bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of faecal inorganic contents in accurate measures of stress and nutrition hormone in large felines: implications for physiological assessments in free-ranging animals
Authors: Patel Shiv Kumari , Biswas Suvankar , Goswami Sitendu , Bhatt Supriya , Pandav Bivash , Mondol Samrat
Published: November 2020

Non-invasive stress and nutritional hormones and their interactions are increasingly being used to monitor psychological and nutritional physiology in free-ranging animals at different ecological scales. However, a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors including hormone-inert dietary materials, inorganic matters etc. are known to affect accurate hormone measures. Here we addressed the impacts of inorganic matter (IOM) on corticosterone and T3 measures in wild tiger (n=193 from Terai Arc landscape, India) and captive lion (n=120 from Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden, Gujarat, India) faeces and evaluated possible corrective measures. The wild tiger samples contained highly variable IOM content (9-98%, mostly with >40% IOM) compared to captive Asiatic lion (17-57%, majority with <40% IOM). We observed significant negative correlation between IOM content and tiger GC (r=−0.48, p=0.000) and T3 (r=−0.60, p=0.000) measures but not in captive lions (r=−0.05, p=0.579). Two corrective measures viz. removing samples with ≥80% IOM and subsequently expressing concentrations as per gram of organic dry matter (instead of total dry matter) reduced IOM influence on tiger GC and T3 measures without affecting lion GC results. The corrective measures bring out alterations in the tiger T3 results but no changes in GC results. As faecal IOM content is associated with specific behaviours of many carnivore species, our results emphasize the need to reduce IOM-driven hormone data variation for ecologically relevant interpretations for species conservation.
Arenavirus nucleoprotein localizes to mitochondria
Authors: Baggio Francesca , Hetzel Udo , Nufer Lisbeth , Kipar Anja , Hepojoki Jussi
Published: November 2020

Viruses need cells to replicate and, therefore, ways to counteract the host’s immune response. Mitochondria play central roles in mediating innate immunity, hence some viruses have developed mechanisms to alter mitochondrial functions. Herein we show that arenavirus nucleoprotein (NP) enters the mitochondria of infected cells and affects their morphological integrity. We initially demonstrate electron-dense inclusions within mitochondria of reptarenavirus infected cells and hypothesized that these represent viral NP. Software predictions then serve to identify a putative N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS) in arenavirus NPs; however, comparisons of wild-type and N-terminus mutated NPs suggest MTS-independent mitochondrial entry. NP does not enter isolated mitochondria, indicating that translocation requires additional cellular factors or conditions. Immune electron microscopy finally confirms the presence of NP within the mitochondria bothin vitroand in infected animals. We hypothesize that mitochondria targeting might complement the known interferon antagonist functions of NP or alter the cell’s metabolic state.
Decomposing the role of alpha oscillations during brain maturation
Authors: Tröndle Marius , Popov Tzvetan , Dziemian Sabine , Langer Nicolas
Published: November 2020

Childhood and adolescence are critical stages of the human lifespan, in which fundamental neural reorganizational processes take place. A substantial body of literature investigated neurophysiological changes during brain maturation by focusing on the most dominant feature of the human EEG signal: the alpha oscillation. Ambiguous results were reported for the developmental trajectory of the power of the alpha oscillation. Simulations in this study show that conventional measures of alpha power are confounded by various factors and need to be decomposed into periodic and aperiodic components, which represent distinct underlying brain mechanisms. It is therefore unclear how each part of the signal relates to changes during brain maturation. Using multivariate Bayesian generalized linear mixed models, we examined aperiodic and periodic parameters of alpha activity in the largest openly available pediatric dataset (N=2529, age range 5-21 years) and replicated these findings in a preregistered analysis of an independent validation sample (N=369, age range 6–21yrs). First, the well documented age-related decrease in total alpha power was replicated. However, when controlling for the aperiodic signal component, our findings provide strong evidence for a reversed developmental trajectory of the periodic alpha power, whereas the aperiodic signal components, slope and offset, decreased. Consequently, earlier interpretations on age related changes of alpha power need to be fundamentally reconsidered, incorporating changes in the aperiodic signal. The interpretation of decreased total alpha power as elimination of active synapses rather links to decreases in the aperiodic intercept. Instead, additional analyses of diffusion tensor imaging data indicate that the maturational increase in periodic alpha power is related to increased thalamocortical connectivity. Functionally, our results suggest that increased thalamic control of cortical alpha power is linked to improved attentional performance during brain maturation.
Extraction and Characterization of Rice Bran Polysaccharides and Their Derivative Preparation and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Huang Gangliang
Published: November 2020

The crude polysaccharide of rice bran polysaccharide was extracted with water from defatted rice bran, and the optimal reaction conditions of the experiment were determined. The reaction temperature is 100°C, the reaction time is 5h, the solid-liquid ratio is 1:10; the concentration ratio of polysaccharide to Sevag reagent is 2:1, and rice polysaccharide is precipitated by ethanol insoluble property and ethanol. The ethanol concentration ratio is 3:1. Using the methods and conditions of this experiment, the maximum polysaccharide yield is 2.18%. Then the chemical structure of rice bran polysaccharide was analyzed by IR, UV and 13CNMR methods. Three rice bran polysaccharide derivatives were prepared and characterized: carboxymethylated rice bran polysaccharide, phosphorylated rice bran polysaccharide and acetylated rice bran polysaccharide. Also studied the antioxidant activity of rice bran polysaccharide and its derivatives (hydroxy radical ion scavenging ability, superoxide anion scavenging ability, anti-lipid peroxidation ability, reducing ability), and found that phosphorylated rice bran polysaccharide has good activity. The acetylated rice bran polysaccharide may weaken the original activity.
Age-dependent contribution of domain-general networks to semantic cognition
Authors: Martin Sandra , Saur Dorothee , Hartwigsen Gesa
Published: November 2020

Aging is characterized by a decline of cognitive control. In semantic cognition, this leads to the paradox that older adults usually show poorer task performance than young adults despite their greater semantic knowledge. So far, the underlying neural changes of these behavioral differences are poorly understood. In the current neuroimaging study, we investigated the contribution of domain-general networks to a verbal semantic fluency task in young and older adults. In both age groups, task processing was characterized by a strong positive integration within the multiple-demand as well as between the multiple-demand and the default mode system during semantic fluency. However, the behavioral relevance of strengthened connectivity differed between groups: While within-network functional connectivity in both networks predicted greater efficiency in semantic fluency in young adults, it was associated with a slower performance in older adults. Moreover, only young adults profited from increased connectivity between networks for their semantic memory performance. Our results suggest that the functional coupling of usually anti-correlated networks is critical for successful task processing, independent of age, when access to semantic memory is required. Furthermore, our findings lend novel support to the notion of reduced efficiency in the aging brain, due to neural dedifferentiation in semantic cognition.
Single gene targeted nanopore sequencing enables simultaneous identification and antimicrobial resistance detection of sexually transmitted infections
Authors: Zhou Liqing , Rodas Andrea Lopez , Llangarí Luz Marina , Sandoval Natalia Romero , Cooper Philip , Sadiq Syed Tariq
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To develop a simple DNA sequencing test for simultaneous identification and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection of multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Methods

Real-time PCR (qPCR) was initially performed to identifyNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG),Chlamydia trachomatis(CT),Mycoplasma genitalium(MG) andTrichomonas vaginalis(TV) infections among a total of 200 vulvo-vaginal swab samples from female sex workers in Ecuador. qPCR positive samples plus qPCR negative controls for these STIs were subjected to single gene targeted PCR MinION-nanopore sequencing using the smartphone operated MinIT.

Results

Among 200 vulvo-vaginal swab samples 43 were qPCR positive for at least one of the STIs. Single gene targeted nanopore sequencing generally yielded higher pathogen specific read counts in qPCR positive samples than qPCR negative controls. Of the 26 CT, NG or MG infections identified by qPCR, 25 were clearly distinguishable from qPCR negative controls by read count. Discrimination of TV qPCR positives from qPCR negative controls was poorer as many had low pathogen loads (qPCR cycle threshold >35) which produced few specific reads. Real-time AMR profiling revealed that 3/3 NG samples identified hadgyrAmutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance, while none of the MG samples possessed23S rRNAgene mutations contributing to macrolide resistance.

Conclusions

Single gene targeted nanopore sequencing for diagnosing and simultaneously identifying key antimicrobial resistance markers for four common genital STIs shows promise. Further work to optimise accuracy, reduce costs and improve speed may allow sustainable approaches for managing STIs and emerging AMR in resource poor and laboratory limited settings.
Matchathon: A guide to student-faculty connections in PhD programs
Authors: Amemiya Haley , Lapp Zena , Smith Cathy , Durdan Margaret , DiMondo Michelle , Bodiya Beth , Barolo Scott
Published: November 2020

Relevant and impactful mentors are essential to a graduate student’s career. Finding mentors can be challenging in umbrella programs with hundreds of faculty members. To foster connections between potential mentors and students with similar research interests, we created a Matchathon event, which has successfully enabled students to find mentors. We developed an easy-to-use R Shiny app (https://github.com/UM-OGPS/matchathon/) to facilitate matching and organizing the event that can be used at any institution. It is our hope that this resource will improve the environment and retention rates for students in the academy.

The open source app is publicly available on the web (app:https://UM-OGPS.shinyapps.io/matchathon/; source code:https://github.com/UM-OGPS/matchathon/).
Identification of Fibronectin 1 as a candidate genetic modifier in aCol4a1mutant mouse model of Gould syndrome
Authors: Mao Mao , Popli Tanav , Jeanne Marion , Hoff Kendall , Sen Saunak , Gould Douglas B.
Published: November 2020

Collagen type IV alpha 1 and alpha 2 (COL4A1 and COL4A2) are major components of almost all basement membranes.COL4A1andCOL4A2mutations cause a multisystem disorder called Gould syndrome which can affect any organ but typically involves the cerebral vasculature, eyes, kidneys and skeletal muscles. The manifestations of Gould syndrome are highly variable and animal studies suggest that allelic heterogeneity and genetic context contribute to the clinical variability. We previously characterized a mouse model of Gould syndrome caused by aCol4a1mutation in which the severities of ocular anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD), myopathy, and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were dependent on genetic background. Here, we performed a genetic modifier screen to provide insight into the mechanisms contributing to Gould syndrome pathogenesis and identified a single locus (modifier of Gould syndrome 1;MoGS1) on Chromosome 1 that suppressed ASD. A separate screen showed that the same locus ameliorated myopathy. Interestingly,MoGS1had no effect on ICH, suggesting that this phenotype may be mechanistically distinct. We refined theMoGS1locus to a 4.3 Mb interval containing 18 protein coding genes, includingFn1which encodes the extracellular matrix component fibronectin 1. Molecular analysis showed that theMoGS1locus increasedFn1expression raising the possibility that suppression is achieved through a compensatory extracellular mechanism. Furthermore, we show evidence of increased integrin linked kinase levels and focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation inCol4a1mutant mice that is partially restored by theMoGS1locus implicating the involvement of integrin signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that tissue-specific mechanistic heterogeneity contributes to the variable expressivity of Gould syndrome and that perturbations in integrin signaling may play a role in ocular and muscular manifestations.
Price equation captures the role of drug interactions and collateral effects in the evolution of multidrug resistance
Authors: Gjini Erida , Wood Kevin B.
Published: November 2020

Bacterial adaptation to antibiotic combinations depends on the joint inhibitory effects of the two drugs (drug interaction, DI) and how resistance to one drug impacts resistance to the other (collateral effects, CE). Here we model these evolutionary dynamics on two-dimensional phenotype spaces that leverage scaling relations between the drug-response surfaces of drug sensitive (ancestral) and drug resistant (mutant) populations. We show that evolved resistance to the component drugs–and in turn, the adaptation of growth rate–is governed by a Price equation whose covariance terms encode geometric features of both the two-drug response surface (DI) in ancestral cells and the correlations between resistance levels to those drugs (CE). Within this framework, mean evolutionary trajectories reduce to a type of weighted gradient dynamics, with the drug interaction dictating the shape of the underlying landscape and the collateral effects constraining the motion on those landscapes. Our results clarify the complex relationship between drug interactions and collateral effects in multi-drug environments and illustrate how specific dosage combinations can shift the weighting of these two effects, leading to different and temporally-explicit selective outcomes.
Predatory selection of mucoid, antibiotic resistantPseudomonas putidaphenotype by myxobacteriumCystobacter ferrugineus
Authors: Akbar Shukria , Stevens D. Cole
Published: November 2020

Predation contributes to the structure and diversity of microbial communities. Predatory myxobacteria are ubiquitous to a variety of microbial habitats and capably consume a broad diversity of microbial prey. Predator-prey experiments utilizing myxobacteria have provided details into predatory mechanisms and features that facilitate consumption of prey. However, prey resistance to myxobacterial predation remains underexplored, and prey resistances have been observed exclusively from predator-prey experiments that included the model myxobacteriumMyxococcus xanthus.Utilizing a predator-prey pairing that instead included the myxobacterium,Cystobacter ferrugineus,withPseudomonas putidaas prey, we infrequently observed surviving phenotypes capable of eluding predation. Comparative transcriptomics betweenP. putidaunexposed toC. ferrugineusand the survivor phenotype suggested that increased expression of efflux pumps, genes associated with mucoid conversion, and various membrane features contribute to predator avoidance. TheP. putidasurvivor phenotype was confirmed to be resistant to the antibiotics kanamycin, gentamicin, and tetracycline and to produce more alginate, pyoveridine, and phenazine-1-carboxylic acid than predator-unexposedP. putida. Unique features observed from the survivor phenotype including small colony variation, efflux-mediated antibiotic resistance, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid production, and increased mucoid conversion overlap with traits associated withPseudomonas aeruginosapredator avoidance and pathogenicity. The survivor phenotype also benefited from increased predator resistance during subsequent predation assays. These results demonstrate the utility of myxobacterial predator-prey models and provide insight into prey resistances in response to predatory stress might contribute to the phenotypic diversity and structure of bacterial communities.
Fluorescent Antibody Multiplexing with Oligo-Based Combinatorial Labeling
Authors: McCarthy Madeline , Anglin Caitlin , Peer Heather , Boleman Sevanna , Klaubert Stephanie , Birtwistle Marc R.
Published: November 2020

Fluorescent antibodies are a workhorse of biomedical science, but fluorescence multiplexing has been notoriously difficult due to spectral overlap between fluorophores. We recently established proof-of-principal for fluorescence Multiplexing using Spectral Imaging and Combinatorics (MuSIC), which uses combinations of existing fluorophores to create unique spectral signatures for increased multiplexing. However, a method for labeling antibodies with MuSIC probes has not yet been developed. Here, we present a method for labeling antibodies with MuSIC probes. We conjugate a DBCO-Peg5-NHS ester linker to antibodies, a single stranded DNA “docking strand” to the linker, and finally, hybridize two MuSIC-compatible, fluorescently-labeled oligos to the docking strand. We validate the labeling protocol with spin-column purification and absorbance measurements, which show a degree of labeling of ~9.66 linker molecules / antibody. We demonstrate the approach using (i) Cy3, (ii) Tex615, and (iii) a Cy3-Tex615 combination as three different MuSIC probes attached to three separate batches of antibodies. We incubated MuSIC probe-labeled antibodies with protein A beads to create single and double positive beads that are analogous to single cells. Spectral flow cytometry experiments demonstrate that each MuSIC probe can be uniquely distinguished, and the fraction of beads in a mixture with different staining patterns is accurately measured. The approach is general and might be more broadly applied to cell type profiling or tissue heterogeneity studies in clinical, biomedical, and drug discovery research.
The spatial-temporal dynamics of respiratory syncytial virus infections across the east-west coasts of Australia during 2016-17
Authors: Robertson Mark , Eden John-Sebastian , Levy Avram , Carter Ian , Tulloch Rachel L , Cutmore Elena J , Horsburgh Bethany A , Sikazwe Chisha T , Dwyer Dominic E , Smith David W , Kok Jen
Published: November 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important human respiratory pathogen. In temperate regions a distinct seasonality is observed, where peaks of infections typically occur in early winter, often preceding the annual influenza season. Infections are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, and in some populations exceeds that of influenza. Two subtypes, RSV-A and RSV-B, have been described, and molecular epidemiological studies have shown that both viruses mostly co-circulate. This trend also appears to be the case for Australia, however previous genomic studies have been limited to cases from one Eastern state - New South Wales. As such, the broader spatial patterns and viral traffic networks across the continent are not known. Here, we conducted a whole genome study of RSV comparing strains across eastern and western Australia during the period January 2016 to June 2017. In total, 96 new RSV genomes were sequenced, compiled with previously generated data, and examined using a phylodynamic approach. This analysis revealed that both RSV-A and RSV-B strains were circulating, and each subtype was dominated by a single genotype, RSV-A/ON1-like and RSV-B/BA10-like viruses. Some geographical clustering was evident in strains from both states with multiple distinct sub-lineages observed and relatively low mixing across jurisdictions suggesting that endemic transmission was likely seeded from imported, unsampled locations. Overall, the RSV phylogenies reflected a complex pattern of interactions across multiple epidemiological scales from fluid virus traffic across global and regional networks to fine-scale local transmission events.
Using Twitter to explore consumers' sentiments and their social representations towards new food trends
Authors: Pindado Emilio , Barrena Ramo
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the use of Twitter for studying the social representations of different regions across the world towards new food trends.

Design/methodology/approach

A density-based clustering algorithm was applied to 7,014 tweets to identify regions of consumers sharing content about food trends. The attitude of their social representations was addressed with the sentiment analysis, and grid maps were used to explore subregional differences.

Findings

Twitter users have a weak, positive attitude towards food trends, and significant differences were found across regions identified, which suggests that factors at the regional level such as cultural context determine users' attitude towards food innovations. The subregional analysis showed differences at the local level, which reinforces the evidence that context matters in consumers' attitude expressed in social media.

Research limitations/implications

The social media content is sensitive to spatio-temporal events. Therefore, research should take into account content, location and contextual information to understand consumers' perceptions. The methodology proposed here serves to identify consumers' regions and to characterize their attitude towards specific topics. It considers not only administrative but also cognitive boundaries in order to analyse subsequent contextual influences on consumers' social representations.

Practical implications

The approach presented allows marketers to identify regions of interest and localize consumers' attitudes towards their products using social media data, providing real-time information to contrast with their strategies in different areas and adapt them to consumers' feelings.

Originality/value

This study presents a research methodology to analyse food consumers' understanding and perceptions using not only content but also geographical information of social media data, which provides a means to extract more information than the content analysis applied in the literature.
The emergence of biological invasions on food chains: a DPSIR analysis
Authors: Faraudello Alessandra , Gualtieri Donato , Szeles Zsuzsanna
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the emergence of a biological invasion and to explain the potential economic and social consequences on food chains. Straddling between ecology, social sciences, resource management and economics, invasion science is aimed at detecting, understanding and mitigating the impact of biological invasions on receiving ecosystems, including food ecosystems.

Design/methodology/approach

After a theoretical investigation about the main notions relevant for the invasion science, the authors practically review the kind of impacts deriving from biological invasions, mainly under economic, human health, ecosystem and biodiversity criteria.

Findings

The authors apply the DPSIR (Driving forces–pressure-state-impact-response) framework, originally developed in the context of European Environment Agency in this different context in order to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Responding to this emerging phenomenon, the European Union issues the EU regulation 1143/2014 which is the first strong act on invasive alien species.

Originality/value

Implications – Food chains are complex systems that have multiple interdependencies both endogenously and exogenously, such as food production, food transportation, food logistics, food distribution, and so forth. However, it is rarely conceived the impact of invasion systems on the dynamics of food chains, although food sustainability is in turn impacted by how effectively and efficiently the various interdependencies have been designed or are working.
Concept of Yager operators with the picture fuzzy set environment and its application to emergency program selection
Authors: Qiyas Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Ali , Khan Saifullah , Abdullah Saleem
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study as to find out an approach for emergency program selection.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have generated six aggregation operators (AOs), namely picture fuzzy Yager weighted average (PFYWA), picture fuzzy Yager ordered weighted average, picture fuzzy Yager hybrid weighted average, picture fuzzy Yager weighted geometric (PFYWG), picture fuzzy Yager ordered weighted geometric and picture fuzzy Yager hybrid weighted geometric aggregations operators.

Findings

First of all, the authors defined the score and accuracy function for picture fuzzy set (FS), and some fundamental operational laws for picture FS using the Yager aggregation operation. After that, using the developed operational laws, developed some AOs, namely PFYWA, picture fuzzy Yager ordered weighted average, picture fuzzy Yager hybrid weighted average, PFYWG, picture fuzzy Yager ordered weighted geometric and picture fuzzy Yager hybrid weighted geometric aggregations operators, have been proposed along with their desirable properties. A decision-making (DM) approach based on these operators has also been presented. An illustrative example has been given for demonstrating the approach. Finally, discussed the comparison of the proposed method with the other existing methods and write the conclusion of the article.

Originality/value

To find the best alternative for emergency program selection.
Inbound Australian tourism demand from Asia: a panel gravity model
Authors: Ghosh Sudeshna
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study attempts to explore the determinants of tourism demand that impact tourist arrivals in Australia from Asia using an augmented panel gravity model.

Design/methodology/approach

The augmented panel gravity model was utilised to analyse the demand for Australian tourism from 15 major countries of Asia over the period 1991 to 2018. Tourist arrivals were the dependent variable while per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and weighted distance were important explanatory variables. Further other indicators like population, money supply, globalisation, price index, exchange rate, uncertainty and two dummy variables were added as control variables.

Findings

The results demonstrate based on the novel methodology of Pesaran (2006), namely CCE (common correlated effects) that tourist arrivals are impacted positively and significantly by per capita GDP of both the country of origin and destination country, globalisation also impacts tourist flows positively. However, tourist arrivals are adversely affected by distance and prices confirming the economic theory.

Originality/value

Gravity models have been intensively used in the recent literature on tourism; however, this study has attempted to explore tourism demand from Asia into Australia which is indeed an unexplored area further the study has used the CCE methodology which takes care of the problems of cross-sectional dependence unlike the earlier methods widely used in the literature like the DOLS and the FMOLS. Last by utilising a wide-ranging set of macro factors the study contributes a novel assessment to the recent literature on tourism demand model.
Transboundary air pollution and respiratory disease mortality: evidence from European countries
Authors: Spiteri Jonathan , von Brockdorff Philip
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to quantify the impact of transboundary air pollutants, particularly those related to urban traffic, on health outcomes. The importance of focusing on the health implications of transboundary pollution is due to the fact that these emissions originate from another jurisdiction, thus constituting international negative externalities. Thus, by isolating and quantifying the impact of these transboundary air pollutants on domestic health outcomes, the authors can understand more clearly the extent of these externalities, identify their ramifications for health and emphasise the importance of cross-country cooperation in the fight against air pollution.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ panel data regression analysis to look at the relationship between emissions of transboundary air pollution and mortality rates from various respiratory diseases among a sample of 40 European countries, over the period 2003–2014. In turn, the authors use annual data on transboundary emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), together with detailed data on the per capita incidence of various respiratory diseases, including lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The authors consider a number of different regression equation specifications and control for potential confounders like the quality of healthcare and economic prosperity within each country.

Findings

The results show that transboundary emissions of PM2.5 are positively and significantly related to mortality rates from asthma in our sample of countries. Quantitatively, a 10% increase in PM2.5 transboundary emissions per capita from neighbouring countries is associated with a 1.4% increase in the asthma mortality rate within the recipient country or roughly 200 deaths by asthma per year across our sample.

Originality/value

These findings have important policy implications for cross-country cooperation and regulation in the field of pollution abatement and control, particularly since all the countries under consideration form a part of the UN's Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP), a transnational cooperative agreement aimed at curtailing such pollutants on an international level.
Conceptualizing social well-being in activity-based offices
Authors: Colenberg Susanne , Appel-Meulenbroek Rianne , Romero Herrera Natalia , Keyson David
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to aid conceptualization of social well-being at work by identifying its components in a contemporary office context, so adequate measures can be developed to monitor social well-being and to assess the impact of interventions in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used existing interview data from recent post-occupancy evaluations of two large activity-based flexible offices in the Dutch public sector. Data-driven concept mapping of 182 different employees' statements on social aspects of well-being was used to find communalities in their perceptions.

Findings

From the data 14 key concepts emerged referring to employees' social needs, reactions to (anti-)social behaviour of others and perceived social affordances of the work environment. Contrary to established theory, social well-being appeared to be a context-bound phenomenon, including components of both short-term hedonic and long-term eudaimonic well-being.

Research limitations/implications

The findings serve as an inductive source for the further development of adequate measures of social well-being at work. Limitations concern the specific (cultural) setting of the cases and the use of existing data.

Practical implications

Preliminary suggestions for fostering social well-being include change management, participatory design, being alert of the identified risks of activity-based offices and supporting privacy regulation, identity marking and a sense of community, as well as a diversity of informal face-to-face interactions balanced with quiet spaces.

Originality/value

This article contributes to the conceptualization of social well-being in contemporary offices by discussing established social well-being theory and analysing real-world data, using a method novel to management research.
Effects of modular platforms on suppliers companies: evidence from Volkswagen Polo manufacturing in Navarra (Spain)
Authors: Paz María J. , Ruiz Gálvez María E.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper analyzes the effects on local suppliers of the adoption of a modular platform, taking into account different supply-chain relations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ research follows an interpretive case study methodology based on a theoretical approach that seeks to validate the approach while making conclusions about the case study.

Findings

The traditional pyramidal structure of automotive supply chains has been altered by the consolidation of a much more complex structure, mostly in spatial and geographical terms. The authors find a strong hierarchy resulting from the reinforced market power of the carmaker under study and the respective fragile structural positioning of logistics companies and pre-assemblers. The increased versatility of the assembly plant, considered a consequence of its transition to modular platforms, finds a counterpart in the necessary re-configuration of certain supply relationships.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the paper is to connect the defining elements of supply-chain relations with those technical and organizational changes associated with the transition to modular platforms, as well as to analyze changes in the pyramidal structure of the supply chain, from both a spatial and relational perspective.
Green supply chain management practices and its impact on organizational performance: evidence from Indian manufacturers
Authors: Sahoo Saumyaranjan , Vijayvargy Lokesh
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of five dimensions of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices (i.e. internal environmental management, green purchasing, cooperation with customers, eco-design, and investment recovery) on three dimensions of organizational performance (i.e. environmental, economic and operational performance).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected based on a cross-sectional survey of managers of 160 manufacturing firms in India. Structural equation modelling was used to test the influence of GSCM practices on each of the organizational performance outcomes.

Findings

Except for internal environmental management and green purchasing, all other GSCM dimensions are found to significantly impact at least one of the performance dimensions, either directly or indirectly. The results highlight that investment recovery practice is a key predictor of environmental performance, whereas eco-design is a key predictor of operational performance. The structural equation modeling result also suggests that GSCM do not directly affect economic performance, but can improve it indirectly.

Research limitations/implications

Since data was collected from managers of manufacturing firms on the basis of their subjective evaluations, future research studies should employ objective performance indicators for analysis. Also, the study did not consider some dimensions of GSCM practices, which can be included in future studies.

Practical implications

Manufacturing firms should implement GSCM practices not just because of the pressure from regulatory bodies but also to elevate their environmental, operational and economic performance. The proposed model in this paper suggests practitioners which GSCM factors are driving these performance changes and supports the building of a roadmap for GSCM implementation in their organization.

Originality/value

Manufacturing firms from four different operating sectors, namely automotive, electrical and electronics, process and machinery sectors are the respondents. The originality of the paper lies in testing the influence of GSCM practices on organizational performance in a novel context, where most GSCM initiatives fail for one reason or another. Furthermore, the assessment of the interaction between five constructs of GSCM practices and three constructs of organizational performance in the Indian manufacturing context offers unique conceptual contribution to the researches in the GSCM field.
Corporate social responsibility during unprecedented crises: the role of authentic leadership and business model flexibility
Authors: Fox Corey , Davis Phillip , Baucus Melissa
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the present research is to explore the relationships between corporate social responsibility (CSR), authentic leadership and business model flexibility during times of unprecedented crises.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach in this study is conceptual. After a brief review of the literature associated with CSR, authentic leadership and business models, the authors introduce a model describing the interaction of authentic leadership and business model flexibility on CSR heterogeneity.

Findings

This research explains how firms that are led by authentic leaders and that have flexible business models will be more engaged with their stakeholders than firms with less authentic leaders or more rigid business models during unprecedented crises.

Practical implications

Prescriptions for practitioners are suggested for improving authentic leadership as well as making adaptations to the firm's business model. Regarding authentic leadership, firms can screen potential new hires and existing employees for authentic leadership qualities. Firms can also rely upon existing interventions shown to assist in authentic leadership development for current leaders. At the business model level, firms can focus on core resources and their application in related product and service markets.

Originality/value

Firms engaged in CSR activities benefit more from those activities when leaders are authentic. However, in times of unprecedented crises, business model flexibility may also dictate the extent to which firms can satisfy their stakeholders. The authors introduce a conceptual model that takes the elements of authentic leadership and business model flexibility into account to explain CSR heterogeneity.
Corporate sustainability: the new organizational reality
Authors: Dhanda Upasana , Shrotryia Vijay Kumar
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Today, corporate sustainability is at a tipping point. With average lifespan of organizations shrinking, striving for corporate longevity and sustainability has become indispensable in this fast-paced world. Despite the growing interest in this domain, companies are struggling to define sustainability in a way that is relevant to their business. This article attempts to synthesize the extant literature and provide a conceptual perspective on corporate sustainability and sustainable business models.

Design/methodology/approach

Thematic literature review was done to gain an understanding of the extant literature and the ongoing debates on organizational sustainability. As the literature in context of corporate sustainability was found to be in a fluid state, a thematic review was found suitable to systematize and disclose valuable insights that open avenues for addressing sustainability concerns.

Findings

The paper attempts to throw light on the journey of organizations towards sustainability and how the context of sustainability has changed for the organizations over time. The paper discusses how companies embarked on their sustainability revolution by shifting their focus from mere compliance and philanthropy to attaining a sustainability edge and also explicates the transformation from traditional business models to sustainable business models. Finally, the research gaps are identified to pave the way for future research in the domain of corporate sustainability.

Originality/value

The extant literature on corporate sustainability is in a shambolic state. This creates a need to investigate what has been done and how the context of corporate sustainability is being shaped. This paper contributes to the emerging literature on sustainability by providing a conceptual perspective and highlighting the research gaps which pave the way for future research on sustainability paradigm.
Reproductive senescence in a short‐lived fish
Authors: Žák Jakub , Reichard Martin
Published: November 2020

Reproductive senescence is an age‐associated decline in reproductive performance, which often arises as a trade‐off between current and future reproduction. Given that mortality is inevitable, increased allocation into current reproduction is favoured despite costs paid later in life.

This assumption is violated in organisms with post‐maturity growth whose reproductive output increases long after maturity. While reproductive senescence is frequently studied in animals with determinate growth at maturity, such as insects or mammals, we have very limited understanding of reproductive senescence in organisms with an extensive post‐maturity growth period.

The fact that many post‐maturity growers experience strong adult mortality leads to conflicting expectations for reproductive senescence. The aim of this study was to investigate how co‐occurrence of rapid life history and post‐maturity growth mould reproductive senescence in a short‐lived killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, using longitudinal data on laboratory and wild‐type populations.

We followed the individual fecundity, fertility and fertilization of 132 singly housed fish from the perspectives of chronological and biological age. At the onset of senescence, the sex‐specific contribution to decrease in fertilization capacity was investigated. Allocation trade‐offs were estimated through the association between reproductive parameters and life span, and between early‐life and late‐life fecundity.

We demonstrate that female fecundity increased steadily after maturity and reproductive senescence occurred long after the growth asymptote. The prime age for fecundity coincided with 50% female survival and consequent decline in fecundity implies an association with somatic deterioration. Reproductive senescence in fertilization rate was stronger in females than in males. Females with high early fecundity experienced a long life span and high late‐life fecundity, discounting the role of allocation trade‐offs in reproductive senescence.

The present study reports a clear case of reproductive senescence in a fish with a long post‐maturation growth period, unusually rapid development and short life span. The onset of reproductive senescence was postponed compared to animals that cease growing at sexual maturity. Fish and other animals with post‐maturity growth have long been considered insusceptible to ageing but this conclusion may be related to the previous lack of longitudinal data rather than to the absence of reproductive senescence in such organisms.
Impacts of predator‐induced behavioural plasticity on the temperature dependence of predator–prey activity and population dynamics
Authors: Gvoždík Lumír , Boukal David S.
Published: November 2020

Predation is a key ecological interaction affecting populations and communities. Climate warming can modify this interaction both directly by the kinetic effects of temperature on biological rates and indirectly through integrated behavioural and physiological responses of the predators and prey. Temperature dependence of predation rates can further be altered by predator‐induced plasticity of prey locomotor activity, but empirical data about this effect are lacking.

We propose a general framework to understand the influence of predator‐induced developmental plasticity on behavioural thermal reaction norms in prey and their consequences for predator–prey dynamics. Using a mesocosm experiment with dragonfly larvae (predator) and newt larvae (prey), we tested if the predator‐induced plasticity alters the elevation or the slope of the thermal reaction norms for locomotor activity metrics in prey. We also estimated the joint predator–prey thermal response in mean locomotor speed, which determines prey encounter rate, and modelled the effect of both phenomena on predator–prey population dynamics.

Thermal reaction norms for locomotor activity in prey were affected by predation risk cues but with minor influence on the joint predator–prey behavioural response. We found that predation risk cues significantly decreased the intercept of thermal reaction norm for total activity rate (i.e. all body movements) but not the other locomotor activity metrics in the prey, and that prey locomotor activity rate and locomotor speed increased with prey density.

Temperature had opposite effects on the mean relative speed of predator and prey as individual speed increased with temperature in predators but decreased in prey. This led to a negligible effect of body temperature on predicted prey encounter rates and predator–prey dynamics. The behavioural component of predator–prey interaction varied much more between individuals than with temperature and the presence of predation risk cues in our system.

We conclude that within‐population variation in locomotor activity can buffer the influence of body temperature and predation risk cues on predator–prey interactions, and further research should focus on the magnitude and sources of behavioural variation in interacting species to predict the impact of climate change on predator–prey interactions and food web dynamics.
Dynamic effects of insect herbivory and climate on tundra shrub growth: Roles of browsing and ramet age
Authors: Virtanen Risto , Clark Adam Thomas , den Herder Michael , Roininen Heikki
Published: November 2020

To predict shrub responses under climate change in tundra, we need to understand how thermal conditions and herbivory contribute to growth. We hypothesise that shrub growth increases with thermal conditions and precipitation, but that this increase is counteracted by insect herbivory, and that these climate–insect herbivory relationships are modified by both browsing and plant age.

We use empirical dynamic modelling (EDM) to analyse a 20‐year time series on willow Salix phylicifolia shoot growth, growing degree days, summer precipitation and herbivory from an experiment at forest–tundra ecotone. The experiment includes manipulations of avian and mammal browsing (fences) and ramet age (pruning to rejuvenate willows).

Negative effects of insect herbivory on willow shoot growth were intensified during warmer years, whereas increasing precipitation led to reduced effects. Moreover, the effect of insect herbivores on shoot growth varied with ramet age and vertebrate browsing: younger ramets generally experienced less negative insect herbivore effects, whereas ptarmigan browsing was associated with more positive temperature effects on shoot growth, and reindeer browsing with more negative effects of insect herbivory and precipitation.

Synthesis. Our findings show that the negative effects of insect herbivory on shoot growth likely intensify under warmer thermal conditions, but that increasing precipitation can counteract these effects. Moreover, changes in thermal conditions, precipitation and vertebrate browsers all have predictable, albeit complex and nonlinear, effects on shrub growth, highlighting the importance of long‐term experimental data and flexible analytical methods such as EDM for characterising climate and community interactions in artic systems.