bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Host-associated rhizobia fitness: Dependence on nitrogen, density, community complexity, and legume genotype
Authors: Burghardt Liana T. , Epstein Brendan , Hoge Michelle , Trujillo Diana , Tiffin Peter 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTThe environmental context of the nitrogen-fixing mutualism between leguminous plants and rhizobial bacteria varies over space and time. Variation in resource availability, population density, and composition likely affect the ecology and evolution of rhizobia and their symbiotic interactions with hosts. We examined how host genotype, nitrogen addition, rhizobial density, and community complexity affected selection on 68 rhizobia strains in theEnsifer meliloti-Medicago truncatulamutualism. As expected, the host genotype had the most substantial effect on the size, number, and strain composition of root nodules (the symbiotic organ). The understudied environmental variable of rhizobial density had a more significant effect on strain frequency in nodules than the addition of low nitrogen levels. Higher inoculum density resulted in a nodule community that was less diverse and more beneficial but only in the context of the more selective host genotype. Higher density resulted in more diverse and less beneficial nodule communities with the less selective host. Density effects on strain composition deserve additional scrutiny as they can create eco-evolutionary feedback. Lastly, we found that relative strain rankings were stable across increasing community complexity (community complexity (2, 3, 8, or 68 strains). This unexpected result suggests that higher-order interactions between strains are rare in the context of host nodule formation and development. Taken together, our empirical work highlights the importance of developing new theoretical predictions that incorporate density dependence. Further, it has translational relevance for overcoming establishment barriers in bio-inoculants and motivating host breeding programs that maintain beneficial plant-microbe interactions across diverse agro-ecological contexts.IMPORTANCELegume cash, forage, and cover crops establish beneficial associations with rhizobial bacteria who perform biological nitrogen fixation (BNF)—providing Nitrogen (N) fertilizer to plants without the economic and greenhouse gas emission costs of chemical N inputs. Here, for the first time, we examine the relative influence of three environmental factors that vary in agricultural fields on strain relative fitness in nodules when scores rhizobial strains compete. In addition to manipulating Nitrogen, we also use two biotic variables that have rarely been examined: the rhizobial community’s density and complexity. Taken together, our results suggest 1) breeding legume varieties that select beneficial strains despite environmental variation are possible, 2) changes in rhizobial population densities that occur routinely in agricultural fields could drive evolutionary changes in rhizobia populations, and 3) the lack of higher-order interactions between strains will allow the high-throughput assessments of rhizobia winners and losers during plant interactions.
Exploring predictors of working capital management efficiency and their influence on firm performance: an integrated DEA-SEM approach
Authors: Seth Himanshu , Chadha Saurabh , Sharma Satyendra Kumar , Ruparel Namita 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis study develops an integrated approach combining data envelopment analysis (DEA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) for estimating the working capital management (WCM) efficiency and evaluating the effects of diverse exogenous variables on the WCM efficiency and firms' performance.Design/methodology/approachDEA is applied for deriving WCM efficiency for 212 Indian manufacturing firms over a period from 2008 to 2019. Also, the effect of human capital (HC), structural capital (SC), cost of external financing (CEF), interest coverage (IC), leverage (LEV), net fixed asset ratio (NFA), asset turnover ratio (ATR) and productivity (PRD) on the WCM efficiency and firms' performance is examined using SEM.FindingsThe average mean efficiency scores ranging from 0.623 to 0.654 highlight the firms operating at around 60% of WCM efficiency only, which is a major concern for Indian manufacturing firms. Further, IC, LEV, NFA, ATR revealed direct effect on the WCM efficiency as well as indirect effect on firms' performance, whereas CEF had only a direct effect on WCM efficiency. HC, SC and PRD had no effects on WCM efficiency and firms' performance.Practical implicationsThe findings offer vital insights in guiding policy decisions for Indian manufacturing firms.Originality/valueThis study is the first to identify the endogenous nature of the relationship of HC, SC, CEF, IC altogether with firms' performance, compounded by the WCM efficiency, by applying a comprehensive methodology of DEA and SEM and provides an efficiency performance model for better decision-making.
The simultaneous effect of green ability-motivation-opportunity and transformational leadership in environment management: the mediating role of green culture
Authors: Rizvi Yasmeen Shamsi , Garg Raksha 
Published: November 2020

PurposeManagers and management studies have for long assumed the separation of humans and nature that led to criticisms due to overexploitation of resources. This prompted organizations to adopt effective environmental management strategies. In this context, the specialized literature states that green human resource management (GHRM) and green transformational leadership (GTFL) coupled with Green Culture (GC) is considered a central aspect in improving the organization's environmental performance (EP). Based on this argument, this study has shown how GHRM strategies as studied under the heading – green ability, motivation and opportunity (GAMO) and GTFL can help in improving the EP of organizations. Studies have highlighted culture as an important mediator, we have therefore explored the mediating effect of green culture between GAMO and EP and between GTFL and EP.Design/methodology/approachUsing ability, motivation, opportunity theory and resource-based view, we have developed a model with GAMO and GTFL as independent variables, GC as a mediator and EP as the dependent variable. Data was collected from 150 top and middle-level managers working in Indian oil and gas companies, which is 50% of the target sample size and has been analysed using structural equation modelling.FindingsThe research identifies that GAMO and GTFL, in fact, positively influence the EP of organizations. Moreover, GC was found to have a partial mediating effect between both GAMO and EP and GTFL and EP.Research limitations/implicationsDue to several constraints, this study is designed to be cross-sectional. Longitudinal study is encouraged in this area. Further, the study is based on oil and gas industry operating in India, going forward the study can be extended to other sectors, to increase the generalizability of the findings.Practical implicationsThis study clearly shows that by investing in GHRM strategies, organizations will ultimately improve in green activities to improve see improvement in the firm's EP. The findings of this study that clarifies the importance of GTFL in building suitable culture give evidence to the leaders on why they should play a proactive role in leading employees towards environmental sustainability.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in studying the simultaneous effect of GTFL and GAMO for improving the EP. Also, studies on green management literature have mostly missed out on the important role of GC in improving EP which is addressed in this study. The data has been collected from oil and gas industry operating in India, which to the best of our knowledge is the first attempt. Overall this study has contributed to the literature on environmental sustainability by underpinning the empirical relationship between GC, GAMO, GTFL and EP which until now has been mostly limited to the conceptual level.
Alignment patterns for process-oriented appraisals and rewards: using HRM for BPM capability building
Authors: Shafagatova Aygun , Van Looy Amy 
Published: November 2020

PurposeWhile the business process management (BPM) literature highlights the significance of aligning employee appraisals and rewards practices with business processes, little is known about the realization. The purpose of this paper is to concretize the impact of process-oriented appraisals and rewards on business process performance and to provide empirical evidence on how organizations actually align their appraisals and rewards practices with BPM.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-method approach has been employed by combining survey results with case studies to offer first-hand evidence. Survey data have been used to quantify the real impact of process-oriented appraisals and rewards. Next, case studies with 10 organizations have allowed us to gain deeper insight into organizational practices for making appraisals and rewards more process-oriented.FindingsThe survey proves that process-oriented employee appraisals and rewards positively affect performance if different employee levels are involved. The case studies reveal similarities and differences in alignment efforts across organizations, based on pattern-matching and a multidimensional analysis, resulting in four alignment patterns.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings extend knowledge about appraisals and rewards within a business process context by providing a quantification and pattern refinement, which specifically advance a BPM-facilitating culture.Practical implicationsManagers and executives benefit from the recommendations for a gradual BPM adoption to improve the success of their business processes and their people-related practices.Originality/valueThe authors offer one of the first in-depth, cross-disciplinary studies that intend to bridge between the disciplines of BPM and human resource management (HRM).
How workplace fun is experienced in the banking sector? A qualitative study
Authors: Mousa Mohamed 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate how workplace fun is experienced in two public Egyptian banks by addressing the employees working there.Design/methodology/approachTo investigate workplace fun in the selected banks, the author employed virtual ethnographic field research by spending two weeks (virtually and full-time) inside each of the two selected public banks. Besides this virtual ethnographic experience, the author employed semi-structured interviews and focus groups with the bank employees. Moreover, the author digitally examined documents such as posters, cartoons, brochures and a WhatsApp group. A total of 188 respondents were contacted and involved in eight semi-structured interviews and 36 focus groups. All interviews and focus groups were conducted in Arabic, the mother tongue of all respondents. The author subsequently used thematic analysis to determine the main ideas in the transcripts.FindingsThe findings confirmed that workplace fun has not been carefully understood, developed and sustained in the selected public Egyptian banks. To the best of the author's knowledge, this study is the first of its kind in the context of a developing nation to focus on workplace fun, and subsequently, it is the first to address the banking sector in one of the leading developing nations in Africa and the Middle-East. Furthermore, based on the analysis of the focus groups and interviews the author created a model of four obstacles: work environment realities, managerial practices, bank-related behaviour and meaning-related obstacles. Managing those four obstacles secures a relevant foundation on which banks can develop and maintain a systematic implementation of workplace fun and humour.Originality/valueThis paper contributes by filling a gap in HR management, in which empirical studies on workplace fun have been limited so far.
What does entrepreneurship education look like in Brazil? An analysis of undergraduate teaching plans
Authors: Cualheta Luciana Padovez , Abbad Gardenia da Silva 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis paper aimed to describe and analyze the contents and methodologies of entrepreneurship education in undergraduate courses in higher education institutions in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachThe teaching plans of 113 undergraduate entrepreneurship courses were surveyed and reviewed. Data were subjected to descriptive and content analyses.FindingsCourses are offered by public and private universities in Brazil in 56 undergraduate programs in several fields. Lectures are among the main teaching methodologies employed, being mentioned in 98% of the teaching plans analyzed. There is a broad use of active methodologies. About 75% of the contents covered in the courses refer to declarative knowledge of basic concepts and theories and enterprises creation and management skills. The survey showed that 50% of the teaching plans addressed content related to business modeling, and only 18% of these mentioned the use of business model canvas. In addition, contents such as prototyping, minimum viable product, design thinking and pitch are mentioned in less than 20% of the teaching plans analyzed.Originality/valueThe article contributes to the advancement of the entrepreneurship education theory as it presents a new way to classify the contents of entrepreneurship courses, in light of educational theories, using learning taxonomies. It identifies the main contents, resources, methodologies, evaluation methods and bibliographies used in undergraduate entrepreneurship courses in Brazil. Moreover, it is the very first article that analyzes this number of teaching plans in Brazil with these categories of analysis. In practical terms, the article contributes to improve the entrepreneurship courses offered.
Developing a framework for youth empowerment to prevent smoking behavior in a rural setting: study protocol for a participatory action research
Authors: Trisnowati Heni , Ismail Djauhar , Padmawati Retna Siwi , Utarini Adi 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThere is limited research examining community-based youth empowerment that addresses smoking prevention in the rural Indonesian context. This paper describes participatory action research (PAR) applied to develop a framework for empowering youth aged 17–25 years toward smoking prevention. This research conducted in the Indonesian rural community setting was divided into four stages: diagnosing, planning action, taking action and evaluating action.Design/methodology/approachPAR was chosen as the approach to developing a framework for youth empowerment in smoking prevention programs. In this study, the PAR cycle started with a prestep stage through interviews with village heads, community leaders, youth organization organizers, observations of target resources and observations of participation in youth activities as well as forming teamwork with target participants. The diagnosis stage consists of three activities, that is, focus group discussions with youth groups of male and female, youth assessment of empowerment domains through the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) with the Empowerment Assessment Rating Scale (EARS) and measuring individual and group involvement levels related to the smoking behavior prevention program by questionnaire. The EARS assessment results were presented in the action planning stage, followed by a discussion on youth empowerment plans and strategies. In the action stage, activities and programs are planned according to the planning discussion, that is: training in healthy life skills (outbound and training) and initiating youth health programs without smoking called “Remaja Berdaya Sehat Tanpa Rokok” (Empowered Youth Healthy Without Smoking) or the JayaStar Program. After these community participation activities, the evaluating action stage will assess the empowerment domain in the youth groups, conduct focus group discussions with parents, evaluate the impact of empowerment on individual and group changes with a questionnaire and facilitate self-reflection by the youth community called Madiska.FindingsThis protocol describes a doctoral research project on developing a youth empowerment framework in smoking prevention programs through PAR. The intended study will provide valuable information on the planning, implementation and evaluation of youth empowerment in the prevention of smoking behavior.Originality/valueThis research project is expected to contribute to the literature relating to PAR for rural settings and the use of empowerment strategies to prevent youth smoking behavior. The results can be replicated in the same settings, but the process of empowerment must still be adapted to the characteristics and local wisdom of the community.
Objective evaluation of fabric pilling based on image analysis and deep learning algorithm
Authors: Xiao Qi , Wang Rui , Sun Hongyu , Wang Limin 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe paper aims to build a new objective evaluation method of fabric pilling by combining an integrated image analysis technology with a deep learning algorithm.Design/methodology/approachSeries of image analysis techniques were adopted. First, a Fourier transform transformed images into the frequency domain. The optimal resolution matrix of an exponential high-pass filter was determined by combining the energy algorithm. Second, the multidimensional discrete wavelet transform determined the optimal division level. Third, the iterative threshold method was used to enhance images to obtain a complete and clear pilling ball images. Finally, the deep learning algorithm was adopted to train data from pilling ball images, and the pilling levels were classified according to the learning features.FindingsThe paper provides a new insight about how to objectively evaluate fabric pilling grades. Results of the experiment indicate that the proposed objective evaluation method can obtain clear and complete pilling information and the classification accuracy rate of the deep learning algorithm is 94.2%, whose structures are rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function, four hidden layers, cross-entropy learning rules and the regularization method.Research limitations/implicationsBecause the methodology of the paper is based on woven fabric, the research study’s results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test other kinds of fabric further, such as knitted and unwoven fabrics.Originality/valueCombined with a series of image analysis technology, the integrated method can effectively extract clear and complete pilling information from pilled fabrics. Pilling grades can be classified by the deep learning algorithm with learning pilling information.
Suitable ranges of ease allowance for appearance of women's shirts of fit and straight styles
Authors: Sakata Yuika , Kim KyoungOk , Takatera Masayuki 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis study investigated changes in appearance due to variations in the amount of ease allowance at the bust, waist and hips with ready-made women's shirts in two different styles. The authors also examined the suitable range for ease allowance with those two styles using a sensory test for evaluating appearance.Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed two women's shirts (samples I and II) in different styles (fit and straight). The authors modified the size of the bust, waist and hips with a changeable-size dress form using 1-cm intervals. The authors observed the shape changes. With the pictures at 2-cm intervals, the authors conducted a sensory test to evaluate appearance. 20 Japanese university students in their 20s made their assessments using seven items (wrinkles, fit, silhouette, beauty, fashionable impression, comfort and purchase intention) with a five-point scale. The proportion of subjects who scored 1 or more was 40% or greater when using ease allowance in the suitable range.FindingsThe appropriate ranges of ease allowance differed according to the style and evaluation items. Regarding appearance and purchase intention with sample I from the front, the suitable range of ease allowance was 1–7 cm for the bust, 2–6 cm for the hips and 13 cm for the waist. From the side, the range was 0–6 cm for the hips and 7 cm for the bust. With sample II from the front, the suitable range of ease allowance was about 4 cm for all parts. From the side, the range was 11 cm for the bust and 4 cm for the hips.Originality/valueUsing a dress form, the authors determined suitable ranges of ease allowance for two women's shirts in fit and straight styles with seven bust, six waist and six hip sizes. The authors found that the suitable range of ease allowance varied according to the style, direction and parts of the shirt. Our results can act as a guideline for designing and selecting ease allowance for women's shirts, taking into account comfort from appearance, purchase intention and beauty.
Development of gait assistive clothing-typed soft wearable robot for elderly adults
Authors: Koo Sumin Helen , Lee Young Bin , Kim Changhwan , Kim Gibaek , Lee Giuk , Koh Je-Sung 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this research was to develop clothing-typed soft wearable robot embedded with textile-based actuators on ankles for elderly adults needing gait assistance.Design/methodology/approachDesign guidelines were developed and they included function (type, targeting area, routing line and anchor points), design (size/fit, fabric/material, fastener, detail, color) and actuator (shape memory alloy type, size, deformation type, integration material, integration technique and evaluation method). Fabric-based actuator, integration methods to fabrics, routing lines and anchoring points were developed based on the guidelines and evaluated. Then, three long socks types and a pants type were designed and prototyped. Routing line position displacement measurement test was conducted with the prototypes. A survey was conducted to investigate satisfaction, likeness and use intention on the design/prototype to modify the designs.FindingsImportant design factors were identified, and design guidelines for clothing-typed soft wearable robots (SWRs) were developed. People satisfied the developed SWR designs and prototypes with mean scores over 4.60.Originality/valueThe results are expected to be helpful for designers and developers of SWRs in the development process, and they will ultimately be beneficial to members of the elderly population who have gait difficulties.
The emergence of well-being in crowdfunding: a study of entrepreneurs and backers of reward and donation campaigns
Authors: Efrat Kalanit , Gilboa Shaked , Wald Andreas 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe current study explores the emergence of well-being, a fundamental human goal, in the crowdfunding process by investigating entrepreneurs and backers' interactions within reward and donation campaigns.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on interviews with 64 entrepreneurs and 50 backers of rewards and donation campaigns.FindingsThe analysis revealed that the crowdfunding experience triggers all three aspects of well-being––hedonic, eudaimonic and social––for both entrepreneurs and backers. These aspects emerged in the course of the campaign's life stages.Originality/valueThe study establishes well-being as a core aspect of entrepreneur–backer interaction and shows how entrepreneurs' well-being feeds back into backers' well-being and vice versa. Furthermore, it illustrates how well-being, in its various aspects, develops during the different stages of the crowdfunding process to facilitate a full well-being experience and a sense of accomplishment for both types of participants.