations, the company observed only the following: contacting the freight forwarder after the purchase order confirmation, not production completion. The authors observed increased customer satisfaction, despite the additional cost of booking containers early.

Originality/value

This research presents a balanced JIT that can minimize JIT’s impacts and resource shortage, owing to demand-supply uncertainties and sustain competitiveness.
The response of law enforcement agencies and police officers' experiences under the Covid-19 state of alarm in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Martínez-Catena Ana , Subirana-Malaret Montse , Subirana-Malaret Falgars
Published: January 2022

Purpose

Law enforcement agencies and police officers' efforts were crucial to oversee the public health measures and legal regulations introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study had two objectives: to examine the strategies implemented by law enforcement agencies in Catalonia (Spain) to monitor the pandemic and to explore the adverse working conditions of police officers and their personal difficulties during the state of alarm.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 96 experienced police officers completed a closed-ended, anonymous online survey. In addition, complementary information was collected about the management of law enforcement agencies through open interviews. A descriptive analysis was carried out and the association between variables was explored.

Findings

In general terms, law enforcement agencies managed the uncertainty of the situation, with a focus on official information and communication channels between officers. However, many difficulties were reported by the police officers, such us inconsistency between rules, lack of preventive material or changes in work schedules. Besides, the officers' main concern, beyond the emotional impact suffered during this period, was the possibility of being infected or infecting others.

Practical implications

The congruence between the job requirements and resources, as well as the increase of communication channels during situations of high risk are important variables to assure good job development and personal satisfaction of police officers.

Originality/value

To the knowledge of the authors, at the time of writing this paper, this is the first study in Spain to explore the management of law enforcement agencies and police officers' personal experiences during the Covid-19.
Effectiveness of rent recovery strategies on residential real estate in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Odebode Adedayo Ayodeji , Oladokun Timothy Tunde , Ogunbayo Oyeronke Toyin , Oyedele Joseph Bamidele
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The upward rise of the prolonged payback period and the inability of the project to generate estimated income that has been linked with the irregular rent payments has been a major problem confronting real estate investment. Given the fact that real estate investment is a risky investment venture with a highly uncertain future stream of income, this paper examines the effectiveness of rent recovery strategies in the emerging Nigeria residential real estate practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed an exploratory research design. The study identified the five recovery strategies adopted by the estate surveying and valuation firms in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. The study adopts a purposive sampling method to select 52 registered estate firms in the study area and a questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale was used to elicit information. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings

The result showed that the rent recovery strategies adopted by the respondents include email approach, rent reminder notice, adequate maintenance, eviction notice and dialogue approach. The perceived top-rated strategies that could influence estimated income were dialogue and rent reminder notice. Also, the findings showed the factors that influence the choice of strategy are property type, company policy and the proportion of rent to the tenant's income.

Practical implications

The study has an implication for real estate investors and property practitioners regarding the willingness of the investors to invest in real estate investment.

Originality/value

This paper is relevant given the fact that the rental property market is prone to risk that could impede the regular streamflow of income. This serves as a need for examination of the effectiveness of adopted rent recovery strategies as it relates to real estate property management practice and investment viability.
The performativity of accounting: advancing a Posthumanist understanding
Authors: Vosselman Ed
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it seeks to articulate a framework for different conceptions of accounting’s performativity. Second, it aims to advance a Baradian posthumanist understanding of accounting’s performativity.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper traces different foundational conceptions of performativity and then articulates and substantiates different conceptions of accounting’s performativity. It advances one of these conceptions by producing a Baradian posthumanist understanding of accounting’s performativity.

Findings

Seven conceptions of performative accountings are articulated: accounting as a (counter)performative illocution; accounting as a performative perlocution; accounting as a self-fulfilling prophecy; accounting as an overflowing frame; accounting as a controlled relational agency; accounting as a mediator; and accounting as an exclusionary practice. It is argued how a posthumanist understanding of accounting as an exclusionary practice turns accounting from a world-knowing practice into a world-making practice. As such, it should be called to account.

Research limitations/implications

Posthumanist qualitative accounting research that conceives of accounting as an exclusionary practice focuses on how accounting is a material-discursive practice that intra-acts with other practices, and on how there is a power-performativity in the intra-actions that locally and temporarily (re)produces meaningful positions for subjects and objects and the boundaries between them.

Practical implications

A posthumanist understanding teaches practitioners to be attentive to and accountable for the exclusions that come with accounting or, more generally, with measurement. Accounting raises ethical concerns.

Originality/value

This paper articulates different conceptions of accounting’s performativity and makes the case for empirical non-anthropocentric examinations of accounting as an exclusionary practice.
Corporate social responsibility disclosures and reputation risk management post the banking royal commission: a study of the big four banks
Authors: Lodhia Sumit , Mitchell Nicole Angela
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures by the “Big Four” Australian banks post the banking royal commission (BRC) to manage their reputational risk.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a case study approach through a thematic analysis of the Big Four banks’ annual and sustainability reports and uses reputation risk management (RRM) as a conceptual lens to explore the image restoration strategies used by these banks.

Findings

The study finds that a corrective action strategy was disclosed extensively by all four banks whereby each bank outlined the actions that they were undertaking to correct the deficiencies identified by the BRC. However, the impact of these proposed actions was tampered by the fact that each bank sought to use strategies to reduce the offensiveness of their misdemeanours. It is argued that while disclosure on corrective actions and compensation is useful, an emphasis on reducing offensiveness of actions impacts the effectiveness of banks’ responses and their acceptance of full responsibility for their actions.

Research limitations/implications

This paper applies the RRM perspective to a recent reputation damaging event, thereby expanding the literature on image restoration strategies used by companies during major incidents.

Practical implications

This study provides useful insights in relation to the approaches used to manage the reputational risk arising from the BRC. It provides insights into the credibility of information disclosed post an incident and has potential implications for the assurance of such information.

Social implications

Given the critical importance of the banking industry to modern society, misconduct in this sector needs a closer examination, requiring a greater need for responsibility from its key players.

Originality/value

This study extends the applicability of the RRM perspective to a social incident and highlights that it is reputation, rather than legitimacy, that is critical when organisations in an industry face extensive public scrutiny. A thematic analysis approach adds value to the methods used for analysing CSR disclosures.
Influence of psychological safety and social presence on knowledge sharing behavior in higher education online learning environment
Authors: Catyanadika Putra Endi , Rajasekera Jay
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The absence of physical interactions in online learning environment brings psychological influences on learning participants in interacting and sharing knowledge with others, such as ignorance of other member’s presence and insecurity to share something in online environment. The purpose of this research was to examine the knowledge sharing behavior (KSB) by online learning community members in terms of their psychological safety (PS) and social presence (SP) perceptions. In addition, this research also identified the influence of PS to promote SP and the mediation impact of SP in the relationships between PS and KSB.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered through self-administered questionnaire distributed to 133 online class members at a university in Indonesia where online learning has created a new learning experience. To represent key behavioral attributes, 12 items were used to represent PS, SP and KSB. The relationships among the variables were analyzed using the structural equation modelling method.

Findings

The result showed that PS positively influenced SP and KSB. SP also brought a positive impact on promoting KSB and fully mediated the relationship between PS and KSB.

Research limitations/implications

The result may not have fully captured the reflection of the influencing factors of KSB, as this research focused only on two psychological factors, namely, PS and SP. The research may be further enriched by including additional factors and expanding the data collection to include more online learning institutions.

Practical implications

The results implied the importance of PS and SP perception to promoting KSB in online learning environments. The results highlighted an important message to universities and schools to be more concerned on students’ feeling safe personally and students’ awareness of others’ presence to maximize knowledge sharing activities in online class environment.

Originality/value

This paper revealed the importance of PS and SP to promote KSB in the higher education online learning community. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study to link PS and SP to KSB and identify the importance of the mediation effect of SP on the relationship between PS and KSB specifically in higher education online learning environment.
Examination of the interaction between age‐specific predation and chronic disease in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Authors: Brandell Ellen E. , Cross Paul C. , Smith Douglas W. , Rogers Will , Galloway Nathan L. , MacNulty Daniel R. , Stahler Daniel R. , Treanor John , Hudson Peter J.
Published: January 2022

Predators may create healthier prey populations by selectively removing diseased individuals. Predators typically prefer some ages of prey over others, which may, or may not, align with those prey ages that are most likely to be diseased.

The interaction of age‐specific infection and predation has not been previously explored and likely has sizable effects on disease dynamics. We hypothesize that predator cleansing effects will be greater when the disease and predation occur in the same prey age groups.

We examine the predator cleansing effect using a model where both vulnerability to predators and pathogen prevalence vary with age. We tailor this model to chronic wasting disease (CWD) in mule deer and elk populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with empirical data from Yellowstone grey wolves and cougars.

Model results suggest that under moderate, yet realistic, predation pressure from cougars and wolves independently, predators may decrease CWD outbreak size substantially and delay the accumulation of symptomatic deer and elk. The magnitude of this effect is driven by the ability of predators to selectively remove late‐stage CWD infections that are likely the most responsible for transmission, but this may not be the age class they typically select. Thus, predators that select for infected young adults over uninfected juveniles have a stronger cleansing effect, and these effects are strengthened when transmission rates increase with increasing prey morbidity. There are also trade‐offs from a management perspective—that is, increasing predator kill rates can result in opposing forces on prey abundance and CWD prevalence.

Our modelling exploration shows that predators have the potential to reduce prevalence in prey populations when prey age and disease severity are considered, yet the strength of this effect is influenced by predators' selection for demography or body condition. Current CWD management focuses on increasing cervid hunting as the primary management tool, and our results suggest predators may also be a useful tool under certain conditions, but not necessarily without additional impacts on host abundance and demography. Protected areas with predator populations will play a large role in informing the debate over predator impacts on disease.
Phyllosphere fungal communities of rubber trees exhibited biogeographical patterns, but not bacteria
Authors: Wei Yaqing , Lan Guoyu , Wu Zhixiang , Chen Bangqian , Quan Fei , Li Mingmei , Sun Shuqing , Du Haonan
Published: January 2022

Phyllosphere microbiomes play an essential role in maintaining host health and productivity. Still, the diversity patterns and the drivers for the phyllosphere microbial community of the tropical cash crop Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) – are poorly understood. We sampled the phyllosphere of field‐grown rubber trees in South China. We examined the phyllosphere bacterial and fungal composition, diversity and main drivers of these microbes using the Illumina® sequencing and assembly. Fungal communities were distinctly different in different climatic regions (i.e. Xishuangbanna and Hainan Island) and climatic factors, especially mean annual temperature, and they were the main driving factors of foliar fungal communities, indicating fungal communities showed a geographical pattern. Significant differences of phyllosphere bacterial communities were detected in different habitats (i.e. endophytic and epiphytic). Most of the differences in taxa composition came from Firmicutes spp., which have been assigned as nitrogen‐fixing bacteria. Since these bacteria cannot penetrate the cuticle like fungi, the abundant epiphytic Firmicutes spp. may supplement the deficiency of nitrogen acquisition. And the main factor influencing endophytic bacteria were internal factors, such as total nitrogen, total phosphorus and water content of leaves. External factors (i.e. climate) were the main driving force for epiphytic bacteria community assembly. Our work provides empirical evidence that the assembly of phyllosphere bacterial and fungal differed, which creates a precedent for preventing and controlling rubber tree diseases and pests and rubber tree yield improvement.
Horizons of Social Democracy. Social investment or transcending capitalism?
Authors: Kerstenetzky Celia Lessa
Published: January 2022

This article explores new horizons for social democracy, by initially identifying two sets of proposals currently being advanced in policy debates: the social investment welfare state and Thomas Piketty’s ‘transcending capitalism’ blueprint. The article dismisses two possible interpretations of fundamental distinctions between them: (1) that they correspond, respectively, to redistributive and predistributive social policy styles; and (2) that they differ regarding their socially transformative daring. After establishing their common social democratic grounds, the article sets out the terms for a new conversation between them, with a view to assessing frontiers for social democratic ambition. The imagined conversation makes explicit their distinct emphases—one on labour strength (social investment); and the other on capital democratisation (transcending capitalism)—and reveals that these are because of contrasting assessments of problems and possibilities. It also makes clear that the integration of the two proposals is both possible and desirable, but suggests that an all‐encompassing social democratic agenda might offer possibilities beyond such an integration.
The Impact of More Intensive Unemployment Benefit Requirements on Jobseekers’ Likelihood of Complying*
Authors: Wright Andrew , Dollery Brian , Kortt Michael , Leu Shawn
Published: January 2022

After 12 months of unemployment, Australian benefit recipients must undertake intensive participation in activities, in addition to standard requirements. Advocacy groups have raised concerns that these requirements are too onerous. If this were the case, those with additional requirements would be expected to comply less, and more often have a valid reason for non‐compliance. We examine this claim using discontinuities in levels of requirements. We do not find evidence of higher rates of non‐compliance or valid reason. However, further research is required to determine how to optimally set requirements, including further research on the efficacy of the requirements themselves.
Evidence‐based strategies to reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium: a narrative review
Authors: Swarbrick C. J. , Partridge J. S. L.
Published: January 2022

Delirium is one of the most commonly occurring postoperative complications in older adults. It occurs due to the vulnerability of cerebral functioning to pathophysiological stressors. Identification of those at increased risk of developing delirium early in the surgical pathway provides an opportunity for modification of predisposing and precipitating risk factors and effective shared decision‐making. No single delirium prediction tool is used widely in surgical settings. Multi‐component interventions to prevent delirium involve structured risk factor modification supported by geriatrician input; these are clinically efficacious and cost effective. Barriers to the widespread implementation of such complex interventions exist, resulting in an ‘implementation gap’. There is a lack of evidence for pharmacological prophylaxis for the prevention of delirium. Current evidence suggests that avoidance of peri‐operative benzodiazepines, careful titration of anaesthetic depth guided by processed electroencephalogram monitoring and treatment of pain are the most effective strategies to minimise the risk of delirium. Addressing postoperative delirium requires a collaborative, whole pathway approach, beginning with the early identification of those patients who are at risk. The research agenda should continue to examine the potential for pharmacological prophylaxis to prevent delirium while also addressing how successful models of delirium prevention can be translated from one setting to another, underpinned by implementation science methodology.