bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Complementarity effects of financial development and remittance on agricultural production in Africa
Authors: Raifu Isiaka Akande , Afolabi Joshua Adeyemi 
Published: December 2024

PurposeEmpirical evidence abounds on the individual effect of financial development and remittances on agricultural production, but little is known about their complementary role, especially in the context of African countries. This study fills this knowledge gap by examining the moderating role of financial development in the agricultural production–remittance nexus in Africa.Design/methodology/approachDifferent measures of financial development were employed, and the panel quantile regression model was adopted to analyse panel data of 33 African countries covering the period 2005–2020.FindingsThe results indicate that the effects of financial development on agricultural production vary across quantiles, and the dynamics of agricultural production are sensitive to the choice of financial development indicator. Nevertheless, financial development and remittances are highly indispensable for improved agricultural production in Africa, as financial development complements the positive effect of remittances on agricultural production.Practical implicationsAfrican countries need to strengthen their financial sector to facilitate the effective mobilization of remittances and other financial resources for investment in the agricultural sector and the improvement of the sector’s productivity.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that documents empirical evidence on the complementary role of financial development and remittances on agricultural production in Africa.
Entrepreneurial leadership: a systematic literature review and research agenda
Authors: Hoang Giang , Luu Tuan Trong , Babalola Mayowa T. 
Published: December 2024

PurposeDespite the increasing scholarly attention, the existing literature on entrepreneurial leadership remains fragmented due to the absence of a comprehensive framework that illustrates the overarching research direction of this domain. Consequently, our systematic review of the antecedents, consequences and boundary conditions of this leadership construct is both timely and vital in addressing this challenge.Design/methodology/approachThrough a rigorous and systematic selection process, our review has identified 93 empirical studies that meet our predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.FindingsBy analyzing and synthesizing these articles, our study contributes significantly to the expanding literature on entrepreneurial leadership by identifying commonly used theoretical frameworks and measurement methods in entrepreneurial leadership research; developing a comprehensive framework that outlines the antecedents, mediators, moderators and outcomes; and proposing a nomological network of entrepreneurial leadership and its associations.Research limitations/implicationsFirst, our review meticulously examines the extant literature on entrepreneurial leadership, encompassing a comprehensive assessment of theories embraced and the diverse array of variables associated with this domain. Furthermore, we critically synthesize the methodological approaches deployed in the study of entrepreneurial leadership. Finally, leveraging insights gleaned from our review, we offer actionable recommendations to guide future research endeavors in this dynamic and evolving field.Originality/valueEntrepreneurial leadership has emerged as an effective approach to motivate innovation and enhance business performance, particularly in a market environment with increasing uncertainties and competitive intensity. Our study offers theoretical directions for future research on entrepreneurial leadership and practical implications that can inform leadership practices in organizational contexts.
Safe Laparoscopic Treatment of a Giant Hepatic Cyst That Compressed the Inferior Vena Cava With Severe Kyphosis
Authors: Araki Tatsuhiro , Tsuchiya Yasunori , Omura Tetsuya , Ota Nagayoshi , Shimada Katsuo , Fujii Tsutomu 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWe report a case in which a giant hepatic cyst located at the hepatic hilum and compressing the inferior vena cava was safely treated laparoscopically with careful attention to hemodynamics in a difficult fenestrated resection in a patient with severe kyphosis. The anatomic location of the cyst was evaluated preoperatively via 3D reconstruction of computed tomography images to identify a site where safe fenestrated resection could be performed. This was challenging because the surgical field was narrow due to the presence of severe kyphosis, and there was a risk of damage to surrounding organs during fenestrated resection. The cyst was filled with a greater omentum because the opening site was covered due to compression of the liver by the costal arch, and there was a risk of recurrence. Even when severe kyphosis makes fenestration of the cyst difficult, laparoscopic surgery may be a useful option given the appropriate preoperative preparation.
The Problems of Public Procurement in Canada: Rule Layering, Strategic Purchasing, and Risk Aversion as a Toxic Stew
Authors: Howlett Michael , Migone Andrea 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis article analyzes persistent challenges in Canadian public procurement, examining in particular the federal government's complex, multi‐layered purchasing processes which have contributed to high‐profile failures, such as most recently the ArriveCan app and, over the past century, the majority of major military procurement projects. The primary issues found to contribute to these problems include excessive rule layering, unnecessary strategic purchasing complexities, bureaucratic risk aversion and political interference which together form a “toxic stew” leading to poorly designed processes hampering procurement efficiency and effectiveness. The article highlights three main strategic directions for improvement: streamlining procurement to increase efficiency, rethinking strategic purchasing to simplify decision‐making, and enhancing transparency and accountability for all projects to combat excessive caution and political interference. These proposals aim to address the key structural and political issues that have undermined procurement and help reform this key area of government activity.
Low Richness of Invasive Non‐Native Plants in New Zealand Indigenous Forests May Not Reflect Low Impact
Authors: Rossignaud Laureline , Hulme Philip E. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAimIdentifying habitats vulnerable to plant invasions is essential for developing efficient management programmes. We assessed trends in richness and cover of non‐native plants in indigenous shrublands and forests across New Zealand. We investigated whether species classed as invasive species exhibited higher levels of plant invasion than naturalised species and the extent to which this reflected plant life form.LocationNew Zealand.Time PeriodFrom January 2009 to March 2014.Major Taxa StudiedPlant.MethodsWe analysed 839 permanent 20 × 20 m plots spread across New Zealand that could be classified to a recognised forest type: mānuka‐kānuka shrubland, beech, beech‐broadleaved, beech‐broadleaved‐podocarp and broadleaved‐podocarp forests. Generalised additive models were run with native canopy richness or cover and spatial coordinates as co‐variables in order to compare non‐native plant richness and cover across forest types in relation to their invasive status and growth form.ResultsOverall, 35% of the plots had at least one non‐native species. Mānuka‐kānuka shrubland exhibited the highest mean non‐native richness (11 species) and cover (32%) with broadleaved‐podocarp forest presenting the next highest invasion level but to a much lesser extent (1.7 species and 3% cover). Despite presenting overall greater non‐native richness, naturalised species had lower cover than invasive species (4.2%, 13.5%, respectively). This pattern was mainly related to non‐native woody species that, despite their low richness, can reach greater cover than herbaceous species once established.Main ConclusionsDespite half the New Zealand flora being composed of non‐native plant species, relatively few were found in forest habitats. However, indigenous shrubland and early successional forests showed higher vulnerability to plant invasion. Woody species, which are overrepresented among invasive species, had higher cover than herbaceous species and were less limited by native canopy cover. Such findings highlight the threat posed by non‐native woody species and the need for more targeted management programmes.
Optimal sugar components provide essential cues for the formation of host‐specialised cotton‐melon aphids
Authors: Zhang Yongqian , Zhang Yue , Wang Xinxiang , Yan Hongyu , Zhang Zhiyong , Huo Ran , Chen Aiqing , Du Yanli , Guo Honggang 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Host specialisation is a common phenotype in herbivores and is considered as an important driver for species diversity of herbivores. Previous studies have revealed that a distinct plant defence mechanism underlies herbivores' host specialisation. However, the role of plant nutritional status, especially sugar metabolism, is a widely overlooked driver of host specialisation formation.
Here, the Cucurbitaceae biotype (CA) and Malvaceae biotype (MA) of cotton‐melon aphids, Aphis gossypii, were used to reveal the potential role of plant sugar metabolism in the formation of host‐specialised aphid biotypes.
The abundance, intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate of CA and MA biotypes significantly decreased after reciprocal host transfer, suggesting a host utilisation trade‐off between these biotypes. Further analysis of sugar quality showed differences in sugar components, especially raffinose‐family oligosaccharides (RFOs), between watermelon and cotton plants. The concentrations and ratios of raffinose and stachyose were higher in watermelon leaves than in cotton leaves, respectively. Exogenous application of different sugar substrates showed that CA biotypes performed the best on artificial diets with sucrose and raffinose (3:8) while MA biotypes established populations on artificial diets with only sucrose.
Moreover, the level of aphid's galactosidase activity, a key enzyme in RFOs metabolism, decreased in CA biotypes but increased in MA biotypes after reciprocal host transfer for acclimatising themselves to changes in RFOs of host plants.
Consequently, optimal sugar components provide essential cues for the formation of host‐specialised cotton‐melon aphids.
Temporal Alpha and Beta Diversity of Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) Reveals Biotic Heterogenisation in Urban Ponds
Authors: Liao Wenfei , Soininen Janne 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Urbanisation has led to decreasing quantity and quality of both terrestrial and aquatic habitats, resulting in biodiversity loss in urban ecosystems. Current research has focused on spatial patterns of biodiversity along urban gradients, while temporal patterns have received little attention.

Here, we investigated how alpha and beta diversity of beetles changed through time, and if pond structural connectivity (i.e., clustering of the ponds) and the presence or absence of fish affected the temporal change. We trapped diving beetles (Dytiscidae) in 20 ponds in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, for six years and analysed the data using generalised linear mixed models and temporal beta diversity index.

We found that (a) dytiscid alpha diversity, i.e., species richness and total abundances, decreased through time, while dytiscid temporal beta diversity increased. (b) Clustered ponds had higher alpha diversity than isolated ponds, but temporal beta diversity did not differ between clustered and isolated ponds; clustered ponds had lower species losses and higher species gains than isolated ponds. (c) Ponds with fish had little change in alpha diversity during the study period, but ponds without fish experienced declining alpha diversity over time; ponds with fish experienced lower species losses and higher species gains than ponds without fish.

Our results indicate that dytiscid assemblages experienced biotic heterogenisation during the six years, but the heterogenisation processes are different in the presence and absence of fish. Dytiscids in clustered ponds are more likely to maintain stable populations due to immigration via the rescue effects than in isolated ponds.

Urbanisation has long‐lasting negative effects on biodiversity and may replace urban‐sensitive species with urban‐adapted species. The temporal dynamics of aquatic invertebrates suggest that improving landscape connectivity and local habitat conditions can mitigate species losses and support biotic communities in urban ponds.
Investigating Entanglements in Experienced Language Teachers’ Sense of Belonging and What Belonging Does
Authors: Miller Elizabeth R. , Gkonou Christina 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTThe vast body of research on language teacher identity from the past two decades along with more recent research on language teacher emotions has shown that identity and emotions are mutually shaping facets of language teachers’ professional lives. (Un)belonging is a key link between teacher identity and emotions in that the feeling of belonging typically corresponds to insider identities and unbelonging with peripheral or outsider status. However, we still know relatively little about how the feeling of (un)belonging is experienced by language teachers, particularly veteran teachers. Given that belonging can deepen teachers’ ongoing commitment to their students and enhance their overall well‐being, it is important to have a theoretically informed understanding of (un)belonging and to examine how veteran teachers perceive and experience it and what it moves them to do. This study focuses on accounts of (un)belonging that emerged unsolicited in semi‐structured qualitative interviews with 24 experienced language teachers working in Germany and Norway. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that (un)belonging is entangled in teachers’ decisions to become language teachers, relationships with colleagues and students, perceptions of their professional efficacy, and attachments to school communities. The article also explores what (un)belonging does.
Single‐Cell RNA‐Seq Reveals Injuries in Aortic Dissection and Identifies PDGF Signalling Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Target
Authors: Han Yichi , Cui Yongji , Liu Juli , Wang Dingchen , Zou Guoxiang , Qi Xin , Meng Jinxiu , Huang Xiaoran , He Haiwei , Li Xin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTAortic dissection (AD) represents a critical condition characterised by a tear in the inner lining of the aorta, leading to the leakage of blood into the layers of the aortic wall, posing a significant risk to life. However, the pathogenesis is unclear. In this study, scRNA‐seq was applied to cells derived from aortas of both AD and non‐AD donors (control) to unveil the cellular landscape. ScRNA‐seq data uncover significant cellular heterogeneity in AD aortas. Specifically, we observed an accumulation of CD4+ T cells, which contributed to inflammation and cell death, and abnormal collagen formation mediated by fibroblast cells in AD. Moreover, we revealed a greater prevalence of cell death, oxidative stress and senescence in AD aorta cells. Furthermore, we found a decrease in the percentage of vascular stem cells (VSCs), along with a repression in their ability to differentiate into contractile vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Finally, our data demonstrated that the PDGF signalling pathway was activated in AD. We found that PDGF activation could lead to VSMCs aberrant switch from contractile to synthetic phenotype, which could be ameliorated by PDGF inhibitor. This underscores the potential of the PDGF as a therapeutic target for AD. In summary, our study highlights the cellular heterogeneity and associated injuries within aortas affected by AD, including cell death, oxidative stress, senescence and dysregulation of signalling pathways influencing the aberrant phenotypic switch of VSMCs. These insights offer valuable contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying AD and present new avenues for therapeutic intervention in this condition.
A Systematic Review of the Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Association Between PCOS and Endometrial and Ovarian Cancers
Authors: Zanjirband M. , Nasr‐Esfahani M. H. , Curtin N. J. , Drew Y. , Sharma Saha S. , Adibi P. , Lunec J. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a major cause of female infertility, affects 4%–20% of reproductive‐age women. Metabolic and hormonal alterations are key features of PCOS, potentially raising the risk of endometrial (EC) and ovarian (OVCA) cancers. This systematic review aims to summarise the proposed molecular mechanisms involved in the association between PCOS and EC or OVCA. This is achieved by conducting a thorough literature review and utilising specific search terms to identify all relevant studies published in English from 2010 to December 2022. PRISMA was followed, and the protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022375461). The QUADAS‐2 tool and Review Manager Software were employed to evaluate study quality and risk of bias respectively. Forty‐five eligible studies were selected with molecular signatures based on genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, proteomic and epigenetic analyses. Genes and their products deregulated in EC and/or OVCA were identified, including BRCA1, MLH1, NQO1 and ESR1, which were also deregulated in PCOS. Serum levels of IGF1, IGFBP1, SREBP1 and visfatin in women with PCOS were also identified as potential biomarkers of enhanced EC risk. Salusin‐β serum levels in individuals with PCOS were identified as a potential biomarker for increased risk of OVCA. Gene signature–based drug repositioning identified several drug candidates: metformin, fenofibrate, fatostatin, melatonin, resveratrol and quercetin, some already established and prescribed for PCOS. In conclusion, this study provides a strong basis for further research to confirm the identified molecular signatures and associated causal links for potential therapeutic prevention strategies for EC and OVCA in women with PCOS.
Tag attachment innovation on spurdog (Squalus acanthias) reveals year‐round coastal association of pregnant females in northeastern Atlantic waters
Authors: Junge Claudia , Ferter Keno , Klöcker C. Antonia , Bjelland Otte , Albretsen Jon , Lennox Robert J. , Økland Finn , Jac Romaric , Andrade Hector , Albert Ole Thomas 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe spurdog (Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, 1758) is a globally distributed squaliform shark that has historically been overfished but is now recovering in the northeast Atlantic. Data series on spurdog movement and habitat use have been somewhat limited to research surveys due to challenges associated with electronic tagging. Here, we offer a revised attachment method for externally attached pop‐up satellite archival tags that was successful in long‐term deployments on pregnant females. Twenty‐one spurdogs were tagged in two fjord systems in western Norway for an average of 243 days and provided new details about their behaviour, demonstrating affinity for coastal habitat based on the pop‐up locations and recovery positions of the tags (84% within 40 km from tagging location), and depth–temperature profiles. It is likely that parturition therefore occurs in these coastal waters, making them important to the life cycle of this species. The realized depth niche of tagged individuals suggested that surveys may miss sharks if they do not cover the full water column because the sharks used large parts of the water column and spent much time in shallower waters, albeit with seasonal variations (deeper and shallower in winter and summer, respectively). Adoption of this tagging method and combination with movement data from acoustic transmitters will help to better resolve the behaviour of this species as it transitions from a species at risk to a managed fishery. Such studies will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the species' habitat requirements that will empower better informed protections against a return to the red list of threatened species.
The impact of therapeutic jurisprudence on juvenile recidivism: The country road to rehabilitation
Authors: Watkins Mallory Noelle 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study investigated juvenile recidivism among the statewide population of juvenile drug court graduates from 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 in West Virginia. One notable strategy to combat juvenile crime is the therapeutic jurisprudence approach that focuses on intervention by the judiciary to head the rehabilitation of offenders. This study analyzed recidivism data for 3 years following a juvenile drug court participant's completion of the program to determine the effectiveness of the therapeutic jurisprudence approach in West Virginia. Recidivism data were analyzed through chi‐square tests of independence, multiple linear regression, and an ANOVA to ascertain the impact of the therapeutic jurisprudence approach. This writer tracked recidivism rates of graduates 3 years following completion of the juvenile drug court program to determine the overall effectiveness of the community‐based, judicial treatment approach. The study examined recidivism rates for participants who received evidence‐based treatment based on age to highlight if an offender's age at the time of graduation influenced future recidivism. Finally, the study investigated if there was a noteworthy difference in recidivism depending on where the participant participated in juvenile drug court across 19 separate juvenile drug court programs throughout the state.
Juvenile justice at a crossroad between crime control and rehabilitation: A study of philosophies and practices in Austria and the United States
Authors: Moak Stacy C. , Kaiser Nina 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study examines philosophies and practices of juvenile justice in Austria and the United States specifically using cases of juvenile homicide to provide context to examine divergent outcomes in the two countries. Grounding the paper in the culture of control theory, findings indicate that Austria has not been as heavily influenced by punitive policies as has the United States and maintains a focus as a welfare state. Although the United States has made progress in parts of the juvenile justice system, for more serious offenses, it remains largely focused on crime control and punitiveness. Penalties for juvenile crimes, even the most serious cases, in Austria are geared toward resocialization, education, and treatment instead of punishment. Possible explanations for these differences are explored through local cultural and sociological examination.