bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Board gender diversity and environmental, social and governance performance of US banks: moderating role of environmental, social and corporate governance controversies
Authors: Shakil Mohammad Hassan , Tasnia Mashiyat , Mostafiz Md Imtiaz 
Published: November 2020

PurposeGender diversity in corporate boards is broadly studied in existing corporate governance literature. However, the role of board gender diversity on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of the banks is still unaccounted for. Drawing on resource dependence and legitimacy theory, this study addresses this pressing research issue. Moreover, investigation of ESG controversies as a moderator paves the existing corporate governance research to the new avenues.Design/methodology/approachData were sourced from Refinitiv database on 37 US banks from the period of 2013 to 2017. This study employs static and dynamic panel regression models that include random effects, fixed effects and dynamic generalised method of moments (GMMs) to test the hypotheses. Furthermore, system GMM is used to reduce the issue of endogeneity, measurement error, omitted variables bias and bank-specific heterogeneity.FindingsWe identify a significant positive relationship between board gender diversity and the ESG performance of US banks. However, the result propounds non-significant moderating effect of ESG controversies on the board gender diversity–ESG performance nexus.Originality/valueLiterature on board gender diversity and ESG separately and predominantly explains firm/bank's financial performance. This study is one of the pioneering attempts to explain the role of board gender diversity on ESG performance. Although incremental, however, this study also contributes to the literature on ESG in the US context.
Competitive advantage through Six Sigma in sand casting industry to improve overall first-pass yield: a case study of SSE
Authors: Solanki Mihir , Desai Darshak 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how Six Sigma methodology has been applied in a small-scale foundry industry to improve the overall first-pass material yield and quality, with a view to the product and the process.

Design/methodology/approach
The researchers have reported this paper based on a case study carried out in industry using the Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) and its application in improving the manufacturing process of a foundry shop.

Findings
Identified root causes are validated and countermeasures are implemented for improvement. As a result of this case study, the overall first-pass yield of the sand casting process is improved to 78.88% from the previous yield of 67%. For product-specific case, yield is improved by 18% through the improved gating system design. Sigma level of the process is improved to 3.08 from baseline 2.21. Key lessons learned from this case study are mentioned in the current study.

Research limitations/implications
This case study provides a standard road map and motivates small-scale foundry industries to implement Six Sigma methodology for productivity improvement, especially in jobbing foundry. The presented paper is based on a single case study, and the results are limited to the company only. Also, one of the reasons for low process yield is slag creation, which is not covered here, as it is a concern of the material quality supplied by the vendor. However, the approach of this paper is generic for learning perspective.

Practical implications
This case study provides a standard road map and motivates small-scale foundry industries to implement Six Sigma methodology for productivity improvement, especially in jobbing foundry. Through the effective application of Six Sigma quality initiative, how a quantum jump in financial aspect could be gain, has been demonstrated.

Originality/value
This research study showcases step-by-step implementation of Six Sigma-DMAIC methodology at a small-scale foundry industry. This paper could serve as a unique roadmap for practitioners and academicians to improve the material productivity of the foundry industry both ways, product and process.
Effects of COVID-19 related restrictive measures on parents of children with developmental difficulties
Authors: Lučić Lana , Brkljačić Tihana , Brajša-Žganec Andreja 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
Social distancing and school closures have changed the lives of many parents around the globe. In addition to these problems, parents of children with developmental difficulties (DD) have faced additional stressors that make them even more susceptible to higher stress levels and the onset or worsening of anxiety or depression. Consequentially, these stressors may have an indirect effect on parental functioning and children with DD owing to the spillover effect.

Design/methodology/approach
The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to parents of children with DD through an overview of possible additional stressors that have appeared during the coronavirus pandemic in Croatia. In writing this viewpoint paper, three sources were consulted: official state documents, communication with professionals (e.g. speech therapists) and online support groups for parents of children with DD.

Findings
Restrictive measures during the lockdown led to a lack of both formal and informal support for parents of children with DD. Moreover, the possibility of infection led to higher levels of fear among these parents; children with DD also encountered problems coping with both the restrictive measures and the demands of distance learning.

Practical implications
This paper may present a good starting point for both governments and NGOs when discussing and planning further advancement in the quality of response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a “recovery” response after the crisis. This overview may provide better insight into COVID-19–related consequences among parents of children with DD, which is vital to increasing the effectiveness of future measures and actions.

Originality/value
Although some negative effects of the pandemic on children have already been discussed by several authors, little attention has been paid to parents, and even less so to parents of children with DD. This paper may even represent a pioneering work in exploring the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on this population group.
Coping with domestic violence: women's voices in Bangladesh
Authors: van der Putten Marc , Nur-E-Jannat Amee 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis paper aims offer a benchmark by providing an account of women's experiences with domestic violence in Bangladesh and develops illustrations on coping with abuse.Design/methodology/approachA case study design was adopted, applying an emic perspective in employing a qualitative research approach to explore and describe women's experiences with and perceptions about domestic violence and their ways of coping in Sherpur District, Bangladesh. In total 25 recently married women participants were purposively sampled by snowballing. In-depth interview data facilitated a latent thematic content analysis.FindingsThe findings indicate that women adopt a range of responses to domestic violence. Two key aspects of coping surfaced in the narratives: (1) emotion-driven and (2) problem-driven approaches to abusive situations. Findings point to a range of research issues that require further study such as domestic violence and taboo; somatization; structural gender inequalities; male perpetrators; family dynamics and the intersections of these issues and contexts.Originality/valueA more proactive way of coping resulted in resilience amidst an abusive environment, whereas passive ways of coping led to a life in distress. It is important however, to understand ways of coping as a continuum rather than a dichotomy.
Perceptions and performance of knowledge workers transitioning from single-cell offices to shared workspaces: evidence from panel data
Authors: Morrison Rachel Lopes , Stahlmann-Brown Philip 
Published: November 2020

Purposeto evaluate the experiences of knowledge workers who work in shared workspaces and those who moved from single-cell offices to shared workspaces.Design/methodology/approachKnowledge workers were surveyed before and after 34% moved from single-cell offices to shared workspaces. The authors exploit this panel design in the analysis.FindingsShared offices were rated as providing more distraction, less privacy and worsened indoor environment quality (IEQ) (p < 0.05). Perceptions of collaboration and networking also declined in shared workspaces. Distraction and a lack of privacy were negatively associated with self-reported productivity (p < 0.10). Neither IEQ nor collaboration nor networking was significantly associated with productivity. The perceptions of those who moved to shared workspaces and those who had worked in shared workspaces all along were statistically indistinguishable.Research limitations/implicationsThe quasi-experimental control provides evidence that it is the office type, not the experience of moving, that accounts for the evaluative changes. There are limitations inherent in using a self-rating performance measure.Practical implicationsOrganisations should be aware that the positive outcomes ascribed to shared spaces may not be apparent and that demands may outweigh benefits.Originality/valueKnowledge workers are particularly impacted by distraction and interruptions to concentrated work. The quasi-experimental design controlled for the Hawthorne effect, demonstrating that it is the office type, not the move, that accounts for differences in perceptions.
Co-design of a stakeholders’ ecosystem: an assessment methodology by linking social network analysis, stakeholder theory and participatory mapping
Authors: Cottafava Dario , Corazza Laura 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
The need for stakeholder theory has been widely highlighted in the literature to develop solid strategies for a large organization. However, there is still a lack of user-friendly visualization tools and no unique approach exists to identify and engage stakeholders. This paper aims to propose a general methodology to co-design the sustainability ecosystem at the local scale, to explore it and to assess the impact of a large organization within the identified ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach
The methodology consists of two main processes: identifying an ontological map of the sustainability topics network and designing the local sustainability stakeholders ecosystem. Both processes are based on a nodes identification phase and a nodes prioritization phase. The identification phase was achieved by engaging 160 citizens, for the topics network and nearly 40 relevant stakeholders, for the stakeholders’ ecosystem, with a collaborative participatory mapping process. The prioritization phase was conducted because of three indicators, i.e. the closeness, the betweenness and the eigenvector centrality.

Findings
Betweenness centrality results to be the best indicator to assess the importance of a stakeholder with respect to the whole network, while eigenvector centrality highlights the quality of the already engaged stakeholders of an organization, as it mainly depends on the number of links of the first order neighbors. On the contrary, the closeness centrality, when applied to a small network, seems to be not appropriate to assess the centrality of a stakeholder.

Research limitations/implications
This approach revealed some criticalities in the mapping process, as in the weighting link procedure. Further investigations are needed to generalize the approach to a dynamic one, to allow real-time mapping and to develop a robust interconnection among centrality degrees and the power, interest and legitimacy concept of stakeholder theory.

Practical implications
Obtained results for a case study, i.e. the position of the University of Turin Green Office within the City of Turin sustainability ecosystem, are discussed showing how social network analysis centrality degrees can be used to quantitatively assess the role of an organization within a stakeholders’ ecosystem.

Social implications
Centrality analysis allows identifying emergent topics/stakeholders within a network of words/actors that, at a first sight, should not be considered by decision-makers and managers.

Originality/value
A new methodology for stakeholder identification and prioritization is proposed exploiting online data visualization tools, participatory mapping and social network analysis.
Drought legacy affects microbial community trait distributions related to moisture along a savannah grassland precipitation gradient
Authors: Leizeaga Ainara , Hicks Lettice C. , Manoharan Lokeshwaran , Hawkes Christine V. , Rousk Johannes 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Ecosystem models commonly use stable‐state assumptions to predict responses of soil microbial functions to environmental change. However, past climatic conditions can shape microbial functional responses resulting in a ‘legacy effect’. For instance, exposure to drier conditions in the field may shape how soil microbial communities respond to subsequent drought and drying and rewetting (DRW) events.

We investigated microbial tolerance to low moisture levels (‘resistance’) and ability to recover after a DRW perturbation (‘resilience’) across a steep precipitation gradient in Texas, USA.

Although differences in precipitation regime did not result in differences in resistance and resilience of soil microbes, microbial communities appeared to be generally resilient and resistant across the gradient, suggesting that frequent exposure to drought had characterised the trait distributions of microbial communities. Moreover, microbial communities from historically drier sites used carbon more efficiently during a DRW perturbation suggesting that long‐term drought history leaves a legacy effect on microbial functions. This may have been due to an indirect effect of drought caused via precipitation‐induced differences in primary productivity, influencing the availability of soil organic matter to microbes. Alternatively, different exposures to drought might have shaped the microbial ‘readiness’ to cope with the DRW disturbance. Microbial community composition was also linked to drought history, but was unrelated to variation in function.

Synthesis. Exposure to drought can have both direct and indirect effects on soil microbial communities, which can result in lasting legacy effects on the functions they control.
How men step back – and recover – from suicide attempts: A relational and gendered account
Authors: Ridge Damien , Smith Hannah , Fixsen Alison , Broom Alex , Oliffe John 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMen account for three‐quarters of suicide deaths in the UK, yet we know little about how at‐risk men construct their experiences of moving towards – and then subsequently stepping back from – suicide, nor the part played by relational factors therein. An inductive thematic analysis was used to examine narrative interviews with eleven UK men who self‐reported serious thoughts, plans and up‐to and including suicide attempts in progress, but who consciously decided against carrying out an attempt. Their accounts suggest a highly social process of movements towards and away from suicide (e.g. frustrated help‐seeking). Stepping back from suicide represents not a discrete issue, but a linked process in suicidality and wider recovery. Here, the use of military metaphors in particular (e.g. waging war, fighting back) highlights the gendered nature of the issue. Additionally, our article illuminates a range of social relations and forces that circulate in and around suicidality, which itself is embedded in varying forms of relationality, normativity and gendered practices.
Predicational and (Quasi‐)Specificational Constructions with Fronted Adjectival Predicates in French1
Authors: Lauwers Peter , Tobback Els 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis paper deals with fronting of predicative adjectives (e.g., Big was his surprise) in French. From the present‐day usage emerge two main constructions, both with their own surface forms and syntactic, semantic and information‐structural properties. The first one, CxA, is a quasi‐specificational copular construction, with narrow focus on the post‐copular subject. The second one is a predicational copular construction, though with inverted word order, yielding sentence focus, hence thetic constructions. In the second part of the paper, we define the lexical profile (and the semantics) of both constructions by means of a collostructional analysis, and their productivity. CxA is more productive and seems to become even more productive in the newspaper corpus, while CxB exhibits symptoms of lexicalization.
Assimilate, process and analyse thermal dissipation sap flow data using the TREX r package
Authors: Peters Richard L. , Pappas Christoforos , Hurley Alexander G. , Poyatos Rafael , Flo Victor , Zweifel Roman , Goossens Willem , Steppe Kathy 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

A key ecophysiological measurement is the flow of water (or sap) along the tree's water‐transport system, which is an essential process for maintaining the hydraulic connection within the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum. The thermal dissipation method (TDM) is widespread in the scientific community for measuring sap flow and has provided novel insights into water use and its environmental sensitivity, from the tree‐ to the forest‐stand level. Yet, methodological approaches to determine sap flux density (SFD) from raw TDM measurements remain case‐specific, introducing uncertainties and hampering data syntheses and meta‐analyses.

Here, we introduce the r package TREX (TRee sap flow EXtractor), incorporating a wide range of sap flow data‐processing procedures to quantify SFD from raw TDM measurements. TREX provides functions for (a) importing and assimilating raw measurements, (b) data quality control and filtering and (c) calculating standardized SFD outputs and their associated uncertainties according to different data‐processing methods.

A case study using a Norway spruce tree illustrates TREX's functionalities, featuring interactive data curation and generating outputs in a reproducible and transparent way. The calculations of SFD in TREX can, for instance, use the original TDM calibration coefficients, user‐supplied calibration parameters or calibration data from a recently compiled database of 22 studies and 37 species. Moreover, the package includes an automatic procedure for quantifying the sensitivity and uncertainty of the obtained results to user‐defined assumptions and parameter values, by means of a state‐of‐the‐art global sensitivity analysis.

Time series of plant ecophysiological measurements are becoming increasingly available and enhance our understanding of climate change impacts on tree functioning. TREX allows for establishing a baseline for data processing of TDM measurements and supports comparability between case studies, facilitating robust, transparent and reproducible large‐scale syntheses of sap flow patterns. Moreover, TREX facilitates the simultaneous application of multiple common data‐processing approaches to convert raw data to physiological relevant quantities. This allows for robust quantification of the impact (i.e. sensitivity and uncertainty) of user‐specific choices and methodological assumptions, which is necessary for process understanding and policy making.
Radiographic assessment of carpal conformation in the horse: Technique development and validation of the consistency of measurements
Authors: Olusa Timothy A. O. , Ismail Sa'ad M. Y. , Murray Christina M. , Davies Helen M. S. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCarpal conformation is often considered as a contributory factor to performance and lameness in the horse; however, few attempts have been made to objectively measure radiographic variations of carpal conformation in horses due to insufficient measurable carpal parameters. This pilot study used carpal radiographic images acquired from 10 cadaveric equine forelimbs transected at the antebrachial midshaft from 7 adult horses (7.2 ± 2.6 years), positioned at ‘zero lateromedial’ (ZLM) and ‘zero dorsopalmar’ (ZDP) views, to investigate the anatomy of the equine carpus and develop parameters that could be objectively used to assess carpal conformation in horses. Dorsal carpal angle (DCA: 176.61 ± 0.66º), distal radial slope carpal angle (DRSCA: 145.59 ± 2.19º), intermediate carpal bone proximal tuberosity‐radial angle (CiPxTRA: 115.69 ± 3.15º) and third carpal bone palmar facet angle (C3PalFCA: 84.43 ± 1.13º) were all developed from the ZLM view while medial carpal angle (MCA: 183.34 ± 1.02º), disto‐dorsal slope angle of the third carpal bone (C3DDSA: 8.27 ± 0.92º) and width ratio of distal radius to proximal metacarpus (WDR:WPM = 1.13±0.03) were 3 of the 10 parameters developed from the ZDP view. Easy to identify and measurable parameters will help to provide quantitative assessment of carpal conformation in the horse with potential of eliminating subjective observational variation errors between clinicians. These newly developed parameters will be useful in further studies to measure variations in the conformation of the equine carpus in live horses and comparison between subjective visual assessment and objective radiographic evaluation methods.
Effects of a gestational level of estradiol on cellular transition, migration, and inflammation in cervical epithelial and stromal cells
Authors: Tantengco Ourlad Alzeus G. , Richardson Lauren S. , Menon Ramkumar 
Published: November 2020

AbstractProblemEstrogen (E2) is one of the main steroid hormones associated with pregnancy and parturition. High levels of E2 increase uterine contractions, promote fetal membrane weakening, and induce degradation of the cervical extracellular matrix (ECM). Current evidence supports the role of E2 in epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammation in different cell types; however, its effects on the cellular components of the cervix are still unknown.Method of studyIn this study, we assessed the effects of gestational levels of E2 in: (a) the cellular transition of endocervical epithelial cells (EEC) and cervical stromal cells (CSC) in vitro using immunocytochemical staining and Western blot analyses for EMT markers (cytokeratin‐18, E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, SNAIL, and vimentin); (b) cell migration using in vitro scratch assays; (c) inflammatory cytokine (interleukin 1β and TNF‐α) and MMP9 production under untreated and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐treated conditions using immunoassays.ResultsE2 treatment and co‐treatment with LPS as a proxy for infection maintained the metastate of EEC (expression of both cytokeratin and vimentin) and the mesenchymal state of CSC. E2 delayed wound healing, which mimics the tissue remodeling process, in EEC and CSC. E2 led to persistently elevated levels of vimentin throughout the EEC wound healing process. E2 did not affect inflammatory cytokine production by EEC and CSC but increased MMP9 production by EEC.ConclusionCollectively, these results show that third trimester levels of E2 may permit localized inflammation, increase MMP‐9 production, and cause an EMT‐mediated impairment of the remodeling process in the cervix in vitro. These data suggest a potential contribution of E2 in cervical ripening.